Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Ben Atherton-Zeman - Feminist, Actor and Husband" <>]

I received this email from Rivka in response to my posting about "That Takes 
Ovaries."  She asked me to share it with you.  Thanks, Ben

  Thanks, Ben, for your endorsement re: our That Takes Ovaries work. Below is 
our info. We'd be happy to talk if anyone wants to explore having us come to 
your school. -- Warmly, Rivka
  _____


  Dear Women, Friends of women, Student Activities/Life Directors and those 
who bring events to your community:


  Seeking a women's empowerment event for Fall Orientation or next academic 
year?


  We have a fun, multicultural, inspiring women's empowerment event titled 
THAT TAKES OVARIES. We have already held 400 of our events around the 
country. Consider us for Fall Orientation week; October 2007, Domestic 
Violence Awareness Month; March 2008, Women's History Month; or any month at 
all!


  Please enjoy a first draft of our promo video here (reminder: it is a draft 
and not for public distribution): http://www.thattakesovaries.org/


  See below our 'signature' for details about our events.


  Rivka Solomon
  Creator * Writer * Executive Director
  and
  Bobbi Ausubel
  Artistic Director
  THAT TAKES OVARIES -- Because Courage is Contagious
  

 // http://www.thattakesovaries.org/
  -- a book, a play, an open mike movement &
  organizing tool for women and girls' empowerment

  === Please forward widely ===


  Inviting Rivka and Bobbi from That Takes Ovaries To Your Community

  THAT TAKES OVARIES
  Celebrating gutsy women around the globe -- because courage is contagious
  Hold a community, campus or conference event
  www.ThatTakesOvaries.org

  Rivka Solomon and Bobbi Ausubel are available to come to your community, 
campus or conference to speak and lead a fun, inspiring That Takes Ovaries 
reading and open mike.  That Takes Ovaries is a multicultural book, an open 
mike movement & organizing tool for women and girls' empowerment. Rivka is 
author of the book That Takes Ovaries: Bold Females and Their Brazen Acts. 
Bobbi is our Artistic Director. Together they adapted the book into a play 
that has been performed in theaters and on campuses around the country. Full 
bios below.

  "Because women everywhere have gusty stories to share, our open mike events 
have sparked a grassroots movement for women and girls' empowerment. Hundreds 
of our Ovaries open mikes have been held across North America, and in Latin 
America, Asia and Africa, often as fundraisers for worthy women and girls' 
causes. We have over 300 articles written about our work, from Glamour 
magazine to the Washington Post to the Telegraph of India."  -- Rivka

  RIVKA & BOBBI OFFER
     * A talk/workshop titled "That Takes Ovaries: Leading a Bold Life." 
Geared towards women and girls but open to all genders;

     * Entertaining readings from the Ovaries book or play: Women's true 
stories of gutsy, risk-taking and courageous deeds -- from playful to 
political. Stories selected in advance to resonate with your particular 
audience;


     * A "That Takes Ovaries" Open Mike: The high point of the event. Gutsy 
gals in the audience share stories about times they acted boldly. Guys brag 
about the ovaries in their lives, such as their mothers, sisters and 
daughters. Everyone who shares gets a chocolate egg wrapped in gold foil, a 
Golden Ovary award.


  INVITE US TO YOUR COMMUNITY
  To invite Rivka and Bobbi (individually or as a team), to discuss 
availability, fees and the possibility of doing your event as a fundraiser 
for a worthy women's cause of your choice, including your own organization, 
contact 
<>.
 Popular dates: October (Domestic Violence Awareness Month) and March 
(Women's History Month). But any time is a good time to celebrate gutsy 
women! Please forward this info to those who bring speakers to your 
campus/community.

  MORE INFO
     * Visit www.thattakesovaries.org  for more info and to download our PR 
packet
     * See below for our "Summary of All Things Ovarian" and Participants' 
Praise


  PARTICIPANT PRAISE FOR That Takes Ovaries
  "That Takes Ovaries" was a huge success. Students brought their moms, 
faculty brought their sisters and daughters to this glorious celebration of 
women. I was thrilled to see the courage of the students, men and women, who 
shared their stories. That Takes Ovaries will be the standard by which other 
Women's Studies events are measured. Rivka's wonderful, clear message of 
empowerment and the overcoming of life struggles touches women and girls of 
all ages. Faculty and students continue to talk about the That Takes Ovaries 
event.

