LOCAL & STATE NEWS

Cassandra Convenes

in Cleveland

In April, 1983, following a visit from Peggy Chin and Charlene Wheeler of Cassandra: Radical Feminists Nurses Network, area nurses formed a local network here in Cleveland.

The national network was founded in 1982 after the ANA (American Nurses Association) convention in Washington, D.C. Throughout the convention, small informal groups of nurses found themselves sharing concerns about the impact of feminist issues on nursing and the health care system. They met again on June 30 (the deadline for ratification of the ERA) in hopes of formalizing a network which would provide a forum for feminist nurses from all over the country. They felt this date was particularly appropriate to create a new vehicle to preserve and stimulate feminist ideals. Twelve nurses from six states were present at this initial meeting.

They named the group Cassandra after an essay of the same title by Florence Nightingale, in which she examined how Victorian society prevented women from expressing their passion, intellect, and moral perspective. In her spirit, they hope the organization will help to redefine the nature of their work and how

BACK

TAKE

THE

NIGHT

A six-month baby girl is raped in Cleveland. Two elderly women are raped in a nursing home in Tampa. Patrons in a New Bedford bar cheer as a woman is gang-raped. In Columbus, a doctor is charged with 38 rapes and still allowed to practice medicine. These are only a few of the many incidents, reported since March, of violent acts against women.

Although rape may be the most heinous crime against women, we are systematically and continuously abused in many ways—sexual harassment, sexist advertising, deadly medical care, battering relationships. In a violent and patriarchal society, it is critical that women unite and publicly demonstrate their unwillingness to tolerate such abuse. Cleveland

In August, Cleveland women will join together for

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they go about it from a feminist perspective.

The group reached consensus on several longrange goals at the June 30 meeting, including 1) to establish a national network for women in nursing who embrace a feminist philosophy to provide infor-.. mation, connections, communication and support to counteract a system which keeps nurses isolated; 2) to develop a strong voice through which feminist nurses can take public stands on issues of importance to nursing practice, education and research and health in general; 3) to share and pass on skills, including preserving written materials on women and health that embody a feminist perspective; 4) to support nursing research employing a feminist approach; and 5) to promote education on women and health without the usual social censorship and bias. As a first step in implementing these goals, Cassandra began publishing a newsletter this past November. A $25.00 membership fee includes the newsletter and a copy of Nightingale's essay and is available from Cassandra, P.O. Box 341, Williamsville, New York 14221.

The local Radical Feminists Nurses Network will meet this June 4 at 1:00 p.m. at 1854 Coventry in Cleveland Heights. The group is now working to contact others in this area for discussion, support and local action. For more information, please send your phone number to Cassandra, 1854 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights 44118.

the fifth time in a Take Back the Night March. Prior to the march, there will be an awareness week, addressing issues of violence against women. Support from the Cleveland women's community is earnestly needed for this effort. We will need women's power and women's energy to make this endeavor happen. Volunteer your time and show your support for this critical cause. For more information, call Sandy at 221-3627.

Akron

The Greater Akron Area Chapter of the National Organization for Women is sponsoring a Take Back the Night march and rally on Saturday, September 7, 1983, to raise awareness in women and men of the inequity of living in fear.

WISE House Completed

By Daryl Gordon

Women in Skilled Employment (WISE) held a Thank God It's Finished Open House on May 6 to celebrate the completion of an East Cleveland house renovated by an all-woman crew. The staff of five women, carefully selected from various preapprenticeship programs, was directed by supervisors Tish Popa and Jim LaRue.

Work on the house began February 16th. At that time, the house was in total disrepair. A major portion of the roof was gutted, walls had to be stripped and recovered with plaster and dry wall, and the windows and woodwork needed replacing.

Traditional apprenticeship training programs are especially difficult for women. Due to sexism and many women's lack of fundamental construction skills, few women are accepted into these programs. Even if they are accepted, they have the added burden of "emotional harassment from maledominated crews. This program allowed women to develop much-needed skills in a supportive environ-

ment.

The program was funded by the George C. Gund Foundation in conjunction with the East Cleveland Community Development Corp., the East Cleveland and Euclid YWCA, and Hard Hatted Women, which provided workshops and a buddy system for the crew members. As a testament to the quality of the work on the house, it has been sold through the East Cleveland Development Corporation.

Stern Gets Award

At the eighth Annual Meeting of WomenSpace on May 19, Micki Stern received the Josephine Irwin Award for outstanding contributions to women in Cleveland. The Award was presented by Mary Boyle, last year's recipient. Josephine Irwin, who inspired the award with her long history of women's rights activism, was also present.

In 1982, there were more than 200 rapes reported Van Kleef At EFCO

to the Akron police. The Akron Rape Crisis Center (a program of the YWCA) handled 833 crisis calls relating to rape and/or incest. And this represents a small percentage of the rapes and other acts of .violence in Akron against women!

Akron NOW is looking for individuals and organizations to participate in this event. The first meeting will be Monday, June 6, at 7:30 p.m. at 738 Seward Avenue in Akron. Call 864-3463 or 864-5562 for more information.

Columbus

"Yes means yes and no means no-however we dress, wherever we go". This was one of about five chants that three women from Cleveland helped to "teach" about 450 other women while marching in downtown Columbus on Saturday, May 14. Columbus had not had a march to Take Back the Night for at least three years. Judging by the turnout, the need for a march was critical. Like anywhere else, Columbus has its share of violence against women; however, the recent acquittal of the group of males who gang-raped a woman in a dormitory at OSU sent hundreds of angry women to the streets in protest. The judge's decision is still being protested.

Deborah Van Kleef is the new director of Education for Freedom of Choice in Ohio (EFCO). Previously the Associate Director, Deborah joined EFCO in 1981.

EFCO, founded in 1978, is the only non-profit, tax-exempt organization focused solely on pro-choice issues in the country. In addition to providing speakers, literature and political skills training, EFCO has played a major role in coordinating and supporting the efforts of local and state pro-choice organizations.

Christine Link, Director of EFCO since its early beginnings, was instrumental in making EFCO the very visible organization it is today. Deborah, who replaced Link on May 1, says that, "One of the things I learned from Chris and hope to carry on is how to develop, a staff and volunteers whose skills complement each other and give women room to develop in ways that enrich themselves, and the organizations."

The new Associate Director is Wiebke Marks. Previously, Marks was EFCO's Outreach Coordinator.

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