Holding Our Own, Inc. is a foundation established to create and advance feminist social and economic change.

The foundation supports initiatives which build and strengthen womens communities, enhance the ability of lesbians of all races to live more open lives, promote the leadership and interests of women of color of all sexualities and expressions, and serve the needs of all women who have limited access to traditional sources of funding. Since it was founded in 1982, Holding Our Own has awarded more than three-quarters of a million dollars in grants and loans to womens organizations and projects including the Womens Building.

Program for the Evening

Welcome Carmen Rau, Executive Director A Brief History created by Drea Leanza Then & Now Holding Our Own Board Presidents Awards Opening & Presentation Nadya Lawson Badass Feminist and Next Wave Awards presented by Sarah Dapson and Elise Newkirk Bridge Builder and Game Changer Awards presented by Fiona Thompson and Angela Rackley Creative Force Awards presented by Laura Travison Sustainer Awards presented by Keri Kresler and Josie McPherson Lifetime Achievement and Keeper of the Flame Awards presented by Jessica Pino and Drea Leanza Music by Ruth Pelham Closing Sarah Podber, Holding Our Own Board President

The Womens Building (WB), located at 373 Central Avenue in Albany, is a community safe-space for women and their families. We serve women from all walks of life, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations and expressions, races, religions and abilities. Women who have survived trauma, women who are recovering from substance abuse or transitioning from homelessness, who are reentering from prison or are recent immigrants represent some of the most vulnerable communities served by the WB. The Building is a place where women can find others who understand them, where their own experiences are shared and valued, and where women can both give and receive support. The WB seeks to be a touchstone, providing information and opportunities for peer support, learning, self-expression, and self-advocacy.

Four Decades Of Feminist Leaders Holding Our Own & The Womens Building

Lifetime Achievement/ Legacy

The Lifetime Achievement or Legacy Awards go to the pioneers on whose shoulders we stand. These are the local women who spearheaded, laid the bricks in the foundation, and shaped the future of the womens community. These agents of change were on the cutting edge of creating feminist community locally. They did the groundbreaking, backbreaking work of starting something from nothing. Their vision, integrity and commitment created spaces for women/feminists to have the hard conversations. They struggled through the process of creating an analysis and a platform, and building community support for a legacy that they have already left for generations to come. They brought what was happening on the national level home or took what was happening locally to the national level. They made us a home.

Shape the future.

Maud Easter
Lifetime Achievement

Sarah Podber
Next Wave

Mauds work has focused on two main issues: empowering women and promoting a peaceful US foreign policy. She has been involved in countless efforts to these ends. Maud is linked perfectly right now as Steering Committee Coordinator for Women Against War, which shes been active in since its founding in 2002. In previous decades, she worked for years to try to end the Vietnam War; found consciousnessraising was an incredibly welcome gateway to feminism; explored areas of potential US-North Korea dialog; traveled frequently to South Korea in support of the womens labor and democracy movements there; was the NOW NYS lobbyist for 3 years; directed the Fellowship Program on Women and Public Policy for the Center for Women in Government & Civil Society; and served on both the Holding Our Own Board and the Womens Building Steering Committee. After 7 years directing and expanding the NYS Coalition Against Sexual Assault, she spent 2 years in Geneva, Switzerland, advocating in the UN world on the issue of child sexual abuse and then on global migrants rights. She returned to the US to create the Voices for Change, which gave immigrant women a voice in the NYS capitol. As a Quaker, she is grateful to have a wonderful community of support, enhanced now by Seasons, a group of women in their 60s and 70s exploring aging. Part of her sense of coming full circle in these days is that an early job was to direct an Action Coalition to Create Opportunities for Retirement with Dignity.

During her tenure as a Holding Our Own board member, Sarah led the charge for re-envisioning the foundations work, image and role in the community. She challenges the organization to think bigger and more broadly. Moreover, she has done this in a way that demands organizational inclusivity, strategic and consistent political analysis, and integrity. More specifically, with Sarah at the helm, the foundation has moved away from a passive role as a funder and begun the journey toward becoming a true feminist social justice catalyst and nexus for feminist organizing in the Capital Region. She brings in many new young women leaders through her involvement with community activitiesnot limited to Holding Our Own alone. She sees Holding Our Owns work not as standing in isolation, but as part of a larger web of feminism and social justice activity. She has volunteered with electoral campaigns, community organizing efforts, and campus feminist groups. Her particular leadership style is a remarkable gift to the organization and to the Capital Region community.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, its the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead

Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.
Arundhati Roy

Roni Minter
Next Wave

Judith Fetterley
Lifetime Achievement

Roni works tirelessly--and without asking for any thanks--to bridge the gap that previously incarcerated women face when they re-enter their communities. She works extremely hard and wears a variety of hats. She helps women who face multiple issues, many of whom would otherwise go without the support that they need. Roni truly is building bridges, not only for the incarcerated women and their loved ones, but for womens re-entry as a movement in the Capital District and beyond. Her huge heart is recognized and appreciated by all who meet her. She is a beautiful person who seeks only to help others who are in need. Ronis work with incarcerated women is also focused on race, sexuality, substance abuse, and mental illness. It is truly revolutionary work.

