Upcoming Events
Domestic Violence Awareness Collection Drive
All through the month of October and through Nov. 10, individuals are encouraged to drop off new or gently used women's and children's clothing and old cell phones at collection boxes at the NCJW/LA Offices at 543 N. Fairfax Ave. in Los Angeles. On the east side, donations can be dropped off at Kaiser's Baldwin Park Medical Center, located at 1011 Baldwin Park Blvd., and at Kaiser Permanente's medical offices in San Dimas, Diamond Bar, Montebello and West Covina.
League of Women Voter's Monthly Meeting
These meetings are held every 4th Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. Meetings are located at the Los Feliz Library, 1874 Hillhurst Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027. Join the League of Women Voter to discuss the upcoming elections. For more information, please call (323) 913-4710.
LAAAWPPI Recruitment Reception
This event will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Lunch will be provided) at Staples Center Arena Club, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015. Please join the Los Angeles African American Public Policy Institute to learn how they can prepare you for leadership in the community, government and business. For more information, RSVP at http://www.expressrsvp.com/recruit2008/.
CSW's FREE Self-Defense Class
This event will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. at 4000 South La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90008. For more information, please contact Rayshell Chambers at (213) 978-0300 or via email at rayshell.chambers@lacity.org
2008 Business Workshop Series
This six-series business workshop is an excellent way for you to enhance your business management skills, improve your bottom line and meet other business owners. All sessions are from 8: 30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Exposition Center/ Swim Stadium, 3980 S. Menlo Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90037. For more contact Debra M. Hughes at economicdevelopment@labmba.org.
Midlife African American Women's Conference
This event will held on Thursday, November 6, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the California Endowment, 1000 N. Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. For more information, please contact (213) 814-9168.
CSW's Community Forum: Supporting Women in the Workforce
This meeting will be held on November 13, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 501 Bixel Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90017. Join the Commission as we discuss ways in which we can improve the lives of women in your community. For more information, please contact Rayshell Chambers at (213) 978-0300 or via email at rayshell.chambers@lacity.org.
Home Walk 2008
This event will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. The walk will take place at Exposition Park, 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037. Join the United Way and community partners as they walk to end homelessness. For more information, please visit https://www.kintera.org/faf/r/default.asp?ievent=279551. |
The City of LA Stands Firm on Domestic Violence
 In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, in October, the City has declared that, "There is NO Room for Domestic Violence in Los Angeles." This powerful message can be seen on various light poles across Los Angeles, as the City continues to boost its efforts to combat domestic violence. Throughout Los Angeles, various advocacy groups are getting out into the community to educate and inform policymakers and citizens on the dangers of domestic violence. According to the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, in 2007 there were approximately 174,649 domestic violence calls to California law enforcement. There were 119 domestic violence- related homicides; 101 women killed by their husbands, ex-husbands or boyfriends and 18 men were killed by their wives, ex-wives or girlfriends. Shockingly, over 74% of family violence victims were harassed in the workplace.
It is alarming statistics such as these that has led the City of Los Angeles to implement policies that support employee victims of domestic violence. Recently, the Commission on the Status of Women organized three Citywide Domestic Violence trainings, in which over 30 departments attended. Moreover, the Commission has partnered with Machatz Unification Association to provide FREE Self-Defense classes. The first class was held on October 18, 2008 at the Mar Vista Family Center. The next session will be held on October 25, 2008 at the Jim Gilliam Recreation Complex (4000 South La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90008) from 1:00-3:00 pm.
For information about the City of Los Angeles Domestic Violence Policy and/or FREE Self-Defense classes, please contact CSW at (213) 978-0300 or email us at CSWinfo@lacity.org.
CSW to host 2nd Women Leaders in Education Forum: Discovering Our Path to the Future
 On November 7, 2008, the Commission on the Status of Women in partnership with California State University, Los Angeles, will host the 2nd Women Leaders in Education Forum: Discovering Our Path to the Future. The summit will feature an extensive list of regionally based educators, industry representatives and community stakeholders dedicated to ensuring that women are equipped with the essential tools needed to successfully enter the workforce. California State Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero will deliver the keynote address. The day will focus on math and science while exploring how faculty can best prepare young women to access and enter college or training programs, practical application of gender studies programs and making education applicable to high demand jobs.
