Join the Sheila Wellstone Institute and the Wellstone Native American Leadership for a training on voter engagement in Minnesota’s Indian Country. Voter Engagement Schools teach organizational leaders and community members the skills of civic engagement and nonpartisan voter organizing. This specific training will focus on needs for battered women, sexual assault and harassment and stalking victims and the need to protect vital information to be able to vote. This program will be taught by Peggy Flanagan (Ojibwe) Native American Leadership Program at Wellstone Action and Lonna Stevens (Tlingit/Dakota) Director of the Sheila Wellstone Institute, along with local organizers who work to end domestic violence and sexual assault.

When: Wednesday, December 19th, 2007 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where:  Russ Ewald Center for Urban Service, 1100 E Lake Street Minneapolis, 55407
Cost is free for materials and meals.

Scholarships are available for hotel and travel. Please contact Lonna Stevens at swi@wellstone.org or 651-414-6034 for an application.

Contact Lonna at 651-414-6034 to register or email swi@wellstone.org.

Source: The White House Project

By Elizabeth Merz, member of sister chapter Fergus Falls Area NOW 

Melinda Tuhus | Organic Farmer Plucks Her Thanksgiving Turkeys
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3380
Female farmers are seeking advice from an agricultural organization that helps them succeed in a male-dominated field. One woman who was told she couldn’t do it 30 years ago is plucking her Thanksgiving turkeys.

Ellen Goodman | The Gender Trap
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/110807WA.shtml
Ellen Goodman for Truthdig offers an analysis on the presentation of gender in the arena of presidential campaigns: “Up to now, this has been a remarkably degendered campaign. For once, the female candidate has been seen as the establishment candidate. She’s also been the tough guy in the race. But that doesn’t mean people haven’t noticed she’s a woman. Nor does the fact that she’s been pretty adept mean that women aren’t still in a double bind.”

Kara Alaimo | Maternal Health Donations Overflow Bush Blockade
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/110807WB.shtml
Kara Alaimo for Women’s eNews reports on the major fund-raising push behind maternal health initiatives: “On the heels of a major maternal mortality conference in London last month and a heightened international focus on women’s health issues this year, foreign governments and large foundations are marshalling greater funding commitments for maternal health initiatives.”

Lisa Belkin | The Feminine Critique
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/110207WA.shtml
Lisa Belkin, columnist for The New York Times, writes: “Writing about life and work means receiving a steady stream of research on how women in the workplace are viewed differently from men. These are academic and professional studies, not whimsical online polls, and each time I read one I feel deflated. What are women supposed to do with this information? Transform overnight? And if so, into what? How are we supposed to be assertive, but not, at the same time?”

Maggie Fox | US Health Care Comes Up Short in Survey of Seven Nations
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/110207HA.shtml
Reuters reporter Maggie Fox writes: “Americans spend double what people in other industrialized countries do on health care, but have more trouble seeing doctors, are the victims of more errors and go without treatment more often, according to a report released on Thursday.”

Susan Faludi | They Always Play the Gender Card But Hillary Shuffles the Deck
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/11/09/5128/
No sooner had Hillary Clinton proceeded from the Democratic presidential debate to a speech at Wellesley College last week than the wailing began. These indictments were conjured from the slimmest of evidence.

Seltzer and Soguel | Cheers and Jeers of the Week
Women Gain in Elections; Dems Fund Abstinence Ed
By Seltzer and Soguel - WeNews correspondents
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=3382

To watch the video, go to http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/video/?sc=8

Video Transcript: Presidential Exploratory Committee Announcement

HILLARY CLINTON: I announced today that I am forming a presidential exploratory committee.

I’m not just starting a campaign, though, I’m beginning a conversation — with you, with America. Because we all need to be part of the discussion if we’re all going to be part of the solution. And all of us have to be part of the solution.

Let’s talk about how to bring the right end to the war in Iraq and to restore respect for America around the world.

How to make us energy independent and free of foreign oil.

How to end the deficits that threaten Social Security and Medicare.

And let’s definitely talk about how every American can have quality affordable health care.

You know, after six years of George Bush, it is time to renew the promise of America. Our basic bargain that no matter who you are or where you live, if you work hard and play by the rules, you can build a good life for yourself and your family.

I grew up in a middle-class family in the middle of America, and we believed in that promise.

I still do. I’ve spent my entire life trying to make good on it.

Whether it was fighting for women’s basic rights or childrens’ basic health care. Protecting our Social Security, or protecting our soldiers. It’s a kind of basic bargain, and we’ve got to keep up our end.

So let’s talk. Let’s chat. Let’s start a dialogue about your ideas and mine.

Because the conversation in Washington has been just just a little one-sided lately, don’t you think? And we can all see how well that works.

And while I can’t visit everyone’s living room, I can try. And with a little help from modern technology, I’ll be holding live online video chats this week, starting Monday.

So let the conversation begin. I have a feeling it’s going to be very interesting.

TEXT: HillaryClinton.com