Over the course of her 40 years in the Capital District, Judith has contributed a great deal to the feminist movement. She started Lesbians for Liberation in 1973; was a member of the Feminist Counselling Collective; founded Thesbian Feminists theater group; assisted women in negotiating the tenure process at academic institutions; founded the Northeast 19th century American Women Writers study group; served on the board and as board chair of NYSCASA; and founded Women Against War. For the bulk of her professional life, Judith has been a radical lesbian feminist activist, a commitment that shaped her teaching, service, and research and publication choices. She devoted countless hours to developing Womens Studies courses and its establishment as a department at the University at Albany, and to the development of the field of 19th century American women writers, a commitment which culminated in her 2003 book, American Women Regionalists. This work was often done over time; was not rewarded by the academic institutions, and in fact even elicited hostility; and was certainly not financially supported but Judith did it anyway, knowing that she was changing the world as she knew it.

Promise and dedication.

Start something from nothing.

Naomi Jaffe
Lifetime Achievement

Since her elementary school days, Naomi has worked tirelessly for social justice. Naomi founded a chapter of SDS during her undergraduate years, was heavily involved in the Vietnam anti-war movement and later joined the Weather Underground. She was explicitly anti-sexist and anti-racist from very early in her activist career. In Albany, she has worked on Latin American solidarity and was the Executive Director of Holding Our Own. She founded the Albany Free Mumia committee and co-founded the Albany Political Prisoner Support Committee. She co-founded, and remains extremely active in, the New York State Prisoner Justice Network. She sits on the Board of The Albany Social Justice Center. Naomi leads by example and demonstrates compassion and accountability. She has rigorous standards and high hopes for young organizers, and is careful to treat them as honored collaborators and allies. This trust has earned her the role of compassionate listener and shoulder of support for many young activists. You can watch Naomi for examples of when to step up for a cause and when to step back to make space for others. She shows up when few do, and courageously holds space in times when others are acquiescent and exhausted. She openly and consistently speaks truth to power, speaking out against sexism, racism, classism, homophobia, heterosexism, transphobia, ableism, ageism, war, environmental injustice and animal cruelty.

Next Wave
This award goes to individuals who are relatively new to feminist social justice work, but whose work shows promise of, and strong dedication to, continuing and ushering in the next wave of feminist social justice activity.

On whose shoulders we stand.

Usher in the next wave.

Barbara Smith
Lifetime Achievement

Barbara Smith began as a voice and writer central to Black feminist thought and action. In the mid-70s, Barbara reorganized the Boston Chapter of the National Black Feminist Organization to establish the Combahee River Collective, which published the generative Combahee River Collective Statement and organized and participated in dozens of important actions to save the lives of women of color and their allies. She was a cofounder of the Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, the first publisher for, by and about women of color. It was to Albanys great benefit that the press chose to relocate to this area in the 1980s. Her writing is substantial and often recognized as breakthrough thinking and work in feminist thought. She was one of the 1000 Women for Peace nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace prize, and paved the way for the women who have been recipients of this prestigious award in subsequent years. She continues her work as a community organizer and activist in Albany and the Capital region. She is currently serving her second term on the Albany Common Council. Barbara has spearheaded numerous efforts that have resulted in programs of benefit to her community including the SNUG violence prevention initiative, the Immigrant-Friendly Albany initiative, New Yorkers for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, and numerous youth and community development programs for the underserved. Every day and night of Barbaras life has been devoted to addressing issues of womens and racial justice. She lives what she voices and writes, and her exemplary service to humanity and justice is an inspiration and a compelling reference point for generations to come.

Four Decades Of Feminist Leaders Holding Our Own & The Womens Building

Agent of change.

Gwen Wright
Lifetime Achievement

Cricket Grillo
Sustainer

Gwen is the recently-appointed Acting Executive Director of the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. She has been with the Office for 20 years and has served in many capacities, most recently as Director of Human Services and Prevention. She has supervised training and policy programs in the areas of child welfare, social services and public benefits, substance abuse and mental health, health care and criminal justice. Gwen was integral in the development and implementation of the NYS Domestic Violence and the Workplace initiative required by Executive Order in 2006. She has held numerous positions in the domestic violence field, including Executive Director of the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a statewide grassroots advocacy group. As the first woman of color to head a state domestic violence coalition, Gwen coordinated statewide legislative activities, organized regional domestic violence efforts, participated in numerous policy discussions with state lawmakers and made dozens of media appearances, both locally and nationally. She has been on the Board of Directors of the Pride Center of the Capital Region, formerly the CDGLCC, and currently serves as President. She has also just completed a 10 year reign as the President of A Call To Men, a national organization of men and women committed to ending violence in the lives of women and girls. Gwen is the former Co-chair of In Our Own Voices, and served as interim executive director in 2005.

