College Feminists Connect!

All It Takes is Talk!

     Two weeks ago I was fortunate enough to attend a YWCA Its Time to Talk: Forums on Race with  guest speaker Linda Chavez, a prominent figure in the national debate on racial policy. If you’ve never heard of YWCA before it is essential to note they are the oldest and largest multicultural women’s organization in the world. The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. The YWCA hosts events such as this one to inspire individuals to consider what others have to say on certain issues and engage in ap
propriate conversation with their own opinions.
    During this discussion we were provided a great luncheon at the MSP convention center where trained YWCA facilitators sat at our table of 10 and facilitated discussion on the topic of race relations. The conversations really opened my mind up to new issues regarding racism and I found myself extremely inspired to hear what others had to say about their own race and backgrounds. My table consisted of individuals with various backgrounds whom all had stories to share about racism and how they have overcame those specific issues.
    The YWCA made me feel extremely comfortable in expressing my own opinions and everyone was welcome to new ideas and suggestions. I found the round table discussions extremely inspirational and thought provoking.
    Through these types of events, the YWCA is really seeking to engage women and individuals 18 - 34 years old to carry on the YWCA mission, to eliminate racism and empower women, for years to come. To find out more about YWCA, including upcoming events such as this one check out their website and become involved! They are more than happy to help set up table events around your campus :) Spread the word, all it takes is talk!

YWCA Minneapolis: https://www.ywcampls.org/
YWCA : http://www.ywca.org/site/c.cuIRJ7NTKrLaG/b.7798957/k.9763/News_and_Events.htm

Feminist Boot Camp

Soapbox recently announced that they have combined their Feminist Winter Term and Feminist Summer Camp programs under one name: Feminist Boot Camp. Feminist Boot Camp is an intensive week-long program designed for university students and anyone interested in meeting with progressive leaders and national feminist organizations. This program emphasizes career development and will include opportunities to network with people in the forefront of feminist activism.

Want to attend? Sign up now for Feminist Boot Camp Winter 2012. The dates are January 4-11, 2012 in New York City. Many students have received both college credit and financial support from their university for this experience. Soapbox offers ideas on how to get funding for the week at Feminist Boot Camp.

American Association of University Women Campus Action Projects

This year’s CAP grant program focuses on the issues raised by AAUW’s upcoming research report, Crossing the Line: Sexual Harassment in Schools.The report includes nationally representative data about the sexual harassment that occurs in grades seven through 12. To put research into practice, teams of student leaders and campus faculty nationwide may apply for up to $5,000 to design and implement programs using recommendations from the report, found in the request for proposals. Project goals may include raising awareness about sexual harassment or improving schools’ prevention methods and responsiveness to sexual harassment. Applications must be submitted by October 21. Applicants will be contacted by December 2. AAUW college/university partner members receive preference.

 

An Awesome Opportunity: Go, Girls Go!

The Women’s Center over at St. Cloud State University has been busy all summer. We’ve been brainstorming and planning for the coming semesters and we have quite a few fun, interesting, and cool things in store for SCSU campus and surrounding communities.

Aside from our (top secret) planning, we’ve been asked by a local Boys and Girls Club to organize an afternoon for a group of young girls (ages K-4). The young girls are a part a group called, Go, Girls Go!; a young girl’s summer empowerment group focusing on creating positive body image/self esteem, cultivating and inspiring personal growth and independence. Needless to say, this group of young girls is definitely creating their destiny in feminism, and that couldn’t make me or the ladies at Women’s Center any happier.

Obviously, the Women’s Center agreed to take on this opportunity with a resounding, “YES!”, but at the same time we were all puzzled and curious as to how we were going to keep 15 girl’s attention for over an hour. I mean, come on, since when are college students used to working/collaborating with children when it’s not required for class? Never, that’s when, but we were all eager to find the perfect activity and create conversation surrounding positive body image and self esteem, which was the theme we decided to go with.

