Public Employee Press

March: Women’s History Month
Health, History, Honors

By JANE LaTOUR

The complicated realities of women’s lives were reflected in the themes of union programs that celebrated Women’s History Month in March.

The DC 37 Women’s Committee honored the accomplishments of the hard-working women who serve as union reps. The Social Service Employees Union Local 371 Women’s Committee offered a speaker on women’s health issues, and the DC 37 Caribbean Heritage Committee presented outstanding women leaders who trace their roots to the Caribbean nations.

On March 10, the Local 371 program featured Dr. Anafidelia Traveres of the Dept. of Health’s Cancer Prevention Program, who spoke about cervical, breast and colon cancers. “Our members left the presentation with better awareness,” said Committee Chair Helen Wilson. “I am sure they will use this knowledge and share it with others.”

On March 18, DJ Hollywood and singer Melissa Morgan rocked the house with a hit parade of soul selections, and DC 37 Women’s Committee Chair Walthene Primus welcomed everyone to the annual celebration.

“We want to make sure that we are not divided. We’re all in it together,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. She praised the participants, including the men who came out for the evening to offer support.

DC 37 and Local 372 President Veronica Montgomery-Costa saluted the evening’s honorees for their contributions to the union. “It’s a job I held myself, and it’s a very demanding job. But you are the front line of this union and you have a unique role because you’re a woman.”

Certificates were presented to 58 female grievance and council reps, and Geneva Burch of Local 420 read a poem celebrating the distance African American women have traveled since the days of slavery. Local 1507 President Sirra Crippen made corsages for the honorees.

Figures of inspiration

On March 26, the Caribbean Heritage Committee featured six women who shared their stories. Dr. Abegail Johnson, an educator, grew up in Jamaica, one of 10 children. Her road from a one-room school to a PhD was built on the foundation laid by her parents, “who never got beyond the fifth grade but were hard-working and wise,” she said. “Their teachings built character and promoted excellence.”

Dr. Muriel Petioni, 96, born in Trinidad, raised in Harlem, and known to many as “the Mother of Harlem Medicine,” graduated from Howard Medical School in 1937, the only female in her class. For decades, she has mentored women in the field of medicine. “We all start out ordinary,” she said. “Fate and the universe give us the opportunity to be extraordinary. With persistence and determination, you can do anything you want.”

Elected to the New York State Supreme Court in 2004, Judge Sylvia Hinds-Radix helped members for 10 years at DC 37’s Municipal Employees Legal Service. Growing up in Barbados, the youngest of seven children, she knew at an early age that she wanted to be a lawyer. “At that time, men were lawyers,” she said. “We women are still fighting for equality, and we have a lot of work to do.”

Committee Chair Carmen Charles was born in Guyana and came to the United States 33 years ago. Working as a Nurses Aide at Coler-Goldwater Hospital, “I was bitten by the union bug,” she said. In 1987, she became a shop steward in Hospital Employees Local 420. The local was then “male-dominated,” said Charles, but in 2002 the members elected her president. “I encourage every sister to follow your dreams, believe in something bigger than yourself and make a difference in someone else’s life,” she said.

One highlight of the evening was a poem by Laura Gonzales, 12. The ninth-grader described the women she conjured sitting at her table, such as Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King, and the inspiration they provide for young women growing up today.

“Our panel reminds us that we are all distinguished women. Each of you had to overcome obstacles on your journey,” said DC 37 Health and Security Plan Administrator Cynthia Chin-Marshall, who moderated the program. “But we are women, we are strong, and failure is not an option.”