May Day Letter from New Orleans Women's Health Clinic

Dear Supporters of the New Orleans Women's Health Clinic:

Even before Hurricane Katrina, women of color and low income women in New Orleans lacked access to basic health care. Almost three years after the storm, the limited health care resources that existed before the storm for low income and uninsured individuals have yet to be replaced, despite repeated commitments by public officials to create a "better system." In reality, this "better system" includes plans to shift from public services to subsidized private health insurance, leaving over 60 percent of Louisiana 's most vulnerable residents without health insurance or a safety net.

Combined with the loss of needed public resources and the continuation of economic isolation, gender inequality, environmental hazards, limited housing affordability, and racial discrimination, this lack of services and access to safe, affordable preventative care is equal to a public health disaster that directly impacts women of color and low-income women – particularly those who are young, uninsured, immigrant, elders, head of households, HIV/AIDS positive, homeless, sex workers, queer, disabled/differently-abled, incarcerated and formerly incarcerated, and living in public housing – as they face increased barriers to health care.

The need to organize to address this public health crisis in New Orleans is clear, but the specific needs of women and the issues of sexual and reproductive oppression have not been prioritized in the rebuilding of the city. The manifestations of ill-health, lack of preventative care, inadequate medical resources, and the absence of a comprehensive health policy paint an unpromising picture as the voices of low income and uninsured women of color are largely silenced. Despite this harsh reality, the New Orleans Women's Health Clinic (NOWHC), a women of color-led project, has become a CRITICAL resource with vast potential for comprehensive health education and grassroots organizing activities.

The mission of the New Orleans Women's Health Clinic is to equip marginalized and underserved women with the means to control and care for their own bodies, sexuality, and reproduction through a holistic, community-centered well women approach to health care which integrates sexual health and reproductive justice. Through the organizing and health advocacy work of INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence, the New Orleans Women's Health Clinic was conceived to combine health services with a political analysis of the oppression that prevents low income, uninsured, immigrant, disabled/differently-abled, formerly incarcerated, and LBTQ women of color from receiving comprehensive health care.

NOWHC not only provides health care services, but also addresses the social invisibility of low-income women of color that allows their needs to be chronically ignored and unmet. As corporate healthcare programs attempt to fill the gaps in health care existing for low-income women in New Orleans , NOWHC stands out as a clinic that is grassroots in origin and support, and that incorporates an analysis of the root causes of the current health care crisis into the services it provides.

Since the New Orleans Women's Health Clinic opened on this day one year ago, the demand for our services has steadily increased month by month. We currently provide a range of gynecological care and preliminary obstetrical visits including pregnancy testing and counseling; pap smears; pelvic exams; diagnosis and treatment of irregular menstruation, vaginal, urinary tract, and sexually transmitted infections; comprehensive sex education and access to safe and effective contraceptives; and prenatal care and education. The low cost sliding fee scale rates of the Clinic are possible due to the support we've received this year, most of which has come from individuals like you.

Most recently, we established a Women's Healthcare Fund, designed to ensure that uninsured women who cannot afford the cost of care or medications can receive care at NOWHC. In the coming year, NOWHC plans to begin providing midwifery care, expand our services to gender variant people, conduct educational workshops at the Clinic space and in community settings throughout the city, and engage in base building activities to build support and awareness of the Clinic locally and nationally.

At NOWHC, we are working to build the "table," as we continue to assist women access safe, affordable, and quality health services and resources they need to take care of their over health, bodies, sexuality, and reproductive. To continue this, we are asking you to support the New Orleans Women's Health Clinic in the following ways:

*Make a financial contribution to the New Orleans Women's Health Clinic. We rely primarily on donations from individuals such as you to provide sliding scale medical services to local women, and organize to build our long-term capacity. Donations help NOWHC to pay living wage salaries, rent and maintain our space, and cover the cost of laboratory services for uninsured women. A financial contribution of $50 will provide an annual exam for a woman who otherwise could not afford one, through our Women's Health Care Fund. Hosting a benefit house party will raise enough for a supplies order or a piece of medical equipment, as well as spread the word about NOWHC. In addition to financial donations, we are also accepting gift cards from Office Depot, and prepaid medical supply orders through PSS Medical Supplies. Financial contributions should be made out to our fiscal sponsor: Women With A Vision, with NOWHC listed in the memo line of check. Checks and gift cards should be mailed to:

New Orleans Women's Health Clinic
1406 Esplanade Ave.
New Orleans , LA 70116

*Spread the word about the New Orleans Women's Health Clinic. Publicity in local, national, and international press helps NOWHC spread the word about our services, connects us with people engaged in similar work, provides publicity, and generates support. But, it's something we often don't have time to coordinate ourselves. If you have an idea for an article, please contact us at 504.524.8255 or at nowhc_info@yahoo.com for an interview and press points. Alternately, reach people directly by spreading the word about NOWHC to five potential donors. Your direct appeal saves us time and administrative costs!

