RDLN National Network Assembly - San Juan Bautista, CA - Fall 2004


RDLN National Network Assembly RDLN held its seventh National Network Assembly at the St. Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista, California from October 28-November 1, 2004. The theme was "Women in Action" with a highlight on food security and social justice, including farmworker issues. Lideres Campesinas, a statewide women farmworkers organization hosted the event.


Graduation
Celebrating their graduation from academic programs arranged by Rural Development Leadership Network were: (l to r) Suzanne Kinkade (B.A., Excelsior College), Auxillary Services, Salish Kootenai College (MT), Michele Lansdowne (Ph.D. Union Institute and University), head of Business Department, Salish Kootenai College (MT); and Meredith (Coleman) McGee (M.A., Antioch University), owner Typing, Solutions, Resumés & Etc. and business planner.(MS)
 

Click to view Shirley Sherrod's graduation speech on YouTube.
 
Lideres Campesinas

Lideres Campesinas hosted our Assembly. Members enacted "A Day in the Life of a Farmworker Woman" to share challenges faced in the field and at home.
 
Field Trip
The RDLN group visited ALBA (Agricultural Land-Based Training Association)
 
 
Planning    

RDLN Leader Rev. Leon Clark from West Helena, Arkansas

Organizational Planning was a highlight of the Assembly. Network members strategized on how to mobilize the Network for future effectiveness. Learning to "navigate the system" was identified as one priority.

 

Other highlights included:

  • Panel on Food Security and Social Justice
  • Reading by Billie Jean Young
  • Oral history session

RDLN Leader Alice Paris, Co-Director of the Center for Minority Land and Community Security at Tuskegee University and Director of Special Projects for the Federation of Southerm Cooperatives.




 
RDLN Leader Mily Treviño-Sauceda chosen for a Leadership for a Changing World award


Mily Treviño-Sauceda receives certificate award from Ford Foundation president Susan Beresford

  • Congratulations to RDLN Leader Mily Treviño-Sauceda who has been chosen for a Leadership for a Changing World award. RDLN is proud to have nominated her for this award.

    The award is funded by the Ford Foundation, which, as their announcement say, honors "18 awardees, chosen by a national selection committee from a pool of nearly 1000 nominations, are individuals and leadership teams tackling some of the nation's most entrenched social, economic and environmental challenges."

    "'These awardees are making a difference in communities across the country and are showing us new ways to exercise leadership in challenging times,' said Susan V. Berresford, president of the Ford Foundation." "Each awardee receives $100,000 to advance their work and an additional $15,000 for supporting activities over the next two years. "

    We also congratulate RDLN Leader Lillie Webb, whom we also nominated and who was a semi-finalist in the process. Lillie is executive director of the Center for Community Development in Sparta, Georgia, which has successfully resisted contaminating businesses from moving into the area. The group plans to use a micro-enterprise strategy to provide alternative income generating options for people in the community.

    Hats off also to Beatrice Clark Shelby, another Leadership for a Changing World winner. Beatrice is executive director of Boys, Girls, Adults Community Development Center in Marvell, Arkansas, and she has served as Field Advisor for Annie Wright Huff in the RDLN program.

     

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