Early July had me on a solo quest – a journey to upstate New York, first for a five-day retreat followed by a history tour that took me to “The Room Where IT Happened”(nod to the lyrics in Hamilton) the site where organizers of the Seneca Falls Women’s Right Convention in 1848 convened to mastermind this seminal event of women’s rights history. The photo of me shows my joy in being in this special room.
The history of women’s rights is an important history, one that has been overlooked in our education system. Women were not “granted” the vote, they organized, spoke up, lobbied and garnered publicity to expand their ideas, and then, after 72 years of relentless organized hard work, they finally WON the constitutional right to vote, which cannot be denied on account of sex.
Voices of American HERstory is on a growth path and looking for board members and volunteers and performers.
Do you want to be in “The Room Where It Happens?”
The mission of Voices of American Herstory (VOAH) is:
To expand our educational arts initiative which is educating students of all ages about the importance of women’s history. The multi-layered project incorporates live and virtual performances, interactive discussion, video, and written materials to showcase the pivotal events leading up to the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, as well as the on-going progress toward women’s equality.
Voices of American Herstory is taking the next step in its growth – developing a robust Board of Directors.
We need advice on writing grant proposals. We would love to travel across the state of Missouri visiting middle schools and libraries and giving our talks “Susan B and Me” and “Sojourner Truth and Me” and sharing my award-winning book, Borrowed Courage. My dear friend Karen Hoffman had the most amazing suggestion — she slipped me a note that simply said “mobile van with HERstory wrapping graphics that would be for performances.” Oh my God, that spoke to me, and we’ve got to make that a reality. That’s what I’m working on and I’m looking for partners that want to help me on the next leg of this journey.
Do you resonate with our mission? What skills and interests do you have?
We want to acquire grants to enable us to reach more audiences in schools and in libraries across the state and nationwide.
We are also looking for a performance reenactor for Harriet Tubman, which does have remuneration.
Please email me at rebecca@voicesofamericanherstory.com with your interest.
Voices of women are being raised now all around us with the actual possibility of calling a woman “Madam President” and it is an exhilarating possibility. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B Anthony, Sojourner Truth and others probably could not even imagine that day, but I see it coming.
Please save the date for the August 13 book launch date of In HER Power, In HER Wisdom – a Woman’s Guide To Overcoming Challenges and Growing Into Your Power. This is an opportunity to experience contemporary women’s voices being raised. A post-launch author get together is being planned for the morning on August 16 at the Delmar DivINe, hosted by Maxine Clark. I would love to see my St. Louis area friends and supporters at that event. Making that $1.99 contribution to the launch initiative gets you in the door!
Rebecca Now
Founder and Director, Voices of American HERstory
A 501 C 3 Non-profit