won’t you join me?

Tonight I’ll be hosting a special viewing party at my home, for the premiere of “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide”. It is a PBS documentary inspired by the book of the same name, written by Pulitzer Prize winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.

photo credit: Joshua Bennett

From the web site:

“Filmed in 10 countries, the series follows Nicholas Kristof and celebrity activists America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union and Olivia Wilde on a journey to tell the stories of inspiring, courageous individuals. Across the globe oppression is being confronted, and real meaningful solutions are being fashioned through health care, education, and economic empowerment for women and girls. 

The linked problems of sex trafficking and forced prostitution, gender-based violence, and maternal mortality — which needlessly claim one woman every 90 seconds — present to us the single most vital opportunity of our time: the opportunity to make a change. All over the world women are seizing this opportunity.“

I have been so privileged to be part of The Mission List’s efforts to support this movement and am eagerly awaiting  tonight’s premiere. I’m encouraging each of you to take a few moments today to take a look at the web site, and consider lending your unique voice in raising awareness of the atrocities taking place – right now – to women and girls all over the world.

Here are just a few ways you can help:

Of course, you can start by watching the documentary – and why don’t you invite a few friends to join you?

Use your awesome social media skills to promote the film and the movement – you can even join the conversation on Twitter, by following @NickKristof, @WuDunn and @Half, and by using the #Halfthesky hashtag.

Order the DVD – 10% of DVD profits purchased directly will go to the Half the Sky Movement.

Are you or do you know a college student? The Campus Ambassador program assists students interested in hosting screenings of the film and initiating conversation and interest in women’s issues – both on campus and online.

And there’s so much more. Through the book, film and movement, Kristoff and WuDunn “show how a little help can transform the lives of women and girls abroad. That Cambodian girl eventually escaped from her brothel and, with assistance from an aid group, built a thriving retail business that supports her family. The Ethiopian woman had her injuries repaired and in time became a surgeon.”

I hope you’ll consider “joining” me this evening, and would love for you to share your thoughts and comments – here, on Facebook, and Twitter too (you can read a New York Times review of the film here).

Let’s do this!

About the author

Sheri Silver

Sheri Silver is a New York-based food photographer and recipe developer who has been cooking and baking for over 30 years. She works with brands, authors and restaurants to create recipes that are as beautiful as they are foolproof - and every recipe on this blog has been made, tweaked and eaten in her own kitchen.

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