AAUW-RWC support for Arise

At yesterday’s branch meeting, we discussed AAUW-RWC’s plan for engagement with the Arise Collective.

Ongoing project: As a branch, we will positively support and impact the teenage children of incarcerated mothers in the Mothers and Their Children(MATCH) program. 

This closely MATCHes with AAUW’s goal of enabling young people to access and complete higher education.

Individual or ‘singular event’ projects: See Arise Volunteer Info, which describes various volunteer opportunities of different commitment levels.  An example is Meal Ministry, a group activity to make or buy meals.

Volunteer form:  Let Arise know your interests and availability by filling out a volunteer form; Arise can suggest volunteer opportunities based on our responses.  Contact Lisa(from AAUW-RWC) or contact Arise directly(outreach@arise-collective.org) for a link to the form.

2025 Planning Session: March 18, 4:30pm at Oak City Baptist Church

Please come and bring a friend to

AAUW Raleigh-Wake Branch 2025 Planning Session

Program planning is first on the agenda, with several possible topics identified as appropriate places to invest our energy. Considerable discussion has already gone into the following:

● CONNECTIONS: Hear from our president the expectations she has about an upcoming conference she’ll attend on the correctional system. (Note: Dr. Doris Bullock will be a presenter.) Future programs might grow out of Treka’s conference experience.

● AWARENESS to ACTION: AAUW-related values are under attack. Many of us have been invited to join letter writing campaigns to protest defunding and/or discontinuation of programs. Please be prepared to share opportunities and thereby increase impact.

● AAUW-NC TRADITION: Invite writers of children’s books, recognized by AAUW-NC, to offer a reading to an audience that includes our membership PLUS young student guests who are winning writers’ audience.

● MEMBERS’ SUGGESTIONS: Your ideas for both programs and projects are encouraged.

BUSINESS MEETING
● Membership report
● Letters received from the larger community
● Opportunities for branch leadership
● President’s Additional Remarks & Adjournment

When:   Tuesday, March 18th, 2025, 4:30PM
Where:
Oak City Baptist Church
726 Method Road
Raleigh, NC 27607

Please RSVP to:  terry.c.wall@gmail.com

Gillian Fields Concert – February 22, 2025

Gillian Fields was our presenter for the October 2024 branch meeting.  Join us in attending her concert, “Songs of My Faith and Heritage”: Celebrating the music of Black Composers and Poets.  Admission is free.
February 22, 2025 at 5:00PM
1136 Apple St, Burlington, NC 27217

 

October 15th Meeting – In Person

AAUW’s Raleigh-Wake Branch is proud to present the speaker for our

October 15th Meeting

Gillian Fields

One Woman’s Journey into the World of Classical Music

The presenter for our October branch meeting is Gillian Fields. She is the Raleigh-based choir director at Oak City Baptist Church and has discovered many other ways of using her exceptional talent. She teaches voice and piano in the Raleigh-Durham area and gives concerts here and elsewhere in the Triangle. The subject of her presentation is the journey that led her into the world of classical music, where a varied and rewarding career awaited her.

Gillian’s music journey began in 5th grade when her elementary school transitioned to a Gifted and Talented Magnet school, where the arts were a focus. After her first recital, Gillian was hooked. She knew that music would become an integral part of her life.

Gillian received a Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in voice performance from Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina. Gillian’s education continued at The Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford in Connecticut and earned a Master of Music degree with a concentration in voice performance.

When:   Tuesday, October 15th, 2024, 7PM
Where:
Oak City Baptist Church
725 Method Road
Raleigh, NC 27607

 

NOTE: This is a special time for us since we haven’t had a face-to-face meeting in quite some time. Please RSVP to:  terry.c.wall@gmail.com

August 20th Meeting

AAUW’s Raleigh-Wake Branch is proud to present the speaker for our

August 20th Meeting

Shaunda Cooper

Dr. Cooper will discuss the topic of creating female leaders and strategies to bring them into powerful learning environments.

About our Speaker:

Dr. Shaunda Cooper is a native of Raleigh NC where she began her work with youth as a counselor in Urban Services at the YMCA. After graduation from college, Dr. Cooper began her career as a teacher, Reading Specialist and NC Principal Fellow. After completing years of school administration, she transition to the North Carolina Department of Education. There she managed contracts for over 200 NC Charter Schools across the state. While growing in her career, Dr. Cooper also founded a nonprofit for young ladies ages 12 to 18. The founding principles are love of self, love of others, community service and international travel. Incredible Ladies United has provided financial scholarships for the last 5 years, even during the pandemic. The recipients are simply fantastic young ladies learning at NCSU, UNCG, WSSU, NCCU and UNC!

Dr Cooper loves to travel, and finds time to do guidance and meditation sessions when over seas. She also owns a for profit company Superior Solutions Ed. which serves students and families in a support capacity. Loving children, and the community is where her heart is.

When:   Tuesday, August 20th, 2024, 7PM
  7:00 pm – 7:15 pm     Network
  7:15 pm – 7:45 pm     Program
  7:45 pm – 8:00 pm     Business Meeting
Where:  Zoom
Zoom coordinates will be sent out via the AAUW-RWC Branch email list.
For more info, contact Terry:  terry.c.wall@gmail.com

April 16th Meeting

AAUW’s Raleigh-Wake Branch is proud to present the speaker for our

April 16th Meeting

Doris Bullock

ARISE Collective: Systemic problems require holistic solutions

Dr. Doris Bullock is the head of programming for women through a non-profit called ARISE Collective. (Until 2004, ARISE was known as Interfaith Prison Ministry for Women.) ARISE offers effective programs by making these issues their focus:

1. After paying their debt to society, far too often women face significant barriers to obtaining jobs, housing, social services and more.

