Archived Radio Show

February 19, 2024

Original Radio Show  ID:
WSA240212

Listen to the Show on the Mp3 Player below

Duration 57 minutes

The Guest interview begins at 20 minutes.

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Featuring

Click the Name to access the Segment below

1. Commentary by Elaine B. Holtz,  Host of Women's Spaces 

2. Guest: Katrina Phillips, Chair, Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights

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1. Commentary by Elaine B. Holtz:  I have a special guest s this morning. Joining me in the studio today is Katrina Phillips, Chair of the Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights, and we will be talking about the Commission, their mission, and issues they are working on.

February is Black History Month and for the whole month I have been presenting Black Women who made a difference for all of us. Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by Black Americans and a time for recognizing the vital role of African Americans in U.S. history. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” and Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.

In honor of this month and to honor the accomplishments of African American Women. Each Monday I have been highlighting two African American woman, and for this show's Herstory segment, I will be highlighting Black Women who had an impact and worked to make change. Often these women are not acknowledged for their contribution. I believe the more we know about each other and our cultures there is hope that as women we will stand together to end all this racism and the horror of war.

The song I will be playing at the musical break, I Rise, is an amazing spoken poem by Maya Angelou. To me this poem speaks of the struggle women go through in their lives, particularly women of color who have to continually rise and really never give up. I can relate to this in my own life. So many times, there are judgements made or someone will say something or stop you from moving forward, this piece lets me know that the key to change is Persistence and not giving up. When we return, I will be in conversation with Katrina Phillips, chair of the Sonoma County Commission of Human Right, a woman I know who persists and knows the value of participation and articulation.

2. Our Guest, Katrina Phillips shares how her interest in Human Rights began with her dealing with being born bi-racial in a society that categorizes by black and white, and she credits her parents with never mentioning that she was different. Katrina loved most her acting characters in Hollywood that dealt with human rights issues. She worked with at-risk youth, 27 of the 13,000 homeless youth in Los Angeles County. She believes with just building trust, respect, and communication that we can change the world.

During the George Floyd protest in Sonoma County amid the Covid Pandemic lockdown, a friend recommended that she apply with her County Supervisor of her district to be a member of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). She did apply, attended some of the monthly meetings held on the last Tuesday of every month to see CHR in action, and was accepted. She has witnessed county residents find their voice at the CHR monthly meetings.

The CHR was founded in 1993 in our county of Sonoma, with the mission to value and protect human rights. Commissioners join ad hoc committees to provide leadership in special areas. Katrina is especially proud that CHR now has a Visibility Project webpage that allows posting of Human Rights violations anonymously. A report is then sent to the Board of Supervisors (BOS) to inform them of real issues. There is a Youth Commission Project to engage high school youths in human rights issues in the county, and their interest right now is in housing sustainability. It has been 43 years since immigration reform, so an ad hoc committee is Just Migration Reform.

Recently a CHR meeting was called to hear residents speak on the War in Gaza and the calls for a ceasefire that attracted 150 very vocal attendees. A report on that meeting will be presented for CHR's final letter to the BOS this Thursday 2/22/24 from 5:00 to 11:45 PM for a CHR Special Meeting, also available via zoom. Katrina also encourages to not miss the next regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 27th, 5:00 to 11:45 PM, as the former Chair of CHR, Dimitra Smith, and Kirsten of NAACP will be presenting the special project on the history of slavery in Sonoma County.

-  report by Ken Norton, Co-Producer, Women's Spaces

About our Guest:  Katrina Phillips moved to Santa Rosa 10 years ago from Los Angeles where she was an actor and also worked as a counselor for at risk youth. She has been a volunteer with Fire Pet Rescue and Reunification since the Tubbs Fire, a member of the Sonoma County Human Trafficking Task Force and is currently the Chair of the Commission on Human Rights. Katrina has recently joined West County Community Services as a Service Navigator assisting the homeless.

Guest Link:

Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights, Ad hoc Committees, Meeting Schedule: Click Here for website.

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Our History Is Our Strength

Check out important dates to remember in Herstory at the National Women's History Alliance, where the date descriptions were sourced unless otherwise indicated.

Special thank you to the National Women’s History Alliance for making women’s history alive. Shout out to Co-Founder and Retiring Executive Director, Molly McGregor who will be on the show when we celebrate Women’s History Month in March for making the fabulous list of Women in History where I get most of the info I present in this Herstory segment.

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February 18, 1931 (2019)– Toni Morrison, Pulitzer Prize winning novelist, first African-American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature (1993).

