Listen to "Among Those Who Were Lost: Haitian Women Advocates and Zonta Voices New Series, Dr. Lucille Blackwood-Gunning"

As the rubble of devastation clears, it is with heavy hearts that Zonta Women's Community Radio reports the loss you might have missed in the mass media coverage; three Haitians who were champions defending Haitian womens rights: Myriam Merlet, Anne-Marie Coriolan, and Magalie Marcelin. Hear about their work on ZWCR, and about NYC based Haitian Women's Organization Dwa Famn.

Dr. Lucille Blackwood-Gunning shares the studio with us in our 2nd installment of our Voices of Zonta series. Dear member and past President of Zonta Club of New Rochelle, Dr. Gunning shares her memories of medical school in the 1940's and insights about Zonta. Don't Miss it!

Click Here for Women Foreclosed

The ongoing debacle in global financial markets has been reported on widely in the US press. Less covered is the particular impact this unwinding economic downturn has had on women homeowners and women who have used equity in their homes to finance small businesses. Today we highlight a small part of the story with Patricia Henderson, a housing advocate and new member of the Zonta Club of New Rochelle.

Caroline Fitz-John a self proclaimed (Zonta Club of Long Island) "Long Island Lizzie" shares poignant memories of Zonta friends and a lifetime of service in honor of her 50 year membership anniversary. Don't miss it!

U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce Endorse the Consumer Federal Protection Act from USWCC | 360 on Vimeo.

Listen to Zonta Women's Community Radio 16 Days Broadcast 2009

Assistant Westchester County District Attorney Barbara Egenhauser talks with host Roxanne Neilson about her 30 year commitment to bringing justice to offenders who commit gender violence crimes and the evolution of the law over the years in response to local activism.

Dr. Karen Siegal, founding member of the Zonta Club of Greater Queens, UN Committee Chair of her club, and delegate to Zonta International's NGO at the United Nations. Dr. Siegal brings plenty of experience to our organization and highlighlights gender perspectives as convenor for the working group of the mental health committee.

We participate in a live United Nations UNITE event on-air as Dr. Siegal reiterates Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's (반기문) campaign to galvanize UN efforts to prevent and punish those who commit violence against women. Cultural events were streaming online today at livestream.com/bicuno -keep checking for their podcast which should be up an running soon!

"Giving Up the Ghost: Communicating Value to New Audiences Using Virtual Media"

We all have choices: Do you Tweet, Can you Digg it, Have you Reddit, or are you a part of the Technocrati? This month we explore how successful non profit organizations reach new audiences even in a tight economy with our feature "Giving up the Ghost: Communicating Value to New Audiences Using Virtual Media" Norman Reiss of Non-Profit Bridge nhr@usa.net helps us to look squarely at the use of social media to communicate the non-profit message and fundraise. Norman Reiss shares with ZWCR host Roxanne Neilson some helpful advice non-profits large and small can use to improve their effectiveness right now.

Click Here for "Hard Hatted Women"

This month's program features highlights we captured from the Zonta District 3 Conference "Women: Moving Forward in the 21st Century". Hear past Zonta International President Mary Ellen Bittner, Governor Ellen Karo, Lt. Governor Lisa Fraser, Zonta DC President Diana Garcia, and US State Department/ Bureau of African Affairs' Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Outreach Coordinator Nicole Peacock speak about the Once A month campaign that brings sanitary supplies to girls in Zambia so that they can stay in school.

Will women workers see any of the $787 Billion dollars planned in Federal Stimulus Spending? Can women and girls give a fresh face to union membership? Why should women in low wage work trade their pink collars for blue and green collars?

Zonta Women's Community Radio Host Roxanne Neilson's in-studio guests from the Utility Workers of America Local 1-2: Shop Steward Linda Lesnewski, an underground cable splicer in training, Jennifer O'Keefe and Business Representative Bruce Farina join us as we explore the economic issues facing women workers in low wage industries and ask why there still aren't more women in the rank and file of non-traditional employment.

Click Here for Women as Peacemakers & Storytellers

This month is all about methods women use to foster peace in their homes and writ large -the context of peace as social action.

