Notes from the 2nd World Conference on Women's Shelter, 2/27-3/1

If there could be a theme for this conference, it is the statement told to me by Pochi Tawla Matina from Cameroon: “Domestic and Sexual Violence is the same everywhere.”  Over 1600 attendees from ninety-five countries focused on the same problem. The stories were the same from every country attending the 2nd World Conference on Women’s Shelters.  The international aspect to the conference was one of intense and empowering solidarity.

In Memory of Kip

You are invited to use this blog space to leave messages for Kip's family and friends, or to write about your experiences and memories.

Roseanna Means presenting a quilt to Kip. The quilt was made by women at various shelters in appreciation of Kip's life-long commitment to homeless women.

Update on the State of Social Programs

Well – how many times have we been through this in the 31 years we have been writing to you? How many demonstrations? Fasts? How many "Call your Congressperson" campaigns? Today, we find ourselves waiting yet again to learn the exact impact the cuts Congress will heap upon those least able to absorb the them.

Many programs that were put in place to alleviate the suffering of poor people, those living with disability or mental illnesses and the elderly have already been severely cut. Any further cuts will be devastating.

Undocumented Save Wall Street, by Georgia Mattison

The Massachusetts Senate on May 27 approved “a series of measures to tighten immigration enforcement” (New York Times).  The same proposal failed in the Massachusetts House of representatives earlier by six votes. The measure, according to a May 25 Boston.com article, “would require that adults applying for public benefits supply proof of legal residence, such as a state driver’s license.