Health Literacy, Fun, Food, and Fitness

Health literacy, fun, food and fitness were the themes of two workshops I attended at the 33rd Annual New York City Adult Basic Education Conference, presented by the New York City Consortium for Adult Basic Education. The conference took place on Saturday, April 28th from 8am until 4:15pm and was held at the High School of Fashion Industries, 225 West 24th Street in Manhattan.

“Innovating and Connecting in Adult Education” was the conference theme. The conference was sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of Adult Education, the Department of Youth and Community Development, the NYC Department of Education: Office of Adult and Continuing Education, and the New York Public Library.

The New York City Consortium for Adult Basic Education Corporation is a nonprofit association comprised of practicing educators, professors, administrators, trainers, counselors and volunteers. The focus of the consortium is to provide staff development opportunities to adult educators who teach educationally disadvantaged teens and adults. The organization’s goal is to provide a forum for adult education to share research and new developments in ESOL, BENL, GED, BE, and Family Literacy Programs in New York City.

“Say Ah!’s Health Literacy: Strategies to Improve Health Literacy for Better, Safer Outcomes in a Complex Health Care System” was the first of two workshops on health in which I participated. The workshop was co-facilitated by Helene Eisman Fisher and Anna J. Allen, Co-Founders of the nonprofit organization Say Ah!( as in “Open your mouth and say ‘Ah’” and “Ah, I understand now”) (www.justsayah.org). Say Ah! is dedicated to helping people understand health and medical information, and to improving communication between patients and health care providers.

Say Ah!’s programming has been designed to raise health literacy awareness, provide information to patients, physicians/care providers, and policy makers, and to help people access and understand health and medical information. Say Ah!’s programming includes:

•Leading workshops to educate individuals on how to get the most out of their health care
•Developing easy-to-read, accessible print materials and online resources to help patients gain the skills and information they need to become health literate
•Advocating for the inclusion of health literacy initiatives in public health policies and health care reform
•Partnering with physicians to conduct evidence-based research on effective strategies to enhance patient medication adherence
•Providing physicians/care providers with health literacy strategies and materials for improved patient safety, communication, and care
•Assembling a team of collaborators including literacy professionals, health care providers, and patient advocates dedicated to a cross-disciplin ary approach to health literacy awareness, education and advocacy
•Raising health literacy awareness at workshops, conferences, online forums, as well as other national outreach channels (www.justsayah.org)

The presenters opened the workshop by giving an overview of their organization and work and talked about health disparities and the relationship between education and health outcomes. They stated that 90 million Americans suffer from low health literacy. Health literacy is defined as “the ability to access, understand and act on health and medical information.” The 1992 publication of the first National Health Literacy Study, and the genesis of the 20 year old health literacy field were also briefly discussed. Much of the presentation centered on the set of skills needed to be health literate, such as:

• Knowing what questions to ask your doctor (or even knowing that it’s okay to ask your doctor questions)
• Making sense of nutrition labels on foods
• Understanding the benefits and risks of a treatment
• Comprehending the legal language in a consent form or other materials, such as a patient bill of rights or health proxy (www.justsayah.org)

This workshop was very interactive. We discussed how to talk to students about health information and shared personal anecdotes about our own health care experiences. The group engaged in an exercise in which we developed a lesson plan around a health literacy issue. We decided to create a lesson directed to young adults around the dangers of using other people’s prescription medications.

Participants were referred to a great resource, the National Institute for Literacy website: www.healthliteracyn etwork.org/materials/9.html where people can access research-based health literacy materials and instruction guides for beginning ABE and ESL level students. Some of the lesson plan topics include: Health Professionals, Emergency Care, Preventive Care, Talking to Health Professionals, Filling Out Medical and Family History Forms, Medication Warnings, Paying for Health Services, and Getting Healthier.

The overall theme of this great workshop was that we can and must be active members of our health care. Through the work of organizations like Say Ah!, we can improve our levels of health literacy. Visit Say Ah! at www.justsayah.org where health literacy materials, including a handout given to us at the workshop called “Tips for Talking with Your Doctor” can be accessed.

“Feeding the Mind, Fortifying the Body: Fun, Food and Fitness for the Adult Learner” was my second health-themed workshop. The presentation was co-facilitated by Sandra Gucciardi, Marcia Black Peters, and Andrea Blair Dawson from the Cornell University Cooperative Extension (CCE) programs in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens (http:// nyc.cce.cornell.edu). “The CCE puts research into practice by providing high value educational programs and university-back ed resources that help solve real-life problems, transforming and improving New York families, farms, businesses and communities.” (www.cce.cornell.edu)

A brief power point presentation was shown about the work of the Cornell University Cooperative Extension and highlighted its Nutrition and Health programming, which focuses on physical activity, food and nutrition. The presenters also talked about their involvement in farmer’s markets around the city.

“Feeding the Mind, Fortifying the Body: Fun, Food and Fitness for the Adult Learner” was interactive from start to finish. We discussed what we eat, completed a “What is in my plate?” written exercise, and reviewed a ChooseMyPlate.gov handout called “What’s on your plate?” ChooseMyPlate was created by the US Department of Agriculture. The handout features a visual of a food plate and includes information about different food groups including vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy and protein foods and offers information on recommended daily servings of each food group. On the plate, vegetables and fruit account for one-half of the plate. Grains account for one-fourth of the plate, as do protein foods.

Ms. Gucciardi, a dietician, led a great discussion on healthy eating. She told the attendees that it was important that we enjoy our food, but cautioned that we have to be mindful of what we eat and how much we eat. In discussing the importance of eating vegetables, Ms. Gucciardi encouraged the attendees to vary our vegetables and eat different colored ones. Participants asked questions about a variety of food topics including eating white rice vs. brown rice, the benefits of eating avocadoes, reducing sodium intake, and how to encourage adolescents to make healthier food choices. When one participant asked why there are so many people living with diabetes today, Ms. Gucciardi responded that “we are eating really badly.” She elaborated that the unhealthy foods that we eat (foods containing too much bad fat, high sodium, excessive sugar, etc.) contribute to diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.

The last part of the workshop, led by Ms. Black Peters and Ms. Blair Dawson, addressed physical activity. This was fun! The group participated in some light physical activity in which we walked in place, did knee lifts, and moved from side to side. We saw a brief clip of an exercise program that modeled the physical activity we were doing in the workshop. The ChooseMyPlate.gov handout recommends that adults do at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, each week. You can select activities that you can do for at least 10 minutes at a time.

At the close of the workshop, the presenters distributed information about the Cornell University Cooperative Extension Health and Nutrition Program and gave each participant a wallet- sized ChooseMyPlate.org card with an individualized message. My card reads: “Drink water instead of sugary drinks.” I already do!

For additional information about the Cornell University Cooperative Extension’s New York City programs visit http:// nyc.cce.cornell.edu Go to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov for helpful information about healthy eating and physical activity.

Educators in New York City literacy programs are invited to join the planning committee for the 2013 New York City Adult Basic Education Conference. Contact Aryanna or Darian Fernando of the New York City Consortium for Adult Basic Education at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Health First! The Black Woman’s Wellness Guide

“Over the decades, the Black Women’s Health Imperative’s focus groups, roundtables, and surveys have confirmed that when you ask a Black woman about the state of her health, she will find a way to tell you she’s healthy even if she’s not. That’s why we developed this book. We know that deep in our spirits, Black women long to be well.

Although Black history is riddled with pain and loss, it is equally shot through with overwhelming triumphs accomplished against all odds when a critical mass of people challenged the status quo and stepped forward to galvanize meaningful change. Black women continue to “beat the odds” and claim success in American life in ways that few would have ever predicted. Attaining good health and quality health care may be formidable challenges, but these are challenges that we believe Black women can meet. The fact that others often don’t really “see us” or “don’t think much of us” doesn’t mean that we can’t affirm our value and dare to love ourselves.

It’s time for Black women to kick old dysfunctional behaviors to the curb no matter where or who we come from. It’s time to adopt a new attitude of uncompromised commitment to our own well-being. We must move forward—sister by sister and one woman at a time!

As we educate ourselves about our health, we can break through our denial and discover that it is never too late to put our health first.” (“Health First! The Black Woman’s Wellness Guide” p. 2)

“Health First! The Black Woman’s Wellness Guide” is a Black Women’s Health Imperative Project published this year by Smiley Books (www.SmileyBooks.com). This groundbreaking and important 400 –page publication examines the health challenges and crises facing many Black women today and serves as a current, comprehensive health guide which outlines strategies for promoting health and wellness in Black women and girls. “Health First!” is written by Eleanor Hinton Hoytt, the president and CEO of the Black Women’s Health Imperative( www.BlackWomens Health.org) and award-winning health journalist and New York Times bestselling author Hilary Beard (“Friends: A Love Story,” “21 Pounds in 21 Days: The Martha’s Vineyard Diet /Detox“).

Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Black Women’s Health Imperative is the leading national organization advancing the health and wellness of our nation’s 20 million Black women and girls across the life span----physica lly, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Through advocacy, education and leadership development, the Imperative works to deepen Black women’s resolve in becoming savvy decision makers about our health, achieving optimum health and wellness, and eliminating racial and gender disparities in health. The Imperative’s aim is to deepen the public’s investment in moving health and wellness to the top of every Black woman’s life agenda, as well as making it a top priority on the nation’s policy and research agenda (www.BlackWomens Health.org).

“Health First!”, which opens with a Foreword by Byllye Y. Avery, the Founder of the Black Women’s Health Imperative, includes three sections: Part I, Your Journey through Life’s Stages (Adolescents, Young Adults, Midlife Adults, Mature Adults); Part II, Beating the Odds; and Part III, Self-Care is Imperative.

The information the authors present in the book come from experts, researchers, current federal government data, and the accounts of Black women themselves. The Black Women ‘s Health Imperative’s work with women ( conducting polls, surveys, roundtables and focus groups) is also highlighted. And for the first time, the authors release findings from a 2007 Harris survey on the Health Attitudes and Behaviors of Black Women, which was commissioned by the Black Women’s Health Imperative. The book includes an array of Black women’s perspectives on health issues, but also highlights stories of “women who have beat the odds and made choices to manage their disease, change their behavior , and inspire others along the way” (p.5).

Part I, “Your Journey Through Life’s Stages” looks as the issues affecting Black women across the lifespan and explores a range of topics including image and identity; education; violence and abuse; employment and economic realities; marriage and family; tobacco and substance use; sexual and reproductive health; menopause; prevention and setting the stage for good health. The authors provide a list of recommended health screenings and vaccinations Black women should have at each life stage.

Part II, “Beating the Odds” examines the top ten health risks for Black women: cancer, depression, diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, kidney disease, obesity, sexually transmitted diseases, stroke, and violence. Some findings:

• Although cancer deaths have declined for both Whites and Blacks living in the United States, Blacks continue to suffer the greatest burden in each of the most common types of cancer. For all cancers combined, the death rate is 25 percent higher for Blacks than for Whites.
• The rate of depression in Black women is roughly 50 percent higher than that of White women, yet only 7 percent of Black women get treated for it, compared to 20 percent of White women.
• Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death for Black women.
• Black women’s rates of heart disease overall are twice as high as those for White women. Black women suffer coronary artery disease (CAD) at much higher rates than White women and are 35 percent more likely than White women to die from it.
• In 2010, HIV/AIDS was the third leading cause of death among Black women ages 35-44.
• Black women and men constitute about 29 percent of all patients treated for kidney failure in the United States.
• Black women are more likely to be obese than women of any other racial group, more prone to the diseases that obesity contributes or connects to, and more likely to die from those diseases.
• By some estimates, 48 percent of Black women and girls between ages 14 and 49 have genital herpes.
• Black women are twice as likely as White women to have a stroke, and tend to have them earlier in life.
• A 2008 study by the Violence Policy Center reported that Black women are being killed at a rate nearly three times higher than White women. The average age of Black women who were homicide victims was 34 years and most of these women were killed by a family member, intimate friend or spouse, rather than a stranger.

Part III, “Self-Care Is Imperative” offers counsel and sound advice on how Black women can transform their physical and mental health and live well. In the opening chapter “Healthy Body”, the authors discuss healthy eating and the importance of regular physical activity.

“The foods we eat affect every aspect of our being; our energy level, our ability to think clearly, our emotional stability, our body’s ability to repair and regenerate itself, the ease with which it maintains a healthy weight ….Yet all too often we use food to “take care of” others or ourselves in a way that isn’t healthy at all. Far too many Black women turn to food for when we feel overloaded or overwhelmed by the realities of life—especially when we aren’t tending to our mental health as we should.” (p. 248).

Among the authors’ guidelines and recommendations for healthy eating, they caution women to consume less sugar, sodium, and saturated fats, and encourage them to drink more water and eat more fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins. They also discuss portion sizing and the My Plate visual, in which a plate is divided like a pie chart. Half of the plate should contain vegetables and fruit, one-quarter should contain protein and one-quarter of the plate should have whole grains.

In emphasizing the importance of regular physical activity, the authors write:
“Physical activity can lower your blood pressure, improve your cholesterol, help you lose weight, and reduce inflammation in your body. Because it helps to change both your body weight and your body composition, it indirectly protects against other conditions as well, including fatty liver, many cancers, sleep apnea, low-back pain, gout, and more. Staying in motion increases longevity and lowers your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and Type-2 diabetes—all conditions that disproportionat ely affect Black women.” (p. 271).

The authors discuss the very real barriers many Black women face to eating healthy and getting physical activity--- limited access to healthy foods in their communities, lack of money, little or no support from family or friends, having no access to a gym or other safe space in the community in which to exercise, time constraints, and others. They offer some suggestions for addressing these barriers.

“Healthy Mind “ follows the chapter on eating and physical activity. This chapter looks at emotional wellness, explores the mind-body-spiri t connection, discusses mental illness in Black women and the stressors that can lead to or exacerbate mental illness, lists the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and gives an overview of forms of treatment.

“Just as many aspects of the brain lie beyond science’s ability to understand them, our mind/body/spirit connection is so profound that researchers haven’t probed it deeply either. But it is tangible and very real—and fundamental to a healthy life. When our mind, body and spirit operate in synchrony, we experience optimal health on every level.” (p. 285)

A definition of emotional wellness by Andrea Sullivan, N.D., PhD in her book “ A Path to Healing: A Guide to Wellness for Body, Mind and Soul” is offered in “Health First.” According to Dr. Sullivan, we enjoy emotional wellness when:

“We are aware of being part of a greater whole. Our behavior is likely to be productive and fruitful. We pursue goals of health, happiness, wealth and love. We encourage others to do the same. We have selfless creativity for others and ourselves. When we are well, we can give freely of ourselves, from the overflow of who we are. When we are well, it hurts not to give.” (p. 284).

“Healthy Mind “concludes with five strategies Black women can use to support their mental health:
• Trust your intuition
• Listen to your emotions selectively
• Solve your problems honestly
• Face your fears
• Ask for help

“For Black women spirituality reflects the imprint of our race, gender and culture. It is the unspoken wind beneath our wings that can offer the direction necessary to claim a truly healthy life.” (p. 311)

The chapter “Healthy Spirit” addresses spirituality as a critical component in the lives in many Black women and discusses the link between spirituality and optimal physical and mental health.

“We’d like to propose that spiritual health means honoring Spirit in all of its manifestations—from treasuring nature to treasuring other human beings to treasuring ourselves. And since every human being consists of many dimensions, including a body, a mind and a spirit, being spiritually healthy involves proactively caring for all aspects of ourselves. Although Western thought typically considers these three to be separate entities, African-descend ed people typically believe that the body is connected to the mind, which is connected to the spirit.” (p. 314).

“Healthy Spirit” contains writings by bestselling motivational author Iyanla Vanzant, including her 10 Contemplations, and lists spiritual disciplines women can practice, including:
• Prayer
• Meditation
• Spiritual Study
• Journaling
• Fasting and Cleansing
• Nature
• Silence
• Turning Outward
• Service
• Surrender
• Sacrifice
• Spirit in Community
• Worship
• Fellowship
• Celebration

“How do you take care of yourself? Now that you have learned in previous chapters how to reduce your vulnerability to the Top Ten Health Risks, and how to tend to your body, mind and spirit, it’s time to blueprint your own strategy for self-care. Through practicing self-care you can empower yourself to become what the Imperative calls a Health-Wise Woman—a woman who is an informed master of her own health, both for her own sake and for her community. This healthy self-possession can take many different forms, ranging from committing to daily physical activity to creating the most vibrant life possible even if you are living with a chronic illness.” (p. 332)

The final chapter of the book “Self-Care Now” discusses self-care, outlines steps to becoming a Health-Wise Woman, and concludes the book with steps to self-empowermen t that make wellness possible.

