Criss's Page

What issues are most important to you?

All women's rights but mainly reproductive rights and health care. As a non-US-born Texas, immigration is also one of my big soap-box issues; and as a former public school teacher, so is education.

What kind of social activism do you engage in?

blogging, volunteering, being a role model to the next generation

What organizations do you love or work with?

Planned Parenthood

What books, music, films, etc. do you think educate and empower women?

Not many. There are so many negative messages in our media, and the problem is they are becoming more and more subtle so we see them as "normal" and don't speak out against them. I've seen the tide changing in books (movies and TV will be slower to catch up), though, which is encouraging. Maureen Johnson is one author that comes to mind, probably because I just finished one of her books.

Career: what do you do or want to do?

Though no longer in the classroom, I still work in education. I also plan on being a best-selling fiction author.

What skills and interests to do you have to offer to others in the Red Tent Women's Project communty? This is your chance, so sell yourself!

Mainly my words: my outspoken voice and my writing. Also, I speak (and write) fluent Spanish (and pretty decent French).

What would you like other members of this community to know? About yourself, about the world...anything (try not to be profane, though)!

I'm generally not profane, but I am very passionate. And argumentative. And strong-headed. But my heart's in the right place, right? :P

What was your "women really matter and I'm going to do something about it" moment?

I didn't have *one* moment. I think it was looking back one day and realizing how lucky I've been, and to whom I owe the opportunities I've had. And I want to make sure other women have the same options and advantages I've had... Access to birth control, access to a safe abortion when I messed up, the right to divorce the abusive drug addict I'd married, the right to start over, the right to an education, and to respect.