When Women VOTE,
Women WIN!
Great Reads
Great Reads
These are some books that women who are running or are considering running for office might find helpful and/or inspiring:
Closing the Leadership Gap; Why Women Can and Must
Help Run the World by Marie C. Wilson, Founder of The White House Project.
Marie Wilson makes a compelling case about the necessity of greatly increasing the number of women in leadership positions, especially elected officials. Her book offers advice from her and from other female leaders on preparing to lead and includes the results of research on perceptions of female political candidates. It is a very thought-provoking book.
Nine and Counting; The Women of the Senate by Barbara Mikulski, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray, Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Mary Landrieu, and Blanche Lincoln with Catherine Whitney. All of these Senators contributed to this book, sharing their own experiences on their campaign trails and in office.
Pearls, Politics, & Power by Madeliene Kunin. Former legislator, Governor, and Ambassador Kunin discusses her own experiences in politics as well as those of many other female politicians. Good reading for anyone considering running for office and entertaining reading for anyone not planning on running. This book is the reason Claire McCaskill is my favorite Senator.
Sex, Science, and Stem Cells by Diana DeGette. Congresswoman DeGette talks about her experiences in both the state and national legislatures ranging from her state legislation requiring protesters at health clinics to stay a few feet away from patients entering to her experience working with members of both parties in both houses of our national legislature to allow stem cell research. It is a very interesting book and a very good one to read if you are considering running for office, especially if you wonder how you would deal with protesters outside your house.
Why Women Should Rule the World by Dee Dee Myers. The first female White House press secretary discusses her pioneering career in politics. She includes quite a bit of information on the ways men and women are treated differently.
If you are aware of reading material that should be added to this list, please e-mail us at alaskawpa@gmail.com to let us know.
Women’s Organizations
She Should Run
– She Should Run is dedicated to dramatically increasing the number of women in public leadership by eliminating and overcoming barriers to success.
NWPC
– Founded in 1971, the National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC) is the only national, grassroots membership organization dedicated to increasing the number of pro-choice women in elected and appointed office regardless of party affiliation.
Planned Parenthood
– Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., is the world’s largest and most trusted voluntary reproductive health care organization. Founded by Margaret Sanger in 1916 as America’s first birth control clinic, Planned Parenthood believes in everyone’s right to choose when or whether to have a child, that every child should be wanted and loved, and that women should be in charge of their own destinies.
Alliance for Reproductive Justice – The Alliance for Reproductive Justice is a permanent statewide coalition, committed to protecting and promoting reproductive rights and services through education, advocacy and referrals. AkWPC is proud to be a Partner Organization of the APCA.
Alaska Women’s Lobby
– The Alaska Women’s Lobby: Defending and advancing the rights of Alaska’s women, children, and families.
League of Women Voters – The League of Women Voters encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
YWCA – The mission of the YWCA, eliminating racism and empowering women, has been the guiding principle for creating local programs in health, finance, youth development, social justice, and leadership and empowerment. With a local community-based Board of Directors, the YWCA Anchorage is an autonomous nonprofit organization dedicated to providing mission and participant-driven programming in the greater Anchorage area.
Soroptimist International – Soroptimist International strives to be a global voice for women through awareness, advocacy and action with almost 95,000 members in nearly 120 countries. The organization, which was founded in 1921 in Oakland, California, is committed to serving local, national and international communities, and participating actively in decision-making at all levels of society. The word Soroptimist is coined from the Latin words soror and optima, and loosely translated as “best for women.”
AAPC – The American Association of Political Consultants, founded in 1969, is a bipartisan organization of political professionals. Association membership consists of political consultants, media consultants, pollsters, campaign managers, corporate public affairs officers, professors, fund-raisers, lobbyists, congressional staffers and vendors and is open to everyone associated with politics from the local level to the White House.
Juneau Chapter of the National Organization for Women – The Juneau Chapterof the National Organization for Women meets the second Wednesday of each month. Visit http://www.juneaunow.org for information and contact information.
