The forum will examine how far women workers have come in the past 40 years and the employment issues women and girls will face in the future. Confirmed speakers include Mary Frances Berry, Chair of the US Civil Rights Commission, Beth Shulman, author, The Betrayal of Work, and Sarah Kannel, a respected pollster who will share insights from the November election. Invited scholars include Alice Kessler-Harris, Professor of American History at Columbia University, Ronnie Steinberg, Professor of Sociology at Vanderbilt University, and Diana Pearce, School of Social Work at the University of Washington.

WoW hopes you will be able to participate in this important event to mark the celebration of WoW's 40th Anniversary and to lay the ground work for an advocacy agenda to remind the public, the press and our nation's policymakers that the battle for economic equality for women and girls is far from won. We will also use this opportunity to consider the impact of the recently held election on opportunities for women in the next four years.

There is no fee for the symposium or lunch. Attendees, however, must provide their own travel and room and board. WoW will be happy to suggest hotels in the vicinity of the conference. Space is limited, so if you are interested please return the attached registration form by email or fax. If you would like more information about this event, please call Julia Barnes at contact info above.

Wider Opportunities for Women Celebrating 40 Years of Building Pathways to Economic Independence for America's Women and Girls 1964-2004

Event: International Arts and Crafts Sale

Venue/Address: CentroNía-1420 Columbia Road, NW Washington, DC 20009

Reception for ticket holders: Friday November 5th, 2004 6:30 pm - 10 pm.

To benefit: CentroNía Enrichment Programs

The International Arts and Crafts Sale, CentroNía signature fundraising event, will showcase the community's best and brightest artists, as well as international artisans and crafts people, arts partners, crafts people from the region, and junior artists from CentroNía, in hopes of closing the recent budget gaps that have plagued many such non-profit organizations throughout the region.

On Friday November 5th, from 6:30 to 10 pm, sponsors and donors are invited to the kickoff gala featuring an arts and crafts sale and reception. Tickets are $50 and all funds raised will benefit the children of the Learning Center. Guests can browse and buy everything from oil paintings to crafted jewelry, with 25% of each sale going to CentroNía.

Faith-based organizations are doing amazing work in our nation's inner cities. But these organizations need private funding in order to keep their defining feature-faith-at the center of what they do. Yet funding faith-based organizations has been, in many ways, a leap of faith. Until now. BARBARA ELLIOTT, founder of the Houston-based Center for Renewal, has incorporated eight years of experience with faith-based organizations and more than 300 interviews into two new books that serve as your guide to faith-based giving: Street Saints: Renewing America's Cities, and Equipping the Saints: A Guide to Giving to Faith-Based Organizations (Templeton Foundation Press, 2004). Please join us to hear Ms. Elliott, who is also associate fellow at the Sagamore Institute, present the books at this public discussion over lunch at Hudson Institute. National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise founder ROBERT WOODSON, SR. and RYAN STREETER of the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will respond to Elliott's remarks and your questions. Both books will be available free of charge (in good faith!) at this event.

PROGRAM

11:45 a.m. Registration, lunch buffet
12:00 p.m. Introduction by WILLIAM SCHAMBRA
12:05 Presentation by BARBARA ELLIOTT
12:25 Panel discussion
2:00 Adjournment

In addition to existing arts and cultural resources, numerous projects are planned or in development in the Gateway Arts District including live/work housing for artists and new homes for area arts organizations!

Come be a part of the Gateway Arts District!

Special Tax Benefits for Artists

If you're an artist who lives and work in the Gateway Arts District, you may be able to take advantage of these special State tax benefits:

* A personal income tax credit for artistic work sold within the district

* An exemption from the County Admission and Amusement Tax

* Property Tax Credit

Property owners are also eligible for special tax benefits as well as State grant and loan programs for renovations made to their buildings for arts and entertainment purposes.

Vision

The Prince George's County Gateway Arts District is a focal point for arts activities of all kinds, as well as for socializing, entertainment, dining, and shopping. The Gateway Arts District offers the rich diversity of the metropolitan region, while retaining the characters of its four small towns. Artists are valued as community assets and their needs are met. New artists are attracted to live and work in the area, and their customers and students follow. The area remains desirable and affordable so that everyone can remain here as long as they wish.

Upcoming Events

Click on link below to view calendar of upcoming visual and performing arts events as well as community news and opportunites for artists.

If you would like to share any announcements from your organization or campus with the CoRAL Network community, send a brief blurb to cbenitez@coralnetwork.org by close of business each Thursday for inclusion in the following Monday's Newsbits.