Many Voices

A newsletter/blog from the Luann Dummer Center for Women

 

Table of Contents

Note from the Director 

Fall Semester Intern Reflections

Climate Knowledge Collective

Care and Connection and Other Campus Collaborations

Feminist Community and Zine Making

Feminist Self Care in Practice and Tracing Gender Representation Through Time in St. Thomas Media

Gender Justice, Fiber Arts, and Student Access to Menstrual Products

Minnesota Aurora FC and Community Coffee Hour

Women Career Panel at DFC

New Food Shelf at the LDCW

Upcoming J-Term Events

 

Note from Dr. Liz Wilkinson, LDCW Director 

Hi and welcome to a year of Activism! In All the Ways! our theme for 2025-26! (and, yep, to combat the trying times, we are leaning into all the exclamation marks!) 

Thanks for keeping up with the action at the LDCW! We had an amazingly busy and wonderful Fall 2025 semester, so I’d love to give you some highlights of the over 90 – yep, 90+ – events we either hosted or supported from September through December.  

With many thanks to WGSS Chair, Dr. Dalma Martinovich-Weigelt, in October we paired with the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department to bring María José Iturralde to campus for workshops with students, faculty and staff to teach us some necessary “unlearning” and “re-worlding.” In the evening, Iturralde, better known as Chochi, presented a talk entitled, “Collective Re-Worlding through Feminine and Indigenous Power: A Path to Thriving Biodiverse Ecosystems,” on how indigenous women in the Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador are leading a transformative movement of ecosystem restoration and community revival. The over 100 audience members left with renewed energy for smart and joyful action, locally and globally, to protect our shared world.  

Our LDCW Coordinator, Arianna Wegley, and I flew to Puerto Rico in mid-November for the National Women’s Studies Association Conference. The day-long workshops for Women Centers’ faculty and staff gave us a necessary, if bleak, look at what a lot of out sister centers are facing. The number of attendees were half of what they had been last year, and many who were there talked either of funding struggles or let us know that their programs, some almost 50 years old, were being eliminated. All of us at the LDCW continue to acknowledge what a gift we have in our endowment from Dr. Luann Dummer. We literally would not be here without her.  

Later in November, the LDCW had an opportunity to support UST’s Finding Forward initiative by sponsoring the reception following the conversation between President Rob Vischer and Minnesota Lynx head coach, Cheryl Reeve. Reeve brings a decidedly feminist approach to coaching. Super exciting for all of us WNBA fans! Go Lynx! 

We also continued to broaden our impact with students, staff, and faculty through intern initiatives and program partnerships: Tuesday Coffee Hour, Care and Connection student gatherings, Platonic book club, FemCom meetings and events, internships with the MN Aurora FC, Climate Knowledge Collective, and Gender Justice, skin care and wellness initiatives, a Queer in Business job panel, free fruit through BrightSide Produce, and WGSS Friday Feminist Forums. None of this would be possible without LDCW Coordinator, Arianna Wegley! 

And now…Spring! We have so much more to look forward to! 

During J-term, we will be hosting Ms. Magazine for a four-day Writers in Residency event. This residency echoes one we did this past summer that resulted in two of us being published by Ms. digital: “Sleep Is a Feminist Issue: Why Women’s Rest Is Political” by Dr. J. Roxanne Prichard and “‘Los Angeles Is for Everyone,’ ‘Pay Us What You Owe Us’: The Long History of Women Athletes Leading the Resistance” by me, Dr. Liz Wilkinson.  

In February, we’ll have a Spring Semester open house kickoff (more info to come) to spread the word about ongoing programs and, more importantly, March Women’s History Month! 

Elaine Welteroth (former Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue) and Dr. Janell Hobson (Writer/Editor for Ms. Magazine) headline our March Women’s History Month event on March 5. The LDCW is proud to sponsor this conversation between two journalism powerhouses, particularly in these times when journalism, an essential part of our democracy, is being challenged. Please click here to register!  

Finally, keep in touch! Email us with questions and ideas, stop by the Center for a cuppa and a chat, sign up for our email list, spread the word about the LDCW, and we’ll see you at our fantastic upcoming events! 

Fall Semester Intern Reflections

Climate Knowledge Collective

By L.G. 

During my time at LDCW, I cooperated on a long-term project starting last year with an organization called the Climate Knowledge Collective, also known as CKC. In CKC, we were able to watch oral histories about climate activists fighting climate change and the initiatives they take. These stories mostly featured women, as they are often the most affected by climate change. 

We shared our opinions on each respective video we watched, discussed quotes that we thought were significant in relation to women, and selected audio clips that felt relatable to CKC’s mission: “Our focus is to revolutionize access to climate solutions by amplifying the lived realities of women and marginalized communities facing climate change.” 

After completing the oral histories documentary, we wanted to focus on promoting the organization on our campus. We started by hosting a boba event where we displayed those quotes for students to read and learn from. We are also collaborating with LDCW’s social media team to promote CKC on our Instagram page. 

For next semester, we are planning to host more events, conduct surveys, and increase promotion through social media. 

 

Care and Connection and Other Campus Collaborations

By S.B. 

This fall, my work at the Luann Dummer Center for Women was shaped not only by my  Independent Project, Care and Connection, but also by meaningful collaborations with organizations on campus that were directly connected to my goals and values. 

The Care and Connection series, consisting of six events, was designed to foster a safe,  welcoming, and supportive environment for students from all backgrounds on our campus. Events ranged from art workshops and blackout poetry to engaging games such as Self-Care Scattergories and Concepts and Conversations. We also hosted an open study hour in collaboration with Queer Straight Alliance as we approached finals week. 

All events, and the Care and Connection series, shared the same vision: establishing the Center as an open and available space for all students. The current state of the world has made the, for lack of a better word, “outside” world scary and unsafe for a lot of folks. I wanted to do something about that within my power and remind people that they are not alone. They are still loved and people care about them. Care and Connection was the tool I used to do that, and I was very happy with the outcome. Throughout the semester, attendance grew five times in size. Friendships were formed that went beyond the events, and that is the most rewarding experience I’ve had through Care and Connection.  

In addition to my independent work, I collaborated with LGBTQIA+ staff and faculty on National Coming Out Day and Trans Day of Remembrance. These events were focused on supporting one of the most attacked minorities in our current time and remembering the powerful history of Trans Pride and those who have dedicated their lives to ensuring equality for all people, regardless of their gender identity or sexual preferences. Both events were quite successful. We had a wall of kindness that was filled out by students, faculty, and staff at the events in addition to a resource poster that you can come and visit at the Center! 

Overall, I’m very grateful for a successful fall semester and I’m looking forward to bigger and better events in the spring! 

 

Feminist Community and Zine Making

By J.K. 

This fall, I have been working on creating a resource for the Luann Dummer Center for Women detailing a history of feminism. I created a zine, which will now be available in the Center for all. The zine goes over each wave of feminism and discusses many prominent feminists. I really enjoyed being able to create something for others while using my own skills and interests. Feminism is constantly evolving and changing, but it is important to remember those who came before us and built the foundations for our society today. 

