Shinesshe TM

celebrating the aspirations and accomplishments of women WINTER 2006/07 FREE

time, talent, treasure

share it

trust it

smile

volume 2, no. 5www.sheshines.org

getting people to care

women ending hunger

students andcommunity service

women of the year

ssppeecciiaall iinnsseerrttywca winter II programs

glorious concertsVenice inspired, Providence performed

oundling is a period-instrument ensemble dedicated to the stringmusic of the Baroque era and a women’s advocacy project.

“The ensemble produces an elegant and refined reading of thethird Brandenburg concerto,” said Channing Gray, an arts writer fromThe Providence Journal after a recent performance. Gray describedFoundling as an all-female string orchestra that dresses in jeans andplays up a storm.

Their inspiration, the women of l’Ospedale della Pietà, the 18thcentury Venetian foundling home where Vivaldi worked as a musicteacher. It was home to the city’s orphaned and abandoned girl chil-dren. Given an honored place in civic life through an arts program, theyperformed throughout Venice. Their musical work supported theorphanage and attracted the attention and acclaim of all of Europe.

“Our hope is that Foundling, too, will achieve significant artisticstature while working to foster public awareness, private and corporategenerosity, and civic responsibility and pride.”

To assist with the issues, needs, and concerns of women andchildren in the Rhode Island community, this season they are workingin partnership with the Rhode Island Coalition Against DomesticViolence.

Two concerts remain in their third season: January 7th - VivaldiGloria and on March 25th - Glorious Naples, Glorious Rome. See fur-ther details in the calendar or visit foundling.org for ticket information.photo courtesy of Foundling

Dec. 26-30, Audubon EnvironmentalEducation Center: activities planned forschool vacation week. Call 245-7500 for adaily schedule. asri.org

Dec. 26-31, Holly Days: week of holi-day fun. Festivities planned from 11am-3pmat the 19th century site of Slater Mill inPawtucket. Admission $9 for adults, $8 forseniors, $7 for children 6-12, and free forchildren under 6. Call 725-8638. slatermill.org

Dec. 28, Diane Postoian at ProvidenceChildren’s Museum: storyteller performs“Diaries of a Frog,” a set of earth stories thatinclude the animated voices of each animalcharacter. From 1-2pm for ages 3-11. Programis free with admission, $6.50. Call 273-KIDSor visit childrenmuseum.org for details.

Dec. 28, Blood Drive: at the DunkinDonuts on Social Street in Woonsocket from4-8pm. All donors receive a free pound ofDunkin Donuts coffee. Visit ribc.org for addi-tional dates and locations.

Dec. 31, First Night Newport: a non-alcoholic, family-oriented celebration of artsand culture. Location is citywide in Newport.Call 800-976-5122. firstnightnewport.org

Dec. 31, Bright Night Providence:artist-run, arts oriented New Year’s Eve cele-bration. Location is at various sites throughoutProvidence. Call 621-6123. brightnight.org

Jan. 1, New Year’s at the Zoo: a winterexperience at Roger Williams Park Zoo. Freeadmission on New Year’s Day. Call 785-3510.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org

Jan. 1, Newport Polar BearPlunge: at noon the NewportPolar Bears take a plunge intothe ocean. This year “A WishCome True” is the charity. Allwelcome at Easton’s Beachand join the after swim partyat Atlantic Beach Club. Call846-0028.users.ids.net/~cwwright/

Jan. 3-21, Wicked: a new musi-cal at the Providence Performing Arts Center.Long before the girl from Kansas arrives inMunchkinland, two girls meet in the land ofOz. Tickets $51-78. Call 421-2997. ppac.org

Jan. 7, Foundling 2nd Concert of theSeason: Vivaldi Gloria. Begins at 3:30pm at

Call Sheniqua Brown at 330-1724.

Feb. 18, Adams Piano RecitalSeries: Ursula Oppens has won renown asa persuasive interpreter of classical reper-toire and a timeless champion of contem-porary music. Begins at 2:30pm. ContactPerforming Arts Series at Rhode IslandCollege for ticket sales and information,456-8144. ric.edu/pfa

Feb. 21, 2nd Taste of the FlowerShow Preview Party: combines beauty offlower show and food of Rhode Island’sgreatest chefs at Rhode Island ConventionCenter. Benefits the Rhode Island FoodBank. Tickets are $75. Call Guy Abelsonat 942-6325 x270. rifoodbank.org

Feb. 24, The Vagina Monologues:coming to Newport as a fundraiser forSilent Witnesses of Rhode Island. Forinformation or to purchase tickets call714-2388. rafiproductions.com

Events are listed in the calendar asspace allows. Submissions for the calen-dar may be e-mailed to sheshines@mac.com, faxed to 769-7454, or mailedto She Shines, 514 Blackstone Street,Woonsocket, RI 02895.

March 8, International Women’sDay: hosted by Lincoln School inProvidence. lincolnschool.org

and array of unusual instruments. Concert atWesterly Armory beginning at 2pm. Call 596-8554. westerlyarmory.com

Jan. 26-28, Women’s WildernessWeekend of RI: great food, heated cabins,classes, and entertainment. Located at W.Alton Jones Campus at URI. womenswilder-nessri.com

Jan. 28, Storytelling Moon 2007: tradi-tional Narragansett Indian storytelling byNarragansett storytellers. Share in oral tradi-tions at Tomaquag Museum in Exeter from 1to 4pm. Tickets $4 adults and $2 for children.Call 491-9063. tomaquagmuseum.com

Feb. 8-11, Love Notes: evening of love-inspired one act comedies and Broadway hitsongs, staged at Academy’s original home,Swift Gym in East Greenwich. Call 885-6910.academyplayers.org

Feb. 9-11, Winter Passion: El AmorBrujo – world premiere at VMA Arts andCultural Center in Providence. Tickets from$17 to $62, call 800-919-6272. For perform-ance details visit festivalballet.com.

Feb. 14, Go Red for Women Breakfast:4th annual event to bring together RhodeIsland women for a morning of education ofwomen’s #1 killer – heart disease. Participantswear red, enjoy a heart healthy breakfast,receive information materials, listen to guestspeakers, and take part in a raffle. From 7:30-9:30am at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick.

calendar

winter 2006/07 www.sheshines.org2 Shinesshe

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Grace Church in Providence. Audience mem-bers invited to bring diapers, personal hygieneand personal care items for women in shelters.foundling.org

Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29 and Feb. 5, 12 AdultWeight Management: Six week adult weightloss and fitness program helps with low fatfood choices, quick and healthy recipes, labelreading, and ways to burn calories. From 6-7:30pm. Fee is $72. Contact MemorialHospital of RI at 729-2574 to register.

Jan. 16, Getting (Financially) Even:Leading Women event at Chelo’s RestaurantBanquet Hall in Warwick. From 8-9:30am.Eveyln Murphy, author of Getting Even, willshake you up and get you acting. Tickets are$40. Call 439-6107. leadingwomen.biz

Jan. 18, RI Women Veterans BenefitsBriefing: at 6pm in the VA Medical Center in

Providence, 5th floor. Open to all RIwomen veterans. Contact Jeannie

Vachon, 275-4208.

Jan. 20, Big SistersClothing Drive: (any genderor size) and cloth of anykind – linens, blankets,afghans, winter coats, com-

forters. From 8am-1pm at theDonation Center on 40 Webb

Street in Cranston. Clothing mustbe in bags. Refreshments available

and tax receipts provided for donations. Doorprize available for first 25 donors. bigsisters-fund.org

Jan 21, Winter Concert by Atwaterand Donnelly: performance of Appalachian,Celtic, and original folk music with vocals

PPoovveerrttyyiinn

AAmmeerriiccaaMMoonntthh!

sights and sounds for the she spiritdecember

shareit

februaryjanuary

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a peek ahead

www.sheshines.org winter 2006/07 3Shinesshe

more for girlsdoes not equalless for boys.

To help or be helped, contactYWCA Northern Rhode Island at769-7450. Or visit sheshines.org.

subscription formShe Shines is a free publication in RI and southeastern MA. To receive a subscription, fill in the form below.Donations are appreciated and help to support this local magazine of women’s issues.

Name Title Comments

Mail to:She Shines514 Blackstone StreetWoonsocket, RI 02895

Organization/Company Address City State Zip E-mail Phone

Optional Donation: $ Please enclose a check made payable to YWCA Northern Rhode Island.

Thank you!

winter 2006/07 www.sheshines.org4 Shinesshe

contentsShinesshe

contribute. She Shines welcomes letters to the editor,

articles, poetry, stories, graphics, photos, and calendar

events. Please contact us if you have an inspiring story to tell

or have a suggestion of someone to be featured. A self

addressed, stamped envelope must accompany all unsolicited

material. Only original contributions will be considered and

may be edited due to space limitations. Include contact infor-

mation including name, e-mail, address, and phone number.

Images provided electronically must be high-resolution.

submit cover art. The cover is reserved as a gallery of

art in keeping with the theme of She Shines. For consider-

ation, please send in a photo by e-mail attachment or mail.

This is a wonderful opportunity for local artists to show

their work. A biography is published in conjunction with

the “Artist Canvas” section of She Shines.

advertise. Visit www.sheshines.org to view the advertis-

ing media kit. She Shines reserves the right to refuse to

sell space for any advertisement the staff deems inappropri-

ate for the publication.

receive the magazine. She Shinesis a free publication

mailed to members and friends of YWCA Northern Rhode

Island. To be added to the mailing list, a subscription form is

available on this page and on the website www.sheshines.org.

The magazine is also available at YWCA Northern Rhode

Island and at various special events.

how to

!

she shines interviews

13 Anna Cano-Morales: improving education in Central Falls

14 Ruth and Kathy Jellison: mother and daughter recognized as Rhode Island women of the year - in ‘71 and ‘06

in her words

11 Jane Lancaster: Brown University archives consultant discovers Christiana Bannister

16 Lesléa Newman: poetically asks - “what to write about?”

17 Volunteer Center of Rhode Island:answers the question - “why volunteer?”

18 Ann Khaddar: returning contributer takes her walk to heart

2 calendar/she spiritinto the new year:experience a string orchestra

5 to/from the editorgifts: She Shines inspired poetry and appreciating The Giving Tree

6 artist canvasimagination: with mentor Carrie Sandman

7 health for herconnecting: to end hunger, the RI Food Bank

8 on the campaign trailcusp of inauguration: Lt. Governer-elect Elizabeth Roberts

9 sense abilitysurvey results: of local women’s concernswishing: for world peace

10 on the rhodepublic spaces: that honor women

12 students speakcommunity service: at Lincoln Schoolwith Carlene Ferreira and Jenna Muscovolunteers: at URI, build “house in a box” for Katrina

15 let’s talk shopCause & Effect: with consultant Gayle Gifford

17 a quote from herstoryMother Teresa: encourages care

23 shining withKim Garneau: “find a passion and turn it into service, it’s amazing what you’ll get back.”

special insertYWCA Northern Rhode Island: winter II programs

volume 2, no. 5

celebrating the aspirations and accomplishments of women

published by YWCA Northern Rhode Island

publisher

Deborah L. Perry

editorLisa Piscatelli

website administratorMeaghan Lamarre

contributors:

writersJennifer Belliveau, Cleo D. Graham,

Ann Khaddar, Jane Lancaster,Lesléa Newman, and

cartoonist - Betsy Streeter

photographersAgapao Productions and

Industrial f/X Inc.

editorial consultantmaria caporizzo

She Shines514 Blackstone StreetWoonsocket, RI 02895

p 401 769 7450f 401 769 7454

www.sheshines.orginfo@sheshines.org

She Shines is published five times a year and distributedfree throughout Rhode Island and SoutheasternMassachusetts. All stated opinions are those of the indi-vidual authors and not of the publication as a whole. Allmagazine content, including the articles, advertisements,art, photographs and design is copyright © 2006, SheShines, all rights reserved. No portion of this magazinemay be copied or reprinted without the written permis-sion of the publisher. She Shines is a trademark ofYWCA Northern Rhode Island. The circulation is 8,000printed copies.