ZWCR features storyteller Koketso Ferriera, gazelletales@yahoo.com , who shares a folktale about how one woman sets about making peace within her home with a retelling of a Ghanian tale"The Lion's Whiskers", Don't miss it!

Zonta Club of New Rochelle's Lisa Louis-Burton and Area 1 Director Leslie Wright team up to help make New Rochelle Public Library a stop on the September Global Peace Tour-bringing "Pray The Devil Back to Hell" a film by Abigail Disney and Directed by Gini Reticker to the Ossie Davis Theater in New Rochelle. The film tells the triumphant story of Muslim and Christian women in Liberia employing satyāgraha to confront the repressive Taylor regime and to put a stop to the decades long civil conflict by agitating for peace.

See a clip from the film

JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE 80 YEARS OF SERVICE IN WESTCHESTER!- SOLD OUT

ZONTA NEW ROCHELLE 80TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER DANCE -SOLD OUT!
OCTOBER 24TH 2009, 7PM TO 11PM
JULIANO'S RESTAURANT NEW ROCHELLE NEW YORK
DONATE to our campaign here! Send us a note at http://www.zontanewrochelle@zontadistrict3.org


Community Visionary Awardees :

• Woman Leader in Business: Rita Mabli CEO United Hebrew Nursing Home and 1st Woman President of the New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce
• Woman Leader Working with Girls: Kathleen "Kit" Jones Educator, scholar, providing leadership with the Girl Scouts of New Rochelle for 30 years making a real difference helping girls in our community to"explore their leadership potential and celebrate girlhood"
• Woman Leader Working to Eliminate Poverty: Vivian Evans Social worker and founder of the Trinity Brown Bag Lunch program which does one on one resource and referral for the 50+ daily lunch recipients.
• Woman Leader in Organized Labor: Linda Lesnewski, shop steward for Utility Workers of America, delegate to Westchester Putnam Central Labor Body working hard to represent the interests of the United Water Company employees.
• Woman Leader in Mass Media: Judy Fremont President Stations Division WVOX AM /WVIP FM radio with over 30+ years industry experience, providing leadership in our community every day keeping the voice of the people on the air.
  
  

Click here for "Survivors of the Crash of 08"; Whats Next for Women in Finance

Our studio guests this month are Barbara Reguero a former high level executive with Bear Stearns, and Anne-Marie Ditta, our newest Zonta member , career coach and writer http://www.mycareercoach.net/ We talk about how women at the highest levels of the finance industry are reinventing themselves and reshaping their careers.

Reguero gives ZWCR an insiders view of how she and her team saved scores of Bears Sterns employees jobs after the acquisition, and speaks with us candidly about how the industry is changing and what her next moves will be. Anne-Marie Ditta provides a wonderful foil for our discussion about strategies to improve your career opportunities.

Listen in to the first segment in our new series, ZWCR/ International Service Projects. This podcast will cover Obstetric Fistula,and bring to our audiences worldwide Zonta's important challenge to reduce its occurance in Liberia.

Zonta News Wire Covers Club activities from Topeka Kansas to Hanalei Hawaii!

ADVERTIZE YOUR ZONTA CLUB OR EVENT HERE

Perhaps you are a listener, or a Zonta member. Want to send a special on the air birthday notice for your club's anniversary or wish to commemorate the loss of a loved member? Write us now to ask about how for only $40 USD we can promote your event either on the air, on our blog or on the podcasts! email us bigtreesmallax@juno.com for rates!

CLICK HERE Social Workers: Who is Holding the Safety Net in Your Community?

ZWCR news round-up features interesting information about Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's Mother. Sobering news about challenges to women's reproductive rights, and an encouraging story about Iceland's hard won legislation criminalizing the buyers of prostitution.

The social work profession has always worked on behalf of those that are poor, neglected, and vulnerable, yet workers often feel overworked, undertrained, and insufficiently supported by the communities they serve. ZWCR host Roxanne Neilson talks in studio with Terri Jackson, a recruitment specialist with Family Services of Westchester, http://www.fsw.org/. Terri works to train parents who provide a home for children with special emotional needs, and asks all of us with heart to consider becoming a foster parent. Don't miss it!

