Today is Equal Pay Day. You might be surprised to find out how few of your friends know why it falls on April 14th this year — even among people who agree that women deserve to be paid the same as men.

It’s not a date just picked out of a hat — Equal Pay Day represents how far into a new year that full-time working women have to work to earn as much as men did the previous year: 104 days.

On average, women still earn only 78 cents for every dollar a man makes, and that’s even lower for Latinas and African American women.

This Equal Pay Day, help get the word out — share this graphic with your friends and show your support for

#EqualPayNow.

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History, Rebellion and Reconciliation : NMAAHC

04/25/2015 Nativegrl77

The Smithsonian’s National Museum
of African American History and Culture
presents a national conversation by hosting a daylong symposium,

Saturday, April 25, 2015, 9:45am to 8:30pm EDT
National Museum of the American Indian
Rasmuson Theater
Independence and 4th St SW
Washington, D.C.

Metro: Orange and Blue lines, L’Enfant Plaza or Federal Center SW
The symposium will be live streamed via Ustream

Admission is free and open to the public; however, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and reservations are recommended. Reserve your free tickets by visiting Eventbrite. Please note if you wish to attend all panels, be sure to reserve a ticket for each panel.

A police shooting of an unarmed black man in Ferguson, Mo., this summer, along with other shootings by police officers around the county, led to weeks of protests in communities around the country. “We need to explore what this moment in our nation’s history means, especially in terms of leadership,” said Lonnie Bunch III, NMAAHC director. “What impact does generational change have on leadership and faith communities? What are the lessons to be learned from Ferguson, particularly within the context of community mobilization?”
Symposium Schedule

9:45am, director Lonnie Bunch opens the symposium and welcomes guests, followed by a discussion with Rev. Willis H. Johnson, pastor of Ferguson’s Wellspring Church. Willis will describe the conditions that led to the distrust between law enforcement and the city’s African American community.

10:30am-12:30pm, panel #1, “Ferguson: Impact, Importance & Long-Range Hopes.” This panel explores the evolution of the media, community leadership and activism as they relate to communities organized against excessive police force and economic inequality. Panel moderated by Juan Williams, journalist and Fox News political analyst. Panelists include: Lisa Crooms, Howard University law professor; Opal Tometi, founder of Black Lives Matter; Rev. F. Willis Johnson Jr., pastor Wellspring Church, Ferguson.

1:30pm to 2:30 pm, “On Art and History: A Conversation with Ava DuVernay.” Selma director, DuVernay, will discuss filmmaking and the creative responses to historic events such as the Selma to Montgomery march.

3:00pm – 5pm, panel #2, “Ferguson & Faith in the 21st Century.” This panel addresses the past, present and future roles of faith organizations as advocates for social change. It also examines changing roles of faith leaders. Moderated by Rex Ellis, NMAAHC associate director of curatorial affairs, the panel includes: Jeff Johnson, journalist and motivational speaker; Renee Harrison, Howard University School of Divinity professor and former Los Angeles police officer; Lerone A. Martin, assistant professor of Religion and Politics, John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, Washington University, St. Louis; Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, pastor, theologian, author, and community organizer; Stephanie Wolfe, dissertation fellow, John C. Danforth Center.

6:30pm – 8:30pm, panel #3, “#Words Matter: Making Revolution Irresistible.” This panel features the response of the creative community to excessive police violence, racism and communal demands for equality. Moderated by Jared Ball, associate professor of Communications, Morgan State University. The panel includes: Mark Bolden, psychologist and co-moderator; Jasiri X, Spoken Word artist; Jamilah Lemieux, senior digital editor, Ebony magazine; Jef Tate: DJ, Words, Beats and Life.

Other Presentations during the Symposium

12:30pm – 1:30pm, “Citizen” works by award-winning poet Claudia Rankine, interpreted on film by director John Lucas. The film shorts, titled Situation #1through 5, are based on Rankine’s book Citizen: An American Lyric.

5:00pm – 6 pm, view a slide presentation of social justice related objects from the museum’s collection and select artists, accompanied by a mix from DJ Jef Tate of “Words, Beats and Life.”

For questions about the symposium, email NMAAHCpubpgms@si.edu.

