GSU Library Research Guides: Feminist Action Alliance History Project: S

Schapiro, Beth

Interviewee: Beth Schapiro
Interviewer: Tiffany Gray
Date of interview: October 13, 2023

Interviewee: Beth Schapiro
Interviewer: Dana Von Tilborg
Date of interview: October 11, 1995

The October 11, 1995 and October 13, 2023 transcripts may be viewed in the Reading Room only. Copies may not be requested.

Biography:
Beth Susan Schapiro (1949-), strategic consultant, feminist and social activist, obtained degrees from the University of Maryland (1971, B.S. in education) and Emory University (1977; 1979, M.A.; Ph.D., in political science). From 1971-1979, she taught in both public and private schools and colleges. From 1979-1981, she was a Senior Planner in the Georgia Office of Planning and Budget and, from 1981-1984, she served as Executive Director of Research Atlanta. In 1984, Schapiro founded Beth Schapiro & Associates, a political and public affairs consulting firm. After 30 years at the helm of what had become The Schapiro Group, she closed her strategic consulting firm in 2014.
Beth enjoyed a career that combined her passions for politics, research, public policy, and making this world a better place for all. She is particularly proud of having guided the political campaigns of numerous elected officials who broke barriers of gender, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or some combination of the above. Her research over the years contributed to our collective understanding of many of the most challenging issues facing us, including children and youth, civic engagement, transportation, education, poverty and human services, health care, and civil and human rights for all. Her work spanned all sectors – government, academia, corporate, and, particularly, the nonprofit sector.
An engaged civic leader, Beth is a graduate of Leadership America, Leadership Atlanta, and the Regional Leadership Institute. She held leadership positions in several Georgia and national organizations including the Feminist Action Alliance, Inc., ERA Georgia, Inc. (formerly Georgia Council for the ERA), the Georgia Women's Political Caucus, and Women Business Owners, Inc. She was a founding board member of the Atlanta Women’s Fund (precursor to the Atlanta Women’s Foundation) and continues to serve on its Alumnae Board. A member of International Women’s Forum Georgia, Beth is also a former member of the Leadership Atlanta Board of Trustees, Civic League for Regional Atlanta Advisory Board, Emory University Board of Visitors, and Atlanta Rotary.
Selected as a “Woman of Excellence” by Business To Business, Beth is also an inductee into the YWCA Academy of Women Achievers and an alumna of Outstanding Atlanta. Other honors include receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Atlanta Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and being named the Georgia State University Women’s Collection “SHERO of the Year” and Georgia Equality’s “Queen of the Political Jungle”.

Abstract, October 11, 1995:
Schapiro begins by recounting her childhood and youth in Richmond, Virginia. She believes that she inherited her activism from her parents who were very involved in various Jewish organizations. After the rape of a family member in 1973, Schapiro states that she became aware of the need for action to protect women's rights, and she joined the Georgia Women’s Political Caucus, and then the Feminist Action Alliance. Schapiro discusses the differences between the National Organization for Women and the Feminist Action Alliance, as well as various other groups, such as the League of Women Voters and Georgians for the ERA. She considers the changing face of women’s activism and how, as the early participants age, they take on more passive, but still extremely important roles as patrons of issues, through groups such as the Atlanta Women’s Fund. Schapiro considers a lack of “common interests and common backgrounds” as being one of the main problems for the Women’s Movement and cites conflicts of interests with civil rights groups and lesbians as examples. She feels that the Movement has resulted in great benefits for women, including their access to professions and sports that were previously closed to them.

The October 11, 1995 and October 13, 2023 transcripts may be viewed in the Reading Room only. Copies may not be requested.

Siebert, Susan

Interviewee: Susan Siebert
Interviewer: Tiffany Gray
Date of interview: January 12, 2024

Interviewee: Susan Siebert
Interviewer: Morna Gerrard
Date of interview: February 12, 2024

Biography:
In her professional career, Susan Siebert served four decades as a lawyer leading leveraged financings, both domestic (for profit and not-for-profit) and cross border. She practiced law as a partner with Smith Gambrell in Atlanta, GA and later with Edwards and Angell and then Jones Day in Boston, MA until her retirement in 2021. In her legal career, she was honored to be included in Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA for Banking and Finance, and the Global Counsel 3000.

While enjoying her professional work, Susan has also always been deeply committed to both nonprofit and political campaign volunteer work. Since 1987, she has resided in the city of Boston, MA and continues to serve as a member f the President's Council and was a former board member of the Pine Street Inn, New England's largest nonprofit serving the homeless. She is also an active volunteer for Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. As a leukemia survivor, she is proud to serve as a One-to-One Peer Support volunteer at Dana Farber Cancer Institute where she helps patients prepare for and manage their stem cell transplants. She also serves on the Council for the First Parish Church of Truro MA and volunteers with HEAL Trafficking, a national anti human trafficking organization that educates health workers globally to spot and deal with trafficking.

In Boston, Susan previously served as a board member of Citizen Schools (a national nonprofit serving public middle schoolers in disadvantaged neighborhoods or various US cities) and the YWCA of Greater Boston, and served on the Seven Generations Board of City Year Boston (a nonprofit serving youth in cities across the US, and in South Africa and London).

While in Atlanta, Susan served on the boards of the YWCA of Greater Atlanta and the Atlanta Women's Network, and served as President of Feminist Action Alliance and Vice Chair of the Georgia Women's Political Caucus. She was also active on the Atlanta Bar Association's mental health committee.

Susan was proud to be chosen as a recipient of the Ten Outstanding Young People of Atlanta award in 1986 and as a member of the Leadership Atlanta class of 1987. She has an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College (IL) and a law degree from Emory University. She currently resides in Boston and Truro Massachusetts with her husband, Bart Mitchell, and counts as her greatest accomplishment being the mother of two wonderful daughters, Madeline Mitchell (married to Jeff Riemann) who resides in the Boston area and Lydia Mitchell (married to Cody Tracey) who resides in the Portland OR area.