Throwing this out there for discussion and consideration because it’s time for women to step in and make our voices heard. Women are the matriarchs—the life-givers, nurturers, protectors. We make th...

"Match of the Matriarchs," an upcoming show at the Museum for Art in Wood featuring the work of artist sculptor Donna Dodson and others, reimagines the game as an "arena of matriarchal power."

An original Aramaic-language seder ushpizata, as a parallel to the patriarchal ushpizin, to invite matriarchal figures from history. While other "ushpizot" or "ushpizata" texts have been written befor...

A village can be a neighborhood, a town, a group, an extended family, a church, or a business where most people know most others, at least by sight or within three degrees of separation. Thriving is a quality of a village: its culture, webs of relationships, traditions and rituals, and volunteerism. We make the village by living. Maybe it’s a verb? We village. In a recent post, I explored the role of matriarchs in thriving communities. And how “thriving communities” – as documented in dozens of films – may be like Blue Zones, places on the planet where people seem to live longer and flourish.

A village can be a neighborhood, a town, a group, an extended family, a church, or a business where most people know most others, at least by sight or within three degrees of separation. Thriving is a quality of a village: its culture, webs of relationships, traditions and rituals, and volunteerism. We make the village by living. Maybe it’s a verb? We village. In a recent post, I explored the role of matriarchs in thriving communities. And how “thriving communities” – as documented in dozens of films – may be like Blue Zones, places on the planet where people seem to live longer and flourish.

Students from Galloway Township and Toms River used inspiration from the family matriarchs to make the recipes that won them each scholarships.

Trigger warning: slightly offensive slang. Fifteen years ago, I used a term for a committee we formed to grow our local food system. I called us the “fat-bottomed (cause I have one) middle-aged women (cause I was one) who run the world” (FBMAW) – the older women who volunteer for committees, organize groups, answer phones, facilitate meetings, run events, see what’s needed and act. You could call us matriarchs, and we, FBMAW, are everywhere. Two weeks ago, at a three-day celebration of community resilience, ThrivingFest, I looked around the auditorium and on the stage. There we were. The FBMAW, staffing and volunteering with the organizations featured in dozens of films that together make a “thriving community.” Yes, other ages, genders and body types were present but in fact, it looked to me like a festival of matriarchs. The Thriving Communities Project History Each year we explored a different aspect of thriving – nourishment, farming, land, business, caring for elders, housing and more. Sixty films and 15 years later, at ThrivingFest, we watched the films, listened to panels and asked, “what’s next for thrivingness here?” While it can feel pretty self-congratulatory here on Whidbey with how amazing the community is, there...

“Saab Lofton’s latest work, The Matriarchs, cuts brave new ground in the superhero/sci-fi genre, with an all-female superhero team that combines brains with brawn and a social conscience to get the job done. It is a creative decision whose time has certainly come, and it’s a bit puzzling that no one has done it before. Lofton, the most original writer in the New Millennium, gives us a widely diverse cohort of characters: Captain Thunder, a Nordic librarian with an abusive husband, who conjures herself into having the combined powers of the Norse gods Balder, Odin, Loki, and Thor [hence the magic word, B.O.L.T.]. Ghostshadow, a black stuntwoman and world class martial artist, who obtains a suit that renders her invisible and intangible. Vengador, an impoverished, gigantic Mexican outcast as a girl, who grows up to hold the world wrestling title over male opponents, and whose millions from her winnings support the other Matriarchs. The Elemental, a Native American grandmother who is granted the powers of wind, fire, water and earth by the medicine spirits. Most unique of all, Dragonwoman, a thousand-year-old half Human, half dragon with a brilliant intellect, but who can only emit hisses instead of words, making communication with others a bit of a difficulty, which the other Matriarchs, a bit exasperated, work to overcome. Each woman is a distinct individual, and they don’t always agree with each other, but their chemistry as a team is scintillating. Enjoyable and fresh, they make great strides for women’s empowerment. Lofton’s trademark unexpected and droll humor in a dire situation is in fine form here; living in different parts of the world, the women try to ascertain the best means of alerting each other when they are needed as a group, and Vengador suggests, not an ‘Avengers assemble!’ cry, but ‘maybe we should all exchange phone numbers or something …’ Saab Lofton’s encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture combines with his scholarly background in the arts and social sciences to make this work a bobsled ride of entertainment, through an icy course with probing social questions. He has opened new doors in the superhero mansion, and added new stars to the universe.”