Empire State of Mind: To Fight for the Poor With My Pen IN-PERSON AT DOROT

Empire State of Mind: To Fight for the Poor With My Pen: Zoe Anderson Norris's Gilded-Age Social Justice

Independent scholar and New York Times contributor Eve M. Kahn will give a talk on her new book Queen of Bohemia Predicts Own Death: Gilded-Age Journalist Zoe Anderson Norris (Fordham U. Press). Zoe (as everyone called her) was a Kentucky belle turned restless Kansas housewife turned lauded writer/reformer/publisher on the Lower East Side. In the 1910s, she documented desperate immigrant poverty in her bimonthly magazine, The East Side. Defying her era’s ingrained xenophobia, and sometimes reporting undercover dressed as a pauper, Zoe raged against predatory landlords, corrupt charity executives, and garbagemen ignoring trashcans spreading pestilence, among other pernicious forces. Her motto: “To fight for the poor with my pen.” She took breaks from activism to admire Manhattan skyscrapers “flashing back the fire of the sun” and to dine at restaurants with her friends in an intentionally disorganized group that she organized, the Ragged Edge Klub, dedicated to “the Killing of Kare.” This lecture will focus on Zoe's interest in Jewish immigrants: she documented their sufferings at Ellis Island and in deathtrap workplaces (including the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory) and their finding footholds in a new world. And in honor of Election Day, Kahn will also discuss Zoe's stance on political campaigns, politicians, and battles for women's suffrage.

DOROT is a non-profit social service agency that provides life-enhancing programs and services for adults 60 and older to help them live independently as valued members of the community.

ACCESSIBILITY

Our building is ADA accessible and the auditorium is equipped with a hearing loop. Additionally, we have 4 assisted listening devices that can be borrowed for programs on a first-come first-served basis. Please reach out to [email protected] with any accessibility questions or requests.

PROTOCOLS FOR ATTENDING IN-PERSON PROGRAMS AT DOROT

DOROT has no general vaccination or mask requirements in place for older adults and volunteers participating in programs at this time.

Vaccination

For the safety of our community, DOROT strongly recommends that everyone be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, and annually against the flu. DOROT requires all employees to be fully vaccinated.

Masks

Masking is optional for older adults, volunteers and staff in DOROT’s onsite or community programs.

Individuals who have had direct exposure to COVID-19 in the last 10 days or have recently tested positive for COVID-19 and are in days 6-10 of infection, may participate in in-person programs only if they have no symptoms and follow CDC guidelines to wear a mask. You can access the CDC’s Isolation and Exposure Calculator at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html

When Individuals Should Not Participate in DOROT’s In-Person Activities

The DOROT community’s wellbeing continues to be our top priority. Older adults, volunteers and DOROT staff should cancel their plans to come to DOROT or participate in any in-person scheduled activity, if they:

1. Have tested positive in the past 5 days for COVID-19.

2. Are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses or are generally not feeling well.

DOROT continuously seeks the guidance of medical professionals and authorities and will adapt our protocols as the public health environment changes.

If you test positive for COVID-19 within 48 hours of participating in a program at DOROT, please reach out to your DOROT program contact. This is for informational purposes only. You may return in person programs after a 5-days and no longer symptomatic.

Thank you for helping us maintain the wellbeing of our DOROT community. This information and other protocols related to COVID-19 can be found on our website using the link here .

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Host or Publisher DOROT's Onsite & Special Programs Department