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unable to advance in male-dominated
organizations.
“My feminism led me to want to
involve myself in projects for helping
women,
” said the late Kroll, speaking at
DWF’s 40th anniversary celebration.
Kroll and her friends recruited
women for the new group from their
contacts in government, business,
unions, education, nonprofits, various
professions and activist groups. The
Forum started with 65 members in
1974; 300 was the high point 10 years
later. Gustafson said DWF includes 78
members today, primarily from Wayne
and Oakland counties.
A reason for the Forum catching on
were the legions of younger women
(baby boomers) working in Downtown
Detroit. They wanted to meet each
other — “especially those concerned
with social justice and equality in
many different ways,
” according to
Saperstein.
But, she said, women raising families
in the suburbs were also interested in
getting away, “at least every so often,
”
to have a long lunch and hear women
presenters discuss diverse social justice
and equality issues.
Members first gathered in the Butzel
Building’s space in the basement. The
room had a kitchen and could be set
up for large luncheon meetings.
Kroll said previously: “We remained
under the umbrella of AJC for 20 years,
before splitting off and becoming
completely independent.
”
After Federation moved in 1991
to its current location in Oakland
County, Detroit Women’s Forum first
relocated to the International Institute
on Kirby at John R, and later to First
Congregational Church on Woodward
Avenue at Forest.
“We were founded as a Detroit
organization, and we wanted to remain
that way,
” Saperstein said.
DWF OFFERINGS
Since September 2003, DWF holds
monthly luncheon programs in
The Whitney, a historic and elegant
mansion on Woodward at Canfield.
Members no longer able or willing to
drive to the restaurant may livestream
the presentations without charge. The
option has remained popular
since the lunches resumed after
the height of the COVID-19
pandemic. Gustafson, a teacher in
Wayne State University’s School of
Information Sciences, helped facilitate
the Zoom aspect for the Forum, “so
we were able to continue and not miss
a beat.
”
Prior to that home-
bound period, DWF had
been offering an annual
Feminist Seder since 1975.
The late Wendy Watson
created a Detroit variation
of the Women’s Haggadah,
which tells the story of the
Exodus from a woman’s perspective.
Frank, former director of the Oakland
Community College Womencenter,
was the Feminist Seder’s longtime
leader before 2020.
Programs also have encompassed
celebrations of Kwanzaa and Chinese
New Year. An Islamic scholar once
explained the role of women in the
Koran.
DWF presents “compelling, in-depth
programs on a variety of topics of
concern to women and the world
around us,
” Frank said.
Gustafson touched on another
positive aspect. “Providing opportu-
nities to learn from the source is vital
in today’s world, especially with the
internet, social media and AI making
it sometimes hard to tell the truth from
fiction.
”
With a focus on significant political,
economic and social issues of the day
that have an impact on women, Frank
said the presentations have “expanded
our knowledge, touched our hearts,
made us angry, encouraged us to take
action, made us cry, made us laugh,
had us singing and always informed
us.
”
Early member Irene Miller, a mem-
oirist and Holocaust survivor, recalled
a heartwarming, instructive experience
during one of the group’s weekend
retreats, when participants sit-
ting on the floor “shared what
our mothers taught us and we
teach our daughters.
”
Networking continues to be an
important part of the Forum’s agenda.
“We wanted to bring women togeth-
er to meet each other, to learn from
each other and encourage one another,
”
said Straus, also a past president of the
Jewish Community Council.
An essential part of each gathering is
when members announce projects and
activities arranged through their other
affiliations. Women can take notes on
the events and programs they’
d like to
support.
“The Detroit Women’s Forum
doesn’t subscribe to any particular
point of view, but each individual sep-
arately is involved in her own social,
political or educational agenda,
” said
Miller, who is retired from the health-
care industry.
Experienced women sharing
their knowledge has the potential to
“strengthen other women’s ability to
succeed,
” Saperstein said.
Straus spoke of two dear, non-Jewish
friends she met through DWF.
Jennifer
Gustafson
Julie Beutel
entertained
at the Detroit
Women’s Forum
50th anniversary
luncheon at
Sindbad’s
Restaurant and
Marina in Detroit.
Harriet Saperstein on
the left, Irene Miller
seated (both founding
members), Arlene Frank
at the mic as the emcee
for the celebration held
at Sindbad’s in Detroit.
More About
‘Network for
Thinking Women’
Annual dues are $50 to join Detroit
Women’s Forum. Members pay $35, $45
for guests, to attend each month’s
multi-course luncheon-program. There is
no charge for members to listen to the
speakers only on Zoom. Additionally,
valet parking is $10, with metered street
parking available. For additional
information, email
detroitwomensforum
@gmail.com.