In this powerful documentary, individuals share their personal histories and reasons for avoiding the political process, as well as their struggles and triumphs. Hear the voices of those busy raising families, working multiple jobs, and constrained by time, culture, family, history, language, and fear of political engagement.

This is your story, your parents' story, and the story of millions of women who do not yeat participate in our political process.

October 16, 2008 by Mable Yee
The best part about attending the screenings of our new documentary, "Engage Her: Getting minority women to lead and vote", is the opportunity to talk to a wide variety of audiences. On Wednesday, October 15 we had 4 different screenings in a diverse group of settings. It was screened at DeAnza community college, at a Silicon Valley business women’s network meeting, St. Peter’s Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and at a jointly sponsored screening by the Equal Rights Advocates, Women’s Foundation of California and Pacific, Gas and Electric. I was able to attend two of the screenings and answer questions from the audience about the film and the issues that it raises. I was also amazed at the diversity, reach and appeal for our film from the grassroot communities, community colleges to the corridors of Corporate America.
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Most parents and families believe that education is their top priority and the best way that they can improve their quality of life and achieve prosperity for themselves and their families. Many immigrants and Americans believe in the basic premise of quality education for all Americans and citizens. They braved hardships and difficulties to immigrate to the United States for quality education and freedom. (more)

Women, minorities and communities are united in our concerns. Issues such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease are decimating our families and communities. Cancer, HIV/Aids, Alzheimer, are creating extreme challenges and difficulties for women. In most communities and families, women are the primary caretakers for their households. When disease and illness strikes, women take the brunt of the support and stress of juggling schedules, arranging for support and taking time from work to care for their families. (more)

On a daily basis we hear of more negative news about our economy and the pervasive effects of a downturn in the economy. While government officials proclaim that we are “technically not in a recession”, the everyday American knows that they're feeling the hardships caused by this downturn. People are losing their jobs, which in turn affects every part of their daily lives. Without a job, people can't make payments on their homes, cars and maintain a good quality of life for their children and their families. With the cost of oil, food and basic staples increasing dramatically in the past 12 months, Americans are feeling the crunch in their wallets and it's causing a longer-term negative effect. (more)

As more attention is being paid to the threats of global warming and the climate crisis, we need to understand what the issues are relative to our immediate families and communities. We have all heard of the need to understand that the climate changes are forcing major changes in the way we live on this planet. However, the problem with many minorities and communities is that the way the discussion is presented or framed, doesn't relate directly to them. Policy people and organizations often appeal to consumers by talking about reducing our carbon footprint, or discussing ways to make sustainable energy sources a priority. They don't realize that in our communities, people are more concerned with making ends meet, getting their children the best education possible and getting employed than making conscientious choices that will preserve our planet's safety. (more)

Engage Her Announces Get-Out-the-Vote-Giveaway to All Public Libraries
Publicly Acclaimed Documentary Motivates Minorities To Engage in Political Actions

October 14, 2008 (Berkeley, CA) -- Engage Her, a 48-minute documentary produced to inspire women minorities to lead and vote, will be released for free to all public libraries in the United States, announced Mable Yee, cofounder and president of Engage Her, a nonprofit organization dedicated to education and activating women leaders among the minority communities in this country. The film was produced by Yee and Victoria Ponce, who also directed the feature, and includes interviews with prominent minority women leaders such as Dolores Huerta, Aileen Fernandez, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and Janis Hirohama, League of Women Voters California President, to discover why nearly 70 percent of Asian Americans and Latinas, and 40 percent of African American women filed to vote in the 2004 election. A trailer of the film is available at www.engageher.org, and a Mandarin version is also available upon request.
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