(The following are Dr. Ivonne Wallace Fuentes’ remarks as delivered to Roanoke Valley Democratic Women Membership Meeting attendees on March 22, 2024.)
Thanks to Barbara and Priscilla for inviting me to speak to you for Women’s History Month.
As a professional historian, and a feminist historian, every day is women’s history month for me, but I do love how March offers us all an opportunity to reflect on the historical impact of women.
Dr. Ivonne Wallace Fuentes (Photo credit: Megapixie.com/A. Tonken)
Too often, I think, we tend to think of history in the way we might think of antique china and crystal — lovely, in its pristine cabinet, where its mostly admired in passing; treasured — maybe it was passed down to us by elder generations of women we loved. Maybe something we might even think to use, pulling it out for important ritual occasions like Thanksgiving, but not really a part of our daily life, like the rough and tumble Target dishes that go into the dishwasher every night. But history, and historical thinking, is not china we pull out once and twice a year. It is part of the air we breathe every day, whether we recognize it or not. As I teach my students, it’s not an empirical list of facts about the past — it’s not a long CVS receipt of names and figures. History is an argument, it is an x-ray, and it is a weapon.
A logo that centers women: Our new logo features visual symbols of our demand for suffrage and equality, improved font and visibility of the word “women.”
A logo for our region: RVDW encompasses the entirety of the Roanoke Valley. Our new logo uses the dogwood blossom, Virginia’s state flower, to visually expand and include our regional community.
A logo with a message: Women of the Roanoke Valley are in this 21st century struggle to advance equality, demand autonomy, secure our rights, and preserve democracy.
Thank you to the design team (Graphic Artist Beth Deel, RVDW Communications, and RVDW Board) for their work in developing our new logo.
Notes from the design team:
RVDW’s new logo and iconography represent our place in modern day politics and society while acknowledging the generations that came before us.
Pictured above are several examples of suffrage activism graphics. The yellow rose and the sunflower emerged as powerful symbols during the women’s suffrage movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The yellow rose became a symbol of hope and solidarity in the United States. In 1913, suffragists wore yellow roses during a march in Washington, DC, to advocate for women’s right to vote. Similarly, the sunflower gained significance in the UK and in the motto “Faith, Hope, and Courage.” The flowers embodied the resilience and determination of women fighting for their right to participate in the democratic process.
Why not a “donkey”? The association of the donkey with the Democratic Party traces back to the 1828 presidential campaign of Andrew Jackson when women and BIPOC were not full citizens of the United States.
Today, the US Senate unanimously passed Sen. Mark Warner and Sen. Tim Kaine’s legislation to rename Roanoke’s federal building the “Reuben E. Lawson Federal Building” in honor of the life and legacy of civil rights lawyer Reuben Lawson. The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives where Rep. Ben Cline’s support is important.
Thank you to all who have supported the effort to rename the federal courthouse in Roanoke after the late civil rights attorney Reuben E. Lawson.
In December, Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner introduced the legislation to make the change but support from Rep. Ben Cline, in whose district the courthouse is located, is imperative. And so…
Please add your voice AGAIN!
Simply download, print, sign (include your address) and mail the following letter to Rep. Ben. Cline, 10 Franklin Rd. SE, Suite 510, Roanoke, VA 24011.
RVDW’s January meeting reminded us of the importance of engaging with our elected local leaders. Capturing the enthusiasm and heart for service guest speaker Roanoke City Sheriff Antonio Hash has for his job, his city, its residents, and his staff will likely prove impossible.
RVDW highly recommends organizations invite Sheriff Hash to speak to learn about his department, his vision, and to enjoy his contagious positivity. (“You’re welcome!” in advance for that recommendation.)
City Sheriff is a Constitutional Office. In 2021, Antonio Hash, then a 13-year veteran of the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Department, proudly ran and won election as a Democrat. While he will run for re-election as a Democrat in 2025, Hash reminded his audience that his sworn duty, like all public servants, is to the Constitution (State of Virginia and US), his department, his city, and to all the citizens of Roanoke City.
Hash eagerly explained the Sheriff Department’s mission, values, structural organization, and its relationship to other agencies.
Greetings with a CALL TO ACTION from your Political Affairs Committee!
The brand-new Virginia General Assembly office building was open for business on Monday, MLK Day. Undeterred by wintry weather, 22 Roanoke and New River Valley residents, including two minors and three members of the RVDW Political Affairs Committee, embarked on an important adventure, seeking meetings and facetime with State Senators and Delegates.
Happiness is . . . experiencing citizen lobbying!
Gun violence prevention was the focus of the day, as we followed guidance from Groceries Not Guns founder and RVDW member Catherine Koebel. Bills to watch this session include Child Access Prevention Laws, Funding for Gun Violence Prevention and Gun Industry Accountability, Permit to Purchase Handgun Laws, and an Assault Weapons Ban.
We left home at 9:30am and travelled three hours in the snow, over Afton Mountain, lunching along the way, and arriving in Richmond around 1pm.
After clearing security in all our layers, hats, mittens, and scarves, we headed up to Sen. David Sutterlein’s office. Sen. Sutterlein’s (new) district includes the City of Roanoke. These constituents’ voices brought the perspective of a city traumatized by gun violence – personally and as a community. Vice Mayor Joe Cobb and Roanoke City Councilmember Luke Priddy, who is a consultant for Jennifer Boysko in Richmond this session, were present for the meeting. We spent almost an hour seeking common ground on the issue of safe storage and child access legislation.
