Women Ending Hunger
March 22, 2008
Since 2002, Women’s eNews has honored an awe-inspiring,
reader-nominated group of leaders who confront issues of particular relevance to women.
Past honorees include Nobel Peace Prize laureate and 1991
Africa Prize laureate Wangari Maathai, Swanee Hunt and Abigail Disney.
Joan is being recognized this year as one of the “seven who topple tyrannies.”
Joan took on one of the most pervasive, entrenched and debilitating tyrannies:
patriarchy – a belief system . . . that deems women inferior.
She transformed all of The Hunger Project’s programs and created ground-breaking
initiatives to empower women as the key change agents for the end of hunger.
She is now regarded as the foremost expert on and advocate for women and the end of hunger.
In the 1990s, there was virtually no information on women and their pivotal role in ending hunger.
Joan broke through this wall of silence that shrouds women,
their lives and their contributions. She began this journey in 1997 on a flight to India,
when she reached into her carry-on and pulled out “The Asian Enigma,” a UNICEF report.
Joan couldn’t believe what she read and reread – that the high rates of malnutrition
of children in South Asia resulted from gender inequality.
And, as they say, the rest is history. Joan’s 10-year journey to discover the
truth regarding women and the end of hunger began.
She met with leaders throughout the developing world -
from the grass roots to national governments. In Rajasthan, India,
she met with nine top women leaders and advocates.
Joan was shocked to learn about the cradle-to-grave discrimination against women.
In this historic meeting, Joan became clear about the undeniable link
between women’s low status and the persistence of hunger.
In Bhopal, Joan met with women newly elected to panchayats – local government -
who were desperate to make a difference in their communities,
but saw themselves as their husbands’ puppets with no voice of their own.
Joan was deeply moved by the women, and made a
commitment that these women – and all women in the developing world -
would have a voice in decisions that affect their lives.
She transformed all of The Hunger Project’s work in India and created the
Women’s Leadership Workshop to empower grassroots women to be
effective leaders in their panchayats.
More than 65,000 women have taken the workshop.
Joan then investigated the situation in Africa,
and uncovered the little-known fact that African women produce 80 percent of the
continent’s food with virtually no support. To make their heroic contribution widely known,
Joan created the African Woman Food Farmer Initiative to bring the women
out of the shadows and into visibility, and to empower them through small loans and training.
More than US$5 million in loans have been made to 63,000 women.
Joan also confronted the devastation of HIV/AIDS and saw the impact
that gender has on the crisis. Joan then created – with experts from eight
African countries – the HIV/AIDS and Gender Inequality Workshop.
Thus far, 450,000 women and men have taken this workshop.
In 2000, a standoff took place between Joan and representatives of the media in Rajasthan.
They wanted to interview Joan but not the panchayat women whom they deemed inferior.
This altercation inspired Joan to create the Sarojini Naidu Prize,
which rewards reporters who positively cover the accomplishments of panchayat women.
Now, reporters and their top articles are honored at a prestigious
national prize ceremony.
In Bangladesh, Joan worked with local Hunger Project
leaders to ensure greater gender equity, so that instead of 5 percent,
women now constitute 40 percent of our 110,000 animators.
During a village visit, she saw little boys playing. But little girls were nowhere in sight -
they were inside working alongside their mothers.
Joan found it heartbreaking that the mistreatment began so early -
even depriving girls of their childhood. In response, she created National Girl Child Day -
a nationwide celebration that recognizes and honors the value of girls. In 2007,
more than 2,000 events were held. All during this time,
Joan created opportunities for Hunger Project
investors to come to know the lives of the women in the developing world.
She asked the investors, who are among the most educated and financially
blessed people, to embrace as equal citizens these oppressed,
disempowered and marginalized women. The investors responded enthusiastically
and invested their financial resources to empower their sisters in the
developing world.
In the international community,
Joan became the voice for the women of the developing world.
She ensured that the importance and contribution of women was
potently included in the work of the UN Millennium Project’s Hunger Task Force.
She also advocated for the women of the developing world through
international conferences, speeches and testimonies to U.S. congressional committees.
Through her work, millions of women are finding their voice and having
their critical and extraordinary contribution to the well-being of society recognized.
Women’s eNews is the definitive source of substantive news -
unavailable anywhere else – covering issues of particular concern to women and providing women’s perspectives on public policy.
An independent news agency, Women’s eNews, and its editor-in-chief Rita Henley Jensen,
have won 27 awards over the past six years.
Women’s eNews has been widely tapped by other media from coast to coast and
around the globe, from such leading media outlets as The New York Times,
PBS, The Washington Post,
the Los Angeles Times, and the Chicago Tribune among others.
COME CELEBRATE JOAN!