Lenora Grillo, known by her friends as Cricket, has been quietly supporting the Womens Building and Holding Our Own since well, lets just say, for a very long time. Cricket is the definition of a sustainer. You will not find her on a committee or a board, but she shows up to as many events as is humanly possible, and she is often the first to make her reservation, distribute flyers or postcards, invite her friends and social circles, and just spread the word. Just as importantly, she is quick to acknowledge the work of the folks on the front line. Cricket gives staunch moral support and recognizes the importance of consistent financial support in amounts large and small. Without the day in, day out, year in, year out, support of the Crickets in our community, our institutions could not survive.

Vision, integrity, commitment.

I cook with wine; sometimes I even add it to the food.

W.C. Fields

Cynthia Coleman
Sustainer

Joan Schulz
Lifetime Achievement

Cynthia has been active in the Womens Building for many years. She quietly and consistently shows up. When there has been a vacuum of leadership, she has stepped in to take the lead to bring people together. She has organized numerous social events at the building, and even served a short stint as a board member. This outfront leadership role, however, is not her preference. As soon as the vacuum is filled, she steps back again to do the thankless, mostly invisible tasks that feed the machinery of the organization. She is almost always the last to leave. She never leaves staff or other volunteers to clean up after a party, washing dishes, packing up tables, bagging the trash or whatever else needs to be done. Through good times and bad, she has been there supporting and encouraging with never flagging consistency and positivity.

Joan was a founder of Capital District Women, an organization that began in the early 70s. The work of the organization laid the foundation for much of the feminist activity of the succeeding decades. Joan was a founder of Womens Studies at the University of Albany and its first major chair. As chair, she moved Womens Studies from a single course to a recognized minor and laid the groundwork for the program to become a department. She worked tirelessly to create conditions that would encourage departments to hire more women and she worked equally hard to help retain these women once hired. Her legacy to the University at Albany, SUNY, is its currently diverse faculty. Joan also helped create the Feminist Teaching Collective which has taught hundreds of students Introduction to Feminisms since 1977. Joans dedication to this quintessential 70s feminist effort to remove academic hierarchies and create active learning for students was unparalleled. Joan has left a legacy that lives on in the lives of the students who have benefited from Womens Studies courses, from the collectives non-hierarchical active learning and teaching model, and in the lives of the feminist organizations that those students have gone on to nurture and sustain including Holding Our Own and the Womens Building.

If you are only seeing black and white, then you are not using your gray matter.
Cynthia Coleman

Build community.

Sustainer
Sustainers consistently, regularly and generously give of themselves. These are the individuals who do the thankless and often unseen tasks necessary to maintaining organizations and movements. They are the ones everyone else relies on to lick envelopes, sell tickets, buy tickets, participate in fundraisers, write newsletters, pick up supplies, attend events (and get their friends to attend), arrive early to set up and stay late to clean up. Sustainers are the lifeblood of organizations and movements.

Four Decades Of Feminist Leaders Holding Our Own & The Womens Building

Give generously of yourself.

Game Changer
Game changers are individuals who are catalysts for change either within an organization or in the larger political context. They envision a different kind of world and may be seen as visionary or inspirational. Game Changers spark ideas and strategies that change the trajectory or culture of an organization or movement. They may have founded an organization, started a project or program, created new movement around a specific issue or issues, or brought feminism to arenas that are not traditionally seen as womens issues.

Four Decades Of Feminist Leaders Holding Our Own & The Womens Building

Envision a different kind of world.

Q Diamond-Gottlieb
Game Changer

Q has both Master and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Womens Studies (with minors in Psychology and Sociology), both from the University at Albany where he has also taught from 2001 - 2012. Previously, Q served as the Program Director for the Capital District Gay & Lesbian Community Council in Albany from 2006 - 2009 where she had the opportunity to help revitalize current programs including the Center Youth program, and to originate new programs including the Center Families initiative and the LGBTQ College Network. Q has given many professional presentations and trainings on a host of LGBTQrelated issues to a range of businesses, religious, social service, and academic organizations across a large portion of central NY. Q is a game changer because s/he has challenged our feminist movements to recognize and include a broader range of issues, to be responsive to younger gender non-conforming folks who identify as queer, and to recognize trans issues as integral to gender justice. Q also bridges generations of LGBTQ activists. Q taught in the Womens Studies department at SUNY, is one of the younger members of the faculty there, and faces a campus atmosphere which is challenging and sometimes hostile to non-mainstream voices. In past years, Q has been to many events at the Womens Building which she says played a huge role in his feminist identity and is where he cut her feminist teeth.

Live simply so that others may simply live.

