Moving History Forward: The Continuing Battle for Women’s Equality

The 1977 National Women’s Conference in Houston was the first and only time the federal government had authorized and financed a national gathering “to promote equal rights, equal opportunities and equal responsibilities for women.” 30 years later, Liz Abzug (founder, Bella Abzug Leadership
Initiative) and Pam Elam (Delegate to the 1977 National Women’s Conference), along with Elizabeth Hines (Ms. Foundation), Lala Wu (Bella Abzug Leadership Initiative), and Olivia Greer (Women Center Stage), will discuss the legacy of that historic Conference and the development of a 21st Century Agenda for Action for women and girls.

Thirty years after “The Spirit of Houston,” many of the recommendations adopted at the Conference have still not been achieved, there have been no other such events held, and many people are totally unaware that the Houston Conference even happened. Abzug and Elam are working to change that by convening a “Freedom on Our Terms” conference on November 10-11th of this year at Hunter College to reignite the fight. This conversation, hosted by Culture Project’s Women Center Stage, will spark the conversation early.