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Celebrating Ada Deer's 80th: A Benefit for the Encampment for Citizenship

Goodman Community Center
Madison, WI

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Event

Celebrating Ada Deer's 80th: A Benefit for the Encampment for Citizenship

What: Celebrating the legendary Ada Deer's career as a social worker and tribal leader, as well as her lifelong commitment to progressive activism on her 80th birthday, with special guest Dr. Patty Loew!

When: Saturday October 3, 2015, 1:00-3:30 PM

Where: Goodman Community Center, Madison (appetizers, beverages and cake will be provided.)

Tickets: Regular price $25 each, or Sponsor* $80 or $800 for Ada's 80th birthday! RSVP by September 25.

* Proceeds are tax-deductible (less event costs) and benefit the Encampment for Citizenship: http://encampmentforcitizenship.org/ Fulfill sponsorship online or send a check, made out to the Encampment for Citizenship to event organizer Shahla Werner at 126 Buckingham Ln, Madison, WI 53714 by September 25 to be recognized at the event if desired.

Why: Ada's Birthday is a benefit for the Encampment for Citizenship, a unique leadership program that connects young people from across the nation of diverse ethnic, cultural, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. The Encampment has a long history and a proven track record of empowering youth who are eager to make a difference to be informed, responsible and effective global citizens. http://encampmentforcitizenship.org/

Each year the Encampment accepts 30 distinguished youth (ages 15-18) for their dynamic 3 week summer residential program focused on community engagement, community building, and skill-building. Following the summer program, encampers receive year-round support as they integrate what they've learned into their lives and their communities. Your sponsorship of Ada's birthday helps ensure continued access to this stellar, transformative, hands-on learning opportunity.

"Not only is the Encampment the highlight of my life, but also a crucial preparation for my college entrance. I've learned to be more socially and politically aware, to be critical, and yet to be open-minded in respect to others' options and ideas" - Encamper

Historical supporters of the Encampment include Eleanor Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr. Just a few of the many distinguished alumni of the Encampment are Gale Brewer, Ada Deer, Barney Frank, William Haddad, David Harris, Allard Lowenstein, Jean McGuire, Peter Neufeld, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Miles Rapoport, David Rothenberg, David Sandoval, Charles Trimble, Jason Warwin, and Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman.
encampmentforcitizenship.org

Biography: Ada Deer is a nationally recognized social worker, political activist, and former University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty member. Born in Keshena on the Menominee Reservation, she attended Milwaukee Public Schools, graduated from Shawano High School and earned her bachelor's degree from UW Madison. After earning her master's degree from the School of Social Work at Columbia University, Deer worked in Minneapolis at the Waite Neighborhood House, Bureau of Indian Affairs, University of Minnesota, and Minneapolis Public Schools. She then worked at the as director of Indian Upward Bound at UW Stevens Point. She later became a distinguished lecturer at UW-Madison's School of Social Work and directed the American Indian Studies Program.

In 1971, Deer took a leave of absence from the UW Madison Law School in order to assist her tribe to overturn the federal government's termination policy which stripped the Menominee Nation of federal recognition, closed its membership rolls, abolished the tribal government, and terminated education, health, and other benefits. She helped organize DRUMS (Determination of Rights and Unity for Menominee Shareholders) a grassroots movement of tribal members that worked to save their land and people and restore tribal sovereignty. On December 22, 1973, President Nixon signed the Menominee Restoration Act into law, a historic, precedent-setting reversal of federal Indian policy.

Ada's impressive list of firsts includes:
* The first member of the Menominee Nation to graduate from UW Madison earning her BA in Social Work (1957)
* The first American Indian to earn a Master's of Social Work from Columbia University (1961)
* The first woman to chair the Menominee Nation in Wisconsin (1974-76)
* The first woman appointed to serve as Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs in the Department of Interior during the Clinton Administration (1993-1997)
* The first American Indian Woman to win a partisan federal primary

Deer ran for Wisconsin Secretary of State in 1978 and 1982, and in 1992 she became the first American Indian woman to win a partisan federal primary when she ran for Congress using the slogan, "Nobody Runs Like A Deer." When she won the Democratic primary, she announced her victory at a press conference, holding her right hand up, declaring herself "Me - Nominee"!

Sponsor List (updated weekly):
Nancy & Fitchburg Mayor Steve Arnold
Dane Co. Board Vice Chair Carousel Andrea Bayrd
State Sen. Janet Bewley
Allan G. & Margaret R. Bogue
Barbara Borns
James & Krista Botsford
Amy & Captain Joseph Deer
Frederick Ehrke
Gustafson Gervasi Law Office, LLC
Margot Gibney
Gary Goyke & Nancy Rottier
Stan Gruszynski & Paula Zellner
Paul Kusuda
David Lasker
Steve Leibman
Dyanne London
Truman Lowe
Bob Lubetsky
Leslie Luttrell
Nancy Marr
Dorothy & Tim Mickelburgh
State Sen. Mark Miller
Larry Nesper
Andrea Rabinowitz
Shiela Reaves
Karyl Rice
State Rep. Melissa Sargent
Erica Serlin
Deborah Shames
State Rep. Katrina Shankland
Marion Silverbear
Barbara Stevens Rowe
Eilene Stevens
Sherman Stock
State Rep. Lisa Subeck
UW - Madison School of Social Work
UW - Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
State Rep. Chris Taylor
Caryl & Bob Terrell
Mary Van Gemert
Shahla Werner & Andy Weidert
Dave Zweifel