TM

Mary Flynn donates her time and talent tothe Rhode Island Food Bank. See herrecipe on how to eat healthy on a limitedbudget, page 7. photo by Agapao Productions

timetalent

treasure

y sister, Christine Arouth, is just a few yearsyounger than I. Growing up, we shared a play roomwith plenty of toys and books. I even remember thebraided rug, marred with some remaining sillyputty that I carelessly smushed into the fibers.

Just down the hall was the formal living room,used only for company. Though one thing seemedout of place. In the end table, a children’s bookcalled The Giving Tree.

Not fully understanding the story, my sister andI enjoyed the black and white pages with simplewords and line drawings. Its cover, soft green. Yetthe lessons inside grew within us.

This Shel Silverstein book was given to ourmother by her long time friend, Diane Santoro. Aninscribed message written inside the cover, includesa Bible verse, “. . . for where your treasure is, therewill be your heart.”

Our mother, Katy Piscatelli, is an active commu-nity volunteer. She taught us to care about others.Both my sister and I have spent most of our careersworking to make a difference in service orientedorganizations. Now we are raising children and try-ing to pass along the values that we hold dear.

The meaning of The Giving Tree, as I now readit to my children, is a story of unending love andfriendship. Or is it a story of giving and receiving.

Well I think it is both. It depictsgrowing up - the responsibily forself, others, and even environment.

This winter issue is all that too,showing the ways women give backto community. There will be exam-ples of time, talent, and treasure.

TIME: You’ll meet two youngwomen from a Quaker school in Providence. Whilecommunity service is required at Lincoln School,these students certainly give their all. Jenna Muscocreated an after school program and CarleneFerreira tutors inner-city youth.

TALENT: The women in the Foundling ensem-ble use their gift of music to perform and supportlocal charities to benefit women and children.

TREASURE: Anna Cano-Morales with TheRhode Island Foundation represents responsiblestewardship. Here seen in a new light, she is dedi-cated to improving public education in Central Falls.

In 2006, The Women’s Fund of Rhode Islandsurveyed women ages 18 to 75. Among their find-ings, women are committed to volunteering. Withthe local need so great, that is good news.

So pick your causes again in 2007 and make adifference in your own special way. And know, it isappreciated within the community.

Happy New Year,

Greetings Lisa,

I hope you’re doing well. August2006, I was inspired to write a poemcalled “She Shines”.

Be Blessed, Cleo

SHE SHINES

SHINEFeel the ground of someone in need

Dig in deep, plant some seedsSHINE

Touch the earth,SHINE

Your light in the dark,Warm a broken heart

SHE SHINESEvery time

There’s an opportunity to moveSHINE

Your lightSomeone is cold, hungry, scared of

the nightSHE SHINES

Her light moves throughSHE SHINES

Her light bounces offSHE SHINES

Her light reflectsSHE SHINES

Her light whitensSHE SHINES

Her light throughSHE SHINES

Her light for you.

Cleo D. Graham“Grahams of Healing” © 2006

5Shinesshewww.sheshines.org winter 2006/07

to the editor

photo byAgapao Productions

smile

from the editor

Editor’s Note:Cleo D. Graham received a YWCA2006 Woman of Achievement awardfor her work in holistic/natural heal-ing. She was featured in the Fallissue of She Shines.

appreciating The Giving Tree

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Email: info@womenswildernessri.com

Upcoming Weekends:Jan. 26 - 28, 2007 May 4 - 6, 2007

6 Shinesshe winter 2006/07 www.sheshines.org

artist canvas

imagine a momentart’s influence upon children and adults

o capture a moment in time, CarrieSandman thought this was possible. She

began exploring photography. However thelonger she tried to capture a true moment, the

more she was disillusioned. “Just likelooking into a mirror, my photographswere only reflections of what hadpassed, distorted through my lens,”Sandman says.

These days she finds satisfac-tion in creating imagined moments.Sandman explains, “I began to createa world for my viewers that had previ-ously only existed in my mind, as realto me as it was fictional: a worldmade up of my childhood stories ofmake-believe.”

“These women are alone in theirstruggles and the only princes to res-cue them are inside themselves,” shesays.

Reading The Bloody Chamberby Angela Carter further influencedSandman. In this book old fairy taleswere given a new twist by making theheroine appear less helpless.

She sees herself as a modernday damsel in distress. Her subjectsare women in some kind of physicalawkwardness or mishap. Sandman

provokes a sense of mystery or humor in herphotographs, finding that different conflicts takedifferent strengths to persevere.

Sandman loves working with children,observing that they have a great capacity to tol-erate the harsh realities of the world. She says,“From my experience, this tolerance seems tostem from their vast and ever growing ability toimagine and create.”

In her youth Sandman felt loss first-handwhen a high school friend was killed in a caraccident. She credits two artist mentors for help-ing her get through this period — a high schoolart teacher in Tiverton, Gerri Feldman, and aprofessional artist in Jamestown, Julie Munafo.Sandman says, “They showed me the strength ofbeing a woman artist.” Sandman believes theyare why she became an artist. Their influence islikely why she finds it important to be an artistmentor.

Sandman has a Bachelor of Fine Arts inphotography from Pratt Institute. She is workingon her master’s degree in art therapy there aswell.

Her professional dream is to help peopleheal themselves through art, believing that artand play are therapeutic for children and adults.Sandman’s premise, “To fully understand andheal ourselves we must see and experience whatwe are feeling outside of ourselves.”

The photo on the coverof this edition of She Shines

is part of a series of mishapsand enchantments.

Carrie Sandman is working ondifferent lighting techniques

and clothing styles to make herphotos timeless. Sandman,

age 25, teaches photographyand collage to high school

students at New Urban Artsin Providence. Though lifeat times is confusing, she

suggests that artworkhelps a person be less

stressed and more focused.And says, “ . . . finding new

ways to sort out your thoughtsis what artwork does to you.”

photo of Sandman by Agapao Productions

T

7Shinesshewww.sheshines.org winter 2006/07

health for herssppiinnaacchh,,

bbeeaannss,, aannddwwhhoollee wwhheeaatt ppaassttaa

serves 4approx. preparation time: 20 minutes

8 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil2 cloves garlic, pressed1 19-ounce can cannellini beans,drained and rinsed well1 10-ounce package of frozenchopped spinach, defrosted, drained1 14.5 ounce can of “Petite Diced”Tomatoes8 ounces whole wheat pasta

optional: fresh herbs (rosemary, basil,thyme), salt and pepper

Heat a large pot of salted water tocook the pasta. When the water boils,cook the pasta. Heat the olive oil onlow. Add the pressed garlic and stir tocombine. Heat for 2-3 minutes. Addthe drained, rinsed cannellini beansand stir into the oil. Turn the heat upto medium/high and stir in the defrost-ed, drained spinach. Season with saltand pepper. Heat on medium/high 8-10 minutes, stirring often. Stir in theherbs. Stir in the canned tomatoes.Heat until the pasta is cooked. Tosswith cooked pasta and serve.

calories per 1/4th of recipe: 590

approx. cost:$1.20/serving with whole-wheat pasta$ .90/serving with white/refinedflour pasta

ore than 4 percent of all RhodeIsland households don’t have enough

food to meet their basic needs and are at riskof going hungry. Women Ending Hunger isan initiative to tap into the economic, social,and personal connection women have to theneed for adequate food. This collaborationseeks to provide nutrition awareness, home-budgeting opportunities, and to increase par-ticipation in the federal food stamp program.

Stephanie Chafee,founder of the RhodeIsland Free Clinic, is awomen leader volunteer-ing with Women EndingHunger. She splits hertime between the issues offood and health. “If peo-

ple aren’t eating well, I see them in my clin-ic,” says Chafee.

Each month, the Food Bank helps51,000 Rhode Islanders through a networkof over 400 certified member agencies. Oneout of every three people served is a childunder the age of 18. For more informationon the Rhode Island Community Food Bankand its Women Ending Hunger program,visit rifoodbank.org.

Mary Flynn is an assistant professor of medicine in research at The MiriamHospital. She volunteers at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank as a boardmember and committee member for the Women Ending Hunger program. Seeher tips for eating healthy on a limited budget. Flynn has made the spinach,beans, and whole-wheat pasta recipe at the Rhode Island Free Clinic. photo ofFlynn by Agapao Productions. photo of Chafee courtesy of RI Community Food Bank.

5 TIPS:EATINGHEALTHYON A LIMITEDBUDGET

1.purchase canned orfrozen produce vs.fresh (less waste)

2.eat less flesheach day -beef/poultry/seafood

3.use coupons

4.serve appropriateportion sizes(example for starch:1/2 cup child and1 – 1 1/2 cup adult)

5.decreaseeating out

fight against hungerwomen on the frontlines

M

Stephanie Chafee

“This is my ministry, to share the stories

of so many AMAZING WOMEN in RI

who make a difference - when you hear them

you’ll become inspired, enlightened, and encouraged.”

w w w . a m a z i n g w o m e n r i . c o m

Join DEB RUGGIERO,host/producer ofAMAZING WOMEN

Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. on

630WPRO AM and 6:00 a.m. on

LITE ROCK 105

On TV Wednesday nights at

7:30 p.m. on Channel 36, RI PBS

The credentials and convenienceyou want in your neighborhood.

8 Shinesshe winter 2006/07 www.sheshines.org

on the campaign trailwith Lt. Governer-elect Elizabeth Roberts

1: With CongressmanJames Langevin visitingthe Thundermist HealthCenter in Wakefield.Thundermist CEOMaria Montanaro is withstaff giving the LieutenantGovernor-elect andthe Congressmana tour of the facility.