Self-Care is defined as:
• Assessing the state of your health
• Learning what it takes to attain and maintain good health
• Knowing available health-care options from both conventional Western or allopathic medicine and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
• Understanding how to assess the information and resources you need
• Making informed decisions
• Assembling your own health-care advisory team (p. 332)

The authors offer a health self-assessment questionnaire, discuss patient rights and responsibilitie s, and give a Primary Care Primer. The chapter ends with the following “Steps to Self-Empowermen t”:
• Awareness
• Coalescing
• Taking Control
• Transformation
• Maintenance

"Health First! The Black Woman’s Wellness Guide” concludes with an Afterword by Eleanor Hinton Hoytt and features a resource list of national and local health nonprofits, medical and other associations, and government health organizations.

The following are excerpts from some of the testimonies of women in the book:

“I’m an advocate for my health now. I don’t let any doctor tell me that it’s going to be okay. If something doesn’t feel right , I demand an examination and testing. Even if everything feels right, I don’t miss my annual physical and I gather as much information as I can about what can affect my health as a Black woman.” Erika Jones, a mother and survivor of triple negative breast cancer (p. 116).

“The beginning of any life change must start in the mind. I decided to give myself at least a year to “get well” and I soon noticed that my wellness plan had a life on its own. The pounds seemed to drop off, and my physical exams were improving rapidly.” Dr. Bertice Berry, sociologist, lecturer, educator and author (“ A Year to Wellness and Other Weightloss Secrets”) who developed a wellness plan to overcome obesity and lost over 150 pounds (p. 195).

“We have to stop rationalizing away the unhealthy habits we have—be it smoking, drinking, overeating, being sedentary or not taking the medication meant to save our lives. I don’t know why my life was spared and others haven’t been, but I don’t intend to test my luck. If you know there is something you need to change, you shouldn’t either.” Edna Wooten, stroke survivor, widow, mother, grandmother and great-grandmoth er (p. 227).

“We MUST make our health a priority. Not weight loss because we want to be cute—weight loss because it’s better for our daily quality of life. We must make our mental health a priority, not considering it because we are about to go DMX on folks, losing our mind up in here, up in here. Our mental health has to come first because we don’t HAVE to live in despair—we CAN feel better. We must put our health first because suffering from chronic illness and being unwell doesn’t make life worth living.” Kirsten, age 39, a mother who is using “Health First” as a guide to improving her own health (p. 350).

“First and foremost, Health First! is for and about Black women seeing ourselves with new eyes. It’s about learning to love ourselves enough to take care of ourselves, and caring enough about others to encourage them to do the same. Self-love is not an indulgence: it is a commitment to care for oneself in the highest possible manner. Self-love is not wrong, neither is it selfish. In fact, self-love is an acknowledgment that seeing ourselves as worthy of love is a prerequisite to loving others. And unlike some other kinds of love, self-love is unconditional.” (“Health First! The Black Woman’s Wellness Guide” p. 8).

“Protect Children, Not Guns 2012”

“By any standards of human and moral decency, children in America are under assault, and by international standards, America remains an unparalleled world leader in gun deaths of children and teens—a distinction we shamefully and immorally choose! The most recent analysis of data from 23 high-income countries reported that 87 percent of children under age 15 killed by guns in these nations lived in the United States. And the U.S. gun homicide rate for teens and young adults 15 to 24 was 42.7 times higher than the combined gun homicide rate for that same age group in the other countries.”

This statement, written by Children’s Defense Fund President and Founder Marian Wright Edelman, appears in the Foreword of the Children’s Defense Fund’s 12th “Protect Children, Not Guns” report, released on March 23rd. The cover of “Protect Children, Not Guns 2012” is a picture of Trayvon Martin and reads “ This report is dedicated to the memory of Trayvon Martin and the thousands of children and teenagers killed by guns each year in America.”

“Protect Children, Not Guns 2012” analyzes the latest (2008 and 2009) fatal and nonfatal firearm injury data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for children and teens ages 0-19. The 54-page report‘s table of contents include:
• Stand Up and Take Action
• Child and Teen Gun Deaths
• Child and Teen Gun Injuries
• Guns In Cities
• State Trends
• International Gun Comparisons
• Debunking the Myths about Guns
• Selected Organizations Working to Prevent Gun Violence

Report statistics and highlights:
• 5,740 children and teens were killed by guns in 2008 and 2009.
• 34, 387 children and teens were injured by guns in 2008 and 2009.
• Of the 116,385 children killed by guns since 1979, 59 percent were White and 38 percent were Black.
• The majority of gun deaths among children since 1979 have been homicides (57 percent) while nearly one-third have been suicides (31 percent).
• The leading cause of death among Black youth ages 15 to 19 in 2009 was gun homicide.
• The number of children and teens injured by a gun increased every year from 2003 to 2008, from 11, 884 in 2003 to a high of 20, 596 in 2008, but dropped to 13, 791 in 2009.
• Nearly three-quarters of all gun homicides among youth ages 10 to 19 in 2006 and 2007 occurred in the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas. The cities with the highest firearm homicide rates for children and teens ages 10-19 include New Orleans, LA; St. Louis, MO; Oakland, CA; Newark, NJ; Baltimore, MD; Richmond, VA; Miami, FL; Washington, DC; Detroit, MI; and Cincinnati, OH.
• More than 600 mayors from large and small cities across the country have joined the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition (www.mayorsagainstil legalguns.org) co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino.
• Just over half of the homicide and suicide gun deaths of children and teens in 2009 were in eight states: California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New York and Louisiana.
• Federal law only requires licensed importers, dealers or manufacturers to have a locking device on guns they sell or transfer. Eleven states (California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island) have passed laws requiring gun-locking devices under certain circumstances. In contrast, 21 states have passed laws requiring children to wear bike helmets.
• Twenty-seven states have laws designed to prevent children from having access to guns although they take effect at different ages and often include a number of exceptions. The strongest laws impose criminal liability when a minor could or does gain access to a negligently stored gun.
• Federal law includes minimal restrictions on the purchase or possession of guns by children. Absent tough federal restrictions, some states passed laws imposing stricter regulations on minimum age requirements for purchase or possession of certain guns. For example, 28 states and the District of Columbia have laws imposing a minimum age requirement that is stricter than the federal requirement for the purchase of all handguns and that applies to both licensed and unlicensed sellers.
• The United States accounts for less than five percent of the global population, yet Americans own an estimated 35 to 50 percent of all civilian-owned guns in the world. Of the estimated eight million new guns manufactured annually across the world, about half are purchased by Americans.
• The United States has the highest gun homicide rate of 34 industrialized countries---30 times higher than Australia, France or the United Kingdom.
• Most Americans favor sensible gun laws that will help keep them and their children safe. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence conducted a study after the 2008 elections and concluded that candidates who openly support sensible gun laws can win elections.

The “Stand Up and Take Action” section of the report offers these recommendations for ending gun violence in the lives of children:
• Parents, remove guns from your home.
• Support common-sense gun safety measures for the nation. Stronger federal laws can help protect more children from gun violence by:
o Closing the gun show loophole
o Strengthening restrictions on people convicted of a violent misdemeanor or a violent act as a juvenile.
o Requiring consumer safety standards and childproof safety features for all guns.
• Help state and local governments protect children from guns.
• Nonviolent conflict resolution should be a part of our homes, schools, congregations and communities.
• Boycott products that glamorize violence.
• Focus attention on the number of children killed and injured by gun violence.
• Support innovative efforts to promote positive youth development. (“Protect Children Not Guns 2012”, p. 6-8).

“As a nation, we must step down from our role as world leader in child gun deaths and work together to make America a moral leader in protecting children in the world which must begin with preventing and reducing gun deaths of children and teens and of all who reside here. Every child’s life is sacred and it is long past time that we protect it. The greatest national security threat in America comes from no enemy without but from armed enemies within who lack regard for the sanctity of life for every vulnerable child.” (Marian Wright Edelman, “Protect Children, Not Guns 2012” p. 5) .

For a copy of “Protect Children, Not Guns 2012” visit the Children’s Defense Fund website at www.childrensdefens e.org

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) 2012

April is recognized in the United States as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence. This April, the 2012 Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) campaign centers on promoting healthy sexuality to prevent sexual violence.

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (www.nsvrc.org) provides resources to help organizations and individuals plan SAAM activities in their communities during the month of April and throughout the year. A wealth of information can be found on the SAAM website http://www.nsvrc.org/saam/sexual-assault- awareness-month -home Resources are available in English and Spanish.

One of this year’s campaign activities will be Tweet about it! Tuesdays, healthy sexuality chats happening on Twitter every Tuesday in April as a part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). You can join experts for a one-hour live, real-time discussion of healthy sexuality. The topics include:

April 3: Healthy Sexuality and Preventing Child Sexual Abuse
April 10: Healthy Sexuality and Gender Norms
April 17: Healthy Sexuality in Later Life
April 24: Healthy Sexuality, Consent and the Purity Myth
Go to http://twitter.com/nsvrc
#Tweetaboutit

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center believes that by working together, we can highlight sexual violence as a major issue in our communities and reinforce the need for prevention efforts.

SAVE THE DATE! May 11th is the N.Y.C. Healthy Teen Relationships Conference

The 2012 Healthy Teen Relationships Conference, sponsored by the New York City Healthy Teen Relationships Coalition, will be held on Friday, May 11, 2012 from 8:30am-4:00pm at the ACS Children’s Center, 492 First Avenue in Manhattan.

This conference is free but requires registration. Teens and service providers are encouraged to attend. Adults must be accompanied by at least one teen. Registration information will be made available in April. To be notified when registration is open, email healthyteenconf This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The 2012 Healthy Teen Relationships Conference is presented by The Arab American Family Support Center, Center Against Domestic Violence, The Children’s Aid Society, Columbia Center for Youth Violence Prevention, Day One, The Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation, Office of the District Attorney-Kings County, Sanctuary for Families, Steps to End Family Violence.

“Nuestra Seguridad, Nuestras Comunidades” (“Our Safety, Our Communities”)

Safe Homes Project, The Healing Center, The Lutheran Family Health Center’s Family Support Center, and NYC Council Members Brad Lander and Sara M. González will present “Nuestra Seguridad, Nuestras Comunidades” (“Our Safety, Our Communities”) a Spanish-languag e Brooklyn Latina/Latino Community Forum on Domestic Violence and Healthy Relationships. This free event will be held on Saturday, April 28th from 9:30am-4:00pm at PS 24, 427 38th Street in Brooklyn.

The program will feature music, refreshments, resources and speakers. No registration is required. To sign up for limited childcare for children ages 5-12, contact (718) 499-2151.

THE EVENT FLYER READS:

“Nuestra Seguridad, Nuestras Comunidades”
Un Foro Latino para la Comunidad de Brooklyn sobre Relaciones Saludables y Violencia Domestica

Sábado 28 de Abril de 9:30am-4pm
En la escuela P.S. 24
en el 427 de la Calle 38, Brooklyn
¡Música! ¡Refrigerios! ¡Recursos ! Panelistas !
Registración no es Requerido

Para inscripción de cuidado infantil; capacidad LIMITADA Edades 5-12
Llame al (718) 499-2151

Presentado por:
Safe Homes Project
The Healing Center
The Lutheran Family Health Centers’ Family Support Center
y la asistencia de los Concejales de la Ciudad de Nueva York
Brad Lander Y Sara M. González

Remembering Leticia Monique Jenkins 1972-2012

My sister-in-law Leticia Monique Jenkins battled breast cancer for over two years. After the initial rounds of treatment, she was doing well. The family was so optimistic. Sadly, the cancer returned and spread late last year. She died at her home on Sunday, February 12th at the age of 39. She is survived by her husband Brian (my brother), their three children, sons Brian, 14, Christopher, 9 and daughter Zuri, 5, her parents, Anna and William, and other family members and friends.

I struggled to write this tribute to Leticia because I am devastated by her death. I had to do some crying before I could put my words onto paper. But as heartbroken as I am, I wanted to write something upbeat. Leticia enjoyed life, and that is how I want to remember her.

Leticia regularly sent me pictures of my niece and nephews. I proudly display them in my living room. Those I have not framed I keep in photo albums. I love looking at the baby pictures! Those once tiny ones are now devouring pizza, chocolate candy, Subway sandwiches, Chicken Mc Nuggets and anything else I serve them when they visit me! They are very precious to me, and I live to be a good role model to them. When Zuri was born, Leticia and my brother honored me by creating her middle name JaNora by combining my name and my mother’s name. My brother says that Zuri reminds him of me when I was a little girl.

I enjoyed watching Leticia interact with her children, especially when they were babies and toddlers. Once, I was sitting in my mother’s living room with Leticia. She was holding my nephew Christopher, who was less than a year old. Leticia was hugging him and calling him “Kissyfur” instead of Christopher. I thought that was so adorable. When my oldest nephew Brian turned one, there was a birthday party for him at my mother’s apartment. Little Brian sat on Leticia’s lap and got so excited when he saw his birthday cake that he plopped his fingers down into it! I can still hear Leticia saying to him in her sweet voice, “Happy birthday honey.”

Leticia was always inviting me to family events. I have spent so much time in school and engaged in other professional activities that I could not always attend. It hurts now to think of those missed opportunities to be closer to her and the family. When I could attend events, I enjoyed them to the fullest. One memorable event was a birthday party for my nephews at New Roc City in New Rochelle. We ate, bowled, and watched the children dance on and offstage. Another wonderful family event was a baby blessing ceremony for Zuri at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. In 2010, my brother and Leticia had a small birthday party at their home for my other niece Brianna. It was my first time seeing their dog Brownie. Leticia gently scolded me for giving Brownie a lot of dog treats to eat, especially after that little rascal went around munching on our hamburgers! I watched as Leticia played with Brownie, rubbing his belly and talking to him as if her were one of her babies.

One of my funniest recent memories was of Leticia, my mother and me lecturing my oldest nephew. He made the mistake of walking into my mom’s apartment with his pants sagging. That poor kid was trapped. But there was so much love in Leticia’s voice as she talked to her son about being a good young man, and how he should always try to present himself in the best light. Leticia said she could not understand how young girls could find boys who wore sagging pants attractive.

I was so proud of Leticia when she finally earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of New Rochelle last year. Leticia wanted to earn her degree in tribute to her father, who himself is living with cancer. Sometimes, she would include me in a few class assignments. Leticia would send me questionnaires to complete for research projects. Leticia was the Valedictorian of her graduating class. She had been accepted into a graduate program in Creative Writing.

Leticia loved life. She was so vibrant. She and my brother and the children traveled often. Leticia loved clothes and shoes. Her hobbies included reading, movies, photography, and collecting dolls. Leticia was very creative. She made her own stationery and crocheted hats, scarves, sweaters, blankets and other items. I asked my brother for a couple of her crocheted works to keep in her memory.

More than anything, Leticia loved being a wife and mother. She was truly loved in sickness and in health. At her funeral, her father William told me that he thanked my brother for taking such good care of Leticia. No surprise there. My brother loved Leticia and she in turn considered him “the love of her life.”

At her funeral, Leticia’s close friends Laura Tracy and Roshonda Rock talked about their amazing friendship with Leticia. I invited them to share some memories.

“Writing about Leticia in the past tense makes me cry. I am very sad that she died. The 3:00am phone call that your brother placed to me was unexpected. Clearly I knew Leticia was sick, but I was shocked. She didn’t warn me. I howled like a baby. I just didn't understand what Brian was saying to me. I had spoken to her Thursday morning and she said in that baby voice of hers ,"I'm OK ". I am mad and hurt that I didn't get to hug her one more time and say “ I love you girl'. I should have taken the hint when she wanted to get off the phone that Thursday morning that I needed to get to the Bronx. I miss her.

Sometimes I am in utter disbelief that I can’t call her anymore. Leticia was the one person I could talk to about anything, seriously, anything. I could pour out my deepest hurts to her with full knowledge that she was HEARING and not just listening. She wasn't too uppity or shy about any subject. I miss my friend.