*Donate needed supplies to the New Orleans Women's Health Clinic. The supplies that NOWHC uses daily really add up. Additionally, there are several pieces of medical equipment that we still need. If you would like to sponsor a supply order, or have supplies or equipment to donate, please contact Cassandra Burrows at nowhc_info@yahoo.com to determine if NOWHC can use them, or to get a list of needed supplies. Please don't send unsolicited material.

The New Orleans Women's Health Clinic warmly thanks our network of donors and volunteers for your continued generous support. You are needed now more than ever. Our ability to provide needed services, maintain autonomy, and participate in grassroots organizing is made possible through the support of individuals and organizations in our community and nationwide.

Sincerely,

Shana M. griffin, Interim Director
Isabel Barrios, Board Member
Rosana Cruz, Board Member
Monique Harden, Board Member
Deon Haywood, Board Member
Mayaba Liebenthal, Board Member
Thea Patterson, Board Member

come see us



this makes me so hungry for the Camellia Grill.

V to the 10th

I'll be spending all of next weekend immersed in V to the 10th events. In case you haven't been hearing about this already, here are all of the details:

Katrina Warriors celebrate V-Day in New Orleans

http://www.myspace.com/vdayuntiltheviolencestops

V-DAY'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY!

Join Us and Change the Story of Women

To celebrate the last ten years of ending violence
against women and girls and welcome the next ten
years, thousands of V-Day benefits are scheduled
throughout the U.S. and the world from Shenzhen, China
to Stockholm, Sweden from Canberra, Australia to
Lagos, Nigeria. To coincide with these events, Eve
Ensler will embark on a nationwide 20-city V To The
Tenth speaking tour.

V-Day's 2008 season will culminate with a mega two-day
anniversary celebration in New Orleans Friday -
Saturday, April 11-12 at the New Orleans Arena and
Louisiana Superdome - V TO THE TENTH.

2008 SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN OF THE GULF SOUTH - KATRINA
WARRIORS

Each year V-Day increases awareness by focusing on a
specific group of women in the world who are resisting
violence with courage and vision. In 2008, the
spotlight is turned to New Orleans and the Gulf South.
The spotlight will highlight the daily ongoing work of
women in their communities who have steadfastly kept
New Orleans and the Gulf South alive with little to no
resources. These women - "Katrina Warriors" - will be
honored for their strength and resilience in the face
of devastating loss. The spotlight will bring global
attention and funds so that women may be safe and
empowered in a region whose pulse beats like no other.

TO THE TENTH - NEW ORLEANS - APRIL 11-12, 2008

These events will lead up to V TO THE TENTH, the
V-Day event of the decade, on April 11 - 12, 2008 at
the New Orleans Arena and Louisiana Superdome.

On Saturday evening, April 12, V-Day will stage a once
in a lifetime event featuring international
performances of The Vagina Monologues, musical guests,
V-Day activists from across the globe including Kenya,
Afghanistan, Iraq, the Philippines, Democratic
Republic of Congo and Eastern Europe, men standing up
for women and much more.

SALMA HAYEK, OPRAH WINFREY, JANE FONDA,GLENN CLOSE,
JULIA STILES, ALI LARTER, CALPERNIA ADDAMS, ROSARIO
DAWSON, KERRY WASHINGTON, AND MUSICIANS FAITH HILL,
JENNIFER HUDSON AND CHARMAINE NEVILLE have already
signed on.

The evening will open minds and hearts and raise much
needed attention and funds for groups working to end
violence against women and girls around the world, and
in New Orleans and the Gulf South.

TICKETS FROM $25-$1000 ARE ON SALE NOW AT
http://www.vday.org/contents/v10

Almost-Spring Half-Off Calendarstravaganza

Friends, it's nearly the middle of March and it's time for the last remaining handful of the 2008 calendars to get a move on. If you neglected to pick one up, or perhaps are itching for more, get'em now for $6 a pop,
via paypal to coleen@bust.com
or using the good old US Mail to
coleen murphy PO box 741655 new orleans, LA 70174

and the weather could not be lovelier

the kids made valentines and delivered them. now they're out back banging on things. Nash is making a trebuchet, the idea for which he got from an episode of Northern Exposure. and that's why we call it unschooling! yay. anyway.

have you seen this yet?

it's that time

last Saturday night looked like this, and many days and nights over these next two weeks will be about the same (although hopefully not quite as cold).

Barkus is this Sunday, and rain or shine, I'm there.

no freedom without fear and bravery

thank you, ariel, for reminding me/us, of Grace Paley and responsibility.

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of society to let the poet be a poet.

