Women are Shaping Local Policy on Covid-19 and Racial Justice
Women Are: Fort Wayne
As she reaches the end of her first year in office, Councilwoman Michelle Chambers returns to Women Are: Fort Wayne. She and host Stephanie Gottesman discuss the city’s response to Covid-19, the Black Lives Matter protests over the summer following the death of George Floyd, the Mayor’s Commission for Police Reform and Racial Justice, the importance of this upcoming election, and how she has stayed positive during her recent battle with breast cancer.
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Women are Moving What Matters: The Allen County Women and Girls Study
Women Are: Fort Wayne
Alison Gerardot, Vice President of Philanthropic Services for the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, joins host Stephanie Gottesman to discuss the results of a new study on the lives of women and girls in Allen County. This study is being used to establish a Women’s Fund, which will use research, education and advocacy to make systemic change for women and girls in our community.
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Women Are Supporting Our Transgender Sisters
Women Are: Fort Wayne
Stephanie Gottesman is joined by two women with direct experiences around transgender issues. Amanda L Grimes shares her story of growing up transgender in Northeast Indiana and becoming an advocate for the transgender community. She created two support groups at 3Rivers Wellness, and is working on forming a Fort Wayne LGBTQ Resource Center. Jenna Shock, a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner at Cameron Psychiatry, works with transgender clients and is the parent of a transgender teen.
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Women are Coping with COVID-19
Women Are: Fort Wayne
Stephanie Gottesman seeks answers on all her questions about the novel coronavirus by interviewing Erika Pitcher from the Allen County Department of Health, Nicki Meier, who is recovering from having COVID-19, and Jenna Shock, a mental health professional.
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Women are Adapting to Remote Education
Women Are: Fort Wayne
We are back! And we have sure missed you all! As many of you can relate, we were thrown for a loop when the stay at home orders for Indiana were put in place in March. It’s taken a minute but we are up and running, and happy to bring host Stephanie Gottesman’s interviews with women speaking on the impact to education in response to COVID 19.
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Women are Pivoting Their Careers
Women Are: Fort Wayne
Britney Breidenstein joins host Stephanie Gottesman to talk about the courage, vulnerability, and creative perspective needed to pivot away from a stagnant career. She shares about her unique approach to expanding outside her comfort zone, the self-work she did to figure out her new direction, and the tools she’s been discovering to help her along the way.
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Women are Dreamers and DACA Recipients
Women Are: Fort Wayne
Mary J. Montes, Executive Board Member of the Greater Fort Wayne Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, joins host Stephanie Gottesman to share her story as a Dreamer and DACA recipient, her passion for community outreach, and the work the GFW Hispanic Chamber of Commerce does to strengthen networks and create opportunities for the Fort Wayne Hispanic and Latino communities.
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Women are Directing the Creation of Innovation Districts
Women Are: Fort Wayne
Crystal Vann Wallstrom, Managing Director of Innovation of Electric Works, joins host Stephanie Gottesman for a conversation about innovation districts, the history of the General Electrics campus, and her ambitious vision for Electric Works.
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Women are Guiding Young Women From Pain to Purpose
Women Are: Fort Wayne
Denita Washington, Adams Township Trustee and Executive Director of Fort Wayne Girlz Rock, joins host Stephanie Gottesman for a conversation about her work empowering young women to find their purpose. For young women, and especially those from hard backgrounds, it can be hard to find a sense of purpose and empowerment. Studies show that one caring adult can make all the difference. Washington is one woman who has shown up as a caring adult in the lives of more than 2000 young women here in Fort Wayne.
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Women are Building Community On Our Riverfront
Women Are: Fort Wayne
Megan Butler, the Program and Events Manager for Riverfront Fort Wayne, joins host Stephanie Gottesman to discuss the development of Promenade Park and the Hello, New Park event last August.
info_outlineThis week, Nicki Meier shares her journey as a genderqueer feminist, and the work she does with the Center for Nonviolence supporting people affected by violence in today’s culture and helping create a system that raises the voices of marginalized people.
In our interview, Nicki takes a deep dive into intersectional feminism, allyship, and some of the problems our culture has around social justice. She talks about the work she does through the Center for Nonviolence supporting LGBTQ+ teens, and explains the unique ways the organization uses flattened hierarchy and consensus-based decision making to create a more equitable power structure. She also talks about her work bringing GLSEN, an organization championing LGBTQ issues in K-12 education, to Indiana. As her gift to our listeners, she also provides some resources for becoming better educated on feminism and marginalization.
Check out The Center for Nonviolence on Facebook, give them a call at (260) 456-4112, or visit their website at www.centerfornv.org.
Vist the GLSEN website to sign up for news and updates from the Fort Wayne chapter.
Our song today is Revolution by the incredibly talented Lizzy Tremaine. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify. Make sure to check her out, she’s a favorite!
VERY special thanks to our sponsors, Steve Tyler and Radiance of Silverbirch Studios for giving us a space to record and helping us sound amazing. Thank you also to Rosalind & the Way for our gorgeous intro music, to Traci Henning-Kolberg for editing out our mistakes and making us sound fantastic. And to YOU for listening and supporting our project!
See you next week! <3
Reading List from Today’s Episode: