Lowellian to share her own ‘9to5’ experience
They couldn’t kill their bosses, so they did the next best thing — they organized.
When Dolly Parton sang “9 to 5,” she was doing more than just shining a light on the fate of American working women. Parton was singing the true story of a movement that started with 9to5, a group of Boston secretaries in the early 1970s whose goals were simple — better pay, more advancement opportunities and an end to sexual harassment.
One of those secretaries was Dorine Levasseur of Lowell, a women’s labor-movement activist. She joins several other panelists on a free virtual Zoom event this Friday at 1 p.m., hosted by GBH WORLD, that follows the events of the film “9to5: The Story of a Movement,” made by Oscar-winning filmmaker Julia Reichert.
In the early 1970s, Levasseur was a clerical worker at Boston State College and one of a group of Boston secretaries who banded together to fight workplace discrimination, unequal pay, disrespect, lack of opportunity and sexual harassment.
In 1975, she signed on as one of the original staff members of Local 925, SEIU, to build a union for Boston-area office workers. In 1990, she left Local 925 to work as a field rep and organizer for the Massachusetts Teachers Association, where she spent the rest of her career until retiring in 2016.
Journalist Tina Martin moderates the panel, which includes other 9to5 organizers in addition to Levasseur and the filmmaker. Those who participate in the live-stream will see interviews and archival footage and hear from the founding organizers of Local 925, whose movement inspired the hit Hollywood film and song.
To view a free live-stream of the film, go to www.pbs.org/independentlens/ films/9to5-the-story-of-a-movement/#. To register for the free Zoom discussion, go to wgbh.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_x_-AkSDuSvqQfa5V7vBkpA.
In the early 1970s, Levasseur was a clerical worker at Boston State College and one of a group of Boston secretaries who banded together to fight workplace discrimination.
In the wings
■ WELCOME COTTER: Indian Hill Music in Littleton invites everyone to put a little music into their lives — even the youngest among us. And on Saturday, March 27, it’s all aboard for fun, music and games with Little Music Train, a free family music play date from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Gaby Cotter, a member of IHM’s early-childhood faculty and a Boston-based Panamanian singer-songwriter, will lead the fun for preschoolers and their parents and caretakers. The 45-minute session includes songs, stories and folklore in Spanish and English. Free on Zoom, but registration is required, and the login will be emailed to you two days before the event. Go to docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5Rfdbrhs7qrXtvMXuZped4OzZbtoaauCn4fpMLmyUismqg/viewform to register.
■ LITTLE MUSICIANS: Indian Hill believes it’s never too soon to foster a kid’s musical curiosity either. And they’ve got a bevy of classes starting in April that help to do that. Fun, lively first music experiences include Music for Aardvarks, ages 1-4, with parent/ caregiver, and Drum Buddies, ages 4- 6. Ten-week sessions start in April. Group classes in drums, guitar, piano, ukulele, violin and recorder for families, for kids ages 4-9 and up, help prepare them for lessons in a fun, friendly way. These interactive group classes offer structure, connection and a solid foundation in an instrument. Six-week sessions start in April and May. Intro to Voice, Music Theory, Family Recorder, Custom Ensembles and more, for ages 6-17, encourage kids to take their playing and performance skills to a new level. Four-, eight- and ten-week sessions start in April, or join or create a custom ensemble at any time. Adult classes in Jazz Hang, Beginner Piano, Ukulele Club, Music History and more start in April in four, eight or ten-week sessions. Visit www.indianhillmusic.org/musicschool or call 978-486-9524 for info and to register.
■ CAN SUMMER BE FAR BEHIND?: With spring’s arrival on Saturday, it’s not too early to make summer plans for the kids. Registration is underway now for the Hanover Theatre Conservatory Youth Summer Program, a teen musical-theater intensive, for those incoming ninth-graders through college freshmen in fall 2021. Qualifying auditions must be submitted through the online portal by April 1, and decisions will be made by April 9. Visit www.thehanover-theatre.org/conservatory for details.