Zoom Meeting Registration Link
Generation Ratify, a youth led group, focusing on getting the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) into the US Constitution arranged the 100 year celebration of the first introduction of the ERA at the ERA Centennial Convention in Seneca Falls, NY on Fri July 21-Sat. July 22, 2023. They invited others who had been working decades to get ERA ratified and into the Constitution. ERA has now been ratified by ¾ of the states as required and is the 28th Amendment to the Constitution, but like many other Amendments is facing opposition to its full enshrinement in the Constitution. The Centennial Convention aimed to help accomplish this goal.
The Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues (CWI) had three Board members attend the Convention and will use this meeting to report on how it was organized, implemented and its accomplishments. The CWI Board Members who took the ERA bus to Seneca Falls were Connie Cordovilla, Vice President, Membership, Holly Joseph, Treasurer and Loretta Gubernatis Vice-President for Media Outreach who made videos of much of this event.
Connie Cordovilla will Emcee and introduce this meeting. Others, such as Claudia Nachega, Deputy Executive Director, Generation Ratify, Lisa Sales, Pres. of Va NOW, and Zakiya Thomas, CEO of the ERA Coalition will explain the role of their organization and if possible show some key excerpts of speakers from the videos by Loretto Gubernatis. Holly Joseph will describe how this convention builds on our June 20th CWI meeting on “When Will Women’s Voices Be Heard? Here is the link to a recording of that meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyYqfL8FpC4 . Loretto Gubernatis will discuss the value of working with the younger generation.
Lisa Sales organized a bus from Washington, DC to and from Seneca Falls, NY. In addition to carrying about 40 attendees, she arranged for the bus to be wrapped in ERA symbols to publicize this important event. She also helped organize the kickoff rally from the US Capitol which she will explain and show some of the speeches by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Co Chair of the Congressional ERA Caucus and others. Lisa will also comment on the multi racial and intergeneration interaction of participants.
Claudia Nachega, Deputy Executive Director, Generation Ratify will provide a background on its formation and. success and the impetus for the Centennial Convention. She will also discuss the importance of the younger generation’s participation and plans for the future.
Zakiya Thomas. President and CEO of the ERA Coalition /Fund for Women’s Equality, will describe how the Coalition was one of the many supporters of the Convention and discuss future plans for full recognition of the ERA and how the ERA Coalition operates including it’s participation in the 8/26 60th Anniversary March on Washington and President Biden’s latest statement supporting ERA.
Holly Joseph and Loretto Gubernatis will conclude with key information on what is needed to get Congressional support for approval and implementation of the ERA by pointing out that it is not unusual for an Amendment to the Constitution to have opposition even after it is ratified by the required number of states and the great value in working intergenerationally.
Remember to register to attend this Sept 26 CWI noon Zoom meeting at this Registration Link.
The Oct. 24 CWI Meeting will be on Women’s Health Issues.
