To compile Till Human Voices Wake Us, I did not amble into St. George’s completely by chance. Rather, I transplanted myself to Kenya as part of the Global Development Internship (GDI) with ThinkImpact, a non-profit dedicated to fueling social innovation at the grassroots level to alleviate poverty. The GDI in Kenya focused specifically on building relationships within the community of Kayafungo, a rural area of around 43,000 people 50 kilometers inland from Mombasa on the coast. Kayafungo faces a variety of problems at the most basic level.  I felt overwhelmed by the enormity and complexity of the problems plaguing Kayafungo. I have spent much of my college career studying the complexities of development, but seeing these issues firsthand was an awakening experience for me. At the time of the GDI, I was between my sophomore and junior year at Georgetown University. I am now a senior in Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, pursuing a major in Culture and Politics with a thematic concentration in Genocide/Trauma/Marginalization and a minor in Justice and Peace Studies. The GDI was the perfect opportunity to put my classroom pedagogy into practice.

I had the benefit of a host family to interact with on a daily basis. In order to fully practice the development philosophy we studied, the internship structure placed the GDIs with homestay families in the Kayafungo community. I lived with the Charo family, a wonderful subsistence-farming family of eleven. While this family welcomed me with open arms, transitioning into his family’s life proved to be bumpy for all of us. The language barrier made even the most basic communication difficult. During our first haphazard conversations, it seemed like I was attempting to bridge an ocean of cultural difference through miming, and I was failing miserably.

On my third afternoon in the Charo house, I spent some time before dinner sitting outside journaling, and I felt a presence over my shoulder. I turned, only to discover half of the family watching me with great interest. Although they could not understand the words I was writing, the act of writing had them transfixed. I gave them my pen, and they began to write their names for me. Writing broke our communication barrier and fashioned us a bridge to communicate. After this interaction, John, my host-dad, finally christened me with my Giriama name, Jumwa, officially making me a part of his family. Writing gave us both a method to express our personal voices in a familiar space and ultimately completely transformed our relationship.

Two Kenyan students reviewing their drafts with the class

I carried the significance of my first true communications with the Charo family throughout my curriculum work at the beginning of the GDI. As I reflected on how exactly my and my host family’s lives collided, I wanted to explore the role of writing in the Kayafungan community. Then, the next week, I visited St. George’s while doing fieldwork, and it clicked. These students seemingly did not have many opportunities to engage with and develop their personal voice. Writing helped me bridge the communication gap I experienced with my host family. Perhaps it could help these youth, who have experienced trauma and incredible hardship while maintaining their sense of dignity, find their voices. Their stories inspired me and could serve as an inspiration for others. I am honored to contribute to the SWSG blog, because the missions of this blog and of my project are so congruent. It is my hope that young people internalize this mission and we can together help foster the next generation of social justice leaders.

In the article “Chamber honors Miami’s top non-profits,” writer D. Kevin McNeir reports for The Miami Times on SWSG’s win and the over-$2 million winnner, the Posse Foundation. SWSG was proud to be honored alongside the Posse Foundation, which awards college scholarships to high-potential high school seniors in Miami.

SWSG South Florida Executive Direct Rhea Beck is quoted, saying, “We are honored to be this year’s recipient of the NOVO Award…This is really a testament to the dedication and commitment of the college women who dedicate over 12,000 hours of volunteer [service] annually to elementary school girls in Miami-Dade County. They are the backbone of the work that we do.”

Read the full article!

Just think about that for a moment? How many times have words been spoken that resonate so deep within your body it almost hums? How many times have you heard, read or seen something that gave you goose pimples, raised the hairs on the back of your neck or had your eyes well up? Do you pay attention to these moments or do you allow them to pass by with little or no notice?

The next time this occurs, I challenge you to resist the urge to brush it off as “being silly” or overly sentimental. Instead,  pay attention to what your body’s feeling (saying). This is your soul’s attempt to bind you to it’s truth. This is your own Soul Speak.

