Write Women Back Into History
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Iowa Publications Online IoWoman A Publication of the Friends of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women !" Vol. XXXII, No. 2, March/April 2002 Students “Write Women Back Into History” Over 1,500 students participated statewide in the 18th Annual Write Women Back Into History Essay Contest, which was sponsored by the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, the Iowa Department of Education, and the State Historical Society. Volunteer judges reviewed 65 essays submitted by 6-9th grade teachers from 30 schools. Final judging was held February 13. The purpose of the contest is to increase the awareness of the contributions made by women. Students were encouraged to conduct oral interviews with community members who have contributed something unique to society, or research the life’s work and contributions of a famous woman. This year’s theme was “Women’s History: So that every generation will know the stories.” The winners will be honored on Tuesday, March 19 at an 11 a.m. ceremony in Governor Thomas J. Vilsack’s formal office. The awards ceremony is free and open to the public. Students will also be introduced in the Iowa Senate and House of Representatives and have the opportunity to meet with their legislators. 6-7th Grade Category 8-9th Grade Category by Brianna Routh, Parkview Middle School, Ankeny “Roxanne Conlin” by Robert Martin, Central Academy, Some may say she is visionary, some call her teacher. She Des Moines may be considered powerful or humble, still others would call Right now, I am doing something that the subject of this her a saint. I would call her pure stone. Not any ordinary stone paper refuses to do. Typing. Roxanne Conlin is an Iowa though, she is a gem, a ruby or a diamond. Whatever she is, woman who has achieved national recognition for her work Thelma Volger should always be considered a treasure that fighting prejudice and discrimination. Maybe less unintentionally, our society cannot afford to she has also had a tremendous impact on my life. forget. When Roxanne Conlin Thelma has spent most of completed law school in 1966, 2002 WWBH Winners her life right here in Iowa. She 6-7 Grades: she was one of only 1500 female grew up in the small town of 1st Place: Brianna Routh, Parkview Middle School, Ankeny law students nationwide, and one Muscatine. After getting her 2nd Place: Kathryn M. Skilton, Nashua Elementary of three women in her graduating undergraduate degree in music, 3rd Place: Lauren Davidson, Roosevelt Middle School, class. Women were not yet she went on to get her Ph.D. in Cedar Rapids being taken seriously as 8-9 Grade Category music at the University of Iowa. 1st Place: Robert Martin, Central Academy, Des Moines attorneys. Roxanne knew the Thelma, now Dr. Volger, then 2nd Place: Alyssa Hedrick, Wilson Junior High School, fate of many female attorneys went back to Muscatine with Council Bluffs was assignment to work as legal her husband. While raising her 3rd Place: Chelsea Combs, Central Academy, Des secretaries. Determined to Moines children, she worked in Best Essays on Women in Science and Engineering suffer no such fate, Roxanne programming at her husband’s for 6-7 Grades said, “I knew they couldn’t do local radio station. She was also 1st Place: Kiersten Ruff, Wilson Junior High School, that to me if I couldn’t type.” a mother full of energy as a Council Bluffs Despite her lack of typing choir director for her church, Best Essays on Women in Science and Engineering abilities, she was mistaken for a for 8-9 Grades founder and leader of the boys’ 1st Place: Stephanie Schulze, Goodrell Middle School, secretary. At her first court choir, a Girl Scouts leader, a Des Moines appearance, the judge refused gardener, an artist with the love 2nd Place: Emily Nagle, Jefferson Junior High School, to let her represent her client. of pastels, and no doubt an Dubuque Roxanne recalls, “He was Edith Rose Murphy Sackett Award on the Best Essay extraordinary pianist. Her on a Woman Volunteer absolutely convinced I could not children say she was great at Quinnetta Claytor, Central Academy, Des Moines be a lawyer and I was in fact a making paper dolls as well as secretary. For the first several continued on page 3 continued on page 3 Whispers & Screams Chapter 6 To Be Held May 16-17 in Ames Whispers & Screams and traditional storyteller. He is the Dodge Public Library Board of Trustees, are hard to hear: Executive Director of Tamanawit Blanden Memorial Art Museum Creating an Audience Unlimited, an international, multicultural Charitable Foundation Board and the for Girls’ Voices is an consulting company that specializes in Youth Shelter Care of North Central annual conference sponsored by the bilingual education, cross-cultural Iowa, Inc. Board of Directors. She is Iowa Gender-Specific Services Task competence and communication, gender also a member of Links, Inc., the 2001- Force. Previous Whispers & Screams and sexuality, grief