NOW – NOW, the National Organization for Women, is dedicated to making legal, political, social and economic change in our society in order to achieve our goal, which is to eliminate sexism and end all oppression.
Alaska’s Women’s Network – ‘The purpose of the Alaska Women’s Network is to further the enpowerment of Alaska women through sharing of information, education and support and through encouraging the development of skills which will enable women to assume leadership roles in building a better world.
Alaska Press Women – The Alaska Press Women promote high ideals in print, broadcast and electronic journalism, exchange of journalistic ideas and experiences, offer continuing education opportunities to members, and serve the public’s right-to-know.
Alaska Women Speak Online – Alaska Women Speak, published quarterly since 1992, is a journal devoted to the exchange of ideas, literature, art and heart talk, as well as a statewide update of women’s political and social issues and activities.
AWAIC – AWAIC is helping people live and love together without violence. Everyone has the right to live in a fear-free environment. AWAIC offers safe Shelter, information and referral, support, and advocacy.
AAUW – The American Association of University Women is a national organization that promotes education and equity for all women and girls.
BPW – Business and Professional Women/USA, founded in 1919, promotes equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information.
STAR – The mission of Standing Together Against Rape is to provide the best quality of crisis intervention and advocacy services to victims of sexual assault and sexual abuse,and to provide education on these issues to the community.
Juneau Pro-Choice Coalition – JPCC’s mission is to promote public awareness through education and advocacy of the importance of preserving a woman’s right to self-determination of her reproductive life. All women should have access to safe and legal reproductive health services.
Political and Civic Links
Alaska Division of Elections – The Division of Elections for the State of Alaska. Site contains political information, listings of elected officials, elections results, and historical data.
American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska – The ACLU is our nation’s guardian of liberty. We work daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Our job is to conserve America’s original civic values – the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
BASIS – Track bills in the Alaska Legislature with BASIS the Bill Action and Status Inquiry System. Type a bill root and click the display button to view a bill’s current status and history.
THOMAS – THOMAS is an extensive legislative information service provided by the Library of Congress in the Spirit of Thomas Jefferson. If you can’t find an item of federal legislation on THOMAS, it probably doesn’t exist.
State of Alaska – State of Alaska home page.
Municipality of Anchorage – Municipality of Anchorage home page.
Alaska Democratic Party – Alaska Democrat Party home page.
Alaska Republican Party – Alaska Republican Party home page.
Alaska Libertarian Party – As Libertarians, we seek a world of liberty; a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values for the benefit of others.
Green Party of Alaska – The Federal Elections Commission recognizes the Green Party of the United States as the official Green Party National Committee. Committed to environmentalism, non-violence, social justice and grassroots organizing, Greens are renewing democracy without the support of corporate donors. Greens provide real solutions for real problems. Whether the issue is universal health care, corporate globalization, alternative energy, election reform or decent, living wages for workers, Greens have the courage and independence necessary to take on the powerful corporate interests. The Green Party’s 10 key values are grassroots democracy, respect for diversity, community-based economics, ecological wisdom, future focus, personal/social responsibility & social justice, feminism, global responsibility, decentralization, nonviolence.
Alaskan Independence Party (Not to be confused with registering as “independent”) – The Alaskan Independence Party can be summed up in just two words: ALASKA FIRST! Until we as Alaskans attain our Ultimate Goal, the AIP will continue to strive to make Alaska a better place to live with less government interference in our everyday lives. The Alaskan Independence Party’s goal is the vote we were entitled to in 1958, one choice from among the following four alternatives: 1) Remain a Territory. 2) Become a separate and Independent Nation. 3) Accept Commonwealth status. 4) Become a State. The call for this vote is in furtherance of the dream of the Alaskan Independence Party’s founding father, Joe Vogler, which was for Alaskans to achieve independence under a minimal government, fully responsive to the people, promoting a peaceful and lawful means of resolving differences.
Other Organizations Helping Girls and Women
Girl Scouts of Alaska – Girl Scouts of Alaska is the proven leadership development program for girls from 5-17 in Alaska. Girl Scouts is a safe, inclusive environment for Alaska’s diverse population of girls. Girl Scouting develops strength of character and confidence allowing girls to become leaders in their communities and to make a difference in the world. Building on the traditional values of the Girl Scout movement, we meet the needs of girls in Alaska today.