2: Campaigning inWoonsocket duringAutumnFest withher friend andformer RepresentativeNancy Benoit.

photos courtesy ofElizabeth Robertsfor lieutenant governor

3: Looking over a product hot off thepress at Mirror Design, a small business

owned by Rick Roth (pictured).Roberts launched her “Healthy and Strong

Main St. Tour” and visited every cityand town in Rhode Island to talk

with small business owners.

4: Taking part in Lt. Governor CharlieFogarty’s “Operation Holiday Cheer”

which sends thousands of care packagesto our troops serving overseas

during the holiday months.

5: Shaking hands at theNewport Avenue Fire Station

in Pawtucket.

t. Governer-elect Elizabeth Roberts will be inaugurated on January 2nd, intothe highest statewide elected office ever held by a woman in Rhode Island.

She won in 36 out of 39 cities and towns.The issues campaigned on were quality healthcare families can afford; build-

ing our economy and creating jobs; “back-to-basics” education; “peace-of-mind”long term care; “no excuse” emergency preparedness; and protecting and improv-ing Rhode Island’s most important natural resources.

She was endorsed by the Providence Journal, the Providence Business News,as well as the Providence Phoenix. And she received the endorsement of the AFL-CIO, the Rhode Island Manufacturer’s Association, and the Northern Rhode IslandChamber of Commerce.

Roberts has lived in Rhode Island for more than 30 years. Keeping our statehealthy and strong has been her work for the last ten years.

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9Shinesshewww.sheshines.org winter 2006/07

sense ability

Copyright © 2006. All rights reserved. Reprinted with the permission of Betsy Streeter, Cartoonist.Visit Brainwaves at www.betsystreeter.com.

her wish listwomen’s opinionson politics, volunteering,and their issues

2006 Women’s Fund of RhodeIsland survey puts cost of living, healthcare coverage, and education on top ofthe list of concerns for Rhode Islandwomen age 18 to 75.

Three-quarters of the women reportedthat they volunteered during the pastyear in these activities:

44% organizations to help the poor,sick, elderly, or homeless

40% church or religious group39% child or youth development

programs23% neighborhood, civic, or

community group16% arts or cultural organization11% political organizations or

candidates8% unions

Contact the Women’s Fund of Rhode Islandfor more information on the GreenbergQuinlan Rosner Research. wfri.org

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10 Shinesshe winter 2006/07 www.sheshines.org

on the rhode

CCaarrrriiee TToowweerr Located on BrownUniversity campus is a tallsquare structure of red brickwith vertical channeling, sur-rounded by a gold domecupola. The black-facedclock, with its gold handsand numerals, strikes thehours. It was designed byGuy Lowell and erected in1904 as another memorial toCarrie Mathilde Brown.

honoring women in Providencestatues, monuments,and structuresin public spaces

LLiilllliiaann FFeeiinnsstteeiinnMMoonnuummeennttLocated in the west-erly corner of CityPark is a monumenthonoring LillianFeinstein (1905-1998), the mother ofRhode Island philan-thropist Alan ShawFeinstein. Engravedon the monument arethe words “She lovedall people.”

JJoohhnnssoonn && WWaalleess UUnniivveerrssiittyyLocated adjacent to Weybosset Streetare gates to the Main Campus ofJohnson and Wales University. The uni-versity was founded as a businessschool in 1914 by Gertrude I. Johnsonand Mary T. Wales.

BBeettsseeyy WWiilllliiaammss CCoottttaaggee Located in Roger Williams Park is aframe gambrel-roofed GeorgianColonial house built in 1773 andlast occupied by Betsey Williams, adescendant of Roger Williams anddonor of the original RogerWilliams park land. The house isnow used as a museum.

editor’s note:For this issue of She Shinesour intention was to photographstatues of women in outdoorpublic spaces in Providence.We found plenty of men,our search for female statuescontinues.

photos by Deborah L. Perry

LLaaddyy JJuussttiicceeLocated at the east end of Exchange Place on the steps ofFederal District Court. Lady Justice symbolizes the fair andequal administration of the law without corruption, avarice,prejudice or favor.

CCaarrrriiee BBrroowwnnMMeemmoorriiaall FFoouunnttaaiinnLocated in the eastern sec-tion of City Park, the foun-tain was designed by EnidYandell, erected in 1901. Itwas the gift of Paul Bajnottiof Turin, Italy, in memory ofhis wife, Carrie MathildeBrown. The ‘Struggle ofLife’ is depicted in the fig-ures around the fountain.

H E A L T H P R 0 G R A M S

ENCOREplus®ENCOREplus® is a systematic approach towomen's health promotion, in particular,breast and cervical cancer educationand control. Through this initiative theYWCA currently offers community out-reach, breast and cervical health educa-tion, linkage to clinical screening servicesand assistance in accessing and navigatingdiagnostic treatment services whennecessary. The YWCA also offers supportduring diagnosis and treatment.

Note: If you are over the age of 40 andhave no health insurance, or your insurancedoes not cover breast and cervical screen-ings every year, you may qualify for freeservices. The RI Dept. of Health Women’sCancer Screening Program provides awomen’s health exam including clinicalbreast and pelvic exams, Pap smear, mam-mogram, and follow-up services.

For more information aboutENCOREplus®, please call JoyceDolbec, YWCA Health Consultant, at769-7450. If hearing/speech impairedcall 1-800-745-5555 for more informa-tion on Cancer Screening Program.

16+ years old

AEROBIC DANCE IN MOTIONFees reflect member rates, non memberspay an additional $20.

Collette Doura

Mon./Wed., 7:15-8:15pm $53/8wks

Carol GoodierTue./Thurs., 7:15-8:15pm $53/8wks

17+ years old

WOMEN'S WORKOUT ROOMEnjoy the privacy of a women's onlyfacility with: a four stack universal

ww ii nn tt ee rr II II ss ee ssss ii oo nn 22 00 00 77 nn oo rr tt hh ee rr nn rr hh oo dd ee ii ss ll aa nn dd

13 to 18 years old

ART FOR TEENS:THE IMPRESSIONISTSParticularly appropriate for those who havetaken Modern Art for Young People, but allstudents are welcome. We will delve into moreadvanced techniques as we learn about theImpressionists and Post-impressionists. We'llalso explore exciting new media, includingoil pastel and gouache. An art material fee of$10 is included in the session fee.

Missie St. SauveurMon. 5-6:30pm $71/7wks

Adults and teens*

FEARLESS ARTFOR ADULT BEGINNERSHave you always itched to try your hand atpainting, sketching, or sculpting, but don'tknow where to start? Wish you knew the dif-ference between Manet and Monet? In thisclass, adults can get an introduction to art-making, as well as a little art history alongthe way, in a relaxed, non-judgmental atmos-phere. No talent or experience required.Come have fun with us. You may be surprisedby what you can create. An art material fee of$10 is included in the session fee. *Teens arewelcome if accompanied by an adult.

Missie St. SauveurMon. 7-8:30pm $71/7wks

machine, bikes, free weights, treadmill andshowers. You must pay a $20 instruc-tion/processing fee and attend an introduc-tory session in order to be eligible to usethe room. A YWCA adult female member-ship is required.

Adults and older teens

YOGAFlexibility and stress reduction are crucial for dealing with day-to-day life. Take time to learn an art of movementthat will promote wellness and well being.

Kathy Hopkins

Wed. 7-8:30pm $68/9wks

A R T C L A S S E SNew and returning students are welcome;every session covers new artists and projects.

5 to 7 years old

ART FOR CHILDRENIf you love drawing then this class is for you.Learn the basics of art through drawing,painting, sculpting and creativity games.Please bring a smock or junky t-shirt and asmile. An art material fee of $5 is includedin the session fee.

Missie St. SauveurThurs. 5-6:30pm $66/9wks

8 to 14 years old

MODERN ARTFOR YOUNG PEOPLEWe will cover “modern art” from the 20thcentury. The students will learn about someof the most famous names in art. Learn howart can be about more than just painting ahouse that looks like a house. Educationaland very fun projects. An art material fee of$10 is included in the session fee.

Missie St. SauveurTues. 5:30-7pm $89/9wks

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N E W C L A S S

BELLYDANCING

Bellydancing is quickly becoming oneof the hottest forms of exercise today.The combination of fun, technique,allure and mystery make this danceinteresting.

Classes will properly and effectivelyteach bellydacning as a form of exer-cise, expression, and female freedom.Many women gain self-confidence ofthemselves and their bodies throughthis dance.

The class willconsist of:

- Stretching andwarming up, loos-ening muscles,freeing the mindand warming upthe body.

- Technique and dance instruction,including a detailed breakdown ofmovements, step by step.

- Cooling down period.

- “Free time” in which students candance as they wish to interpret theirfeelings of the music, or for those whowish to showcase what they are learn-ing in the performance mode.

Props such as veils and cymbals areavailable for those who wish to usethem.

Various bellydancing moves will betaught including hip drops, figureeights, shoulder shimmy and rolls, hipshimmies, undulations, turns, spins,chest isolations, footwork, and combi-nations.

17+ years old

BELLYDANCING BY DAHEERA

Classes are held Tuesday eveningsfrom 7-8:30pm. $68/9 wks

SHE SHINES™

Published by YWCA NorthernRhode Island, She Shines is amagazine celebrating the aspira-tions and accomplishments ofwomen.

The spring session brochure willappear in the next issue of SheShines. Call 769-7450 to receive afree subscription or visitsheshines.org to view the onlineversion.

The upcoming issue will bethemed - women’s history. Toinquire about ad rates or toreserve ad space, contact LisaPiscatelli at 769-7450.

ment. Licensed by the Rhode IslandDepartment of Children, Youth andFamilies.

For more details or an appointment,please call Kleo Perkins-Becker, ChildCare Coordinator, at 769-7450.

YOUTH ENRICHMENT PROGRAMSOur philosophy for youth enrichment isto provide a developmentally appropriateprogram for children in Kindergarten to15 years that focuses on a youth's indi-vidual needs. We provide a safe, nurturing,and enriching program, which parentscan rely upon throughout the year, espe-cially after school, school vacations, andduring the summer. Program encourageshealthy social, emotional, physical, andcognitive development. Licensed by theRhode Island Department of Children,Youth and Families.

AFTER SCHOOLFor Woonsocket Public and CatholicElementary Schools and theWoonsocket Middle School students, this program is offered Mon.-Fri., 2-6pm.Transportation is provided from theschool to the YWCA. Students from sur-rounding elementary and middle schoolsare welcome, but need to provide yourown transportation.

For more details or an appointment, pleasecall Melissa Flaherty, Youth EnrichmentProgram Director, at 769-7450.

P R E S C H O O L P RO G R A M S

PRESCHOOLThe YWCA preschool is a developmentalprogram for children age 3 to 5. Our phi-losophy is reflected in a “hands on”approach to learning through interactiveexperiences with peers, the environment,and adults. Our most important functionat the YWCA preschool is to ensure thateach child's first school experience issafe, joyful, and enriching. Two, three,and five-day programs with morning,afternoon, or full day options are avail-able.