In addition to my personal project, I have also been running the Feminist Community. We had weekly events on Thursdays during convo hour and got to meet some great new feminists. Some of our events included a relaxation hour, karaoke, movie nights, sensory bottle making, letter writing, and vision boards. As always, we love seeing new people in the Center and creating a safe space for all. 

 

Feminist Self Care in Practice and Tracing Gender Representation Through Time in St. Thomas Media

By E.V. 

This fall semester I have been interning at the Luann Dummer Center for Women my second year and it has been a meaningful part of my semester. From hosting the “Glow Up, Rise Up” skincare event back in October, creating social media content, to working on a long-term research project, I’ve had a BLAST. Here is what I have been up to as an intern at the center!  

One of my highlights was facilitating a skincare self-care event that connected everyday practices to larger feminist ideas. I wanted attendees to see that caring for oneself is not selfish, but an active root in empowerment and resistance to systems that often devalue women’s well-being. Seeing attendees engage with the content, conversations, and with each other was enjoyable, where we can reward ourselves and share our experiences. This event was successful, gaining over 50 attendees, very similar to a very similar event I hosted last May during my first year at the Luann Dummer Center for Women.  

Alongside event planning, I’ve been making steady progress on my year-long project examining media gender representation at St. Thomas. By exploring archival materials, including The Aquinas, early campus newsletters provided online, and historical publications and images from our library’s online research, I’ve been able to trace how women have been portrayed at St. Thomas for the past couple of decades. From the limited and often stereotypical roles assigned to women in the early 1900s to the more complex representations seen today, the evolution is significant. Yet, there are still gaps and tensions that reflect broader cultural shifts and ongoing challenges.  

This work has allowed me to reflect on the past and present, seeing how far we’ve come while also recognizing the work that remains. My time at the Luann Dummer Center for Women continues to deepen my understanding of feminist practice, community building, and the significance of creating spaces that care, empower, and educate all. I’m looking forward to next semester as we continue to work on fun and engaging events and content! 

 

Gender Justice, Fiber Arts, and Student Access to Menstrual Products

By R.H. 

This semester, I worked as an advocacy intern for Gender Justice. I spent some of my time onsite at their office, and some in the LDCW working on various projects for them. I have had the opportunity to conduct research and sit in on meetings, and I have learned a lot about gender-related policies and activism. I will continue my internship with Gender Justice in the spring, and am excited to continue working and learning there, as their mission and work match my interests very closely. 

I have also worked this semester on implementing some programming at the LDCW. I led several fiber art hours during the business week—these events were lovely, but faced some attendance issues, and I will be working on finding a new, optimized time to hold them during the spring semester. I have also continued to work on gathering data on menstrual products on campus with the Student Period Products Advisory Committee and will carry this out into the spring semester as well. 

 

Minnesota Aurora FC and Community Coffee Hour

By E.N.

When I started working with the Minnesota Aurora, I was a photographer and videographer. But as the season came to a close and us summer interns filled out our end-of-year feedback forms, I knew I wasn’t ready to leave. I have spent the last four months transitioning into the marketing communications department. The only problem? Aurora didn’t actually have a marketing manager in September. 

What first started as a disappointment turned into an opportunity. I’ve been able to follow Aurora’s journey from end of season, to hiring, and am now working with our marketing manager to build out Aurora’s marketing plan in real and lasting ways. This has meant helping create promotional materials for holiday merch drops, writing real content for the website, and exploring the future of Aurora’s brand. As my team is growing, so am I. 

In the Center, though, I have also been working on building a campus community through the Women’s Center. We’ve been using social media to increase visibility for our causes and services, and have seen a clear increase in both daily and event attendance. I’ve also been hosting a Community Coffee Hour every Tuesday, where anybody is free to stop in for coffee or tea, with a side of good conversation. It’s been so popular I can’t seem to keep supplies in stock. 

I felt that my first year was largely spent learning about St. Thomas and the Center. I am so grateful and proud that this year I’ve been able to help physically build our community, and I can’t wait to see everyone in the spring! 

 

Women Career Panel at DFC

By L.R. 

I have been focusing on helping connect the Center to the Dougherty Family College, which is located at the Minneapolis campus. The population of the Dougherty Family College is mainly female, and connecting the students with the Center would bring them a lot more resources.  

It’s been hard to connect the two campuses, but I’m making substantial progress. For Women’s History Month this upcoming March, the Center will be hosting a “women in the workplace” career panel on the Minneapolis campus in hopes to get more interaction with the Dougherty Family College students, and also to find out what support they would like from the Luann Dummer Center for Women. Hopefully this panel will help sustain an ongoing relationship between the Luann Dummer Center and the Dougherty Family College. 

 

New Food Shelf at the LDCW 

By Arianna Wegley

The Luann Dummer Center for Women has launched a food shelf that will be available to students during our regular open hours, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during J-Term. We encourage international students, especially, to make use of this resource. 

The LDCW is already widely known as a welcoming space where students can find fresh fruit, snacks, coffee, tea, and quick meal options. Having a dedicated food shelf is a practical and important way for the LDCW to support our campus community and help students get essential resources this winter. 

We would like to thank the many generous staff, faculty, and students who have donated to the food shelf! If you would like to make a donation of any shelf-stable dry goods, simply drop by during our open hours. 

The LDCW is located at the O’Shaughnessy Education Center in Room 103 (St. Paul Campus).   

 

Upcoming J-Term Events 

Ms. Magazine Writers Workshop for Faculty and Staff 

January 20-23, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

 

Many Voices 

A newsletter/blog from the Luann Dummer Center for Women 

 

Table of Contents 

Note from the Director 

Pop Culture 

Feminist Spooky Book Recommendations

The Evolution of Girl Power: From Madonna to Chappel Roan

Personal Reflections 

A Story of Self-Empowerment Through Public Speaking 

Women in History  

Belle da Costa Greene 

Queen Yodit of Ethiopia 

Upcoming Fall Events 

Ongoing at the LDCW 

Special Events 

 

Note from the Director 

By Liz Wilkinson 

We’ve made it through midterms and are careening toward a brief but beautiful Thanksgiving break. After that, in the blink of an eye, we’ll be wrapping things up and heading into finals. Every semester seems to go so slowly…until it doesn’t!  

Here at the Center, we’ve been enjoying the weekly ebb and flow of students, faculty, and staff at events. One of the standouts was our time with María José Iturralde, better known as Chochi, and Daniel Bryan from Fundación Pachaysana. Chochi and Daniel led us through two workshops, one for faculty and staff and one with students, that helped us to “re-story” our way of navigating the world. The simple exercises we did nudged us into recognizing and altering rote practices that keep us disconnected from each other. In one short hour, we created threads of relationship with our fellow work-shoppers and rethought our understanding of self. I think we all felt a little magic.  

In her evening talk, Chochi spoke to over 100 audience members on “Collective Re-Worlding through Feminine and Indigenous Power: A Path to Thriving Biodiverse Ecosystems.” It was one of those talks that condensed time; an hour felt like a handful of minutes. Audience questions were so thoughtful, and folks lingered in the OEC lobby talking with Chochi, Daniel, and each other. Picture me with a toothpicked cheese cube in my hand and a grin on my face, gazing at the groups of deeply engaged folx; this is what the LDCW is about and for. Connections. Relationships. Feminist re-worlding. 

