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By JACQUE HILBURN
Feature Writer

Economic stability, health and family planning, and educational empowerment are expected to be key topics of discussion during a goal-setting forum hosted by the League of Women Voters and American Association of University Women.

The "Empowering Women Worldwide" forum, highlighting eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at the Tyler Public Library, 201 S. College Ave.

The event is offered in conjunction with Women's History Month, organizers said.

U.N. objectives were identified in 2000 by world leaders who saw a collective responsibility to uphold principals of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level, and meet the goals by 2015, said event organizer Kristi Roberts for the AAUW.

Development objectives are to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership for development.

Five speakers have been invited to share their take on the initiatives.

"The League of Women Voters does hold events with speakers, but this is the first one that focused on the Millennium Goals and the first one to address just women," said Ms. Roberts.

The mission of the AAUW is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.

The LWV is a nonpartisan political organization that strives to encourage informed participation in government and increase understanding of major public policy issues through education and advocacy.

Promoting equality and empowerment of women is designed to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education settings, said Dee Brock, LWV president, who plans to speak on civic/political empowerments.

Other speakers include:

Bonnie Hardaway, a retired teacher and member of LWV and AAUW, will speak on economic empowerment.

Jackie Littleton, a retired classroom teacher who serves on the board of directors of AAUW at both the state and local level, plans to speak on educational empowerment.

Dr. Marietta Crowder, former regional director of the Texas Department of State Health Services, is expected to speak on assisting women in the United States and overseas.

Kelly Hart, who serves as director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood in Garland, is scheduled to speak about women's health and family planning.

For more information, call Ms. Roberts at 903-534-8825, 903-245-1820, or e-mail her at bruce@robertslawfirm.com or kribru@aol.com.