PRESCHOOL STEPPING STONESA unique transitional program for children whose parents are postponingKindergarten entrance. The YWCAStepping Stones is a developmentallyappropriate setting where children partici-pate in a program designed to enhancegrowth and development socially, emo-tionally, cognitively, and physically.Small class size (maximum 15) allows formuch individual attention andteacher/peer involvement. This programmeets Mon.-Fri., 9am-noon or 1-4pm.Licensed by the Rhode IslandDepartment of Education.

For more details or an appointment,please call Mary Anne Deslauriers,Director of Early Childhood Education, at769-7450.

EXTENDED DAY PRESCHOOLThe YWCA offers several extended dayprograms to help accommodate a par-ent or guardians' schedule. The price is$5 per day for each program.

EARLY BIRDSChildren enjoy morning activities in a classroom environment from 8-9am and then are escorted to their perspective classrooms.

LUNCH BUNCHChildren eat lunch in a social envi-ronment then are offered centeractivities to enjoy from noon-1pm.Lunches are brought from home.

G Y M P R O G R A M S

Walking to 3 years old

JUMPING BEANSGymnastics play with parent.

Debbie Fay/M. Martineau

Tues. 9-10am $50/9wksThurs. 10-11am $50/9wks

HALFTIME PLUS SPORTSGreat fun while building independentskills for 2 to 3 year old. Parents partic-ipate during first half of class in thegym for sports and parachute play.Children later move into classroom forcrafts and playtime.

Debbie Fay/Debbie Nault

Wed. 9-10:15am $65/9wks

2 1/2 to 3 1/2 years old

TUMBLE 'N RUNFitness, games, and gymnastics instruction.

Debbie Fay/M. Martineau

Thurs. 9-10am $56/9wks

SMALL WORLD I , I I & I I ISocialization and play groups; this is anexcellent introduction program.

SMALL WORLD I - 1HRDebbie Nault

Tues. 9-10am $56/9wks

SMALL WORLD I I - 2HRSDebbie Nault

Tues. 10:00am-noon $77/9wksWed. 10:15am-12:15pm $77/9wks

SMALL WORLD I I I - 3HRSDebbie Nault

Mon. 9am-12noon $77/7wksThurs. 9am-12noon $99/9wksFri. 9am-12noon $99/9wks

3 to 7 years old

BREAKFAST SPECIALFun and breakfast for 3 to 5 year olds. Please wear sneakers. Sports, obstaclecourses, etc.

Debbie Fay/M. Martineau

Mon. 9-11am $65/7wks

SPORTSTASTICA new sport every week, socialization,and lunch making for your 3 to 5 year old.

Debbie Fay/Debbie Nault

Wed. 12:15-2:15pm $83/9wks

INSIDE/OUTSIDE ADVENTURESNice weather we will spend time outsideon the playground collecting bugs, birdwatching, and more. Bad weather wewill play games in the gym. All activitiesfollowed by lunch.

Debbie Fay/Debbie Nault

Mon. noon-2:00pm $65/7wks

TUMBLING CRAFTY COOKSBeginner gymnastics skills training for 3 to 5 year olds combined with cookingand eating.

Debbie Fay/Debbie Nault

Tues. noon-2:00pm $83/9wksThurs. noon-2:00pm $83/9wks

GYMNASTIC FANTASTICA fantastic activity packed class for 3 1/2 to5 year olds. One hour of gymnastics fol-lowed by lunch, craft, and playtime.

Debbie Fay/Debbie Nault

Fri. 12noon-2:30pm $104/9wks

B A B Y S I T T I N G

10 to 13 years old

BABY SITTING CLINICChild and infant care training includingsafety and first aid basics. Classes runJan. 22, 29, Feb. 5, 12, and 26.

Deb Smith, RN

Mon. 3:30-4:45pm $38/5wks

P A R E N T I N G

16 to 21 years old

PARENTING IN PROGRESSAn alternative education programhoused at YWCA in collaboration withWoonsocket Education Department,Project RIRAL, BVCAP, Connecting forChildren and Families, and FamilyResources Community Action, Inc.Eligible applicants must live inWoonsocket and be a pregnant or parent-ing young woman under 21 years old.

Class meets Mon. - Fri., 9am to 1pm.

For more information, please call DebSmith, Parenting in Progress SiteCoordinator, at 769-7450.

C H I L D C A R E

INFANT/TODDLEROur philosophy is to provide a develop-mentally appropriate program for children8 weeks to 3 years that focuses on achild's individual needs. We provide asafe and nurturing program, which parentscan rely upon throughout the year. Ourprogram encourages healthy social, emo-tional, physical, and cognitive develop-

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R H O D E I S L A N D C L O T H E S L I N E P R O J E C TA visual exhibit which bears witness to the victims and survivors of acts ofviolence against women. The RI Clothesline Project is currently housed atYWCA Northern Rhode Island.

R H O D E I S L A N D F E M I N I S T R E S O U R C E S N E T W O R KA collective network of feminists and feminist organizations in Rhode Islanddedicated to enhancing communication that links our efforts to achieve acommon goal of equality for all. Visit the web site at rifrn.net.

S H E S H I N E S ™Published by YWCA Northern Rhode Island, She Shines is a magazine celebrat-ing the aspirations and accomplishments of women. Call 769-7450 to receivea free subscription or visit sheshines.org to view the on-line version.

S I L E N T W I T N E S S E S O F R H O D E I S L A N DA traveling memorial honoring women and children of Rhode Island who weremurdered in acts of domestic violence. Learn more at silentwitness.net.

GYM PROGRAMS

CONTINUED

KIDS IN MOTIONGet fit and running, play differentsports, and games weekly. Sportsinclude soccer, t-ball, hockey, golf,and more. For 4 to 6 year olds.

Debbie Fay

Mon. 3:30-4:45pm $40/7wks

BEGINNER GYMNASTICSBeginner gymnastics skills trainingfor 3 to 5 year old boys and girls.

Debbie Fay/M. Martineau

Tues. 10-11am $63/9wk

6 to 9 years old

SPORTS SUPPERTASTICHalf hour of sports followed bypreparation of supper in the kitchenfor 6 to 9 year old girls and boys.

Debbie Fay

Wed. 3:30-5pm $83/9wks

G Y M N A S T I C S

BASIC PROGRAMS

3 1/2 to 5 years old

BEGINNER GYMNASTICS FORGIRLS AND BOYSA great all around introductory gymnas-tics program for 3 1/2 to 5 year old boysand girls. Preschoolers have the oppor-tunity to advance to higher levels.

Debbie Fay/Shelby Lawson/LisaSalois

Fri. 3:30-4:30pm $63/9wks

5 1/2 to 12 years old

BEGINNER GYMNASTICS FOR GIRLS AND BOYSA great all around introductory gymnasticsprogram. Students have the opportunityto advance to higher levels.

Debbie Fay/Deb Nault/Hailey

Franklin

Thurs. 4:30-5:45pm $68/9wks

Shelby Lawson/LaurenAnastasides/Lisa Salois

Sat. 10:15-11:30am $67/9wks

PRE-TEEN GYMNASTICSGymnastics program designed specificallyfor 10 to 12 year old boys and girls.

Shelby Lawson

Sat. 11:30am-12:45pm $67/9wks

10 to 15 years old

TUMBLINGFloor, tumble track, and trampoline gymnastics instruction.

Shelby Lawson/Lisa Salois

Fri. 3:30-4:30pm $54/9wks

13 to 18 years old

TEEN GYMNASTICS &CONDITIONINGGymnastics program designed specifically for teenagers.

Shelby Lawson

Sat. 1:15-2:30pm $67/9wks

CONTINUING PROGRAMS

All classes listed below require permissionfrom instructor for participation. Pleasecall Jennie Graham or Debbie Fay at769-7450.

4 to 7 years old

ADVANCED PEE WEE GYMNASTICS-LEVEL I & I I

Deb Nault/Lisa Salois/HaileyFranklin/Deb Fay

Thurs. 3:30-4:30pm $54/9wks

5 to 12 years old

INTERMEDIATE GYMNASTICS

Lisa Salois/Deb Nault/ElizabethGarceau

Tues. 4:45-6pm $67/9wks

Shelby Lawson/LaurenAnastasiades/Lisa Salois

Sat. 9-10:15am $67/9wks

ADVANCED

Debbie Fay/Lisa Salois/ElizabethGarceau/Liane Barnett

Tues. 3:30-4:45pm $67/9wks

PRE TEAM

Heather Martinelli

Sat. 1:30-3pm $67/9wks

COMPETITIVE TEAM

Monthly fee for all competitive teams:

One day a week $44/monthTwo days a week $86/monthThree days a week $100/month

Jennie Graham, Head CoachBreonna Gentes, Assistant Coach

HOT SHOTS 4 to 9 years oldSat. 9-11am

TEAM A 8 to 16 years oldSat. 11am-1pm

TEAM B 8 to 16 years oldThurs. 4:30-6:30pmSat. 3:30-5:30pm

TEAM C 8 to 16 years oldTues. 4-6:30pmSat. 1:30-3:30pm

TEAM D 9 to 18 years old

Thurs. 4-6:30pmFri. 4:30-6:30pmSat. 1:30-3:30pm

VOLLEYBALL PROGRAMS

ADULT VOLLEYBALL LEAGUESLeague Director: Debbie Fay

If you play in more than one volleyballleague you receive a discount for 2ndor 3rd league. Sign up for two or moreleagues today. Volleyball teams arepicked by draft. Come prepared to playon organizational nights. Dates are subjectto change due to weather or otheruncontrollable circumstances. To veri-fy times/dates, please call Debbie Fay,Physical Ed. Director, at 769-7450.

NEW! (for Sunday league only)Bring in your own team. If you don’t have ateam, please attend organizational nightand we will help you make a team. 12 wkleague plus playoffs.

INTERMEDIATE MIXED CO-EDSundaysOrganizational night will be held January7th from 6-8pm. League play beginsJanuary 14th.

$68/12 wks & playoffs/plusmembership fee.

POWER CO-EDJOHN PIETROPAOLI LEAGUE

TuesdaysIntermediate or above players only. Organizational night will be held January 9th from 6:45-8pm. League play beginsJanuary 16th.$56/10 wks & playoffs/plus membership fee.

INTERMEDIATE CO-ED

WednesdaysIntermediate or above players only.Organizational night will be heldJanuary 3rd from 6:30-8pm. Leagueplay begins January 10th.

$56/10 wks & playoffs/plus membership fee.

RECREATIONAL CO-ED

ThursdaysAny level player welcome.Organizational night will be heldJanuary 11th from 6:30-8pm. Leagueplay begins January 18th.

$56/10 wks & playoffs/plus membership fee.

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A P R E S - M I D IThis club provides opportunities for both single andmarried women to share activities, information, and togain new friendships. Activities include guest speak-ers, outings, restaurant tours, luncheons, and demon-strations. Membership is open to women 30 years ofage and over. Meetings are held on alternateThursdays at 1:30pm from September through June.