As we enter an emerging global economy, it is important that both policymakers and educators meet the needs of a highly skilled workforce, by effectively integrating more women into nontraditional careers. According to the National Women's Law Center, discouraging young women from pursuing nontraditional training can limit their access to jobs that are nontraditional for their gender, which pay considerably more than those to which young women traditionally have been funneled. It is the goal of the Commission that this forum will address the issue of the workforce readiness by cultivating partnerships between academia and industry to prepare young women for high demand jobs.
This is a FREE event and lunch will be provided. Registration deadline is October 31, 2008. For information about the Women Leaders in Education Forum, and how to participate, please contact CSW at (213) 978-0300 or email us at CSWRsvp@lacity.org.
Are the Women of Los Angeles Ready to Age?
 "You are only promised two things in life, okay, maybe three thing...to pay taxes, age and die," said Judy Chu, Chair of the State Board of Equalization, to a room filled with youth and senior advocates at a recent Women's Speak Out hosted by the Women's Foundation of California. While her comment incited an array of laughter, its underlying theme made every person in the room cringe at the thought that they too will age.
The concept of aging is obvious, yet most individuals do not think of the fact that they will get old let alone devise a plan to ensure their economic security for the future. In Los Angeles, over half of the City's population is female and within the aging population, 62% are women. According to a recent report released by UCLA and the Insight Center, the average Social Security payment of $12,540 is not enough to live on, and yet, one out of three seniors in California rely solely on Social Security to meet their basic needs. In addition to a dependent senior solely taking care of themselves, we are seeing a growing number of women in the aging population caring for their grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Willie Mae, a 65-year old widow, said that she retired as a Food Services Supervisor and collects Social Security from her deceased husband. She now takes care of her 8 grandchildren. When asked what her plans are for the next ten years, she stated that she had not thought that far but hopes that her grandchildren would help her during hard times.
It is stories such as Willie Mae's and the many other seniors living in poverty in California that we as a collective community can no longer ignore our aging population. In the midst of a dawning economic crisis, it is imperative that policy makers as well as advocacy groups collaboratively work together to improve the lives of seniors living in Los Angeles. These alarming statistics and real life stories are vital to the work of the Commission on the Status of Women. As the City's policy adviser on issues impacting women, the Commission has focused many of its efforts on ensuring that women have the economic opportunities to secure a sustainable future.
Two Local Young Women Organize Candlelight Vigil for Metrolink Victims
 On September 12, 2008, the nation watched as Southern California experienced one of the deadliest train crashes in 50 years. As reports came in that the crash had killed 25 people and injured 135, onlookers could only pause and shed tears of pain as we saw lives forever changed. While rescue workers worked tirelessly to pull victims from the wreckage, across town two young teenage girls devastated by the crash began organizing community members in an effort to show their respect to the victims of this tragic event.
A week after the crash, Haley Giz, 15 and Kristen Kiertzner, 17, organized a candlelight vigil at the Chatsworth train station to acknowledge individuals who lost their lives and the family members that they left behind. The girls decorated several hundred tea lights that were handed out to the community to recognize the survivors. They also decorated special tea lights to represent each victim who died. The strength and courage that these two young women displayed signifies how powerful an act of kindness can be.
Legislation
CMA Urges CMS to Extend Family PACT Waiver
Submitted by:  Elizabeth Mc Neil
Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) notified state officials that it would shut down California's PACT program on October 3 unless the state is able to meet new strict eligibility documentation rules.
Family PACT, which provides comprehensive family planning services and preventive health screenings to eligible low income men and women, has operated since 1999 under a Medicaid waiver that expires this month. According to the State, it has served 1.6 million Californians, prevented 170,000 unintended pregnancies and saved the state and federal government over $1 billion annually. CMS recently notified the state that as a condition of renewal California must follow burdensome new eligibility and application requirements. CMA believes that the new rules will discourage low-income women from seeking family planning and prenatal care, ultimately increasing the costs to the state and federal government.
CMA and a coalition of patient and provider groups has urged Congress to extend the waiver until July 1, 2009, to allow time for California and CMS to work out their differences and continue this successful, cost-effective, patient-centered program.
If Congress does not extend the waiver, the state will lose more than $300 million in federal matching funds and many low-income women will lose access to these vital health care services.
*At the October 3, 2008 Commission meeting, the Board voted to recommend support for an extension of the Family Pact waiver in its current format through June 30, 2009.
Legislative Action
 The following bills were recently supported by CSW's Board at the October 3rd Commission meeting:
-S. 573-Heart Disease Education, Analysis and Research, and Treatment for Women Act (HEART for Women Act)
-S. 612-Women's Health Office Act of 2007
|