A nod to what’s coming… During J-term, we’ll again be hosting a Ms. Magazine’s Writers in Residency workshop. Keep an eye out for a call for applications: any faculty and staff interested in refashioning feminist or womanist academic research into public facing articles are welcome to apply.  

This past summer’s workshop resulted in two of us getting published in Ms. Here are the links: 

‘Los Angeles Is for Everyone,’ ‘Pay Us What You Owe Us’: The Long History of Women Athletes Leading the Resistance – Ms. Magazine by Liz Wilkinson 

Sleep Is a Feminist Issue: Why Women’s Rest Is Political – Ms. Magazine by Roxanne Prichard 

Finally, we are already deep into our planning for March Women’s History Month! Last year we leaned into “The Power of Storytelling” with our fierce feminist speakers from The Moth. This year, we will take storytelling a step further… We are so excited for what’s brewing! Look for a big announcement coming soon, and be ready to connect with us, to create relationships with each other, and to join in some feminist re-worlding together.  

Feminism is for everybody! (thank you, bell hooks!) 

 

Pop Culture

Feminist Spooky Book Recommendations 

By E.N. 

These are my recommendations for a spooky feminist fall read, genre by genre. Every book on this list is written by a woman and addresses feminist issues in provocative and haunting measure. 

 

Tender is the Flesh, by Agustina Bazterrica 

Genre: Horror 

Themes: Bodily autonomy, dehumanization, free will, the cattle industry, propaganda, poverty 

Intern Rating: 5/5 Stars 

Summary: “Working at the local processing plant, Marcos is in the business of slaughtering humans—though no one calls them that anymore. 

His wife has left him, his father is sinking into dementia, and Marcos tries not to think too hard about how he makes a living. After all, it happened so quickly. First, it was reported that an infectious virus has made all animal meat poisonous to humans. Then governments initiated the “Transition.” Now, eating human meat—“special meat”—is legal. Marcos tries to stick to numbers, consignments, and processing. 

Then one day he’s given a gift: a live specimen of the finest quality. Though he’s aware that any form of personal contact is forbidden on pain of death, little by little he starts to treat her like a human being. And soon, he becomes tortured by what has been lost—and what might still be saved.” 

Review: This book is a chilling account of what happens not when we choose evil, but when we fail to choose good. I recommend this book to fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and those with very strong stomachs. This book holds an uncomfortable mirror to contemporary society and the passivity we adopt to enjoy the comforts of everyday life. 

 

How to be Eaten, by Maria Adelmann 

Genre: Psychological fiction, fairytale retelling 

Themes: Contemporary feminism, media ethics, cancel culture 

Intern Rating: 5/5 Stars 

Summary: “In present-day New York City, five women meet in a basement support group to process their traumas. Bernice grapples with the fallout of dating a psychopathic, blue-bearded billionaire. Ruby, once devoured by a wolf, now wears him as a coat. Gretel questions her memory of being held captive in a house made of candy. Ashlee, the winner of a Bachelor-esque dating show, wonders if she really got her promised fairy tale ending. And Raina’s love story will shock them all. 

Though the women start out wary of one another, judging each other’s stories, gradually they begin to realize that they may have more in common than they supposed . . . What really brought them here? What secrets will they reveal? And is it too late for them to rescue each other? 

Dark, edgy, and wickedly funny, this debut for readers of Carmen Maria Machado, Kristen Arnett, and Kelly Link takes our coziest, most beloved childhood stories, exposes them as anti-feminist nightmares, and transforms them into a new kind of myth for grown-up women.” 

Review: Each girl in this book is a case study in how the media and society treats women, from the reality TV star to a victim of grooming. By linking beloved fairytales to modern archetypes, Adelmann unites a story both nostalgic and reflective of contemporary society. I recommend this book to Disney adults, fans of The Office, and anyone who followed the #MeToo Movement. 

 

Notes on an Execution, by Danya Kukafka 

Genre: Psychological thriller, crime 

Themes: Women as victims of true crime 

Intern Rating: 4/5 Stars 

Summary: “Ansel Packer is scheduled to die in twelve hours. He knows what he’s done, and now awaits execution, the same chilling fate he forced on those girls, years ago. But Ansel doesn’t want to die; he wants to be celebrated, understood. He hoped it wouldn’t end like this, not for him. 

Through a kaleidoscope of women—a mother, a sister, a homicide detective—we learn the story of Ansel’s life. We meet his mother, Lavender, a seventeen-year-old girl pushed to desperation; Hazel, twin sister to Ansel’s wife, inseparable since birth, forced to watch helplessly as her sister’s relationship threatens to devour them all; and finally, Saffy, the homicide detective hot on his trail, who has devoted herself to bringing bad men to justice but struggles to see her own life clearly. As the clock ticks down, these three women sift through the choices that culminate in tragedy, exploring the rippling fissures that such destruction inevitably leaves in its wake. 

Blending breathtaking suspense with astonishing empathy, Notes on an Execution presents a chilling portrait of womanhood as it simultaneously unravels the familiar narrative of the American serial killer, interrogating our system of justice and our cultural obsession with crime stories, asking readers to consider the false promise of looking for meaning in the psyches of violent men.” 

Review: This book is a sharply critical analysis of how even the murders of women often centers male perpetrators. At no point does this book adopt the sentiment that men who murder are misunderstood. Rather, it delves into the psychology of a murder through the eyes of the women it touches. I recommend this book to those who love true crime, but especially to those who feel uncomfortable with the true crime industry. 

 

Manhunt, by Gretchen Felker-Martin 

Genre: Dystopian, horror 

Themes: Trans rights and identity, intersectionality, the body, zombies 

Intern Rating: 5/5 

Summary: “Beth and Fran spend their days traveling the ravaged New England coast, hunting feral men and harvesting their organs in a gruesome effort to ensure they’ll never face the same fate. 

Robbie lives by his gun and one hard-learned motto: other people aren’t safe. 

After a brutal accident entwines the three of them, this found family of survivors must navigate murderous TERFs, a sociopathic billionaire bunker brat, and awkward relationship dynamics―all while outrunning packs of feral men, and their own demons.” 

Review: Manhunt is both witty and heartbreaking. It is a clever twist on the classic zombie apocalypse book, featuring a virus that only affects men and two trans main characters. It addresses not just the violence perpetuated against women by men, but the violence we perpetuate against one another. I recommend this book to those who understand that everyone in Mean Girls was a mean girl, and anyone who doubts that trans and queer women are really women. 

 

Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley 

Genre: Classic 

Themes: Human nature, companionship, social responsibility, the pursuit of truth 

Intern Rating: 3/5 Stars 

Review: Brush up on the classic just in time for Guillermo del Toro’s cinematic release of Frankenstein! Whether this is your first impression or a reread of the book that launched the horror genre, viewing Frankenstein’s monster through a feminist lens will give you new insights to how women are viewed by society. 

 

The Evolution of Girl Power: From Madonna to Chappell Roan 

By E.V. 

Pop music has always been more than catchy hooks and glittery outfits, it’s been a mirror reflecting women’s voices, desires, and defiance. Across the decades, pop artists have redefined what it means to be a woman in control, in love, and in the spotlight. From Madonna’s unapologetic self-expression in the ‘80s to Chappell Roan’s campy rebellion today, “girl pop” has become a language of empowerment that evolves with each generation’s idea of feminism. 