Click Here: "Women, Water,and Wells" and Girl Scouts PSA "Stop Bullying"

Almost 720 million women and children will not have ready access to clean water today. It is stunning that these women and children who, in communities who lack immediate access to clean water resources, spend upwards of 3 hours a day seeking what ever water can be secured be it clean or dirty. Kibwezi District was one such community, despite sitting on top of a freshwater acquifer fed from the glacial waters of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Irene Kabot, peace educator and physical education instructor at William B. Ward Elementary school in New York State, joins us for an interesting discussion about her work to raise awareness about water wells and her effort to raise money through her project, "Wells of Love and Hope" http://www.wellsofloveandhope.org/ . Utini Primary School in Kibwezi District Kenya and Ward Elementary School in New Rochelle NY have been paired in a peace project Ms. Kabot initiated to help each understand more about the other. Ms. Kabot talks to ZWCR about the technical challenges of building wells, sustainable and ethical issues in assistance projects and the joy she has found in working to support this international service project.

Bullying has long been considered an unfortunate rite of passage left to children to resolve amongst themselves- until evidence was found that linked bullying to far more grave consequences in student violence. Parents, teachers and community groups all can help by raising awareness and helping children identify strategies to diffuse the situation by employing humor, alerting adults, and establishing strong friendship bonds with their age-mates. Girl Scouts of USA Troop 2981 completed workshops on bullying and, together with Zonta Club of New Rochelle produced their own PSA (public service announcement) which was broadcast world-wide on May 6th on ZWCR. Find out more about bullying http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/

CLICK HERE Zonta Women's Community Radio features Pioneering Women: Rosa Kittrell Barksdale and Norelle Edwards

Pictured: Norelle Edwards at left, Julie Agee and one little recipient of the free literature!

This episode starts with a Zonta Wire news roundup: Zonta Club service projects from Australia to Porterville, Santa Clarita to Michigan- (we apologize to the Zonta Club of Milford in Michigan, we inadvertantly landed them in Missouri !), and out to Arkansas. Hear what other clubs are doing in their community service projects, and read all about it on our Zonta Newswire to your left!

First in our oral history series, Zonta Women's Community Radio Project interviews Zonta Club of New Rochelle member and CEO Rosa Kittrell Barksdale . Barksdale shares her entreprenuerial experience founding her eponymous woman-owned company, Barksdale Home Care Services. She speaks to us candidly about the people who influenced her, flying without a safety net, becoming a single parent, and looks back on the work she's done to became the largest single employer of women in the county. In March 2009, Rosa Barksdale was inducted into the Spirit of Women Archive. The archive, developed by the non-profit group, American Women of African Heritage, will be housed at the Harold Drimmer Library at Westchester Community College.

ZWCR speaks to New Rochelle high school senior and 2009 Alexander Hamilton citizen awardee Norelle Edwards. Norelle Edwards along with her schoolmate Julia Agee created, "Literature for the Little", a community service project to donate gently used books to low-income kids. Norelle explains how their community service project to collect and donate books grew to include neighbors, the local library, the high school, an elementary school and the National Honor Society. These girls demonstrate the importance of creating social capital through horizontal integration and social networking- applying well-known business strategies to improve the common good.

Women's Radio Feature: Zonta International President Beryl Sten's "Beekman Address"

International President Beryl Sten speaks on the occaision of the 53rd UN session of the Commission on the Status of Women. President Sten discusses Zonta's historic participation in the United Nations from 1946 to today. Zonta International is a principal body with general consultative status and has been a member of United Nations Economical and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 1969. President Sten reminds clubs that support of Zonta International 's important programs is through member dollars. ZWCR's 1st field sound digitally recorded by new member Amiell Parker and edited by our crew.

Zonta Women's Community Radio takes a look at changes to the WIC supplemental nutrition program which are being implemented first in NYS. Carrie Aaron-Young, Director of the Bureau of Nutrition Services for Westchester County joins us as we take a look at national food policy affecting low-income women and children. Ms. Aaron-Young helps to explain how health and wellness outcomes for women and children are being improved by increasing low-income women's access to and education about fresh fruits and vegetables. Our segment intern Janell Campbell asks about the career path for a nutritionist.

