ERA Centennial Convention

Equal Rights Action

The ERA Centennial Convention is an intergenerational convening on July 21-22, 2023 in Seneca Falls, NY—on its exact 100-year anniversary.

The First Presbyterian Church of Seneca Falls

<h2>JOIN US JULY 21-22, 2023 TO COMMEMORATE THE 100-YEAR LONG STRUGGLE TO RATIFY THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT!</h2>Purpose: The ERA Centennial Convention seeks to mark the important historic milestone of the ERA Centennial, celebrate the women and queer people who have fought for the ERA for 100 years, push for finalizing the federal ERA, and launch the grassroots fight for a New York state-level ERA ballot initiative. The goal is to mark the century-long fight to get the ERA into the Constitution by ending it.Objective: The objective of the ERA Centennial Convention is to hold an intergenerational convening on July 21-22, 2023 in Seneca Falls, NY at the <a href="https://www.fltimes.com/lifestyle/looking-back-seneca-falls-the-birthplace-of-the-era/article_f98e388d-4708-5ad1-b0fb-2b0777773401.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">First Presbyterian Church of Seneca Falls</a> where the National Woman’s Party first unveiled the ERA—at the exact same podium Alice Paul gave her speech that day, 100 years ago. The event will be focused on cultivating the next generation of ERA activists and helping them see their place in history as constitution makers. The target will be to have at least one ERA activist from all 50 states attend the in-person event to build a nationwide network of advocates, and set goals for constitutional equality for the next year. T﻿he Convention will be action-oriented. We will ground ourselves in a critical examination of the past in order to make choices for the future that will help create a more diverse, inclusive, effective ERA movement going forward.

Organizations: The lead organizations carrying out the Centennial Convention are Equal Rights Action, Columbia Law School's <a href="https://gender-sexuality.law.columbia.edu/content/era-project" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">ERA Project</a> and <a href="https://www.generationratify.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Generation Ratify</a>. The fiscal sponsor of this event is the <a href="https://www.alicepaul.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Alice Paul Institute</a>. That means, all of the money you donate to sponsor youth to attend this event is tax-deductible. These organizations will work in collaboration with a large coalition of youth-centered and gender equity organizations to recruit a diverse group of convention delegates, plan the weekend’s events and produce a declaration and collective action plan to work together to finalize the federal ERA and get state ERAs passed in all 23 remaining states.

<h2>Convention Schedule (will be continually updated):</h2>Every Wednesday June7th - July 5th, 2023Convention delegates will be asked to participate in a 5-week curriculum in preparation for our convening. This curriculum will help everyone be prepared to hit the ground running when we arrive in-person in Seneca Falls. It will be prepared and delivered by scholars and ERA advocates in collaboration with <a href="https://gender-sexuality.law.columbia.edu/content/era-project" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Columbia Law School's ERA Project</a>. The curriculum will be accessible for people of all ages and experience levels, and be conducted via 5 online Zoom sessions.All past workshops can be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@gendersexualitylaw" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">viewed here</a> &amp; you can still catch up!Thursday July 20, 2023Arrival of Convention delegates in Seneca Falls7:00pm *Optional* Interfaith ERA event at First Presbyterian Church of Seneca Falls (23 Cayuga St, Seneca Falls, NY 13148) lead by Justice Revival "<a href="https://justicerevival.org/event/era-centennial-convention/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">ARISE: A Spiritual Gathering for Feminists, People of Faith, and Allies!</a>"<ul><li>Rev. Dr. <a href="https://www.patspearman.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Pat Spearman</a>, President Pro Tempore of the Nevada State Senate</li><li>Allyson McKinney Timm, Founder and Executive Director of Justice Revival, leader of the <a href="https://justicerevival.org/advocacy/faith-4-equal-rights-amendment-campaign/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">#FaithForERA campaign</a> </li><li>Ani Zonneveld, President of <a href="https://www.mpvusa.org/?gad=1" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Muslims for Progressive Values</a></li><li>Mitchel Leet, Program Coordinator for <a href="https://roomforall.com/bio/mitch-leet/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Room for All</a></li><li>J﻿amie Manson, President <a href="https://www.catholicsforchoice.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Catholics for Choice</a></li><li>L﻿auren Perl, Reform Jewish leader with <a href="https://hillel.harvard.edu/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Harvard Hillel</a></li><li>K﻿ate Kelly, Founder of Ordain Women and <a href="https://twitter.com/SacredSpace" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Sacred Space</a></li></ul>

Friday July 21, 20239:00am Grounding SessionOpening of the Convention at the First Presbyterian Church of Seneca Falls (23 Cayuga St, Seneca Falls, NY 13148) <ul><li>Welcome by the Cayuga Nation, a member of the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois Confederacy</li><li>Establishing our shared values &amp; re-framing a modern approach to the ERA </li></ul>10:00amBreakout Sessions:—The Best Way to Protect Abortion &amp; LGTBQIA Rights? Federal &amp; State ERAs! (upstairs)—Direct Action Bootcamp: Effective Organizing for Equality (downstairs)11:30amLunch provided on site: Interactive Get to Know your Neighbor 12:30pmPlenary Session: Convention Declaration &amp; ERA advocacy road map drafting1:30pmBreakout Sessions:—Gender justice as a voting rights issue/ State ERA Battles &amp; Intersectional organizing (upstairs)—Youth Movement Coalition Building (downstairs)<ul><li>Effective allyship and centering youth voices in movement work </li></ul>—﻿Faith Organizing Workshop (choir loft)3:00pmConvention declaration/ ERA road map drafting Session 2Breakout groups by region revisit collective document and add revisions4:00pm Introduction: Senator Pat Spearman, President Pro Tempore of the Nevada Senate who resurrected the ERA ratification effort in Nevada in 2017K﻿eynote speech: Representative Cori Bush, Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment and sponsor of HJRes 28 declaring the ERA ratified and the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution4:30pm Exit to take historic 100-Year ERA Anniversary Photo in front of the First Presbyterian Church of Seneca Falls5﻿:00pmGroup photo5﻿:30 - 6:30pm March and ERA Rally with <a href="https://cny-now.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Central New York NOW</a>, <a href="https://rochesternow.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Rochester NOW</a>, <a href="https://womenmarchsenecafalls.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Women's March Seneca Falls</a><a href="http://willsenecafalls.org/#" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Women in Leadership and Learning</a> (Academy Square, Seneca Falls)M﻿ore <a href="https://bit.ly/3CoYmAR" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">info on the ERA March &amp; Rally here</a>!A﻿dditional info about all Convention Days activities for the weekend <a href="https://www.womenofthehall.org/take-part-in-convention-days-weekend/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">can be found here</a>.

8﻿:00pmIt's Representative Cori Bush's birthday (July 21st is her actual birthday!) AND G﻿eneration Ratify's 4th Birthday Party! C﻿elebrate the birth of an ERA Champion and the modern youth-led movement for the ERA with birthday cake, party games and feminist fun!(﻿Academy Square - North Park, 12 N Park St. Seneca Falls, NY 13148)

Saturday July 22, 2023Opening of Day 2 at the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/wori/learn/historyculture/wesleyan-chapel.htm" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Wesleyan Methodist Chapel</a>, located in the Women's Rights National Historical Park (136 Fall Street, Seneca Falls)T﻿his intergenerational panel on the ERA will be hosted by <a href="https://www.womensrightsfriends.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Friends of the Women's Rights National Park</a>, Rochester National Organization for Women (NOW) and Central New York NOW, Feminist Majority, Generation Ratify and Equal Rights Action. The panel will take place in the exact location as the 1848 Women's Rights Convention on the 175th Anniversary of that convention. This engaging, interactive panel will discuss the past, present and future of the movement for the Equal Rights Amendment. 11-Noon Intergenerational Panel on the Equal Rights Amendment[﻿COME EARLY TO GRAB A SEAT. EVENT WILL LIKELY BE FULL!]Panel:<ul><li>R﻿ep. Cori Bush, Founder and Co-Chair of the first-ever Congressional Caucus for the ERA</li><li>Christian F. Nunes, President National Organization for Women (NOW)</li><li>Carolyn B. Maloney, President NY NOW, former Congresswoman (NY-12), Board Co-Chair ERA Coalition</li><li>Ellie Smeal, CEO Feminist Majority</li><li>Belan Yeshigeta, Co-Founder Generation Ratify &amp; student at Columbia</li><li>Ting Ting Cheng, Director of Columbia Law School's ERA Project</li></ul>Moderators: Kate Kelly attorney and author of “Ordinary Equality: The Fearless Women and Queer People Who Shaped the U.S. Constitution and the Equal Rights” and Rosie Couture, Co-Founder Generation Ratify &amp; student at Harvard College

11:00amVisit the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/wori/index.htm" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Women's Rights National Historical Park</a>1:00pmWorking Lunch (Path forward on ERA discussion groups)Picnic at People's Park on the river (35 Water St, Seneca Falls, NY 13148)2:00pmFirst Presbyterian Church of Seneca Falls (23 Cayuga St, Seneca Falls, NY 13148) Report back to full convention and finalize group draft plan3:00pmOfficial vote on convention declaration4:30pm Closing ceremony5:00pm End Convention5﻿:30pm The National Women's Hall of Fame hosting an outdoor celebration which will include live music by Erin and the Backwoods Blues Project, food by Simply Homemade, dessert by Sprinkle Starship, drinks by Fall Street Brewing, and women's organization vendors! (<a href="https://www.womenofthehall.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">National Women's Hall of Fame</a>1 Canal St., Seneca Falls, NY) Live music, food &amp; drink &amp; vendors to celebrate the weekend!

