Reaching Out – We honor California branches for remarkable programs.
The branches recognized below were honored at the 2010 AAUW CA convention for accepting the challenge to reach out and collaborate with other branches, IBCs or other like-minded organizations to plan and present mission-based programs concerning issues of equity for women and girls.
The Program Committee salutes these branches!
Benicia-Vallejo: Women’s Equality Day
Partners: Benicia League of Women Voters, Legislators, Communities of Benicia & Vallejo
Event: Nine locally elected women leaders addressed the audience to give a brief synopsis of the single most important issue for them, or speak about their individual experience as a woman in an electedposition.
Fallbrook: Dynamic Women of History
Partners: Temecula and Vista AAUW Branches, plus AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) students
Event: A luncheon and skit where AVID students assumed the roles of famous women in history.
Fremont: One Book, One Community
Partners: City of Fremont, Author Greg Mortenson
Event: The Mayor issued a proclamation adopting Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson as a community read. Then began 30 book discussions and a Pennies for Peace school campaign raising $34,733. It culminated with a visit from Greg Mortenson.
Fullerton: Math Science Career Day
Partners: Fullerton College, Placentia-Yorba Linda AAUW branch
Event: Over 600 girls, ages 13-18, from 20 schools attended this half day event. It’s an opportunity for girls to learn about careers for women in the fields of math & science.
Gridley: Career Trek
Partners: Butte College, Chico, Oroville and Paradise AAUW branches
Event: About 170 attended a day-long math and science program open to all eighth grade girls, and their parents.
Healdsburg: Career Counseling
Partners: Rotary Club and professionals from the community
Event: Following a career-interest survey in October, local high school students were invited to attend their choice of 13 panel discussions with 44 local professionals providing an insider’s look at a variety of occupations.
Long Beach: STEM Career Conference
Partners: City College, 4 middle schools, 1 high school, Conservation Corps and YMCA
Event: 160 girls attended nine STEM career workshops including: nurse, chemical engineer, horticulturist, marine biologist, optometrist, coroner, financial planner and architect.
Nevada County: Power Politics
Partners: Sierra College, City Council Members
Event: A program showing the film “Women, Power, and Politics” followed by a panel with two city council members and Professors of Gender Studies and Women’s History. The film, and the discussion following, focused on the disparity in women’s political representation.
San Jose: Public Input – Better Output
Partners: League of Women Voters, Commission on the Status of Women, Women’s Studies Dpt. at San Jose State, and county officials.
Event: Charlotte Newhart, AAUW Public Policy Advocate, described how 70% of the State budget cuts affect women and children. The seriousness of these disproportionate cuts became quickly evident.
Victor Valley: Women in Math and Science
Partners: High Desert Alliance for Education; Anthony Adams, 59th Assembly; San Bernardino County Schools; Local businesses; Eleven agencies
Event: The conference was attended by 300 girls from eight local school districts. Workshops included: hydro-geology, firefighting, mining engineer, FBI agent, environmental engineer, CSI specialist, chemist, cardiology, and banking.
Marysville-Yuba City: Math & Science Conference
Partner: Yuba College
Event: Since 1995, this conference for 8th grade girls has recognized the many careers found in the fields of math and science. The event encourages girls to stay in school and plan for a career. More than 542 girls and 40 teachers from 23 schools attended.