November will never be the same!
 |
| Women's Rights National Park, Wesleyan Chapel, Seneca Falls, NY |
The United States' first women's rights convention
was held in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. Approximately 300 people came
together in the Wesleyan Chapel to discuss the "Social, Civil, and
Religious Condition of Women." On the second day, 68 women and 32 men
signed the Declaration of Sentiments.
This document inserted the important words, "and women", into the
familiar sentences of the Declaration of Independence and demanded women's
equality under the law and beyond. Several years before organizing and
attending this convention, in 1841, Lucretia Mott
reminded a group gathered in Boston that "you have pens and voices."
aaduna remembered the
social activism that sparked 19th century grass roots movements by continuing
that tradition in 2018 by embracing Mott’s clarion call regarding “pens and
voices.” On November 10th in recognition of the 203rd birthday of Elizabeth
Cady Stanton on November 12th, another fervent voice in the struggle
for the equality of women, the eradication of human slavery, and staunch
advocate for human rights, aaduna
made its presence known at that historic chapel site.
Simply
titled “Fierce” and presented in collaboration with the Women’s Rights National Historical
Park, U.S. National Park Service, aaduna’s reading convened three women
from diverse backgrounds, whose powerful voices and ability to embolden and
strengthen the human spirit through their words, produced an exhilarating
afternoon of poetry, as well as reflective commentary from each presenter.
Regrettably, the vagrancies and temperament of fall weather in the Finger Lakes
region of upstate New York prompted Park Rangers to recommend and aaduna agreed
to move the event to the Guntzel Theater in the adjacent NWRHP visitor’s center
where the venue’s temperature was more conducive to a relaxed afternoon of poetry
and reflection.
What a time was had by all in attendance! The audience was
enthralled. The readers at their best game.
It was Fierce!
 |
| Cyd Charisse Fulton, featured poet, "Fierce!" November 10, 2018 Women's Rights National Park, Seneca Falls, NY |
Cyd
Charisse Fulton exhorted the richness of poetic tales, emotional complexities,
and much needed vibrant brain food to nourish the human spirit while Karen
Faris spoke cautionary poetic tales of Earth’s demise and subsequent research
by aliens.
 |
| Karen Faris, featured poet, "Fierce!" November 10, 2018 Women's Rights National Park, Seneca Falls, NY |
Jackie
Warren-Moore voiced a poignancy and understanding of the dynamics of the human
condition; what we have to endure in trying times, and our most powerful
characteristic, a sense of self that permeates our beings even if we do not
recognize our power to manifest change.
 |
| Jackie Warren-Moore, featured poet, "Fierce!" November 10, 2018 Women's Rights National Park, Seneca Falls, NY |
Reading in two rounds
and engaging a multi-cultural, inter-generational audience in delightful
conversation during the intermission and afterwards through book signings or
just hanging in the lobby, these fierce women poignantly reminded us of the
inherent value of our humanity and the intricacies of being a woman, mother,
lover, human being.
.
They reminded us our inherent ability to overcome what may appear to be
insurmountable obstacles even when we are recipients of uncaring humiliation or
debasement from others. They extolled what is strong in each of us. Their words
lifted us up; emboldened us, and enabled us to leave the reading at the NWRHP’s
visitor’s center with a feeling of richness and confidence in our innate
abilities marked by a renewed and spiritual re-invigoration that embellished
our consciousness and encouraged us to move forward without apologies and not back.
Fulton (Stroudsburg, PA via Brooklyn, NY) Faris (Rochester, NY)
Warren-Moore (Syracuse, NY) took the audience to places of insight not often
visited in the daily routines of life’s activities.
Simply, they were individually and collectively…
Fierce!
aaduna thanks with appreciative gratitude, thunderous and rousing applause,
and will continually value our collaborative partners at the NWRHP. We
anticipate future collaborations with these dedicated public servants who
become “friends” to the visitors that they serve every day. But the
future will occur during a more comfortable weather situation for all!
 |
| Left to Right Front: Karen Faris, featured poet, Jackie Warren-Moore featured poet. Back Row: Zack/Cora Frank, Visual Information Specialist/Women's Rights National Park, Cyd Charisse Fulton, featured poet, bill berry jr., CEO/Publisher aaduna Inc., and Denice DeLucia, Acting Chief of Interpretation and Education/Education-Training Specialist/Volunteer Coordinator, Women's Rights National Park |
aaduna expresses gratitude to the New York State Council on the
Arts for their support for and ongoing ability to strengthen multi-cultural and
diverse arts, culture and the all too often overlooked Humanities in NYS as
fermented by Governor Cuomo’s culturally-aware mindset working with and
expanding the NYS Legislature’s spirit to support spirited human endeavors
grounded in creative expressions.
Now, with all of that said…
There is a newly constructed and recently opened (as of November 2018) NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center
sited in Auburn, NY, and aaduna will present a program at that venue in May
2019!
We entice your spirit of adventure and discovery to visit Auburn, NY and experience the legacies of Harriet Tubman and William Seward and other regional
social justice and progressive activists. It is from their actions and
dedicated work that America’s path to being a country based on principles of
equity, recognition of basic human rights for all citizens, and the propensity
to better define, bring a more focused viewpoint, and strengthen the historical
intent expressed in the US Constitution. This document continues to serve as a
beacon of hope and safety for people who face inhumane conditions in their
countries of birth.
aaduna,
is more than a thrice –yearly literary and visual arts journal. It is a
practical, ongoing manifestation of what can happen when boundaries based on
race, culture, orientation, dreams and goals are diminished and
eradicated.
aaduna
is what happens when words and artistic expressions are
realized to serve global and regional humankind.
It is that simple and that complex.
Stay creative and dedicated to your beliefs. Remember, only you can
define who you are. So…
Stay or become Fierce!
It is that simple and that complex.
Fierce.
-------
aaduna - an online adventure with words and images - a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010. Visit us at www.aaduna.org where we put measurable actions to our words.
Help us build community! Share with your friends, "like" our Aaduna-Inc facebook page and follow us on twitter @ aadunaspeaks !
aaduna-Inc Visit regularly for updates !
Comments
Post a Comment
Please share your comments, thoughts, feedback, or ask questions - thank you!