Upcoming Events
Community Conversations: The Rights We Have. The Knowledge We Need
JOIN US AT THE CABOT IN BEVERLY, MA FOR A CONVERSATION AND EXTENDED QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION ON CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS, COMMUNITY SAFETY AND LAWFUL ADVOCACY.
A panel of experts will discuss our rights as residents of the US, whether citizens or non-citizens; how to interact with law enforcement; how to help others without further endangering them; how to stay safe at rallies; and more.
Elsabel Rincon
The Welcome Immigrant Network
Elsabel brings over 18 years of dedicated experience in the Nonprofit sector, specializing in social justice advocacy and community education. Her impactful work spans various critical issues, including anti-violence initiatives, racial justice, immigrant rights, poverty alleviation, LGBTQ+ equity, and grassroots organizing.
In 2013, Elsabel's commitment to social justice was recognized when she was awarded the prestigious Kipp Tiernan Social Justice Fellowship. This honor paved the way for her to establish The Welcome Immigrant Network, a vital initiative dedicated to facilitating the integration of newcomers into the vibrant fabric of the North Shore community.
Mirian Albert
Lawyers for Civil Rights
Mirian Albert joined Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) in 2022, where she advocates for clients in a diverse range of civil rights matters, including employment, education, and police misconduct. Her work has garnered significant public and media attention for its impact and importance.
Mirian is co-counsel in LCR’s groundbreaking Martha’s Vineyard litigation against Florida Governor DeSantis. She was among the first attorneys to arrive on the island in response to the crisis. She has also played a leading role in high-profile challenges to federal immigration policies, including lawsuits targeting executive orders on birthright citizenship and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans and Haitians.
Beyond her litigation work, Mirian is deeply involved in her community, collaborating with both local and national organizations to advance racial and immigrant justice, reflecting her commitment to both courtroom advocacy and community engagement.L
She has also played a leading role in high-profile challenges to federal immigration policies, including lawsuits targeting executive orders on birthright citizenship and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans and Haitians.
Beyond her litigation work, Mirian is deeply involved in her community, collaborating with both local and national organizations to advance racial and immigrant justice, reflecting her commitment to both courtroom advocacy and community engagement.
Laura Rótolo
ACLU of MA
Laura Rótolo is the Senior Advocacy Director for Field Initiatives at the ACLU of Massachusetts, where she has worked for over 15 years. Laura manages the robust field operations work, which includes mobilizing voters, coordinating rallies and marches, educating the public about their rights, lobbying for the rights of all throughout the Commonwealth, seeing ballot initiatives through from conception to implementation, and much more. Laura holds a JD from American University and a Master's Degree from the Tufts Fletcher School.
Trish Moore
Moderator
Trish Moore founded her consulting business after serving in executive positions in healthcare, government, non-profit and for-profit organizations. She specializes in executive coaching and leadership development.
Trish is active in the community and is now the President of The Women’s Fund of Essex County, an all-volunteer organization that raises funds and makes grants to local non-profits that provide women and girls a path to achieve their potential.
She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Trish grew up as the eldest of eight children in southeastern Massachusetts where service to others, love of learning, reading and politics, along with an irreverent sense of humor, still bind the siblings.
Community Conversations: Books Are for Reading, Not Banning
Join us on Wednesday, March 26 fom 7-8:30 pm at The Cabot in Beverly when a panel of experts will discuss the definitions of book banning and censorship; their history in the US; why these infringements matter; recent threats and trends in schools and public libraries; and what we, the public, can do about it.
Melt Food Truck Answers Dinner Needs on Voting Day
Food Truck Answers Dinner Needs on Voting Day
Manchester-By-The-Sea voters! Wondering how to fit dinner into your busy schedule on Election Day? Leading Ladies has you covered. We have arranged for a food truck, MELT, to be at the Manchester Memorial Elementary School on Lincoln Street from 4 to 8 pm on Tuesday, November 5, selling melted cheese sandwiches with a variety of fillings. Voters can place their orders on the way into the polls and pick them up on the way out.
YOUth Votes Count: How Gen Y & Z Can Decide Who Wins in 2024
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 9 at 7 pm, when Leading Ladies again partners with The Cabot Theater for a Community Conversation, YOUth Votes Count: How Gen Y & Z Can Decide Who Wins in 2024. We will be recognizing the winners of the Art as Activism poster contest before proceeding with a panel discussion led by Kelly Siegel-Steichler of the Tisch School for Civic Engagement at Tufts University. Other panel members will be Marisol Santiago from MassVote; Hannah Levine of the Berry Institute of Politics at Salem State University; Wilhelmina Rolf Thaemert, a student at the Academy at Penguin Hall; Lola Prendergrast, a student at Waring School. Admission is free.
Art is Power Poster Judging Has Ended
Art as Activism Poster Contest for High School Students
Herstory: How Far Have We Come?
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 20 at 7 pm when Leading Ladies celebrates Women’s History Month again, this time with The Cabot and two commissioners of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, Sara Stanley, executive director of HAWC, and Nicole McClain, councilor at large for the city of Lynn.
Celebrate Women’s History Month with Susan Wilson
Celebrate Women’s History Month with Susan Wilson and her tales of the amazing Susan Dimock, one of America’s first female surgeons.
