WASHINGTON — AAUW extends its congratulations to Arlene Mandell of Santa Rosa, California, for winning the AAUW-CARE “Education Is Powerful” short-story contest. Mandell, a member of the AAUW Santa Rosa (CA) Branch, will travel abroad to see firsthand the work of CARE, which seeks to strengthen basic education, improve maternal health, and expand economic opportunity for women around the world.
AAUW and CARE asked AAUW members to submit stories about how they were empowered by knowledge or inspired by a role model to pursue education. Mandell wrote about Samuel J. Halperin, her history teacher at Franklin K. Lane High School in Brooklyn.
“The judges were impressed by the vivid prose and honest and genuine depiction of how just a kernel of encouragement can change a young woman’s future,” said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. “Given our long history on global equity issues, we are proud to work with CARE on these kinds of projects. Our members were enthusiastic about the contest, which gave them a chance to encourage other women to reach their potential in a very personal way.”
AAUWis committed to improving the lives of women around the world.
“CARE’s partnership with AAUW is key to our efforts to raise awareness about global poverty. Women in the United States play a vital role in improving the lives of women in developing countries,” said Cathy Woolard, CARE’s Executive Vice President for Global Advocacy and External Relations. “By participating in this creative contest, AAUW members like Arlene demonstrate their support for CARE’s work to reduce cultural and economic barriers to girls’ education in countries around the world.”
In her story, Mandell said she read the New York Times and the New Yorker at her teacher’s urging. “I sometimes imagined myself in these places, sipping cocktails and being charming. What I didn’t realize then was that I was on my way out of working-class Brooklyn, and Mr. Halperin was providing a road map,” she wrote in “The Invisible Door.”
The retired English professor explained that the story’s title refers to invisible barriers. For example, she said having a female English professor at Teachers College at Columbia University opened her eyes.
“I’m looking at her and I’m thinking, oh, she’s a professor and she’s a mother and look at her.
The idea that I could be a professor … it never occurred to me,” Mandell said.
Mandell received her master’s degree from Columbia University Teachers College when she was in her late 40s after having a career in magazine writing and public relations. Now retired, she still helps students through volunteer efforts and values her AAUW membership.
“Being a member of AAUW is satisfying because of the meaningful work we do in promoting the education of girls and women. I enjoy contributing to AAUW’s mission, especially the Educational Foundation’s efforts to break through the barriers for women and girls, inviting them to walk through those invisible doors I wrote about,” she said.