Y W I V E S & G I R L SThe purpose of this club is to build a fellowship of women devotedto the task of enriching each member's life by building a programaround education, services for others, and recreation. Activitiesinclude outings, special events, and service projects. Membershipis open to women 30 years of age and over. Meetings are held onalternate Tuesdays at 1:30pm from September through June.

Y WC A M E M B E R S H I P

YWCA membership, paid yearly, is required for participation in all programming except as otherwise indicated. Special non-member fees are available for some adult programs.As a YWCA member, you have access to:l low cost, innovative programsl special membership eventsl volunteer opportunitiesl membership in the oldest, largest

women's movement in the nation (men and boys are welcome as associates)

l use of YWCA facilities nationwide

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

6 to 16 years $12.0017 to 64 years $22.0065 and over $17.00

Children under 6 must be covered byparent or guardian membership.

Membership fees are not refundable ordeductible as a charitable contribution.

Reduced rates are available in someclasses for members 65 and over.

All classes and activities are open toboth sexes unless otherwise indicated in the class description.

A member may use the membership cardat all other YWCAs in the USA.

HOURS

Monday - Thursday, 9am - 9pmFriday, 9am - 6:30pmSaturday, 9am - 5pm

CLASS SCHEDULE

Classes are run in consecutive sessionsduring the school year, with a newschedule for the summer.

ROOM RENTALS

Room rentals are available. Contact theYWCA for details.

STORM POLICY

Please listen to radio stations WOON1240AM or WNRI 1380AM for cancellations, or watch Channel 10 & 12 closing announcements.

School system delays, early dismissals,and professional days do not apply toYWCA schedule.

YWCA NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND

514 Blackstone StreetWoonsocket, RI 02895T: 401-769-7450F: 401-769-7454

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Cheryl Felber-Campbell, PresidentNancy Thompson, Vice PresidentKim Garneau, SecretarySusan Gershkoff, Esq., TreasurerRosemary BriteAlessandra BorgessCathy BrienGail DavisSusan Donahue, DCVivian GodinJeanne LynchDeborah L. Perry, Executive Director

S P E C I A L E V E N T S

Call YWCA Northern Rhode Island at769-7450, for more details.

l Jan. 15, MLK Day Celebration:“Walking in the Footsteps of Non-Violence”.Sign in begins at 9:30am at Woonsocket HighSchool. The day includes an opening ceremo-ny, keynote speaker - Robert King Kee,breakout sessions, multicultural food, culturalcelebration, and the closing ceremony con-cludes at 2:45pm. Co-sponsored by YWCANorthern Rhode Island. Contact MelissaFlaherty, 769-7450.

l Feb. 7, National Girls and Women inSports Day: YWCA Northern Rhode Islandwill announce an event in January. For moreinformation on the history of the Day, seebelow.

winter II session 2007

strong alone. fear less together.

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The YWCA is a women's membership movement

nourished by roots in the Christian faith and

sustained by the richness of many beliefs and

values. Strengthened by diversity, the Association

draws together members who strive to create

opportunities for women's growth, leadership, and

power in order to attain a common vision: peace,

justice, freedom, and dignity for all people. The

Association will thrust its collective power toward

the elimination of racism wherever it exists and by

any means necessary.

Y WC A A DVO C AC Y

Nancy Pelosi makes historythird in line for presidency

One of the most exciting outcomes of the November election is that for thefirst time in our nation's history a woman will be the speaker of the U.S. Houseof Representatives. In January, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will hold the highestoffice ever held by a woman in the United States. As speaker, she will be thirdin line for the presidency.

In another political first, a Muslim has been elected to serve in the U.S.Congress. Keith Ellison achieved this milestone by defeating two other candidatesin Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, which covers the Minneapolis area.

Overall the election was positive for women candidates and candidates of color.A total of three African Americans were elected to the House of

Representatives. The winners included: Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Keith Ellison(D-MN), and Henry Johnson Jr. (D-GA) and one Asian American was electedto the House of Representatives, Mazie Hirono (D-HI).

At the time of publication of this brochure, at least 10 women were newlyelected to the House and two to the Senate. Of the House winners, eight wereDemocrats and two were Republican. Female winners included: GabrielleGiffords (D-AZ), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Nancy Boyda(D-KS), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), YvetterClarke (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Betty Sutton (D-OH), and MaryFallin (R-OK). The two female Senate winners were Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

Fifty-eight female incumbents (42D, 16R) were reelected to Congress.The YWCA looks forward to working with all members of Congress-both

new and returning lawmakers - to enact public policies that help eliminateracism and empower women.

21st annualnational girlsand womenin sports day

wednesdayfebruary 7, 2007

On February 7, 2007, thousands ofsports educators, coaches, athleticdirectors, recreation directors, associ-ation members, sponsors, students,and parents across the country willshow their support of the Day and ofthis year's theme, "Throw like a girl— Lead like a champion!"

NGWSD began in 1987 as a day toremember Olympic volleyball playerFlo Hyman for her athletic achieve-ments and her work to assure equalityfor women's sports. Hyman died ofMarfan's Syndrome in 1986 whilecompeting in a volleyball tournamentin Japan. Since that time, NGWSDhas evolved into a day to acknowl-edge the past and recognize currentsports achievements, the positiveinfluence of sports participation, andthe continuing struggle for equalityand access for women in sports.

Our YWCA Northern Rhode Islandevent will be announced inJanuary….

11Shinesshewww.sheshines.org winter 2006/07

in her words

by Jane Lancaster

hristiana Bannister died in Cranston inDecember 1902: she had been in Howard, theRhode Island Asylum for the Insane sinceSeptember that year. She was eighty years old, andapparently a poor, friendless colored lady and she

was buried in an unmarkedgrave at Providence’s NorthBurial Ground, where shelay forgotten for many,many years.

Almost exactly onehundred years later, howev-er, Christiana was immor-talized. She became thesecond woman and the firstperson of color to join thenotable white men in the

Rhode Island State House when the Secretary ofState unveiled a bronze bust of Bannister.

What did she do to earn this honor? The odds were stacked against Bannister. She

was a woman of mixed Native American andAfrican American parentage, but she became a suc-cessful businesswoman, a supporter of the arts, anda fundraiser for African American causes.

I first discovered her at the Rhode Island BlackHeritage Society’s library, where I learned that shewas born Christiana Babcock in South County inabout 1820, and that she was a hairdresser withsalons in Boston, Worcester, and Providence. Shemarried Canadian-born Edward Bannister, and withher financial support he became the most successfulblack painter in America after the Civil War. Shelater founded the Providence Home for AgedColored Women, which evolved into the BannisterNursing Care Center.

Finding out more about Bannister was quite achallenge. She left no letters, no diaries, no photo-graphs. There is only one portrait of her, a study byher husband, which is now in the Newport ArtMuseum. It shows her dressed in purple, hands fold-ed demurely in her lap, her hair curling gently roundher face. The talented Bolivian-born sculptor PabloEduardo used this portrait as the basis for the bust.

So how do we know about her? Searching for Bannister involved some histori-

cal detective work, trips to Boston, and even to thevideo store. I also spent a lot of time in libraries. Ifirst went to the John Hay Library at BrownUniversity, where they keep the rare books. Theyhave old copies of the Liberator there: it was aBoston weekly newspaper devoted to ending slaveryin the United States. To my great delight I foundthat Bannister frequently advertised in it. She called

herself a “Hair Doctress” and promised to restorehair color and even cause new hair to grow—herproduct was clearly a precursor to Rogaine.

The newspaper advertisements gave addresses,so one hot August day I went to Boston. First stopthe Boston Public Library on Copley Square wherethey keep old city directories, the predecessors ofour phone books. I wanted to find out where shehad lived and what jobs she had done during thequarter century she had lived in Boston. I alsowanted to see if the buildings that housed her salonswere still standing. The answer was no — hugeoffices and bank headquarters have entirelychanged Washington Street, and the site of her firsthouse is buried deep under the Mass GeneralHospital.

One house is still standing, however, and it is onthe Boston Black Heritage Trail. The Bannisters livedfor two years in the home of Lewis Hayden, the mostfamous black activist of the day. His basement waspart of the famous Underground Railroad. One day,when slave catchers demanded to enter, Haydenpointed to two barrels on his front steps, said theywere full of dynamite, and threatened to blow him-self, the house and the slave catchers to kingdomcome if they took one step further. They left.

As Bannister was a hairdresser, and hairdress-ing salons were centers of information for theUnderground Railroad, it is likely she worked withHayden in helping runaway slaves.

Bannister was definitely involved in raisingmoney for members of the Massachusetts Fifty-Fourth, the famous “colored regiment,” whose thou-sand free black soldiers came from all over NewEngland, including some from Rhode Island.

To understand why a regiment needed fundrais-ers, I rented a video. The movie was Glory, starringDenzel Washington, and tells how the regiment wasformed (under white officers — the North wasreluctant to put black men in uniform) and how thegovernment in Washington reduced their pay fromthe promised $13 a month to $10. The men refusedto accept any pay until the injustice was put right,and this meant great hardship for their familiesback home. Glory is a stirring movie with heroicbattlefield action, but unfortunately no sign ofBannister and her friends — but when did weexpect Hollywood to be historically accurate?

Bannister and her husband moved to Providencein 1869, so I turned my attention to her RhodeIsland activities. Edward Bannister helped found theProvidence Art Club, while Christiana Bannistercontinued her hairdressing business. They prosperedfor a while, rented a cottage on the Bay during hotsummers, and even had a boat. I tried to locate herhouses, to feel the spirit of the places where she hadlived, but most were submerged by I 95 or Brown

University, and the one on Benevolent Street looksvery different from when the Bannisters lived there.

Bannister was still deeply involved in improv-ing the lives of African American women, as I dis-covered in the library of the Rhode Island HistoricalSociety on Hope Street. The Annual Reports of theShelter for Aged Colored Women praise her “untir-ing zeal” in fundraising. Zeal was not enough, how-ever, and in September 1902, nine months after thedeath of her husband, eighty-two year-old Bannistercould no longer cope alone, and asked to be admit-ted to the Home. Eight days later the Managers,saying she had become “violently insane,” movedher to the state asylum at Cranston where she died.

In the twenty first century, when women inRhode Island still earn only three quarters of whatmen earn, when women hold two thirds of all mini-mum wage jobs, and when many women and girlsof color live below the official poverty line,Christiana Bannister deserves to be remembered.The bust in the State House is a worthy, if belated,tribute to a very remarkable woman.

Jane Lancaster, an archives consultant to thePembroke Center for the Study of Women andGender at Brown University, is an independent his-torian who has written on many Rhode Islandwomen, including Christiana Bannister. Contact herat Jane_Lancaster@Brown.edu or visit her websiteat janelancaster.com.

photo courtesy of Lancaster

discovering Christiana Bannister

Portrait of Christiana Bannister.Photo of the Bannister portrait courtesy of Newport ArtMuseum. Collection of the Newport Art Museum by extendedloan of the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society in trust ofBannister House.

