Lindsey Brown
The Broadside

Cascades Women’s Collective wants to include everyone on the discussions over women’s issues. They’re comfortable talking about them, and they want you to be too.
This club gives people a safe place to discuss their feelings about violence against women, single parents, the lack of childcare for students, and other topics concerning women. It is located on both Central Oregon Community College’s Bend and Redmond campuses.
“There are not a lot of options for women in violent situations. We are going to see what we can do in the Redmond area by reaching out to other organizations to help them,” said Lori Maish, co-founder of Cascades Women’s Collective.
Maish says she feels strongly about the urgency in which these issues need to be discussed. People tend to feel uncomfortable talking about difficult issues, and this club gives people a place to express their concerns freely.
“Our voices need to speak out so that the women do not feel lost or ashamed,” said Maish.
Tina Redd, advisor of Cascades Women’s Collective, discussed the issue of the lack of childcare for parents who attend COCC. She is exploring the idea of partnering with the Early Childhood Education program, to work out childcare for student parents at COCC.
She also discussed the possibility of having awareness readings at several COCC campuses to bring students’ attention to women’s issues. In a couple of these awareness readings, they hope to discuss the topics of political issues dealing with the availability of birth control, and domestic violence against women.
All students, both male and female, from COCC and Oregon State University-Cascades, are encouraged to attend meetings and join the club.
“The goal of this group is to give people who are interested in women’s issues a place to collaborate and form coalitions and to support each other,” said Redd.
To join, contact Tina Redd at [email protected].

(Contact: [email protected])