Leah Penniman
Bridge Builder

Sheilah Sable
Game Changer

Leah is an organic farmer, food justice activist, youth educator, amazing facilitator, and a bridge between social and environmental justice. She owns and co-manages Soul Fire Farm, a communitysupported family farm committed to the dismantling of oppressive structures that misguide our food system. Leah is also a teacher at Tech Valley High School, develops and facilitates curriculum for groups of youth visiting Soul Fire Farm, uses her farm to build and convene social justice community, and has been on the board of the Social Justice Center. In addition, Leah has very often lent her fabulous facilitation skills to liberation work in social movements. Her recent facilitation contributions have included a Holding Our Own networking event for women activists, support groups for earthquake survivors in Haiti, and the Occupy Albany community building conversations series.

Sheilah works for the Empire State Pride Agenda as the Upstate Field Organizer. Sheilah is a lesbian with a vision for grassroots organizing. She is responsible for launching Pride in our Union, which aims to get union members engaged in LGBTQ struggles. Beyond that, Sheilah has worked tirelessly to make sure communities of color are engaged in the Pride Agendas work, has reignited a transgender rights coalition within the organization, and stresses the need for straight allies in the movement. Sheilah is also one of the faces of the organizations Pride in our Pulpit program, that empowers faith leaders to take a stand for justice. Sheilah knows that the movement for LGBTQ equality needs women, working-class people, transgender people, people of color, and people of faith. Her coalition work in our communities has grown and diversified the Pride Agendas volunteer base tremendously. This years statewide Pride Agenda lobby day turned out more young people, transgender and gender nonconforming people than in any years past. Sheilah has been at the Pride Agenda for years, and her work and leadership has already proven to be a major game changer.

Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree, you water it and make it survive, you havent done a thing. You are just talking.
Wangari Maathai

Spark ideas.

Vickie Smith
Game Changer

Shanna Goldman
Bridge Builder

Vickie Smiths transformational vision redefined the face and focus of feminist, LGBTQ and anti-racist organizing in our region, with ripple effects for all of New York. Giving life to RFKs quote, I dream of things that never were and ask, why not?, Vickie imagined these communities as places to which people could bring all of themselves, all of the time; a feminist community truly multiracial in composition and culture, an LGBTQ community that recognized the impact of racism on LGBTQ people of color, an African-American community that openly supported its lesbian and gay members. Vickie served as Holding Our Owns President for nearly a decade, and, in partnership with Naomi Jaffe as Executive Director, changed HOOs composition and priorities to model a commitment to addressing and overturning structures of power within our organizations, to putting the people most affected by oppression at the center of decision-making about confronting that oppression and to moving beyond representative diversity to multiracial leadership that could actually make change happen. She envisioned, was the prime force behind and leader of In Our Own Voices, a comprehensive organization addressing the spiritual, social, political and educational needs of LGBTQ people of color, their families and friends, which, more than 10 years later, continues to be a powerful voice on issues affecting LGBTPOCQQ in public policy and human services at the local and state level. Vickies insistence on holding all institutions accountable for confronting racism, sexism and heterosexism within and without and her advocacy for the necessity of women of color leadership in the feminist community provoked many and outraged more than a few but fundamentally shifted the paradigm about who -and how -- community includes.

In her many years of organizing, Shanna has been active in numerous social justice efforts and organizations, including environmental activism, Citizen Action, Women Against War, and Troy Shares. Throughout all of her work, she has consistently and passionately strived to build connections and alliance between issues and organizations, often taking on the difficult task of facilitator between different communities and differing personalities and politics to examine and check privilege while finding strength in differences. For Shanna, all other organizing took a backseat in 2011, as the Occupy Movement took hold. As part of Occupy Albany, she continued to raise awareness about the ways that white male privilege and informal power could undermine the mission of the work if gone unchecked. She recognizes that building community and fighting oppression-especially racism--often means talking to people you dont know or dont feel comfortable talking to, in order to achieve a collective vision of social justice. Shanna is currently exploring the intersections of healing arts and organizing, and building relationships in small cities to create a proactive holistic agenda for growth and sustainability.

I dream of things that never were and ask, why not?

Robert F. Kennedy

Remember that we are more powerful together than separate.

Jean Fei
Bridge Builder

Jean has over 30 years of experience in nonprofit management, including 20 years in grant administration, special events and development in non-traditional adult higher education. She is the founding director of the NYS Victim Assistance Academy where she designs and offers college level programs for crime victim service providers, and works to end violence against women. Jean is committed to working for social justice and has developed racism awareness and people of color empowerment and trainings on sexual assault. One of Jeans goals is to increase awareness of the many forms of oppression in a way that brings people together rather than driving them apart. In addition to her work with the Dismantling Racism Project and her longtime service to the Social Justice Center, she has also worked for NYSCASA working to end sexual violence, training crime victim service providers. She co-founded SEAD, Saratogians for Equality And Diversity which sponsored an Annual Diversity Day, offered youth multicultural arts programs and promoted affordable housing in Saratoga County, helped found a statewide Native American coalition to end violence against women and organized creative writing workshops for women in transition.