I was the shy one of our fric 'n frac combo. We met each other on the first day of high school in 1986, the only two dweebs that actually showed up to the first day of high school with book bags! Leticia was outgoing and outspoken. She was also very ambitious. We attended high school in Bensonhurst, and somehow Leticia became captain of the Booster squad. I often think how important it is to surround yourself with likeminded progressive personalities. She positioned herself to get into honor classes and advanced placement classes. She was the first person that had a list of scholarships for black students and didn't mind sharing. As eloquently stated at her wake, Leticia was a “girl's girl”.

Leticia was incredibly open. There were few topics that she was afraid to put flare of opinion on -- from politics, to relationships, to sex, she would hit you with her unabashed point of view. This is one of the reasons why she was so easy to befriend. Who wouldn't be attracted to someone that would let you open up without reservations? Now don't get me wrong, by no means was she a Mother Theresa . There were those that didn't like her mouth and there were those that she couldn't take either! If your friendship with Leticia didn't have a few "we're not speaking " segments, um... you weren't really friends with Leticia!

At the end of the day, I am proud to have known her, thankful to God for the introduction, and grateful for the memories. I am comforted to know that SHE appreciated my love and friendship. We didn't speak extensively of her 'wishes' in the event of her death; she tried, but I honestly was too chicken to handle the very adult conversation. However, with the strength from God, and the utmost determination, I plan to be involved with her children's lives in the most positive, fun, and Leticia- like ways that I can,” wrote Laura.

“She enjoyed life to the fullest, whenever possible. Leticia was a party animal in her younger days. We would go to a club when we were younger and dance until it closed....literally. Though all of this is true she too loved the family life. She loved family life and embraced every aspect of it--cooking, movie time, game time, etc. Before she had a husband and children she helped me raise my two children. She would go with us to the circus, class trips and all. She loved my two children as if they were her own, thus the reason she was a godmother to my children and I am a godmother to hers.

Up until her last days, she proved to be a true godmother. She paid special attention to my teenage daughter , who was her daughter before she had her own daughter. If Leticia was displeased with her goddaughter she was not afraid to tell her, and whatever she said, she said with love. She was always open-minded with my daughter Shanee and with every lecture came a lesson of love. I always appreciated her for providing that unbiased discipline that backed me up but left the gate open for my daughter to know that she was not misunderstood (because all teenagers believe that parents just don't understand).

Leticia taught me so much about beauty. She loved to play dress up and did so well at it. She loooooved to shop. In my younger days I tried to keep up but later on I had to drop out. She taught me so much about a lot of things. Leticia was the girliest girl I knew…. hair, nails, clothes, all of it. I loved her energy and her ability to keep it going. She prided herself on looking good. She pulled no stops when it came to looking good. I admired her for this and strived to be like her when I grew up.

She would tell me how much she looked up to me and admired me and I always found this hard to believe. But I did notice how we both followed one another with certain things. She always had a mind of her own, but we did honestly feed off one another. I bleached my hair, she colored hers. She bought tight jeans, I bought even tighter. I had three kids, she had three too. She got married, so did I. She kept shopping, I just watched (lol). Thanks for doing this. It is a wonderful tribute to her. She would be so honored, “ wrote Roshonda.

Last Christmas, I sent a donation in Leticia’s honor to an organization that connects women to breast health resource information. In Leticia’s memory, I will continue to support organizations like this every year.

We will always love you Leticia. Thank you for being in our lives.

“I Just Want People to be Proud of Teachers”

When I was in high school, one of my teachers shared a letter with me that he had written to the principal. In the letter, he responded to some highly offensive comments the principal made about the students. I was very hurt to learn that the principal of my school had low expectations of us, and was dismissive of our potential to achieve. He even had the audacity to publicly verbalize his views.

Thank goodness others in my life did not feel as he did. I was blessed to have had incredibly dedicated teachers who did not subscribe to the principal’s views. And in doing the work I do, I honor them all for working with me, and having the belief that I could succeed.

“Stories from an Undeclared War,” a moving, gritty, and hopeful 90-minute documentary, highlights the work of teacher Erin Gruwell (affectionately known as Ms. G.) and her students from Long Beach, California, famously known as the Freedom Writers, the authors of “The Freedom Writers Diary.” “Stories from an Undeclared War” pays tribute to a teacher who, like many of my teachers, had great expectations for her students, who were written off in some cases by their families, communities, and other teachers. It also pays tribute to the students who worked through their pain, fear and feelings of hopelessness, to become the leaders and change agents they are today. The film is rich with interviews of Erin and some of her students, and features excellent footage of them in Erin’s class, Room 203, back in 1994.

I was invited to join an audience of educators, students and others for a screening of “Stories from an Undeclared War,” on Tuesday, January 24th at Scholastic, 557 Broadway in lower Manhattan, from 7pm-10pm. Erin Gruwell and two of the Freedom Writers who appear in the documentary, Sue Ellen Alpizar and Mauricio “Tony” Becerra, were in attendance.

Mr. Patrick Daley, Senior Vice President at Scholastic welcomed the audience. Prior to the film viewing, Mr. Daley announced an exciting new partnership between Scholastic , Erin, and Dr. Alfred W. Tatum, a social justice advocate, called “On the Record.” “On the Record,” designed by Dr. Tatum and Erin, is “a bold new nonfiction program that builds on the vision of an exceptional educator, using the power of story to get students reading with skill, writing with passion, and living with purpose.” Through the “On the Record” program, students will have the opportunity to read stories about the achievements of reporters, scientists, writers, athletes, soldiers and artists. The students will be encouraged to record their own experiences in their own voices. “On the Record” will speak to young people about character issues including resiliency, engaging others, building capacity, and defining who they are as individuals. Attendees were given Scholastic bags containing literature about the “On the Record” program and a book from the “On the Record” series.

“Stories from an Undeclared War” opens with scenes of gang violence, blood and lifeless bodies. There is footage shown of the anger, rioting, murder, looting and assaulting that engulfed the streets of Los Angeles for days after the 1992 Rodney King verdict was announced. It was in this climate that Erin Gruwell prepared to begin her teaching career. Admittedly “naïve” at first, Erin boldly confronted her reality —“no technology, no textbooks, no eager students.” She noticed that the students grouped themselves according to race, and she found that they were bored, angry, and suspicious of her. One student, Henry, stated that anyone in Erin’s position “had to be scared.” Whenever Erin talked with other teachers, she found the teachers using words like “those kids” and “them” which she soon realized were code words for her students—low income students of color.

Erin wrestled with the question, “How can I make them want to learn?” She talked about her attempts to listen to her students and learn about their lives, as a way of motivating them. The students were reluctant to share at first. One student, Latilla, said she thought Erin was “nosy.” Latilla explained that African Americans did not like to talk about what went on in their homes.

In the film, Erin discusses the various methods she used to engage the students—educating herself about gangs, showing the students films about ethnic conflict. I chuckled when Erin talked about showing the class the musical “West Side Story.” Erin reported that one student told her that “when gangs fight, they don’t dance.” She had to try something different. After showing the class the film “Romeo and Juliet in Sarajevo,” in which two lovers, one Muslim and one Serb, are shot and killed, one student, Darrius, begins crying and tells the class “I feel like I come from an undeclared war zone.”

Throughout the film, the students talk about the issues in their lives---homeles sness, gang banging, being in foster care, involvement in the juvenile justice system, molestation, drug abusing parents, losing loved ones to violent deaths, abuse. One student, Maria, one of the main characters in the film, in talking about all the violence in her life, said “I have been to more funerals than birthday parties.” Maria was one of the most difficult students for Erin to engage.

A very touching moment of the film occurred when Erin talked about doing a “Toast for Change.” She set the classroom tables up with plastic glasses of cider. The students were asked to make a toast to something they wanted to change or commit to in their lives. One student toasted that she would not die a violent death like others in her family; another said she would not become a teen mother; another vowed to have a voice, to speak up for herself; one student pledged to not be like his father, who had abandoned the family.

After the powerful “Toast for Change” exercise, Erin assigned the book “The Diary of Anne Frank.” In doing so, she experienced a breakthrough with Maria, who was resistant to reading the book. Maria slowly found herself invested in the story. When she read of Anne Frank’s suffering “I took a liking to her.” But Maria was devastated when she learned that Anne Frank died. She came into the classroom, and threw the book in anger. Erin then realized that her students did not know the story, and she felt bad that she had not prepared them. “It became devastating, because I never wanted to take away my students’ hope.” Her classmate Darrius tried to comfort Maria by saying that Anne Frank would always live on through her book.

Another of the several highlights in the film occurs when the students read “Zlata’s Diary: A Child’s Life in Sarajevo” by Zlata Filipovic, the Bosnian-Croat writer who kept a diary about living in war-torn Sarajevo, and became known as the “Anne Frank of Sarajevo.” The students raised money to bring Zlata to their school to speak with them, and she did indeed visit. As one student says in the film, “She wanted peace among her community and we want the same thing.” It was then that Erin decided that she wanted the students to journal about their experiences. In order to do that, she would have to keep them in her class instead of moving them on to other teachers. She faced some resistance from teachers at the school, who viewed what she was doing as disruptive. Carl Cohn, then the Superintendent of the Long Beach Unified School District, gave Erin the permission she needed to keep her class together.

Although some of the students were initially resistant, they all began writing and sharing their stories, many of them very painful. They wrote about murder, incarceration, jumping in a new gang member, having an abortion, drug dealing, never meeting a father. Soon, the act of writing transformed the students’ lives. The writing initiated a healing process for some. It made them a family, a support system. They would go to the computer room, type their entries anonymously, and have fun. Some found their grades improving because they could do their homework in a safe space. One student remarked “We offered hugs instead of insults, comfort instead of gossip.” As Erin said, “a journal was a safe haven.”

When word got out about what Erin was doing, the media came calling. But there was also animosity and resentment toward Erin from other teachers. At least one teacher publicly accused Erin of having an affair with Superintendent Cohn. Today, the teachers at her former school are using the Freedom Writers materials!

After viewing a film about the Freedom Riders, the civil rights activists who challenged segregation in the South, the students decided to call themselves the Freedom Writers in their honor. They put their stories in a binder and headed to Washington, DC to present them to then Secretary of Education Richard Riley, in one of their first trips to share their stories.

The film then chronicles Erin’s attempts to get “The Freedom Writer’s Diary” published (Doubleday published the book in 1999), the students’ high school graduation, their Ambassadors for Tolerance Tour, which took place in Europe, their college graduations, speaking appearances, and gives updates on the students. “The Freedom Writers’ Diary” has sold over one million copies, most used in classrooms, and has been published in eight foreign languages. The 2007 movie “Freedom Writers” is based on their story.

Erin and the Freedom Writers went on to establish the Freedom Writers Foundation (www.freedomwritersf oundation.org). The mission of the Freedom Writers Foundation “Is to be an advocate for at-risk students by providing tools that facilitate student-centere d learning, improve overall academic performance and increase teacher retention.” Since the Foundation’s inception, Erin Gruwell and the Freedom Writers have completed over 2000 presentations with educators and students worldwide. In the last five years, almost 250 teachers from all 50 states have participated in a Freedom Writers Institute, a five-day intensive training program that provides educators with Freedom Writers Method-based lesson plans designed to engage at-risk students.

After the film, Erin, Sue Ellen and Tony addressed the audience. Erin called her work “a movement” and said, “This is bigger than a documentary.” She talked about the “On the Record” Program and praised Scholastic. “The partnership with Scholastic is about kids and their stories and their voices. “ Erin acknowledged a few members of the audience. One was a student named Santino, the second was a woman named Violet, a Holocaust survivor who appears in the film, and the third was a member of the family of Andrew Goodman, a participant in the “Freedom Summer” project of the Congress for Racial Equality (CORE) who was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan near Philadelphia, Mississippi along with James Chaney and Michael Schwerner. Erin talked about some of the recent visits she has made to schools in other cities such as Philadelphia, PA and said it is her hope that young people will think “Maybe all I have to do is put down my fist and put down my gun and tell my story.”

Erin introduced Sue Ellen Alpizar, one of the Freedom Writers who works for the Freedom Writers Foundation. Sue Ellen told the audience about her pain of living with an abusive father who was an alcoholic. With all that was going on in her life, she found that writing was very liberating for her. “It’s helping someone deal with the pain.” She added, “If I can just give someone that little bit of freedom (through writing), that’s what makes it worth it for us.” She also told a very touching story about one of her classmates, Todd, who passed away days before the students took their trip to Europe. Todd lived with cystic fibrosis and missed many days of school. Sue Ellen recounted how she decided that in Todd’s honor, she would collect an assortment of rocks from the places they visited abroad. She presented the rocks to Todd’s mother when she returned to the United States.

Erin then introduced Tony Becerra, describing his amazing sense of humor. Tony also spoke about the class’ relationship with Todd, and how Todd wanted to be treated like everyone else. He discussed his experience of meeting Gary Soto, the author of the Scholastic book “Jesse” at a luncheon. Tony was excited about finally meeting the author of a book which featured Mexican American characters with whom he could identify. Tony was delighted that Mr. Soto recognized him as a “Freedom Writer” and the two exchanged autographs.

Tony made an excellent point about students who joke around in school. He said that the student who is always joking around and acting like everything is okay is usually masking some pain. He spoke from personal experience. That child’s message to the teacher, according to Tony, is that he or she is okay, so the teacher should “move on to the next kid.” Tony urged the educators in the audience, in dealing with these students , to “get past the front and the surface.” He added, “That’s what Erin did to me through poetry.”

There was a very brief Q& A session, and Erin concluded her remarks by issuing a call to action. Erin asked audience members to buy a copy of “The Freedom Writers Diary” and give it to a young person. She also took a moment to praise her fellow teachers, remarking “It’s been a tough time to be a teacher.” Erin added ”I just want people to be proud of teachers.”

"Jumping Beyond the Broom: Why Black Gay and Transgender Americans Need More Than Marriage Equality"

“ But it is important to note that marriage alone is insufficient to address all of the needs of poor black gay couples and black gay and transgender youth. So it is important to expand the policy agenda to directly address the causes of economic, health and other quality-of-life issues this population faces.” (“Jumping Beyond the Broom: Why Black Gay and Transgender Americans Need More Than Marriage Equality”, p. 23).

Released last week , the report “Jumping Beyond the Broom: Why Black Gay and Transgender Americans Need More Than Marriage Equality” is described as “a starting point in identifying policy areas beyond the gay and transgender headline issues that would go a long way toward addressing the disparities black gay and transgender populations face. “ (p.5). It was written by Aisha C. Moodie-Mills, the Advisor for LGBT Policy and Racial Justice at the Center for American Progress (www.americanprogres s.org). Founded in 2003, the Center for American Progress “is dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through progressive ideas and action.” Its work “addresses 21st century challenges such as energy, national security, economic growth and opportunity, immigration, education and health care.” Ms. Moodie-Mills works with the Fighting Injustice to Reach Equality or FIRE Initiative, “which explores the intersections of race, economics, sexual orientation and gender identity.”

“Jumping Beyond the Broom: Why Black Gay and Transgender Americans Need More Than Marriage Equality” includes the following sections:
• Overview of the research on black and transgender populations
• Recurring themes and research constraints
• Addressing the needs of black gay and transgender Americans (Economic insecurity, Low educational attainment, Health and wellness disparities)
• Why we need more data on the black gay and transgender population
• Components of a more comprehensive long-term approach to tackle disparities (Data collection advocacy, Policy research roadmap, Other populations)

The report also features a few vignettes of black gay Americans, an appendix of key research and reports on issues affecting black gay and transgender populations, and a list of recommendations to address issues of economic insecurity, low educational attainment, and health and wellness disparities for black gay and transgender Americans.

Some findings:
• The author’s literature review revealed a dearth of data and analysis on black gay and transgender populations, which limits the ability to develop a data-driven agenda to help policymakers, advocates and researchers craft effective solutions to address issues affecting these populations.
• Researchers have done little analysis on the experiences of black gay and transgender people who are economically stable, have good health outcomes, and enjoy full acceptance by their families and communities.
• Black lesbians and transgender people are all but neglected in the health research, with less scholarship devoted to their health concerns.
• There are approximately 85 thousand black same-sex couples in the US according to 2000 Census data.
• Black transgender people face extreme housing discrimination, with 2 in 5 black transgender Americans denied a home or apartment on the basis of gender identity.
• A survey of homeless gay youth in New York City found that 44 percent of these youth are black, meaning over one hundred thousand to nearly two hundred thousand homeless black gay and transgender youth are living on the streets.

