| Wisconsin Women of Color Network, Inc. tackles leadership |
| New president plans to take WWOCN to a new level |
| The Wisconsin Women of Color Network, Inc. (WWOCN) has a new president in the person of Jo-Ann Moore, the Equal Opportunity Specialist for the state of Wisconsin Department of Administration, Minority Business Enterprise Program. In a brief interview by Asian Wisconzine recently, Moore described why she was attracted to the organization and what her plans are for the future. |
| By Heidi M. Pascual |
| AW: When did you become a member of WWOCN, and what influenced your joining it? |
| JM: I joined the Network in 2003. I heard about the network from friends and decided to do some research to find out more about this organization on their website. After reading information about the Network, I asked myself the two questions it presented: |
| ? Do you believe that there is much unfulfilled potential among women of color, and that those who have made significant contributions are not adequately recognized? Yes, I do. |
| ? Do you support the idea that women of color from all ethnic groups must work together to achieve common goals? Yes, I do. |
| After answering these questions, I knew this organization was for me, so I joined. |
| AW: How do you feel being elected as WWOCN President? |
| JM: I feel blessed. This is beyond my wildest dreams. I was happy just being a member, and for everyone to have faith in me and push me up and lift me, so to speak, in the organization, I can't think of a better word but feeling blessed. |
| AW: What's in WWOCN that is important to you? |
| JM: Our mission is important to me. The WWOCN, through statewide collaboration, assists women of color in accessing educational resources, health care, social services and political participation to promote leadership, cross-cultural awareness, and the spiritual and economic well-being enriching the lives of women of color, their families and their communities. |
| AW: What are your plans as the new president of WWOCN? |
| JM: To increase the Network membership, to expand our visibility within the community, and to implement a better tracking system for membership renewals. Right now, when we have new members, we send them a card and say we welcome them into the Network. But then, we're not tracking when the memberships ends and we need them to renew. We have a database, we just need to add this feature. |
| AW: Are there new initiatives on the drawing board? |
| JM: I have received several excellent ideas from our members. As president, I listen and respect our members' opinions and will implement new initiatives. |
| AW: Samples of excellent ideas that you have received? |
| JM: We haven't brought this before the board, but some of the members said that they would like to do a clothing drive. Also, for the tribes in Wisconsin, a program featuring women artists and crafters, to give them opportunity to talk about their work and displaying it. Another would be a program in regard to different lifestyles, such as canning, recycling, furniture making, etc., that could be part of the artist-crafters' program. Someone also suggested making the WWOCN quilt, and each member would be responsible for making a square. These are just some of the ideas we have received. |
| AW: How is WWOCN membership going, and, how can membership be increased? |
| JM: It is OK, but as in any organization, there is always room for improvement. Currently, we get new members through our board of directors, word of mouth through our members, and viewers through the Internet. I would like to see ongoing membership recruitment through advertising in various media outlets, other women organizations, and target recruiting of other leaders in the community. |
| AW: What is your stand on non-people of color as members of WWOCN? When you talk of "support" that non-people of color is giving to WWOCN, what kind of specific support are we expecting from them? |
| JM: WWOCN has a non-discriminatory policy, so we admit non-people of color as members. We welcome others to join us, including men. They support us through financial means, their time, getting the word out about our organization, etc. |
| AW: Is there anything in the WWOCN programs that you want to do differently? |
| JM: I'd like to continue with our organization's established mission for the Network and expand more community-based type services. |
| AW: Will WWOCN be involved in taking a position on certain issues that are highly political in nature but would affect people of color, especially women of color? Say for instance, on employment -- there is a legislative action, do you think WWOCN can be involved? |
| JM: I would think we would handle that on a case-by-case basis. That is a question I would bring to our board, and we would, as a Network, make that decision. I don't want to overstep my balance. |
| AW: Any coalition-building in mind? What issues are you going to focus on this year? |
| JM: We promote a coalition with all community organizations. We would like to do more with the Urban League, Centro Hispano, the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, etc. |
| AW: What message would you like to convey to our readers and to the WWOCN membership, as the new WWOCN president? |
| JM: I'm truly honored to have been elected president of WWOCN. My hope is that all the women of color will hear about our organization and come and join us and help us make a difference in our community. |
| To our present membership: We have truly talented women part of our organization, we mentor each other, and pretty much what?s happening with me also, We put women in the forefront, mentor them in leadership positions, and we do what we can to help them overcome any fears and barriers, so they can be the best of they can be as a person. We all respect each other, have honesty, and we're just there for each other. |
| I want to thank them for allowing me to lead the organization and I invite them to speak with me at anytime. They can contact me, e-mail or call me, and just give me ideas for things that they would like to see the organization achieve. I value their opinions so I want to hear what they have to say. |
| The following WWOCN members and officers were one in saying that Jo-Ann Moore is an excellent fit as president. |
| Addrena Squires: We have a wonderful person coming on board after Addrena Squires, and I know she'll continue the great work that WWOCN has done so far, and we will progress with her leadership, and I'll help her as much as I can with funds, whatever. |
| Alice Bailey: I think JoAnn is a very good person to be president of WWOCN. |
| Sadie Pearson: I welcome JoAnn Moore as our new president, because I know she doesn't mind being busy. We will keep her busy, but we are blessed to have her. |
| Kathie Moore: I know that JoAnn will do a great job and we'll support her all the way. |
| Agnes Cammer: To get this organization to another level; to seek new heights, and the leadership is gonna do that. I have confidence that they can do it. |
| Rochelle Ashley: She's part of the reason I'm here certainly. We're going to take the organization in a revitalized direction, and not that it isn't doing good things right now; but there are certainly more that we'll like to do. Expectations: As a new member, I sit back and watch for a while, but I end up watching too long. |
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| Jo-Ann Moore |