“A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.” –Gloria Steinem

Some people may be surprised by Steinem’s broader, more generous definition of feminism. It’s certainly not how most people think of feminism. We have all been fortunate to have a wonderful spokesperson in Gloria Steinem; we have all benefited from her voice, her work and her insights. She recently celebrated her 80th birthday. A few months ago, Gloria Steinem was also honored by President Obama with the Presidential Medal of Freedom  Steinem is a renowned writer and activist for women’s equality. She was a leader in the women’s liberation movement, co-founded Ms. magazine, and helped launch a wide variety of groups and publications dedicated to advancing civil rights. Ms. Steinem has received dozens of awards over the course of her career, and remains an active voice for women’s rights.

Watch this short interview with Steinem after being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=013zj1KNeIE
For more information visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/medal-of-freedom

Read this thoughtful essay by Carol Bragg, a local person who has worked for peace for many years in our little state. She focuses on MLK's ideas about making nonviolence a way of life for each of us. King felt that nonviolence was important for individuals as well as a medium for social change

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You’ve GOT TO read this wonderful story about a wonderful woman in our midst — Sister Ann Keefe –a local hero! What an amazing life she’s led, and how many organizations she’s founded! We are blessed to have her among us. The story is by Edward Fitzpatrick in the Providence Journal. Here are a few excerpts from the article, and the link for the full piece is below.

“With an election year under way, Rhode Island politicians will soon be listening to their fundraisers and pollsters, to their advisers and campaign managers. But first, they should listen to Sister Ann C. Keefe.

“In September, Sister Keefe received one of the “Women of Achievement” awards from the YWCA Rhode Island. And in her acceptance speech, she reminded the “elected and selected” that “public service is just that — it’s service.”

“Politicians often start with good intentions, Sister Keefe said in an interview. ‘But they get mixed up in the shuffle of this or that piece of legislation, or someone wants to get this one a job, or they make promises that shouldn’t be promised,’ she said. Even if they don’t realize it, they can come to value public power over public service; they can develop a sense of entitlement, she said. ‘Power has to be used for good, and you can’t confuse it. Once it gets confused, it can take a long time to figure it out again.’…

“Let’s get to the heart of what we are really about — inviting people to love each other,” she said. “There is no other message, no other way. When you and I are gone, the way we will be remembered is how by much we loved others.”

By that measure, Sister Keefe will be long remembered as a woman of great achievement.

http://www.providencejournal.com/writers/edward-fitzpatrick/20130104-edward-fitzpatrick-sister-ann-c.-keefe-calls-for-less-talk-more-action-from-public-servants.ece

This is a FIRST:  Gubernatorial and mayoral candidates in RI will articulate their Vision of Nonviolence, focusing on nonviolence education in schools and nonviolent tools & strategies for communities.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Monday, January 20, 2014 – 1:00 to 3:00 pm

265 Oxford Street, Providence  –  www.nonviolenceinstitute.org