Women’s art for women’s rights

As renewed battles over women’s rights are making headlines here at home, the struggles of women in other countries too often go unnoticed.

The neglect and abuse of women is woven into the fabric of far too many societies, as evidenced by a recent exhibition of quilts at the United Nations Visitors Centre in NYC. Think fabric squares depicting burning villages, brutal acts of violence against women and other horrifying scenes — some involving infants and children.

Though “Women are the Fabric” recently closed, I’m pleased to share several snapshots of works I enjoyed during my March NYC visit. All serve as powerful reminders of the way interwoven threads of civilization unravel when women’s rights to dignity, safety, health, education and equal opportunity are trampled or ignored.

Folks interested in world cultures can attend CultureFest, a family-friendly cultural dinner being presented by The Welcome to America Project. The dinner will raise funds to help refugee families from war-torn countries settle in to their new lives in Phoenix. It’s part of the organization’s World Refugee Day celebration.

Those attending the June 24 event — which is part of the group’s 2012 “Cultural Dinner Series” — will “experience and learn traditions about the cultures from nine representative countries.” Think Burma, Congo, Cuba, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan and more.

Click here to learn more about United Nations policies and programs focused on improving the lives of women across the globe, here to explore Quilt for Change and here for information on the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

— Lynn

Note: Fountain Hills Youth Theater in Arizona presents a Y.A.B.O.Y. (Young Actors Benefiting Other Youth) production about dating sexual abuse called “The Silence Between the Whispers” March 15-31, 2013 (auditions for ages 12-19 are scheduled for Feb. 4 & 5).

Coming up: Youth theater meets social justice, Getting to know women playwrights, Cancer meets creativity

Films that matter

I suppose all films matter to the people who make them. But as a parent, I’m fonder of films that focus on child-related themes than films full of chase scenes. So I’m thrilled that Arizona parents will have two opportunities this week to enjoy films that raise important issues for families.

First. a film titled “Pushing the Elephant.” It’s being broadcast on Eight, Arizona PBS this Tuesday, March 29, at 1opm — as part of the PBS “Independent Lens” series. The film profiles a mother of 10 named Rose Mapendo, who some of you may know from a 2007 piece Vicki Louk Balint wrote for Raising Arizona Kids magazine.

PBS says the film “follows the life of Congolese refugee Rose Mapendo and her family, and their story of love and survival. Now an Arizona resident, Mapendo emerged from the harrowing experience advocating forgiveness and reconciliation.”

I first learned of the film after attending “The Many Faces of Film Series” presented at Scottsdale Community College in conjunction with the Anti-Defamation League. The film shown that evening was “Bullied: A Student, a School and a Case that Made History.”

During a Q & A session following the film, one of Mapendo’s sons stood to share ways parents can teach and model anti-bullying attitudes and behaviors. I enjoyed chatting with the young man, who towered over me much like my own son, with kind eyes and a genuine beaming smile.

Mapendo’s story holds important lessons for all parents — and those who’d like to experience the film in a community setting can see it Thursday, March 31, at the Mesa Arts Center. It’s being shown in the Dobson Lecture Hall at Mesa Contemporary Arts (part of the MAC) at 6:30pm.

Admission is free, but those planning to attend must first RSVP to katie.brown@mesaaz.gov. The film is being presented as part of a City of Mesa “Community Cinema” series, and Mapendo — named the 2009 United Nations Humanitarian of the Year — will present a lecture following the film.

Second, a film titled “Race to Nowhere.” It’s being shown at Yavapai College in Prescott on Friday, April 1, at 7pm. The film is part of a grassroots movement sparked by a mother named Sara Bennett, founder of an organization called “Stop Homework.”

“Race to Nowhere” features several experts concerned that American schools may be missing important opportunities to help children “become healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens” — including educators, clinical psychologists and an adolescent medicine specialist.

Tickets for the Yavapai College screening are $15 at the door or $10 when purchased in advance. Valley residents may enjoy a screening closer to home at some point, but those eager to join the discussion — or perhaps the “End the Race” movement — will enjoy getting a jump on the issue by attending this event.

I’m eager to learn more about the “End the Race” movement — having long witnessed with my own three children the ways standardized testing and mountains of homework have been counterproductive to their development as active, engaged citizens seeking knowledge with joyous curiosity.

Considering that bullying and education are two of the hottest topics in parenting and political circles these days, I hope you’ll make time to experience one or both of these films this week. Then join the discussion, engaging your children, peers, educators and policy makers in moving the conversation forward.

— Lynn

Note: Rose Mapendo will be a guest on “Horizon” on Eight, Arizona PBS on Tuesday, March 29 — which airs at 7pm.

Coming up: An argument for more art and less homework