CLICK HERE FOR ZONTA RADIO "POVERTY AMID PLENTY: HUNGRY IN WESTCHESTER" , and "RACE BETWEEN US" with Roxanne Neilson, Host and Guest Vivian Evans

This month's feature, "Poverty Amid Plenty" and "Race Between Us", details the unseen poverty in affluent Westchester County, and a local woman, Vivian Evans who has put her shoulder to the wheel for over 14 years making lunches & providing programs for the hungry at Trinity Church in New Rochelle, NY . Ms. Evans reports, " an increasing number of elderly women and children" appearing for the meals. Ms. Evans programs include resource and referral along with a meal.



Zonta Club of New Rochelle had an amazing turn-out for the Service Day with over 38 participants from Larchmont, The Bronx, Pelham, Mount Vernon , Hartsdale and Scarsdale. Zonta Club of New Rochelle plans to take over the 3rd Tuesday in Every Month as a regular club service pairing brown bag lunch service with outreach on "Zonta Networking Tuesday".The club plans to volunteer to make lunches and distribute information on Domestic Violence, while offering networking for women.

Don't miss Ms. Vivian Evans heart-rending on-air recollection of her experience with racism as a youth, and how our Zonta Club of New Rochelle Service project completed a circle in our special interview, "Race between Us". Zonta Women's Community Radio turns an important page in our Zonta history; listen in take notes.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO ZONTA WOMEN IN AVIATION Roxanne Neilson Host, Sharon Perry Guest

This program is commemorative of Zontian Amelia Earhart's epic 1935 flight from Wheeler field in Honolulu, Hawaii to Oakland California.

Our news features a story about an economic development project that seeks to improve the lives of Iraqi widows.

Our special guest, Sharon Perry is a Federal Aviation Administration Specialist- and the President of the Zonta Club of Greater Queens in New York. She shares with us her experiences working for 25 years in the aviation industry, and gives some useful tips to young people seeking employment in the field.

Zonta Club of Greater Queens supports flight trainee Jessica Searle with a scholarship at its 6th Annual Amelia Earhart Luncheon. Ms. Searle is learning to fly an aircraft modified by Able Flight , www.ableflight.org, a non-profit organization that provides flight training to people with disabilities. Hats off to ZCGQ.

Our program intern, Ms. Amielle Parker, a senior economic history major at Barnard College in NYC and a resident of Hawaii helped us with our program planning. We salute the Zonta Clubs of Region 9 in this special, historic broadcast!

2008 16 Days Awareness of Gender Violence: Engaging Boys & Men

Zonta Women's Community Radio hosts a special world-wide broadcast as part of our action to raise awareness of gender violence, the 16 Days Campaign, and highlighting the 60th anniversary of the universal declaration of human rights.

ZWCR host Roxanne Neilson probes the impact that media has on gender violence and why so few are engaging boys and men in the struggle for change with film maker activist guest Bryon Hurt. Hurt's 2006 film, Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes explores the billion dollar hip hop industry and illustrates how gender violence is exploited by the music industry for profit. His workshops help communities to better understand and redefine the negative stereotypes, gender violence, and sexism perpetuated in the hip hop media, as he helps young artists to reclaim the powerful idiom of rap music as an instrument of progressive social change. http://www.bhurt.com/

Click HERE for Women, The Election & The Body Politic

New Rochelle's Zonta Women's Community Radio Show aired the day after Senator Obama wins the American Presidential Election. We take a non-partisan look at the American political scene when we ask what part did womens & progressive movements play in this historic event?

How will women make sure that the issues that face us are front and center? What must we take away from this historic moment, and how much of these political outcomes can be seen as a result of the twinned hard work of progressive women's & African American movements from the early abolitionists to suffragettes; and from the civil rights workers to the feminist ideologists?

