USM Sampson Center Honors Dale McCormick; Opens Annual Exhibition
The University of Southern Maine Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine will present its second annual Catalyst for Change Award to Dale McCormick of Augusta, founder and first president of the Maine Lesbian/Gay Political Alliance, now Equality Maine. McCormick will receive the award at a reception and program beginning at 5:30 p.m., Monday, October 6 in USM's Abromson Community Education Center, Portland. The event is free and open to the public, RSVP to 780-4007.
The program will include a digital presentation, "Dale McCormick - Inspired Visionary, Pragmatic Innovator," by Interim Scholar-in-Residence in the Sampson Center's LGBT Collection Penny Davis-Dublin. The Sampson Center also will open its annual exhibition on October 6. "Diversity at the Ballot Box: Electoral Politics and Maine's Minority Communities, Post-WWII to the Present" will be open to the public on the 6th floor of USM's Glickman Family Library, Portland, during library hours (http://library.usm.maine.edu/about/hoursfall2008.html) through Friday, January 23.
McCormick is being recognized for her efforts to fight for jobs, economic justice and healthcare for all, human rights and equality for women. She has been the Director of MaineHousing (Maine State Housing Authority) since 2005. Prior to becoming MaineHousing director, she served as the first woman Treasurer of the State of Maine for eight years. She also served as a State Senator in the Maine Legislature and founded an organization called Women Unlimited that trains women on welfare for high-paying jobs in the trades and technical fields. Dale has been a journey level carpenter for 30 years, and started and ran her own construction and design firm, later writing two books about her experiences. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa.
The Sampson Center's annual exhibition, "Diversity at the Ballot Box: Electoral Politics and Maine's Minority Communities, Post-WWII to the Present" examines how Maine's African American, Jewish and LGBT minorities have both benefited and been hampered in their efforts to gain civil rights and to ensure their social and economic welfare through the political system. Among the themes examined is the struggle to end social, racial and religious discrimination in housing, the role of minorities in the electoral process, and efforts to expand Maine's Human Rights Act to include the LGBT community.
Gallery talks for groups can be arranged by contacting Susie Bock, 780-4269, bocks@usm.maine.edu.
Photo caption:
May 15, 1997. Longtime gay rights activist Dale McCormick celebrates as Gov. Angus King signs "An Act to End Discrimination." Sen. Joel Abromson, the bill's sponsor, is directly behind the governor.
Photograph by Annette Dragon, Annette Dragon Papers, LGBT Collection, Sampson Center.
This photograph will be included in USM's Sampson Center for Diversity exhibition, "Diversity at the Ballot Box: Electoral Politics and Maine's Minority Communities, Post-WWII to the Present," that will be open to the public from Monday, October 6 through Friday, January 23.
