Now is the Time for Action

Another June/July Birthday 

Our son Chinaku turns 50 today. That’s such a milestone for us and for him! We sent a package about 10 days ago; he didn’t mention receiving it when we talked today, and we forgot to ask.

Sam and Onome included a cake for him in their party yesterday for their children, Teya, 6, and Bruche, 4, whose birthdays were in the last three weeks. Next week comes our Independence grandson, Kenechi, born on the 4th of July.

Kelvin was early June, Ikem is mid-July, and Nkiru is late July. Sam and Onome are the only outliers.

I’m Official!

I’ve been installed as the newest board member of the of US National Committee for UNWomen, or USNC-UNWomen.

Maggie Forster Schmitz, as one of her last official acts, installed me on Friday, soon after the opening of the board meeting.

I’m sorry she’s leaving the board but hope to see her in New York. We knew we were fellow alums of Mount Holyoke, but were surprised to learn that we had both been German majors!

Friday afternoon’s session of the board was devoted to strategic planning led by consultants from Executive Service Corps, using a survey they had created. Board member Younghee facilitated the process.

Twenty nine board members and chapter presidents had responded to the survey. The consultants presented the SWOT analysis of the results.

Are you familiar with this method of looking strategically at an organization? SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Our responses had been categorized into these four areas. After the consultants presented the results, we voted for our own priorities by placing a dot beside the three we felt were most important.

We also spent an hour in small groups for idea and action generation. I joined Communications. I’ve committed to connecting with five blogs focused on women’s issues by end of October. Your suggestions for blogs to look at are welcome!

UNWomen Executive Director Welcomes Us

Saturday was the annual conference of the US National Committee for UNWomen, full of inspiring women and men. You can read about it and see why I’m excited to be part of this organization.

 

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuko welcomed us in her video message.

She applauded progress since the Beijing Conference and the Platform for Action twenty years ago, but said, “Women still face violence, discrimination,and unequal treatment in their homes and in their workplaces.”

“Now is the time for action, ” she said, as she called on our US National Committee for increased advocacy and funding to help close the gender gap.

Other Impressive Speakers

For me, two speakers in the day-long conference stood out. First was Dr. Suja Lowenthal DPD, Vice Mayor, City of Long Beach, California. I don’t know exactly what the suffix DPD means, but she is an urban planner.

Her keynote address, “No Ordinary Journey,” related how she came from her childhood in India, riding on the front of her father’s bicycle, to be Vice Mayor in Long Beach. She related her life to ours, saying that for women like us in the audience, and herself, we carry our experiences with us but also envision what could be instead of just what we see around us.

“I’ve lived and gone to school in Southern California for most of my life now, but in many ways I’m still that Indian girl with a bag full of memories, experiences and values to inform me, on the front seat of my dad’s bike, wind on my face, the sights, sounds, and smells striking all my senses, seeing things not always as they are, but closing my eyes and seeing them as they should be.”

She talked about some of her accomplishments for the city of Long Beach. One was achieving a living wage for hotel workers, almost all women, including those at the Hyatt Regency where most of us stayed and where we met.

The second most impressive speaker for me was Rowan Blanchard. She’s a child actor, “best known for her role as Riley Matthews on the Disney Channel series Girl Meets World,” according to Wikipedia. She’s 13 years old. Her ability to speak out for the He For She campaign was impressive.

I was also pleased to hear Nigerian film director Jeta Amata. I spoke to him afterwards; I loved his enthusiastic reaction as I said my name. “You’re married to a Nigerian!” he exclaimed.

Kudos and Gifts

Maggie presented gifts to all the retiring board members as we closed the annual meeting on Saturday afternoon. I whispered to another board member near me, “What about her? Isn’t she receiving recognition?”

Of course others had thought of that! After Maggie had finished and returned to her seat, Lalita Janke, our new board president, called her up to receive her own gift and recognition.

Nigerian Colonial Doctor

I received an email a couple of days ago with a link to a YouTube video, “A doctor in Nigeria (1948).”  It is a fascinating look at the life of a colonial doctor, his patients, his resources, and his social life. 

The description says,”This film shows the work of the Nigerian Medical Service by following an English doctor on his posting there. He is seen at work in hospitals, mobile field units and dispensaries, his job embracing not only medicine and surgery, but social work as well. This video was made from material preserved by the BFI.” 

I had to look up BFI – it’s the British Film Institute. Watch for the video of the doctor next time.