Welcome to Young Women United's e-Newletter.

Greetings and welcome to the August 08 editions of Young Women United's bi-monthly e-news. 2008 is starting to come to its end as we enter another harvest season.   Just as the summer is a time of action, the autumn is a time of reflection and reaping what was planted and nurtured in the earlier part of the year.  This rings even more true for the YWU women in the Promotoras Apprenticeship. Kalpulli Izkalli has shared with us the opportunity to harvest from their gardens in preparation for the Encuentro (a natural healing event).

Since we are entering the season of reflection it is also appropriate that YWU has chosen this time to host our Real Revolution has Spirit institute, as this event is focused on the topic of Spirituality.  We are looking forward to this Saturday as it serves as an opportunity for growth as each woman focuses on what Spirituality means to her and how she chooses to incorporate it into her work at YWU, as well as in her daily life.  RRHS promises to be a whole lot of fun with many creative workshops that address the spirit and how we can organize from a place of humanness.

Continuing with the theme of reflection, we will soon be having our YWU focus meeting.  The purpose of this meeting is to reflect on where we are currently as an organization and which direction we wish to take as an organization in the next five years.
 
We hope that you take this moment to continue to read up on what YWU has been doing during the season of action and what we plan to accomplish this coming fall.
 
May the harvests in your life be bountiful,
Dominique Pierson

Communications and Office Coordinator

YWU Presents Our First Real Revolutions has Spirit (RRHS) 

As YWU entered into our Anti-Violence against Women campaign, our membership voiced a need for a place for healing and grounding ourselves and our communities.  Real Revolution has Spirit is in response to this need as well as YWU's organizational needs for intentionality and focus in our work, with spirituality at the center of what we do.
 
RRHS will be an all day event focused on the importance of spirituality in our organizing and lives.   The main focus of the event will be on a building Altar, which will permanently serve as a community space.  In addition to an Altar building we will also be hosting workshops as well as a platicá on spirituality.  In the workshops we will be creatively expressing ourselves and our connection to our spirituality through poetry, art projects and incense making. If you've been waiting to check out YWU this is the perfect opportunity!  This event is open to all Women of Color ages 13 to 35.

This event will take place on Saturday, August 23rd from 9:30am to 5:30pm.  YWU will provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as childcare. For more information or to RSVP childcare contact Andrea at amayahuel@hotmail.com.

RRHS Childcare

Once again it is time for YWU's summer institute.  As Revolutionary Mothers, we know how important it is that our children are not only well taken care of but also have the opportunity to learn to share and grow together.  Last year's Summer Institute successfully had a revolutionary childcare institute that had workshops, interactive and creative activities that feed the soul as well as promoted social justice and solidarity.  This year we will once again have Revolutionary Childcare for our summer institute and invite you and your child to come enjoy all the information available.  We have a full day of social justice and healing activities for our younger crew.  Age appropriate activities, children of all ages welcome, we just need a childcare RSVP to make sure we plan appropriately for food and activities.  Contact Adriann 505-831-8930 or ywu_albq@yahoo.comto RSVP for childcare during this year's Real Revolution has Spirit institute.

YWU has Fun at ABQ Gay Pride '08!

by - Amanda Singh Bans
YWU Member

Save the Date October 25, 2008
Sister Fire

YWU's 5th Annual SISTER FIRE
Sister Fire is Young Women United's Fabulously Fun annual all women of color performing arts event. 
 
Come celebrate our fifth year of promoting fierce women of color performance artists!! 
YWU believes that art, music, love, spirituality and sharing our skills and talents are essential components of the organizing work that we do.  Everything YWU does has an organizing purpose, we will tell our stories and send out our message using dance, theater, song, and poetry.   It is important to us that we reach you, our beloved community members and share all that we have learned in our work.  This year's Sister Fire promises to be extra special as we celebrate our fifth year, so block your calendars now, for Saturday, October 25, 2008. 
 
Call out for performers:
We still have a few spots open for Sister Fire '08.  If you are a self-identified woman of color and would like to show off your stuff for our fabulous annual event please contact Adriann @ 505-831-8930 or email me at ywu_albq@yahoo.com.  YWU is  a small grassroots organizing group and our performers volunteer their talents to help support women of color organizing in 'burque, this is a one of a kind event for Albuquerque that represents the voice and artistic creations of New Mexico's women.  Sister Fire attracted more than 300 people last year's and we plan to make this fifth year even bigger!  Call today to become a part of YWU herstory!

Panocha Platica

Young Women United has been hosting our "Panocha Platicas" once a month. These gatherings are open to all adult women ages 18 to 180. Our platicas (chats) focus on positive sexuality, self image and healing. Last month we held our platica at Self Serve, Burque's own sexuality resource center. We were able to learn more about our fabulous female bodies, tips for self pleasure, and also how to eroticize safe sex practices. A big 'Thank You' to Meg at Self Serve for hosting such a fun and educational event. Everyone who attended had a great time and many of us left with fun treats to take home.  

The next Panocha Platica will be held on Wednesday August 27, 2008 5:30 pm at the home of Marisol Ruiz. Her address is 1840 Kenttucky St NE Albuquerque NM 87110. The cross street is Constitution.  There is a park a block away from the house where child care will be provided by YWU for those of you who need it. (PLEASE RSVP IF YOU WILL NEED CHILD CARE)

Come join us for food, fun and sisterhood! For questions please contact panochaplatica@gmail.com.