Should we ensure that women's issues are seen as not merely women's issues but as part of a human rights agenda? Ratification of CEDAW (convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women), Health care, Child care, eradication of poverty, and the eradication of gender violence are big jobs that still require us to organize and work collaboratively in a non-partisan manner.

Our guest, Dr. Roblyn Rawlins, Associate Professor of Sociology, Director of Women Studies Program at College of New Rochelle will help guide our discussion. Dr. Rawlins holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from Stony Brook University and a Bachelors’ degree in Urban Studies from Georgia State University. Her research interests revolve around issues of modernity and modern self-identity; motherhood; and women's studies, feminist studies, and sociology of gender and childhood generally.

She has published and presented research on a number of women's issues. Her recent work focuses on how considerations of national identity and gender shape the experiences of women college students travelling and studying abroad.

Our international news features include a story on Rodi Alvarado's case which highlights immigrant domestic violence and women seeking asylum from abuse in their native homes. Our local news focuses on Lily Ledbetter and her equal pay for equal work suit against Goodyear, and much more...

ZONTA WOMEN'S COMMUNITY RADIO: CLICK HERE FOR WOMEN AND THE FALL OF WALL STREET

Our feature this episode is Wall Street. Almost forgotton amid the wreakage of the $700+ US billion dollar legislation to bail out Wall Street was the failure days earlier of a relatively small $61 US billion dollar bill that would have helped low-income people weather the stormy economy. Today, many of the 68 million wage-earning women in the US have suffered more job losses than men, and women who comprise a large percentage of retirees will suffer signifigant losses going forward.

While we watch the spectacle of the government channeling untold billions of taxpayer dollars into failing Wall Street giants the three pillars of economic support for women- social service safety net, marriage and wages - continue to crumble.

This episode is dedicated to the first professional woman astronomer in America, Maria Mitchell. Our Zonta Club News feature is all about the District 15 Great Lakes Club of Leelanu County in Michigan. This Zonta club offers a research sailing experience for the winner of their innovative Young Woman in Science scholarship program. Our international news covers highlights from Kashmiri's northwestern region where post-traumatic stress syndrome and suicide among women is on the rise. Our health feature shares important news to help raise awareness about gynecologic cancers. We review documentary filmmkers Meg McLagan and Darian Sommers film Lioness that tells the story of female Army support soldiers, and much more...

Click Here for Women & Girl Entrepreneurs

Listen in for our survey of national & international news coverage. Our Zonta Club service project news features Zonta Club of Bowling Green Ohio's innovative service project, "Girls with Goals". Our studio guests Ann Janiak, Executive Director of Women's Enterprise Development Centre in White Plains, NY talks with Zonta Radio about supportive programming to encourage women in business start-ups. And meet two rising stars: 15 year-old Arianna James and 12 year-old Matisse Clayton both of New Rochelle's Albert Leonard Middle School in New Rochelle NY speaking about their businesses which raise money for social causes.

Women In Science

Zonta Women's Community Radio Project takes a microscope to see women working in science and asks why there are so few. Special guest Dr. Carolyn Webber, Clinical Professor of Pathology Emeritus, and Sharon Weekes-Threash, Westchester County NY Senior Microbiologist/ Quality Assurance Manager share with us their career paths. Zonta Club news feature by Donna Tillman highlights an important science award given to New Zealand women scholars by our sister Zonta Club in New Zealand. Our program intern from the University of Michigan, Christina Albert produces our sports segment interviewing high schooler, scholar, and rowing champion Rosa Kemp.

Women at Work in the Arts with Tova Snyder and Denise Procter

Our commemorative broadcast during the 59th Zonta International Conference 2008-in Rotterdam gives conference highlights and notes. Our international news segment cover stories from the conference including: remarks by Judge Akua Kuenyehiya's address at the conference opening; Dilruba Ahmed's remarks about women's enterprise and the impact of microfinance projects on poverty and our own Zonta International Chairman & Zonta Club of New York member Jackie Shapiro's reminder to all of us that the 8 millenium development goals focus on reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.

