Our Day of Hope: A Summit for WNC Women
All things are connected in universal harmony. This piece of wisdom from artist Jan Peterson is the driving force behind Our Day of Hope: A Summit for Western North Carolina Women to be held Saturday, August 6, at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in the Reuter Center on the campus of UNC Asheville. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., women of diverse ethnicities and faiths will illustrate this connectedness as they share their stories and their hopes with each other.
“Our Day of Hope rises out of a dream shared by co-facilitator Sally Gooze and myself—together with an amazing steering committee—to offer an opportunity for women to have conversations about our hopes for ourselves, our families, our communities, and the planet,” says co-facilitator Sarah Larson. “My hope at the end of the day is that each participant will have had the opportunity to listen to opinions different than her own, to listen to the same opinions as her own told from a different cultural viewpoint, and that together participants will seek out ways to continue the conversation with each other.”
The steering committee gathered by Sally and Sarah planned this day to celebrate the role of women as healers and peacekeepers—and to communicate the message of universal connectedness. Committee members are Kathy Alonso, Carol Anders, Patsy Byer, Althea Gonzales, Susan Grabel, Jennifer Kantonen, Willow Lanier, Betty Madoff, La Bet Pritchard, Bonnie Habel Stone, Shay Thames, and Margie Zavoico.
A glimpse of the Summit’s agenda begins with a warm-up of laughter yoga and music by Womansong, followed by a welcome from former mayor Terry Bellamy. In an exciting and long-awaited performance, United Nations honoree Suzanne Benton will deliver the keynote address. A storyteller, artist, and theater-of-the-mask performer, Suzanne will be wearing some of the masks she has created to depict powerful women in history. The Readers Theatre will then perform “Nine Dragons” followed by a discussion, and Lynn Bledsoe of “Sage-ing not Aging” will deliver the closure.
Sponsors of the event are Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, The Laurel of Asheville, Aloft Hotel, Clark Communications, Jubilee Community, Amy Mandel & Katina Rodis Fund, the Asheville Storytelling Circle, WNC Woman, Womansong, YWCA, AAUW, First Presbyterian Church, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Unitarian Universalist of Asheville, Saging International, Traveling Trainer, Karen Donatelli Cake Designs, Caravans, Omni Grove Park Inn, and Sensibilities.
Participants are asked to bring a lunch and a supplemental salad bar will be provided. Registration information is on the Our Day of Hope: A Summit for WNC Women Facebook page. There is a $15 suggested donation and registration remains open as long as there is space. Participants may register at the door with a suggested $20 donation if space allows. Call Sarah Larson at 828.450.5462 to learn the status of registration and find out more details.