  Susan A. LaRocco, Ph.D., RN, Associate Professor & Coordinator of Women's 
Studies
  - and Heather A. Curtin, Administrative Assistant, Division of Nursing
  Curry College, Milton, MA

  ==== o0o ====

  Rivka's presentation electrified the audience, and over a month after her 
visit to our campus, my students still make references to her book and 
presentation. "That Takes Ovaries" is an excellent presentation and a 
fantastic book! I gave it to my senior seminar to read before Rivka's visit.

  Dr. Arlene Holpp Scala, Chair, Women's Studies Department
  William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ

  ==== o0o ====

  Bobbi Ausubel did a spectacular job engaging both teen students and adult 
women to talk about themselves in a way that is not usually "socially 
acceptable" in Kenya, Africa. The students and their parents loved 
participating. I highly recommend both Bobbi and That Takes Ovaries -- 100 
percent!

  Dr. Barbara A. Karvelis, Principal
  Kenya Community Center for Learning, Nairobi, Kenya

  ==== o0o ====

  "That Takes Ovaries" and Rivka's appearance were a real success in Toronto, 
Canada! What a delight to see both younger and older women share stories of 
their bravery and courage, and what a treat it was to see older South Asian 
men brag about their wives and daughters.

  Sally Jones, Artistic Producer
  Rasik Arts - Devoted to South Asian Theatre
  Toronto, Canada, www.rasikarts.com

  ==== o0o ====

  That Takes Ovaries changes the way women look at themselves because it 
challenges the notion of the weak, innocent female. Bobbi Ausubel is a 
dynamic, provocative workshop leader.  This is a must-do-must-see for all 
students.

  Kathleen Archambeau, Director of Corporate Outreach
  Holy Names University, Oakland, CA

  ==== o0o ====

  At the high school girls' "Woman2Woman" event Rivka was riveting! The 
students went away feeling empowered and proud to be female.

  Judy Norris, Woman2Woman Event Planning Committee
  Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School

  ==== o0o ====

  The message of That Takes Ovaries, to lead a bold life, is a crucial 
message for teens.

  Jenny Amory, Executive Director
  Women Express/Teen Voices, www.teenvoices.com

  ==== o0o ====

  I *so* enjoyed That Takes Ovaries last weekend - it was absolutely 
fantastic!!! We are so glad we were able to be a co-sponsor, and we are more 
excited than ever about doing That Takes Ovaries as a benefit for the Boston 
Area Rape Crisis Center.

  Sarah Bruno, MSW, Development Coordinator
  Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, www.barcc.org

  ==== o0o ====

  Rivka and Bobbi had gathered an inter-generational group, 90 year old 
writer Tillie Olsen in the same room as younger women in their 20's. Tillie 
began talking about her 1920's activism in the labor movement and the younger 
women were also inspiring and eagerly listening to each other as each woman 
told one incident of their courageous acts. Because of what Rivka and Bobbi 
provided in that room, I felt personally energized. What happened to me at 
this inspiring meeting is why I took on leading a That Takes Ovaries open 
mike in my small town of Gilroy, CA. Our event was a complete success. After 
much crying and laughing, I think every woman left knowing her heroic deeds, 
and acknowledged aloud that anything is possible. I would say that Rivka has 
forever changed our little old town of Gilroy. We are just one of the 
multitude of places that Rivka has sparked this vision of courage and hope. 
Rivka is a visionary. More importantly, she understands that every woman is a 
visionary who can succeed.

  Rivka's work, the book and the open mike movement, is a tool for lasting 
social change. She has taken the written word and given it voice, and 
expanded that to give others who do not usually have a voice (or a voice that 
is heard), a platform for sharing their own stories.

  Patricia Caradonna, Community Advocate & C.E.O
  Wild Rose Cultural Center, Gilroy, CA
   
  ==== o0o ====

  The first time I saw Rivka and her That Takes Ovaries presentation I was 
simply blown away.  The themes and issues explored are inspiring to all.  The 
women's stories she compiled strike universal themes of empowerment, 
belonging and equity. They leave you with a feeling of connectedness and 
commitment to justice in your own and others' lives.

