AAUW Arlington TX

01/07/2024

01/05/2024

AAUW Texas Public Policy Team Congratulates Valerie Koehler

Valerie Koehler, owner of Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston and a member of AAUW West Harris County Branch, has been recognized by the Houston Chronicle as the Thumbs Everyday Texas Hero for 2023 for “her brave and clear-headed arguments that protected booksellers from government overreach” – the bill otherwise known as HB 900. In defense of banned books and the freedom of the people to read, Valerie joined a suit that “blocked a law requiring bookstores to label books with sexual content, including such classics as Larry McMurtry’s “Lonesome Dove.” She was also recognized by Publishers Weekly as one of two 2023 People of the Year. Click on this link for that entire story.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/people/article/93965-pw-s-people-of-the-year-valerie-koehler-and-charley-rejsek.html

Congratulations, Valerie, and thank you for upholding AAUW values for women and girls!

01/29/2023

11/10/2022

Happy birthday to scientist Marie Curie, an important person in AAUW history!

In 1920, the Association of Collegiate Alumnae (to become AAUW) raised money to buy radium which President Warren Harding gave the Nobel Prize winning scientist.

10/21/2022

Fact Friday: Women with a bachelor’s degree owe an average of $2,700 more in student loans than their male peers. Altogether, women hold almost 2/3 of the nation's student debt: $929 billion. And the gender pay gap makes it even harder to pay off.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3BYM4N3

10/11/2022

Today we celebrate the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples while raising awareness about inequities many still face.

09/18/2022

“The Parisians gave me their hearts, and I am ready to give them my life.”

Today we honour the memory of French Resistance member, Josephine Baker.

Born into poverty in America, Josephine worked hard as a dancer and singer, blossoming into a star in pre-war France. She became one of Europe’s highest paid entertainers and even stared in several films before becoming a spy for the allies.

As a member of the resistance, Baker used her fame and status as cover for herself and others. Wherever she went she was in the spotlight, casting the attention of the room, and allowing overs to go unnoticed.

Josephine used her fame, beauty, and charm to gather information from diplomats at embassies. She would write on her hands, arms, and pin notes to her undergarments, smuggling vital information to resistance members. Had she ever been caught doing this, she would have been likely imprisoned, tortured, and executed like so many other spies. She had faith that no one would ever dare search a celebrity.

When she was not working espionage, Josephine used her fortune and connections to hide refugees, resistance members, and secure passports for Jewish people fleeing persecution.

In 1961, in recognition to her contribution to the war effort, Baker received the Croix de Guerre and the Legion de Honor, two of Frances highest military honours.

Thank you for your service, Josephine 🌺

08/31/2022

Spread the word! AAUW is awarding generous fellowships to women pursuing master's degrees in these fields where women are underrepresented:
• Architecture
• Computer/information sciences
• Engineering
• Mathematics/statistics

Learn more and apply: bit.ly/3jDaHHD

08/30/2022

The White House announced this morning that free COVID home rapid tests through the USPS will end this Friday, Sept 2nd.
Please order for your household ASAP & tell your co-workers, family, friends, neighbors and students.
Find more information at: https://www.covid.gov/tests

04/13/2022

Huge announcement!! Our STEMEd For Girls program is back this summer! This FREE online, summer program for girls explores a wide variety of STEM subjects and careers. Spread the word!

FREE info session on April 20th: https://bit.ly/3kU7Qwd