Some recommendations:
• Adopt inclusive family policies and safety net programs
• Pass housing antidiscriminat ion laws
• Pass employee nondiscriminati on laws
• Support gay and transgender entrepreneurs
• Legally recognize same-sex relationships
• Adopt school safety policies
• Enforce existing federal civil rights laws
• Work toward health equity
• Examine domestic violence among same-sex couples

In the report’s “research and advocacy roadmap” which can be used to include black gay and transgender viewpoints in policy discussions, the author suggests that data be collected on gay and transgender populations across all federal agencies and health measures. Recommended areas for additional research include the following:
• Addressing unfair punishment of black gay and transgender youth in schools
• Reducing barriers to quality health care for black lesbians
• Identifying structural barriers that perpetuate high rates of HIV/AIDS in the black community
• Instituting antibullying policies and safe spaces in schools serving predominantly black populations
• Analyzing the impact of conservative political and cultural climates on black gay families in the South

“This report is just a starting point in a longer process that identifies policy areas beyond the priority gay and transgender headline issues (or examines the headline issues from a new perspective). We believe this approach will help to better understand and ultimately reduce the disparities faced by black gay and transgender people, as well as other racial and ethnic minority groups.” (p. 35)

“Jumping Beyond the Broom: Why Black Gay and Transgender Americans Need More Than Marriage Equality” is available on the Center for American Progress website, www.americanprogres s.org

Good for Nothing?

A few years ago, I heard a powerful true story about a homebound elderly woman. She had no family of her own. The woman was not able to get around and engage the world as she had for most of her life, but that hardly dampened her enthusiasm for life and her concern for others.

To keep abreast of events, she read the newspaper every day. Whenever she read an article about a crisis in the life of a person or family, she would write a caring note to the individual or family affected, whether she knew them or not.

When the woman died, an overwhelming number of people came to her funeral to mourn her. There were so many people in attendance, the funeral home barely held them all. The minister thought the woman had an exceptionally large extended family, but it turned out that many of the mourners were not relatives. They had never even met the woman.

The minister learned in talking to some of the mourners that at a time in their lives when they were afraid, discouraged or hurt, this woman’s note of encouragement, a note from a stranger, gave them strength, and helped them get through the crisis they faced. They said they felt less alone in their trouble because she cared.

I thought about this story after reading a comment to a piece that appeared in the New York Times about anxiety (“It’s Still the Age of Anxiety. Or Is It?” by Daniel Smith, January 14, 2012). The author talked about the importance of not giving in to our worries.

The comment that gave me pause was written by a man from Georgia. He wrote:
“Remember Kurt Vonnegut’s old concern ‘What are people for?’ This rise in anxiety could be because so many of us have been given the answer: “Nothing.” Disbelieving and disillusioned in matters of faith, not needed by employers, not believing in the mission of one’s company if employed, disconnected from family and with Facebook friends substituting for real friends, too many feel like flotsam drifting on the ocean. Anxiety is the result of feeling not needed by anyone, anywhere.”

There certainly are days when I feel like this man. The world is troubled and sometimes it worries me and makes me anxious. Sometimes I feel disconnected and disillusioned. But I agree with Mr. Smith about not giving in to my worries and anxiety. And I refuse to give into any feelings of worthlessness or “nothingness”. I am not ready to believe that women and men are “good for nothing.” Yes, we fight, we cause pain, we hurt others. But every day, we also demonstrate that we have the capacity to do so much good.

A shut-in, elderly woman who refused to believe that she was not needed by anyone, touched the lives of many strangers and neighbors in a wonderful way. We can do the same. That’s what people are for.

My Year in Review

2011 was a busy year. I wrote a total of 78 posts, 26 more than I wrote in 2010. Criminal justice and intimate partner violence were major themes in my writing this year, with 17 and 11 posts respectively, on these two topics.

Other topics I covered included event announcements, a play (Through the Night), economic insecurity, people of color in the labor force, immigration, LGBT rights, grandparent caregivers, mental health, positive images of youth in foster care, culture, literacy, health—even dogs. My favorite post of the year is “Loyal Dog” (August 29). The story was sad, but it proved to be a great opportunity for me to educate people about how important companion animals are in our lives.

I paid tribute to one of my favorite radio hosts, the late Danny Stiles (“Remembering Danny Stiles” March 15), who died in March. I listen to rebroadcasts of his programs, but it is just not the same. In writing about a late grade school classmate Errol, who died in January(“My Regret” February 15) I painfully reminisced about a missed opportunity to reach out to him.

My posts on author and legal scholar Michelle Alexander’s visit to Riverside Church ( “The Awakening” May 25; “We’ve Got to Start Telling the Truth”, May 26; “ We are All to be Valued”, May 31; “An Amazing Story of Failure” June 1; “We’re in the Process of Movement Building” June 6) and on the Contemporary Slavery Symposium (“The Contemporary Slavery Symposium” July 5; “The Slave Next Door” July 7; “Trafficking, Sex Workers, Migration and Slavery” July 12; “ More on the Trafficking, Sex Workers, Migration and Slavery Panel” July 14) kept me writing for hours. After reading her book, “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” I was thrilled to hear Ms. Alexander speak in person. The discussions about domestic workers’ rights and sex work and trafficking in the slavery symposium were important because these are topics that I know very little about, and that appear to be getting more attention these days.

Writing was more personal for me this year. I shared more about myself and my life, and that was important to me. I wrote not as an observer, but as someone who has been touched by a lot of what I discussed in my posts. For example, I fondly recalled my experience as a teen writer for Youth Communication, a program that was very important to me in my high school and early college years (“Janice’s Rap”, March 28). Earlier in the year, I profiled Otis Hampton, a writer for Represent, one of Youth Communication’s publications (“I Want Them to Think and I Want Them to Listen” February 28). In June, I covered Youth Communication’s award ceremony for youth in foster care (“The 13th Annual Youth Communication Awards for Youth in Foster Care” June 13 and “The Best of Themselves” June 14) and was truly moved.

In my post “One Million Hearts (Including Mine)”(September 27), I talked about my goal to improve my health. I just went to my doctor last week for a follow up checkup. I have changed my eating habits and have lost weight, so I feel encouraged because I am not just talking, but doing. Like so many families, my family has members with Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, mental illness, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and other diseases, so health and wellness are major priorities for me these days.

It has been a productive year. I want to thank you for reading! Your support and kind thoughts have been with me all year, in fact, for all three years that I have been writing this blog.

Have a blessed, safe and peaceful holiday season. See you in 2012.

The 2011 Read Out Loud! Family Literacy and Book Festival

I was elated and disappointed at the same time—elated because my niece Brianna and I had a wonderful time! I was disappointed because we could not get to do everything we put on our schedule. There were several activities for us to choose from and all seemed so engaging. We were having fun and time flew!

For the second year in a row, Brianna and I attended, and thoroughly enjoyed, the Read Out Loud! Family Literacy and Book Festival. The event was presented by the Morningside Area Alliance (www.morningsidealli ance.org) in partnership with School Community District 5 and PS 92, Mary McLeod Bethune School. The festival was held at PS 92, 222 West 134th Street on Saturday, December 3rd from 10am until 4pm.

After we registered, Brianna and I walked into the auditorium. Brianna immediately spotted the face painting tables. Brianna loves face painting, so she headed down to a table and came back to her seat looking like a tiger! Children had their faces painted to look like tigers, butterflies, flowers, clowns, even Batman.

While we waited for the program to begin, we were treated to guest appearances by none other than Elmo and Clifford the Big Red Dog! A girl named Cheyenne, who was around five or six years old, unabashedly ran over to Clifford to hug him. One of the event photographers took a picture of Cheyenne and Clifford. The children in the audience erupted in excitement when Elmo walked in a few minutes later! Later, Brianna hugged them both, and children flocked around Elmo and Clifford for pictures. I am not ashamed to admit that I too waved and said hello to both of them!

Ms. Gale Reeves, Community Superintendent of Community School District 5 in Manhattan, opened the event by welcoming the audience. She thanked the Morningside Area Alliance for its support of the school district. Ms. Reeves acknowledged the staff of PS 92, the Mary McLeod Bethune School, for their work. She asked those staff members who were present to come to the front of the auditorium to be recognized. “Without a doubt, the team at this school is phenomenal,” said Ms. Reeves. She commended the teachers who tirelessly worked on the event. “Behind the scenes, our teachers give so much of themselves.” Ms. Reeves then introduced Mr. Ben Woodworth, Regional Director, Northeast, for Scholastic. Scholastic donated over one thousand books to the event. Mr. Woodworth greeted the audience and spoke about the importance of promoting literacy. “We’re very happy to be here. Enjoy the day that the Morningside Area Alliance and District Five has put together for you,” said Mr. Woodworth.

Ms. Ann Mc Iver, the Executive Director of the Morningside Area Alliance, welcomed the audience and referenced the workshops in the day’s program. She acknowledged volunteers who helped out with the event. “We have an incredible selection of books. I want you to have a wonderful, wonderful time,” said Ms. Mc Iver. She was followed by Ms. Christine Petro, also of the Morningside Area Alliance, who acknowledged the school staff and additional volunteers who helped with the event.

In conclusion, Ms. Reeves asked the audience to take some time to see the Writer’s Gallery which featured writing by students from Community School District 5. “Parents, kids, families, enjoy Read Out Loud!” said Ms. Reeves.

The day’s activities included:
• Book Giveaway
• Stories for Harlem Kids
• Make an Illuminated Bookmark
• Take a Look: Buttons and Books
• Keats’ Corner
• Get Connected! With a New Computer
• Kids’ Oral Health
• Hip Hop H.E.A.L.S. (Healthy Eating Strategies through the Power of Hip Hop)
• Learn Fire Safety
• St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital WIC Program
• Sesame Workshop and Sesame Reads Activities
• We Are All the Same Inside
• Make a Child ID Card
• Puppet-making and Storytelling
• Storytelling Through Cooking
• Let’s Make Music
• Around the World in 20 Minutes
• Sign Language and Reading Circles with Dance and Music
• Treasure on My Block
• Feed Your Imagination through Storytelling
• Comic Art Workshop
• Folktales: Once Upon a Time in Asia
• Create Your Own Empowering Book—For Girls
• Fairytales: Villains and Heroes
• Dance, Movement & Writing
• Children’s Eye Exams
• Computer & Internet Basics
• New York Public Library / Countee Cullen Branch (applications for library cards)and Community Outreach and Technology Training

Read Out Loud! 2011 Authors
•Faith Ringgold Reading from “ Tar Beach” “Cassie’s Word Quilt” and other her books.
•Lenore Look “Polka Dot Penguin Pottery”
•James Haywood Rolling Jr. “Come Look With Me: Discovering African American Art for Children”
•Lonnetta Gaines “Fia and the Butterfyl”
•Zetta Elliot “A Wish After Midnight”
•Troy CLE “The Marvelous Effect”
•Jerry Craft Cartoonist, “Mama’s Boyz”

Student Writing Gallery at Read Out Loud! Participating Community School District 5 Schools
• MS 318, Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School
• PS 30, Hernandez-Hughe s Learning Academy
• PS 92, Mary McLeod Bethune School
• PS/MS 123, Mahalia Jackson School
• PS 125, Ralph Bunche School
• CS 154, Harriet Tubman School
• PS/MS 161, Don Pedro Albizu Campus
• PS 175, Henry Highland Garnet School
• IS 195, Roberto Clemente School
• MS 410, Urban Assembly Institute for New Technologies
• MS/HS 670, Thurgood Marshall Academy
• Kappa IV

After the opening remarks, our first stop was the Book Giveaway. Brianna looked through several books before selecting the book “Barack Obama, Our 44th President,” by Beatrice Gormley. After eating a snack, Brianna joined volunteers from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine to create a bookmark. While Brianna worked on her bookmark, I looked at the impressive and wide selection of books donated by Scholastic. Some of the titles included:

• “Thank You Mr. Falker” by Patricia Polacco
• “Eight Days: A Story of Haiti” by Edwidge Danticat
• “The Lemonade War” by Jacqueline Davies
• “Gloria’s Way” by Ann Cameron
• “The Teacher from the Black Lagoon” by Mike Thaler
• “Tangerine” by Edward Bloor
• “Schooled” by Gordon Korman
• “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeline L’ Engle
• “Tulip at the Bat” by J. Patrick Lewis
• “Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message” by Chief Jake Swamp
• “Never Finished, Never Done” by Regina Brooks
• “Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich” by Adam Rex”
• “Sounder” by William H. Armstrong

Bookmark in hand, Brianna and I walked down the hall to the “Around the World in 20 Minutes” workshop. Brianna participated in a trivia game about different countries around the world. One of the facilitators was from Perth in Australia, and joked that he would not be going home for Christmas because the flight back to Australia would take about 24 hours. Brianna learned how to say “hello” and “friend” in languages including Spanish and Italian, and tried to identify flags from different countries, as well as find countries on a map. I love any type of activity that teaches children about other nations. I learned that Brianna hopes to travel to Italy someday, just like her aunt!

We ventured to the second floor for the Sesame Workshop and Sesame Reads activities. The room was decorated with banners that read: “Reading is Succeeding” “Books Open Doors to Discovery” “Read Every Day!” “Knowledge is Power.” We were invited to participate in the “We Are All the Same Inside” activity. The facilitator, Ms. Jayne A. Pierce, is a retired New York Public Library librarian, a poet and writer. Ms. Pierce is a friend of “We Are All the Same Inside” author Timothy Bellavia. Mr. Bellavia is also the author of “Paper, Scissors and Magic: Seven Ways to Get Kids to Love Books.” According to Ms. Pierce, “We Are All the Same Inside” is used as an anti-bullying tool and helps readers explore and appreciate differences. The book has been translated into Spanish. Brianna was given a paper doll to color and dress, and Ms. Pierce showed me some of the dolls created by other children, who were asked to make dolls of their favorite peacemakers. Some of the dolls included Oprah Winfrey, Mahatma Gandhi, U2’s Bono, and Mattie Stepanek.

The day’s participants were a diverse group. I randomly spoke to a few adults who were in attendance. All were there for the first time and said their children were really enjoying themselves.
The highlight of the event for us was visiting with one of our favorite children’s book authors, Lenore Look, the writer and creator of the “Alvin Ho” series. I wrote about Ms. Look in my post about last year’s event (“The Fifth Annual Read Out Loud! Family Literacy and Book Festival” December 7, 2010). My niece and I were so excited to learn she would be at the event again. Before the workshop, Ms. Look gave Brianna the warmest greeting, even recalling that Brianna had won one of her books in her raffle last year. She told us about her recent Alvin Ho book, “ Alvin Ho: Allergic to Dead Bodies, Funerals and Other Fatal Circumstances” which I plan to purchase for my niece.

Despite her laryngitis, Ms. Look presented a wonderful workshop. In introducing herself, she talked briefly about her Alvin Ho books and asked the children to introduce themselves. Ms. Look then did something she did last year, which I found very inspiring. She showed the children her elementary school report card. Ms. Look explained to the children that initially, she was not a very good student. Ms. Look told the children that no matter how poorly they do in school, they can improve their grades and become successful in life if they are willing to work hard. One thing she mentioned that I did not know was that she began writing little books when she was in kindergarten. It seems as if she knew as a child that she wanted to be a children’s book author. Awesome!

Ms. Look read from her new book, “Polka Dot Penguin Pottery”, which was illustrated by Yumi Heo. The book is about a character named Aspen Colorado Kim Chee Lee, a writer who is suffering from writer’s block. A trip to the Polka Dot Penguin Pottery Store, which offers pottery and craft classes, gives Aspen an opportunity to get her creative juices flowing by working on an art project, decorating a porcelain egg. Aspen struggles, but with the support of loved ones and friends, she eventually creates a beautiful work of art. I love what Ms. Look said in the story: “In order to make a masterpiece, you must be willing to make a mess.” Sounds like a wonderful life philosophy! “Polka Dot Penguin Pottery” is based on a true story. Ms. Look explained that when she had writer’s block, she went to the Polka Dot Penguin Pottery store, where she painted a beautiful green porcelain egg. Ms. Look showed us the egg and allowed us to touch it.
After reading her book, Ms. Look gave the children materials they could use to make placemats. Brianna used beautiful aqua blue, red and purple squares for her placemat. We were joined at our table by Cheyenne, the first child to hug Clifford the Big Red Dog. Cheyenne drew a princess on her placemat. She took a liking to my niece, calling Brianna her friend.