The National Women's History Project stated that, "The history of women and art is quintessential women's history. It is the story of amazing women's accomplishments acclaimed at the time, but written out of history". Zonta Women's Community Radio host Roxanne Neilson delves into the paint and pattern with two women artists, who are breaking down barriers by re-inventing themselves through the work. This program segment is dedicated to the memory of Edmonia Lewis an artist whose work is largely lost See http://americanart.si.edu/collections/exhibits/lewis/lewisbio.html

Tova Synder http://www.tovasnyder.com a painter, muralist and public artist who has lived and worked in Israel, New York, Brazil and Italy, and Denise Procter fashion designer and professor whose work has appeared in Bloomingdale's and on the stages of the Metroplitan Opera now teaches young people in her institute http://www.wfac4children.com located in Westchester, NY.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO ZONTA WOMEN'S COMMUNITY RADIO PROJECT : THE HOMELESS HERE

"Focus on The Homeless: Invisibility of Homeless Women and Children," hosted by Roxanne Neilson zeros in on homelessness amid plenty. The increasing levels of poverty in the suburbs, and the women and children in our own communities who are affected. The Zonta News Feature for this second show is "Zonta Birthing Kits, Zonta Club of Adelaide Hills, Australia," and is presented by Program Intern Vanessa Kemp, of Marymount College. The Homeless segment guests include: Demetrius Moyston, Program Director for Choice of New Rochelle, a homeless outreach program; Sister Mary Alice Hannan OP (Zonta member), Executive Director of POTS homeless shelter in the Bronx and founder of Desda's Gate, a home for homeless women and children who are pursuing academic and employment goals.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO ZONTA WOMEN'S COMMUNITY RADIO PROJECT: MOTHERS & MIGRANTS

In this episode Zonta Women's Community Radio looks behind the curtain highlighting the struggle that immigrant women workers face, International news features includes: Guinean women victims of genital mutilation are denied asylum in US; Afghani women perish in childbirth in ever greater number,; a heartwarming women's baseall team story and more. Special guests include program intern Vanessa Kemp gives our take on International Workers Day, and Immigration Attorney Robin Bikkal talks with me about immigrant women workers issues and the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO ZONTA WOMEN'S COMMUNITY RADIO PROJECT : WOMEN BEHIND BARS RETURN HOME

Zonta Women's Community Radio host Roxanne Neilson examines the issue of incarcerated women and the special challenges they face upon release: housing, reunification with their kids, hurdles to employment and health care. International news highlighted in this episode include: Liberian refugee women in Ghana fearmass deportation; Grameen Bank expands pioneeering Nobel Prize winning microloan program to poor women in USA; early stage breast cancer study reveals minority women lacking in education about treatment modalities; workplace pregnancy discrimination on the rise; special guest Lenore Rosenbaum shares work her agency is doing mentoring women incarcerated at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Wetchester, NY Episode sponsored by Revealed Organic Juice Bar and Restaurant http://www.revealedfood.com/

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE 16 DAYS OF AWARENESS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN PROJECT

This premier broadcast is part of our 16 days of action to increase awareness about violence against women. International news segment by host Roxanne Neilson covers stories about Iraninan women's " Mothers of Peace" letter campaign, Sieman's Math Science and Technology award goes to 2 girls, Women gender advocates protest in South Africa for leadership in the ANC, Supreme Court age discrimination lawsuit in the US, 2007 French Presidential Candidate Segolene Royale's book, Ma Plus Belle Histoire C'est Vous , Sexual assault of women as political control in Haiti, World boxing titlest Esther Phiri of Lusaka Zambia becomes first female boing champion from southern africa. The Zonta News Feature for this first show is called "The Once a Month Campaign" by New Rochelle member Delores Washington who highlights Zonta District 3's innovative project. Domestic Violence segment guests include: Judy Myers, Westchester County Board of Legislature and Chair of the Family Health and Human Services Committee; CarLa Horton, Executive Director of the Northern Westchester Shelter; Barbara Egenhauser Esq., Assistant District Attorney, Westchester County; Donna Morrison, Early Childhood Program Director, The Guidance Center, New Rochelle. The sponsor for this broadcast is Barksdale Home Care Services http://www.barksdaleathome.com/