Powerful Voices: Women Rising Up

On March 8, 2013 join us for an International Women's Day celebration to honor women, locally and abroad.

Reception 6pm

Opening ceremony 6:30 pm

International Voices video clip 7:00 pm

Panel Discussion 7:15 pm

Q & A Period 8:15 pm

Closing remarks 8:45 pm

Mingling 9:00 pm

We are pleased to have the following women join us for a panel discussion-

Angela Marie MacDougall (Moderator)

Marlene George

Marlene is from the Tsimshian Nation, Kitselas band, Killerwhale Clan. She has worked in the downtown eastside community for the past 17 years. She is chair of the annual February 14th Women’s Memorial March committee for the past 16 years. Marlene works at Carnegie Community Centre as a Community Services Programmer.

Elizabeth Johnson

Born and raised in poverty in Rwanda, Elizabeth lived through the 100 days of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi and immigrated to Canada in 1999. Elizabeth strives to give back to her native land, Rwanda and others. She acted as a member of the women’s forums in Rwanda that protect and promote women’s rights, locally, nationally and internationally. In 2009, she co-founded Grace Rwanda Society, a Canadian charity advocating better education for underprivileged children by focusing on a Literacy Program in rural areas. She is a local member of Rotary International and received the 2012 District 50/50 Governor’s Service Award. Elizabeth has a drive for engaging other diaspora in the international development and is serving as a Board of Director for BCCIC. Elizabeth holds a MA in Leadership and a BBA in Human Resources Management. She is writing about her Rwanda Genocide memoirs: “The Excess Gift of Life.” She is married with one daughter and is living in Langley BC.

Fatima Al-Samak

Fatima has a Bachelors degree in political science and international relations from the University of British Columbia. She worked in Bahrain as a news correspondent for two weeks during the peak of the Bahraini revolution. She is currently associated with Amnesty International as a Fieldworker.

Admission is by donation at the door, $5-$10 suggested. Everyone is welcome and no one will be turned away.

This event is being held in collaboration with Oxfam Canada, Amnesty International, BCCIC, Battered Women's Support Services, and UBC students.

Find the event on Facebook here