When the workshop concluded, Brianna hugged Ms. Look. We went back to the Sesame Place workshops where Brianna did some more coloring, made a puppet, and read a Sesame Street story on an iPad. At 2:45pm, everyone walked to the gymnasium for the raffle and book signing. While the raffle was taking place, I completed an event evaluation form. Of course, I raved about the day. When Brianna and I entered the gymnasium, we got into line for Lenore Look. Our wait to see her was very short. When we reached her, Brianna received a copy of “Polka Dot Penguin Pottery.” While Ms. Look autographed Brianna's book, a photographer took a picture. Ms. Look wrote the most wonderful inscription in Brianna’s book. It reads: “To the Amazing Brianna, Keep reading and writing! Thanks so much for coming out to see me again! With love and all best wishes, Lenore Look, 3 Dec 2011 NYC.”

With that, we left and headed over to the local IHOP, where Brianna wasted no time in using the placemat she created in Lenore Look’s workshop.

I would love to see Read Out Loud! become a weekend long event. This way, participants have an opportunity to engage in several activities over the course of two days. It is that much fun! I do not routinely get up early on Saturdays, but this was absolutely worth the early wake-up!

There are so many people, groups and organizations to thank:
• Morningside Area Alliance
• Community School District 5
• Scholastic
• New York Public Library
• The Interchurch Center
• Sesame Workshop
• The Jewish Theological Seminary Tzedakah Campaign
• International House
• Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine
• Barnard College
• Columbia University School of the Arts/ Our Word Writers of Color
• Teachers College
• Bank Street College School of Education
• Columbia University Community DentCare Network
• Per Scholas
• Hip Hop Public Health Education Center
• New York Life
• Struttin’ Buttons
• Harlem School of the Arts
• Sisters’ Uptown Bookstore and Cultural Center
• New York Fire Department (FDNY) Foundation
• St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center
• FLIK Catering Services
• State University of New York, College of Optometry
• The many volunteers who gave their services to make “Read Out Loud” a special event!
• The authors!!!

Outstanding job everyone! Brianna and I thank you for another great event!

It’s the Blue in Me

That fight could not have happened at a more opportune time. A 73- year- old and a 74- year- old got into a slugfest at an event, just when I was working on this post about holding grudges. Priceless!

The two men, Angelo Mosca and Joe Kapp, Canadian Football League legends, reportedly have had bad blood between them since a 1963 championship football game. Goodness, I wasn’t even born then. The New York Daily News had it right in reporting this story: “Old grudges die hard.”

I wanted to write about holding grudges because I was bothered about a comment I recently made in a career planning course I took in October. The class was discussing missed opportunities and I talked briefly about how I was dissuaded by a minister in my church from joining the Peace Corps. After making my comments, I said, “And I’m still holding that grudge!” I laughed when I said it, and my classmates understood. One person said, “You see, that’s why we have to be careful what we say to people.” Absolutely. Our words have a great deal of power to bless or curse, to help or harm.

I thought hard about my comment about holding the grudge. I asked myself, “Why can’t I let that go? It has been over 20 years!”

It’s the Blue in me.

I have a “Blue” personality. I took a color coded personality assessment years ago and learned that I am “Blue”. I took another assessment back in October of this year in a second career planning course I took and it confirmed my Blue personality. I find these assessments to be fun and the results quite startling as well.

Some years ago, I bought a book titled “The Color Code” by Dr. Taylor Hartman, a psychologist and business coach (Fireside, New York, NY, 1987, 1998). There are tons of books out there about personality, but this book resonated with me more than most I have read. I took the author’s assessment, The Hartman Personality Profile, and discovered that I had a Blue personality. Chapter Six focuses on my personality type. It is titled “Blues: The Do Gooders.” Dr. Hartman writes:

“Life cannot bestow on anyone
a more gratifying reward
than the sincere appreciation
and trust of a Blue friend,
employer, or family member.” (p. 77)

Dr. Hartman continues: “ The Blues are often the most admired of all the personalities. They represent so many of the virtues we aspire to, such as honesty, empathy, self-sacrifice, loyalty, sincerity, and self-discipline…..They resemble a lighted beacon of goodness and truth—a standard of excellence for the rest of us to aim for.” (p. 77)

In other words, Blues rule! (Smile)

Dr. Hartman describes Blues as:

• Emotional and Admired
• Committed and Loyal
• Perfectionistic
• Highly Demanding
• Self-Discipline d and Stable
• Self-Sacrificin g and Nurturing
• Appropriate and Sincere
• Purposeful and Dedicated

Ah, but we have our limitations, too! Blue limitations, according to Dr. Hartman:
• Worried and Guilty
• Moody and Complex
• Self-Righteous and Insecure
• Unforgiving and Resentful (pp. 77-85)

Unforgiving and resentful? Me? Yes. Dr. Hartman writes:

“Ironically, Blues give more than any personality but forgive the least….One of Blues’ most self-destructiv e weaknesses is grudge-holding. It often goes hand in hand with their excellent memory….Blues can become so obsessed with “getting even” that they don’t instantly see how the lust for begrudgery can be so intense that even self-defeating behavior feels preferable to letting things go unredressed.” Dr. Hartman goes on to tell an anecdote about a Blue woman who held a grudge against her husband and threw out her wedding dress, something he could care less about, but that eventually hurt her when she realized she could not give her granddaughter her wedding dress to be married in, as the granddaughter wanted. Dr. Hartman wrote, “She exemplifies the Blues’ need to get even and their struggle with letting go of resentment.” (p. 82-83)

So, I hurt myself most when I hang on to the baggage of a grudge. And I admit, I have derived no benefit from holding one against that minister all these years.

I recently thought about whom else I was holding a grudge against and I resolved to make greater efforts to release the resentment. It is going to take work, but I want to do this. As humans we trespass against each other all the time, and we all need forgiveness.

One good thing that came out of that disappointment was that it guided me into a career as a counselor and mentor. I am an active “agent of encouragement.” When clients, colleagues and mentees tell me their career and life dreams, I cheer them on. I speak words of possibility.

Though the Peace Corps was a missed opportunity, I haven’t suffered. I have a good life and have had my share of wonderful life adventures. And I am not done yet.

I don’t have any more time to hold on to grudges.

P.S. I just read that both Mr. Kapp and Mr. Mosca now regret their fight!

Read Out Loud!

The Morningside Area Alliance (www.morningsidealli ance.org), in partnership with Community School District 5 and PS 92 in Manhattan, will be sponsoring its annual “ Read Out Loud! Family Literacy and Book Festival” on Saturday, December 3rd. This free event will run from 10am until 4pm and will be held at PS 92, the Mary McLeod Bethune School, at 222 West 134th Street.

“Read Out Loud!” will feature books signed by authors, book giveaways, a showcase of District 5 student writing, and raffle prizes. The day’s schedule will be as follows:

10am-12:45pm: Opening and workshops
1:00pm: Meet authors and illustrators for children and young adults
3:00pm: Author book signing

ACTIVITIES:

Pre-School through Grade 4:
• Story Hours
• Puppets
• Theatre and arts activities

Grades 5 through 8
• Poetry
• Creative Writing
• Movement Workshops
• Comics

Adults
• Helping Your Child with Reading and Learning
• Information about Community Resources and Programs

My niece and I attended this book festival last year and gave it rave reviews! I wrote about the event in my December 7, 2010 blog post titled “The Fifth Annual Read Out Loud! Family Literacy and Book Festival”. It is a fun-filled event for children and adults alike.

For additional information about “Read Out Loud!” visit www.morningsidealli ance.org or call 212. 749.1570

I Raise My Hand to Stop Diabetes

November is American Diabetes Month and this year’s theme is “I Raise My Hand to Stop Diabetes.” The American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org) uses this month to communicate the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of diabetes prevention and control.

Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that allows the body to use glucose for energy. The body produces glucose from the food we eat. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, while type 2 diabetes is most often diagnosed in adults (www.diabetes.org).

Some facts about diabetes:

• Nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes.
• Another 79 million Americans have prediabetes and are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• Prediabetes is the stage where glucose is higher than normal but is not yet diabetes. Most people with prediabetes don’t know they have it.
• Recent estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes in 2050 unless we take steps to Stop Diabetes.
• Two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults.
• The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for people without diabetes.
• About 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage that could result in pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion, sexual dysfunction, and other nerve problems.

The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total national cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is 174 billion dollars:

• Direct medical costs reach 116 billion dollars, and the average medical expenditure among people with diabetes is 2.3 times higher than those without the disease.
• Indirect costs amount to 58 billion dollars (disability, work loss, premature mortality)
• Further published studies suggest that when additional costs for gestational diabetes, prediabetes, and undiagnosed diabetes are included, the total diabetes-relate d costs in the United States could exceed 218 billion dollars.
• The cost of caring for someone with diabetes is one dollar out of every five dollars in total healthcare costs.
(Source: American Diabetes Month November 2011 Fact Sheet)

Each week, a different focus in the Stop Diabetes campaign will be featured:

Week 1: Fighting for the Future—Giving a voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes and fighting for diabetes funding.

Week 2: Impacting Communities—Building relationships around the country to empower people to take control of their health.

Week 3: Celebrating Health—Recognizing courageous people who have overcome the obstacles of living with diabetes and the places that have helped them.

Weeks 4 and 5: Commitment to a Cure—Spotlighting the important research taking place that will lead us to an eventual cure.

For information in English and Spanish, call 1-800-DIABETES or visit stopdiabetes.com. You can also follow the movement on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AmericanDiabete sAssociation), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and blog: www.diabetesstopshe re.org

Ten Things Men Can Do

My recent blog post “African American Men and Intimate Partner Violence” (October 18, 2011) gave an overview of a scholarly research article on men who engage in intimate partner violence (IPV). In concluding his research article the author, Professor Earl Smith of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, stated that IPV cannot be seen solely as a “women’s problem,” but has to be viewed as a major health problem and one that men need to address. The organization A CALL TO MEN does just that.

A CALL TO MEN “is a leading national men’s organization addressing domestic and sexual violence prevention and the promotion of healthy manhood.” Its website (www.acalltomen.com) features “Ten Things Men Can Do,” a list of actions men can take to help end violence against women.

The organization is “committed to maintaining strong partnerships with women’s organizations already doing this important work. We help to organize communities in order to raise awareness and get men involved in this effort.” A CALL TO MEN “believes that preventing domestic and sexual violence is primarily the responsibility of men” (www.acalltomen.com).

A CALL TO MEN’S vision is “to shift social norms that define manhood in our culture.” Its mission is “to galvanize a national movement of men committed to ending violence and discrimination against women and girls” and its purpose is “ to influence change in men’s behavior through a re-education and training process that promotes healthy manhood.”

A CALL TO MEN was founded by Educator, Activist and Lecturer Tony Porter. Tony Porter has been working in the social justice arena for over twenty years. He is nationally recognized for his effort to end men’s violence against women. Tony is the original visionary and co-founder behind A CALL TO MEN: The National Association of Men and Women Committed to Ending Violence Against Women. He is the author of “Well Meaning Men….Breaking Out of the Man Box-Ending Violence Against Women” and the visionary for the book, NFL Dads Dedicated to Daughters.

Tony’s message of accountability is welcome and supported by many grassroots and established organizations. He’s currently working with numerous domestic and sexual violence programs, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, colleges and universities around the country. He has worked with the United States Military Academy at West Point and the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.

Tony is an international lecturer for the U.S. State Department, having done extensive work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tony has served as a consultant to The White House Commission on Violence Against Women and Girls and the Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women. In addition, he has been a guest presenter for the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women.

Educator, Activist and Lecturer Ted Bunch is Co-Founder of A CALL TO MEN: The National Association of Men and Women Committed to Ending Violence Against Women. Ted is recognized both nationally and internationally for his expertise in organizing and educating men in the effort to end violence against women. He is dedicated to strengthening community accountability to end all forms of violence against women.

Ted is formerly the Senior Director and Co-creator of the largest program for domestic violence offenders in America. Ted has worked with Police and Fire Departments, Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics and other first responders to domestic violence. Ted has served as a consultant to The White House Commission on Violence Against Women and Girls, the Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women. He is a recognized trainer, lecturer and consultant on male accountability. A committed ally for more than a dozen years, Ted has gained leadership status in the domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault prevention communities across the country.

Ted is an Advisory Board Member to the New York State Integrated Domestic Violence Court. Ted brings a great enthusiasm and a wealth of knowledge to his work. He has trained at many colleges and universities throughout the United States as well as the National Football League. In addition, he has had guest appearances on numerous television and radio programs. He has traveled abroad speaking in places like Israel, Suriname, South Africa, Ghana, Brazil and Puerto Rico as well as being an invited guest presenter for the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women and the UN Alliance of Civilizations. Ted is an international lecturer for the U.S. State Department and was appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as a Committee Member to UNiTE, an international network of male leaders working to end violence against women.

I want to especially thank Ted Bunch for granting me permission to reprint “Ten Things Men Can Do.” The list is also published in Spanish (10 Cosas Que Los Hombres Pueden Hacer). Both English and Spanish versions are included in this blog post.

Ten Things Men Can Do

1. Acknowledge and understand how male dominance
and aspects of unhealthy manhood are at the foundation of
domestic and sexual violence.

2. Examine and challenge our individual beliefs and
the role that we play in supporting men who are abusive.

3. Recognize and stop colluding with other men by
getting out of our socially defined roles, and take a stance to
prevent domestic and sexual violence.

4. Remember that our silence is affirming. When we
choose not to speak out against domestic and sexual violence,
we are supporting it.

5. Educate and re-educate our sons and other young
men about our responsibility in preventing domestic and sexual
violence.

6. "Break out of the man box"- Challenge traditional
images of manhood that stop us from actively taking a stand in
domestic and sexual violence prevention.

7. Accept and own our responsibility that domestic
and sexual violence will not end until men become part of the
solution to end it. We must take an active role in creating a
cultural and social shift that no longer tolerates violence and
discrimination against women and girls.

8. Stop supporting the notion that domestic and
sexual violence is due to mental illness, lack of anger
management skills, chemical dependency, stress, etc… Domestic
and sexual violence is rooted in male dominance and the
socialization of men.

9. Take responsibility for creating appropriate and
effective ways to educate and raise awareness about domestic
and sexual violence prevention.

10. Create responsible and accountable men's
initiatives in your community to support domestic and sexual
violence prevention.

10 Cosas Que Los Hombres Pueden Hacer

1) Admitir y entender cómo el sexismo, la dominancia masculina y el privilegio masculino asientan la fundación de todas las formas de violencia contra las mujeres.

2) Examinar y poner a prueba nuestro sexismo individual y el rol que jugamos en apoyar a los hombres que son abusivos.

3) Reconocer y parar de conspirar con otros hombres saliéndonos de nuestros roles socialmente definidos, y tomar una postura para eliminar la violencia contra las mujeres.

4) Recordar que nuestro silencio ratifica. Cuando elegimos no dar nuestra opinión de la violencia masculina, la estamos apoyando.

5) Educar y re-educar a nuestros hijos y a otros hombres jóvenes acerca de nuestra responsabilidad para terminar la violencia masculina contra las mujeres.

6) "Liberarse de la opresion del hombre" Lucha tradicionalment e imagenes de el estado de ser hombre de que nos para activamente emprender una posicion para terminar violencia contra las mujeres.

7) Aceptar y reconocer nuestra responsabilidad de que la violencia contra las mujeres no finalizará hasta que los hombres sean parte de la solución para eliminarla. Tenemos que tomar un rol activo para crear un cambio social y cultural que ya no tolere la violencia contra las mujeres.

8) Pare el appear de la nocion que la violencia de los hombres contra mujeres puede terminar proporcionado el tratamiento para los hombres individuales. La enfermedad mental,le carencia de las habilidades de gerencia de la colera, la dependencia quimica, la tension,los etc..Son solamente excusas para el comportamiento de los hombres. La violencia contra mujeres se arraiga en la opresion historica de mujeres y la consecuencia de la socializacion de hombres.

