Issue 42
December 2018
History Conversation Launches 35 th Year
Of Women of Achievement – Join, Nominate Today!
Listeners were captivated on Nov. 16 when Dr. Janann Sherman and Dr. Beverly Bond launched the 35 th year of Women of Achievement at a spirited conversation about writing women’s history. Jan received the Women of Achievement award for Vision in 2001 and Beverly received that same recognition in 2012.

With graceful guidance from moderator Dr. Gail Murray, Jan and Beverly talked at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library about where they look to find sources and data to tell women’s stories since official records and histories rarely capture that information, especially in earlier decades. Both have published books and essays on women, many from Memphis, most little-known before their work.

To help future historians, they said, keep those boxes in the attic – letters, school records, diaries, scrapbooks, etc. – they urged. And write names of persons in photographs on the back of the photographs before it’s too late and no one knows names!

“Uncovering Women’s Stories: A Conversation with Beverly Bond and Janann Sherman” and reception begin a multi-part celebration of 35 years of work by Women of Achievement, Memphis’ signature program to celebrate women’s leadership and preserve and celebrate local women’s history.

Now is the time to nominate women for the 2019 awards. Anyone can nominate – refer to the categories and definitions of achievement on the nomination form on the WA website.

Nominations must be postmarked or received via email or by hand by
January 15. Anyone can join WA and be part of the selections process for 2019.

The 2019 Selections Meeting for all members will be February 2. For more information contact Deborah Clubb at dclubb@memphiswomen.org.

Women of Achievement leaders are working with Shelby County historian Jimmy Ogle on a special project to commemorate WA’s 35 th year and the city’s bicentennial. A women’s history trail, guide, app and enhanced website resources will be produced and unveiled in March 2019 during Women’s History Month.
Give Now To Keep Women's Council Rolling
This has been a challenging year for all who work for social justice, for an end to gender violence, for safety and equity.

At the Women’s Council, deepening partnerships have boosted our capacity to reach wider and further with messages of hope and healing, to strengthen community response and offer a stronger voice for women and girls.

We hope you will take a moment to offer financial support to keep this work going, to keep these voices heard. Simply go to our website and scroll down to the yellow "Donate" button to make a gift today.

Highlights of our work in 2018:

  • Organized 8th annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes with University of Memphis Title IX staff and student leaders, drawing 260 to the rally.

  • Recruited volunteers and counselors, created consent messaging and staffed safe tent for two-day Mempho music festival

  • Trained 300 employees at Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority on gender violence in the workplace

  • Trained law enforcement, counselors and advocates on trauma of sexual and domestic violence and how to adapt interactions with victims and shared the information at a public event

  • Honored local women for change-making leadership at the 34th Women of Achievement awards reception and on WA website and publicity

  • Launched new phase of Memphis Says NO MORE with new survivor narratives and focus on youth and college age awareness including enhanced partnership with teen leaders in Bridges’ MASHA (Memphis Against Sexual Harassment and Abuse)

  • Celebrated and publicized women running for local offices at Sizzlin’ Women party

  • Wrote and published five-year update of Memphis rape kit testing (ALL 12,000+ stored kits have been tested) and three-year efforts of Memphis Says NO MORE

  • Served on University of Memphis Sexual Assault Prevention Task Force and Memphis Sexual Assault Kit Task Force

In 2019 – we will grow our partnerships for even more exciting collaborations and community service. Please help us carry on by clicking the purple button below.
Save These Dates For Action in 2019
Mark you new calendars for these upcoming Women’s Council events:

JAN 15 : Deadline for nominations for 35 th annual Women of Achievement. To become a member and nominate someone, visit our website .

FEB 2 : Women of Achievement selections meeting. 9 a.m. - noon . First Congregational Church, 236 S. Watkins Street.

MAR 24 : 35 th annual Women of Achievement awards ceremony. 3 p.m. Holiday Inn University of Memphis.

APR 6 : “In the Red: The Cost of Community Violence,” a summit organized by Moms Demand Action, Women’s Council and others to look at data on violence and actions we can take to stem it. 9 a.m. to noon. Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

Early April : In partnership with University of Memphis, two events:

Screening of Roll Red Roll, a true-crime thriller that goes behind the headlines of the Steubenville, Ohio gang rape case to uncover the deep-seated and social media-fueled "boys will be boy" culture at the root of high school sexual assault in
America.

Training of local educators and clergy on trauma of sexual and
domestic violence and how to interact when victims disclose.

Dates and times TBA.

click here to support the Women's Council today
Deborah Clubb
Memphis Area Women's Council | Executive Director
Memphis Says NO MORE | Coordinator
dclubb@memphiswomen.org