Connect, Collaborate, Create? SCC Has For Years!

The NJ State AAUW organization has set a theme for the year's activities: Connect, Collaborate, Create! This theme recognizes the power of working with other branches and other organizations in our communities to have more impact -- and often, a more enjoyable experience. SCC members and committee leaders have known that for years, as the list of recent and upcoming collaborations shows! Thanks to Leslie Carson for compiling the information to share!

Coming up in 2022/2023

Our December trip to the Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, and the pre-discussion of the play we'll see, Twelfth Night, led by Marylou Motto, are a product of our partnership with AAUW-Madison.

Next year, two of our programs are formed through our connection with the Madison Branch as well as the League of Women Voters of Berkeley Heights, New Providence and Summit (LWV):

• Sunday, Jan 15, 2023, 2:00 p.m.: Film: Ruby Bridges. This will be the seventh year of our partnership with LWV to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

• Thursday, March 16, 2023 7:00 p.m.: Online (for Women’s History Month) Book Review of The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR’s Secretary of Labor and his Moral Conscience by Kirstin Downey, led by Dr. Mary Segers. This program is presented in partnership with Madison AAUW and is open to all AAUW-NJ members.

Looking Back at Partnership Programs with LWV

Our tradition of celebrating the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service often takes the form of a movie and discussion. In past years, our programs have included: Chisholm ’72: Unbought and Unbossed (2022; also in partnership with AAUW-Madison); John Lewis: Good Trouble (2021); Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (2020; also in partnership with the New Providence Memorial Library); Hidden Figures (2019); and The Underground Railroad (2018).

Beyond our MLK Day movie offerings to the community, we've collaborated on other events from time to time, such as: documentary showing, Without a Whisper, and discussion with its producer, on the story of how Indigenous women influenced 19th Century Suffragists (March, 2022; also in partnership with AAUW-Madison).

Our Collaboration with the Madison Branch of AAUW

Our good friends and neighbors from AAUW-Madison are also frequent collaborators. In addition to the films mentioned above, we've co-created these programs over the past few years: Negotiating in the Gap: Virtual Panel Discussion and Work Smart Online Workshop Overview, in recognition of the continuing pay gap (March 2021); The Changing Environment of Higher Education by Dr. Vivian Bull, former President of Drew University (February 2020); Implicit Bias – discussion by Professor Michael Brownstein, John Jay College of Criminal Justice (February 2019).

Collaborators From Across Our Communities

Over the past few years, we've joined forces with various organizations who are also working for equity and opportunity. Two examples: In August 2020, we collaborated with The Film Society of Summit and the Kean University Human Rights Institute to present the film Iron Jawed Angels, followed by a panel discussion on the role of public protest in achieving wide societal change; this program was in honor the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. In November, 2019, we partnered with amazingcommunity.org, a nonprofit organization serving women aged 50+ in returning to work or pivoting professionally, by offering a local Work Smart Seminar in salary negotiation.

Of course, our annual book sale always counts on collaboration from local organizations like the Boy Scouts, high school service groups, and others.

What Happens When We Collaborate?

Our programs cost less (as the cost is shared), and are often higher quality due to the collaborative process. We often have better attendance as two organizations are promoting the programs in their respective communities. Those individuals putting on a program are able to share the necessary tasks, and often find the work more enjoyable! Best of all, collaborations can create lasting friendships.

Want to Participate in a Fun Collaboration?

Sign up to help on the Programs committee, or any SCC committee where you see an opportunity to collaborate with others.