2. Programs at ARISE are designed to interrupt cycles of poverty, addiction, and violence by providing much-needed resources, and a helping hand.

3. Bringing formerly incarcerated women together with those in prison–with additional contact from outside the penal system–community becomes a reality for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women.

Our speaker’s approach to programming draws on findings of her dissertation, entitled Incarceration and the Impact of Educational Rehabilitation on Recidivism. It is a fact that women are the fastest-growing segment of the prison and jail population and ARISE Collective proposes focused solutions, reinforced by the entire team.

Learn more about ARISE here: https://arise-collective.org

About our Speaker:

Dr. Doris J. Braswell Bullock is a former board member for Arise Collective, a non-profit organization in Raleigh (formerly Interfaith Prison Ministry for Women) that provides holistic services to women in prison, both pre and post-release. She currently serves as the Chief Program Officer and is passionate about helping women become their best successful selves. Dr. Bullock’s bio is available on the non-profit’s website: https://arise-collective.org/doris-bullock

When:   Tuesday, April 16th, 2024, 7PM
  7:00 pm – 7:15 pm     Network
  7:15 pm – 7:45 pm     Program
  7:45 pm – 8:00 pm     Business Meeting
Where:  Zoom
Zoom coordinates will be sent out via the AAUW-RWC Branch email list.
For more info, contact Terry:  terry.c.wall@gmail.com

Building networks – Becoming mentors

Think Globally, Join Locally

AAUW has an amazing mission!

AAUW’s Mission: To advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy.

I’m pretty busy with work and family.  And I’m not old, but I’m getting there.  When I look at that Mission, I can’t help but think, “Mission impossible.  I need a nap.” One day, some day, we will have gender equality.  But is there something – something a tad less intimidating – that I can do today?

Well…I have a lot of wisdom and experience, and I like sharing it with anyone who could benefit.  I like meeting people who share their stories as well.  I like connecting people when they have something in common.  And I like to chat over coffee.  Could that help the mission?

Can a friendly chat over coffee drive our mission?  I think so.  Let me explain…

As a young woman filled with energy and enthusiasm, (and perhaps a bit of righteous anger), I thought of AAUW and women’s advocacy solely in terms of STEM projects and political causes.  Now, I see something of a deeper purpose – to focus on building a wide network of local women who actively check in on each other.  If that network is strong, then advocacy will follow. 

Importantly, when we learn more about each other, we build more connections.  When doing so, it is easier to identify potential ‘best fit’ mentors for young women (or men!) seeking advice for either pursuing their career or dealing with the challenges that come along with it.

If you live or work in or around the Raleigh-Wake County area and that kind of networking and mentoring sound good to you, please consider joining our Branch.  Keep up with our Tarheel Branch as well!  The Tarheel Branch is our statewide, virtual branch for NC.

Pandemic inertia is real, and we’re all still recovering.  We need your energy to help us get the ball rolling again.  And when it does…watch out below!

Looking forward to coffee,

Lisa Lowe, Raleigh-Wake County (NC) Branch member and grateful AAUW Fellowship recipient

Let’s Gather Together! Tuesday November 17th, 2020 at 5:00pm

It’s out time again! Looking forward to seeing you all at our monthly meeting.  Check your email for the zoom link.

We’ll have a program that will catch us all up on our officer election results. Meet our new co-presidents Brandy Ndao and Terry Wall!

 

 

 

 

  • our book club anniversary recognition
  • our plans for the upcoming year 
    See you all on Tuesday !!!

Come & Join Us for Our October 20th Meeting!

 

 

Let’s Welcome Our Speaker

Regelyn “Reggie” Edwards

 

 

Regelyn “Reggie” Edwards is the Executive Director of The Encouraging Place, a non-profit ministry in Raleigh, NC created to serve women/families and work toward racial healing. A Raleigh native, she attended local colleges and graduated from Justice Fellowship College of Theology with a Master of Arts in Ministry in 2005.  Reggie is also an ordained Minister of the Gospel.

Reggie has over 25 years of experience working in urban communities.  She has impacted over 5,000 women through women’s empowerment programs and is a Certified Life Coach. She has also led hundreds of men and women in a deeper understanding of race and reconciliation.   She serves as a consultant with churches/organizations on Biblical Reconciliation and works to help churches bridge the racial divide.  In addition to several groups she coordinates, Reggie also holds annual conferences and forums on dismantling racism…God’s way. She believes one cannot adequately deal with issues around racism without a historical, cultural, structural and institutional analysis.  Reggie is a strong proponent of the Racial Equity Institute and participates on a regular basis.

Following God’s call, Reggie Edwards joined Building Together Ministries in 1994, where she coordinated the FRIENDS (youth) mentoring program, the women’s ministry and the Racial Reconciliation/Christian Community Development Outreach.  She says, “everything I know about urban ministry, I learned at Building Together”.  Another one of her passions is the people of Haiti, and she serves on mission teams there often.