[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 138 (Saturday, October 28, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           MAINE WOMEN'S FUND

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS H. ALLEN

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, October 28, 2000

  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, on Monday evening, October 2, the Maine 
Women's Fund held its annual ``Evening to Honor Maine Women and Girls'' 
and celebrated the Fund's tenth anniversary year.
  At this year's dinner, the Maine Women's Fund honored four women for 
their extraordinary efforts to eliminate gender barriers.
  Odelle Bowman, of Portland, uses theater to teach life and social 
skills and strengthen self-esteem for at-risk young girls through ``A 
Company of Girls,'' sponsored by the East End Children's Workshop. Many 
of the girls are from low-income single parent families, many have 
survived a traumatic past, almost half are young women of color, and 
many are refugees. The productions are different and challenging. They 
range from Romeo and Juliet to a play deconstructing the Cinderella 
myth. Odelle produces all productions for ``A Company of Girls,'' from 
lighting and costumes to directing and coaching.
  Elise Brown, of Liberty, is a firefighter with the Portland Fire 
Department, as well as a Captain and training officer with the Liberty 
Volunteer Fire Department. Elise taught a carpentry course for Women 
Unlimited, where women learned carpentry, and also were encouraged to 
challenge traditional gender barriers in employment. She has been the 
positive role model many women long for as they explore areas outside 
the realm of presumed acceptability. Elise has built wooden boats, a 
post and beam barn and managed a vegetable farm. As assistant to the 
Director of the Miane Women's Development Institute, she designed and 
developed a database system, was responsible for the bookkeeping, 
correspondence and grant requests.
  As Co-Director of Portland Adult Education, Larinda Meade of Portland 
has changed the lives of thousands of women, many among the state's 
poorest citizens. She has been a classroom teacher, an educational 
counselor, an administrator of a statewide literacy program, a Dean of 
Women, and since 1990, co-director of Maine's largest and most diverse 
public school education program. She has worked to establish a ``first-
of-its kind'' Family Workshop on Munjoy Hill. Larinda has served on the 
board and as President of Women Unlimited, on the Advisory Council for 
the Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community and is a founding 
member of the Coalition for Women in Trades and Technology.
  Dancer, dramatist, poet, athlete, artist, and feminist activist 
Caitlin Schick of Mount Desert Island has accomplished a great deal in 
her eighteen years. As a poet, her work often deals with subject of 
eating disorders, loving oneself, speaking up. As an artist, her 
paintings are striking. One painting is of a woman's face with phrases 
behind it such as ``we can never be beautiful enough * * * we can never 
be enough * * * we can never be good enough.'' Caitlin wrote and 
starred in a skit for National AIDS Day, which dealt with sexual issues 
facing young people.
  I salute the contributions of this year's honorees and appreciate the 
work of the Maine Women's Fund in advancing the cause of gender 
equality.

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