Affordable Housing: What is it? Who needs it? How does it affect us all?
Join a panel of experts to learn about the often confusing subject of affordable housing, including the new policy for auxiliary dwelling units (ADUs) in Beverly and other Massachusetts communities.
What We All Can Do About Gun Control
A Discussion with Leading Activists on October 25 at 7:00 pm.
Summer's End Third Annual Book Swap
Mark your calendars and check your bookshelves and closets for books to bring to the Leading Ladies' annual book swap to support area literacy programs. Fiction and non-fiction published since 2000; cookbooks from any era in good condition; jigsaw puzzles with all pieces. If you need a pickup, let us know. Otherwise, hold on to them until the end of summer. The swap date is Saturday, Sept 9; location is the side yard of the Book Shop of Beverly Farms. We are planning a story hour for kids this year too!
Art as Activism Film Screening
Our annual Art as Activism Film Contest challenges high school students to explore the world around them and use their creativity to highlight injustices we face in today’s modern world through film.
High school students in Massachusetts are invited to submit original short films concerning social justice issues to the second annual Art as Activism Film contest.
The top three submissions will be awarded cash prizes, and the top ten submissions will be screened at The Cabot in downtown Beverly, MA, on February 1, 2023.
Beating the Winter Blues: helping ourselves, our families and friends
A panel discussion featuring experts who deal with children, adolescents, adults, and seniors around issues of loneliness, particularly during the winter season.
Why the Midterm Elections Matter
We hosted a community event with Prof. William Mayer of Northeastern University on the topic "Why the Midterm Elections Matter."
Students as Changemakers: Creating Opportunities to Build a Better Tomorrow
We live in a world where we need to equip our youth to have the skills and confidence to tackle some of the biggest problems facing our human family…we need a generation of changemakers.
How Our Healthcare System Works
Boston University Senior lecturer Kelly Pesanelli discussed the ins and outs of the ACA to Medicare Process, Gaps in the system, and the Economic Implications of our healthcare system.
Life After Roe v. Wade
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 14 at 7 p.m. when Leading Ladies presents a new “kNOw MORE!” Zoom event, “Life After Roe v. Wade,” with reproductive justice activist Carrie Baker, professor at Smith College; Kristie Monast, executive director of HealthQuarters; and Sara Stanley, executive director of HAWC (Healing Abuse, Working for Change). Details about registration to follow. Learn More.
How We Get to Energy Independence
Click on this link to watch the replay of our discussion on energy independence given by Prof. Benjamin Sovacool, Professor of Earth and Environment and the Director of the Boston University Institute for Sustainable Energy.
The Role of the DOJ
This is a replay of the discussion with Andrew Lelling. Mr. Lelling is a 20-year veteran of the Department of Justice. In his talk, Mr. Lelling discussed the history of the Department of Justice, notable Attorneys General, his own experience within the department, how the DOJ is organized throughout the country, and the department's independence despite the US Attorney General being a political appointee.
Homelessness and Food Insecurity
We had two very dynamic speakers, Rachel Hand, the Executive Director of Family Promise North Shore Boston and Sue Gabriel, the Executive Director of Beverly Bootstraps.
Partnering with the Police
Learn about “Partnering with the Police ” on Mon., Aug. 16, 9 p.m. in a conversation with Northeastern Law Professor Deborah Ramirez and Lawrence Detective Sergeant, Retired, Gene Hatem. Hosted by We Are America the Beautiful. The replay is available on Facebook.
The Election of 1876: When Our Election was in Doubt
The Election of 1876: When Our Election was in Doubt was the topic of an online WAATB meeting on Monday, April 26th featuring Marty Doggett, former Headmaster of Governor’s Academy.
STEM vs STEAM Sustainability & Climate Education
Presentations from Change is Simple & Eric Olson, Pingree Math Department Chair, are included below.
A Lecture on Mental Health and Trauma with Dr. Earl Grey-Brooks
Mental Health & Trauma (think COVID, school shooting, 9/11, rape, domestic violence) were the topic of our online meeting on Mon, Dec 7, featuring Dr. Earl Grey-Brooks of Southern New Hampshire University and sponsored by the nonprofit group, We Are America The Beautiful.
Vote Safely and In Democracy & Truth
Learn how to detect propaganda on Social Media! You’ll also learn about:
* Voting in this election despite the risks (fraud & COVID-19
* MA Connngrssional candidates
Clean Energy Opportunities for Massachusetts and Beyond
“Clean Energy Opportunities for Massachusetts and Beyond” is the topic of the next We Are America the Beautiful online event on August 3. The speaker, Dr. Jacqueline Ashmore, is the executive director of the BU Institute for Sustainable Energy and a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
How the Pandemic Highlights Healthcare Policy
How the Pandemic Highlights Healthcare Policy, an online event sponsored by We are America the Beautiful on Monday, June 1, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Gun Violence Prevention April 2020
In an effort to ensure the health and safety of our community, and in accordance with the latest COVID-19 guidelines, we moved our April community meeting entirely online.
Presidential Election Scorecard
Northeastern University Political Science Professor William G. Mayer joined us to speak about the 2020 presidential candidates and their positions on the Issues. He is considered a national expert on presidential elections.
