2009 Susan B. Anthony Awards

~Awardees~

Pauline DeMairo developed the Teen Outreach Reproductive Challenge (TORCH), an afterschool peer education program focusing on adolescent reproductive health issues, sexuality, body image/self- esteem, abortion, healthy adolescent relationships, and building communication between adolescents and health care providers. After a 36-hour training, the peer leaders conduct workshops at schools throughout the city. Because of Pauline, thousands of NYC youth have a safe and comfortable environment in which to learn how to make healthy decisions about their bodies and relationships and to teach their peers to do the same.  

Olivia Greer is Associate Artistic Director at New York theater company Culture Project, where she oversees Women Center Stage, presenting multi-disciplinary programming of women artists giving voice to human struggles globally. In 2006 she founded Emancipate, an initiative bringing together women musician activists to build solidarity and collaborate on social justice issues. Emancipate recently launched The New Orleans Project, through which six musicians are telling stories of heroic community organizing. Olivia is also a musician, and the author of Actions Speak Louder Than Bumper Stickers.

Irshad Manji is a Ugandan refugee who grew up in multicultural Canada. She couldn't reconcile the tolerant education of her secular public school with the rigid indoctrination inside her religious madressa. But Irshad had enough faith to ask questions - out loud. Starting with "Why can't girls lead prayer?”, her questions eventually got Irshad expelled. Since then, she has become an award-winning scholar, author, filmmaker and educator. Irshad recently launched the Moral Courage Project at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service, where she teaches students to withstand the backlash that comes from speaking truth to power. In all she does, Irshad promotes women's equality and creates conversations where none existed before.

Photo by: Tara Todras-Whitehill

 

Chanel J. Clark Rose was a shy, quiet, “chubby” girl who nobody noticed. She endured cruelty from classmates and peers about her weight. Adversity was her inspiration. Chanel turned the tables on her bullies by organizing a search for 20 contestants to compete in the first Miss NYC Plus modeling competition for women sizes 12 and up. At NYC Fashion Week last year, Chanel organized a protest to bring more full-figured models to Bryant Park. “Too many size zero models are dying from anorexia, and we need to teach our children about proper body image versus what is seen in magazines and on television. Over 60% of the U.S. female population wears a size 14 or greater. It is time to take a stand and fight for real beauty.”

 

 

Joy Rose is the President and Founder of MAMAPALOOZA which promotes mothers for social, cultural and economic benefit. MAMAPALOOZA is a grass roots movement teaching women how to support and empower themselves in meaningful ways, by amplifying their voices, and impacting their children, families and communities. A mother of four, Joy is dedicated to redefining modern motherhood. She is also the founder and lead singer of the rock band, 'Housewives On Prozac', and acting Executive Director and Founder of The Museum Of Motherhood for which she is editing a film about ‘The Motherhood Movement’, capturing the voices of Feminist Mothers of the 21st century.