Women Stepping Up will focus on Your Vote in a free online panel discussion at noon on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. This continues the celebration of the 100th anniversary (plus two years) of the ratification of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. In addition to celebrating the past, we look to the future and say, “It’s Your Turn.” The Panel discussion will aired on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/steppinguptoequality
The online series, It’s Our Turn: Stepping Up Together, will be free and broadcast live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/steppinguptoequality. A recording also will be available at the same place after the event.
The September 28 panel, Your Vote, will feature Sheila Huff-Jackson, Director of Strategic Engagement for Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation and Chairwoman of Women Stepping Up, Rhea Jones Price, an attorney, the first black attorney to practice in Knox County, and Vicki Small, President of the League of Women Voters in Southwest Indiana. Shelley Kirk, WEHT/WTVW anchor, will moderate.
This panel session, in collaboration with YWCA Evansville, will address Your Vote. The fight to earn the vote took women years and even 102 years after it was achieved in 1920 women still face discrimination, harassment and are underrepresented in government. The best way for women to make sure that women and children rights are fairly represented in laws and policies is to vote for those who support those positions.
Our panelists will address what to say to those who say “I don’t vote because I’m disgusted or don’t want to get involved with politics?”
Where can eligible voters get information about voter registration and polling places?
What do I need to take with me to the polls?
Why did women fight for the right to vote and what impact has it had?
What would be the impact if more women voted?
How you can get involved and how you can encourage your friends, coworkers and family to vote?
Panelists:
Sheila Huff- Jackson
EVSC Director of Strategic Engagement, Huff-Jackson is in her 47th year with the School Corporation. She and her husband Kenneth Jackson, Jr. have two sons, Aaron Huff and Andrew Huff.
She is a graduate of Indiana State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Health and Physical Education. She also has a Master’s degree in
Education from Indiana State University along with an Administrative degree.
She serves on the Evansville Police Department Foundation Board, Habitat for Humanity Board, Evansville Public Library Board or Trustees, University of Southern Indiana Foundation Board and currently the Board Secretary, Project Manager for National Network for Safe Communities, Vanderburgh County Client Consultation Board, Hanger’s Advisory Board and Chair of Women Stepping Up / Women’s Equality Day.
Huff-Jackson has been honored with the Paul Harris Fellow Award (Rotary International), Sagamore of the Wabash, Athena International, 100 Most Influential Women in Evansville and several others. She is a member of Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church-Pastor Larry A. Rascoe, Sr. where she serves on the Usher Board.
She loves road bike riding, reading, golf, vegetable gardening, physical fitness and advocating for children.
Rhea Jones-Price
An alumna of Wittenberg University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Jones-Price began her career as a practicing lawyer in 2014 in Vincennes, IN.,—the first black attorney to primarily practice in Knox County. She has distinguished herself in her career, having served in various positions within the Indiana State Bar Association and being named one of 25 future leading young lawyers in 2015 to participate in the ISBA’s Leadership Development Academy. She primarily practices in the fields of Social Security Disability and criminal defense law and has dedicated herself to advocating for the needs of the low-income community.
Outside of her career, Jones-Price enjoys being active in her community. She is a devoted member of the Lyles Station Historic Preservation Board and the Joshua Academy Board in Evansville. She enjoys playing the piano, and is a member of the Evansville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Vicki Small
President of the League of Women Voters of SW Indiana, Small has lived most of her life in Evansville. She retired from Mead Jonson Nutrition as Vice-President of Information Management Services.
Since her retirement, she has traveled and been active in several volunteer
organizations. In addition to her work with the League, she volunteers for AARP on their Legislative team. Her volunteer work has afforded her the opportunity to experience the activity at the Statehouse in Indianapolis, helping her understand the importance of local elections.
Vicki shares a house with her daughter, Kate, and her grandson Ben.
Shelley Kirk is an Eyewitness News anchor for WEHT/WTVW.
Stepping Up is beginning the process of planning the 19th annual Women’s Equality Day luncheon. Those who are interested in joining our planning efforts should email SteppingupEvv@gmail.com.
After a two-year delay, the Women’s Equality Centennial Celebration, featuring Astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, was presented on August 25, 2022 to the largest crowd for a Women’s Equality Day luncheon.
In addition to celebrating the 19th Amendment, Women’s Equality Day celebration acknowledges much more is needed for women to achieve equality in pay and representation.
Women Stepping Up also works to help women step up through training and allowing women to preserve and record their stories in through video projects. The organization makes HerStory, an enactment of the history of women in the region, available for presentation in schools and organization meetings.
This is the third of four panel discussions planned in 2022. The final discussions will be on and November 30.
Recordings of previous panel discussions are available on the Facebook Stepping Up page (https://www.facebook.com/steppinguptoequality). They include:
Title IX: featuring Katie Blair, Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at the ACLU of Indiana, Roseyn Hood, Chief Diversity, Equity, inclusion & Belonging Officer for Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, Chelsea Keaton, Title IX Coordinator and Affirmative Action Officer, for the University of Southern Indiana, Annie Sills, Assistant Director of Institutional Equity and Title IX Coordinator at the University of Evansville.
Moving Forward: Lessons from the Pandemic featuring USI Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Khalilah Doss, Executive Director of Lampion Center Lynn Kyle, ordained minister and director of the Center for Congregations, the Rev. Wendy McCormick and Stacy J. Stevens, broker and owner of Landmark Realty
Financial Security featuring four Evansville wealth management planners. They include Teri Hollander Albin and Tricia Hollander Henning, both with Baird Financial Services Company, Melissa Khan with Edward Jones, and Kim Wren with Berger Wealth Services team Baird.
Engineering Opportunities in Science and Math, featuring electrical engineer and consultant Amy Barrett, Sherry Shen, Operations Excellence Manager for Kaiser Aluminum Warrick, structural engineer Theresa Davies and Talitha Washington, mathematics professor and inaugural director of the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) Data Science Initiative.
Owning the Workplace, featuring dentist Marjorie M. Cabell, Jo Ferrell, co-owner of Home Envy and Tresa Miller, owner of Grateful Threads.
SuperMom Tools, featuring Karese Johnson, Community Impact Officer at United Way of Southwestern Indiana, Aleisha Sheridan, CEO of 4C of Southern Indiana, DeVon Simon, assistant principal of Glenwood Leadership Academy, and Sloane Standley, Marketing Strategist for Midwest Communications.
Keeping Your Plates Spinning, featuring Dr. Anne Butsch, a family physician who focuses on integrative medicine, Kristi Cirignano, a functional wellness coach, and Helen Shymanski, wellness coordinator and yoga instructor.
Sincerely,
Sheila Huff, Chairperson