C

Shinesshe12 winter 2006/07 www.sheshines.org

students speak

Jenna Muscofounded acommunityproblem solv-ing team atLincolnSchool.Working inpartnershipwith CampStreetMinistries, it

offered Project Play, an after-school program. In 2006, their teamplaced 4th in the international com-petition held at the University ofKentucky.

What did you learn from communityproblem solving? “Everyone hassomething to give, to contribute. Somuch promise, all the teams were soenthusiastic. I learned somethingfrom everyone.” Musco’s communityservice includes starting a recyclingprogram at Lincoln and makingquilts for Project Linus.

How can the youth make a positivedifference in their community? “Weare the future.” Musco expressedfrustration at not being able to vote.She suggested that students shouldget their voices heard by contributingin opinion/editorials and participat-ing in rallies. Musco is 17 and a highschool senior at Lincoln School.

Tell me about your life outside of

school? “In my spare time I love toread, cook, and listen to music.” Shehas an interest in the arts includingpainting, drawing, and fashiondesign. “I have been dancing, playingpiano, skiing, and water skiing sinceI was very young.”

Describe your family? “My familyloves to spend time together, whetherby going to the beach, hiking, or ski-ing in New Hampshire.” Musco livesin an old farmhouse with her mom,dad, and three brothers.

Do you follow the news? “I listen toNPR [National Public Radio]. In myfamily, it’s sort of an unspoken tradi-tion.” Her list of important news sto-ries includes finding alternatives forfuel, addressing international famine,and preserving animal habitats. Shespoke of HIV/AIDS as an issue ofconcern to the youth, disease aware-ness.

In thinking about your own future,do you have a career in mind?“Although I was interested in inter-national business for awhile, current-ly I am increasingly interested in apossible career in genetic research,biotechnology, and bioengineering.”

n the aftermath of Katrina, URI’s volunteers swung intoaction to coordinate fundraising to support the rebuilding.More than 1,000 students volunteered more than 15 hourseach to raise more than $35,000. The money was raisedprimarily by student groups, which held fundraisersthroughout the academic year. The funds helped to sponsor

a Habitat for Humanity, “House in a Box.”The house began to take shape when students, faculty,

and staff, armed with hammers and saws, framed thehome’s windows, doors, and corner pieces on theUniversity’s Quadrangel. The house was delivered to thegulf area in November.

URI, Roger Williams, and Johnson and WalesUniversity were named to the first President’s HigherEducation Community Service Honor Roll. This new pro-gram is designed to increase public awareness of the con-tributions that college students make in their local commu-nity and beyond through volunteer service.

university volunteers support Katrina rebuilding

URI women studies major Celanda Montilla hammers nails into lumber while communi-cations studies professor Lynne Derbyshire holds the two-by-fours steady. The Habitatfor Humanity “House in a Box” was delivered to the gulf area in November.Photo by Nora Lewis, courtesy of URI.

I

Summerbridgeis an educa-tional programfor inner-cityyouth. CarleneFerreira taughtliteracy tothree 7th

grade girlsduring thesummermonths. She

now plans to be involved with theSaturday program that begins inDecember. “I felt that I had a con-nection with the kids,” she says.

How old are you? “16.” Ferreira is ahigh school junior at Lincoln Schoolin Providence.

Do you think that a student can makea positive difference in the communi-ty? “I definitely think so. If you putenough of your mind into it and youthink positively. If you work hardtowards your goal, you can make adifference. Any individual can make adifference and it’s even better if morethan one get together.”

Are there issues in the news that con-cern you? “I am really, really con-

cerned about the issue in Sudan andDarfur, the genocide that is going onthere. I’m also concerned with likepolitics, even though I can’t vote. Iread the news and I’m in a journal-ism class. It’s really interesting. Ialso watch the Colbert Report. Hedoes deliver news - it’s just in a waythat you wouldn’t commonly see iton TV. I try to watch both sides, notjust the one that I may be leaningto.”

Have you set goals for the future?“I just really want to leave an impact.”

Tell me about your career aspirations?“I really don’t know what I want to beyet, but I have a lot of interests. I knowthat I definitely want to work in thesocial area, maybe immigration. SinceI can speak a little bit of Spanish and Ialso speak Creole . . . I think that I canmake a difference by maybe translat-ing. Sometimes people come to thiscountry and they don’t know how tospeak English and they’re just throwninto things. I want to help people whocome with nothing.”

What makes you happy? “My familyreally makes me happy. I love myfamily.” Due to persecution in CapeVerde, Ferreira’s mother, father, twosisters, and a brother immigrated tothe United States. Ferreira has alwayslived in Rhode Island. “My oldest sis-ter just recently moved back to CapeVerde with my niece and my nephewwho I love dearly. It kind of makesmy sad. I wish that we could all betogether, but she’s happy over there.”Ferreira has extended family that livein the United States, Cape Verde, andEurope.

caring for othersstudents from an all-girl Quaker school in Providence

Lincoln School is the only kindergarten to grade 12, all-girls Quaker school inthe nation. They encourage all their students to participate in community serv-ice. Jenna Musco, left, founded Lincoln’s Community Problem Solving team.Carlene Ferreira, right, teaches with the Summerbridge program.Interviews by Lisa Piscatelli. Photos by Agapao Productions.

13Shinesshewww.sheshines.org winter 2006/07

she shines interview

by Deborah L. Perry

nna Cano-Morales is young, bright, articulateand grew up in Central Falls.

“Not many people out there see people like meas a product of Central Falls…. contributing citizen,participating civically, involved in community, giv-ing generously to causes, volunteer and homeown-er,” she said.

Cano-Morales, a senior program officer at TheRhode Island Foundation, a graduate of theUniversity of Rhode Island who earned a master’sdegree in social work at Rhode Island College,knows the power of education.

“There are many more people out there like me,but we have a common denominator – we hadaccess to education. Education was my ticket outand is for most urban kids, most low incomeminorities; it’s exposure to other ways of life, otherresources and formal education,” she said.

That’s not exactly happening yet in Cano-Morales’ native Central Falls.

Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act,the state of Rhode Island adopted procedures fordetermining school performance in areas such asmath and English. Central Falls consistently hassome of the lowest performing schools in the state.As of 2004, 86 percent of Central Falls schools“needed improvement”.

Central Falls also has one of the state’s highestconcentrations of young people living in economi-cally disadvantaged circumstances and a significantportion of its population is transient or newly arriv-ing immigrants.

“The obstacles for our kids are so much higherthan they are for other kids. Race, ethnicity, class,lack of financial opportunity are factors. The listgoes on and on. Our kids have to work two; some-times three times harder than kids in other commu-nities. Odds are against them – the minority com-munity knows they deserve excellence, the bar ofexpectations needs to be set high, at all levels, andthat starts with the school board” she said.

The Central Falls school district is the onlystate-financed district in Rhode Island and its schoolboard is appointed by the state board of regents.

In 2005 Anna Cano-Morales accepted anappointment to the Central Falls School Board ofTrustees. “I don’t think I picked the school board -it picked me. The opportunity came to me.”

Cano-Morales said it was a very interesting sit-uation she walked into. There were gender dynam-ics and generational gaps. She was one of threewomen, all minorities. The remaining three boardmembers were older men – two elected officials,

one former elected official.Enthusiastic and excited about her appointment,

she was ready to get down to the business of mak-ing a difference. But Cano-Morales found herselfgrowing impatient at school board meetings, wherefootball schedules and class trips dominated theconversation, and where she was assigned to thebuilding and grounds committee.

Cano-Morales was interested in diving into pol-icy issues that had to do directly with student aca-demic achievements.

A Strong VoiceGrowing up Cano-Morales’ parents knew theimportance of education and lacked confidence inthe public school system. They sent her to privateschool until ninth grade, when her family was livingin Pawtucket.

Her parents came to Central Falls in the 1960sand were among the first Columbians to arrive inthe Blackstone Valley area.

Her father had a prestigious job: he was theboss, a foreman in a factory. He traveled back andforth to Columbia to recruit skilled workers for thetextile industry, skills they honed to an art whilestill in South America.

Because the new workers spoke only Spanish,Cano-Morales often became their translator. “Myfather would offer me as their little lawyer. I’d go tolaw offices, go and buy cars and negotiate, negoti-ate for apartments, attend job interviews. Nothingwas in Spanish. I was the translator.”

At a young age, she developed a strong voice. Shelearned to speak not only for herself but also for others.

“I remember being 7 years old and translatingfor adults. Filling out food stamp applications forpeople who were in need of food stamps. I remem-ber translating for my own mother. I remembergoing into the health center on Washington Streetwith my mother. She was going to get a PAP smear.I had to explain what was being done to her – at 10years old,” she said.

Informed by Two Worlds“I’m of Columbian descent, first generation. ButI’m as much a Rhode Islander as you are.Obviously I live in two worlds. I have these deeproots; it’s my Columbian heritage. I’m also a veryproud Rhode Islander.”

Cano-Morales is also proud of her Central Fallsupbringing. It is here where she is committed tomaking a difference.

During the past six months, the Central Fallsschool board has been reconstituted. Four newmembers were appointed and Peter McWalters, RI

Commissioner of Elementary and SecondaryEducation, asked Cano-Morales to chair the board.She agreed, with conditions. She asked McWaltersfor his support of her leadership and for support ofthe district as a whole. And she demanded a part-nership with the state.

“The state missed a huge opportunity – whatdoes it mean to own a public school district? Thestate has a laboratory right here in the palm of theirhand. I’m here to say to Peter McWalters or whoev-er will listen to me: We are open to that, we wel-come that. We want our kids to have the best andwe’re here to cooperate.”

When Cano-Morales arrived on the board, shesaid, “the bar was on the floor.” “There was tons ofnepotism, the level of accountability and level ofrespect was not there.”

July 20th will mark her third year on the schoolboard. She’s seen some changes during her tenureas well as ongoing transformation, but “we’re juststarting, we’re just revving up,” she said.

“I hope to leave the Central Falls communityand Central Falls school district in a much betterplace than when I found it. It deserves better.”

deep roots in the communityColumbian American Rhode Islander advocates for access to education

Anna Cano-Morales stands on the balcony of TheRhode Island Foundation where she is senior pro-gram officer. Along with her program officer duties,she currently co-leads the Hispanics in Philanthropyfunding collaborative and grantmaking for the foun-dation. photo by Deborah L. Perry

A

Shinesshe14 winter 2006/07 www.sheshines.org

she shines interviews

by Lisa Piscatelli

uth Jellison grew up looking at the wordsof Virgil above the school chalkboards:“The noblest motive is the public good”.

She made sure her children learned this early.“Mom taught me that the universe is on the side ofjustice,” Kathy Jellison says. Her mother was recog-nized in 1971 as the Kiwanis Club’s first woman“Man of the Year”, due to her successful bond-driveefforts for the Woonsocket Harris Public Library.

