AKA Makes an Extraordinary Presence at "Powerful Noise Live"
Members to continue to bring issues facing poor women to the forefront
Members from all over the nation converged upon 450 movie theaters to view the movie, A Powerful Noise Live. The movie is a story of three women fighting to overcome overwhelming challenges.
Hanh is an HIV-positive widow in Vietnam fighting discrimination against women with AIDS and fighting for preventive measures.
Jacqueline educates girls in Mali and empowers them to realize their potential.
Nada started a women's cooperative after the Bosnian war.
While their paths and challenges are different, they are bound by a resolve to make a difference. Therefore, A Powerful Noise Live is, ultimately, a tribute to the endurance of these three women and how their resilience is effecting change.
As a CARE partner, Alpha Kappa Alpha illustrated its seriousness to addressing the challenges in the movie by having a strong presence.
Prior to its showing, CARE global ambassador and executive producer Sheila C. Johnson acknowledged Alpha Kappa Alpha's hard work and thanked members. This nod to AKA elicited applause and shouts of affirmation from members in the audience.
This unique International Women's Day event engaged people all over the country in a movement to empower women and girls in the fight against global poverty, which was the core theme of the movie.
A Powerful Noise told the story of the unbending efforts of three women in Bosnia, Mali and Vietnam to create change in their communities.
The movie chronicled the history of each of the women and the impetus that led to their decision to lead movements. The women endured poverty, violence, resistance and the disdain of the "establishment" to make a difference in the lives of women they influenced.
Immediately after the film, a panel discussion took place that featured CARE president and CEO Dr. Helene Gayle, actress Natalie Portman, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof and CARE Advocate for Maternal Health and contributing editor for Marie Claire magazine Christy Turlington Burns. NBC's Ann Curry moderated the discussion.
Melody M. McDowell, AKA's chief information officer, who viewed the movie with other members at a theater in suburban Chicago, said she was struck by the women's courage. She was also struck by how important education is to the women, because young girls in Africa lamented that they'd like to go to school without being raped en route, and girls in Afghanistan were often tortured by having acid thrown in their faces on their way to school. In the face of these acts of violence, women found innovative ways to get educated, including home schooling.
Christy Turlington Burns said this willingness to endure all forms of torture and indignity to get an education should be a lesson to Americans who are afforded a free education and do not appreciate it. She noted the drop-out rate in America and juxtaposed that against those in these countries who are so eager for an education that they risk their lives.
As a CARE partner, Alpha Kappa Alpha illustrated its seriousness to addressing the challenges in the movie by having a strong presence.
"From our inception, Alpha Kappa Alpha has been committed to improving the living standard and increasing opportunities for women," said Barbara McKinzie, international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. "We are proud to partner with CARE to bring the issues and crises facing poor women to the forefront." McKinzie noted that as a follow-up to the film, AKA chapters will continue the discussion by hosting forums and discussion groups."
CARE officials noted that AKA factored in the success by having strong representation at the film.
"We couldn't have done it without you," they said.