9) Tome la responsabilidad de crear maneras apropiadas y eficaces de desarrollar sistemas para educar y para sostener a hombres responsables.

10) Cree los sistemas de la responsabilidad a las mujeres en su comunidad.
La violencia contra mujeres terminara solamente cuando tomamos la direccion de los que la entiendan mas, mujeres.

LGBT Communities and Domestic Violence: Information and Resources

“The failure of dominant and LGBT communities to acknowledge domestic and sexual violence in same gender/ gender -variant relationships provides the LGBT batterer with multiple means with which to abuse their victims. Their violence is often characterized by the dominant culture as being mutual and involving people of equal strength. This myth discounts the experience of the victim, reinforces the self-blame many victim/survivors feel and allows mainstream systems to ignore the prevalence and lethality of domestic violence in LGBT communities.”

This quote is found in “LGBT Communities and Domestic Violence: Information and Resources,” a manual published in 2007 by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (www.nrcdv.org). This publication was authored by Mary Allen (lead), Patricia Lima Velame Branco, Dee Dee Burnett, Ana Hernandez (editor), and Jackie List-Warrilow.

“LGBT Communities and Domestic Violence: Information and Resources” briefly discusses the issue of domestic violence in LGBT communities; addresses key issues (use of language/vocabulary; the intersection of sexism and homophobia; dynamics of domestic violence; and intervention/prevention services); and offers statistics, fact sheets, a bibliography, website resource list and a video resource list.

Some of the issues surrounding LGBT communities and domestic violence:

• Because of severe anti-LGBT bias, people who identify as LGBT frequently approach shelters, social service agencies, domestic violence providers, police and the courts with great caution, fearing re-victimizatio n from institutions that have a history of exclusion, hostility, and violence toward them.

• Information about LGBT violence is used to reinforce the concept that lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people are immoral, unstable and therefore undeserving of ordinary human rights.

• In the overtly hierarchical structures of the legal system, survivors of violence in same gender/gender -variant relationships are not routinely afforded the same protections as those employed to protect privileged heterosexual victims of domestic violence.

• Some states have used legal definitions of marriage to deny access to safety and support for persons who live together, and identify as LGBT. Add to these legal barriers the discretionary nature of arrest policies and the presence of other prejudices such as racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, and the rights of the LGBT survivor are at serious risk.

• Homophobia, lack of awareness of the need, lack of funding and/or simple ignorance of how to go about providing services has prevented many well-intentione d mainstream domestic violence programs from developing supportive and effective LGBT services.

• Homophobia in the culture at large makes it difficult for LGBT communities to acknowledge domestic violence in their midst.

From the “LGBT Communities and Domestic Violence: Information and Resources” Fact Sheet:

• Same-sex abusers use a form of abuse similar to those of heterosexual batterers, but they also have an additional weapon in the threat of “outing” their partner to family, friends, employers or community.

• Many battered Gays or Lesbians fight back to defend themselves—it is a myth that same-sex battering is mutual.

• Battering involving men in same-sex relationships does not appear to be associated with racial or ethnic identity, income level, self-described sexual orientation, or the city of residence.

• Battering among Lesbians crosses age, race, class, lifestyle and socio-economic lines.

• Bisexual victims are likely to be undercounted if the agency from which they seek services constructs the sexual orientation of the victim based on the gender identity of the abusive partner and does not explicitly query victim self-identifica tion.

• Figures from a study published in the American Journal of Public Health indicate that the rate of abuse between urban homosexual men in intimate relationships “is a very serious public health problem.”

The manual’s website resource list includes the names and contact information for organizations across the country that offer services to LGBT victims/survivors of domestic violence and work to end violence in LGBT communities. The resource list also contains information for youth who identify as LGBT.

To obtain a copy of “LGBT Communities and Domestic Violence: Information and Resources” visit www.vawnet.org

“This material was reprinted/adapted from the publication titled “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) communities and Domestic Violence: Information and Resources (2007) by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence.”

The Men’s Experience with Partner Aggression Project

Dr. Denise A. Hines is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. An expert in family violence, Dr. Hines is the Principal Investigator for the “Men’s Experience with Partner Aggression Project.” The project’s co-investigator is Dr. Emily Douglas, Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Drs. Hines and Douglas are also the authors of a groundbreaking 2011 article, “The Helpseeking Experiences of Men Who Sustain Intimate Partner Violence: An Overlooked Population and Implications for Practice." The article, which appears in the Journal of Family Violence, discusses in full the results of their research on men who seek help for intimate partner violence (IPV).

Dr. Hines’ homepage http://www.clarku.edu/faculty/dhines/index.htm leads to a link for the “Men’s Experience with Partner Aggression Project Home Page.” The page presents a wealth of research about female –to-male IPV, and has a link to resources for men who sustain intimate partner violence.

In describing the “Men’s Experience with Partner Aggression Project,” Dr. Hines writes on her page: “Our goal is to better understand the experiences of men who are in relationships with women who use violence. Extensive research has shown that men are at risk for sustaining partner violence in their relationships, yet few studies have investigated their experiences, and there are few resources available to such men. This is an under-recognize d problem in the United States, and by conducting this research, we hope to provide much needed information on these men, their relationships, and their needs.” The researchers collected data for the project between November 2007 and January 2009. 302 men participated in the study, which was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Some fact sheets which summarize major research findings from Dr. Hines’ and Dr. Douglas’ study are as follows:

• Intimate Terrorism by Women Towards Men: Does It Exist?
• A Closer Look at Men Who Sustain Intimate Terrorism by Women
• Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Men Who Sustain Intimate Partner Violence
• Men Who Sustain Violence From Their Female Partners: Predictors of Where They Seek Help and How They Rate Those Resources

In the fact sheet “A Closer Look at Men Who Sustain Terrorism by Women,” intimate terrorism (IT) is defined as “a severe form of intimate partner violence (IPV) in which violence is one tactic in a general pattern of control of one partner over another partner. The violence is frequent and severe, occurring at least on a monthly basis, is unlikely to be mutual and is likely to involve serious injury and emotional abuse.” This fact sheet briefly profiles the men who sustain intimate terrorism, types of aggression, what happened during the last physical argument, mental illness among men who experience IT, and what prevents men from leaving their relationships:

Some findings:

• The male helpseekers who sustained IT were more likely to be white, employed full-time, 41 years of age, graduated from a 2 to 4 year college, and earning about 52 thousand dollars annually.

• The types of IPV sustained by the men in the study included minor psychological, severe psychological, controlling behaviors, insisting on sex, minor physical, severe physical, very severe physical, minor injuries and severe injuries.

• During the last physical argument, the men responded by either attempting to get away, yelling or cursing, calling friends and /or family, crying, calling the police, or grabbing, shoving, pushing or hitting back.

• 24 percent of the men in the study reported having a mental illness. The common mental illnesses were depressive disorders and anxiety disorders. 41 percent of the men reported that they only had the diagnosis since being in the relationship.

• The men who stayed in their abusive relationships offered the following reasons: concern about their children; marrying for life; love; fearing he will never see his children again; he thinks she will change; he does not have enough money; has nowhere to go; embarrassed; does not want to separate children from her; she threatened to kill herself; fears she’ll kill him or someone he loves.

Dr. Hines’ and Dr. Douglas’ research has been also been published in:

• The Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research (“Intimate Terrorism by Women Towards Men? Does It Exist”, 2010)
• Partner Abuse (“A Closer Look at Men Who Sustain Intimate Terrorism by Women,” 2010)
• Psychology of Men and Masculinity (Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Men Who Sustain Intimate Partner Violence,” 2011)

Some of their conference presentations include:

• “Men’s Social Health Within Families and Intimate Relationships” The Massachusetts Family Impact Seminars, March 30, 2011, Boston, MA

• “Media Portrayals of IPV Against Men: Do They Reflect Reality? How Do They Impact Helpseeking Experiences?” 22nd Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science, May 2010, Boston, MA

• “Working with Male Victims,” Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, November 2010, Rocky Hill, CT

• “Men Who Sustain Partner Violence from Their Female Partners: Who Seeks Help, Where They Find Help, and How They Rate These Resources,” 18th Annual Conference on Men and Masculinities, March 2010, Atlanta, GA. Sponsored by the American Men’s Studies Association.

• “Men Who Sustain Partner Violence and Seek Help: Their Abuse and Help-Seeking Experiences and Implications for Prevention,” 6th Annual Hawaii Conference on Preventing, Assessing and Treating Child, Adolescent and Adult Trauma, 2009, Honolulu, HI. Sponsored by the Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma.

• “Men Who Sustain Partner Violence and Seek Help: Abuse Experiences, Injuries, PTSD, and Helpseeking Experiences,” 2009 Academy on Violence and Abuse Biennial Scientific Assembly, April 2009, Minneapolis, MN

• “Abuse, Risk, and PTSD of Male Victims of Partner Violence” and “Helpseeking Experiences of Men Who Sustain Partner Violence: Findings and Implications for Mental Health Professionals,” Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, August 2009, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• “Male Help-Seekers for Partner Violence Victimization: A Descriptive Analysis” (results on first 50 participants), International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference, Portsmouth, NH, July 2008. Sponsored by the Family Research Laboratory and Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire

“The Helpseeking Experiences of Men Who Sustain Intimate Partner Violence: An Overlooked Population and Implications for Practice,” is available through the Journal of Family Violence online at http://www.clarku.edu/faculty/dhines/Douglas%20%20Hines%202011%20helpseeking%20experiences%20of%20male%20victims.pdf

In their work, Drs. Hines and Douglas make reference to a resource for male victims of IPV, the Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women (DAHMW) (www.dahmw.org) Its mission is ”to provide crisis intervention and support services to victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) and their families in order to help survivors recover from the trauma of IPV. We work toward the elimination of IPV by increasing public awareness and decreasing tolerance of IPV through community collaboration and education. DAHMW strives to improve the quality and safety of the lives of victims who are seeking peace in their homes and in their daily existence.”

In researching domestic abuse and speaking with men who were abused, the organization’s founder, Jan Brown, discovered that assistance for male victims of domestic violence was largely non-existent. She states on the website: “The Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women is a national non profit founded in 2000 in Harmony, Maine. Our agency was established to compliment the traditional domestic violence shelter programs that specialize in services for women abused by their male intimate partners. We specialize in offering supportive services to men abused by their female intimate partners. However, all who call us, whether they are male or female in a heterosexual or same sex abusive relationship are offered the same respect and support because no one deserves to be abused.”

“Blame the System, Not the Victim”

Rebecca Drago is a Community Educator for the Domestic Violence Education and Prevention Program (DVEP), a program of My Sisters’ Place (www.mysistersplacen y.org). The Domestic Violence Education and Prevention Program (DVEP) provides an array of teen dating violence prevention and service programming, including educational presentations, individual counseling for teen victims, and the SAFER volunteer opportunity.

The team works with schools and community organizations throughout Westchester County to provide teen dating violence and bullying prevention education presentations to teens, serving both middle and high school students. DVEP’s Community Educators work with students, using various techniques, such as discussion, role play and other supplemental materials, to expand students’ knowledge of teen dating violence and bullying.

For more than 34 years, My Sisters’ Place (MSP) has worked to end violence in intimate relationships and combat the effects of domestic violence and human trafficking on survivors and children throughout Westchester County. MSP is a cutting edge leader and resource in the field of domestic violence and human trafficking advocacy, shelter and legal services, and education and prevention.

MSP brings a holistic approach to addressing the many and varied needs of domestic violence survivors and the root causes of family violence, which is the use or threat of force by one person in any intimate relationship to dominate and control the other person. (www.mysistersplacen y.org)

Teen Dating Violence (TDV) is often overlooked in the conversation about domestic violence, despite its’ high prevalence: “One in three teens reports knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped or physically hurt by their dating partner.” In addition to physical violence, teens are also more likely to use technology to control a partner, as seventeen percent of teens reported their partner has made them afraid not to respond to a cell phone call, email, IM or text message because of what they fear their partner might do . TDV like domestic violence does not discriminate; TDV is common across all races, classes, and sexualities; “in a study of gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents, youths involved in same-sex dating are just as likely to experience dating violence as youths involved in opposite sex dating”

Due to the high presence of TDV the My Sisters’ Place DVEP Team composed of Coordinator Kristine Poplawski, and Community Educators Rebecca Drago, Honor Adams, and Glenis Hunter deliver “Healthy Relationships” presentations, on teen dating violence to over 4,000 youth each year. Ms. Drago, who facilitates her presentations alongside teen Junior Facilitators, reports that the teen-friendly presentations are well-received in classrooms. Ms Drago states, “There is something pretty powerful about peer communication…the teens are really responsive.” As a result of the presentations, many teens volunteer with My Sisters’ Place and develop their own community with the SAFER (Students Advocating For Equality in Relationships) volunteer opportunity. Often SAFER volunteers bring what they have learned back into their schools and become leaders in discussing and bringing community service projects on teen dating violence.

The program has been around since 1981, according to Ms. Drago. The DVEP Team is constantly conducting outreach to schools where MSP does not yet have a presence to offer their services including the Healthy Relationships presentation.

Ms. Drago was introduced to me by Nancy F. Levin, Director of Development and External Affairs for My Sisters’ Place. I told Nancy that I would be devoting all of my October blog postings to the theme of intimate partner violence (domestic violence) in commemoration of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I invited her to share relevant stories or announcements. Ms. Drago and I spoke, and she sent me a brief written account of her participation in the “SlutWalk” NYC event. Ms. Drago wrote:

“I attended a rally the weekend of October 1-2 that was very relevant to our work here at My Sisters’ Place: “SlutWalk NYC.” This event was part of an international movement that began a few months ago, when a police officer told a group of law students in Toronto to “avoid dressing ‘like sluts’ in order not to get raped.”

The reaction of the police officer reflects a larger societal understanding that it is the victims’ responsibility to avoid rape and sexual assault, rather than the rapists’ responsibility to not rape. Responding to the rampant victim blaming that happens regarding sexual assaults as well as DV, the organization formed to debunk the myth that it doesn’t matter what a person wears, drinks or how they act—the victim is never at fault for this type of violence. SlutWalks have since taken place in cities all over the US and Canada.

Many feminists (myself included) are deeply conflicted about the name “SlutWalk.” Some hate the word slut and are not ready to reclaim it. In following the rallies and the media attention they get, it seems to be that often the event becomes a chance for lots of young women to wear very little clothes and talk about “slut pride.” While sexual liberation for young women may be an important discussion, within all the hype of nudity, the message of victim blaming can get lost.

That being said, I decided that sitting at home criticizing the rally would create far less change than at least attending the event, so I went—and was pleasantly surprised. There were fewer naked people than expected, and the overwhelming tone of the march was about rape culture and victim blaming. The speakers directly addressed the controversy of the word “slut” and explained that the reason it was used was to gain attention from the media. They also addressed the criticism that the organization was (yet another) feminist movement comprised mainly of white, privileged women, failing to address the intersection of sexual assault and race, class, sexuality and immigration issues. The organizers have since been exploring connections between social identity and sexual assault to make SlutWalk more inclusive.

Some of the favorite signs read: “I was 17, in my childhood home wearing sweats. What part of that is ‘asking for it’?” “My miniskirt does not equal consent” and “I did not report because I was not the ‘perfect victim.” I held up a sign that read “I should not be responsible for preventing my own rape” and “I am a sexually empowered woman—not a slut!” Some of the favorite chants were: “Blame the system, not the victim,” “NYPD: Blame the rapist, not me!”

If you’d like to read more about this, here is an article (http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/12040/slutwalk_nyc_an_important_success_corsets_and_all and here is the official website of the SlutWalk: http://slutwalknyc.com/

Despite its’ flaws, I was impressed and excited that victim blaming is gaining attention, especially within the younger feminist movement.

For additional information about My Sisters’ Place, visit (www.mysistersplacen y.org)

My thanks again to Rebecca Drago, Kristine Poplawski, and Nancy F. Levin of My Sisters’ Place.

_________________________________________
(Liz Claiborne Inc., Conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, (February 2005).


