Workshop promotes female city leaders

The Honorable Viola Taliaferro knows firsthand what it's like to overcome social obstacles to be a leader in a male-dominated world. \nIn honor of women's history month, a steering committee selected Taliaferro, a Monroe County circuit judge, to be the keynote speaker of the annual "Women on Board" program, a leadership development workshop held Thursday at the Monroe County Public Library. The purpose of the event was to encourage women to become more active in the community through the participation in city leadership roles and boards. \n"Leadership is an opportunity for service rather than for personal gain," Taliaferro said.\nFrom a young age, Taliaferro began to notice things in life she wanted to change.\nBorn in Virginia as the youngest of eight children, she grew up in a small community with small-town philosophies. \n"It had a white side and a colored side," Taliaferro said. "I didn't like that from the very beginning." \nShe made the leap to become a leader by beginning her education -- no small feat for a black woman during the social climate of the mid-20th century. \nTaliaferro first attended college at Virginia State College, formerly Virginia State College for Negros. When "for negros" was removed from the school's name, it was a big event, she said.\nTaliaferro went on to work at Howard University in Washington, D.C. There she got married and became a caseworker. As a caseworker, she said she began exercising her leadership skills to stand up for what she believed in.\nFor example, Taliaferro did not agree with the policy that black caseworkers were only permitted to visit black families, and brought this issue up with her boss.\n"I could have lost my job, but I was willing to lose my job because (the situation) was absolutely absurd," she said.\nA perpetual student, Taliaferro returned to school once again at Morgan State College to receive a teaching certificate, and later Johns Hopkins University to study liberal arts and political science. In 1972, Taliaferro moved to Bloomington after her husband was offered a teaching position at IU.\n"I didn't have any idea how much my life would change after moving to Bloomington," she said.\nTaliaferro decided to fulfill her lifelong dream of attending law school and graduated from the IU program. \n"I had a wonderful education and experience at IU," Taliaferro said.\nPracticing law in Bloomington for 12 years, Taliaferro eventually applied for magistrate, and was later appointed judge of Monroe Circuit Court VII in 1995.\nJohn Risher, who introduced Taliaferro Thursday, said he believes more leaders like her are necessary for a thriving community today. \n"There has been a sharp decline in the number of women involved in the community. This event is an effort to reverse this trend," Risher said.\nAfter Taliaferro's keynote address, women were given a choice between four workshops on "Finding Your Passion and your Voice" given by Carol McCord, "Political Involvement" given by Regina Moore and Cathie Crabtree, "Cultivating Collaboration" given by Denise Lessow and "First Steps Toward Making a Difference in Leadership" given by Beverly Calender-Anderson.\nCraig Brenner, the city's liaison for the Commission on the Status of Women, said the purpose of the event was to benefit women in several ways.\n"Other events may be planned, depending on the success of this one," he said. \nAdditional women's history month events are posted at www.bloomington.in.gov/cfrd.