Two online conversations
Allison Gilbert with Dr. Amy K. Milligan: Monday, March 25, 6:45 pm
Linda Dayan Frimer: Wednesday, March 27, 12 pm
Voices echo through time, periodically serving as a springboard for societal change. In one such echo, the stories of Elsie Robinson and Linda Dayan Frimer intersect.
Elsie Robinson, a trailblazing journalist and advocate, wielded her pen like a sword, challenging societal norms and amplifying marginalized voices through her nationally syndicated column, Listen World! Her commitment to dialogue and debate, rooted in the rich tradition of Jewish discourse, laid the groundwork for social change long before the feminist movement gained mainstream attention.
Similarly, Linda Dayan Frimer, in her book Luminous: An Artist’s Story as a Guide to Radical Creativity, demonstrates the power of voice and creativity as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery guided by the vibrant hues of her paintings and her Jewish heritage’s wisdom. Through her art, Frimer seeks to bridge divides and illuminate the universal language of creativity, transcending barriers of culture and ideology.
These two women will be highlighted in programs presented by United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC during Women’s History Month.
Allison Gilbert, co-author of Listen World: How the Intrepid Elsie Robinson Became America’s Most-Read Woman, will join Tidewater for an online program as a part of the Konikoff Center for Learning’s Unsung SHEroes series. In conversation with Dr. Amy K. Milligan, Batten Endowed Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and Women’s Studies and the director of the Institute of Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding at Old Dominion University, Gilbert will explain how Robinson transformed her column into a platform for collective empowerment, embodying the essence of tikkun olam, the Jewish concept of repairing the world.
A collection of Linda Dayan Frimer’s art will be displayed in the Simon Family JCC’s Leon Family Gallery beginning this month. Frimer’s online conversation will focus on her artwork and new book.
Despite different mediums, Robinson’s and Frimer’s messages converge on a shared belief in the transformative power of expression and the importance of engaging in meaningful dialogue. While Robinson wielded words to challenge injustice and spark debate beginning in the 1920s, Frimer harnesses art’s visual language to inspire introspection and connection. Whether through words or brush strokes, their stories remind that every voice matters and every act of creation has the potential to ignite change.
To learn more or register for Listen World: How the Intrepid Elise Robinson Became America’s Most-Read Woman, visit JewishVA.org/UnsungSHEroes. For more information and to register for Luminous: An Artist’s Story as a Guide to Radical Creativity, visit JewishVA.org/Gallery.