February 18, 1934 (1992) –  Audre Lord was a writer, authored a book of poetry or essay almost every year, fought sexism and homophobia, joined the struggle for civil rights and feminism, created Kitchen Table Women of Color Press with others in 1988, wrote A Burst of Light to highlight her response to liver cancer.

February 19, 1952 – Amy Tan, is an American author of Chinese heritage, best known for the novel The Joy Luck Club, now in 35 languages, The Kitchen God’s Wife (1991), and The Bonesetter’s Daughter (2001).

February 21, 1936 (1996) – Barbara Jordan, politician, star debater at Texas State University, served in Texas state legislature 1962-72, elected to the House of Representatives 1973-78 where she sponsored expanding the coverage of the Voting Rights Act and voted to impeach Nixon, taught 17 years at University of Texas, awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1994).

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Announcements

Wednesday, February 21, 2024 Peace and Justice Center issues new weekly list of events and links to community non-profit organizations: PJC website www.pjcsoco.org

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February 2024 NAACP Black History Month Activities, for more information see https://www.facebook.com/naacpsonoma

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February and March 2024, Figures and Faces, Santa Rosa Arts Center, 312  South A St., Santa Rosa, CA. See poster below:

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Monday, February 19, 2024, 7:00 - 8:50, Special Event - Candidates Forum, and Membership Meeting by Zoom [Past Event - see NOW YouTube Channel for video]

Given that California's primary election is March 5th, Sonoma County NOW is pleased to host a forum for the Sonoma County Democratic Party's Central Committee candidates in District 1 and District 3. If you are in either of those districts, please join us. Learn what the Central Committee does and how important its work is. We will have prepared questions for each candidate.

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Tuesday February 20 2024, 6 PM, League of Women Voters Civics Class: Democracy: It's Up to Us! The second of three FREE, virtual (Zoom) presentations in February and March at 6pm on Tuesdays. Registration is required; sign up for each class separately, click RSVP link below for class date. Guaranteed to be interesting, fun and inspiring! 

1. 2/6 Calif State Gov,  Click Here to view past event on LWV Sonoma YouTube Channel

2.  2/20 From An Idea to Law,  Click Here
   to RSVP

3.  3/12 City and County Government,  Click Here to RSVP

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Thursday, February 22, 2024, 5:00 to 11:45 PM, SoCo Commission on Human Rights, Tuesday, February 27th, 5:00 to 11:45 PM to finalize its recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on Ceasefire in Gaza, at BOS Chambers, 575 Administration Drive, Suite 102A, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 and via zoom,  Click Here for CHR Special Meeting/also via zoom.

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Saturday February 24, 2024 10:00 AM.-2:00 PM, The Community Advisory Council (CAC) and Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach (IOLERO) invites the public to participate in our 2024 Strategic Planning Workshop. The location will be at the Sonoma County Library, 9291 Old Redwood Hwy #100, in Windsor CA. 95492.

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Monday, February 26, 2024 11 AM PT # repeats 11 PM PT, the show will feature our guest Kirstyne Lange, President NAACP of Sonoma County.  Radio KBBF 89.1 FM, North SF Bay or live streaming at https://kbbf.org/live

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Tuesday, February 27th, 5:00 to 11:45 PM, SoCo Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Monthly Meeting, featuring former Chair of CHR Dmitra Smith and Kirstyne Lange, President, SoCo NAACP,
on the History of Slavery in Sonoma County Project report.
  Click Here for CHR Meeting Info.
Click Here to see NAACP January 2024 report on this issure.

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Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 11 AM PT, repeat of Monday's show that will feature our guest Kirstyne Lange, President NAACP of Sonoma County.   Radio KPCA 103.3 FM, Petaluma, CA. https://petalumacommunityaccess.org/kpca 

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Music Selections

The Opening and Closing Theme song The Woman in Your Life is You is done with permission of the Composer and Singer Alix Dobkin ((August 16, 1940 – May 19, 2021) Alix Dobkin death was just announced - Thank you for all you did for Lesbians to be recognized and Women to be honored. May you rest in peace. See our Interview with Alix Dobkin on 12/1/2014 and our Memorial to Alix Dobkin on 5/24/2021

The Woman in Your Life is You by Alix Dobkin from the album Living with Lavender Jane (2010 Women's Wax Works) - www.alixdobkin.com

I Rise, a Poem written and performed by Maya Angelou (Soldering Press YouTube channel Click Here )

Human Rights, sung by Marcia Griffith from the album Shining Times (2005 VP Music Group, Inc.)

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For music purchasing opportunity, supporting the artists: