Women will take over the airwaves on March 8, with 24 hours of programming developed and hosted by women to honor International Women’s Day (IWD). The event marks the 17th year that West Bank–based KFAI (90.3 FM Minneapolis, 106.7 FM St. Paul) has dedicated programming toward the day of celebration of women’s struggles and contributions, begun nearly 100 years ago in Europe and officially recognized by the United Nations in 1975.

Programming will feature women musicians from around the world, informative discussions and interviews on politics, health, the arts, identity and spirituality, and more — topics as diverse as courtroom drama, women in the military, art cars and tarot. “Chowgirls,” a women-run restaurant and catering company in Dinkytown, will provide food for the programmers.

Mary Rivard, KFAI’s IWD chair and host of the show “Many a Woman’s Voice,” organized the daylong event. Each show was selected for its unique perspective, Rivard said, noting a few programs to illustrate the broad range of topics. “Inherited Cultural Grief” will explore how we perpetuate or heal dysfunctions of a culture in post-traumatic stress disorder. In “A Girl’s View,” 11-year-old Lina Pelini and other preteens will talk about issues important to them. “Old Lesbians are Still Talking” will take on issues related to aging.

“Native American Women In the Performing Arts,” hosted by Native American playwright Rhiana Yazzie, will show how native women are creating art in Minneapolis and across the country. Yazzie said she was inspired by “seeing so many amazing Native women performers over the past few years.”

There will be music, as well, of course, from all over the world: one-hit wonders of R&B and neo-soul via “Hot Sauce” with Ingrid Millard; the music of Birangona, which means “brave Bengali woman warrior,” hosted by Irina Hossain; and “Girassol, Musica do Brasil,” a celebration of Brazilian women artists hosted by Helena do Sol.

The day also presents opportunities for people to learn about creating their own radio show. New KFAI volunteer Rebecca Blumenshine will hit the waves for the first time with “BB Queens, Prophets & the Jeanius,” a “musical and biographical tribute to hip-hop’s all-time illest femcees,” according to a description in the KFAI programming guide.

Blumenshine and her co-hosts Maggie Najeuski and Asha Schossner will feature the music of Bahamia Nabia, Lauren Hill and Jean Grae. “These three artists have had very interesting journeys in relationship to the music industry and their music being women in hip-hop,” Blumenshine said.
Blumenshine became interested in local independent radio while in college in Connecticut, and said she came to appreciate KFAI in her hometown of Minneapolis.

“I love radio that’s in the present because it’s so powerful,” she said. “It’s so sad how much the radio and music industry and music access is controlled. That’s a big part of the experience of all underground hip-hop artists, especially women.”
For a schedule and more information, go to www.kfai.org.

Other events:

The Bell Museum of Natural History, 10 SE Church St., will feature a series of films about female scientists:

March 8: “Einstein’s Wife” explores pioneering female mathematician Mileva Maric’s collaboration with her husband, Albert Einstein.

March 22: “The Secret of Photo 51” examines biologist/crystallographer Rosalind Franklin’s role in the discovery of DNA.

March 29: “The Gender Chip Project” shows how five students at Ohio State University make the science and technology workplace a comfortable environment for women.

For times and ticket information, call 612-624-7083 or click on “film programs” online at www.bellmuseum.org/calendar.

last revised: July 25, 2007

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