  Jack S. Kahn, Ph.D., Co-Chair, NOMAS-B
  National Organization for Men Against Sexism--Boston, www.nomasboston.org

  ==== o0o ====

  Bobbi is extremely 'sharp.'  She was able to transform even the shy, 
anxious students. It was amazing. The students raved about her!

  Josie Arce, Associate Professor
  San Francisco State University

  ==== o0o ====


  BIOS:  ABOUT RIVKA AND BOBBI


  Rivka Solomon writes, organizers and rabble-rouses on the East Coast of the 
U.S. She edited the book That Takes Ovaries (Random House), an exciting 
collection of real-life stories from women and girls about the gutsy, 
outrageous, courageous things they have done. The book is jam-packed with 64 
multicultural, fun, sassy, touching true tales of estrogen-powered deeds that 
range from playful to political, including women fighting for their human 
rights. Rivka co-wrote the play of the same name, and directed two 
productions in the Boston area. Her play has also been produced by schools 
and community theaters around the U.S. Now, as Executive Director of the 
nonprofit organization That Takes Ovaries, she leads TTO workshops, lectures 
and is coordinating a global initiative of community-oriented That Takes 
Ovaries open mikes, plays and fundraisers. Her writing has appeared in U.S. 
magazines, newspapers, anthologies and has aired on radio broadcasts. Since 
darn near babyhood, she has been a women's rights advocate and activist.

  Bobbi Ausubel is co-playwright of the That Takes Ovaries play and Artistic 
Director of the organization, a workshop leader, theater director, 
playwright, acting teacher, drama therapist and consultant in the schools. 
Bobbi was a leader in the Second Wave of the Women's Movement: She co-wrote 
and directed the first play inspired by the modern feminist movement in the 
US in the 1960s and '70s, How To Make A Woman. She brings with her, to her 
TTO workshops, the unique perspective of someone who was active -- not just 
witnessing, but taking part -- in the evolution of the U.S. women's movement 
over the last few decades.  Also, she was co-director of Caravan Theater in 
Boston, MA, for twelve years, during which time her adaptation of Tillie 
Olsen's (icon of the women's movement) novella Tell Me A Riddle was named 
"Best Play of the Year". Ausubel also directed with Union Sister, a 
labor-sponsored theater, as well as other theaters on the US East and West 
Coast. She taught acting for fifteen years at the Boston Conservatory, where 
she was also Chair of the Theater Division for four years. Recently she 
co-directed Araceli Theater's Touched by Cancer, a bi-lingual 
(Spanish-English) play created  by a drama therapy process with persons with 
cancer.


  ==== o0o ====


  --
  ======== o0o ========
  Rivka Solomon
  Writer * Executive Director
  THAT TAKES OVARIES -- Because Courage is Contagious
  

 // 781-367-9444 // Skype: rrrivka

  http://www.thattakesovaries.org
  -- a book, a play, an open mike movement &
  organizing tool for women and girls' empowerment
  ======== o0o ========


  --
  ======== o0o ========
  Rivka Solomon
  Writer * Executive Director
  THAT TAKES OVARIES -- Because Courage is Contagious
  

 // 781-367-9444 // Skype: rrrivka

  http://www.thattakesovaries.org
  -- a book, a play, an open mike movement &
  organizing tool for women and girls' empowerment

Until the violence stops, Ben.  

Ben Atherton-Zeman, Acton MA USA
Actor, Comedian, Feminist and Husband
Presenting a One-Man Play: "Voices of Men," www.voicesofmen.org (video clips 
take a second to load)
Booking information: 978-263-3254

Quote of the Month, July 2007:
"For many of us, (the work to end men's violence) has a strong hold on parts 
of our souls, and certainly our hearts.For most of us, it is much more than a 
job.because we care so deeply, it sometimes makes us difficult to work with.  
We have been described as cranky.  I want to be clear that I am acknowledging 
this, not apologizing for it.   It has been our impatience for change that 
has brought about the tremendous shifts in societal attitudes and systems 
response over these past 30 years."  - Anne Menard, Director, National 
Resource Center on Domestic Violence, http://www.vawnet.org ;