EVENTS!

On May 28, 2009 over 50 D.C. area fellow alumnae and AAUW members gathered at the AAUW headquarters in Washington, D.C. to network and hear inspirational stories from fellow alumnae including author of Queen Bees and Wannabes Rosaline Weisman, Shireen Lewis founder of Sister Mentors, and Dian Belanger author of Deep Freeze. Pictured, L to R; Gloria Blackwell, AAUW Director of Fellowships & Grants, Dian Belanger, Shireen Lewis, Linda Hallman, AAUW Executive Director, Rosalind Wiseman.

Lorraine Anderson

International Fellow Lorraine Anderson, a 1999–00 International Fellow from Canada, has worked with the United Nations in both Liberia and Gahanna to develop concrete plans and implementation strategies around gender rights. One of Lorraine’s career highlights has been her role in developing a joint program between the Liberian government and the United Nations in outlining ways the United Nation would support the government’s initiatives in fighting gender based violence. Through her experiences Lorraine has learned to look at women not as victims but as survivors. She explained, “We need to give the women the skills to build their own capacity so they can advocate for themselves.”

GEMS Community Action Grant Project

The Girls Excelling in Math and Science Community Action Grant program currently operating in two Maryland middle schools focuses on hands-on science exploration and mentoring between university of Maryland undergraduates and D.C. area middle-school girls. Eddie Crocker, co-founder and director of GEMS, sees the program as beneficial for all involved: “It’s rewarding to see the interactions between the mentors and the middle-school girls.” For the future Eddie hopes GEMS can be a model for similar programs that incorporate universities, service learning, local public schools, and STEM.

Denise Decker, American Fellow

Denise Decker, a 1975-76 American Fellow, is continually working to help others live more independently or training those in leadership positions to be more aware of the contributions people with disabilities can make to society. Denise works as a senior program analyst for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, and she also serves on the Washington, D.C., Commission on People with Disabilities. Having both national and international experience as a speaker and workshop facilitator, Denise has been called a "developer of leaders."