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To arrange a media interview with Ellie Smeal or other spokespersons at Feminist Majority Foundation, contact the FMF media department at 703-522-2214.
Date: September-15-11
Contact: Francesca Tarant
Phone: (703) 522-2214
Email: media@feminist.org
HERvotes, launched on August 25th in recognition of the anniversary of the 19th Amendment, with 21 women's organizations, has expanded to 31 organizations, adding to its numbers the YWCA USA, the General Federation of Women's Clubs, the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the Business and Professional Women's Foundation, NARAL ProChoice America, the National Association of Social Workers, SisterSong, and Advocates for Youth. (List of organizations is attached.) The goal of the new multi-organizational effort, HERvotes, is to mobilize women voters in 2012 around preserving women's Health and Economic Rights (HER rights).
On September 15, 2011, HERvotes will conduct its second blog carnival on Women, the Economy, and Jobs. Its first blog carnival included 77 blogs and reached millions through a host of websites, email alerts, and Twitter updates. The topic of the first blog carnival was the Top Ten Advances* that impact women's lives and security but are now in danger of being weakened, cut, or eliminated by extremist policies at the federal, state, and local levels. HERvotes is mobilizing women voters to alert them to the high stakes of the 2012 election.
The YWCA USA will provide sites throughout the nation for voter education. Gloria Lau, CEO for the YWCA USA, asserts "With our presence in communities all around the country, the YWCA will be 'action central' for educating and mobilizing voters around issues that matter to women and families." Lau adds "the YWCA is proud to be an integral part of the nationwide coalition of women's organizations who plan to demonstrate that women represent a powerful political force to ensure that women's jobs, safety, health care and economic well-being are promoted and protected."
"Jobs and pay equity are very much on the minds of women voters. AAUW stands on a rich history of civic engagement and voter education because we recognize the power of a single vote. AAUW will be investing significant funds to encourage everyone - especially new voters and young women - to register to vote and cast an informed ballot," added Linda Hallman, Executive Director and CEO of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
Dr. Avis Jones De-Weever, Executive Director, National Council of Negro Women, commented, "As poverty increases, and high unemployment persists, there is perhaps no more critical time for women to band together on behalf of demanding the enactment of a jobs growth strategy desperately needed by women and families throughout the nation."
"Recently released data from the U.S. Census Bureau revealed serious declines in women's economic status, including the highest poverty rates in 17 years for women. This shocking and troubling trend makes it abundantly clear that it's time to come together to fight attacks on women's economic and health security, and to help rebuild our nation's economy. Our nation didn't become strong by putting women and families last," said MomsRising Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner.
Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation, stated, "The rapid growth of HERvotes is because women's groups are outraged by the attacks on women's advances and the laying off of women workers. We are mobilizing women voters and are sounding the alarm that we want action to save women's advances and jobs."
The list of the Top Ten Historic Advances for Women's Lives Now at Risk can be found here: http://www.hervotes.us/top-10-advances-at-risk/
HERvotes, Women's Groups Leadership to Date:
American Association of University Women
Linda Hallman, Executive Director/CEO
Advocates for Youth
James Wagoner, President
Black Women's Health Imperative
Eleanor Hinton Hoytt, President
Black Women's Roundtable, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
Melanie Campbell, President/CEO
Business and Professional Women's Foundation
Deborah L. Frett, Chief Executive Officer
Coalition of Labor Union Women
Carol S. Rosenblatt, Executive Director
Dolores Huerta Foundation
Dolores Huerta, President
Feminist Majority Foundation/Ms. Magazine community
Eleanor Smeal, President
General Federation of Women's Clubs
Natasha L. Rankin, Executive Director
MomsRising
Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director
NARAL Pro-Choice America
Nancy Keenan, President
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
Miriam Yeung, Executive Director
National Association of Social Workers
Dr. Elizabeth Clark, Executive Director
National Association of Commissions for Women
Cecilia Zamora, President
National Coalition of 100 Black Women
Dee Dee Strum, President
National Conference of Puerto Rican Women
Vivian Ortiz, National President
National Congress of Black Women
Dr. E. Faye Williams, Chair
National Council of Negro Women
Avis Jones De-Weever, Executive Director
National Council of Women's Organization
Susan Scanlan, Chair
National Council of Jewish Women
Nancy K. Kaufman, CEO
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Incoming Executive Director
National Organization for Women
Terry O'Neill, President
National Partnership for Women & Families
Debra L. Ness, President
National Women's Health Network
Cindy Pearson, Executive Director
National Women's Law Center
Marcia Greenberger, Co-President
National Women's Political Caucus
Linda Young, President
Raising Women's Voices for the Health Care We Need
Cindy Pearson, Co-Founder
Sister Song
Loretta Ross, National Coordinator
Women's Information Network
Carla Reed, Chair
Women's Research and Education Institute (WREI)
Susan Scanlan, Executive Director
YWCA USA
Gloria Lau, Interim CEO
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