Joan will be honored at the Women’s eNews benefit gala to honor 21 women leaders,
in New York City on Wednesday, 21 May. We invite you to join us in celebrating her!
Ticket costs begin at US$500 (US$350 of which is tax-deductible).
Please visit www.womensenews.org to make a reservation!
BREAKING NEWS!
Joan will be interviewed in April by Dr. Mehmet Oz on the Oprah and
Friends Network Channel on XM Satellite Radio. Stay tuned for more details on www.thp.org.
NEW MEMBERS OF THE GLOBAL BOARD
In December 2007, Joan Holmes and Sheree S. Stomberg (head of Operations
and Technology at Citi Global Wealth Management in New York)
were elected to The Hunger Project’s Global Board of Directors.
JOAN’S FOCUS IN 2008:
BORDERS AND BARNES & NOBLE – GET THE SHELVES READY!
Joan Holmes is currently writing a book that tells her personal
story of the extraordinary 10-year odyssey she took through
South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. The reader will
meet many of the people Joan has met along the way, including the
Senegalese food farmer whose hands and face revealed a lifetime of
unrelenting drudgery, the little girl in Kolkata (Calcutta) whose joie de vivre stole
Joan’s heart, the top nine Indian women leaders and activists who played
a fundamental role in opening Joan’s eyes to conditions of women in India,
and the Bangladeshi woman who shared with Joan some of her most painful
experiences. With Joan guiding the way, the reader will remove the veils
shrouding the oppression, disempowerment and marginalization of women
in the developing world. And, like Joan, the reader will come to understand
that the women of the developing world must be set free and empowered
if we are to live in a world where there is greater social justice and basic needs for all are met.
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Married to Obama
March 11, 2008
As I was skimming thru the radio channels the other day, I caught the tail end of a broadcast on Obama. The interviewer was asking questions to a group of women about Obama’s marriage. What followed next was so astonishing that I could not let it go.
I wish I could remember the name of the interviewer; however it was an NPR Topics segment on KCET Channel 89.3 FM on 3/6/08. She asked the women, “How do you feel about the fact that Obama is strong enough to be married to a strong, fiercely intelligent black woman?” The women were happy to report they supported Obama, and loved that fact about him (marrying a ‘strong black woman’). The interviewer closed by saying that prominent black men typically go for pale skinned women, their trophy wives’, and it is so nice to see a strong prominent black man married to a strong black woman, and it will no doubt help in his votes. The tone was a feel good, happy piece.
Wait a minute.
I’m a European-Latin woman and I have light skin. ‘Pale skin’ if you used the words this women was using, which I find derogatory. I’m married to a prominent black man and I would like to explore this openly with the public. I have been known to be as strong, if not stronger than most women, including black women on the sheer fact I have five children (3 teens and 2 toddlers). The color of the skin clearly doesn’t determine strength or character.
I have met many quiet, timid black women, not all black women are stereo-typically ‘strong’. For many centuries black people could not openly date or marry who ever they wanted to, especially outside of their skin color. With civil rights, it also brought freedom to choose whomever to date or marry without the intense hatred or prejudice towards interracial relations, and so the floodgates were thrown wide open.
Not only did black men date white women, but a plethora of other races including Asian, Middle Eastern, European, Mexican, Italian and Pilipino just to name a few. For those of us born in a generation where we have the ‘freedom to choose’ individuals of any skin color or background, and date freely without any public scrutiny (here in the US anyway)
We take it for granted.
My dad was born here in the US in the 40’s and if he was still alive he would be in his 60’s. He was openly prejudice and would frown at interracial marriages or unions. However, that generation is aging and their prejudices with them are aging too, to an extent. A new, open minded generation is active and at the height of dating and marriage; and we have executed our ‘freedom to choose’.
I never get looks or glances when I am walking with my husband, only once in a while a black women would make a face to me, but that’s it. Then I saw ‘Diaries of a Tired, Black Man’ last year. I was so angry when I left the premiere. The audience was primarily black, and at the end of the film when the lead black man chose a black women after dating many different races there was actually a cheer and mad applause. I was shocked. If this was the other way around and we were in a theatre with primarily white people watching a film where the white lead chooses a white woman over many races, including black, and cheers were heard; there would be protests in the street.
Getting back to the interviewer, what was she saying about Obama’ that he is strong enough to marry a strong black woman’? What is this supposed to mean? And on NPR news no less? Am I supposed to be requiring less of a man to be able to marry me? He wasn’t strong enough to marry a black women, so he married a ‘plan skinned’ woman? Does that automatically make me a trophy wife?
