Real Change News | Jean Colman, who fought for the rights of low-income women, dies at 59

May 20, 2009
Vol: 16 No: 24

Community & Editorial

Jean Colman, who fought for the rights of low-income women, dies at 59

by: Kristyn Joy , Contributing Writer

Like it? Share it!

Jean Colman, a longtime leader in the national movement for dignity and fair treatment for low-income women, died early May 8, after a nine-year battle with breast cancer. She was 59.

In 1984 Colman took a job as an organizer Welfare Rights Organizing Coalition, becoming executive director in 1987. Under Colman’s leadership, WROC won improvements such as higher-education opportunities for welfare recipients and increases in monthly welfare grants to help families keep up with inflation. She retired in 2007.

Upon her retirement, Colman helped a group of former WROC staff members and grassroots leaders form POWER – Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights.

In 2001, Colman received the ACLU’s William O. Douglas Award for Civil Liberties.

In the week before her death, Colman described her work to improve conditions for poor women and their families in humble terms: “Parenting is work. I learned this from the parents I worked with. What I did was take their lead and take their messages to places that hadn’t heard it. And I made sure they had the confidence and skills to say it themselves.”

Colman leaves behind her husband, Mike Wall, father Al Colman of Tucson, Ariz. and sisters Laurie Colman of Seattle, Diane Colman-Fields of Tucson and Susan Colman of Ben Lomond, Calif., and her faithful, though fickle cat Morgan.

Memorial gifts may be made to POWER (Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights) in Olympia or Gilda’s Club Seattle. The Children’s Alliance will be awarding Colman its “Voices for Children” award at their June 4 luncheon. A memorial will be held on Sat., June 20 at the Century Ballroom, 915 E. Pine St.

----