At 2pm we joined voices and hearts with other gun violence prevention activists from across the state at the 32nd Annual MLK Day Vigil at the nearby bell tower. This year’s event was historic in its own right as we heard remarks from Del. Don Scott Jr., our state’s first Black speaker of the House of Delegates.
Following the vigil, our group returned to the General Assembly building to meet with our respective Delegates, Joe McNamara and Sam Rasoul. office where we were welcomed warmly.
Our delegation headed back to the bus at 4:20pm and safely returned to a snow-covered Roanoke five hours later. Shout out to Abbott Bus Lines for their excellent service.
Best wishes, warmest regards,
Sandra Whitley Ryals, VP Political Affairs Political Affairs Committee Members: Barbara Andes, Becky Clark, Jessica Hilbish and Catherine Koebel
CALL TO ACTION: GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION BILLS
CALL. CALL. CALL. As often as you can. Every day is not too often! Put your delegate and your state senator on speed dial! In 2023, Johns Hopkins University research showed 81% of Americans support Child Access Prevention laws, including 58% of Republicans. Keep that in mind when you call.
Del. Sam Rasoul (D)
804.698.1038
Script: “Please be a vocal supporter on social media and in your legislative updates of Child Access Prevention programs and laws.”
Del. Joe McNamara (R)
804.698.1040
Script: “Please vote for Child Access Prevention legislation.”
Sen. David Sutterlein (R)
804.698.7504
Script: “Please vote for Child Access Prevention legislation.”
Roanoke Valley Democratic Women (RVDW) invites everyone to a celebratory “Dems After Dark” on Thursday, December 7th from 5:00pm-7:00pm at Barrel Chest Wine & Beer. In this post-election, early holiday season of 2023, we’ll gather to celebrate winning back the House of Delegates and maintaining control of the Virginia Senate. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided. A cash bar will be available.
In the spirit of giving, we are sponsoring a food drive during the event. Donations of non-perishable food items (please, no glass) will benefit Feeding Southwest Virginia. Founded in 1981, Feeding Southwest Virginia’s mission “is to nourish neighbors, engage community partners, and develop solutions to address food insecurity.” Most needed items include:
“It was the foremost topic of discussion” at the state’s recent professional conference for librarians [Virginia Library Association] is how Sara Sprague describes book banning and book censorship. Sprague, October RVDW guest speaker, a Roanoke-based attorney, librarian, and consultant, had much to share in her “Freedom to Read: How to Resist Book Bans in Your Community” presentation on Friday, October 27. Her unique perspective, sharpened by the intersection of her professional expertise in law and librarianship, gave attendees a lot to consider and ways to resist the trend toward censorship.
“Book banning is ‘the practice of removing or restricting access to books that are deemed objectionable or inappropriate by some individuals or groups’,” explained Sprague. This can include removing books from school or public libraries, prohibiting books from being used in classrooms or curricula, requiring parental consent or notification for books that contain certain content and even filing lawsuits or complaints against authors, publishers, librarians, or teachers who promote or distribute books. “It’s kind of a catch-all term that can be a little murky, but in all cases is a restriction on freedom to read. When government is the one doing the directing, we get into censorship issues that potentially violate the first amendment.”
Please join us Tuesday, October 3, 2023, 5:30 – 7:30pm at the Shenandoah Club for Del. Eileen Filler-Corn’s keynote and an evening of Democratic connection and conversation, laser-focused on Virginia’s November 2023 elections.
RVDW is honored to have Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn as keynote speaker at our 2023Wine & Hors d’oeuvres Annual Fundraiser with Silent Auction. As the 56th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, Del. Filler-Corn was the first woman in the 400-year history of Virginia’s legislature to serve as Speaker. Prior to her election to the House, she also served in the administrations of Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.
In what has been yet another year of attacks on the civil rights of so many in our Commonwealth and our country, we look forward to Del. Filler-Corn’s perspective on the importance of returning the gavel to Democrats in the House of Delegates’ and keeping a Democratic majority in the Senate this November. With more than a decade of service in the Virginia House of Delegates. Filler-Corn knows what’s at stake as well as what’s possible!
Don’t want to order online? RSVP to rvdemocraticwomen@gmail.com or call (540) 529-9931. Please provide the full names of all attendees. Pay by check at the event.
Sponsorships and donations of support are greatly appreciated.
Have questions? Email us atrvdemocraticwomen@gmail.com
RVDW’s summer meeting hiatus came to an end on Friday when members gathered to focus on September as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. With compassion and clarity, our guest speakers led attendees through sometimes difficult facts while encouraging discussion about the prevalence of and increase in suicide in our daily lives. There was opportunity for questions and answers and powerful personal reflection.
Ms. Scales, Ms. Johnson, and Ms. Goodman all expressed hopefulness as they see the stigma around discussing suicide receding. In this environment, and beyond September, we can all take action to make a difference and help prevent and reduce suicide:
Educate your friends, families, coworkers.
Mobilize support in your community, churches, civic groups, etc.
Pay attention to legislation and funding (local, state, national).
The following presentation file was prepared for RVDW and has been shared by Julia Scales. Note: This presentation is meant to be informative, not diagnostic.