 

Madonna: The Blueprint of Feminist Rebellion (1980s–1990s)   

When Madonna burst onto the scene in the early ‘80s, the music industry wasn’t ready for her kind of woman. She wasn’t just performing; she was provoking. Songs like “Express Yourself” and “Like a Prayer” didn’t just push pop boundaries; they pushed cultural ones. Madonna used her sexuality not as something to be exploited, but as something she owned.  

She blurred the line between sacred and profane, masculine, and feminine. In a time when women were told to choose one role, Madonna chose all of them and made it art. Her message was clear: empowerment means defining yourself, even when the world tells you not to. 

 

The Spice Girls: Mainstreaming Girl Power (1990s–2000s) 

If Madonna gave women permission to be bold, The Spice Girls gave a generation the slogan to do it: “Girl Power.”  

Emerging in the late ‘90s, the British group turned feminism into a global pop phenomenon. Their message wasn’t wrapped in academic theory. It was wrapped in platform shoes and catchy choruses. Songs like “Wannabe” and “Spice Up Your Life” celebrated female friendship, independence, and self-worth in a way that was both playful and profound.  

While critics sometimes dismissed “girl power” as commercialized feminism, The Spice Girls made empowerment accessible. For many young fans, they were the first introduction to the idea that girls could be loud, diverse, and supportive, not in competition, but in community. 

 

Olivia Rodrigo: Vulnerability as Power (2020s) 

Fast-forward to today, and we find a new kind of feminist voice in Olivia Rodrigo. Her debut album SOUR isn’t about overt rebellion, but about emotional honesty. Olivia writes about heartbreak, anger, jealousy, and self-doubt, all while rejecting the idea that girls should be “cool” or “put together.” 

In songs like “good 4 u” and “get him back!”, she channels rage and revenge, not to please anyone, but to process her emotions publicly and authentically. Her feminism is rooted in vulnerability as strength. Olivia’s openness about mental health, relationships, and self-discovery reflects Gen Z’s broader feminist movement, one that values emotional intelligence just as much as independence. 

 

Chappell Roan: Camp, Queerness, and Radical Self-Expression (Now) 

Enter Chappell Roan, the neon queen of pop’s newest wave. With theatrical performances, over-the-top visuals, and unapologetically queer lyrics, Chappell has redefined what “girl pop” can be.  

Her songs like “HOT TO GO!” and “Femininomenon” embrace femininity as performance art, a celebration of being loud, dramatic, and too much. In a culture that often tells women to tone it down, Chappell’s art says the opposite: dial it all the way up.  

She represents a feminism that’s intersectional and inclusive, embracing queerness, body autonomy, and creative freedom. Where Madonna fought for the right to own her body, and The Spice Girls championed sisterhood, Chappell fights for the right to exist as your truest, weirdest self. 

 

From Madonna to Chappell: What Girl Pop Says About Feminism Today 

Each generation’s “girl pop” reflects the feminist battles of its time: 

• Madonna fought to own her image and sexuality.
• The Spice Girls fought to make empowerment fun and mainstream.
• Olivia Rodrigo fights to make vulnerability valid and visible.
• Chappell Roan fights to make authenticity and queerness central to pop culture.

Together, they show that feminism in pop isn’t static, it’s alive, ever-changing, and shaped by the voices who dare to sing loudest. 

 

Girl Pop Isn’t Just About Catchy Songs 

From “Express Yourself” to “HOT TO GO!”, these artists prove that feminism can wear lipstick, cry over heartbreak, dance in glitter boots, and still demand equality. And that’s the beauty of it: girl power keeps evolving, just like the women who sing it. 

 

Personal Reflections

A Story of Self-Empowerment Through Public Speaking 

By R.H.  

When I was in my early teens, I was as awkward as anyone else, if not even more so. I walked around my high school every day, trying to avoid the eyes of everyone, and staying as quiet as possible. On the whole, I wanted to avoid being noticed by anyone. What could I, someone who struggled with confidence in her body, who was of average intelligence, and who brought nothing particularly interesting to the table, have to offer anyone? 

Near the end of my freshman year, I reluctantly joined my school’s forensics team, after pleas from a teacher who was struggling to recruit enough members to fill a roster. I ended up competing several times that year, and even more frequently throughout my sophomore year. In doing this, I began to become more confident. My category of choice was extemporaneous speaking—in every round, I was given a new prompt, usually related to politics, and gave a seven-or-so minute impromptu speech on the prompt. With my participation in extemp (as the cool kids called it), I began to realize a few things about myself. I began to recognize that I was smart. I knew a good amount about politics and could quickly formulate an answer to my given prompt as well as deliver this answer verbally. Before and throughout my recognition of these, my self-esteem began to expand. I realized that I was talented, could work under pressure, and that I did bring valuable opinions to the table.  

Public speaking is usually something that is feared or at least generally disliked by most members of the population. However, I have found it empowering in my journey from high school to college, and throughout my time at St. Thomas. Having the ability to express one’s opinions, in general situations as well as in a competitive setting, is freeing and can build confidence in anyone who participates in the activity. Everyone, especially women in this day and age, deserves to have a seat at the table in political discussions, and deserves to feel as though their opinion is valuable. There is nothing more feminist than the assured inclusion of voices and opinions from all backgrounds, experiences, and identities. Sometimes, someone just needs a little push to participate in confidence-building activities such as forensics, as I did.  

If you are interested in building self-confidence through public speaking skills, feel free to reach out to University of St. Thomas Speech and Debate Club through the information provided on their TommieLink page. 

 

Women in History

Belle da Costa Greene and Queen Yodit of Ethiopia 

 

Belle da Costa Greene

By J.K.

Belle da Costa Greene, born Belle Marion Greener, is famously known as J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian. The Pierpont Morgan Library started construction in 1902, and Belle da Costa Greene was hired in 1905. Belle grew up in a prominent Black family; however, after her father left, Belle’s mother moved them to New York, where they began to pass as white.  

During this time, there were fewer career opportunities for women, especially for Black women. Due to these social restrictions, Belle was unique in her position. She worked for the Morgan family in their library until her retirement. After J.P. Morgan’s death, Belle convinced his son, and heir, to open the previously private library public.  

Not much information is known about Belle da Costa Greene. It was not until 1999, when an article was written about her in The New Yorker, that it was discovered that she was not white. The information discovered about her has been pieced together from her correspondence, newspaper coverage, and other professional paperwork. All personal paperwork was destroyed by Belle before her death. 

The novel, The Personal Librarian, is a historical fiction novel about Belle da Costa Greene and her time working in the Pierpont Morgan Library. Although many of the interactions are exaggerated in the book, the storyline is based on what is known of Belle’s life. 

 

References

“Belle Da Costa Greene, the Morgan’s First Librarian and Director.” Belle Da Costa Greene, the Morgan’s First Librarian and Director | The Morgan Library & Museum, www.themorgan.org/belle-greene.  

Benedict, Marie, and Victoria Christopher Murray. The Personal Librarian. Berkley, 2022.  