Kathy Jellison recently received a 2006 Womanof the Year award from the Rhode Island

Commission on Women. During the ceremony, shethanked her mom saying, “Mom who was alwayspolitically active and smart, who worked hard in ourcommunity, owned her own business, who volun-teered, who picketed, who spoke truth to power inher loving and persuasive way. I thank you for yourgenerous heart and mind and for teaching me toinvest myself in things that matter.”

And speaking about her own long history ofwork in non-profit organizations, Kathy Jellisonsays, “There are three legs of the stool that hold upour society – the public/government sector; the pri-vate/business sector; and the third sector, the non-

profit sector. This is where I work for the most part.The nonprofit sector – repository of our values, allthat we hold dear, those things that define us as apeople – arts, education, communities of faith.”

Contributing as a volunteer in various organiza-tions and as a mentor to a student at SophiaAcademy, Kathy Jellison says, “If I mentor, it isbecause so many have and continue to mentor me.For me, mentoring is that rare win-win situationwhere we are all teachers and all learners – offeringencouragement and experience, listening andresponding, mutually investing in each other’sfuture.”

Ruth Jellison with daughter Kathy Jellison, now both are recognized asWomen of the Year. photo by Agapao Productions

just lessonstorch passes from mother to daughter to . . .

R

by Lisa Piscatelli

ayle Gifford, president ofCause & Effect, challenges thenotion that a nonprofit’s

resources are limited. Rather, nonprof-its are constrained at times by not

looking out-ward enough.“We are onlylimited by ourability toimagine theway to makesolutions. We

are rich in partnerships and we are richin resources,” Gifford says. She identi-fies her role as engaging in the worldand listening to what her clients need.

Celebrating the company’s 10th

year anniversary, she jointly devel-oped a consultancy busi-ness with her husband,Jonathan Howard. Theirprimary clients are non-profit businesses and gov-ernment agencies.

How do you get peo-ple to care? Giffordbelieves it is to give thema vision of a positivefuture. She says, “A visionof change that excitesthem and engages them,that they can see and feeland hunger and thirst for.People give to theirdreams and if we forgetthat, it is really hard toraise resources and connect people toour issues.”

She sees a great challenge fornonprofits, recognizing that they areaging in the way they connect to peo-ple. Gifford suggests that the older,more established institutions are goingto really have to think about how tomake connections with young people.She is delighted by the growing num-ber of youth based organizations andis watchful in understanding their newengagement of community.

Describing a business plan devel-oped for a youth service organizationin Worcester, Cause & Effect set up

clear stages of growth, allowing theclient to proceed without taking onundo risk. Now this client has openeda new office in California.

Gifford herself asks a question,“Something I have been grapplingwith a lot, how much is enough? Ithink the largest nonprofits have toask that question.”

Money is not more important thanmission Gifford says, “It’s not thatmoney isn’t important, it allows us toachieve things that we might not haveotherwise. But, the center of the workis the good that it does for other peo-ple.” She says that nonprofit organiza-tions exist due to public trust, a ‘phil-anthropic moral compass’.

Referring to the golden rule as aguide to ethical behavior, she says,“We have a moral obligation to each

other. That is what oursociety is about and thesecond we lose sight ofthat is when we get intotrouble . . . Your actionshave impact on the world.”

Raised a RomanCatholic and althoughsteered away, she feelsthat her core is embeddedin Catholicism. Giffordsays, “I think there is anobligation to give, help,lift up. [The tradition]gave you a sense thatthere were issues biggerthan you.”

She cites a HollyNear song, “I ain’t afraid of yourYahweh. I ain’t afraid of your Allah. Iain’t afraid of your Jesus. I’m afraidof what you do in the name of yourGod. I think that resonates prettystrongly,” Gifford says.

A similar theme echoes as sherecalls events in history, “Nonviolentdirect action required courage . . . ithas transformed. Look at India. Lookat the civil rights movement. I thinkthose are the lessons that we need totake.” Gifford thinks that we need tohear more of these lessons instead ofthe messages of violent power.

Gifford grew up in the 60’s and

70’s. “Our ability to control our repro-ductive issues, our lives, our bodies,our choices, our children was verylimited. Those struggles have alwaysinformed my life,” she says.

Her father died when she was 14.“We received social security after mydad. I understand the power of thatbenefit. It’s a very personal experi-ence. We would not of survived with-out that benefit.” Her mother raisedfour children by running payroll forlocal businesses. As a child, GayleGifford was not fully aware of thefamily’s struggle with money.

Her activism started over women’sissues in high school. The messages ofwhat could or couldn’t be done wereeverywhere. Gifford was one of threegirls in high school allowed to takeauto mechanics, but that was a battlefought hard. “It was a knock out dragout fight to take that class,” she says.

Gifford’s mother and grandmotherare two of the extraordinary women ofwhom she spoke fondly. But, shestruggled through tears describing theinfluence of Anneliese Thiemann.

Back in ’76, Thiemann was anolder woman living in a carriagehouse in Jamestown during the sum-mer and then in an old NorthKingstown home for the rest of theyear. Thiemann was a refugee. Shereceived a pension from the Germangovernment, kind of reprobation forwhat she suffered. This money shedonated to causes.

Thiemann read 38 publications amonth. Gifford loved being aroundher and enjoyed lunches with thisbright woman interested in the world.

In discussing a newspaper article,Thiemann found out that Gifford wasnot registered to vote. Thiemannimmediately told Gifford that shecould not step in her house again untilshe registered to vote. And thenThiemann proceeded to tell Giffordher own story.

It began with her employed as asocial worker in the prisons ofGermany. Caring for the jailedwomen, Thiemann offered them com-fort. When able, she assisted in get-ting then released. The Nazi’s eventu-ally caught on and Thiemann wastipped off to an arrest list. Thiemannnarrowly escaped to the United States.Thiemann’s words to Gifford, “You

know Hitler was elected. Never thinkyour vote doesn’t count.”

Gifford has voted in every elec-tion since that day. Thiemann left abig impression on Gifford for her pol-itics, courage, and philanthropy.

These days, Gifford’s number onepassion is the Rhode Island Councilfor the Humanities. She is the chairand has been on the board for almostfive years. Gifford believes thehumanities help us make meaning ofour lives — where were we, how didwe get to where we are now, and allowreflection upon where we are going.

Making sure that her integratedlife of activism doesn’t tip too muchon the work side rather than on thefamily side is a constant struggle.Also, the expense of health insuranceconcerns this family-owned business.

Married for 23 years, Gifford andHoward have three children - twin 17year-old sons and a 22 year-old daugh-ter. The daily family conversation isabout peace and justice, civil liberties,human rights, international issues,school reform, and neighborhood bet-terment. “They [the children] are veryinterested in the bigger issues of theworld. We don’t force them to do stuff,because it will evolve for them natu-rally by being exposed. When theyfind the issues that resonate the mostfor them, they’ll move on that.”

Gifford says, “Bottom line inbusiness is profit. Bottom line in anonprofit is changing the world. Nowthe irony in that, we [Cause & Effect]are in business to make money. But,we’ve chosen this line of workbecause it is our calling.”

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Shinesshewww.sheshines.org winter 2006/07

let’s talk shop

her callingactivism homegrown

“Our work isour life, ourvocation. Ourfocus is helpingorganizationsmake communi-ty change, tomake our worlda better place.That is what wedo,” saysGifford.

Gifford wrote thebook, How Are WeDoing? It is availablefor purchase throughContributionsMagazine.

Gifford readsbooks about organi-zational change.This flows from her

concern for social justice, issues ofpoverty, discrimination, civil rights, andcivil liberties. These issues have alwaysbeen part of her life. She gets to do thiseveryday with her professional work atCause & Effect (CEffect.com).photo by Agapao Productionsbook image courtesy of Gifford

G

Gayle Gifford

Shinesshe16 winter 2006/07 www.sheshines.org

in her words

he way the light fallsacross your face in the morningas you move from dreams into day

The way the cat purrswhen you lift your head from the pillowThe slap of your feet against the wooden floorHow she weaves herselfin and out of your anklesHow your wrist twists as you open a canthe plop of the cat foodand the bend of your back as you place her dish on the floor

The sound each drop of water makesagainst your skin in the showerThe way you pour tea into a tea cupand butter toastThe thrust of your arm into a jacket sleeveand the way you slam the door

Your thoughts as you type letters or change diapersserve food or clean housesand how you feel when you have five minutes to yourselfbehind the bathroom door

The way you sing off key with the radio on the way homeThe lurch of the car as you shift into thirdThe flock of birdsthat passes like a shadow overheadand all the trees disappearing behind you

The squeak of the mailbox lidand the letter from your next to last lover

The graceful arc of your neckas you stand slicing vegetablesand the salad that needs something elseThe way you pauseone hand on your hipthe other on the refrigerator doorThe sound of fork against plateice cube against glassthe scraping back of your chairthe rush of water in the sinkand the flush of the toilet down the hall

The steady creak of the rocking chairand the shadow it casts on the wallThe way the windows fillwith indigo and then turn darkand the stark beautyof your own reflection in the glassas you look upstartled by a distant clap of thunder

The occasional turning of a page like a sighand the cat asleep with her head on your arm

The crease between your eyebrowsand the way you bite the tip of your penThe endless blue linesthat stretch across your notebookpage after page after pagelike a million empty horizonsthat only you can fillwith all the wordsthat make up your life.

trustit

Lesléa Newman is the author of 50 books for adults andchildren. Her titles include the writing guide Write from theHeart, the short story collection A Letter to Harvey Milk, thenovel In Every Laugh a Tear, the poetry collection Signs ofLove, and the children’s books A Fire Engine for Ruthie,The Boy Who Cried Fabulous, and Haciko Waits. Visitlesleanewman.com to learn more about her work.photo and image courtesy of Newman

what to write aboutby Lesléa Newman

helping to find your words

T

17Shinesshewww.sheshines.org winter 2006/07

in her words

a quote from herstory

Mother Teresa

1910-1997

“Do not wait for leaders.Do it alone, person to person.”

She was born Agnes Goxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje,Macedonia. But Mother Teresa felt a calling early toserve the poor. She founded the Missionaries ofCharity and focused on serving the dying. The NobelPeace Prize was awarded to her in 1979. Six years afterher death, Mother Teresa was blessed by Pope JohnPaul II.

Jone Johnson Lewis. “Mother Teresa Quotes.” AboutWomen’s History. RL:http://womenshistory.about.com/od/quotes/a/mother_teresa.htm. 10/12/2006

Mother Teresa monument in Tirana, Albania. photo 2006 © sxc

by Jennifer Belliveau

ith the fast pace of modern life, it seemslike women today are getting pulled in

all directions at once. Work, kids, friends, faithorganizations, exercise classes, and those raremoments alone fill every hour of every day.Considering the time crunch that many women findthemselves in, it may seem surprising to find outthat in Rhode Island today, womencomprise the largest volunteer base inthe state.