Most black women are the first to be up in arms about prejudice, so why is it okay to openly praise Obama for marrying black instead of a ‘pale’ skinned woman? I am completely offended by this statement. I am as strong and tough as they come, and my husband had to be ‘strong enough’ to marry me, a single woman at the time with three small children. I am not going to be silent about this. Many black women, and other races as well, need to forget the color of their skin and realize people choose each other on hundreds of other qualities and not on skin color alone.
There’s nothing wrong with having preferences and being attracted to specific looks (light hair and eyes vs dark hair and eyes). Now, I clearly sound up in arms too. I am experiencing what it feels like to be fit into a stereotype, by only a minority of people. But, truly how many women feel this way about black men marrying white women? How many strong, fiercely intelligent, black women are there that strong black men marry? Why do we have to stay within our race? What year is this that this conversation is still taking place? What would Michelle Obama say?
I am committed to a world where people choose freely to date and marry whomever they wish, and that NPR news does not broadcast such offensive and prejudice programming such as this.
Bobbi Miller-Moro is an award winning filmmaker and artist with five children. Being an advocate of women’s rights, she is a spokesperson for eco-friendly solutions, and has been on many women’s reality shows. Check out her blogs at www.powerfulmothers.wordpress.com and www.ThankGodForMommy.com.
GREEN AMBASSADORS
March 2, 2008
New World leaders in training.
Written by Bobbi Miller-Moro
Visiting the Green Ambassadors new facilities in Lawndale, California I noticed right away this program is driving Environmental Charter High School to be like no other. Maybe it was the compost corner and vegetable garden, or where they convert vegetables into biodiesel. Or the First Place award-winning ‘Floatation Machine’ made out 100% recycled products. Either way, this school is unique. I am at the home of The Green Ambassadors (www.greenambassadors.org), which is an educational program from the Environmental Charter High School. (www.echsonline.org)
Sara Laimon, the magnetic Founder of Green Ambassadors gave me a tour of their new facilities of ECHS and Green Ambassadors, while still in the remodeling and upgrading phase. As the school is moving out of boxes, and organizing their new classrooms she explained the sustainable plans in store for this unique Environmental Charter High School. There is an air of excitement. As I peaked into the classrooms, students were busy with various projects. These students know they are making a difference in our world for generations to come. The Green Ambassador Program is comprised of an elective class taught throughout schools in Los Angeles area, Youth Summits, Green Mobile Embassy, Green Adventures and supported by Green Mentors.
This groundbreaking organization is beginning to explode. The green element of the program is so strong that even during our interview she was selling organic soda to students from her office. In fact we were surrounded by green solutions, hangers made from wheat, recycled binders made from paper, Forest Certified pencils, even donated environmentally friendly, bio-degradable diapers are stacked on her desk in the office she shares with her green partners. “This program is created to breakdown our cultural social paradigms and educate all. Especially the communities that suffer the most from environmental injustices, the inner city, who normally miss the green education on how to advocate for a clean, healthy environment.” Laimon.
Green Ambassadors, a project of Environmental Charter High School, is an environmental education program that empowers youth to become agents of change in their communities and the world. The goals of the program include: Educating and motivating youth, inspiring them to set a “Green” example through open idea exchange and social action; To create a learning environment that will inspire new thought, helping young people to develop confidence in themselves and their future; To network communities, share ideas and empower local and global environmental solutions; To create “Green Ambassadors” for local communities and the world, inspiring hope within us all for a just, sustainable and peaceful planet.
I asked Sara what’s the future you see for the Green Ambassadors?
With certainty she said, “For all schools to have Green Ambassadors around the world. Who are agents of change and the voice of the environment.”
The Green Ambassador elective class at Environmental Charter High School is a required course for every student to take in their 10th grade year where students receive college credit from Los Angeles Trade Technical College. The Green Ambassadors have already been accomplishing their mission through their trainings in initiatives. These initiatives are implemented by youth who are committed to fulfilling Green Ambassadors mission, vision, values, and goals. The Green Ambassador program provides a different way of learning for youth who want to contribute to this planet.
They have been trained in the One Billion Bulbs Youth empowering youth to imagine the possibilities. With a goal of mobilizing the world to replace one billion standard incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs. Plastics are Forever is another initiative where youth empowering youth to create cleaner oceans by banning plastic bags and Styrofoam (polystyrene) in Los Angeles with Algalita Marine Research Foundation, Bring Your Own, Heal the Bay and other non-profits. Green Ambassadors are trained in Biofuels, Organics, Biodiversity, Remediation of our soil, and constructing buildings and structures out of earth friendly materials.
“Sara Laimon has been a positive light within the sustainability movement for the past ten years. During her career as a classroom teacher, she has guided classes and school groups to create cob benches, convert a diesel car to run on veggie oil, create bio-diesel, and eat organic. Sara has traveled to Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Haiti, Greece, and Galapagos finding, sharing, and learning solutions. She is devoting her life to creating and nurturing eco-activists to be empowered to share the solutions of hope.”
