Photos by Jim Doty
By Taffy Geith
On Sunday, November 1st, the AAUW California Fellows' Luncheon was held at the Knott's Berry Farm Hotel in Buena Park. This is the opportunity for AAUW Branch members to see and hear those recipients of AAUW Funds --American and International Fellows as well as Career Development and Community Action Grantees.
After an elegant lunch, including the famous boysenberry pie, we gave attention to each of these gifted women to introduce themselves and briefly define their specific area of study and acquaint us as to how their work adds to the knowledge of women and girls in our world.
The three American Fellows are majoring in different fields --Women's Studies, Drama/Theater Arts and Art History.
Kimala Price, San Diego State, feels she's doing controversial work concerning women of color and reproductive justice. She's interviewing those who feel removed from the mainstream, and plans to write a second book.
Shilarna Stokes, Columbia, working on her PhD dissertation, "Mass Pageants", studies how large groups perform at such events --e.g. the opening of the Olympics. She also teaches and directs stage productions.
Amy Von Lintel, PhD candidate at USC, asserts that there has been a broad polarization of Art Historians in the US and France and that Art History emphasized only male scholars, beginning with Vasari in the 16th century. She seeks to prove that women are as qualified as Art History educators and scholars as their male counterparts. She is conentrating on the 19th century.
Two of the International Fellows are focusing their energies on Women's Health.
Patience Afalani, UCLA Public Health, is a physician from Ghana anxious to increase her medical credentials so that she can practice medical outreach in her own country. Anemia is one of the main health issues there, so being a doctor specializing in prevention is her main goal.
Natalia de Miguel, UCLA, Microbiology, is studying parasites, specifically the sexually transmitted trichinosis. Natalia is a native of Buenas Aires, Argentina.
Sonali Shrestha, University of the West, another International Fellow, has a master's degree in business. She works giving small loans to those who do handicrafts -- such as weaving, for the export market. Her business is non-profit, non-government involved. She is from Nepal and her interest is International Business Management.
The four Career Development Grantees are diverse in their studies, which fits perfectly with our culture.
Lindsey Valdez, San Diego State, Social Sciences, is able to be a full time student for the first time. One of her majors is Latin American Studies and she uses her language skills to aid Spanish women in business. She is also majoring in Business Administration.
Lynne Velling, California State University at Los Angeles (CSULA), teaches English as a second language and is an ordained minister of healing. Communication is her passion, and she works with students and adults.
Lorraine Williams, California State University at Long Beach (CSULB), has a master's degree in religion. Since she interprets for the deaf people in her church, she is working to "empower deaf women". (She taught us how to sign that phrase.) She believes deaf women can become ministers and leaders. Her enthusiasm was infectious.
Christine Young, University of San Diego, Law, wants to work to impact legislation in regulatory policy, -- especially public policy on health issues. She participates in public interest groups there in San Diego.
Keren Taylor, Write Girl, the designated Community Action Grantee, was unable to be there.
Allison, a representative from Write Girl, came as her substitute. Allison graduated from Continuation High School, completed college, and now works with high school students on a "college prep program" for at risk students. They concentrate on a creative writing program matching an adult woman writer with each high school girl. It is a successful program, notably, it aids the high school student academically and also raises their self esteem. All who participated, not only graduated from high school, but also went on to college. Writing is a powerful and valuable tool.
All of those who presented their brief summaries were generous in their praise for AAUW, and were very grateful to have had the chance to have a productive year in which to concentrate on their career specialty.
We guests felt this beautifully planned luncheon to be a positive experience and were pleased that these intelligent women had chosen such diverse and interesting courses of study that relate to the progress of women. The world will be a better place -- thanks to the energy put forth by these women.
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