The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine Maine Women's Publications - All Publications Fall 9-1-2002 Funding Women and Girls ( 2002 - Fall) Maine Women's Fund Staff Maine Women's Fund Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/maine_women_pubs_all Part of the History Commons, Public Administration Commons, Public Affairs Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons Repository Citation Staff, Maine Women's Fund, "Funding Women and Girls ( 2002 - Fall)" (2002). Maine Women's Publications - All. 56. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/maine_women_pubs_all/56 This Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Maine Women's Publications - All by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Womefundingn and Girls STELLA LADO ALEXANDRA MERRILL “Her arms are always open wide with “She is a fully embodied woman, un­ love.” Although she does not call her­ afraid to stand up and speak about the self a leader, Stella Lado has become most unspeakable issues surrounding a compelling force for cross-cultural sexism, racism, classism, homophobia, understanding in her neighborhood, heterosexism, ageism, fat and thinnism, her school, and in a Portland which is as well as spiritual and ethnic differences becoming increasingly diverse. “Her ... no other teacher has inspired me and leadership and mentoring never deepened my understanding of misogyny ends,” writes a nominator. “Stella and feminism.” These remarks from a truly cares about the children in her nominator, extraordinary as they are, community ... When Stella speaks, give only a partial picture of Alexandra they listen!” Stella has learned about Merrill’s accomplishments, and her im­ cultural diversity by living it: she and pact on the lives of women and girls. We are proud to feature Nance Parker’s her family fled the Sudanese Civil “A Painting for Betsy” in the War, emigrating to the United States A teacher and writer, her influence has promotional materials for the 2002 via Egypt when Stella was thirteen. spread from Maine to other areas of the Evening to Honor Maine Women and Girls. United States, and to the Third World. Her thirty years of work with women has sown the seeds of twenty leadership pro­ EVENING TO HONOR MAINE grams in the United States and India, WOMEN AND GIRLS where a leadership group is planned for this year. Alexandra also conceived of October 7, 2002 and created Women’s Way, and the Women’s Leadership Collaborative to Holiday Inn by the Bay foster women’s leadership and commu­ nity building. She has also been a power­ Portland, Maine ful force in the inception and develop­ ment of Mainely Girls, acting as both Call MWF office 774-5513 or register mentor and advocate for young girls in online www.mainewomensfund.org Maine. Continued on page 2 Meet the 2002 Grant Recipients at a free reception 4:00—6:00 pm Pinner begins at 6:15 p.m. Tickets: $30-70 sliding scale In addition to becoming a mentor for neighborhood children, Stella has Sign language interpreters will be present. actively worked for cultural under­ standing in Portland. She leads a The Maine Women’s Fund gratefully troupe of young Sudanese girls in Af­ acknowledges the early support of: rican dance, encouraging them to Dead River Company preserve the traditions of their home­ Verizon land. Fortland Fress Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram At Portland High School, she was president of the Civil Rights team, Port City Life Magazine Mediahunter.com in honor of and was a delegate to the National Planned Parenthood of Young Leaders Conference in Wash­ Northern New England ington, D. C. A force for social jus­ KeySank tice, an advocate against racism, and Peoples Heritage Sank a mentor for young women and girls, Cynthia S. McMullin, A.I.A Stella is truly a bright star! Bernstein, Shur, Sawyer & Nelson WWW.MAINEWOMENSFUNE.ORG Maine Women’s Fund Continued from cover as at establishing training programs to help Board of Directors “She knew immediately the importance bring women into the industry. A nomina­ Barbara S. Babkirk of working with girls on their own be­ tor writes: “I want to thank you for this op­ President half,” says a nominator. Through her portunity to brag a little about Penny. Lisa M. Rideout non-profit Dragon Farm, she provided With all the bragging she does about othe’l Vice President fiscal sponsorship and network support women, it is, indeed, her turn.” Moya A. Elliot in the early days of Mainely Girls and Treasurer many other fledgling organizations, sup­ AN H THU THI TRUONG Rebekah J. Smith port which has produced strong, vi­ Secretary brant, feminist organizations around the A daughter of immigrants from Viet Nam, Connie Adler, M.D. state. Her commitment