Greetings! We hope you are having a beautiful summer season.

In the last newsletter we told you about our intergenerational visioning.

During our 2nd Annual Real Revolution Has Curves Summer Institute (July 21, 22) we followed up on that vision and decided that our new campaign will be centered around ending violence against women of color in 'burque.

This is a broad topic with many issues and campaign possibilities. In our most recent meeting, members decided to spend the necessary time developing the campaign, learning more about the issue, and being very thoughtful of our next steps and our wanted outcomes.

YWU remains consistently busy as we gear up for Sister Fire 2007 and the beginning of what promises to be a phenomenal Campaign.  Please read through the email to hear the nitty gritty of what's been going down at Young Women United.

Thanks for supporting Young Women of Color in Burque!

YWU Open House/Open Mic! August 25, 2007

YOU'RE INVITED!

Young Women United has been around now for 7 years!  We are settled in at our new spot and invite you to our Open House Party and Open Mic to show off our new space!

We will have chocolate and cheese fondues and refreshments, with an open mic to follow, so get here early for the goodies!

YWU received a matching grant for up to $10,000.  But we have to raise the match to receive the funds.  This event is one of our efforts to bring our work to the community and make some funds while doing it, so instead of going to that $9 movie, please make it out to hear some good words, and see what the fierce females of YWU have been up to.

Everyone welcome, invite your family and friends to come check out a community space and chill out at our outdoor open mic, held in our "kick it spot" the YWU garage. 

Come ready to celebrate 7 years of YWU!

August 25th, 2007
120 Morningside Dr NE
Corner of Copper and Moringside

On the Organizing Front: Real Revolution Has Curves

First and foremost it is important to acknowledge all the participants that came out on their weekend.  --the combination of all our voices is the ripple in the wake of a movement that puts women of color at the forefront of the struggle, creating a powerful force to be reckoned with .  Without Radical WOMEN of COLOR there is no REVOLUTION!

YWU's 2nd Annual Real Revolution has Curves Summer Institute was a huge success! There were workshops on homophobia, transphobia, and gender oppression. After seeing presentations around transportation, education, and violence against women, the women spent a rigorous afternoon debating on what injustice to conquer next. Circle of Fire and Circle of Strength decided to unite in the fight to end violence against women. At the end of the weekend everyone left with beautiful henna art, self made fashionable t-shirts,  and refreshed from a great pool party, but most importantly they all left rejuvenated and ready to take on the world.

We like to give a special thanks to: Helga Garza for her delicious and nutritious foods, we felt totally spoiled throughout the day with all the great foods; Fatima for her beautiful henna art; Shona Ortega led morning yoga; Mireya Cadena, our child caregiver, providing what we call "meaningful childcare" full of conscious building, and various learning experiences for our little ones.  Thanks to Carlos Bustos for presenting the "Water Cycle" Game" for the kids. Our neighborhood art collective, Stove, generously let  us use their space, and of course Denicia, Andrea, and Adriann for the 2007 Summer Institute.

Updates from the Comprehensive Sex Ed Campaign

For many years, YWU has been fighting for responsible Sex Education in our communities. As a result of our huge effort, and in collaboration with other organizations and individuals, we have influenced the creation of state policy that favors responsible Sex Education.

YWU has created awareness about the issue as well as gained tremendous support in our community. We press forward, determined to hold public officials accountable to the new state policies, as well as ensure a successful implementation of the standards that includes as a plan to monitor the schools performance and compliance. 

May 2nd 2007, Circle of Strength addressed the APS school board.  We were denied time on the agenda for the school board meeting but we did not let that stop us. Circle of Strength members performed a unique step that presented their demand for implementation of the new standards, while delivering over 300 signatures of support!!  We will continue to be a buzz in the school board's ear by holding them accountable to the PED standards & DOH guidelines. We will not stop until young people are receiving this vital health information.

COS collected over 80 questionnaires asking students to rate the sex education they are receiving in their schools.  Now we are sifting through and compiling information from the questionnaire results. We will soon have a report of these results to present to the APS school board, DOH, PED and you, our concerned community supporters.

We are scheduled to again meet with school board members to present our information & explain (with the proof to back it up) that what's really happening in the schools is not reflective of our state's standards. Once again we will demand a plan of implementation of the PED standards & benchmarks.

U.S. Social Forum

After two flights that lasted 5 hours we arrived in Atlanta. The next day the big event kicked off around Atlanta's Civic Center. Most of the workshops were in neighboring hotels, though some were too far to go to by foot. We were able to ride the M.A.R.T.A around town.

My most memorable workshop was one called sexism in Hip-Hop. In this workshop there was an exercise where women line up and yell the sexual comments and advances that men had said to them during their lives while men walk past them.  Another thing that was cool was the feminist round table where Loretta Ross spoke.

Avicra Luckey

Look Out for the USSF Community Report Back on 8/20!!

My Internship with YWU:

• I got a real chance to see how the inside of an organization works.
• I now feel like I could make some powerful changes in the community on my own time.
• I have obtained leadership skills by conducting the Circle of Strength meetings.
• I definitely want to pursue a career in something that helps people in my community.
•  I have truly become a "young woman."

Samuela Sitonik

COS Meetings and Schedule

The Circle of Strength is a group for young women of color ages 13-19. We meet every Thursday from 3:30-5:30. Rides and snacks are provided! We are always looking for new members. Join US!! call 831-8930

COS Calendar

7/26- Belly dancing workshop

8/2- College Application/Financial Aid/Scholarship meeting.

8/2- 6:00-??? Movie Night

8/6- Door Knocking for recruitment.

8/9- Youth Organizing 101. New member meeting. This is the perfect time to come check us out!

8/15 - Intergenerational Campaign Meeting and COS Campaign Meeting

8/23 - Environmental Justice in 'burque

8/30- NO MEETING

9/6- 3 month reflection and visioning

Possible Ideas for September and On

• Ceramics Workshops at Coyote Pottery 
• Host a Safe Sex Awareness BBQ
• Host a poetry or band event
• Group volunteer at a homeless shelter
• Finish Painting the garage
• Planting flowers/a garden
• Outreach with other organizations