Wisconsin Women of Color Network, Inc. (WWOCN)
Women's health focus of Women's History Month celebration
Women's health focus of Women's History Month celebration
for EEOC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking On Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of
2008” (05/12/09). http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/qanda_geneticinfo.html
• Caregiving Discrimination-Employer Best Practices for Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities
(04/09). http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/caregiver-best-practices.html; Enforcement Guidance: Unlawful
Disparate Treatment of Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities (05/23/07). http://www.eeoc.
gov/policy/docs/caregiving.html; Questions and Answers About EEOC’s Enforcement Guidance on Unlawful
Disparate Treatment of Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities (05/07). http://www.eeoc.
gov/policy/docs/qanda_caregiving.html.
After a brief remarks by Gale Johnson, Wisconsin Well Woman Program Director, about what her office
is doing to help low-income Wisconsin women get necessary regular breast examinations (mammograms), a
group of Native American women took the floor and introduced “Pink Shawl Initiative,” a Native American
Breast Cancer Awareness and Education Program based in Milwaukee. With the motto, “Dream the Cure,”
the Pink Shawl aims to raise breast-cancer awareness among Native American women and to serve as a
resource for those seeking advice, education and direction on breast care health. Lisa Tiger introduced the
women behind Pink Shawl: Roberta Fleischer, Laura Harrison, and Deb Ushakow. The Pink Shawl members
participate in the following activities:
• Collaborative efforts with other organizations
• ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis Mentors
• Wheaton St. Francis Hospital’s Su Salud
• Sister support groups
• Pow-wows
• Fundraising-shawl-making, crafts, classes
Pink Shawl’s ABCD mentors provide free, personalized information and one-to-one support mentorship
to people in Wisconsin who are affected by breast cancer. ABCD compliments the work of health care
providers and matches its mentors with the loved ones of and people diagnosed with breast cancer. The
ABCD Breast Cancer Helpline: Toll Free-(800) 977-4121; (414) 918-9222 or (920) 471-0322; www.abcdmentor.
org. Visit the Wisconsin Pink Shawl Initiative website: www.dreamthecure.org, or email info@dreamthecure.
org for more information.
After a sumptuous lunch which served as a send-off to this writer who was leaving Madison for Manila,
attendees joined hands and performed the WWOCN Unity Circle.
2008” (05/12/09). http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/qanda_geneticinfo.html
• Caregiving Discrimination-Employer Best Practices for Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities
(04/09). http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/caregiver-best-practices.html; Enforcement Guidance: Unlawful
Disparate Treatment of Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities (05/23/07). http://www.eeoc.
gov/policy/docs/caregiving.html; Questions and Answers About EEOC’s Enforcement Guidance on Unlawful
Disparate Treatment of Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities (05/07). http://www.eeoc.
gov/policy/docs/qanda_caregiving.html.
After a brief remarks by Gale Johnson, Wisconsin Well Woman Program Director, about what her office
is doing to help low-income Wisconsin women get necessary regular breast examinations (mammograms), a
group of Native American women took the floor and introduced “Pink Shawl Initiative,” a Native American
Breast Cancer Awareness and Education Program based in Milwaukee. With the motto, “Dream the Cure,”
the Pink Shawl aims to raise breast-cancer awareness among Native American women and to serve as a
resource for those seeking advice, education and direction on breast care health. Lisa Tiger introduced the
women behind Pink Shawl: Roberta Fleischer, Laura Harrison, and Deb Ushakow. The Pink Shawl members
participate in the following activities:
• Collaborative efforts with other organizations
• ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis Mentors
• Wheaton St. Francis Hospital’s Su Salud
• Sister support groups
• Pow-wows
• Fundraising-shawl-making, crafts, classes
Pink Shawl’s ABCD mentors provide free, personalized information and one-to-one support mentorship
to people in Wisconsin who are affected by breast cancer. ABCD compliments the work of health care
providers and matches its mentors with the loved ones of and people diagnosed with breast cancer. The
ABCD Breast Cancer Helpline: Toll Free-(800) 977-4121; (414) 918-9222 or (920) 471-0322; www.abcdmentor.
org. Visit the Wisconsin Pink Shawl Initiative website: www.dreamthecure.org, or email info@dreamthecure.
org for more information.
After a sumptuous lunch which served as a send-off to this writer who was leaving Madison for Manila,
attendees joined hands and performed the WWOCN Unity Circle.
Agnes Cammer
(L-R) WWOCN Pres. Sadie Pearson and Wis. Well
Woman Program Director Gale Johnson
Woman Program Director Gale Johnson
EEOC Program Manager Maria Flores
Lisa Tiger
Doris Franklin explains the
work of African American
Breastfeeding Alliance.
Click here to go to her
interview by Jon Gramling.
work of African American
Breastfeeding Alliance.
Click here to go to her
interview by Jon Gramling.
