Posted 11:55 am Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Women Discuss Empowerment At Seminar
By JACQUE HILBURN
Feature Writer
About two dozen people showed up at the Tyler Public Library Monday evening to dialogue with experts on how to build strong communities through empowerment and education, both at home and abroad.
Feature Writer
About two dozen people showed up at the Tyler Public Library Monday evening to dialogue with experts on how to build strong communities through empowerment and education, both at home and abroad.
Talks were held in conjunction with a goal-setting forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters and American Association of University Women.
Issues address in the gathering - economic stability, health and family planning, and educational empowerment - were presented as a part of the "Empowering Women Worldwide" forum, highlighting eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
"One of the millennium goals is gender equality and empowering women," said Dee Brock, LWV president. "These are big topics and we feel like we're up to addressing them."
The AAUW's Kristi Roberts agreed, saying, "We are going to do more of these types of forums and contribute where we can. These are important issues."
Monday's meeting coincided with Women's History Month.
The U.N.'s objectives are intended to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women.
Other goals focus on reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS; malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and developing a global partnership for development.
The goal of the U.N. is to meet these challenges by 2015, records show.
Dr. Marietta Crowder, 81, former regional director of the Texas Department of State Health Services, addressed critical issues facing women overseas. She serves as a health services volunteer in Pakistan, China, Korea and most recently, in Nepal and Belize.
"I'll try not to get emotional," she said. "It's so distressing to go and see what women in other countries go through. They spent their entire lives having children, cooking, working, taking care of their husband, taking care of the elderly and drawing water."
She shared stories of violated lives, non-existent rights and inadequate medical care.
"One lady I saw came in for weakness," she said. "She was 27 years old and had 17 children. People often ask, 'how do you get involved in these sorts of things?' You go one time."
Helping women rise up helps families and communities grow strong, she said.
"If we can empower women, if we can instill a desire to know and grow, I think we'll be able to take into one of most valuable economic resources," the doctor said.
Other speakers included Bonnie Hardaway, a retired teacher and member of LWV and AAUW; and Jackie Littleton, a retired classroom teacher who serves on the board of directors of AAUW at both the state and local level.
Both women spoke on the importance of educational empowerment.
Kelly Hart, who serves as director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood in Garland, spoke on the importance of using family planning as a way of combating poverty, disease and domestic violence.
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.