Colclough, Joanna. “Belle de Costa Greene: Library Director, Advocate, and Rare Books Expert.: Headlines & Heroes.” The Library of Congress, 8 Feb. 2022, blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2022/02/belle-de-costa-greene/. 

 

Queen Yodit of Ethiopia

By L.G.

Queen Yodit, also known as Gudit or Judith, was a warrior queen who ruled Ethiopia in the 10th century CE and is remembered as one of the most influential figures in the nation’s early history.  

Emerging during the Aksumite Empire, Yodit led a rebellion that overthrew the Aksumite dynasty, ending Christian rule and ushering in a new political era. Chronicles describe her as a brilliant military strategist and ruthless conqueror who burned churches, destroyed monuments, and seized the throne, ruling for approximately forty years. Because of her actions, many Christian sources depict her as a destroyer driven by vengeance.  

According to some versions, Yodit was raised in the Aksumite court, possibly as a noblewoman or captive, but was humiliated, exiled, or wronged by the king. In contrast, non-Christian traditions view her as a liberator who challenged a corrupt monarchy. Her name, “Gudit,” derived from the Amharic and Ge’ez words for “fire” or “destruction,” symbolizes her power and the dramatic transformation she brought to Ethiopia. 

 

Upcoming Fall Events 

 

Ongoing at the LDCW

 

CAPS Platonic Book Circle with Dr. GiGi Giordano 

November 13 and December 4, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. 

 

Care and Connection Series 

November 20 and December 11, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. 

 

Community Coffee Hour 

Tuesdays, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. 

 

Feminist Community Karaoke 

November 30, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 

 

Feminist Community Meetings 

Thursdays, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. 

 

Feminist Community Movie Night 

November 9 and December 14, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 

 

Fiber Arts Hour 

November 17 and December 15, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. 

 

Power Hours: Protected Writing Hours for Faculty and Staff 

Tuesdays, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. 

 

WGSS Feminist Forums: Feminists at Work in the World 

December 5, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. 

 

Special Events 

 

LACS Movie Night 

November 6, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. 

 

OPUS College of Business: Queer in Business Panel  

November 12, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. (MCH 100) 

 

Sustainability Sips 

November 18, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. 

 

SDIS Purple Couch Event with Giiwedin 

November 21, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. (Location TBD) 

Note from the Director, Dr. Liz Wilkinson

Hello! Thanks for picking up or clicking on our newly relaunched iteration of Many Voices – the newsletter for the Luann Dummer Center for Women. I am excited to be in the second of a three-year term as Director of the Luann Dummer Center for Women, while also fulfilling my duties of teaching for the English; Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies; and Sports Studies departments. Especially in this time when so many centers for women and equity are having their funding cut or are being eliminated entirely, we are so fortunate and so thankful for the endowment from our namesake, Dr. Luann Dummer. Her prescience – that the fight for women’s rights would be a journey without an endpoint – allows us to continue doing the good work of feminism, protected from the external forces that try (but fail!) to snuff out our many voices.

This academic year, as you’ll see in this newsletter, eight LDCW interns are working on amazing projects inside and outside of the university. Additionally, we are all chiming in on the definitions and the ongoing necessity of feminism. We’re working to spread the word about the power of feminism to do good in our world. To help us harness our best and brightest selves, we’ve added LDCW Coordinator, Arianna Wegley, to our team. We couldn’t do this work without her!

We are developing truly exciting events for the fall – a full list is available at the end of newsletter and on various campus apps – and we hope you will find something(s) that speak to you. The mission of the Luann Dummer Center for Women is to assist women – to include lesbian, bisexual, asexual, gender-non-binary, and/or transgender individuals who identify as feminists or support the advancement of women – in achieving their highest potential. We are steadfastly committed to that mission, and we invite you to join us!

“This Is What Feminism Looks Like!”

Luann Dummer Center for Women interns weigh in on feminism and why it matters today

S.B.

On my first day of class, during ice breakers, one of the characteristics my professor mentioned about himself was that for “personal reasons,” he is not a Feminist. To me, that was a comment that was not only unrelated to our class topic but also made me wonder how all the women in our class felt after hearing that.

At that moment, I was thinking, what does he think Feminism is? Feminism at its very core means equality and justice. Believing and allowing all people who identify as female, assigned at birth or not, to be treated as equally as men and guarantee human dignity for all. To be inclusive and affirming of women, across their differences; celebrating their achievements and struggles, and providing a positive and affirming stance towards women and expressions of the feminine.

Feminism has also managed to connect people and social justice movements across the globe, bringing women together and making them stronger in their stand for independence and equality. Feminism is borderless and beneficial for all.

Looking back at this definition, and the impacts of Feminist waves, I was thinking to myself, why wouldn’t you support this? What act of Feminism would harm men in any way in which they are against or afraid? Feminism, contrary to what people might think, is not taking opportunities away from men, but ensuring both men and women get an equal chance at receiving opportunities. Why wouldn’t you want these rights and support for your loved ones? You mom, your sister, your partner, or your child. What is it about Feminism that is so scary?

To this day, I haven’t found a satisfactory answer to these questions. I believe some of these feelings and “personal reasons” come from a place of insecurity, and the toxic belief that men are more capable or better than women. All this tells me is how important it is that we educate ourselves about Feminism and what it actually means, and finding ways to apply it to our day-to-day lives and support one another. In challenging times like these where women’s rights are being attacked, our strongest tool is going to be knowledge. It is only by educating ourselves that we can have conversations that would open people’s minds and have them join us in our fight against inequality.

R.H.

Feminism is a movement towards the goal of universal recognition that all people have equal dignity, value, independence, and potential to achieve, regardless of their gender.

Women have not always been afforded the right to higher education at the University of St. Thomas. 1977 was the first year that women were admitted to attend (only 48 years ago)! This was a relatively late gender-equity development at a university due to the fact that St. Thomas was originally an institution solely for seminary students. The first class of women at St. Thomas graduated in 1980.

The women’s studies major was established at St. Thomas and the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) in 1991. St. Thomas professors Catherine Craft-Fairchild and Ann Johnson co-taught the first introductory class in the program! In 2019, the ACTC’s Women’s Studies Consortium transitioned into being a more intersectional collaborative with several independent programs instead of just one—this was called the Twin Cities Women and Gender Studies Collaborative. St. Thomas’s program also changed its name to Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies that same year thanks to the initiative of Dr. Paola Ehrmantraut.

St. Thomas has been a changemaker within Minnesota in its education about women, gender, and sexuality. Though it is important to celebrate this work and all that has come of it, there must also be constant recognition of the fact that progress erodes. We, the University of St. Thomas, must continue to make active feminist change in every area we can, and stay vigilant against efforts opposing such change.

References

Tales from the Archives: 45th Anniversary of Coeducation

‘Almost Like Home Base’: Women’s Studies at the University of St. Thomas

J.K.

Feminism is the acknowledgement and celebration of women’s accomplishments. It strives to create an inclusive and equal space for all gender identities. Feminism is still extremely relevant today in our current area of political unrest. We, as a society, are very divided because of patriarchal ideals ingrained in our social structure.

Until the 1990s, it was not common medical practice to use women in clinical trials. Meaning, side effects in women were unknown for many treatments and medications. In 2019, only 49% of studies included men and women in the same study. In the last decade, there has not been any change in the number of studies that analyze data based on sex. Women’s health is still an under-researched field that affects diagnoses and treatment for women.

