Nominating remarkable local women (KTLA)

KTLA 5, Los Angeles; Ashley Wells and Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

This Squaw for surviving US genocide

KTLA 5 News recognizes the great contributions women have made to this nation and local communities, particularly (but not exclusively) Los Angeles.

Remarkable Women is part of a nationwide Nexstar Media initiative to honor the influence that women have had on public policy, social progress, and the quality of life.

• KTLA 5 (ktla.com) is a local L.A., California, news channel

Remember, speaking for Brando?

KTLA 5 celebrates local women who inspire, lead, and forge the way for other women. It is not just about one day or one month — but about what they do day-in and day-out.

In order to celebrate these women, help is needed finding them, to learn about their background, and to hear their stories.

Please use this form to nominate a Remarkable Woman in your life. Entries accepted through November 30, 2023.

First Buddhist Women: Stories of Awakening (Susan Murcott)

Remarkable woman Zabie Yamasaki '21 | KTLA

During the month of March 2024, KTLA 5 will highlight four local women who will be considered for Nexstar’s nationwide 2024 Woman of the Year Award, with KTLA 5’s local winner announced the day after April Fool's Day 2024.

The nationwide finalists and winner will be announced on a “Remarkable Women” special in May 2024.

• More + NOMINATION FORM

Black Buddhist nun Faith Adiele

WHO TO NOMINATE? Whom shall we nominate? My mom! (No, MY mom!) She's wonderful and made our lives possible not by giving birth but by raising us. Or maybe those women who founded Black Lives Matter, or a Western Buddhist nun doing remarkable things (like former nun in good standing and world traveler Beth Upton or current California bhikkhuni Ayya Tataaloka or Pema Chodron), or that girl, you know that girl, she's like a sister but the real thing?

First Buddhist Women

Our nominee: awakened Beth Upton

This is a readable, contemporary translation of -- and commentary on -- the "enlightenment verses" of the first female disciples of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni.

It explores Buddhism’s relatively liberal attitude towards women since its founding 2,600 years ago, through the study of the Therigatha.

• [Theri = "elder nun," an "elder" being any female monastic of at least 10 rainy retreats standing, which means she would be no less than 17-years-old, which is more than long enough to be fully enlightened, and gatha = "poetic verse or song"]

The Buddha elevated females to parity.

It is the earliest known collection of women’s religious poetry. Through commentary and storytelling, author Susan Murcott traces the journey of the wives, mothers, teachers, courtesans, prostitutes, and wanderers who became leaders in the ancient Buddhist community.

These are roles that even today are rarely filled by women in other patriarchal religions. Their spiritual poetry (recounting how they became awakened) beautifully expresses their search for spiritual attainment and their struggles in society. More

Tathālokā Bhikkhunī at InsightLA.org, founded by the awakened wife of the awakened American teacher Jack Kornfield (Spirit Rock), Trudy Goodman's Insight Los Angeles

Remarkable Women 2023 nomination form (ktla.com/remarkable-women-contest)