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Every Campus A Refuge (ECAR)
Russell Sage College became the first ECAR chapter in New York state in 2021. The Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s Institute and the Office of Service Learning partner on this initiative, with the help of student, faculty, and staff volunteers. In 2023, the Russell Sage College ECAR chapter developed a partnership with the newly formed ECAR chapter at Hudson Valley Community College, the first of its kind in the country. Together, we are combining resources to provide newcomers with much-needed housing and support services.
We are proud that we have welcomed and hosted over 30 refugees on our campus since the start of the program.
I Support the Girls Annual Bra Drive
The Women’s Institute Ambassadors hold an annual drive for I Support the Girls, a national nonprofit that provides bras and menstrual hygiene products to women and girls experiencing homelessness.
The Ambassadors have collected more than 500 bras for the cause.
Public Events
The 2023-2024 academic year included a full roster of public events exploring feminism, gender issues, and more.
Beyond the Binary: Rethinking Sex, Brain, and Gender
A talk by Dr. Daphna Joel, professor in the School of Psychological Sciences and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
Guests participated in a fascinating discussion based on Dr. Joel’s groundbreaking research on the relations between sex, the brain, and gender in this September 13, 2023, event co-sponsored by the Russell Sage College Departments of Biology and Psychology.
Wild Women of Oakwood Historic Cemetery Tour with Rensselaer County Historian Kathy Sheehan
Guests visited the historic Oakwood Cemetery and the gravesites of women who were movers and shakers in Rensselaer County’s history. These women were a force to be reckoned with – suffragists, philanthropists, and even a clairvoyant physician!
EmpowerHER Learning Lab for Students
The EmpowerHer curriculum combines elements of Emotional Intelligence, Leadership, Expressive Writing, and Design Thinking. Students who participated in the program learned skills and techniques on how to harness their innate wisdom, unique talents, and inner confidence.
Séance Exhibit and Conversation
Guests participated in an illuminating conversation on the intersection between Spiritualism, Feminism, and Art with photographer Shannon Taggart and Dr. Ann Braude, director of Women’s Studies in Religion, Harvard Divinity School. The event was presented in partnership with the Opalka Gallery at Russell Sage College and was generously sponsored by Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Franke Stento Mohan Irwin Group.
The Women’s Institute Feminist Book Club
Guests engaged in lively online Q&As following the author’s talk on topics such as workplace equality, and one of the great success stories in American history of a legendary African American woman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.
Women’s History Month Art Exhibition
The Women’s Institute partnered with the Regional Center for Women in the Arts in West Chester, Pennsylvania, to bring a special exhibition curated by and featuring the work of Valetta and also featuring Margo Allman, Lisa Bartolozzi, Joyce Berger, Carla Lombardi, Alice Oh, Rachel Romano, Nancy Sarangoulis, and Lois Schlachter.
Mini-Conference: Transforming Medical Care Across Disciplines with Women’s Institute Visiting Affiliate Scholar
2023-2024 Women’s Institute Visiting Affiliate Scholar and conference co-creator Rachel Gross assembled a group of panelists for a half-day conference bridging the worlds of advocacy, the arts, gender and sexuality studies, and medicine.
The conference re-imagined how medical professionals, patient advocates, and artists who address women’s health and the doctor-patient relationship can work together for a more patient-centered world.
Topics included the history of gynecology and women’s health, highlighting major ethical issues the field has faced and the main problems that plague the field today; how to make the most of your doctor’s visit and tips to navigate the medical world after being misunderstood, dismissed, or not heard by your provider; and transformative moments in women’s health.
The conference, which was generously sponsored by the Russell Sage College Alumnae/i Association, also included a practicum component for Health Sciences students, and engaged students from the Theatre Program at Russell Sage to act out simulated patient scenarios.