It is the responsibility of the poet to be a woman

It is the responsibility of the poet to stand on street corners
giving out poems and beautifully written leaflets
also leaflets they can hardly bear to look at
because of the screaming rhetoric

It is the responsibility of the poet to be lazy to hang out and
Prophesy

It is the responsibility of the poet not to pay war taxes
It is the responsibility of the poet to go in and out of ivory
towers and two-room apartments on Avenue C
and buckwheat fields and army camps

It is the responsibility of the male poet to be a woman

It is the responsibility of the female poet to be a woman

It is the poet's responsibility to speak truth to power as the
Quakers say

It is the poet's responsibility to learn the truth from the
Powerless

It is the responsibility of the poet to say many times: there is no
freedom without justice and this means economic justice and love justice

It is the responsibility of the poet to sing this in all the original
and traditional tunes of singing and telling poems

There is no freedom without fear and bravery there is no
freedom unless
earth and air and water continue and children
also continue

It is the responsibility of the poet to be a woman to keep an eye on
this world and cry out like Cassandra, but be
listened to this time

Grace Paley

and, yes

you can still get calendars for 2008


just by clicking

new year, old struggle

walking on

Arrests During Saturday's Peaceful March at St. Bernard - Why?

see for yourself

youtube video: save public housing

Mark your calendar now:

MONDAY December 10th International Human Rights Day
City Hall
Press Conference 9AM

Housing Conservation District Review Committee will be meeting on Monday, December 10th, regarding issuing permits for the demolition of Public Housing.

If you can't be here in person, send a message, host a solidarity event, do something, say something. Get updated information on the Coalition to Stop the Demolitions here.

it's about having a home, stupid

Christmas Presents for New Orleans from HUD:
Bulldozers for the Poor, Huge Tax Credits for Wealthy Developers

NY Times video: Housing Anxiety in New Orleans

so here is a call to action.

I'm glad she was born

from the writer's almanac today:
It's the birthday of the novelist Rita Mae Brown, born in Hanover, Pennsylvania (1944), who wrote Rubyfruit Jungle (1973), one of the first lesbian coming-of-age novels ever published in America. It was rejected by all the major publishers, so she went with a tiny press called Daughters, Inc., with no real advertising budget, but the book got passed around and became a word-of-mouth best seller, selling more than a million copies.

I was 15 the first time I read Rubyfruit Jungle, and I re-read it so many times, and so appreciatively, that I could probably act out the whole thing for you. anytime. just say the word. The same goes for a few other books... Franny & Zooey, for one. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. anytime.

the 2008 Mama Calendar is here and ready to go!

Get them while they're hot, at the New Orleans Bookfair (specifically, at the MamaPhiles table in Ray's Boom Boom Room) this Saturday or through the mail...

New Orleans Bookfair Saturday

Check out the Bookfair, Saturday, November 10, from 10 til 6, for the debut of the 2008 Mama Calendar, as well as assorted books, zines, music, readings, kid's stuff, and this workshop:

Building Community Support for Radical Parents and Children

The majority of visible activists and radicals do not have caretaking duties within their collective enterprises and thus might ignore their minority parent participant's concerns. When hetero couples have kids, the dads usually continue their activist work. Mothers aren't given any recognition for doing childrearing and/or the childcare that allows fathers to continue their political work. The movement tends to write off mothers who aren't at meetings or actions, failing to recognize that mothers need the support of their communities and activist groups if they are to continue contributing their experiences, insight and expertise without becoming overburdened.

Not everyone has the same issues but any ones oppression should matter to all. Working class parents, single mothers, women of color, parents of special needs children have different degrees of struggle. Rad dads who are primary or equal caretakers can feel alienated by sexist assumptions. But everyone, of all varying abilities, stages, and ages, deserves respect.

The subculture mimics, to a degree, the greater society's unreasonable expectations of parents (mothers especially) and children. Let's learn how to work together in new ways. By valuing the involvement/work of parents and caretakers, we form a more vibrant culture of resistance; and we teach the young the vision we want to see of a more equitable future by including them in our activities now.

This will be a discussion between both parents and non-parents, on concrete ways childfree allies can support parents and children in their community. Good for everyone!

Co-presented by:

China Martens is the author of "The Future Generation: A Zine-Book For Subculture Parents, Kids, Friends & Others" (an anthology of the last 15 years of her zine!) published by Atomic Books Company http://atomicbookcompany.blogspot.com/ , a single mother of a 19-year-old daughter, and the co-ordinater of Kidz Corner @ the Radical Mid-Atlantic Bookfair in Baltimore.

Coleen Murphy grew up tagging along to various activist gatherings with her mother. She is an unschooled kid turned unschooling parent who publishes the Mama Calendar and a zine called Once Upon a Photobooth, and helped to coordinate a space for kids at last year's New Orleans Bookfair.

Exact time and location TBA...

happy halloween, world

October 07 161
Originally uploaded by khollean

from two of the marx brothers

road trip

I want to drive cross country with david byrne. well. if he'll do the driving.

blooming

Fall is really a kind of Spring in New Orleans. On my block, anyway, it seems like everything is blooming. We're seemingly through the flu, too, with just these lingering ear infections.

What I really came here to say today, though, is that everyone should read Jonathon Kozol.

and if I were in school...

today I'd be walking out.

as it is, I'm home with two sick kids, and walking out on them would do nothing for nobody. fresh air would be a nice change, though.

I read banned books

this week and every week.