Girl Scouts Farthest North Council is the other Girl Scouts council in Alaska, which covers Alaska from the 63rd parallel north.
Men Can Stop Rape – Mission: To mobilize men to use their strength for creating cultures free from violence, especially men’s violence against women. Vision: To institutionalize primary prevention of men’s violence against women through sustained initiatives that generate positive, measurable outcomes in populations throughout the world. Some of the principles MCSR considers integral to healthy masculinity are: Recognizing unhealthy aspects of masculinity; Empathizing with others; Supporting gender equity and other forms of equity; Replacing risky and violent masculine attitudes and behaviors with behaviors and attitudes that respect the self and others; Learning skills to constructively challenge unhealthy masculine attitudes and behaviors. Engaging men to participate in the creation of a culture of primary prevention within their community requires a parallel process of building and supporting healthy masculinity.
Girls On The Run – Girls on the Run® is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. Our mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. Running is used to inspire and motivate girls, encourage lifelong health and fitness, and build confidence through accomplishment. At each season’s conclusion, the girls and their running buddies complete a 5k running event. Completing a 5k gives the girls a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. The result—making the seemingly impossible, possible and teaching girls that they can.
Girls Learn International – Girls Learn International (GLI) educates and energizes U.S. students in the global movement for girls’ access to education. GLI pairs Chapters in U.S. middle schools and high schools with Partner Schools in countries where girls still lag behind boys in access to education and where girls are far less likely than boys to stay in school past the primary grades. The GLI Program supports the empowerment of U.S. students as they discover that through their own creative initiatives, dedication, and passionate leadership, they can create real solutions that address the obstacles facing girls and women here and around the world. Student-to-student, and student-to-parent, GLI is building a movement of informed advocates for universal girls’ education and a new generation of leaders and activists for social change.
Women’s Sports Foundation – Founded in 1974 by tennis legend, Billie Jean King, the Women’s Sports Foundation is dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women through sports and physical activity. High school girls who play sports are less likely to be involved in an unintended pregnancy, more likely to get better grades in school, and more likely to graduate than girls who do not play sports. Girls and women who play sports have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem and lower levels of depression. Sport is where our children learn about teamwork, goal setting and the pursuit of excellence. In an economic environment where the quality of our life is dependent on two-income families, our daughters cannot be less prepared for the highly competitive workplace than our sons. The Foundation works to afford females equal opportunity to work and be volunteer leaders in sports organizations and the sports industry. The Foundation’s advocacy efforts have directly affected the amount of scholarship dollars supporting educational opportunities for female student-athletes in the United States. In 1972, women received only $100,000 but now receive $617 million a year. One of the top five public grant-giving women’s funds in the United States, the Foundation distributes $10,000-20,000 per week from operating dollars to provide opportunities for socioeconomically underprivileged and inactive girls to participate in sports and physical activity.
The Water Project – Every day in rural communities and poor urban centers throughout sub-Saharan Africa, hundreds of millions of people suffer from a lack of access to clean, safe water. Women and girls especially bear the burden of walking miles at a time to gather water from streams and ponds – full of water-borne disease that is making them and their families sick. When students are freed from gathering water, they return to class. With proper and safe latrines, girls stay in school through their teenage years. Access to water leads to food security. With less crop loss, hunger is reduced. Schools can feed students with gardens, reducing costs.
Interesting Alaskan Links
Earthquake Watch – University of Alaska, Fairbanks Seismology Laboratory.
Volcano Watch – The Alaska Volcano Observatory.
AlaskaCam – The AlaskaCam view is looking east on 4th Avenue at G Street in Anchorage, Alaska (“The Busy Corner”) from high atop the historic Alaska Building and is updated every twenty seconds from Touch N’Go systems.
Pick. Click. Give. – Alaskans who use pick. click. give. can donate part or all of our Permanent Fund Dividends to local nonprofit organizations.