“Empowered: Women Shaping the Future” at the State Theater on Monday, March 13

Thomas Sankara once said, “There is no true social revolution without the liberation of women. May my eyes never see and my feet never take me to a society where half the people are held in silence.” With Sankara’s words in mind, I’m reminded that one of the little-discussed but wonderful realities of the ZCoB is that over half of the members of our Partners Group—the 22-person group which governs the ZCoB together—are women. Far from being held in silence, they are, in the best possible way, actively, caringly, and creatively engaged in the effective running of our organization. In the context of history, I’m reminded that back when May Sarton was born in 1912, women were not able to vote.

This great new release by filmmaker Christina Rose flips that century-old script by honoring the work of women leaders in non-traditional roles. Entitled “Empowered: Women Shaping the Future,” the film is being shown as part of this year’s Jelly Bean Jump Up, which raises funds for SafeHouse Center! If you don’t know SafeHouse, it provides shelter for victims of domestic abuse, offering some sense of safety and connection for people, most of whom have found themselves feeling very much alone in the world. Michael Rose, the executive producer of “Empowered” and Christina’s partner in MirrorWater, writes,

One fateful February, when my cousin, Marie, came to town to visit and reconnect after almost 10 years, the vision and idea for “Empowered” was born. Certainly, the important and much-needed impact of the Me Too movement had an effect, as it was in full force during that time frame. More so, this meeting took place as I learned more than I thought I knew about the fishing industry and this magical place called Alaska. My much younger cousin and her passion for her work, the beautiful land of Alaska, these mysterious fish called salmon, and their unbelievable lifelong adventure intrigued me. The fact that Marie stepped into a career field that is predominantly a male-dominated profession is impressive.

The fact that women are still not embraced in all career fields, still make much less financially than their male counterparts, and have so much more to prove, was astounding to us. These insights alone inspired us to share their stories: stories of women who see no great merit or heroism behind their work. For them, this is just another day on the job. But for us, it is so much more. It’s a true passion to show the world that women can do it all!

Marie Rose, who will be flying in from Alaska, a place she says “​​triggers a sense of aloneness. It kind of forces you to find joy in solitude. The quietness and lack of distractions really force one to look inward and learn to be comfortable in your own company. Marie, who will be sharing thoughts at both the Ann Arbor debut of the film and the salmon-centric fundraising dinner at the Roadhouse the following evening, says:

This is an incredibly impactful series highlighting women around the world in leadership positions in underrepresented industries. “Finding Home” shares the story of me moving from Michigan to Alaska and co-founding Shoreline Wild Salmon, all while healing from my own personal experiences with domestic violence. While I never imagined sharing these personal details of my life publicly, I’m grateful for the opportunity to help foster conversations regarding intimate partner violence, and its impact on individuals and communities, and to assist in fundraising efforts for vital resources like the SafeHouse Center in Ann Arbor. Thank you to Zingerman’s for bringing this film to Ann Arbor, and for supporting and highlighting female entrepreneurs like myself. 

Please help us spread the word! Book a seat and support SafeHouse Center. As Christina Rose says, you will be entertained, educated, and enlightened. Because it’s a fundraiser, you will assist those in need and enrich the quality of life in our community. I hope to see you there.

Book your seats soon! See a great film, spread the word about the wonderful work that the women of the world are doing, and raise money to help support victims of domestic abuse in our community!

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