and loss, Native 2002 Leadership Iowa class, the Junior programs and the discussion they American heritage, and spiritual healing. League of Des Moines and the American generated helped to define what it means He is well-versed in the arts of Native Association of University Women. to provide equal services for girls and American and other indigenous healing After lunch on May 17, Courageous boys “at-risk” or involved with the juvenile rituals. He has directed the training Advocacy Awards will once again be justice system, by recognizing that their efforts of a national program for AIDS presented to three outstanding advocates needs are different. The conference has awareness and prevention, and serves for girls from across the state. In addition, brought girls’ voices and experiences to as a national consultant for the U.S. the Task Force will continue to honor a the forefront and disseminated Center for Substance Abuse Prevention courageous girl or young woman. information and suggestions for gender- Project. His work in the areas of cultural Nomination forms for the 2002 specific programming that have been diversity, educational methodology and Courageous Advocacy Awards are now implemented across the state. philosophy, community healing, and cross available on the ICSW web site at Twenty percent of last year’s cultural communication is professionally <www.state.ia.us/dhr/sw/girls.html> Whispers and Screams participants were recognized worldwide. and will also be published with the men as compared to only 6 percent in In addition to basic and advanced registration brochure. 2000. The conference demonstrated workshops on gender-specific program Following the Courageous Advocacy how men play an important role in the planning, Whispers & Screams will Awards, keynote Dr. Melissa Farley lives of adolescent girls involved with or continue to offer attendees specific from San Francisco, California will speak at risk for involvement in the juvenile information on female adolescent on “Homelessness and Sexual justice system—as fathers, teachers, development and experiences, as well as Exploitation.” As a clinical psychologist, counselors, spiritual leaders, juvenile court tools for working with girls involved with Dr. Farley has been a psychotherapist in officers or program staff. The theme of or at risk for involvement with the juvenile private practice for over twenty years. this year’s conference, Chapter 6 justice system. On May 17, Senators She is currently the director of Prostitution “Developing Lasting Commitments to Johnie Hammond (D-Ames) and Maggie Research and Education, a sponsored Girls: Communities, Programs, and Tinsman (R-Davenport) will make project of San Francisco Women’s Leadership,” hopes to build on that opening remarks. Following this, Centers, Inc. Following her keynote, Dr. progress by bringing together a wider attorney, non-profit founder and Farley will hold a breakout session with range of professionals involved with executive director of Young at Art, Helen a focus on attitudes about prostitution, juvenile justice and at-risk youth, to Pitts Miller, will give a keynote self-reported sexual violence, and post- continue working toward the goal of presentation on “Encouraging Young traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in girls equitable services. Towards that end, Women to Take Leadership Roles and young women. this year’s Whispers and Screams Through Art.” As a resident of Fort This year’s conference will be held features three outstanding keynote Dodge, Iowa, her organization’s mission on May 16th and 17th at the Gateway presenters and workshops for men and is to “ensure that all who participate in Center in Ames, Iowa. Registration fees women interested in exploring the role of the program acquire knowledge and vary. To receive conference or exhibit communities, programs and leadership in develop skills and understanding through registration information by mail, please girls’ lives. the arts that will enable them to become contact Sue Ryan-Anderson at 515/281- On May 16, keynote speaker Dr. productive citizens and life long 6915 or 1-800-558-4427, or by email at Terry Tafoya from Portland, Oregon will participants in the learning process.” [email protected]. present on “Community Outreach to Girls: Specifically, Young at Art provides art Registration information will also be The Prevention of Underage Drinking, education and enrichment activities available from theweb site at the end of Chemical Dependency, Sexual Abuse & primarily for at-risk children ages 5 to 17, March: <http://www.state.ia.us/dhr/sw/ Juvenile Crime.” Dr. Tafoya is a Native serving up to 60 youths each month. She girls.html>. American of the Taos Pueblo and Warm is a member of the Fort Dodge Area Springs Nations, a clinical psychologist, Symphony Board of Directors, Fort IoWoman/Page 2 -- “Volger” continued from page 1 awarded more than 15 verdicts of $1 million or more in creating stories to go along with them! discrimination cases.