Medical inequality is not the only reason that modern feminism is still important. This not only affects female-identifying people but also affects everyone in our society through varying social expectations that force a certain narrative based on one’s sex.

References

Balch, Bridget, et al. “Why We Know so Little about Women’s Health.” AAMC, 26 Mar. 2024, www.aamc.org/news/why-we-know-so-little-about-women-s-health.

N.L.

For me, feminism means dignity, safety, having a voice that is heard, and opportunities for leadership. As a Black woman from Guyana, these are not abstract ideas; they are the very things that shape whether women can live full lives. Too often, women in my community carry the weight of violence, poverty, and discrimination while being overlooked in decision-making spaces. Feminism gives me the language to demand more, but womanism helps me see myself more fully in that struggle.

Mainstream feminism often speaks about equality, but it can feel far removed from the realities of women in South America and the Caribbean. Womanism, as described by Alice Walker (1983), centers Black women’s experiences and honors the balance between survival, community, and self-definition. In Guyana, this perspective matters because women’s lives are shaped not only by patriarchy but also by race, class, and the long history of colonial inequality (Andaiye, 2020). Afro-Guyanese women face systemic barriers tied to poverty and racism. Indigenous women still fight for recognition of land and cultural rights. Indo-Guyanese women navigate strong patriarchal traditions.

To me, feminism is not only about gender equality but about ensuring that women can walk home safely at night, that their voices are respected in politics and workplaces, and that young girls see women as leaders worth emulating. A womanist lens deepens this by showing how women’s dignity and leadership are tied to the survival of entire communities. Issues like maternal mortality in Guyana, which remains one of the highest in the Americas (PAHO, 2023), or access to economic resources are not just women’s issues. They are matters of justice and collective survival.

As the late Guyanese activist Andaiye explained, “The struggle for women’s rights is also the struggle for social justice” (Andaiye, 2020, p. 15). Feminism, as I live it, looks like women being safe, respected, and able to lead. Womanism makes sure that, as a Black Guyanese woman, my story is not an afterthought but central to the fight for change.

References

Andaiye. (2020). The Point is to Change the World: Selected Writings of Andaiye. Pluto Press.

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). (2023). Maternal Mortality in the Americas. https://www.paho.org/en/data

Walker, A. (1983). In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

E.N.

Feminism is: The belief that a just world creates political, economic, and cultural equality for all people regardless of gender.

Sports are and always has been political. Sport has brought marginalized communities to the forefront of culture, it has been a display of both military power and national pride, and it has been a tool of protest.

Former NFL player Joe Ehrmann said in his 2013 TedTalk “Be A Man,”:

“Sports have always been a way to integrate immigrants into American culture. Every ethnic group that’s ever been ghettoized, sports has created a way into that ghetto. When you talk about civil rights, when you talk about human rights, when you talk about women’s rights, you think of the role of sports and athletics…”

The expansion of women’s sports means an expansion of opportunities across one of the largest entertainment industries in the world. Since the WNBA’s founding in 1996, professional women’s sports leagues have exploded across the U.S.

St. Paul is now host to the Twin Cities Geminis, one of six teams in the new Women’s Elite Rugby league. Women’s Pro Baseball League will launch in 2026, and the Professional Women’s Hockey League saw more than 1.2 million fans attend games in its first two seasons.

With this wave comes opportunities for female athletes, but also coaches, media professionals, operations technicians, and strategists. Women’s sports create greater opportunities in a socially powerful and economically successful industry. By uplifting women and cultivating their potential, we make the world bigger for all people.

L.R.

To me, feminism means something different for everyone. While the Oxford English Dictionary defines feminism as “advocacy of equality of the sexes and the establishment of the political, social, and economic rights of the female sex,” you don’t just have to be female or someone assigned the female sex to be a feminist. Feminism is something that you believe in, it’s wanting fairness for all despite the genitalia and chromosomes you were born with.

Some misrepresent what feminism is and stands for, some conflate feminism with misandry or a hatred for men, believing that feminism is about female superiority rather than gender equality. While others have selective support, they say they support equality but reject feminist movements. Especially when it comes to addressing issues like reproductive rights, workplace equality, and gender-based violence.

To me and a lot of other women, feminism means getting recognized for your worth as a human being, and being seen for your accomplishments, not just that you made it to the table as a woman.

LDCW Internship Partnering with Minnesota Aurora FC

E.N.

The Minnesota Aurora is a community-owned women’s soccer team in the USL-W and UPSL leagues. They’ve won the Heartland Division title all four years since their founding in 2021. Their core values of transformation, inclusivity, accessibility, and empowerment help the Aurora make waves in all of women’s sports, not just for soccer athletes. I interned with them this summer as a videography and storytelling intern. Here’s how my internship contributed to the Minnesota Aurora’s core values:

Transformation:

I was able to help launch Behind the Northern Lights, an initiative to spotlight, support, and eventually pay the interns of Minnesota Aurora. My materials will be used to support the success of next year’s interns and to gather resources and funding for the internship program moving forward.

Inclusivity:

I captured and platformed the many initiatives Aurora takes towards inclusivity. From documenting through video the unique personalities of each player to turning my lens towards Aurora’s diverse and capable staff, I made videos featuring the strength of Aurora’s differences.

Accessibility:

By creating highlight reels, headshots, and statistical videos for the team, I provided tools that athletes need to further their careers. My skills provided for the athletes’ needs off the field.

Empowerment:

My work not only supported the athletes, but also my fellow interns. I am proud to have been able to advance the careers of both female athletes and other young professionals.

What am I doing next?

My contract with the Aurora has been extended into the fall 2025 semester. I will be moving into the marketing communications department to continue supporting the success and values of Minnesota Aurora and women’s sports.

Gender-Affirming Tommie’s Closet News

S.B.

Here at Luann Dummer Center for Women, located at O’Shaughnessy Education Center (OEC), we support all students regardless of their gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, and religion. All people from all backgrounds and stories are welcome here.

Embodied in LDCW’s mission is fostering the intellectual, spiritual, and personal development of women and promoting an open and diverse campus environment. By providing opportunities for self-development and academic enrichment, the center serves as a meeting place for women and allies. The category “woman,” we further acknowledge, includes, but is not limited to, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, gender-non-binary, and/or transgender individuals who identify as feminists or support the advancement of women.

One of the resources available to all at the center is the Gender-Affirming Closet. This closet, in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability, provides students with the opportunity to explore aspects of gender expression and gender identity in a safe and supportive space. All are welcome to come and grab clothing items from the closet, with the opportunity to return them if they don’t find them suitable for any reason. We also accept donations: clothes, toiletries, and accessories can be dropped off at the Center.

The Gender-Affirming Closet has been very successful in the past year, and we are excited to maintain and grow it here at the Center. Students have mentioned how the closet has helped them feel more comfortable in their body, and how they feel less pressured while trying on new stuff because they can easily return it at any time, and because the LDCW is a judgment-free space. We are proud to be a resource that supports our students in their journey of self-discovery.

Menstrual Product Access Update

R.H.

