Category Archives: Progressive Democrats of Benicia

2020: Women Stepping Up in Benicia

By Phyllis DeBois, Progressive Democrats of Benicia
(See also: video coverage by Constance Beutel)

L to R: Betty T. Yee, Susannah Delano, Cora Young, Linda Escalante, and Moderator Kari Birdseye

What a great evening – the Progressive Democrats of Benicia’s Women’s Caucus celebrated International Women’s Day with a leadership forum “Women Making a Difference”. Over one hundred people gathered Friday night at Arts Benicia for this energizing and sparkling occasion.

After Maggie Kolk, Spokeswoman for the event, introduced Supervisor Monica Brown who read a Women’s Day Proclamation, Kari Birdseye, Planning Commissioner and moderator for the evening, officially opened the forum.

Commissioner Birdseye introduced Mayor Elizabeth Patterson who spoke about childhood experiences that strongly influenced and motivated her to make a difference through community action and leadership. She concluded by encouraging women to join a board, commission, or run for public office.

After these opening remarks, the evening was humming when Commissioner Birdseye introduced the panel: Betty T. Yee, California State Controller; Susannah Delano, Executive Director, Close the Gap CA; Linda Escalante, So. CA Legislative Director, Natural Resources Defense Council; and Cora Young, Field Representative for Congressman Mike Thompson.

The work of the panel began when Moderator Kari Birdseye asked each woman to briefly describe childhood events that awakened concern for the needs of others. With gravity and humor the panel responded.

Betty T. Yee at a very young age learned what commitment meant as she worked at her family’s business interacting with customers and counting change. At the age of 13 with her knee’s knocking, she was her community’s advocate speaking in front of the local school board concerning a busing issue.

At age 14, Susannah Delano traveled to South Africa just when apartheid had officially ended, but the country’s situation was still dynamic, unstable, and sometimes violent. By being there and learning about the struggles of the South African people, it kindled the ‘outrage that fueled her desire for justice.’

As a ten-year-old immigrant, Linda Escalante felt the uncertainty and fears that come with the unknown and the responsibility of being her family’s advocate. Unsure of her future yet motivated to achieve, she worked hard in high school and had her first political post as student representative on the school board.

Fifteen year old Cora Young deeply felt the loss of a bullied gay, 13 year old student who committed suicide. His lack of support – no one to go to – no one to stand up for him, drove her to become involved in the LGBTQ program and as a peer counselor for sexual assault victims.

While each panelist spoke about different early life challenges and opportunities, the qualities of resiliency, concern for others, and a desire for change were their shared reactions. These experiences were perhaps the seeds that led them to follow their intellect, instincts, and hearts and make a difference.

As the evening progressed, the panel was asked: How can women step up? What advice would you share with women interested in getting into politics? The panel’s advice was strongly expressed: women are gravely needed in politics to make a difference. To make this difference women were encouraged to find their niche and get involved; to pursue one issue that promotes passion and work that is enjoyable even if it is difficult; and to rely on the support and sisterhood that is developing as they take on these new challenges. The panel emphasized that to make these difficult changes all voices are necessary, and encouraged women to run towards the issues and not away.

What an invigorating evening for the Benicia Women’s Caucus to launch its work. Throughout the night reoccurring themes fueled the audience: make a difference to make the world a better place, feel passionate about the issue, stand up for others, bring compassion to the differing sides, and achieve good through politics. Mix this heartfelt, spine-tingling philosophy with some humor and the women power created is real and fresh and largely untapped. The energy and sparkle that started the forum grew and by the end of the evening, the hum in the gallery had turned more to a roar… as one panelist said, ‘the roar of the lioness.’ Now let us use this power and passionate roar to take a seat on a board, commission, or to run for public office as our mayor encouraged.

I felt very fortunate to have spent the evening with this incredible group of women. If you missed this opportunity, view it online at ProgressiveDemocratsOfBenicia.com, and plan to attend the next Progressive Democrats of Benicia’s Women’s Caucus event scheduled for May 23^rd. Details to follow.

