• Independent Sector – Closing Plenary Luncheon – “A New Look at Race and Gender in Americ”

    November 11, 2008 // 5 Comments »

    Round-table Discussion: Beyond Election 2008: A New Look at Race and Gender in America

    Moderator: Kalvin Taketa, IS Board Member and President/CEO, Hawai’i Community Foundation
    Panelists:
    Randall L. Kennedy, Michael R. Klein Professor of Law, Harvard Law School, Harvard University
    Sterling Speirn, President, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
    Luz Vega-Marquis, Secretary, Independent Sector and President/CEO Marguerite Casey Foundation
    Maria Wilson, President/Founder, The White House Projekt

    While I had limited power, I was able to jot down some thoughts that jumped out at me:

    Speirn: “While the glass ceiling was smashed, there are millions trapped in the basement.”

    Kennedy: Why is there a “who’d have thunk it” idea that Obama could be elected, that people could have pulled the lever to vote for him.

    We need soon however to be thinking about what next” and I hope that we are not so entranced by what happened last week, that we fumble an opportunity to push the agenda for social justice.

    Wilson: Two conversations got invoked in this election:

    1) race
    2) gender
    3) class – Obama class upwards and Clinton class downwards

    The changing of the conversation is a major milestone in this country.

    “You can’t be what you can’t see.” – What happened all over America, is that there are children from all races and gender that they can be president of the United States.

    I know that I cannot celebrate very long, but it is great!

    Vega: “The real America showed up at the poles.” In response to the idea that Palin spoke for the “real America.”

    The real America finally got included. The fact that she is proud that Latinos voted the right way in this election.

    Taketa: Obama as a transcended of all aspects of our population. Is Obama unique?

    Kennedy: Obama is an extraordinary politician. Yet, Obama had a hard fought campaign for the Democratic nominee on gender. Gender and racial lines are moving. They are still there but they are moving. Obama still had to overcome his race. There are a variety of politicians of a variety of racial politicians and women politicians. Obama is the person of the hour but he is the tip of the iceberg. In a way this is the most hopeful thing of the election. There is more coming.

    Speirn: If the issues are not central nothing will change. Education system is bankrupting our nation. Health status and economic status which is linked to education. The social determinants of education far outweigh all other issues.

    Vega: Expectations of Obama are high. He also talked to us about us and what responsibility we take as members of this society to take active part in our future. We need to be responsible for the kinds of things we want to see. We need to begin shaping agendas in our communities. We expect miracles, but we need to hope in what we really can change. It is the collection of our efforts to build a better society.

    Wilson: Obama did something transcendent – The major ways AA leaders have made progress is through challenge. Some questioned that AA could not make progress without bargaining. Obama assumed good will which is the third way – not challenge or bargaining. No negative stories about the campaign staff – mission of being respectful and doing good.

    Wilson: about Clinton’s campaign – when it comes to gender, gender will always trump gender. But if you only have one person who is different, you look at what they have different. Gender is central. It meant that Clinton had to walk all fine lines about being tough enough and maintain appeal. At end of campaign she felt she had nothing to lose, and she was more authentic.

    Wilson: We learned about the continuing way gender continues to be reported in the media. There was an enormous amount of sexism in this election.

    The movement – Civic engagement of young people, women and African Americans:

    Kennedy: the horizons have been widened traumatically. The sense of possibility – young women, people of color – frankly regardless that everyone’s horizons were opened and that has something to do with extraordinary moment we are in. Even people who did not vote for Obama, even his rivals, many of them have been changed and moved to opening their horizons.

    Wilson: inspiring but what do we do next? If they are not engaged – if it is just about their votes – we will lose them again. Obama has a plan, but we all need a plan too for the energy.

    (ran out of battery)

    This conversation derailed within the first five minutes of comments. The panelists began discussion the ways in which the 2008 Election redefined discussions of Race and Gender in America, particularly the ways in which these new discussions influence the non profit sector and the ways in which the non profit sector can contribute to these discussions.  A great topic, particularly since a “what now?” theme ran through the entire conference.  However, the conversation quickly jumped to the failures of the Clinton campaign, policy reform and eventually the prison system.  Once again, a fruitful discussion on race and gender derailed! Is it that we don’t know how to have a meaningful discussion on race or that it’s just to complicated and uncomfortable?

    Posted in 2008 Election, Conferences, Diversity, Non Profit, Racism

    2008 US Presidential Election Results LiveBlog

    November 3, 2008 // 3 Comments »

    Join me on this historic election night for voting results coverage! I will be a panelist with the Black Women in Europe liveblog coverage from Election Day locations throughout the Philadelphia area.

    I will give my take on the events and coverage from various polling locations in Philadelphia, as well as from the 5th Ward Obama Campaign Office in Chinatown and the Center City West Obama Campaign Office.  I will end up at the Election Results Warch Party at Rum Bar at 20th and Walnut Streets in Center City Philadelphia. Get perspectives from sisters in various countries throughout the world on Barack Obama’s historic race for the White House.

    IMPORTANT:

    Please make sure that you know where your Polling Location is. This is absolutely CRITICAL!

    Find out here: Committee of Seventy or call 1-866-268-8603. Polls will be open from 7 AM to 8 PM.

    Also, make sure that you bring two forms of identification – one should be a UTILITY BILL and BOTH should indicate your voter registration information!

    Don’t forget to bring a cup of your favorite java or tea, a snack and LOTS of patience!  If you are able to, please post about your polling location experiences on Twitter!

    Posted in 2008 Election, Freelance, Media, Politics, Uncategorized