Green Ambassadors currently has two teachers. They are unique in that they are well versed in Environmental Studies. “They approached me with a huge desire for a huge change.” Sara shared with me. The names of these incredible teachers are Sandra Valencia who is originally from Colombia, she has taught High School Spanish for the past five years at ECHS and Dorsey High School (LAUSD). She has been an environmental activist for the past five years working with the Los Angeles Biodiesel Coalition, Dorsey High School’s club Global Warriors. Gabriel Azenna, who’s statement is “Green’ isn’t merely a color… but it’s a state of mind”. He adheres to a pragmatic acceptance that human beings may continue to prosper, but only by recognizing and embracing our integral duty as planetary stewards. Beyond the classroom, Gabriel is the Environmental Education Director for Next Aid, a non-profit organization his wife Lauren, co-founded in 2002. Gabriel also sits on the steering committee for the Coalition for a Sustainable Africa; a consensus-based network of NGO’s all dedicated to sustainable development projects on the ground in Africa.
Sara believes that the passion behind the people that contribute to our program stems from a satisfaction that they are investing into youth, that they see what they are doing is bigger than themselves and they contributing to the environment at the same time.
I was also interested in the ethnic backgrounds of The Green Ambassadors.
She explained they started with inner city children, but understand and promote that there is one world and we are the human race working together to create a planet where everyone can live. Therefore we have ‘Youth Summit’ where youth crossing gender, race, and social barriers and are collaborating as youth across the city and nation to inspire, create, and share solutions for a healthy planet.”
“We are tired of the myths about inner-city kids and their apathy towards the environment!” What is unique about our Los Angeles Youth Leadership Clinic is that it is youth-planned, youth- driven and youth-motivated. Youth are driven to improve their local environment.”
Spelled out clearly on their website; “Young adults are creating their own stewardship model by teaching each other, pooling their resources, strengthening their community vision and inspiring people to change. Youth need to see that they are an influential and vital part of the community. The youth of Los Angeles are the next generation of leaders. If they are not included in the community when they are young, they may not stay in the community to be the leaders of the future. These thoughts were recently expressed by Sabina Ibarra, a youth participant in the leadership clinic, Green Ambassadors, and a student at Environmental Charter High School in Lawndale, CA.”
In asking how Green Ambassadors improved their your local community? Sara reflects how they have demonstrated training for bio-diesel technology, community battery recycling, training local elementary schools on how to recycle plastics, to be a first in promoting city council ‘ban plastic in our community’, Awareness Day, and Earth Day to name just a few. They also are responsible for Southern California Disposal to switch their fleets of dirty diesel to run on clean burning biodiesel.
“Our strategy through all of our programs is to provide experiences for the Green Ambassadors to acquire knowledge and develop the skills that will not only help them in this program, but also provide them with real-world skills for personal, academic, and professional success. The students take the issue, research and develop solutions, and socially market the solution to their peers and the community at-large.”
The FutureThey have not stopped there. Green Adventures are cross cultural global exchanges. After a successful field experience to Brazil in April 2007 with Earthwatch Education, and educating the schools there, they have taken on a new horizon: Columbia. They are currently holding a fundraiser, ‘Support 10 students with the Green Adventure Program’ as they create Green Ambassador Leaders in Medellin, Columbia. Medellin has created several programs that aim to bring peace and environmental action through education. To find out more contact Sandra Valencia sandra_valencia@echonline.org or Sara Laimon at 310.214.3400 ext 118. Visit
(http://www.greenambassadors.org/initiatives.php#Green_Mentors)
They believe that ‘ youth identify an issue, develop a solution, act to bring about the solution, and educate others. The most important part is that young people are becoming empowered to make a difference and are, in turn, empowering other young people. This leads to a community that has youth that are knowledge, active, and know how to make a difference.’
Sara Laimon explained what their Mobile Embassy will incorporate. It will feature a multi-media station and hands-on learning stations on the following topics; plastics, bio-diesel, bio-plastic, solar power, and organic foods. It will be used as the showcase for Green Ambassador to meet, share, and exemplify solutions for our Global Climate Crisis.
With expert assistance from Algalita Marine Research Foundation, Bring Your Own, and a grant from Patagonia, the Ambassadors will transform a trailer into a Green Mobile Embassy (GME), a vessel housing models of green solutions. The Mobile Embassy will serve to teach students from throughout the region about the issues and how they can help to alleviate the environmental problems.” As their site reflects. Jack Assadourian, owner of the Ha-Ha Cafe Comedy Club in North Hollywood (www.hahacafe.com) also donated two school buses that will be converted into biodiesel transportation for the Green Ambassadors.
