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Since 1956
OCC:s. Womencenter continues its tradition
ofoffering workshops to improve women's lives.
SHARON LUCKERMAN
MERCEDES-BENZ • AUDI
5570 MONROE • SYLVANIA, OH
419/885-5111
www.vindevers.com
Above: Involved in the conference are,
from left, Karen Schurgin, West
Bloomfield; Dr. Schavi M Ali, OCC fac-
ulty; Arlene Frank, Womencenter director;
Rhonda Rosenberg Brown, campus liaison
to Womencenter; and Helene Koenig,
Bloomfield Hills counselor.
Editorial Assistant
liAll hen a career counselor
told Arlene Frank of
Detroit to apply for the
director's position at
Oakland Community College's
Womencenter nine years ago, Frank
said, "But I have no skills."
Yet Frank had a degree from the
University of Michigan in women's
studies and a variety of skills as a
homemaker, hospital worker, mother
and volunteer. What she didn't realize
— and what she teaches now — is
that women have very important skills
they don't recognize that are transfer-
able into the job market.
"Women don't see themselves as
capable as they are," said Frank, direc-
tor of the Orchard Ridge Campus
Womencenter. This year, the center's
9th annual conference is themed, "A
Call to Wholeness: Images of Our
Selves." It will take place 8:30 a.m.- 4
p.m. Saturday, March 31, at Orchard
Ridge Campus, J Building.
"One reason we do this conference
is to offer a concrete way for women
to look inside themselves in a nurtur-
ing setting and learn to value the
women we really are," Frank said.
The 11 workshops, more than half
led by Jewish women, include "Healing
Our Body Images," Abbe J. Grossman;
"Informed Choices: Peri-menopause,
Menopause and Beyond," Nancy R.
Berman, RN; "Caught in the Middle
of the Sandwich Generation," Earlene
Traylor Neal and Susan Kurtzman
Rogin; and "Images of Women: The
Warrior Protectoress," Jaye Spiro, direc-
tor, Mejishi Martial Arts.
"Women view themselves differently
over time," Frank explained, referring to
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LO: Gail Singer of Farmington Hills with
the mask she created based on the Jewish
folktale, Lamed Vavnik. As long as there
are 36 righteous people in the work the
store goes, humanity will survive.
the conference title. Statistics document
that girls have a high sense of self until
they reach adolescence. At that point, she
said, girls feel they don't look right or act
right or fit in.
Women intellectually know what they
want, she added, but deeply ingrained
many presented by the media
images
— may prevent a positive sense of self.
About 100 women, from their 20s-
705, will attend the daylong workshop.
"What we gain at these workshops
is meeting the variety of women who
attend," Frank said. "They tell real
stories."
Keynote speaker Karen Schurgin, an
art therapist, will speak on "The Self
Behind the Mask," and also will provide
art materials to promote self-awareness.
"Women have many roles and wear
many masks," Frank said. "Often while
playing these roles we lose ourselves
behind the mask." This interactive pre-
sentation, she believes, helps in making
changes in a deeper, truer way.
Gail Singer of Farmington Hills, took
Schurain's class at OCC and created a
mask based
on a Jewish folktale, Lamed
b
Vavnik. As long as there are 36 righteous
people in the world, the story goes,
humanity will survive. In her work,
artist Singer contemplates what qualities
would ensure survival the human race.
Almost 30 years ago, Orchard
Ridge's OCC Womencenter was started
by faculty members Mary White and
Sadie David with the help of other
staff, students and women in the com-
munity. At that time, said Frank,
women were beginning to return to
college. There was a need for a different
portal into the college so women could
find support for such issues as how to
balance children, home and school.
Womencenter provides free career
counseling and peer counseling that
teaches women how to see the options
available to them. The center also
offers a monthly legal clinic and an
annual art show.
"It's very hard for women to make
time for themselves," said Frank, who
also serves as Michigan district chair
of the Workmen's Circle. "We 'shlep'
kids and other family members where
they need to go. But it's hard to say
we want something for ourselves. And
that's what this conference is — just a
day for ourselves."
"A Call to Wholeness" is 535, and
includes lunch. Pre-registration ends
March 23. On site registration as avail-
able. For information, call
Womencenter, (248) 522-3642. Li
250 MINUTES
$29.95 A MONTH
ANY QUESTIONS!
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248-538-2100
I check
eck
our
I Expanded
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z
Section
of
DETROIT
JEWISH NEWS
3/23
2001
35