<h2>Sunday Optional Event Suggestions</h2>Sunday July 23, 2023—﻿10am Eleanor's Legacy <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/seneca23" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">pro-choice women candidates brunch</a> in Seneca Falls (The Gould Hotel 108 Fall St Seneca Falls, NY 13148) <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/senecastudents" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Discounted student tickets</a> are available.—12pm-5pm ﻿<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdlSHRI-ngYa9Lr9BNuoN8wljZ2qukv_a7GfKePL6_73qNy6A/viewform" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Eleanor's Legacy Campaign School</a>: Join us for an in-person campaign school to learn the ins and outs of how to run for office and how to win, whether you are a volunteer, campaign staffer, or candidate! We will cover campaign structure, fundraising, media, public speaking, field, labor partnerships, endorsement acquisition, and much more. (Guntzel Theater 136 Fall Street Seneca Falls, NY 13148) Lunch will be included in this training. Contact Molly Kraus molly@eleanorslegacy.com if you have questions—﻿Noon Crystal Eastman, co-author of the ERA, grave marker unveiling at the historic <a href="http://www.woodlawncemeterycca.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Woodlawn Cemetery</a> (130 N Pearl St, Canandaigua, NY 14424)There will be a short commemorative program featuring some members of Crystal Eastman's family and others. It will be held rain or shine. About the event: The location of Crystal Eastman's grave has been a mystery for 95 years. Eastman was a game-changing feminist, socialist, antimilitarist, lawyer, journalist, and work safety pioneer and one of the most conspicuous women leaders of her time. She was the co-founder of the National Woman's Party and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom; the Co-Author of the Equal Rights Amendment; and the woman who engineered the founding of the ACLU. At the same time, Eastman advocated -- and lived -- a politics of private life as radical as her public agenda, including reproductive rights, paid family leave, feminist masculinity, egalitarian marriage, and wages for wives. She was a policy innovator, media activist, speaker, organizer, radical publisher, working mother, and provocative voice in the battles for equality and dignity that shaped her world -- and ours. Yet... until her biography was published in 2020, not even her grandchildren knew where she was buried. Nothing has marked the ground where she rests. Now, on the 100th anniversary of the Equal Rights Amendment, a grave marker will be unveiled at a commemorative event open to the public. The remembrance will honor Eastman's life and work and hopes to create a site of inspiration for a new generation of activists in the urgent and ongoing struggles for equality and global social justice -- the struggles to which Crystal Eastman dedicated her life.Once unveiled, Eastman's grave will be registered in the National Votes for Women Trail.—<a href="https://www.nps.gov/hart/index.htm" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Harriet Tubman National Historical Park</a> (180 South St, Auburn, NY 13021) —<a href="https://matildajoslyngage.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Matilda Joslyn Gage Museum and Dialogue Center</a> (210 E Genesee St, Fayetteville, NY 13066) —<a href="https://ganondagan.org/sacc" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Seneca Art &amp; Culture Center at Ganondagan</a>/ Seneca Bark Longhouse (7000 Co Rd 41, Victor, NY 14564)Ganondagan's <a href="https://ganondagan.org/events-programs/music-arts-festival" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Indigenous Music &amp; Arts Festival</a> takes place Saturday and Sunday, July 22 - 23. The annual event showcases Haudenosaunee and Indigenous cultures through dance, music, storytelling, traditional craft demonstrations, a Native American Arts Market, children's activities, raffles, guided trail walks, gallery tours, Indigenous food, and more. This year's festival features Native folk-rock band, December Wind (Mohawk), hoop dance champions and performers, the Sinquah Family Dance Troupe (Hopi/Tewa/Choctaw), storytellers Ronnie Reitter (Seneca) &amp; Tonia Galban (Mohawk), and Haudenosaunee social dancers, Indigenous Spirit Dancers.—﻿<a href="https://susanb.org/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Susan B. Anthony Museum &amp; House</a> (17 Madison St, Rochester, NY 14608)—﻿Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass gravesites (Mt. Hope Cemetery Rochester, NY)

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