Let’s Talk About Fayetteville NOW!
posted by Dominque Elliott | April 24, 2019 | In NewsOn March 28th, Dr. Heather Griffiths’ Gender Roles class and Fayetteville’s National Organization of Women partnered together to create the event: Let’s Talk About Fayetteville NOW! The event was also sponsored by the Office of Civic Engagement and Service Learning, specifically service learning program manager Ms. Melissa Lyons.
So why talk about Fayetteville NOW?
NOW is one of the oldest grassroots feminist organizations in the America. According to their website, since their founding in 1966: “NOW’s purpose is to take action through intersectional grassroots activism to promote feminist ideals, lead societal change, eliminate discrimination, and achieve and protect the equal rights of all women and girls in all aspects of social, political, and economic life.”
“During the course of this partnership,” Fayetteville NOW’s President Sharon Johnson stated, “NOW members made presentations to the students relative to our core beliefs and/or values supported by NOW. Our male members/supporters met with and addressed the male students, sharing with them definition of ‘feminist,’ and how men can be feminists, too. “
After meeting with Fayetteville NOW, Dr. Griffiths’ social learning class started a mission to showcase some of their core values to the community.
NOW has six priorities to their organization: reproductive rights and justice, economic justice, violence against women, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and constitutional equality. Dr. Griffiths’ class presented them to Fayetteville State University in hopes of introducing Fayetteville NOW and their core values to the community, while also finding out which values were most important to students and faculty.
“This partnership proved to be the perfect pairing,” Johnson proclaimed, “As students prepared for and sponsored an on-campus event with the purpose being to educate students and faculty of FSU about our organization.”
During the event, three tables were erected with a trifold. Each table and trifold covered two priorities. The tables were covered with literature relating to each priority that visitors could look at, while students explained N.O.W.’s values and impact. However, when the explanations were over, visitors were asked to put a sticker by the issues they were most concerned about in the community, as seen in the picture.
The students also reached out to local FSU organizations to help cosponsor the event. The Women’s History Month committee sponsored the event and catering. Spectrum, Black Feminist Scholars, and Sociology Club were also co-sponsors.
Dr. Griffiths’ students reflected on the learning experience they had during the collaboration.
“Overall the event was very outstanding,” Christopher Sanders, a sociology major stated, “As a whole, the event turned out amazing. We had several people there in attendance. There were even some great people who gave me and others some fantastic information. If possible, I would enjoy having this event again.”
“People didn’t know the real meaning of feminist,” Byron Lyles shared, a sociology major with a minor in criminal justice, “But I made sure they knew the correct definition before going to the next table. They were so happy to hear. The event was excellent. A lot of people was enjoying the event.”
“I really had fun working with the women of NOW, ” Amanni King, a sociology major, exclaimed, “I also think it was cool to have male allies apart of the class and the organization.”
“I enjoyed helping Fayetteville NOW because it allowed me to step outside my comfort zone and participate in something that can effect change in the community.” Kira Hannah, a sociology major with a minor in Africana studies, shared, “I loved being a voice, especially as a young person to educate others on issues that aren’t always talked about. “
“The event had an amazing turnout. I was ecstatic about the number of students who came and joined our event and engaged with students the women of the National Organization for Women’s Fayetteville chapter, and our other guest speakers.,” Latavia Ervin, a senior majoring in sociology, expressed. “It was an honor to work with the women from each organization, and I am grateful for this experience.”
“This was an incredible experience working with the students and watching them articulate the value of our organization, and its mission.” Johnson concluded. “We are appreciative of this opportunity presented to us by Melissa Lyons (OCE) and Dr. Heather Griffiths.”
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