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.
Viktor E. Frankl

Virginia Eubanks
Bridge Builder

Virginia Eubanks is a cofounder of Our Knowledge, Our Power (OKOP), a grassroots anti-poverty and welfare rights organization, and the Popular Technology Workshops, which help community organizations and social movements make the connection between technology and their other social justice goals. She teaches in the Department of Womens Studies at the University at Albany, SUNY, and writes books about technology, social justice, and politics. She believes that people closest to problems have the best information about them, and are most committed to creating sustainable change. For the last decade, her work has been to support and grow strong and resilient economic justice organizations in order to hold the United States and global corporations accountable for crimes against the human rights of the poor. Virginia builds bridges between campus and community, between poor and working women of all races and feminist organizations, between technical resources and the women who need them. She has initiated events and programs that bring people together, build feminist communities, and bridge generations. Virginia is a writer, a mentor, a teacher and a friend who empowers women to take control of their own lives and respect their own intelligence.

Four Decades Of Feminist Leaders Holding Our Own & The Womens Building

Strong people dont need leaders.

Ella Baker

Carmen Duncan
Bridge Builder

Carmen Duncan is a mentor and guide for youth and young adults from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Over the past decade Carmen has committed herself to positive youth development programs such as Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of the Capital Region, the Black Child Development Institute (BCDI) Mentoring Program at Albany High School, Youth Panels, the Sponsorship and Scholarship Committee on the Capital District YMCAs Black and Latino Achievers Program, and the Albany County Juvenile Community Accountability Board. Carmen was also a leader in bringing together Albany communities to protest the killing of Trayvon Martin last year and address police shootings in Albany, deaths of Black youth, and systemic inequalities between Albany neighborhoods; and in the process, she played a significant role in building a bridge between Albanys Black community and the Occupy Albany movement. Her adolescent experiences inspired her to establish a nonprofit, Mission Accomplished Transition Services, an organization committed to offering transitional support services for teens, young adults, parents and youth-focused organizations to bridge the gap in the area of transition through workshops, trainings and direct service needs.

Badass Feminist
This award goes to bold feminists who unabashedly fly their feminist flag and bring an unwavering feminist critique wherever they go. Troublemakers are not afraid to cause a scene or make noise in pursuit of feminist social justice, and in fact often see the necessity of doing so. They are the ones leading demonstrations, carrying out direct actions, penning feminist critiques and calls to action. Troublemakers consistently call out privilege and raise critical consciousness in organizations and/or movements in which they are working. They never back down from an opportunity to speak truth to power biting their tongue is not in their nature.

Be the change you want to see.

Mahatma Gandhi

Make Noise. Cause a Scene.

Jackie Hayes
Badass Feminist

Lisa Campo-Engelstein
Bridge Builder

Jackie is unapologetically bold, brazen, and cool all at the same time. Her in-your-face activism spreads across years and issues. Jackie Hayes is a doctoral student in the Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latino Studies Department at University at Albany, currently working on a dissertation focused on the working conditions of immigrants in New York State. She is also an active member of Save Our SUNY and New York Students Rising, two organizations dedicated to defending Public Higher Education in New York State, and Students for Workers Rights, the UAlbany Fair Trade Alliance, and the SUNY Sweatfree campaign. Hayes intersectional approach to social justice is perhaps what makes her most badass. She gets that labor speaks to prisoner justice, speaks to education, speaks to racism, sexism, and neocolonialism. Her passion and commitment to social justice are unwavering and inspiring to all who know her. If for nothing else, her deep commitment to speaking truth to power every chance she gets, makes her one fabulous badass feminist!

Lisa Campo-Engelstein, PhD, is a bioethicist whose current research areas include reproductive ethics, cancer ethics, ethics of the emerging technologies, and international bioethics (especially Costa Rica). Dr. Campo-Engelstein started the Capital District Feminist Studies Faculty Consortium, which brings together feminist scholars from many academic institutions in the Capital Region. She continues to serve as an organizer and listserv manager for this group. Dr. CampoEngelstein also started the Junior Womens Faculty Group at Albany Medical Center in January 2012. They meet monthly to connect junior faculty women and to discuss the issues of importance to them. She has also networked with other academic institutions and nonprofit organizations to make connections among those dedicated to feminism. Dr. Campo-Engelstein has also added feminist topics to Health, Care and Society, a required course for all medical students. These new feminist topics include: LGBT health, disability, reproductive rights, vulnerable groups, sexual assault, intersex, medicalization of childbirth, genetic testing, altruism, human rights, and stem cells. She consistently uses her considerable enthusiasm and energy to bring feminist issues and awareness to the public and to create bridges between feminist scholars and activists to further feminist agendas.

Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. ... Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world. . . in the face of poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty.
Howard Zinn

One of the great powers of feminism is that it goes so far in making the experiences and lives of women intelligible.
Marilyn Frye

Anzala Alozie
Bridge Builder

Alethia Jones
Badass Feminist

In her past positions with the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Anzala transformed communities by forming partnerships and starting programs that promote and encourage leadership. She spearheaded many programs including the Women of Color Project whose mission was to address the systemic challenges faced by women of color victims of domestic violence. She is currently working with the Girls Scouts of Northeastern New York as the Director of Strategic Partnerships. This position exemplifies Bridge Building and in it Anzala partnered with numerous organizations including all school levels, middle school, high school, elementary, and college aged. Anzala was also instrumental in starting the first Muslim Girl Scout troop. In addition she started a health fitness program for the women in the community to promote better health awareness and self-care among women. Anzala serves on many different boards, including St. Paul Center for Homelessness, Muslim Legal Defense and the Education Fund, Muslim Advocates Against Violence, JUYMYE Metropolitan Girls Advisory Board, and Capital District Muslim Womens Association. These programs have allowed Anzala to demonstrate the leadership and mentoring abilities that she possesses. Anzala does all this for the community while still maintaining a full life with her husband and four children.

Alethia has a deep and powerful understanding of public policy, immigration, community development, and a host of other issues that fuel her social change work. Born in Jamaica and raised in Brooklyn, Alethia attended and taught in academically elite institutions, while always finding ways to fuel her passion for social change facilitation and healing justice. Her use of reflective practices can be traced to being introduced to yoga and meditation at age 13, and her warm and generous spirit encourages those who work with her to bring their full selves to the work of advancing equity, justice and social change. Her focus is on building collaborations to help social change practitioners bridge the gap between ideas, strategy and application. After six years teaching politics and policy at SUNY Albany, she now serves as the director of education and leadership development for 1199SEIU in New York City. She is a traveler, dancer, karaoke singer and all around Badass feminist whose laughter and spirit inspire us all.

Open dialogue.

Our moral responsibility is not to stop the future, but to shape it...to channel our destiny in humane directions and to ease the trauma of transition.
Alvin Toffler

Deidre Kelly
Badass Feminist

Deirdre helped to found Albanys first Food Not Bombs chapter in 2002. In her early years as an activist Deirdre quickly, consistently, passionately and courageously stood up for feminism. In 2002, when Fred Hampton Jr. visited SUNY Albany, Deirdre received a standing ovation when she shared her survival story at the event, a courageous act that inspired many women in the audience. She has organized skill-shares and a self-defense course that are unabashedly feminist. As a teacher and cook, she has actively participated in the evolution of The Albany Free School to adopt a specifically feminist and antiracist curriculum. Recently she participated in the Occupy Albany Womens Caucus and did a Peoples Mic Check at Albany County Department of Social Services -- loudly and publicly calling out the hypocrisy of corporate welfare during a time when woman on welfare are vilified. Deirdre is a loud mouth in the most wonderful feminist sense of the word. She is funny and compassionate but will not be deterred from outwardly supporting what she believes in. Deidre is currently raising two beautiful feminist sons. She also feeds EVERY SINGLE RADICAL movement with amazing, delicious food through her catering company. Her company, her actions and she are absolutely Badass.

Bridge Builder
This award goes to transformational leaders whose work is defined by creating connections between and among different communities, issues and/or organizations. They are marked by a willingness to work with feet in multiple worlds, often belonging to none or to all. Bridge Builders create the connections that make feminist community and movement building possible. They can be mediators, listeners, organizers or advocates. They might have initiated collaborative actions or efforts, convened representatives or participants from multiple communities or issue areas, and opened dialogue to facilitate healing and understanding. Bridge Builders are visionaries whose work challenges us to remember that we are more powerful together than separate. Their effectiveness as connectors and conduits of communication often comes with great personal sacrifice.

Raise critical consciousness.

Create connections.

Luz Marquez-Benbow
Badass Feminist

Luz Marquez-Benbow advocates for what she believes in with a passion and integrity that cannot be ignored. She began her career in advocacy working with and for people with disabilities, and as a volunteer working against the spread of HIV. Luzs strong feminist voice emerged when she joined the staff of the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault in the late 1990s, and came into full bloom when she co-created Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA), a national organization dedicated to addressing the needs of women of color sexual assault survivors and women of color working in the sexual assault movement. In her role as Policy Director, Luz helped to ensure that women of color were active participants in shaping public policy in the field of SA and that community-based organizations that served women of color got much needed federal resources. Luz also served on the Womens Building Coordinating Council in the late 1990s and on the Holding Our Own Board of Directors in the early 2000s. Luz is the embodiment of the phrase it is always the right time to do the right thing and speaks out against oppression in all its forms, in any and every setting, with fierce candor and deep compassion. Luz is a mother of 3.

Four Decades Of Feminist Leaders Holding Our Own & The Womens Building

Speak truth to power.