Women especially have long since forgotten what our souls say to us. Even when it rises up in us violently – manifesting itself in abusive, broken relationships and eating disorders or more silently as fibroid tumors and sleepless nights – we still choose to ignore our souls’ pleas to be heard and continue to turn outward for truth; seeking solace outside of ourselves, instead of venturing within to that sacred place that says: rest here, you are safe, all is well, you are loved. http://www.nourishing-the-soul.com/2012/03/a-new-take-on-pandoras-box/

We’ve been taught to hate ourselves, and in turn one another… conditioned not to trust ourselves, indeed encouraged to entreat all manner of guidance from others…most notably men. Ladies, we cannot afford such crimes against what is in fact the Sacred Feminine. Now don’t get me wrong, I adore men. I’m married to one and am fortunate enough to be raising three that are exceptional. This is not about them however, but about us needing validation from others in lieu of searching out the wisdom within, trusting what that inner sage tells us is right and true… for YOU. Not your mother, neighbor or PTA President. Not “They or Them,” but You. This place exist in us all and is patiently waiting for a visit. Ohhh, I promise it’s worth it. The reward you ask? Dignity, Self Respect, Inspiration, Appreciation of Life and a well-spring of Creativity awaits.

You wanna be tuned in, tapped in, turned on?

You wanna be whole??

Then listen to your Soul Speak.

The Saturday Light Brigade radio program, which uses radio to amplify the voices of children, youth, and families, will be broadcasting the PSAs.

Listen to Aaliyah, Elaina, and Lexi’s SWSG PSA and all the great PSAs!

In a local event hosted by the Boston YWCA along with the Boston Foundation and Holland & Knight, keynote speaker Dr. Emmett G. Price III asked the audience to take this call to action very seriously. He implored us to not only stand together figuratively as part of this important campaign, but to work to cultivate the immense courage, integrity, and endurance it takes to actively take a stand against racism and discrimination whenever and wherever we see it. This, he admitted, is not always easy.

Pointing to the young members of the Josiah Quincy School band who kicked off the event, Dr. Price presented music as a way to bridge gaps between us. Music creates a language of its own, he explained, separate from the politics and stratification of our daily lives. It is a different language that allows us to create more meaningful connections with others.

As I listened to spoken word performances by two high school women that concluded the event, I was struck by the bravery and confidence it takes to truly stand up against discrimination in our daily lives. Whether it’s through words, music, or direct actions, we all have a responsibility to work towards a better, more just humanity in whatever way we can.

How have you stood up against racism lately? What are some concrete ways you can work to end racism in your school, community, or social circle?

The 4th Annual Classy Awards “recognize the greatest charitable achievements worldwide” and are the largest philanthropic awards show in the country. The awards are hosted by creator StayClassy, a fundraising website for non-profit organizations around the world. Check out SWSG’s own StayClassy page!

In 2010, SWSG won the CLASSY Award in the Philanthropic Business of the Year Category. This year, we are honored to be nominated for our educational work, training over 1,100 girls in healthy lifestyles and 350 college women in health and wellness best practices over 500 hours of service.

Public voting begins July 9th. In the meantime, check out this summary of the incredible impact made by last year’s nominees. The numbers don’t lie, StayClassy nominees make a huge difference in the world around them!

I was in those shoes only a few years ago.  In college, I had loved my time mentoring with SWSG and other chances I had to work with youth.  When I thought about a post-grad job, I didn’t really think about being able to continue that kind of work.  When people think “college graduate,” they think serious and boring and sitting in an office all day—I knew that wasn’t my cup of tea.

But how does someone start looking for a job in the out-of-school-time sector?  Is there a way to build on relationships you create in SWSG to work full-time post-graduation?

The answer is definitely yes.  There are jobs working in after-school and youth programs, you just have to know where to look.  Programs like the Massachusetts Promise Fellowship and AmeriCorps are a great way to get started. (Totally selfish plug: I’m hiring Mass Promise Fellows!  Apply to work at Viet-AID!).

