CSEA LOCAL 828 WOMEN'S COMMITTEE HOST "AWESOME" WORKSHOP AT MONROE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

AWESOME WOMEN TELL THEIR INSPIRATIONAL STORIES
Presenters were left to right:  MCC President Dr. Anne Kress, Monroe County
Medical Examiner Dr. Caroline R. Dignan, CSEA Local 828 Women's Committee Chair Angela Muscianese, Senior Extension Associate Cornell ILR Linda Donahue and President of the Associate Board for Gilda's Club of Rochester Erin Julian.  photo:  Ove Overmyer 

Rochester, N.Y.--  On Saturday, April 30, three dozen men and women from the Rochester area gathered at Monroe Community College for a workshop discussion titled, "Awesome Women:  Past, Present and Future."  The event was sponsored by the CSEA Monroe County Local 828 Women's Committee.

Workshop attendees listen intently to Monroe County Medical Examiner
Dr. Caroline R. Dignan talk about balencing her career and family life.
photo:  Ove Overmyer

Speakers at the workshop included Dr. Anne Kress, Monroe Community College; Linda Donahue, Cornell ILR; Dr. Caroline Dignan, Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office; and Erin Julian, Gilda’s Club of Rochester.  Donahue gave attendees some labor history notes on women trailblazers, including the contributions of Mother Jones, Rose Schneiderman and Frances Perkins.  The presenters told very poignant and inspirational stories of the trials and tribulations of working women-- they detailed a personal narrative explaining how they manage to balance a professional career, family and personal interests.

For more photos of this event and other CSEA Monroe County Local 828 images, you can visit our Flickr photostream.

Quotes and words worth remembering but not limited to:

Linda Donahue: Quoting labor icon and feminist Rose Schneiderman right after witnessing women throwing themselves out of the ninth floor windows of the burning NYC Asch Building during the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911 that killed 146 garment workers, "Life is so cheap and property is so sacred." 

Dr. Anne Kress:  "Become part of something that is bigger than yourself.  In your personal journey, know when your opportunities exist and be prepared to ask yourself what do you want to give up?  And, behind every great woman is herself."

Camille Julian:  "I always told my children that the road you take in life will always be a journey forward."

Dr. Anne Kress:  "College readiness begins before kindergarten."

Linda Donahue: When referring to the enactment of early 20th century labor laws, "Laws are often used against us as well as for us."

Dr. Caroline R. Dignan:  When asked about weighing the difference between the public or private sector medical arenas, she repsonded,   "I never considered the money when I decided to follow my dream to study forensic pathology."

Erin Julian:  "Everyone can make a difference in your community-- all you have to do is volunteer."

Angela Muscianese:  "Awesome."

photo:  Ove Overmyer