Over the summer, staff from the Center for Well-Being (CWB) worked on various back-end projects to help advance access to menstrual products on the St. Thomas campus. The outward-facing website page describing free product locations on campus was updated, and exact room numbers were added to ensure that those in need of products can find them right away. The updated web page can be viewed at Menstrual and Lactation Resources.

Additionally, CWB staff worked with Tommie Central to ensure that their student employees know where menstrual products are located on campus and can therefore direct folks to find them as needed.

A contact from St. Thomas Law also reached out to the CWB and asked for assistance in setting up dispensers in the School of Law building. The CWB will be helping the School of Law in this endeavor in the near future.

Going forward, the CWB will be working on expanding departmental knowledge of their ability to install and maintain dispensers across campus. If departments wish to have dispensers installed in their space, they only need to contact the CWB with their request and pay for the dispenser. The CWB will take care of installation and the continued filling of the dispensers on an annual basis. The goal with this is to ensure that dispensers are available to students wherever they are needed!

The Student Menstrual Product Advisory Committee will assist the CWB in these efforts by gathering student data on where menstrual product “deserts” exist on the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses. Additionally, the Committee will work on creating and distributing informational materials that inform the student population of menstrual products on-campus and that help to destigmatize the topic of menstruation as a whole at St. Thomas.

Fun fact: OEC continues to show the highest circulation of menstrual products of any building on campus! This goes to show that students know where products are available for them, and use these products when they need them. The work to advance menstrual access is on our campus is important, especially as St. Thomas continues to grow in numbers and flourish as an institution.

Sustainability with South African Women in Khaylitsha

M.A.

On July 31st, eight women based in Khaylitsha, South Africa, joined in on a Zoom meeting held at the Luann Dummer Center for Women (LDCW). Though they were strangers to the people stateside, I worked with these women all summer doing community composting. The Chumisa Team (Shaylee, Wezo, Lindo, and I) would visit them weekly to check their bins and collect pre-compost. We would then take the pre-compost from households to Chumisa Community Composting site to continue the composting process. Right behind Chumisa Community Composting sits the White House, the community center where most of these women have plots where they grow vegetables that their families consume. They also meet at the White House to socialize and engage with other community members.

Their involvement in the community through agriculture is already bringing significant changes to Khaylitsha. They have advanced Chumisa Community Composting acting as community leaders. Two of the elderly ladies, Mama Toku and Mama Lumka, in particular, stand out with community leadership efforts. We would see them at the White House every day as they tended to their vegetables. They like to keep busy, so they also do the majority of household cooking and composting. Mamas Toku and Lumka help make the White House the community center it is.

The purpose of the Zoom meeting was to connect women like Mama Toku and Mama Lumka to people at LDCW. In doing so, we were hoping to widen the St. Thomas community and share the perspectives of women whose voices are unfamiliar to most people here at the university. The elderly ladies shared their experiences moving from Eastern Cape to the Western Cape and how that shaped their farming.

Additionally, they reflected on their experiences living in apartheid South Africa and how things have changed overtime. They talked about their gardens and how they benefit from that. For instance, the women who have plots at the White House do not buy any vegetables because they are able to grow everything they need. Additionally, their involvement in Chumisa Community Composting is helping create accessible organic compost in Khaylitsha. Their stories and commitment to community are nothing short of inspiring. I hope to have more meetings with them so more people can hear their stories.

Centering Women in Climate Change: Intern Reflections from The Climate Knowledge Collective

N.L.

Over the 2024-2025 academic year, my colleague L. G. and I have had the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Peg Spitzer a professor at Stony Brook’s College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Spitzer founded the Climate Knowledge Collective to highlight her studies in women’s leadership in climate change adaptation. The Climate Knowledge Collective (CKC) has a special dedication to spotlighting the climate leadership of women in the global south.

Our focus has been on reviewing and curating oral histories: firsthand accounts of women leaders from across Africa and the Caribbean who are responding to the effects of climate change in their communities. These stories carry powerful insight into the human impact of environmental degradation and the innovative, community-based solutions being developed to address it. One of my favorites being, in Senegal’s Saloum Delta, Fatoumata Fall works with women’s cooperatives to restore mangroves, a critical ecosystem that protects against coastal erosion and provides sustainable livelihoods. Her story not only highlights the urgency of climate resilience, but also showcases how women are leading practical, community-rooted change from the ground up.

L. G. and I have worked with Dr. Spitzer to select vital information from these oral histories that would be beneficial to students, researchers, and the broader public. We’ve also collaborated with Nas Ferns, the CKC website manager, to make these insights accessible online. Our weekly meetings with Dr. Spitzer have helped us shape content that is both thoughtful and educational. She’s also invited us to participate in her classes via Zoom, where we’ve shared reflections on the work and learned from others engaging with climate change across disciplines.

As student interns at the Luann Dummer Center for Women, this project has been deeply meaningful. The LDCW is grounded in feminist principles that emphasize equity, global understanding, and women’s voices in social justice movements. Our work with CKC reflects those very principles. By amplifying the lived experiences of women in the Global South, we’re actively contributing to a more inclusive and intersectional understanding of climate justice, one that centers the knowledge and leadership of those most affected.

As a student with a deep personal and academic connection to the environment particularly how it intersects with public health and its disproportionate impact on women this work has been especially insightful. Engaging with these narratives has deepened my understanding of how gender and geography shape both vulnerability and resilience in the face of climate change. Collaborating with L. G., who is pursuing an undergraduate degree in data analytics, has also enhanced this experience. Her lens allowed us to approach the oral histories not only as stories, but as qualitative data, making connections and drawing patterns I may not have recognized on my own. Together, we’ve been able to merge different ways of thinking to bring these voices forward with care, clarity, and purpose.

At a time when young people are increasingly aware of the urgent challenges ahead, from rising global temperatures to climate-related displacement, it is more important than ever to highlight the work already being done by those most affected.

Our contributions can be found on the CKC website (ckcollective.org), where educators, students, and researchers can learn from these experiences and apply them in both academic and community settings. This opportunity has shown us that climate knowledge grows stronger when it is shared, and that real change begins by listening to the people who live at the heart of the crisis. In many ways, it also reflects the Luann Dummer Center for Women’s theme from the past academic year, The Power of Storytelling, reminding us that stories are not just reflections of experience, but tools for advocacy, education, and collective action.

Lucille’s Bottle Shop, Sipping Differently, Building Community

E.V.

When you walk into Lucille’s Bottle Shop in downtown St. Paul, there’s a feeling. It’s calm, intentional, inviting. The shop isn’t about clinking glasses at happy hour. It’s about connection, flavor, creativity, all without alcohol. Lucille’s is changing how we think about beverages, gathering, and home life, and for that, it deserves a place in Many Voices.

Meet the Founders

Lucille’s was co-founded by Alexandra Zauner and Christina Arnt. People want sophisticated, fun, social spaces that don’t center alcohol. Christina and Alexandra teamed up to make that vision real. What started as a pop-up has since grown into a full-storefront bottle shop and social space.

What Makes Lucille’s Unique

Alcohol-free doesn’t mean flavor-free. The shelves are filled with thoughtfully curated non-alcoholic beverages, mocktails, zero-proof spirits, and alcohol-free wines for people who love taste and experience without the buzz.

Social experience built in. Lucille’s isn’t just a store. It’s a space for learning and connection: tastings, spirit-free cocktail classes, and community events.

Aiming for inclusivity. Whether someone is sober by choice, by health, by lifestyle, or just curious, Lucille’s invites everyone in. It’s a place where people can explore new flavors, try something different, and feel comfortable.

The Journey

Starting up hasn’t been without its hurdles. Alexandra shares that being sober in a culture that often equates social life with drinking was part of what motivated her but also meant working against norms.

Finding the right space, building an inventory of quality non-alcoholic brands, and educating customers who might be unfamiliar with the alcohol-free movement. All of this has been part of the work. But with each event, each new product, and every person who discovers Lucille’s, the shop is showing there’s a real demand in the community.

How You Can Support Lucille’s

Here are ways to show up for Lucille’s and for the wider alcohol-free/sober/non-alcoholic community in the Twin Cities:

Visit the shop for tastings or attend a spirit-free cocktail class. Try something you haven’t done before.

Spread the word. If you know friends or family who might be curious but skeptical, invite them. Your enthusiasm helps.

Shop non-alcoholic first. When choosing drinks for gatherings or gifts, consider purchasing from Lucille’s and similar businesses.

Why Lucille’s Matters in Many Voices

Lucille’s is more than a shop. It’s a shift in culture. It’s proof that entrepreneurship rooted in health, intention, and inclusion can thrive. It’s also an example of someone turning their lived experience (sober life, wanting different options) into something that serves many others.

For us at the Luann Dummer Center, Lucille’s embodies what we hope to highlight: leadership from the margins, innovation, and the forging of spaces where more people can belong.

References

Lucille’s Bottle Shop. “Bottle Shop + Tasting Room.” Lucille’s Bottle Shop, 2024, lucillesbottleshop.com/pages/bottle-shop-and-tasting-room. Accessed 11 Sept. 2025.

“Lucille’s Bottle Shop Taps into Alcohol-Free Gatherings.” KARE11, 2024, kare11.com/article/money/business/behind-the-business/lucilles-bottleshop-taps-into-alcohol free-gatherings/89-0470bd80-52af-4a51-9753-c3a273702b7f. Accessed 11 Sept. 2025.

“Downtown Bar Opens Without the Booze.” St. Paul Publishing, 2024, stpaulpublishing.com/downtown-bar-opens-without-the-booze. Accessed 11 Sept. 2025.

Feminist Movie Review: Barbie

J.K.

This summer blockbuster is a staple in our society. It’s highly advertised and anticipated all year, and when it’s finally released, people flock to the theaters to see it. For years, the summer blockbuster was typically an action movie with a male lead. That was until 2023, when Greta Gerwig’s Barbie was released. While Barbie did seem to compete with Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer at the box office, Barbie made 1.4 billion to Oppenheimer’s 900 million.

This was such an important film for women and girls. Not only did Barbie provide an excellent message, but it also provided a sense of community for all those who went to see it. People would show up at theaters in pink, or other costumes, and had a chance to connect with those around them. I think the difficult part about Barbenheimer was that we had created a safe space to reminisce, connect, and enjoy our femininity, but Barbie was criticized, and people claimed it lacked substance.

Barbie made a very important commentary on our society and the pressures we put on both men and women. We saw Barbie struggle with being a woman in the Real World, where we are doubted and looked down upon because of our gender. We also saw Ken, who finally discovered some power and took it for granted. He was overcome by toxic masculine expectations and ended up hurting those around him in an attempt to comply with those ideals. For me, it was hard to hear such harsh and biased criticisms about a movie that finally made me feel seen.

Feminist Book Review: Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

J.K.

In the spring of 2024, the Luann Dummer Center for Women hosted author Alison Bechdel. Bechdel’s first book, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, is a graphic novel detailing complex family relationships and an exploration of sexuality. This novel looks at Bechdel’s childhood and her relationships with her family, specifically her father, as she gets older. It was a very interesting novel to read, and it was unique among popular novels today. It pushes the idea of identity and self-discovery in adolescent years and is a refreshing change of pace from mainstream media. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic was written in 2006, and it is still relevant today in its somewhat serious, yet still comical presentation of Bechdel’s life.

Bechdel has written a number of other books, including The Secret to Human Strength, which can be found in the Luann Dummer Center for Women’s Library, among many other pieces of feminist literature. Books from the Center’s library are available for checkout.

Local Feminist History

L.G.

Nellie Francis was born in Nashville in 1874 and moved with her family to St. Paul in 1885. In 1891, she became the only African American graduate of St. Paul High School, now known as Central High School.

Nellie worked as a stenographer for several years at the West Publishing Company and later rose through the ranks at the Northern Pacific Railway. In church, she served for many years as a teacher and superintendent of Pilgrim Baptist’s primary Sunday school, and as president of its Aid Society.

Francis was active in civic life. She led the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, served as president of the Everywoman Suffrage Club in Minnesota, and represented the organization as a delegate to state suffrage conferences. In 1909, she met President Taft at the White House, and in 1921 she met President Harding.

In the mid-1910s, Francis formed an all-Black women’s singing group called the Folk Song Coterie, which performed exclusively African American music. To her, this was the true American folk music. The Coterie often performed at patriotic events during World War I.

After the tragic lynching of three Black carnival workers in Duluth in 1920, Francis was credited with drafting the related anti-lynching bill and played a major role in guiding it through the Minnesota Legislature, where it passed with near-unanimous support. She is considered the first African American woman to lobby the Minnesota Legislature.

In 1924, Nellie and her husband contracted to buy a home in an all-white neighborhood of St. Paul. In protest, neighbors organized the “Creton Improvement Association,” held noisy demonstrations, burned a cross on the couple’s lawn, and even offered them a thousand dollars not to move in. The Francises moved in anyway.

Upcoming Fall Events

Ongoing at the LDCW

CAPS Platonic Book Circle with Dr. GiGi Giordano

October 9, November 13, and December 4, 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.

 

Care and Connection Series

October 2, October 30, November 6, November 20, and December 11,

5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

 

Community Coffee Hour

Tuesdays, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

 

Feminist Community Karaoke

September 28, October 26, and November 30, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

 

Feminist Community Meetings

Thursdays, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

 

Feminist Community Movie Night

October 12, November 9, and December 14, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

 

Fiber Arts Hour

September 22, October 20, November 17, and December 15, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

 

Power Hours: Protected Writing Hours for Faculty and Staff

Mondays, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. and Tuesdays 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

 

WGSS Feminist Forums: Feminists at Work in the World

September 26, October 31, and December 5, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m.

 

Special Events

Women Faculty Leadership Council Fall Discussion and Reception

September 25, 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. (ASC 340 and TMH 204)

 

Luann Dummer’s Birthday (Open House)

October 1, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

Period Action Day (Open House)

October 8, 10:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

 

Collective Re-Worlding through Feminine and Indigenous Power: A Path to Thriving Biodiverse Ecosystems by María José Iturralde

October 15, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. (OEC Auditorium)

 

Gender-Affirming Closet Donation Drive and Open House

October 22, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 

Glow Up, Rise Up: Feminism and Skincare

October 30, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.