I still keep in touch with many of the amazing women who were mentors with me when I did SWSG.  Now, they are spread out across the country.  I am very impressed that like me, they have been able to maintain their relationships working with youth in their post-grad years:

• One of my old co-mentors is working at Citizen Schools, tutoring middle school students in Roxbury.
• Another is in medical school, studying to become a pediatrician.
• A third is in New York, working as a paralegal and volunteering in Harlem as a girls softball coach on the weekends.

So, my message to graduating seniors is this: don’t give up on working with youth just because you’re joining us in the real world.  It is totally possible to continue following your passion and still have enough money to pay the rent.  We want smart, strong young women (and men) to come join us in our work with youth.  Reach out to people like me and tell us you’re interested.  If that’s what you want to do, start looking today and I bet you’ll be able to find a way to do it!

The recipients were announced Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Trustees Luncheon. The awards were presented by Sam Tidwell, CEO of American Red Cross, South Florida Region and MDCPS Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. SWSG South Florida Executive Director Rhea Beck and Program Manager Adele Coble were at the ceremony to accept the award and be recognized for their outstanding work empowering girls in the South Florid community!

Dr. Clautti is profiled in the article “Fearless Women: Linda Clautti, Urban Pathways Charter School” which details her commitment to “getting students in the college mode” and “creating a culture of stability” at the Urban Pathways Charter School where she is the CEO. As the creator of the WISE (Women in Sync Everywhere) mentoring program, which matches female students with  professional women in the community for one on one mentoring throughout the student’s high school and early college career, she demonstrated the SPARKS that SWSG is proud to honor.

So be sure to read this great article from popcitymedia.com and see why Dr. Linda Clautti is a Strong Woman with SPARKS!

By my freshman year in college, hailing from a small Vermont town where I played soccer with the boys and was treated as an individual, my feminist consciousness had yet to fully develop.  Still, sitting there, the hard cold seats pressing into the backs of my tired legs, I have vivid memories of college administration announcing to all athletes they were cutting several male teams.  The cuts were credited to Title IX compliance issues.  I distinctly remember the uneasy feeling that overwhelmed my senses as other female athletes passionately asserted they did not want the money that was being “reallocated” to them as a result of the cuts.

I don’t remember the exact grounds, perhaps it was due to my bruised ego having been handed a solid defeat by UCONN or Syracuse, perhaps it was my general competitive spirit, that spurred me to so eagerly look forward to additional funding for our team (who, at the time, coincidentally had few scholarships). Yet, enough of the other women were so adamantly against the cuts, that I felt a sense of shame for wanting that money for our sport.

Now, with more experience behind me and with an awakened feminist consciousness, I more fully understand the experience.  The cuts were made in 1998, a full twenty-six years after Title IX was implemented.  That means that administrators had ample time to seek out an alternative solution.  Under Title IX, schools are not required to cut male sports to be in compliance.  In fact, there are three different approaches an institution can take to become compliant:

1. Provide athletic participation opportunities that are substantially proportionate to the student enrollment. This prong of the test is satisfied when participation opportunities for men and women are “substantially proportionate” to their respective undergraduate enrollment.
2. Demonstrate a continual expansion of athletic opportunities for the underrepresented sex. This prong of the test is satisfied when an institution has a history and continuing practice of program expansion that is responsive to the developing interests and abilities of the underrepresented sex (typically female).
3. Accommodate the interest and ability of underrepresented sex. This prong of the test is satisfied when an institution is meeting the interests and abilities of its female students even where there are disproportionately fewer females than males participating in sports.

As such, Title IX has and is consistently used as a scape goat for poor planning and quick fixes to complicated issues, including budgetary.  Title IX has created many opportunities for girls to engage in athletics.  However, there are obvious challenges associated with the ways in which institutions are implementing Title IX.  In true backlash fashion, men often play the victims of Title IX.  What has been your experience with Title IX?   Have you witnessed the backlash against Title IX?

Further, Title IX’s impact for girls and women goes beyond sports. It is often easy to forget that Title IX supports women’s advancement not just in athletics, but also in academics. In my next post, I’ll explore the legislation’s academic impact.  How have you experienced the impact of Title IX in academics?