(Liz Clairborne, Inc/Teen Research Unlimited, 2007)


(Prevalence of Partner Violence in Same-Sex Romantic and Sexual Relationships in a National Sample of Adolescents,” Halpern CT,Young ML, Waller MW, Martin SL, Kupper LL. Journal of Adolescent Health, Vol. 35, Issue 2, Pages 124-131, (August 2004).

“Blame the System, Not the Victim”

Rebecca Drago is a Community Educator for the Domestic Violence Education and Prevention Program (DVEP), a program of My Sisters’ Place (www.mysistersplacen y.org). The Domestic Violence Education and Prevention Program (DVEP) provides an array of teen dating violence prevention and service programming, including educational presentations, individual counseling for teen victims, and the SAFER volunteer opportunity.

The team works with schools and community organizations throughout Westchester County to provide teen dating violence and bullying prevention education presentations to teens, serving both middle and high school students. DVEP’s Community Educators work with students, using various techniques, such as discussion, role play and other supplemental materials, to expand students’ knowledge of teen dating violence and bullying.

For more than 34 years, My Sisters’ Place (MSP) has worked to end violence in intimate relationships and combat the effects of domestic violence and human trafficking on survivors and children throughout Westchester County. MSP is a cutting edge leader and resource in the field of domestic violence and human trafficking advocacy, shelter and legal services, and education and prevention.

MSP brings a holistic approach to addressing the many and varied needs of domestic violence survivors and the root causes of family violence, which is the use or threat of force by one person in any intimate relationship to dominate and control the other person. (www.mysistersplacen y.org)

Teen Dating Violence (TDV) is often overlooked in the conversation about domestic violence, despite its’ high prevalence: “One in three teens reports knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped or physically hurt by their dating partner.” In addition to physical violence, teens are also more likely to use technology to control a partner, as Seventeen percent of teens reported their partner has made them afraid not to respond to a cell phone call, email, IM or text message because of what they fear their partner might do . TDV like domestic violence does not discriminate; TDV is common across all races, classes, and sexualities; “in a study of gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents, youths involved in same-sex dating are just as likely to experience dating violence as youths involved in opposite sex dating”

Due to the high presence of TDV the My Sisters’ Place DVEP Team composed of Coordinator Kristine Poplawski, and Community Educators Rebecca Drago, Honor Adams, and Glenis Hunter deliver “Healthy Relationships” presentations, on teen dating violence to over 4,000 youth each year. Ms. Drago, who facilitates her presentations alongside teen Junior Facilitators, reports that the teen-friendly presentations are well-received in classrooms. Ms Drago states, “There is something pretty powerful about peer communication…the teens are really responsive.” As a result of the presentations, many teens volunteer with My Sisters’ Place and develop their own community with the SAFER (Students Advocating For Equality in Relationships) volunteer opportunity. Often SAFER volunteers bring what they have learned back into their schools and become leaders in discussing and bringing community service projects on teen dating violence.

The program has been around since 1981, according to Ms. Drago. The DVEP Team is constantly conducting outreach to schools where MSP does not yet have a presence to offer their services including the Healthy Relationships presentation.

Ms. Drago was introduced to me by Nancy F. Levin, Director of Development and External Affairs for My Sisters’ Place. I told Nancy that I would be devoting all of my October blog postings to the theme of intimate partner violence (domestic violence) in commemoration of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I invited her to share relevant stories or announcements. Ms. Drago and I spoke, and she sent me a brief written account of her participation in the “SlutWalk” NYC event. Ms. Drago wrote:

“I attended a rally the weekend of October 1-2 that was very relevant to our work here at My Sisters’ Place: “SlutWalk NYC.” This event was part of an international movement that began a few months ago, when a police officer told a group of law students in Toronto to “avoid dressing ‘like sluts’ in order not to get raped.”

The reaction of the police officer reflects a larger societal understanding that it is the victims’ responsibility to avoid rape and sexual assault, rather than the rapists’ responsibility to not rape. Responding to the rampant victim blaming that happens regarding sexual assaults as well as DV, the organization formed to debunk the myth that it doesn’t matter what a person wears, drinks or how they act—the victim is never at fault for this type of violence. SlutWalks have since taken place in cities all over the US and Canada.

Many feminists (myself included) are deeply conflicted about the name “SlutWalk.” Some hate the word slut and are not ready to reclaim it. In following the rallies and the media attention they get, it seems to be that often the event becomes a chance for lots of young women to wear very little clothes and talk about “slut pride.” While sexual liberation for young women may be an important discussion, within all the hype of nudity, the message of victim blaming can get lost.

That being said, I decided that sitting at home criticizing the rally would create far less change than at least attending the event, so I went—and was pleasantly surprised. There were fewer naked people than expected, and the overwhelming tone of the march was about rape culture and victim blaming. The speakers directly addressed the controversy of the word “slut” and explained that the reason it was used was to gain attention from the media. They also addressed the criticism that the organization was (yet another) feminist movement comprised mainly of white, privileged women, failing to address the intersection of sexual assault and race, class, sexuality and immigration issues. The organizers have since been exploring connections between social identity and sexual assault to make SlutWalk more inclusive.

Some of the favorite signs read: “I was 17, in my childhood home wearing sweats. What part of that is ‘asking for it’?” “My miniskirt does not equal consent” and “I did not report because I was not the ‘perfect victim.” I held up a sign that read “I should not be responsible for preventing my own rape” and “I am a sexually empowered woman—not a slut!” Some of the favorite chants were: “Blame the system, not the victim,” “NYPD: Blame the rapist, not me!”

If you’d like to read more about this, here is an article (http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/12040/slutwalk_nyc_an_important_success_corsets_and_all and here is the official website of the SlutWalk: http://slutwalknyc.com/

Despite its’ flaws, I was impressed and excited that victim blaming is gaining attention, especially within the younger feminist movement. "

For additional information about My Sisters’ Place, visit (www.mysistersplacen y.org)

My thanks again to Rebecca Drago, Kristine Poplawski, and Nancy F. Levin of My Sisters’ Place.

__________________________________

Liz Claiborne Inc., Conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, (February 2005).


(Liz Clairborne, Inc/Teen Research Unlimited, 2007)


(Prevalence of Partner Violence in Same-Sex Romantic and Sexual Relationships in a National Sample of Adolescents,” Halpern CT,Young ML, Waller MW, Martin SL, Kupper LL. Journal of Adolescent Health, Vol. 35, Issue 2, Pages 124-131, (August 2004).

African American Men and Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) tears at the fabric of families In African American communities. IPV alienates African American men from their female partners, who have historically buffered and supported them against the racism they experience. Ironically, that racism is itself a source of the tension and strain that leads to IPV. Unfortunately, Black male to Black female IPV is often ignored, unless the woman’s death is particularly horrific or brutal.

In his 2008 scholarly paper, “African American Men and Intimate Partner Violence,” published in the Journal of African American Studies, Professor Earl Smith of Wake Forest University “focuses on the justifications African American men give for engaging in violence against their intimate partners.” Professor Smith writes: “What this paper is designed to accomplish is a more comprehensive understanding of the reasons African American male batterers give for their own violence so that we can better understand IPV before it happens and interrupt it when it does occur.” His paper examines how race shapes experiences with IPV.

“African American Men and Intimate Partner Violence” serves to address some of the shortcomings Professor Smith identifies in the existing research on men who batter. For example, he states that since most IPV is male against female, it is critical that attention be paid to how men see the issue of IPV. Professor Smith writes that research on IPV needs to focus on batterers’ perceptions of the violence they commit against their partners. Further, there is little research on non-white men who batter, specifically African American men. Professor Smith adds that few, if any treatment programs for batterers, focus on the core issue for batterers—the need to retain and enforce power over their intimate partner.

Three “causes” for male violence against intimate partners are explored in the study:

• Individual: Some men batter because they have seen it in their childhood and use it as a tool to control their intimate partner. Professor Smith cites research that suggests that experiencing child abuse double’s one’s risk for battering one’s partner, and witnessing violence in childhood triples one’s risk for growing up to become a batterer (intergeneration al transmission of violence). Professor Smith discusses the controversy over the concept of intergeneration al transmission of violence. Some criticisms are that it can suggest that the transmission of violence is genetic, and most men who witness or experience violence do not grow up to abuse their children or intimate partners. How men are socialized in the use of violence is more relevant.

• Cultural: Professor Smith argues that differences in race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social class and other factors suggest that there are various “masculinities.” U.S. culture ascribes the traits of strength, height, power, and money to boys and men, and most men judge themselves and are judged by other men based on two basic roles: breadwinner and "sexual conquistador". Violence is not necessarily a part of this equation, but, says Professor Smith, it can be an outgrowth of the privileges associated with masculinity.

• Structural: For African American men, two structural factors can serve as “triggers” to battering: Labor Market Issues and Incarceration.
o Labor Market: African American men are often unemployed at twice the rate of White men. They also receive lower wages than Whites and are more likely to be living in poverty.
o Incarceration: African American men are disproportionat ely incarcerated, and over the life course, 25-33 percent of African American men will be incarcerated.

Professor Smith makes it clear that unemployment and /or incarceration are not in and of themselves pathways to battering. He writes that his paper is not an attempt “to justify African American male battering, as excused by Black men’s position in society and in their fractured relationship with the police, criminal justice system and labor market.”

I was more than pleased to read Professor Smith’s repeated statements that he was not offering any excuses for IPV against Black women. Too many of us have been told to keep silent about the violence we witness or experience in our homes. In his paper, he cites the works of African American feminist scholars Patricia Hill Collins and bell hooks, and writes: “Finally, the excuse that African American females should be quiet about the violence in their intimate relationships is just that, an excuse.”

The violence that is often perpetrated by men against their female intimate partner takes the forms of slapping, pulling hair, throwing things, and “beating her up.” Professor Smith cites the work of the feminist scholar Patricia Hill Collins who states that the IPV Black men perpetrate against Black women can take several forms including verbally berating Black women, hitting them, ridiculing their appearance, grabbing their body parts, pressuring them to have sex, beating them and murdering them.”

Professor Smith’s paper is based on a study in which he looked at the experiences of nearly 100 men and women living with IPV. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with 25 African American men who batter. Interviews were conducted in the South (North Carolina) and Midwest (Minnesota). The men ranged across the social class spectrum except “upper class.” The majority of the men were employed and 90 percent had been incarcerated. A semi-structured set of questions was used in the interviews. Respondents were asked about their families of origin, relationships between their parents, siblings, their own experiences with dating, marriage, cohabitation, healthy relationships and relationships with IPV. The interviews were 90 to 120 minutes in length. In his analysis of the data, Professor Smith looked at causes of IPV and triggers.

“Though I focus on African American men who perpetrate severe violence against their female partners, it is important to note at the outset that in their intimate relationships, African American men are no more likely to be violent than their White counterparts,” writes Professor Smith. The data in Professor Smith’s paper showed that all men in United States culture, not just African American men, are susceptible to engaging in battering in response to threats and challenges to their masculine identities. And while Professor Smith’s research focused on heterosexual couples, he expressed an interest in exploring the issue of IPV among gay and lesbian African Americans.

Some of the findings:

• Many of the men interviewed began the interview with the following statement: “I never intended to hit or hurt her.” They stated that they never wanted to grow up to be the type of man who hit the woman they loved. Many of these men saw violence in their homes growing up.

• The types of violence that African American men perpetuated tended to be more severe. In the study, the men beat their partners beyond recognition, threatened them with guns, and/or threatened to burn the house down.

• The men in the study felt (and acted on) a sense of entitlement to perpetrate violence against their intimate female partner.

• Men who batter may see the “honeymoon” phase in the cycle of IPV (being kind and attentive to his partner, refraining from violence) as a sincere attempt to relieve the sense of alienation they feel from their partners as a result of the violence. The problem is, this honeymoon phase does not instill in the batterer a sense of empathy for his female partner, which is necessary for change in his behavior. Therefore, the violence continues.

“When examining the lives of men who grow up to batter we must acknowledge that they
make many bad choices; first and foremost they make the choice to hit, kick, punch or beat up their female partners, women they claim to love. I won’t defend these men’s choices to batter their partners. But, in order to further our understanding of battering so that we might better prevent it from happening in the first place we need to understand something about the context in which many of these bad choices are rooted: growing up in violent homes, “writes Professor Smith.

In analyzing his data, Professor Smith proposed a “synthesis” approach to understanding IPV through the lens of African American male batterers. He examined feminist theories, masculinity theory, and race , class and gender paradigms to understand IPV among African American males. He also considers other theories related to alienation, strain, triggers, and unintended consequences and their effect on IPV. In short, African American men experience deep strain due to individual, cultural and structural factors. The strain results from feeling alienated from institutions and opportunities to fulfill their breadwinner roles as men, for example, due to discrimination and incarceration. Aggravations and pressures from both within and outside of their homes can serve as triggers for IPV. Once they commit violence against their female partners, the men have relieved the strain, but the very tool they use to bring about this relief has the unintended consequence of alienating them from their intimate female partner.

To explain racial variations in IPV, Professor Smith uses the analogy of a gun. White and African American men both report the same triggers to battering. These triggers are those that pose threats to their masculinity. Professor Smith explains that race shapes IPV by shaping the way the chambers of the gun are loaded. Unemployment, wage discrimination, police brutality, incarceration, and other individual, cultural and structural factors that disadvantage African American men are seen as more deadly and lethal bullets that are loaded into the guns of African American males, who then unload onto their intimate female partners with more fury.

Professor Smith concludes that intimate partner violence (IPV) cannot be seen solely as a “women’s problem.” It has to be viewed as a major health problem and one that men need to address. Further, he states that “the African American community needs to address the issue of battering of African American women at the hands of African American men.” He also cautions that as long as batterers are seen as “bad” men with no consideration given to the root causes of their behavior, effective programs to treat batterers cannot be developed.

“In sum, we have to unlock the cycle of violence from the perspective of the men who engage in it if we are ever to have any hope of reducing it and encouraging the healthy male-female relationships so vital and yet too rare in African American Civil Society. All of our attempts at preventing and interrupting IPV have focused on the “triggers.” And overall, we have had very little success in reducing or preventing IPV. My analysis in this paper offers a unique approach. We desperately need programs and interventions that will prevent the “gun” from being loaded in the first place," writes Professor Smith.

To read “African American Men and Intimate Partner Violence” go to: http://www.wfu.edu/aes/pdf/SMITH_AA_Men_and_IPV_FINAL_COPY.pdf

Who Is Christine Shirley?

Christine Shirley, 30, is studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services. She is employed full-time and is a single mother of a 12-year-old son. Christine and I met a few weeks ago when, out of the blue, she called and asked if she could interview me for a school assignment.

After our interview, Christine asked me for some recommendations on starting her career in human services. She holds an Associate’s degree in Communications, and was originally planning to pursue a career in that field. Christine told me about her interest in human services and shared some of her personal life story with me. When she spoke, she uttered those two words—domestic violence-- and I stopped in my tracks. I cannot tell you how many times I have spoken to women randomly, who tell me that they have lived with domestic or intimate partner violence. In fact, I was interviewed by another young woman only two weeks ago and she too shared that she had survived intimate partner violence. Sigh.

I told Christine about my blog and said that because this is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I am going to be focusing solely on the issue of intimate partner violence. She graciously agreed to share her story with me and you. I asked Christine several times if she wanted to remain anonymous, and she emphatically told me “no” each time. So, I have Christine’s consent to share her account of how she survived intimate partner violence over eight years ago.

This was not an easy story to hear or write.

Christine has survived two abusive relationships. The first was with her son’s father, Kevin. The second was with a boyfriend, Jon, with whom she was in a relationship for eight months
.
“The first mishap I had with domestic violence was with my son’s father. It wasn’t so much physical, it was more emotional. He was like really, really intimidating with words. Very hurtful, used to always put me down, used to always make me feel worthless. We had one instance of him putting his hands on me and that was it. I walked out the door, took my son, went into the shelter and decided that I needed to get myself together.”

Christine met her son’s father Kevin when they were both in Job Corps. She describes him as being very quiet. “He didn’t come off as a person that would abuse you.” Christine completed Job Corps and began attending college at 17, but shortly after became pregnant. She reports that Kevin started to become emotionally abusive. “After I got pregnant it was like, ‘Aha, I got you’. Once I got pregnant and dropped out of school it was like I was no longer good. It was like ‘you’re nothing, you’re nobody, you’re not going to do anything with yourself. Look at your situation.’ It was just like horrible,” recalls Christine.

