Grassroots Female Coalition (continued from page 3)

ticular, could rise to a leadership position if she has the skills to help community women. The also will not turn men away from the efgroup forts of coalition-building if they are interested in providing support and assistance in terms of consulting and services. But the territory of membership and leadership belongs to women, Roberts insists, because "our time has come".

"What of the other women's groups in Cleveland?" I ask Roberts. "Well," she replies, "We're not putting down NOW or WomenSpace. We just don't want a piece of the pie. We're going to have the whole thing!" Some women shout. "Yes," says Roberts, "we're going to bake that pie and control it."'

Roberts asks the group why aren't other women helping you? A woman was evicted from a CMHA project apartment the other day. Her clothing and furniture were dumped on the front lawn. A woman named Jones supposedly hanged herself in the Cleveland Heights City jail recently. Her mother had seen her that day and thought she seemed all right. The fact that she was picked up for shoplifting is beside the point. Why weren't there a thousand women at the Cleveland Heights jail demanding to know what happened to her?

1 remember the morning I read the short article which reported on the Jones "suicide". I couldn't understand why the article was so brief, and tucked between the ads. I wondered what I could do to find out the real story behind a tiny article. But without an organized network of women I could draw together on a day's notice, I felt helpless. In a very real way support from groups such as the Coalition could make a difference.

The Coalition plans to work on an immediate agenda of concerns: (1) pursue increased support for hunger centers to feed children; (2) request that RTA cut children's bus fares from $.20 to $.13; and (3) create employment opportunities for women that would lessen the pressure to become involved in prostitution.

The Coalition's long-range goal includes membership drive that would target a thousand

members by July 1981. The Coalition plans to sp to the needs of poor and unemployed women, the problems of sex and race discrimination, and the necessity of a powerful political base to which legislators will respond. The Grassroots Female Leadership Coalition is still in its formative stages.j For further information, contact Geraldine Roberts' on the Job Action Hotline, 361-0373.

BOS (continued from page 2) ›

months to schedule. For a woman trying to meet daily expenses, these delays can be devastating. Even if a court hearing does result in payment, payments tend to lapse after a few months.

From June through November, 1979, CWC conducted a follow-up study to determine ways in which the Bureau's services can be improved. Their recommendations, submitted earlier this summer, include the need for greater visibility of BOS's services, a computerized system to ensure more timely and efficient processing of payments, in-service training and more support services for the staff, stronger legislation to enforce alimony and child support payments, expanded "conciliation" services to help clients through their divorces, less red tape and double paperwork, and equal priority to both welfare and non-welfare clients. The response has been encouraging. One of the most critical needs-a computerized system of handling payments-is expected to be in use by next July.

CWC will also be working with the BOS beginning in September to accomplish three major goals. First, they plan to create a manual for the BOS staff listing services and resources to help women through problems related to divorce, such as job placement and housing. Second, they will hire a consultant to help the staff improve their interviewing and referral techniques. Lastly, they plan to explore ways to increase the Bureau's visibility through media coverage and literature to inform the public as well as attorneys and others who could refer their clients to BOS.

If you are interested in learning more about the BOS or other activities of Cleveland Women's Counsel, or if you are interested in becoming a member of CWC, call them at 321-8587 or write to P.O. Box 18472, Cleveland Hts., OH 44118.

The preceding information was taken from "Report on the Bureau of Support in Cuyahoga County, Ohio" prepared by Cleveland Women's Counsel. Special thanks to Betsy Tabac, past Executive Director of CWC, and Cinthia Schuman, who replaced Betsy in July.

Take Back the Night (continued from page 3)

be attended by Joe Terango, Director of Operations at RTA. Women, this is your opportunity to tell RTA what you need! Let's make use of the womenpower we created together on August 2 to get better security on RTA.

The Take Back the Night Commitfeë is open to all women. Call 641-9481 or 883-1674 for meeting time information.

The Take Back the Night Committee would like to thank the following people and organizations: Karen Archeki for speaking at the rally Luigi and Jeff Loman for childcare

Monica Ollendorf for First Aid coverage

Judy Jasmine and Melinda McGeorge (Syren-

sound) for sound

All the women who facilitated workshops Free Clinic for wheelchairs

All the women who worked as peacekeepers All the women who assisted in passing around donation cans and petition sheets

The Women's Choir for song

Arline Bognar for designing the Take Back the. Night cover for What She Wants

The What She Wants collective for publicity The anonymous woman for the statement she prepared about her experiences with RTA WomenSpace for the podium

All the women (that's you!) and women's organizations who supported us with spirit and donations.

-Louise Luczak

for the Take Back the Night Committee