NCJW Mourns the Passing of Dr. Dorothy Height
April 20, 2010, Washington, DC -- Upon hearing the news of the death of Dr. Dorothy Height, Nancy Ratzan, president of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) issued the following statement:
"NCJW mourns the loss of a great leader for social justice -- Dr. Dorothy Irene Height. For more than seven decades, beginning as a youth leader, Dr. Height was a pioneer in the struggle for equality both in the US and globally. Through her leadership in the YWCA and the National Council of Negro Women, among other organizations, she championed racial and economic justice and equality for women -- understanding the deep interconnections between racism and sexism as well as other forms of bias.
"NCJW is proud to have worked closely for many decades with Dr. Height in this work, especially in the 1960s as part of the 'Wednesdays in Mississippi' project which brought teams of northern women to Mississippi to help the Freedom Schools and to reach out in support of southern women working for desegregation and equality. Dr. Height received NCJW's Woman Who Dared Award in 1993 in recognition of her courageous leadership for social justice.
"Dr. Height left a proud legacy. She will be sorely missed. We send our condolences to her family and many friends and colleagues. May her memory be a blessing always."
The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.
Contact:
Emily Alfano
202 296 2588 x5; emily@ncjwdc.org