The 150th anniversary of the first Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls provided an opportunity to review women's achievements and set directions for a new agenda for women's equality. Now, the Susan B. Anthony Center for Women's Leadership at the University of Rochester is spearheading the creation of an action plan based on the ideas presented during Forum 98, its national conference on women's issues, and in subsequent community meetings to prioritize concerns.
The center is holding a meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, at the Brighton Public Library, 2300 Elmwood Ave., to discuss strategies on continuing the work for women's equality.
Forum 98 produced a call for action in the areas of women's leadership, the economy, and in the creation of a just and caring society. After the conference, the Anthony Center joined with a number of local organizations, including Neighbors Building Neighborhoods, the Greater Rochester Chapter of the Red Cross, and Latinas Unidas, to get local input on a list of the most pressing women's issues.
The May 16 meeting will review the concerns raised locally. Among the priority issues identified at the 13 community conversations held in the Rochester area last year were family caregiving responsibilities, the living wage campaign, health care, campaign finance reform, and leadership education for women and girls.
Leading the discussion will be Nora Bredes, director of the Anthony Center for Women's Leadership, and special meeting coordinator Amy Moritz.
The May 16 meeting also will be an opportunity to discuss the Anthony Center's new initiatives and how they meet some of the needs identified at Forum 98, said Bredes.
"For example, the proposed 'Women Leading Local Governments' initiative will focus on women as elected leaders and the problems they may work to solve, including domestic violence, women's health issues, child care, and equal pay," she noted.
The evening's program will include refreshments. Reservations are suggested but not required. For more information call the Anthony Center at (585) 275-8799.