#109 Manda Zand Ervin “Alliance of Iranian Women”

MANDA ZAND ERVIN, Founder and Director of the Alliance of Iranian Women is today’s very honored guest. We will be talking about Iran, the beautiful history of Iran, the ruling Women-Gods, the plight of women in Iran under Sharia law, and her new book, “The Ladies’ Secret Society: History of the Courageous Women of Iran.

During the Iranian Islamic revolution, Manda witnessed the execution of many innocent people, including her high school principal who was murdered because she was a woman and the secretary of education.  She witnessed the human rights of the Iranian people, especially the women, taken away from them. She witnessed her homeland leaving the twentieth century to turn backward and she witnessed the effect.

Manda came to the United States as a political refugee on June 17th, 1980, became a citizen three years later and began her fight for human rights in Iran. She is the founder and president of the Alliance of Iranian Women a group which has deep connections within the Iranian diaspora and within Iran.

As the head of the Alliance of Iranian Women, Manda Ervin works to bring the West’s attention to the plight of Iranian women under Islamic Sharia laws.  She almost single-handedly gathered the support to pass a 2003 U.S. Senate Resolution on the human rights of the women of Iran. In 2005 Manda was invited to speak at the UN conference on the family in Islamic societies.

Manda is an analyst and writer, published by many online political magazines, like the Hudson Institute, American Thinker, and Family Security Matters, National Review and others.  She speaks on TV and radio programs, nationally and internationally, including CNN, BBC, Radio France, VOA, Radio Liberty.

Her book reveals, in print for the first time, the long history of struggle against clerical domination that Iranian women have been engaged in for centuries. Rooted in the proud history of ancient Iran, where Mother-Gods were once worshipped, the Ladies’ Secret Society, an organization founded in the early decades of the 20th Century, was both the inheritor of this proud history, and the progenitor of the contemporary women’s rights campaign in the Iran of today. Zand Ervin relates the stories, and records the accomplishments, of generations of individual women activists, who fought like lionesses for every scrap of freedom they gained, only to see all their hard-won rights destroyed with the coming of Khomeini’s Islamic Revolution. During the Islamic revolution, Zand Ervin witnessed the execution of many innocent people, including her high school principal, who was executed simply because she was a woman, and the Secretary of Education. She offers heartbreaking and compelling eyewitness testimonies of strong and emancipated women who were brutally pushed backwards to living under a crude, medieval society, and who have fought back, under sometimes impossible odds, and continue fighting today. Manda Zand Ervin’s History of Iran, the Iran that has been imprisoned behind a veil offers an insight and context to news of terrorism and the dangers caused by the misogynistic clerical regime ruling Iran which continues to dominate headlines.

https://www.allianceofiranianwomen.org/2020/01/an-iranian-womens-rights-advocates-life-hanging-in-the-balance/

 

Today’s show was engineered by Maddy Bogner of Radio Kingston, http://www.radiokingston.org.

We heard music from our fave, Shana Falana, http://www.shanafalana.com/

Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org

Leave me a voicemail with your thoughts or a few words about who has what you want and why! (845)481-3429

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#108 Jessica Meyer from “the idea garden” + Freedomwalker “The Source of Self-Regard”

Today!!! I am joined by Jessica Meyer, a leadership consultant and executive coach who co-created The Idea Garden with her husband, Matt Taylor, a space for socially engaged art and community events. She is active in the community, a member of Women’s History Month Kingston the steering committee and the mom of Maggie, a certified therapy dog who is battling cancer. Today we learn more about Jess, her work, the current exhibit at the idea garden and some of the happendings of Women’s History Month! She shares how they came up with the name for the idea garden inspired by John Boswell’s, Mr. Roger’s remix, one of her favorite exhibits, The Grace Project, featuring the works of Charise Isis, and what she’s learned along the way of starting a new business: accepting support along the way, looking for resources in the community, being open to new information and learning, having patience, and looking for opportunities for collaboration opportunities. I found it fascinating hearing about her work in leadership consulting and executive coaching including her own process around getting clear on her own values and priorities via the assistance of Strategy Professor Paul Ingram.

She shares about her involvement with Women’s History Month Kingston (WHMK), established in March 2019 as a community collaboration, where different organizers hosted a series of events to highlight women’s history through a diversity of perspectives. Now with a steering committee comprised of volunteers from Kingston businesses and arts and cultural organizations, the current schedule is up and growing. You can follow their Facebook page for the most up to date info on the events.

