How Can Our "Rosies" Lead Us Back To Programming Basics?

Community members with the most challenges, whether it be physical, emotional, intellectual, or other, have as much, if not more, to share with others. Similarly, community activity professionals who may be new to the field, younger or older than most, or from different backgrounds /belief systems, have much to share with others.

For these reasons, I propose a "Back To Basics" component of MAP's website. Betsy-Best Martini, my co-coordinator of MAP, inspired me with this concept. For a start, let's discuss how MAP's upcoming September 14 Zoom presentation on "The Rosie Legacy: Honoring Our Home Front Elders, can lead us back to programming basics.

Who can share WWII homefront stories?

If Home Front heroes were active during WWII, they would be around 100 years old today. How many of our elder communities have members in their late 90s or over 100? Probably very few, if any. Yet, these "Rosies" deserve to be honored. The children of Rosies are now mostly in their 60s and 70s. Community members and staff and family members in their 60s and 70s and their descendants can share their mother's/aunt's/grandmother's heroic Rosie stories.

Why is it important that these stories of our Rosie ancestors be shared?

• By listening to these stories, we can learn about the values of social service, dedication, perseverance, meeting challenges head on, honoring our ancestors, and much more.

• We can learn about how America’s homefront during WW II impacts American life today.

• We can become aware of those in the U.S. who were treated unjustly during WWII, such as the Japanese in internment camps and African Americans who were not allowed to work in the factories.

Here are a few ways our "Rosies" can lead us back to programming basics:

• Highlight, every month, community members who write/tell a story about themselves or their mother/father/relative/friend who was a homefront hero during WWI.

• Highlight, every month, staff members who write/tell a story about their mother/father/relative/friend who was a Home Front hero during WWI. Include stories about those who were persecuted, such as the WWII Japanese immigrants and Japanese-Americans who were sent to prison camps.

• Show and discuss media about homefront heros and those who were persecuted during WWII. Examples:

songs, such as Rosie the Riveter Song

films, such as "Blossoms and Thrones"

books, such as Rosie the Riveter Women Working on the Homefront during WWII.

quotes, such as Quotes by Famous People: Rosie the Riveter

• Share WWII homefront stories with family members in a monthly newsletter.

• Take community members on a field trip to the Rosie the Riveter Museum 10 minutes across the San Rafael bridge in Richmond to learn more about America's homefront during WWII.