Women’s March MN night at Island of Discarded Women

A contingency from Women’s March Minnesota (WMM) had a night out with the Island of Discarded Women. The Island is a podcast that is recorded live at the Women’s Club in Minneapolis. The show is hosted by Sue Scott, whose work with the Prairie Home Companion is well known. It features storytelling, music and a conversation with accomplished women who working to make the world better, often by lifting up other women or others in need of lift.

On April 10, Sue was joined by Dr. Artika Tyner, is the director of the Center on Race, Leadership and Social Justice at the University of St. Thomas and the founder of Planting People Growing Justice and musical guest, powerhouse singer/songwriter Rachel Kurtz.

Sue and Artika chatted about the Center, her work and book Justice Makes a Difference, a positive children’s book that Sue and the crew had “performed” old school radio style earlier in the show. Both book and author are very inspirational. She spoke about acting from the “right now” and by that not worrying about the past or worrying about how to make something happen in the future. To work and live with passion and believe that fate or a higher power will make things happen.

Artika has made many things happen including making phone calls for the incarcerated more affordable through federal change so that families can keep in touch with loved ones in jail. She has visited Ghana a dozen times and made her sacred place. She has created new pipelines to success for all children by promoting reading and diversity in children’s books. They have donated 10,000 culturally sensitive books to children.

Rachel sang two songs: Lioness and her recently released Gay Kids, which celebrates gay and trans kids. The night was inspirational. It will be available for listening in the next few weeks.