Here are some of the upcoming events at the idea garden; April: HV Seed Company, the Art of Seed, May: Breaking Free from Trauma featuring works by Rita Bolla, Benny Benard, and Kat Howard, and June: Kids Collaboration, Senior Thesis show from Kingston HS and Middle School.

Halfway through the show we are joined by returning guest, FreedomWalker, a certified creative art therapist, accredited practitioner of the healing arts, fine artist, writer and co-host of The Black Meta on Radio Kingston ⚡️ She co-hosts the current exhibit at “The Source of Self Regard,” a multi-disciplinary arts exhibition. Named after a collection of essays, speeches, and meditations by the late Toni Morrison, the show’s intention is to hold space for and highlight the voices of women, femme, and nonbinary people of color. The show will feature both visual and performing artists and will run for 2 months at the idea garden in Kingston NY to coincide with both Black History Month Kingston and Women’s History Month Kingston.

Artists exhibiting include: AJ AremuSadee BrathwaiteDorothy Brodhead, Cassandra D. Clarke, K.C. Clarke, Nile ‘River’ ClarkeAndie Clarkson, Freedom Walker, Courtney HaeickIONEDahlia JarrettNaira Luke-AlemanMumbaYvonne Rojas-CowanToni Thomas, and Cynthia Timms . The exhibit will be open the following dates in March, 3.7 4-7pm, 3.14 4-7pm and Closing Celebration 3.21 4-7pm stay tuned for the Closing details.

Freedomwalker shares a passage from Toni Morrison’s “A Source of Self-Regard” about the struggling artist and not enfranchising the struggling artist imagery. She talks about the importance of her art, how she works through the challenges of financially supporting her art and her work by diversifying all she does, how she doesn’t hold on to past things, connecting with her heart, and healing the ancestral line through her artwork.

Her last exhibit at the idea garden was titled, “Last Night for Dinner.”

And yes, we get in some sharing about Self Care!

Today’s show was engineered by Maddy Bogner of Radio Kingston, http://www.radiokingston.org.

We heard music from our fave, Shana Falana, http://www.shanafalana.com/

Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org

Leave me a voicemail with your thoughts or a few words about who has what you want and why! (845)481-3429

** Please: SUBSCRIBE to the pod and leave a REVIEW wherever you are listening, it helps other users FIND IT 🙂

http://iwantwhatshehas.org/podcast

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#107 “Circle Creative Collective” with Mary Jane Nusbaum, Mirabai Trent and Jenny Wonderling

Today I sit down with three of the members of Circle Creative Collective, an organization which hosts events, gathering in Circle to share and remember the things we learned or wish we had from our grandparents, a bridge from past to present and culture to culture, an open circle to all… bringing together the creative and curious across cultural borders in our Hudson Valley communities and beyond… inviting diverse individuals to share and preserve traditional crafts, arts, and skills… empowering people, inspiring connection to Earth and resilience.

Our conversation appropriately weaves through so many beautiful and important topics: the how and why they formed this vital Circle, their big Sankofa event happening this Saturday (2.15.20) at the Clinton Avenue United Methodist Church, 122 Clinton Avenue in Kingston, NY (in collaboration with MyKingstonKids.com), the traditions of Gullah Geechee women, returning to stillness and connecting with others through crafts and circles, who and what we value, collaboration vs. competition, culture of acceptance vs. culture of approval, lessons learned, ritual and self care.

Big THANKS to my guests:

MARY JANE NUSBAUM

Mary Jane is a natural teacher, mentor and inspiration. Grounded and deeply compassionate, gentle and dedicated, Mary Jane brings an artistic eye, a true passion for natural and artisanal processes, and many decades of experience as a teacher, gifted artist and craftsperson. Mj holds space with a rare calm, an open heart, and powerful communication skills. She helps to create an inclusive and curious class environment where her love for traditional knowledge, world cultures, the environment, and social justice are woven quietly into every stitch, and lesson. Mary Jane has lived in the Hudson Valley with her husband and two sons for the past 18 years. She has a Master’s in Printmaking from SUNY New Paltz and teaches art at New Paltz Middle School. Mj runs summer and year-round art programs with Wild Earth, a wilderness immersion program in High Falls. To Mary Jane, some of the most beautiful things about this world are the arts and cultures which have sprung from humanity’s relationship to nature in the particular places we each call “Home”.