to social change Susan Arledge Anh Thu Thi Truong made friends, learned Gail Benvenuta and to the elimination of gender oppres­ English, and acted as an interpreter and Myrna Bouchey sion, and her skill at exploring conflict ambassador for her family when they first Martha Breunig and female creativity is reflected in arrived in Portland. Since then, she has Jan Broberg Carter every facet of her life. Those she has Susan Dubuque been committed to excellence and leader­ Harriet W. Duer mentored agree: “We are all better ship in every aspect of her life. Robin Lin Hodgskin women leaders for knowing Alexandra.” Donna Maiorino Among other accomplishments, she is an Sibyl Masquelier honor student, scholarship winner, and a Mary E. McCann PENNYPLOURDE Darcie N. McElwee member of the Civil Rights team and of the Leslie P. Merrill National Honor Society at Deering High Lois Galgay Reckitt School. She also holds a Black Belt in Ka­ Elizabeth A. Tipper rate. But it is her commitment to commu­ Staff nity service, to the lives of girls of diverse Karin Anderson backgrounds in a Girl Scout troop in River­ Executive Director ton, and to her work with Youth Engaged Liz Anderson in Service (Y.E.S.) that makes her so ex­ Associate Director traordinary. Not content to simply excel in Tori Ryan her studies, Anh Thu is as strongly moti­ Development Coordinator vated to inspire the lives of others, and to help create new opportunities by challenge Advisory Council Ellen V.P. Wells, Chair ing economic and ethnic barriers. fl Madeleine G. Corson Joanne D'Arcangelo “She gives of herself without reservation, Joel D. Davis and has found that by giving, she gains.” Jane Holt DeFrees Jean M. Deighan Anh Thu is currently a student at the Uni­ Mimi Dunn versity of New Hampshire. Although she Carol Epstein “A true pioneer who breaks the bounda­ herself recognized, in a published piece, Richard C. Kennedy that “I can be whatever my heart desires to Jana Lapoint ries of traditional thinking ... she pushes Doug Malcolm the edges of advocacy organizations, of­ be,” her dream is to continue her service to Merle R. Nelson fering all of us, both male and female, a others by becoming a pediatrician. As she P. Andrews Nixon challenge to honor diversity,” says a wrote in an article published in the Port­ Richard L. Pattenaude land Press Herald, “I have a loving family, William J. Ryan nominator. Penny Plourde has made a Joan Benoit Samuelson lifetime commitment to going beyond good friends who care for me, a good edu­ Carol Wishcamper “just the job.” Maine is a leader in cation and Buddha’s blessings. What more women’s participation in trades and could I ask for?” Maine Women’s Fund 565 Congress Street, #306 technology; Penny has worked tirelessly P.O. Box 5135 to remove the gender barriers facing Portland, ME 04101 Maine girls and women, especially in Phone (207) 774-5513 the construction and transportation in­ Fax (207) 774-5533 [email protected] dustries. Increased opportunities have www.mainewomensfiind.org resulted in increased self-esteem and richer lives for women and girls previ­ ously consigned to traditionally “female” occupations. Penny’s efforts have also gone far be­ This newsletter is brought to you by yond the borders of Maine: she planned Verizon—the MWF’s and led an exciting national conference Integrated Communications of tradeswomen in Denver, Colorado. Underwriter She has also led three regional institutes aimed at partnership development for women in highway construction, as well 2 WWW.MAINEWOA 1ENSFUNI\ t FC, Life shrinks or expands in proportion to onp’s courage have awarded ten more; for every MWF LAUNCHES dollar we have raised and invested in GRANTEE DATABASE Anais Nin our endowment, we would like to have I five more. Our program initiatives are ONLINE limited to our capacity to deliver them, Every day, I not to the interest in participation. The Maine Women’s Fund is thrilled am reminded We, too, need to move further into to announce the launching of the of how much abundance and security. grantee database online, starting women are September 2002! able to do with The Maine Women’s Fund is a so little - so testament to the power of individual The last twelve years of grantmaking little time, so and collective effort to make a is now captured in a searchable data­ little support, difference, even in the face of base and available to the public iso little challenge and adversity. Because we through the Maine Women’s Fund I money. I am hold the dreams of thousands of website. proud that the Maine women and girls in our hands, Maine Women’s Fund continues to you and many, many others like you “This is such an exciting accomplish­ work toward a different vision - a have helped us get where we are today.