More than 125 years ago . . .
The doors to higher education were just opening to women in the 1880s when Emily Talbot—with two college-educated daughters–came up with an idea. She would call together women graduates to support one another and to encourage other women to follow their path.
More than a century later, Emily Talbot’s idea has grown into the American Association of University Women (AAUW), an organization of over 100,000 men and women, is shaping our nation and the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC and with 1,500 branches nationwide, AAUW demonstrates the powerful force women exert when joined in a common purpose. Today, AAUW is known for taking stands on crucial issues affecting women: Equity in Education and the workplace, Civil Rights, Affirmative Action, Reproductive Choice, and preservation of Social Security. To learn more about the history of AAUW, goto aauw.org
In the Mountain Lakes Area Branch . . .
we raise money to award scholarships to girls and women who can demonstrate academic excellence and financial need. (For further information and a printable application, visit Scholarships.) Member gifts and a various fundraising events support our scholarship program while providing a print recycling venue.
We provide enrichment groups and monthly programs to facilitate lifelong learning of our 100+ members and the community. Several social events throughout the year enable members of all ages to get to know one another in a relaxed atmosphere. The Branch participates in the wider concerns of AAUW-NJ with two members elected State officers and those of the Association (see below).
In New Jersey. . .
the State organization has been a historic proponent of technological training for girls with Teen Techs held at DeVry University. Focus in the Public Policy arena has been on monitoring State educational bills in the legislature, holding the highly acclaimed annual workshops on bullying, human trafficking, and discrimination in the workplace.
For more information on AAUW-NJ events, goto aauwnj.org
In Washington . . .
Nationally, AAUW’s Educational Foundation‘s programs take a variety of forms. Each year the Foundation awards fellowships and grants to outstanding women scholars. The Foundation also supports Community Action Grants. In 1988, the AAUW Educational Foundation created the Eleanor Roosevelt Fund to respond to the opportunities and problems facing girls in school. The fund has spent more than $7.5 million over the last 10 years to support groundbreaking research, as reported in: How Schools Shortchange Girls, Hostile Hallways, The Gender Gap, and Girls in the Middle: Working to Succeed in School. Through research, the Foundation’s Eleanor Roosevelt Fund seeks to ensure gender equity in education for women and girls. The current research focuses on what works for girls in schools and details programs that are having a positive impact on their education. Legal Advocacy Fund provides funding and a support system for women and men seeking judicial redress for sex discrimination.
Political efforts have been extended beyond traditional Capitol Hill lobbying to increase members’ awareness of the importance of voter participant via the One Woman, One Vote campaign. Recently, the Association started the National Girls Collaborative Project, bringing together business, educational, and organizational resources to provide more opportunities for girls and young women in science, mathematics, technology, and engineering.
For more information about AAUW National, please visit: aauw.org