Mountain Women Rising Performs at the US Social Forum **** Mountain Women at the United Nations On International Women's Day, the Appalachian Women's Alliance traveled to the United Nations in New York City to perform Mountain Women Rising as part of the 50th session of The UN Commission on the Status of Women. Joining with an extraordinary group of women from throughout the United States, Alliance members shared the struggles and triumphs of Appalachian women's lives through drama, music, poetry and storytelling. Organized by the Rural Development Leadership Network, other presenters included the Organización de Lideres Campesinas en California, Early County (Georgia)'s Southern Rural Black Women's Initiative, and the Southwest Alabama Rural and Minority Women's Association. "What a wonderful feeling it was to be there in that church and to look out over that room and see all those strong, beautiful, determined women from all over the world as we sat listening to each others stories," reflected performer, Rema Keen. That day, our stories gave us power and they gave voice to countless women who could not be there in that room with us to speak for themselves. Our stories brought us all together there, in that place, as one - one body, one voice, one song, one spirit - crying out against the oppression of all women." Call or e-mail for information about fees and availability. AWA@swva.net

P.O. BOX 688 * FLOYD, VIRGINIA 24091 * AWA@swva.net       Artists for Social Change   MWRising Flyer   Ironweed Gathering       Who Owns Appalachia by Sue Massek performed by Gaye Johnson           U P C O M I N G   P E R F O R M A N C E S    Earth Days in the Cumberlands Eastern Kentucky University April 9, 2008 Richmond, Kentucky   Women's Leadership Conference Ferrum College April 15, 2008 Ferrum, Virginia   Ironweed Gathering Pine Mountain Settlement School September 19-21, 2008 Bledsoe, Kentucky   Madeline's House Southside Center for Violence Prevention October 4, 2008 Blackstone, Virginia   Emory & Henry College October 21, 2008 Emory, Virginia         U P C O M I N G   P E R F O R M A N C E S Come with us on a journey through the mountains as Appalachian artists weave a tapestry of women's lives through poetry and prose, story and song.   Mountain Justice Summer Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance United States Social Forum Appalachian Studies Association Conference United Nations Big Creek People in Action Ironweed Gathering at the Highlander Center Women of Appalachia Conference   R E C E N T   P E R F O R M A N C E S   Berea College Warren Wilson College Kenyon College Just Connections Conference Radford University Hollins University  Ferrum College  University of Richmond Hurley Community Development Center