View the daylong symposium at Ustream. A dialogue on social media will be held throughout the symposium. The public may follow the museum on Twitter @NMAAHC to participate in the discussion using #HRRlive or #WordsMatter.

For more information, visit www.nmaahc.si.edu or call (202) 633-1000(202) 633-1000.

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We’re building the home that our remarkable history deserves!

04/25/2015 Nativegrl77

LBJ Signing the Civil Rights Act of 1968

This month, we celebrate the anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Title VIII of the Act is commonly known as the Fair Housing Act.

Like all African American history, this milestone of the Civil Rights Movement is inextricably woven into the fabric of our entire nation – because prior to the passage of the Act it was legal to discriminate in housing based not only on race and color, but also on the basis of religion, national origin and sex.

When we open our doors in fall of 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture will provide a home for this kind of shared national history –– presenting the people and events that shaped our country to life through an African American lens.

As we quickly approach the Museum’s opening, your support is vital. I hope you will consider making a special gift of $ 40 or more today.

The Museum will provide the opportunity for visitors from across our nation and around the world to learn about the entire African American experience –– from unspeakable horrors like slavery to soaring triumphs like the passage of the Fair Housing Act.

But first we must raise $250 million from private sources to match the public funds approved by Congress – so that we can complete construction of the Museum building, finish assembling our collection of historical and cultural artifacts, and launch our opening exhibitions and other programming.

Please help put us over the finish line with a special donation today!

Your continued support will help ensure that the Museum fulfill our mission to educate all Americans about our shared heritage … spark constructive conversations on race and foster reconciliation … and advance our understanding of who we are as a nation and how we can build a brighter future together.

Thank you for whatever additional support you can give to help provide the kind of home that our African American history and culture deserve.

All the best,

Lonnie Bunch
Founding Director

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Washington State: Four days to make a difference in critical House election

04/25/2015 Nativegrl77

This year there is a critical Special Election in the 30th Legislative District that will have huge implications for our state. Representative Carol Gregory was appointed to the House of Representatives in January after being selected by the 30th District PCOs.

Now, Carol must fight to retain her seat this November, and she needs your help.

Carol’s race is the only legislative race in the state this year, which means the Republicans are focusing all of their energy on defeating her. The Democratic majority in the House hinges on Carol’s election in November.

Will you support Carol’s campaign and help us win this critical election and protect our state?

A former schoolteacher and current Federal Way School Board member, Carol Gregory is a born-and-raised Washingtonian. She has extensive experience in education, government, community leadership, and the Democratic Party. Her public service includes working as President of the Washington Education Association and in various government positions, including eight years in Governor Booth Gardner’s Administration. Carol has also specialized in workforce training and economic development, working for the Small Business Improvement Council and as a representative on the Seattle/King County Workforce Development Council.

Carol’s roots are deep in her community, and she is the right person to represent the 30th District. Even though her seat has been held by a Democrat for the past two years, many still consider the 30th to be a true swing district, and her Republican opponent can be expected to run an expensive campaign, as they seek to pick up this seat.

In short, the right wing is going to throw everything they have at Carol. And the only way to continue to strengthen our families and middle class and ensure we are building a better future for our kids is to elect Carol Gregory this November.

Please join me and show Carol she has grassroots support to fend off the Republican attacks and win in November.

Please click here to support Carol’s campaign with a gift of $100, $50, $25 or whatever you can afford today. Your early support will be key to Carol’s success in November, and she is grateful for contributions of any size.

Please pitch in today, and help us win this critical election. The fate of our state depends on it.

Thank you for standing up for our shared values,

Jaxon

P.S. Carol has just four days to raise money until she reports back to Olympia for the special legislative session.

Please make your contribution today, before the fundraising freeze kicks back in!

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Weekly Address: Fighting for Trade Deals that Put American Workers First

04/25/2015 Nativegrl77

In this week’s address, the President laid out why new, high-standards trade agreements are important for our economy, our businesses, our workers, and our values.These new trade deals are vital to middle-class economics — the idea that this country does best when everybody gets their fair shot, everybody does their fair share, and everybody plays by the same set of rules.The President has been clear: Any deal he signs will be the most progressive trade agreement in our history with strong provisions for both workers and the environment. It would also level the playing field — and when the playing field is level, American workers always win.

Watch the President’s Weekly Address here.