sharonksobotta

Betty Reid Soskin Signs Her Name to Freedom

Betty Reid Soskin launched her national tour for her memoir 'Sign my Name to Freedom' at Saint Mary's College of California. At 96, Betty says she is a living history.

The Legacy of MLK alive and well in Oakland

Conversation with Howling Bird Press's Award Winning Poet

Conversation with Poet and Reproductive Justice Activist Kathy D' Arcy

Kathy D' Arcy describes the reproductive human rights challenges women are facing in Ireland and the role U.S. based anti-choice groups have played in the matter. As a writer and an advocate for young moms, Kathy takes on women's rights in all spheres of her life.

Betty Reid Soskin

Of the hundreds of people I've interviewed over the years, Betty Reid Soskin remains one of my favorites. She is always articulate, thoughtful, introspective and changing. Among the favorite things I've learned from Betty are that we live in a Both-and world (meaning we each have truths and that those truths might conflict), that retirement is unnecessary and that it is better to reinvent yourself at least once every ten years. I've interviewed Betty about the importance of voting, sexism, racism, CHANGE and most importantly hope. This particular piece is the result of what turned into more than two hour interview/story sharing session in 2011.

Final Project for Audio Production Students

This project is the result of a creative collaborative process from the students in Audio Production 132.

Maheen Zia, Filmmaker of Lyari Notes

What would happen if children from conflicting regions of the world reconciled their differences through music? Maheen Zia and her co-producer grappled with this question as they followed the transformation of 4 girls as they studied music along with an independent musician.

Founder of Factory Farming Awareness Coalition

Katie Cantrell, the Factory Farming Awareness Coalition Executive Director, was inspired by the book Eating Animals to do something about the factory farming epidemic. She put together a power point presentation and began sharing her message with anyone who would listen. Today, she has a successful coalition that is built around the model of meeting people where they are--figuratively and allowing them to make bite-sized changes that align with their belief system.

Patricia McGregor

Patricia McGregor is a writer and play director based in Harlem, New York. I spoke with her during the Berkeley tour of The House that Will Not Stand, she shared her thoughts on theater as an intimate form of activism and called on people from all groups to stand in alliance with one another.

The Legacy of Catalina Torres-As recalled by her cousin

In 2008, Catalina Torres, who had been a survivor of domestic violence and a longtime advocate and activist engaged in the movement to end domestic violence, was killed by the estranged husband of another woman who was dealing with domestic violence. Catalina's cousin recalls her story and shares the lessons he learned from losing his cousin in this tragic way.

Today, women in the United States are more likely to be killed by their intimate partner than in any other way. An average of 3 women per day are killed in this way. Every 9 seconds a woman is beaten by her partner. 

If you see or suspect something, gently voice your concerns and offer to be there for the person when/if she/he needs someone to talk to or someone to assist with getting help.