(Photos by Laura Mancuso, Illnois Valley News)
In honor of National Women’s History Month, the annual Women’s Cafe was held at the Dome School in Takilma March 9. This fundraiser for the Dome School touched on the global issues at hand, from reproductive choice, importance of voting, war devastation and health care.
Longtime Takilma resident and RCC instructor Deb Murphy along with the Dome School staff and volunteers coordinated a meaningful afternoon that included a brunch and art show and then had a variety of entertaining and soulful performances. Murphy dedicated the event to the “unheard songs and poems” due to 60 million girls around the globe not in school due to war and poverty.
The performances were kicked off by the amazing Georgia Churchill, an animated storyteller, who had the audience interacting with her dramatic telling of “Too Too Moo and the Giant.”
Many fabulous women strummed their guitars and sang from the heart such as Kayla Rau, Annabella Eisner, Ela and Carol Valentine.
A couple of Murphy’s fellow professors from RCC were in attendance for the women’s celebration. Marina Whitchurch sang a tune and told some stories that made the room giggle. One in particular was a story called “Birth’s Day” about Whitchurch’s meeting with another “only” born April 12, 1974. Then, Professor Jenny Jackson beautifully sang “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Billie Holiday.
The audience also got to hear the sounds of a spiritual drum when Kathrina Poydack played and sang “Stand in Your Power with Love” and then was brought to tears when Taryn spoke of the horrifying loss of life and starvation going on in Gaza.
There was also the dramatic George Bernard Shaw monologue performed by actress Sophie Traub in the perspective of Joan of Arc. The spectators were wowed by her talent.
Then back to laughter when Lisa Kelz led a group of women in learning the health benefits of the kegel!
It was a striking sight to view all the art hung around the Dome School Auditorium. The “Lady of the Wood” and “Dark Forest” paintings by Sheila Mason were there. You could also view the “Bristle & Iron Broom” display by Lauren Oakes, “Ecoprinting & Felting” by Carolyn Taormin, watercolors by Lisa Kelz, nature quilt hangings from Teresa Stevens and so much more!