Alicia Ortiz
Badass Feminist

Mabel Leon
Creative Force

Alicia is a poet, performance artist, and LGBTQ activist. She marches in (literally) where angels fear to tread. Whether she is coordinating volunteers for womens rights through her present work at Planned Parenthood, or expressing herself through poetry and song, Alicia remains thoroughly badass! Alicia organized a local demonstration in response to a conflict between a Muslim-owned pizza shop and a gay patron in 2010, to which she invited speakers with experience and dedication, to build bridges between targeted communities. She didnt think she needed an organization or credentials, she just did it. Alicia also initiated a spirited set of actions in support of marriage equality, going around to different demonstrations and signing people up to participate. Through these efforts, she spearheaded the creation of Albany Queer Rising, a grassroots direct action group, and led demonstrations and political lobbies in support of GENDA legislation and transgender civil rights. Alicia also coordinated activists for Marriage Equality day after day in the halls of our capitol during those long weeks before its passage in 2011, gaining her recognition from several community organizations. She is fearless.

If you spend any amount of time with Mabel you will know that she is a woman who cares deeply for those around her as well as those not so close to home. As a lifelong activist, Mabel is passionate when it comes to expressing care and the need to work for justice. Most recently Mabel has been active with Women Against War as part of Grannies for Peace and the Afghanistan Project. Whenever she has had the opportunity to speak publically about the war in Afghanistan, she makes a point of stressing the devastating effect the war has on the women and children. Her passion is evident in the emotion she displays when talking about such things as the infant mortality rate. As for her creativity - if there is some aspect of a protest she is involved in that has a visual impact (such as greater than life-size papier-mch puppets, draped coffins or images of the children of war) there is a good chance she had something to do with it. She is also a talented photographer.

Kindness is a choice, not a weakness.

Convene community.

Drea Leanza
Creative Force

Laura Travison
Badass Feminist

Drea is an organizers artist. In almost every communication vehicle -newsletter, brochure, flyer, annual report, poster, t-shirts -- and across many media -- photography, videography, computer graphics -- Drea has wedded skill and vision to produce the documents and images that helped define the culture of our movement. She is a graphic designer and photographer who has used her skills and interests in the service of creating a feminist culture in our region for more than 30 years. Drea took responsibility for the layout and design of the WB newsletter for a decade, donating thousands of hours to the endeavor. Over the decades, her camera has captured hundreds of the moments and individuals who shape this community. She created countless posters, flyers, postcards, brochures and leaflets. Drea also donated her skills to other feminist endeavors, including Sisters of Color Writing Collective publication, Gamba Adisa. She created publicity for feminist efforts such as Feminist Forum, Sisters Under the Skin, Women Against War, The Womens Pentagon Action and Womens Encampment for a Future of Peace and Justice in Seneca Falls. Beyond graphic design work, Drea translated her personal love of film and culture into bringing feminist and LGBT arts to the region. She coordinated Reel Visions, the Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, for two years, and co-produced a lesbian talent show. She participated in feminist performance art projects: Disabled Womens Theatre Project, It Is Better To Speak and Ladies Against Women. In short, Drea is keenly aware of the importance of all the arts in building a vibrant and soulful womens community.

Laura is a member and co-founder of New York State Prisoner Justice Network and currently presides on the Albany Social Justice Centers board. She personifies the notion of a badass feminist. She works tirelessly for social justice in many arenas while consistently and fiercely putting feminism at the forefront of all of her work. For over a decade Laura has been a committed activist in the Capital Region. In many ways this work has been anonymous because she is often supporting others. Those who know her understand that she is a passionate, dedicated activist with sincere commitment to her principles and an unbending will to fight for justice. Laura shares a birthday with Malcolm X. This is fitting because Ossie Davis once referred to Malcolm as a big brother who could kick anybodys behind. If you are close to Laura, you feel a similar sense of comfort, knowing that she is like a sibling willing to kick anyones butt for you if they try to use racism, sexism, or homophobia as a tool for power.

Raise awareness.

Call out privilege.

Jennet Mae Jones

Creative Force

Jennet is an artist, art educator, and a creative force. She uses her artistic talent and creativity to promote feminist social change. As chair of the Womens Buildings (WB) arts program, WomensWork, for the past 7 years, she has been a powerful force in shining the spotlight on Capital Region women artists who have been vastly underrepresented in mainstream venues. As the catalyst and volunteer coordinator for all of the WBs new arts programming, her work focuses on highlighting women artists, particularly women of color, the use of art in social justice work, and feminist oriented art education for kids. Jennet has also in recent years shouldered all of the graphic design work, including re-branding efforts, for both the WB and Holding Our Own. Her designs, elegant yet powerful and bold, have managed to capture the essence of our ideas in a visual medium. Her designs have provided smoke and mirrors, allowing us to speak without words, demonstrating passion and power in images. Jennet is also a mom, a beloved role that inspires her creativity and helps her to see the world with new and thankful eyes.

Four Decades Of Feminist Leaders Holding Our Own & The Womens Building

One should really use the camera as though tomorrow youd be stricken blind.
Dorothea Lange

Taina Asili
Creative Force

Taina is a prominent voice for justice who has worked as a musician, poet, educator and community organizer for many years. She is dedicated to using her creative practice as a tool for personal and social transformation. Her art is not only political, but based in more than a decades work of concrete organizing in political prisoner liberation, prisoner rights, indigenous rights, environmental justice, womens rights, and holistic health movements. Tainas voice exudes strength of Spirit, filling its listeners with the fervor of freedom and inspiring audiences to dance to the movement of rebellion. She has also taught poetry writing workshops for both children and adults, with a focus on marginalized populations including incarcerated women, refugees and union workers. She has an incredible passion for what she does. In addition to all Taina does in the arts, she is also a compassionate person, a caring mother, and a loving partner.

