International Women Day Celebration

I am looking forward to participating on a panel on "Women and Haiti" on the occasion of the Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights' celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day on March 5, 2011. One of the central themes in my book, The Daughter of L'arsenal, www.regisbook.com, is the plight of women in rural Haiti as most often sole breadwinners as well as solely responsible for caring for children and managing a home, if lucky enough to have one. It is telling that the circumstances and conditions of life for women in Haiti have largely remained unchanged since more than 50 years ago. Women everywhere and the world seem ready to raise the bar and adopt a new standard. Events and circumstances in Haiti have brought the spotlight on the absolute imperative to improve basic conditions of life for women and children everywhere. The story in The Daughter of L'arsenal demonstrates how caring, compassion and persistence can go a long way to make a difference, perhaps one woman at a time. Consciously adopting an unwavering principle that every woman possesses the inalienable right to justice, fairness and self-actualization will raise the standard toward fairer social policies and empower women to fully achieve their potential. My talk is scheduled for March 5 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the First Unitarian Society, Dietrich Room, 900 Mount Curve Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota.