A week for women, by women
Giving women an opportunity to celebrate themselves and learn about their history is the goal of Lowell Women's Week 2006. The 11th annual celebration coincides with Women's History Month and International Women's Day, celebrated worldwide on Wednesday.
''Sometimes we don't seem to mobilize or organize as much as we should to influence decisions that affect women," said Maria Cunha, a member of the Lowell Women's Week planning committee. ''It's a way for women to talk to each other and celebrate ourselves."
History and art programs, yoga classes, and workshops with themes ranging from how to sing barbershop music to gender equity in higher education to ''You Are a Goddess" are just a few of the 33 events happening throughout the week. In addition, six ongoing programs and three post events will take place around the city.
The Women's Week Breakfast Celebration tomorrow, to be held at Holy Ghost Park, 65 Village St., in Lowell from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., has long been considered the unofficial opening event. Cunha, who works on the subcommittee for the breakfast, hopes it will draw over 250 people from all walks of life.
The breakfast will feature keynote speaker Ashley Tsongas, daughter of the late US senator Paul Tsongas from Lowell. Tsongas will draw on her experiences with various organizations, including the Peace Corps and Oxfam International, which is dedicated to finding solutions to poverty, suffering, and injustice.
''When we were looking for a speaker for this year, Ashley Tsongas came to mind because she had been to different parts of the world and had seen how women's lives are different there than they are in the United States," said Cunha. ''We wanted a younger voice to bring younger women and energize younger women to get involved."
''She's going to be talking about the role of women on a global perspective," said Maria Cole, a member of the Lowell Women's Week Planning Committee.
The annual ''Because of Her" awards will also be presented at the breakfast. Three local women have been selected to receive the award based on how they have significantly changed the lives of others through kindness, generosity, compassion, and activism.
Janet Leggat was chosen for her role in the Lowell Festival Foundation; Denise Lefebvre will receive an award based on her work as a hospice nurse with the Visiting Nurse's Association of Middlesex; and Meredith Trueblood is being honored for her work with the Rape Crisis Services of Greater Lowell.
Gender equity in higher education will be discussed at an event titled ''Because Equity Is Still an Issue" on Thursday, 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Room 103 of Mahoney Hall at UMass-Lowell South, 870 Broadway St., Lowell.
''The program focuses on some of the problems that are facing women in higher education," said Florence Baturin, a member of the American Association of University Women, the sponsor of the event. She added that the focus is on professors, staff members, and students.
Members of the association will read stories about women who have faced significant problems. Following the readings, a video of the women talking about their experiences and what happened when they complained about the problems they faced will be shown.
''Unfortunately, a lot of women are facing these problems and it's not just limited to higher education," said Baturin.
After the video, the state co-vice president of the Legal Advocacy Fund, an arm of the university women's association, will hold discussions about the readings and the video. She will share statistics comparing men in tenured positions with women in tenured positions and will present slides that show the median salaries of men compared with those of women.
''Lowell Women's Week is about the everyday woman in the city of Lowell," said Cole. ''Not every program is for everyone, but no matter who you are, you will find something to pique your interest."