In Volunteering in America: StateTrends and Rankings, a new studyreleased by the Corporation forNational and Community Service, it isdetermined that the average or typicalvolunteer in Rhode Island is a womanaround the age of 44 who volunteers anaverage of 40 hours a year for educa-tional or youth services as a coach, ref-eree, tutor, teacher, or mentor. As awhole, residents of Rhode Island eachyear contribute an average of23,762,425 hours of volunteer work.Given the Independent Sector’s dollarvalue of volunteer time, this number totals$428,674,150 of service to the state, and more thanhalf of this comes from adult women.

In every state, females volunteer at a higher ratethan males. Nationally, women who work volunteerat higher rates than women who are not in the laborforce. If women today are so busy, why do so many

of them still make time to contribute significantamounts of service to their communities? In part, itmay be in an attempt to instill values into their kids.A youth from a family where at least one parentvolunteers is almost twice as likely to volunteer as ayouth with no family members who volunteer, andnearly three times as likely to volunteer regularly.

There are many other considerable benefits tothose who choose to volunteer. Volunteering pro-vides important experience for professional devel-

opment. Volunteers make networkingcontacts, prove themselves to be leadersand learn and cultivate new skills thatthey might not be able to get on the job.The social benefits to volunteering areenormous. People who give time to theircommunity make new friends, feel val-ued and needed, build self-esteem, gainself-confidence and constantly have thatgood feeling which comes from knowingthat they made a big difference in some-one else’s quality of life. Those who vol-unteer are also proven to live longer andremain more mobile and happy in oldage.

Some women may hesitate to vol-unteer as it has the potential to take them

away from their families for even more time. Familyvolunteering is an excellent solution to this per-ceived problem. Many nonprofits across RhodeIsland offer volunteer opportunities that the entirefamily can participate in, from parents and grand-parents to the youngest children and sometimeseven the family pet. Family volunteering has the

added benefitof makingfamily timevaluable toboth membersof the familyand the com-munity as awhole. It canimprove fami-ly communica-tion, create anew generationof dedicatedvolunteers, andmost importantly, it’s fun!

To start making a difference in the communityon your own, with a social group or women’s clubor as a family, get involved! Go to vcri.org andclick on “Find a Volunteer Opportunity” on the leftside of the page. Do a quick search on this page, orclick on “Try a Full Search” to really narrow downthe options. The website makes finding a fun andinteresting opportunity easy. You can plug in yourage range, interests, zip code, distance willing totravel and groups you would like to work with toreceive volunteer opportunities that are tailored toall your requirements. These listings are from themore than 950 agencies around Rhode Island thatrecognize the valuable and varied services thatwomen can provide to help each agency fulfill itsmission to help others.

The mission of the Volunteer Center of RhodeIsland is to connect people and opportunities foreffective volunteer community service.This is doneby promoting volunteerism statewide, connectingvolunteers to community needs, building the capaci-ty for effective volunteerism through training andconsultation, and by collaborating with communitystakeholders where volunteers are involved.photo 2006 © sxc

busy femaleswhy they spend time volunteering

W

Consideringthe timecrunch thatmany womenfind themselvesin, it may seemsurprising tofind out that inRhode Islandtoday, womencomprise thelargest volun-teer base inthe state.

Shinesshe18 winter 2006/07 www.sheshines.org

in her words

by Ann Khaddar

’ve been trying for days to write somethingabout service as an essential component of life,

sustaining and necessary to both helper and benefi-ciary, and moving us all inthe direction of peace andsurvival, even in the faceof destruction and fear.

But every approachI’ve taken has seemedeither derivative (“NativeAmerican tradition recog-nizes the interconnected-ness of all creatures andthe inevitability of whathappens to one affectingall….”), or exploitative

(“The Amish families who lost their daughters to ashooter this fall chose compassion and service overvengeance as a way to elevate their souls in the faceof their grief rather than debase them….”), orpreachy (“Greenhouse gases emitted by the wealthi-est nations threaten the delicate balance of survivalfor the poorest people in the world….”), or justplain dull (I’ll spare you an example).

So I’ve chosen to write about something entire-ly different.

I took a walk on a country road as dusk wasgathering. In my inland town the maples and oaksare old and very tall. Their bases are enormous, andtheir roots grip and lift the soil around them likegreat fingers squeezing clay. Now bare and setagainst a darkening sky, the trees look taller and

more ancient - wilder - than ever. The trunks andbranches that drew little notice in the green flush ofsummer now show themselves scarred, etched withevidence of growth and passing time, and stripedwith lichen.

The crumbling stone walls along the road arewet from recent rain, with rusty fallen leaves cling-ing to them randomly and hovering around theirbases. A chipmunk skims along a length of wall, hissmall back flashing auburn in the waning light. Thesound of my step sends him vaulting up an embank-ment too quickly for my eyes to follow.

The air is warm for November, and no woodsmoke is mixed with the smell of damp pines nee-dles and moss on the still-soft earth. There is noblush in west or east as the sun grows lower, only adeepening of the gray that has dominated the skyall day.

In November in my old town, I would bewatching the last of the cormorants take off fromthe surface of the cove, leaving it rippling behindthem. I would be hearing the Canada geese encour-age one another in flight, flying so low sometimesthat the flapping of their wings would be audible.Here I’ve seen few geese, and the seabirds followother routes, coastal routes, to their winter homes.

Wild turkeys, though, are everywhere. Flocksmake themselves comfortable on low branches andshed roofs, and cross yards and roads unhurriedly,with heads bobbing in a neighborly way. I wait fora group to cross, and one or two glance at me with-out concern before spreading massive wings toscale a wall and then fade into the woods.

The route home takes me through the heart oftown, where three simple old buildings – town hall,

church, and library - stand around a miniscule com-mon, still serving the public purposes they werebuilt to fulfill generations ago. The war memorialrecalls children of the town who died far from thesilence of this humble crossroads. On a rise besidethe church, ancient dark slate grave markers slanterratically, like distracted parishioners lost in theirdivergent thoughts. Beyond them, the heavy skypresses against a protective line of trees; soon itwill be as dark as the web of their black and out-spread branches.

I am walking up a steep hill to my house whena very large bird glides into view. Its great wingsare fringed in distinct feathers with rounded tips,and their undersides, as the bird passes low over-head, flash brighter than the sky. It tilts as itengages a higher eddy of air, showing its whitehead and neck, pale beak. An eagle.

At home, I bring it all inside with me. And Istay out in the night with all that’s touched me.

Ann Khaddar is a freelance writer living in CentralMassachusetts. annkhaddar@charter.net

Khaddar photo courtesy of Ann Khaddar.Heart leaf photo 2006 © sxc.

evening walk

I

19Shinesshe

withKim Garneau

shining

selfDefine yourself? “I think that I am veryyoung and very old in spirit, at the sametime. I have to say that I am passionate.The things that I love, I love deeply -which include my family, my work, andmy volunteer spirit. It goes beyond theYWCA, but totally the YWCA is my pas-sion. I am a product of the 50’s. I’m ababy boomer. I have had an opportunityto see the country change in a lot ofdynamic ways and I think that I am reallya product of that. I’m driven. I think thatI am very career driven. But also, I giveback a lot.” Garneau is 51 years old.

communityWhat is community? “For me communityexpands beyond Woonsocket. Althoughbecause I am a citizen of the city, it isWoonsocket. I love its diversity. But com-munity really is a spirit. In my mind,community can be extended out to othercities, other states. Community is a senseof family and belonging.”

Do you vote? “I do. I carry my board ofcanvassers card with me. I was veryproud to get it when I was 18 years old.And I have never missed an election. Iam very proud of that.”

What issues in the news concern you?“I am concerned about the treatment ofwomen in other countries. I am appalledand also surprised that in 2006 going on

www.sheshines.org winter 2006/07

Kim Garneau prepares a meal in her Woonsocket home. “It’sopen house at my house and my family just comes over and weeat and drink and have communion with each other,” saysGarneau. interview by Lisa Piscatelli and photo by Agapao Productions

“ . . . I joined the ywca. I love the fact that we can together as women -- have fun, accomplish wonderful things for the community, and have that tie.”

- Kim Garneau

2007, there is still a lot of oppression.And in many parts of the world its verydangerous to be a female. I feel healthissues are another huge concern and Idon’t always think that health issuesrelated to women get enough focus anddollars. Everyone is concerned todaywith the issues of Iraq obviously, and Iam not any different than anyone else inthat regard.”

Why be involved in community? “I thinkthat in general in order to be happy youhave to be in service some how. If youcan find a passion and turn it into serv-ice, it’s amazing what you’ll get back. ButI think that most of us are here and we’reto serve a purpose. So if you can get out-side of yourself and turn that into some-thing that you’re giving, it’s the yin-yangthing. It always comes back.”

timeTell me about your family? “My hus-band, Michael and I actually met when Iwas 14 years old. I met him through myaunt. We began dating when I was 17 andI was actually married at 18. And I willsay that if I were to meet my husbandtoday for the first time, I would absolute-ly be attracted to him. We are really likelife and soul partners. He is a fantasticgentleman. We have been married 33years.” Garneau’s oldest son, Michael, ismusically talented. Her youngest son,Keith, is married and lives in NH with hiswife, Dawn, and their daughter, Ava. “Iam very proud of my family.”

What do you see as your responsibility asa business leader? “I feel as though I

play a role that’s unique in that I have thecompany’s liability as a responsibility,but I also have the human responsibility.So in my world it is never black andwhite. It is very gray.” Garneau is anemployee relations specialist II atCVS/pharmacy, a Fortune 50 company.She has worked there for almost 20 years.

How are you active in your community?“I am involved with Reading isFundamental and Project Smile.” She isalso serving her second term on theYWCA Northern Rhode Island’s board ofdirectors. “My contribution has been myability to bring the human resourceaspect of my background and also tech-nology. I look at it as an opportunity tounify women, to encourage team workand decisions - void of a male perspec-tive which is not always common.

talentWhat are your talents? “I was a profes-sional belly dancer. I love horseback rid-ing. I really have a passion for cookingand I really take it to the next level. It’sbeyond just the cooking. I make this anexperience. Play music every Sunday andI have a glass of wine. I prepare mealsfor my family and members of my extend-ed family like in-laws. I usually preparefive to six full dishes. I sing like a fool inmy kitchen, dance, and just enjoy thearoma. And then my mother comes overand tastes and samples everything alongwith my family members. It’s open houseat my house and my family just comesover and we eat and drink and have com-munion with each other. We love it, loveit. My cooking is from scratch. If I’madding garlic, its from the clove. If I’mmaking a cake, I’m sifting the flour.Being French everything has a sauce. Ihave pictures of food because I love foodso much.”

treasureWhat do you treasure? “I treasure myspiritual connection with a higher powerand also my spiritual connection with myancestors. I feel it very strongly. Andthat’s a gift. I treasure that.”

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