Courtesy of Civic Nation
Last week, the United State of Women (USOW) and Live Nation Women hosted Beautiful Noise Live, a week of events in Atlanta featuring panels, workshops, campus activations at Spelman, Clark Atlanta and Emory, and concerts using the power of music, community voices and civic engagement to encourage women and people of all marginalized genders to get out and vote. More than 13,000 people attended a Beautiful Noise Live Week of Action event, including concerts headlined by Brandi Carlile and Alicia Keys, where they received information on how to make their voices heard in the midterms. Throughout the week, more than 3,500 people took action by registering to vote or checking their registration status.
At the State of Women Forum at the Fox Theatre on Thursday, September 22, four key issues impacting gender equity right now – reproductive freedom, economic security, climate justice, and voting rights – took center stage. Conversations and performances highlighted that the issues motivating women are all connected: every issue is a gender issue.
In addition to powerful performances from Ruby Amanfu, Amy Ray, Allison Russell and SistaStrings, speakers at the event included:
- Melanie Campbell, President/CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
- Allison Coffman, Executive Director, Amplify Georgia Collaborative
- Kwajelyn Jackson, Executive Director, Feminist Women’s Health Center
- Nikki Porcher, Founder, Buy From A Black Woman
- Wan Smith, Organizing Director, Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund
- Gayla Tillman, Policy Associate, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light
- Mica Whitfield, Georgia State Director, 9to5 Georgia
- Lynn Whitfield, Emmy Award-Winning Actress
- Poy Winichakul, Senior Staff Attorney, Southern Poverty Law Center
Key quotes are below, a video featuring Melanie Campbell and Poy Winichakul discussing voting rights is here, and select photos are here. All are cleared for use.
- On reproductive freedom: “We are in a tough situation, but we are tougher. And we are committed to continue the fight for reproductive justice. Plug in to use your talents to make real, substantial, sustainable change in this moment.” – Kwajelyn Jackson, Executive Director, Feminist Women’s Health Center
- On economic security: “A bold investment into paid leave and child care helps invest in the people running the community.” – Mica Whitfield, Georgia State Director, 9to5 Georgia
- On climate justice: “When we talk about environmental justice, we’re talking about economic justice. When we talk about economic justice, we’re talking about environmental justice. When we talk about environmental justice, we’re talking about reproductive justice.” – Wan Smith, Organizing Director, Georgia Conservation Voters Education Fund
- On voting rights: “Voting is the start of all of these issues. It’s not anywhere near the end.” – Poy Winichakul, Senior Staff Attorney, Southern Poverty Law Center
Keep up the momentum and stay engaged with the United State of Women and When We All Vote’s When All Women Vote campaign, which provides voters with the resources and tools they need to use their power and cast their ballots.