Phyllis DeBois

Carquinez Patriotic Front, Coming Events, Progressive Democrats of Benicia, U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, Vallejo-Benicia Indivisible for Justice

Coming to Benicia on March 18 – Town Hall with Rep. Mike Thompson

March 4, 2019 Editor

Monday, March 18, 2019

Town Hall with Congressman Mike Thompson

U.S Congressman Mike Thompson, Representing California’s Fifth District

We have arranged for our 5th District Congressman Mike Thompson to meet with us at a Town Hall here in Benicia on Monday, March 18.

Co-sponsored by Progressive Democrats of Benicia, Carquinez Patriotic Resistance, and Vallejo-Benicia Indivisible for Justice, the program will be held at the Benicia Senior Center, 187 East L St., 6:30 to 8:30 (doors open at 6:00).

This is a special opportunity to hear from our Congressman and to ask him questions. He has been asked to focus on five specific issues in his opening remarks, with follow-up questions from the audience on these issues, and others time permitting. The five issues are:

- Gun violence prevention
- the Green New Deal / Global warming
- Health Care
- Taxes / Economic Inequality
- Immigration

Black History Month, Meeting reflections, Progressive Democrats of Benicia

“It was a GREAT meeting!” – Progressive Dems celebrate Black History Month

February 21, 2019 Editor

Highlights – and contributions of our speakers

Our Black History Month program on February 11 brought out one of the largest crowds for a monthly PDB meeting – and surely the most beautifully diverse ethnic mix. Around 60 members and friends attended.

As part of our Black History Month celebration, the Progressive Democrats of Benicia honored four local African-Americans for their service and dedication to our local communities:

Honorable Terrye D. Davis, Judge, Solano Superior Court
Viola Robertson, Exec. Dir., Benicia Community Action Council
Dr. Zoee Bartholomew, Ed.D., Commissioner, Benicia Open Government Commission and
Novanna (Vonnie) Hunt, Board Member, Benicia Human Services Board.

Gethsemane Moss and K. Patrice Williams moderated the program.

One of our honorees, Novanna Hunt, submitted a written record of her remarks, and co-moderator Gethsemane Moss submitted her poem. We are proud to publish both here:

Novanna (Vonnie) Hunt offered a highly significant insight into the reality of Black History here in Benicia during her lifetime. She told of growing up and remaining a resident on Benicia’s Carolina Drive:

Black History month is a time to recognize and remember great deeds, people and accomplishments in the history of African Americans. We have a bit of interesting and unheralded Black History right here in Benicia.

I live on Carolina Drive which was once an all African American community. How did Carolina Drive become a black community? The homes were built in 1954. As the story goes the original developer fell into financial trouble and needed to sell the homes quickly. He sold his first home to an African American family. After that, he couldn’t sell to anyone but African Americans. The older homes in nearby West Manor had restrictive covenants that prohibited the sale of homes in that development to African Americans. Remember, that in the early 50’s it was tough for a Black couple to qualify for a home loan. They had to have a significant down payment, be gainfully employed at stable jobs, have stellar credit and often references from a white person.

My mother first purchased a home on Carolina Drive in the mid-1960s. My husband and I purchased the home in 1971. I believe it is time to dispel the myths and the prevailing warped perceptions about this neighborhood of 41 homes located just off Military and West Seventh Street. As a fifty-year resident, I can tell you… [continued]

Gethsemane Moss opened with a brief statement about her learnings during her doctoral research, “I studied the history of the negative labeling and experiences of black women. It was during my research and review of literature that things began to make sense based on my own experiences, particularly as a young person and as a working professional. I learned that black women face a great deal of scrutiny in work settings and are constantly put in positions of having to navigate systems while considering their race and gender in order to combat stereotypes. It has helped me to put things in perspective as I continue moving forward in my life.”

Then she shared her moving poem, This Black Woman. The lengthy work begins,

When you look at me, what do you see?
Black, Mammy, Jezebel, Sapphire, angry, uneducated, welfare?
The many lies that have been told about me, yet you never took the time to really see me.
Everyone has a story.
I am mother, a daughter, a wife, a girlfriend, a writer, an actress, a playwright a scholar, a sister, a friend!
I am not only these things for 28 or 29 days out of the year, I am these things 24 – 7 – 365! [continued]

Progressive Democrats of Benicia