Keeper of the Flame

Keepers of the Flame are individuals who keep feminist movements, organizations, and institutions alive in the times between large waves of activism and wider interest. They remain dedicated and hold steady, continuing to raise their voices, muster resources, lead, and develop theory and analysis for feminist social justice issues, even in times when few others are active. By holding space open for feminist social justice work, they make it possible for new generations of activists to hit the ground running and build on work from previous waves. By refusing to give into despair and fatigue, they show tremendous faith: if they keep a small flame of feminist social justice alive, feeding it all they can, eventually others will come, bringing fuel for the next great bonfire of resistance and community.

Support protest and resistance.

Keep a small flame of feminist social justice alive.

Nadya Lawson
Keeper of the Flame

Nadya has the singular distinction of being the longest serving member of both the Holding Our Own and Womens Building board of directors. Beginning with a stint on the WB Coordinating Council from 1996-1999, rejoining in 2005 to the present; she joined the HOO board in 2001, serving as its co-president and then president from 2003 until earlier this year. She has helped to lead the organizations through harder and quieter times, facilitating the challenging transition of leadership and locale. She has been a major pillar in keeping those organizations alive and functioning as the heart of feminism/womens community in the Albany area, even through the lean periods, even with the responsibility of raising her son. Nadya is a facilitator, trainer and mediator and shes been involved with the womens/ feminist community for so long; teaching in SUNYAs Women s Studies Teaching Collective as an undergraduate, working with the Sisters of Color Writing Collective, the Feminist Action Network and as staff at the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault; through these organizations as well as the Social Justice Center and its Dismantling Racism Project and In Our Own Voices, she has been a standard bearer for the beloved community: holding space for all across lines of difference.

Creative Force
The Creative Force award recognizes individuals who use the arts or other expressive talents as a catalyst for feminist social change. They may be writers, painters, dancers, filmmakers, or other cultural workers who use their creative practice as a strategy for raising awareness around issues, inspiring protests and actions, facilitating dialogues, convening community, creating or supporting protest and resistance, or any other creative approach to promoting feminism.

Ring the bells that still can ring/Forget your perfect offering/There is a crack, a crack in everything/ Thats how the light gets in.
Leonard Cohen

The Arts are a catalyst for feminist social change.

Carmen Rau
Keeper of the Flame

Carmen Rau knows a little something about building and sustaining institutions. From her 7 year role as director of the Social Justice Center, and her 5 years as administrative director of In Our Own Voices, to her present 7 year hitch as Executive Director of Holding Our Own and the WB, Carmens work epitomizes being in something for the long haul. Carmen is of a generation that came up in between larger, more visible, waves of feminist activism but whose passion has maintained spaces like The Womens Building and Holding Our Own to make it possible for incoming generations of feminists to build momentum in movements rather than start from scratch. In the world of activism, infrastructure is the least appealing, most thankless of fields -- fundraising, mailings, plunging toilets, paying bills, holding together aging computer systems with masking tape, picking up the slack for volunteers who always have the option of walking away. Carmen is always there - always leading, always pulling together/ developing resources, always calling people out on their privilege, always showing up and always maintaining. Informing her work is a bottomless passion for confronting oppression in all its forms, evidenced by her insistence on building multiracial, intergenerational and multifocus initiatives and institutions, including the Dismantling Racism Project. Carmen works tirelessly on womens rights. As a lawyer, Carmen could have chosen a number of career paths, yet her commitment to improving the world and her commitment to the empowerment of women set her apart. She truly walks the walk!

Four Decades Of Feminist Leaders Holding Our Own & The Womens Building

Caminante, no hay puentes, se hace puentes al andar. (Voyager, there are no bridges, one builds them as one walks.) Gloria E. Anzalda

Audrey Seidman
Keeper of the Flame

Audrey Seidman has been instrumental in building and sustaining feminist institutions in our region. She was an early member and President of the Holding Our Own Board of Directors and then the Womens Building Coordinating Council where she focused on capacity building and fundraising, work that is typically feared by boards. For six years she was also the editor of the Womens Building newsletter. With a circulation of more than 3,000, this was the public face of the organization. Editor meant chief anklebiter -- recruiting writers, reaching out for stories that highlighted the diversity and concerns of our community, and assigning and editing articles. For 15 years she was one of the voices of Face the Music, feminist radio on WRPI. Audrey also played a major role in building safe spaces and institutions for the LGBT community through her work helping to establish and fund the Lesbian and Gay Community Funding Partnership.

Ones mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.
Oliver Wendell Holmes