Join MCNOW for a panel discussion and Q&A on the intersection of racism and sexism. Our panelists will be giving an overview on intersectional feminism, and diving into how racial inequality has real impacts on people of color, and specifically women of color, in Montgomery County. Attendees will leave the event with ideas for tangible ways to support our sisters (and allies) of color.
Confirmed panelists:
Gilda Yazzie, Vice President, National Organization for Women
As an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, it's natural for Gilda to be a feminist leader. About her heritage, Gilda says, "Feminism is in our DNA; we are a matrilineal society." She has been a lifelong advocate for racial justice and civil rights. She cares deeply about tribal and indigenous issues, in particular, and is an expert on federal and state issues as they relate to native concerns.
Mimi Hassanein, Senior Fellow at the Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships and liaison to the Middle Eastern community
Mimi currently serves as a board member for the Sandy Spring Museum and Emerge Maryland, and is an elected member of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee. She is also the proud mother of three children and fifteen grandchildren.
Laurie-Anne Sayles, Senior Executive Assistant at the Nature Conservancy and board member for several organizations
Laurie-Anne serves on the boards for the Gaithersburg Economic Development Committee, the Political Action Chair of the Black Minister’s Conference of Montgomery County, and is the founder of the Gaithersburg Upcounty Breakfast Club. Moreover, Laurie-Anne is actively involved in her Gaithersburg community where she lives with her husband, Julian Haffner, their rescue dogs, Maxwell and Bella, and their daughter, Mikaylah who is a student at Sewanee University of the South, TN.
Delegate Maricé Morales, Maryland House of Delegates
Delegate Morales was the first Latina representing District 19 to take that office, and is currently the youngest Latina to serve at the state level in the country. During her time in Annapolis, Delegate Morales has sponsored legislation to reform our criminal justice system, protect our immigrant communities, protect workers' rights, and combat the rape culture facing our country. Delegate Morales was recently recognized by Maryland NOW for her leadership on women's and immigrant issues for her work as lead Sponsor of the Maryland Trust Act, which would have protected immigrant and Muslim Marylanders from the hateful anti-immigrant orders from the Trump administration.
Senator Susan C. Lee, Maryland Senate
Senator Lee, an attorney, was elected to the Maryland State Senate in November 2014 after serving 13 years in the Maryland House of Delegates, and is the first Asian American senator elected to the Maryland Senate and first minority senator to the Montgomery County Delegation to Annapolis. She is the Deputy Majority Whip in the Senate; a Member of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and Joint Committee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Biotechnology; Chair of the Maryland Legislative Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus; Chair of the Maryland Cybersecurity Council Subcommittee on Law, Policy & Legislation; and President Emeritus of the Women Legislators of the Maryland General Assembly, Inc. In 2005, Senator Lee received the Leadership Recognition Award from Maryland NOW.
The National Organization for Women and Montgomery County NOW condemn the racism that inflicts a double burden of race and sex discrimination on women of color. Seeing human rights as indivisible, we are committed to identifying and fighting against those barriers to equality and justice that are imposed by racism. A leader in the struggle for civil rights since its inception in 1966, NOW is committed to diversifying our movement, and we continue to fight for equal opportunities for women of color in all areas.
Racial justice is one of NOW's and MCNOW's six core issues. Our other core issues are: constitutional equality, reproductive freedom, LGBTQIA+ rights, economic justice, and ending violence against women. Over the next year, we will be holding a panel discussion and Q&A on each of these core issues.
Tickets for this event may be purchased via Eventbrite. Tickets are $10. Montgomery County NOW is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization. Your ticket purchase helps us fund future programs.