By Heidi M. Pascual
The Wisconsin Women of Color Network, Inc. (WWOCN),
now headed by Sadie Pearson, chose Gilda’s Club in
Middleton as the appropriate venue to discuss women’s
health, specifically breast cancer and its impact on the lives
of women of color, on March 27th. Gilda’s Club is an
organization that provides support for people afflicted with
breast cancer and their loved ones. The event was extra
special because of the animated and choc-ful of information
workshop by Maria Flores and the presentations of the
Wisconsin Pink Shawl Initiative and Doris Franklin of the
African American Breastfeeding Alliance.
Maria Flores, Program Manager of the U.S.Equal
The Wisconsin Women of Color Network, Inc. (WWOCN),
now headed by Sadie Pearson, chose Gilda’s Club in
Middleton as the appropriate venue to discuss women’s
health, specifically breast cancer and its impact on the lives
of women of color, on March 27th. Gilda’s Club is an
organization that provides support for people afflicted with
breast cancer and their loved ones. The event was extra
special because of the animated and choc-ful of information
workshop by Maria Flores and the presentations of the
Wisconsin Pink Shawl Initiative and Doris Franklin of the
African American Breastfeeding Alliance.
Maria Flores, Program Manager of the U.S.Equal
| Some WWOCN participants |
Employment Opportunity Commission based in Milwaukee and an active WWOCN member, discussed at
length the EEOC Guidance on issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), particularly the
employment rights of people with cancer. The following topics were highlighted during Flores’
presentation: (For detailed information, click on the links to EEOC website as noted below.)
• ADA Amendments Act-Notice concerning The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act
of 2008 (03/10/09). Visit http://www.eeoc.gov/ada/amendments_notice.html
• ADA and particular impairments-Questions and Answers: Cancer in the Workplace and ADA
(07/26/05). Visit http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/cancer.html
• Reasonable accommodation-Enforcement Guidance on Reasonable Accommodation and Undue
Hardship under the ADA (as revised, 10/17/02). http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/accommodation.html
length the EEOC Guidance on issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), particularly the
employment rights of people with cancer. The following topics were highlighted during Flores’
presentation: (For detailed information, click on the links to EEOC website as noted below.)
• ADA Amendments Act-Notice concerning The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act
of 2008 (03/10/09). Visit http://www.eeoc.gov/ada/amendments_notice.html
• ADA and particular impairments-Questions and Answers: Cancer in the Workplace and ADA
(07/26/05). Visit http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/cancer.html
• Reasonable accommodation-Enforcement Guidance on Reasonable Accommodation and Undue
Hardship under the ADA (as revised, 10/17/02). http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/accommodation.html
Work At Home/Telework as a Reasonable Accommodation (02/03/03) http://www.
eeoc/facts/telework.html
• Disability-Related Inquiries, Medical Exams, and Confidentiality-Enforcement Guidance:
Disability-Related Inquiries & Medical Examinations of Employees under the ADA (07/27/00).
http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/guidance-inquiries.html; Enforcement Guidance:
Preemployment Disability-Related Medical Questions & Medical Examinations (10/10/95). http:
//www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/preemp.html
• Discrimination based on association with an individual with a Disability-Questions &
Answers: Association provision of the ADA (10/17/05). http://www.eeoc.
gov/facts/association_ada.html
• Job Applicants-Job Applicants and the ADA (10/07/03). http://www.eeoc.
gov/facts/jobapplicant.html
• Genetic Information-Policy Guidelines on EO 13145: To prohibit discrimination in
federal employment based on genetic information (07/26/00). http://www.eeoc.
gov/policy/docs/guidance-genetc.html; “Questions & Answers: Background Information
eeoc/facts/telework.html
• Disability-Related Inquiries, Medical Exams, and Confidentiality-Enforcement Guidance:
Disability-Related Inquiries & Medical Examinations of Employees under the ADA (07/27/00).
http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/guidance-inquiries.html; Enforcement Guidance:
Preemployment Disability-Related Medical Questions & Medical Examinations (10/10/95). http:
//www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/preemp.html
• Discrimination based on association with an individual with a Disability-Questions &
Answers: Association provision of the ADA (10/17/05). http://www.eeoc.
gov/facts/association_ada.html
• Job Applicants-Job Applicants and the ADA (10/07/03). http://www.eeoc.
gov/facts/jobapplicant.html
• Genetic Information-Policy Guidelines on EO 13145: To prohibit discrimination in
federal employment based on genetic information (07/26/00). http://www.eeoc.
gov/policy/docs/guidance-genetc.html; “Questions & Answers: Background Information
The Wisconsin Pink Shawl Initiative addresses
the need to informa nd educate women in the
American Indian community about breast cancer
and available services to those afflicted with it.
the need to informa nd educate women in the
American Indian community about breast cancer
and available services to those afflicted with it.