When brainstorming, I couldn’t help but think about my little nieces (ages 10, 9, 7, and 5) and what types of activities they would be receptive to – and then I thought of a conversation that was had a few months ago involving said body image topic.

Babysitting these girls is always such a treat.  They're always teaching me new things and never fail to keep me informed on "what's cool" now-a-days (because apparently, I'm old and totally out of the loop).

Does Your Women's Center Have a Link?

Does your women's center have a link to College Feminist Connect? 

The College of Saint Benedict's Women's Center has a direct link for the College Feminist Connect. This link enables students to easily access information that College Feminist Connect posts and allows students to post blogs or find resources. The hope for College Feminist Connect is to have direct links on every women's centers page from every college or university in Minnesota. If you are interested in getting you school involved or applying to be a college feminist connect liaison please send a letter of intent and your resume to the College Feminist Connect Coordinator. 

Part-time Museum and Event Assistants

The Sewall-Belmont House and Museum located on Capitol Hill has part-time employment opportunities for Museum and Event Assistants.

Major responsibilities include; preparing the House for viewing, conducting group tours, assisting in providing security for the Museum's collections, and assisting the Museum staff -including clerical work, data entry, and sales in the Museum's shop.

Museum Assistants are accountable for maintaining and providing accurate information relevant to the major themes in the Sewall-Belmont House and Museum history.

Applicants should have strong communication skills, an interest in Women's history, and a flexible schedule that includes weekends and the occasional evening and monthly training meetings.

To read about more job opportunities with The Sewall-Belmont House and Museum and to apply, read the full job description.

Lehigh University seeks Associate Director

Lehigh University -Bethlehem, PA, has an employment opportunity for someone with their Masters in;

Counseling, Social Work, Public Health, Health Educator, Higher Education, Student Personnel, Women's and/or Gender Studies, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Lehigh's Women's Center is now accepting applications for an Assistant Director.

The Assistant Director is accountable for developing and assessing education based programs that create an inclusive campus for all women, and other multi-year curriculum -including a mandatory program for first years.

Other responsibilities include; collaborating with students, recruiting and training peer education groups, and providing lectures or participating in events relating to Women's and gender issues.

Read the full list of responsibilities, and apply, on the posted job description.

Developent Associates Apply!

Girl Up, a United Nations Foundation dedicated to helping adolescent girls around the world, is looking for a Senior Development Associate.

Responsibilities include: managing a portfolio of donors and retaining annual gifts totaling $10,000 (or more), coordinating foundation fundraising, and strategically engaging potential donors.

Although based in Washington DC, 30% of the position does require traveling throughout the country in order to cultivate prospective donors.

Applicants must have a college degree and 3-4 years of experience in fundraising, strong communication skills, a flexible schedule and an interest in Women's issues around the world.

For more information, and to apply: Senior Development Associate for Girls Up.

The job posting closes on Friday, February 25.

Intern for New Moon Girls

New Moon Girls, an online and print magazine for girls 8-12, is looking for a Multi-media Editorial Intern.

The position's responsibilities include creating, researching, and editing material/content that emphasizes girls' creativity, leadership, and healthy body image.

Applicants must be self motivated, have high speed internet, and able to work well independently. All New Moon Girls staff members, including interns, work from home.

Applications must be submitted by March 1, 2011 on their website.

For questions contact Assistant Editor, Erica Isermann at ericai@newmoon.com

Leadership Development

The Tri-College NEW (National Education for Women's) Leadership Development Institute is accepting applications for a five-day intensive residential program designed to provide leadership training with an emphasis on the political process.

Participants will attend workshops on running for office, public speaking, working with the media, and much more.

There is no cost to participate, thanks to generous donors, with the option for a three credit course* in Women's Studies, Sociology, or Social Work.

The program runs from June 1-5, 2011.

Applications will be accepted until March 25, 2011. Apply here.

Contact Deb White at whitede@mnstate.edu or 218-477-2041 for more information or with questions.

*Those who register for course credit will have to pay for course registration expenses.