MIRABAI TRENT

Raised in the Hudson Valley, Mirabai grew up with a deep connection to the Earth and plants that surrounded her. Majoring in fashion design, she fell in love with the realm of textiles and the unique qualities of each countries’ techniques, skills, and heritage. Mirabai, passionate about the healing power of the arts, did an intensive program at Esalen Institute learning about the patterns we have adopted, and how creative expression might shift those patterns. With a commitment to learning and preserving cultural crafts, she was led to explore Guatemala, where ancient arts and traditions are abundant. Setting off to dive deep into the ancient Maya practices, she cultivated relationships with various community leaders, who have the mission of preserving their ancient culture as well. She volunteered with a weaving association owned and run completely by local Tz’utujil Mayan women and endeavored to learn the complex traditions of weaving, natural dyeing, embroidery, and beadwork. In addition to Chrysalis, a program for teens to help engage her peers in open conversation and expression, she also started the traditional crafts department at HATCH Workshop, a center for emerging makers in Stockton CA.

JENNY WONDERLING

Jenny gathers and shares stories, and helps to enrich other people’s—and since 2005 she has done that through the vehicle of retail. A child of multi-cultural roots and a globally minded family, her wanderlust carried her to many places, deepening her caring for our planet and world community. Jenny feels that within each object is a trail of potent human interactions, and that we each have a responsibility to consider our impact every step of the way– from sourcing to how an item will impact the earth long after the impulse-buy has occurred. Nectar focused on sourcing and selling handmade, sustainable products, supporting Fair Trade programs, women’s cooperatives, and environmental initiatives. A new dream has blossomed though, quietly holding the seeds of her shops within the soil and blooms… There is a widespread longing to share authentically, something she felt she was only touching on by showcasing and selling goods. What if people could connect through making, creating, growing, and healing together? Jenny is excited to bring her love of design, experience with merchandising, marketing, event planning, and sales to Circle. Her passion for writing and story will bud through journal writing classes, and the gathering of stories for blogs and video on this site. Lastly, (but not at all least) her experience as a mother of three helps her understand the longing and importance to live and create in a thriving community—for the balance and health of the whole family… and world.

Today’s show was engineered by Maddy Bogner of Radio Kingston, http://www.radiokingston.org.

We heard music from Shana Falana, http://www.shanafalana.com/

Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org

Leave me a voicemail with your thoughts or a few words about who has what you want and why! (845)481-3429

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#106 Comedians Jessieca McNabb and Perla Ayora

I managed to keep things relatively sane with these two comedians in the house today. Perla Ayora, Tech Coordinator at Radio Kingston and Stand Up Comedian talks about her roots in the Yucatan, Mayan culture, leaving for the States, the discrimination she faced and how she came to try stand up comedy about a year ago. Jessieca McNabb started performing stand up in the early ’90s and hasn’t stopped making people laugh since. Aside from splitting sides each week as co-host on No One Like You, she is a regular emcee of various comedy events all over the Hudson Valley. She’s been involved in community activism with Harambee Kingston and now co-hosts Harambee Radio, a weekly show on RadioKingston.

We get into a little of the personal and a little of the professional. Uncovering a bit of their process, why comedy is important to them, a transformational life experience each of them had, Black History month, empathy, building connections, breaking down walls, what they do to take care of themselves and lots more. I started this show thinking that doing stand up would be frightening, and I haven’t changed my mind. The fascinating thing is that they both feel the same way. They experience that fear before each of their shows yet they still get out there and do it. I am seriously impressed. Brava ladies!

You can catch them next on February 14th at the Valentine’s Day Love and Laugh Get Down. Lots is happening for Black History Month here in Kingston like Sip and Paint this Sunday, February 9th and Nubian Cafe on Wednesday, February 12th hosted by Radio Kingston’s SB. I’ll say it again here folks, Black History is everyone’s History so it’s a great time to think about what that means for you and how you celebrate your neighbors year-round. If you want to get involved or support Harambee, you can learn more here.

Today’s show was engineered by Maddy Bogner of Radio Kingston, http://www.radiokingston.org.

We heard music from our fave, Shana Falana, http://www.shanafalana.com/

Feel free to email me, say hello: she@iwantwhatshehas.org

Leave me a voicemail with your thoughts or a few words about who has what you want and why! (845)481-3429

** Please: SUBSCRIBE to the pod and leave a REVIEW wherever you are listening, it helps other users FIND IT 🙂

http://iwantwhatshehas.org/podcast

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