They lived together briefly in New York and Florida. “It was just things about him. He started to really separate himself from everyone in the household. His money was his money. He would come, go about his business, stay out late. He didn’t really show that he really wanted to be in a relationship, much less be a father.” When Christine and Kevin resided in Florida, she experienced emotional abuse, not just by Kevin, but also by his mother. She also endured some physical deprivation. When she lived in Florida, there were days when there was no food for her to eat, or she would just have Snickers bars to eat.

The situation came to a head when Christine, who was nearly seven months pregnant, and Kevin got into an argument when he “accidentally” kicked her in the side of her stomach. “He was ready to go outside and fight me that night.” Kevin lunged at Christine and cursed her out. In response, Christine hit him with a comb to get him away from her. At that point, he kicked her out of the house. It was 2 am. She took her suitcase, and walked to the bus stop. Soon, Kevin and his mother came to the bus stop to bring her back to the house. Shortly thereafter, Christine returned to New York City.

Three weeks after giving birth to her son, Christine went out to find work. “It’s not that he (Kevin) didn’t have a job. It’s just that he was not willing to support me. Because he felt like everyone else and everything else was more important than me and this child.” She talked about one job interview: “ I got to Macy’s and I filled out an application. And the lady looked at me, and she said ‘Tell me about Christine Shirley’ and I cried. Because I had seen myself for that moment, I didn’t know who I was. I’m looking at this lady and I’m like, ‘Well, I’m 19, I’m in a shelter.’ I have a child’s father that’s not supporting me. He’s not emotionally supportive to me. My mom, her instability, plus me trying to maintain taking care of a newborn baby with no means, no income, no clothes, no shelter. So when this lady asked me who was Christine Shirley, I walked out because I didn’t know who I was. And I always made a vow to myself that no matter what I’m going through in life, I have to know who I am.” The relationship with Kevin ended and Christine moved on, working and attending college in addition to caring for her son.

Christine was 22 years old when she met her next boyfriend, Jon, who was 35, near a train station. They spent almost an hour engaged in a “very , very intellectually stimulating conversation.” After one week of conversations, Jon disclosed to Christine that he was on parole after having spent ten years in prison. “I’m like , ‘okay, you know, you’re still a human being, everyone needs a chance. You seem like a nice person, you seem like a smart person. You have goals, you have things you want to do. I have no problem with it.”

In the beginning, things were fine. They lived a couple of blocks from one another so they got together regularly. Soon though, the abuse began. Initially, Jon used a common abuser tactic---separa te the victim from her family. He complained about Christine’s mother, who was living with her at the time. Jon resented the mother being with Christine. Her mom accused Christine of wanting to put her out of the apartment because of Jon, which Christine denied. Unexpectedly, Christine’s mom moved out of the apartment. “So now the boyfriend, he obviously starts coming over more, I’m starting to cook more. I’m starting to be a housewife. “

Jon then displayed other traits of an abuser, jealousy and possessiveness. “He didn’t like the idea that I was in school.” Christine was a communications major and she worked on projects with male students. “I had males calling the house to pick up equipment. We have to meet here, we have to meet there. And he would literally become livid. If I was not having a conversation in the same room as him, or if I went to the bathroom or to the kitchen, then to him, I was making plans to be with this guy and do something with this guy.”

Other signs began to emerge that Jon was abusive.

“I was on unemployment at the time. He used to take my money.” Christine would support what she describes as Jon’s “get rich quick schemes.” She said “ Every week there was a story, and I would help him by giving him my money, hoping that this would help him.” In addition to taking Christine’s money, Jon took her food stamps. In one incident, Christine went grocery shopping after midnight at a local Pathmark, the minute her food stamp money became available on her card. When she went to pay for the food, she found that she had a balance of 30 cents. Jon had stolen her pin number and her food stamps, leaving Christine without money to eat for a month. Christine received assistance from her mother and from friends.

While she was in school, Christine began having child care issues. She had to rely on Jon to watch her son. But soon, the relationship became even more troubled.

“ He would get physical, curse me out. He would drink. When he drank, he would curse me out—badly. He didn’t want me to wear certain clothes.” Jon once took a red jacket of Christine’s and ripped it up. He then bought her a big man’s jacket to wear. “I’m trying to think of what I was feeling about myself at that time. Because that’s very, very important. I think it was a sense of numbness. It was just like, surreal to me. Like, is this happening? Is this my life? I didn’t question it (the abuse) at all. I didn’t look at it and say, this is the sign of abuse.”

Jon started taking Christine’s food to help feed his mother and other family members and forced her and her son to eat with them at his home. Because of her son, Christine said, “I tried so much to make everything normal. I didn’t want my son to see anything. I was in fear. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have any help. I didn’t know what to expect, how to get away, what I should do, who I could speak to.”

The relationship took a toll on Christine physically: “ My physical appearance started to change. I started to look like a drug addict. I started to lose weight. My hair, my clothes—I didn’t care anymore. I really didn’t.”

Out of curiosity and concern, Christine started to learn more about Jon’s criminal history. She discovered that he began getting into trouble at the age of 13. She snooped around, looked through his papers, did research online, and followed him around. Christine later learned that Jon was a violent offender who was involved in a robbery, and was once accused of rape.

When Christine’s mother started suspecting that Jon was abusing her daughter, she tried to get Christine’s father to intervene, but he refused. Instead, he blamed Christine for the problem. He criticized her appearance, accused her of using drugs, and expressed concern about his grandson, Christine’s son. During a visit to her father’s home, Christine reports that her father began yelling at her and pushed her out of the door of his home. “That was the first time my father ever put his hands on me. “ Jon used this incident to try to turn Christine against her family. Christine reports Jon as saying , ‘You know you need to leave them alone, you don’t need to have nothing to do with them. You see how they treat you?’ But he was doing the same exact thing.”

Kevin heard about the abuse as well, but did not intervene, partly out of fear of Jon, who was a physically imposing man. “There was nobody to save me, no one to take me out of the situation. I just dealt with it.”

In response to the abuse, Christine started arguing back to Jon and the abuse intensified. “He would call me out of my name. I would call him out of his name. It got to the point where he would be like, “I’m going to come over there and kick your windows out. When he started making the threats, like ‘I’m going to kick your windows out’, I would try to calm him down because I knew that okay, he’s probably serious about kicking my windows out of my apartment. So it was just like a nightmare. And my neighbors knew that I was being abused. My neighbors didn’t say anything. They used to hear us downstairs arguing or me crying.”

Soon Jon was cheating on Christine. And he was becoming violent. Once, he kicked her out of his home. “I was dressed, and (he) opened the door, and threw me down the hallway. Like a bowling bowl, down the hallway.”

Christine learned that Jon’s brother was also abusive. During a visit to Jon’s brother’s home, Christine witnessed Jon’s brother slap his wife in the face with the television remote. “She started bleeding. I’m like, oh my goodness, what happened? She’s like ‘no it’s okay.’ She’s cleaning up her face. And everybody went back to sitting like it was normal. That’s what had me fearful. That was an eye-opener for me. So I’m saying that if he was to kill me somewhere in his house, it would be normal for them.” In a twist of irony, Jon and his brother once started fighting each other in an argument over Jon being abusive to Christine! When Jon’s brother walked away with Christine, Jon followed them and in a fit of rage, kicked Christine down a flight of over twenty steps.

During a shopping trip, Jon and Christine got into an argument. She walked away from him and he followed her. “He busted my lip.” At this point, Christine showed me the scar on her lip from this incident, which she still has eight years later. “I started bleeding in the parking lot. And I’m gushing blood. I walk two blocks. A car had followed us to my house. And the police came.” The police told Christine that they had received a report that she was assaulted. “I said, no I’m fine, “ said Christine. They asked her why she was holding her mouth, on which she had put snow to stop the bleeding. She told them “I just fell in the snow and I hit my lip, trying to cover up for this fool. So I never reported that.” Christine said she was “just pouring, pouring ,pouring, pouring ,pouring blood.”

In spite of the relationship, Christine continued attending school. Her grades had begun to drop, though, and she took her son to school with her many days due to lack of a sitter, as she had stopped leaving her son with Jon. Friends watched her son or she took him into class with her. It was then that a fellow classmate asked Christine if she were okay, but Christine did not try to explain what was going on in her life.

Christine’s mom came to stay with her on occasion to offer emotional support. The violence escalated. One evening, Jon flew into a jealous rage because another man tried to talk to Christine while she was walking to her house. Jon insisted that Christine point out the guy. He felt that he had been disrespected because everyone in the area knew Christine was “his woman.” Christine did not want any problems and did not want to identify the guy. In response to her refusal, Jon punched Christine in the eye. “My son is sitting there looking at me like, ‘what just happened here?” Jon insisted that he and Christine go outside to find the guy. He made her put on a pair of sunglasses and sit on the steps of his family’s home with him to watch for the guy. After 45 minutes, Jon let Christine go back into his house without them having seen the man.

Christine’s sister finally encouraged her to press charges against Jon for punching her in the eye. When she went to the police precinct, the police officers took her report and looked up his information. “They were like, ‘oh my goodness, you were dating this guy’? The police officer that came out to me said, “we’re going to lock this guy up.”

But Christine still tried to work things out with Jon, who tried to be kinder to her. “He came to the house, He’d do little things. Like, when he did do things, he would bring my favorite ice cream. And I’m like, okay I’m still mad but I am going to eat it. “ Not surprisingly, the abuse started again. “He was cursing me out. He was carrying on. I tried to just come home, clean up, do what I had to do. I’m frustrated at this point. I don’t know what his problem is.”

The relationship had neared its end. During the final incident, Jon picked Christine up, put her over his knee and threw her around, “like a WWF star” twisting her, turning her, punching her, throwing her on the floor. Christine got up. “This time I’m fighting back because I’m like’ I’m tired and you’re going to have to kill me in here.” He threw a bike and a plate at Christine while she was trying to walk out. When he threw the plate, it almost hit her son. Christine was angry, and she and Jon started fighting again. “I’m fighting, kicking, punching. I’m trying to get my son out the door. And he just grabbed on me and ripped the shirt right off me.” Christine and her son ran outside into the street. “I have no shoes on, I have pants on, I have on no top, I just have on a bra. And I’m saying to the people across the street that’s standing outside because it’s summertime, ‘somebody get me a shirt, somebody get me a shirt.’ Everybody is standing there just watching me. They’re not helping me, they’re not doing anything.” Christine’s son was barefoot and wearing house clothes. “They just looked at me like I was crazy.”

A man saw Christine and her son, and took them inside his house. He and his wife gave her and her son some clothes and called the police. The same police officer who filed her initial report came to the scene. Jon had followed them on bicycle. The police arrested him.

Jon was locked up on Rikers Island and called Christine. He was scared and apologetic, and asked her to visit him. Christine agreed and went to see him. She brought him things like socks, shoes, and other items. For his parole hearing, Jon asked Christine to write a letter saying that Jon did not assault her, but that she suffered from depression and got into a fight with another woman she thought Jon was seeing. Christine wrote the letter. The day of the parole hearing, the police officer who arrested Jon and who had filed Christine’s report came down the stairs. “She looked at the letter and she said ‘Go home. I’m not giving this to him.’ And she ripped it up and sent me on my way.”

Later, the police officer called her and said she wanted to show Christine the pictures of her black eye. “She really got on me. Like, ‘what is wrong with you? You have your life ahead of you. You need help. This person is not the person that you need to be with. He’s a criminal.’ She ran down the list (of Jon’s offenses). I was like, wow.” Christine said that this incident took her back to her interview at Macy’s. “This woman who didn’t know me was telling me who I was. And I’m looking at her like, wow, you think I’m like, beautiful? You think I’m smart? I needed to hear it for myself. At that point, when I went home, I thought about everything she said I was. I couldn’t see what she was saying. I could only see what everyone was making me feel, or how everyone felt about me.” Christine added, “She was just that voice of reason for me, like, are you crazy? So now that I felt more empowered, I obviously stopped going up there (to Rikers Island). Christine stopped accepting Jon’s phone calls and ripped up his letters.

Christine decided to go to the parole hearing to testify against Jon. “He didn’t believe I was going to go to the parole hearing. I guess he felt like he beat me down so much that I was going to be in fear of my life.” When Jon saw Christine, he took the plea deal he was offered to avoid having her testify against him. He was incarcerated for one year.

When he was released, Jon tried to convince Christine that he had changed. “I was like ‘look, I’m good. Like, you have a good one. See you later, good luck. That’s it. He left me alone.” Christine later heard that Jon had gotten addicted to drugs and stabbed someone. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

“It’s crazy. I didn’t really know who I was. It really took this lady to tell me that ‘you’re a special person. And you don’t deserve this.’ I’m here. And I haven’t ever been through a situation like that again. Now I know the kind of person that I want if I was to ever be involved with anybody. Right now I’m just focusing on really getting myself on track.”

Christine said that she will never accept abuse in a future relationship. “I don’t tolerate anybody putting their hands on me. I don’t tolerate anybody abusing me. I don’t tolerate anyone disrespecting me. “

There were times, Christine said, that she blamed herself for Jon’s abuse. “I felt like, as a woman, I was doing something wrong. Maybe I’m doing something wrong for this man to be beating me up like this. Because he’s saying that I’m like this, and I’m like that, I’m not doing this and I’m not worthy. And this is my second abusive relationship.”

The experiences taught Christine that she has tremendous strength. “I’m here. And I know who I am now. And I’m serious about who I am.”

Christine and her son both went to therapy to help them deal with the trauma of the abusive relationships. She said that her son used to have nightmares, but today he is doing just fine. He is on the honor roll at his school, and is called a “nerd” by his classmates. Her son wants to write a book, something similar to “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” Christine said that her son’s nickname at school is “The Politician” because he is very inquisitive.

Christine advises others to take time getting to know a potential partner. She says that people should think with their heads, not just their hearts when sizing someone up. Listen to them and ask them about past relationships. Ask them how they dealt with conflict in their relationships. And watch out for people who seem “too good to be true.” As for a future partner for Christine, it is important to her that he be: spiritual, goal oriented, able to take care of himself, respectful, family oriented, and intellectually stimulating to her.

For now, she is concentrating on her personal and professional goals: “I need to fulfill my desire to help. I want to write. That’s one thing I really want to do. I’m really trying to get everything focused. A little bit more focused. A little bit more organized. Put things in their right place. And don’t let fear get in the way. Sometimes that ugly little face of fear comes and creeps up on your shoulder. “

When Christine completes her studies, she wants to work with women, especially those who experience domestic or intimate partner violence. “The ones that think there’s no way out. Or they feel worthless. Or the ones that don’t know who they are. That’s a very important thing. I think that’s the worst feeling you can feel in the world, to be alive and not know who you are.”

So, who is Christine Shirley?

“Christine Shirley is a proud , God fearing Black Woman, who has finally achieved a level of self-respect for herself. Understanding that for me to love anyone, I have to not only love myself, but to be in love with myself. Being in love with me is taking the time nurture my mind, body and soul. Being in love is stopping by a flower shop and picking up flowers for myself. Or a simple act as washing my hair in a new scented shampoo, enjoying the sweet savor of incense while my son and I listen to some music.

By de-cluttering the self -less images that I had of myself, I am finally understanding the things that make me happy in life, like for instance, taking time to meditate. I realized that I was going through life rushing from one thing to the next, never really understanding the processes. When I had gotten out of the physically abusive relationship, everything seemed to go so fast. So as fall started to approach I started by just watching the process of how leaves change, the colors and what they mean to me. Of course, I do the same thing for the spring time as well. It's a wonderful blessing from God to marvel at his beautiful creations, and to smile at myself too, ‘cause he created me too. Also the Lord has called me into a fellowship of brothers and sisters who are striving hard in their spiritual lives. A major part of relaxation is attending church faithfully every Friday and Saturday night. That definitely gives me peace of mind and patience . It also gives me the tools to show my son how a man should be and his responsibility to himself, his family and most of all the creator, teaching him right from wrong and accountability. I realize with God life lessons seems a lot clearer. Attending church keeps me in the company of good people , and gives me peace of mind. Thanks.”

A Compendium of Research on Violence Against Women, 1993-2011

The Violence and Victimization Research Division of The National Institute of Justice’s Office of Research and Evaluation released a Compendium of Research on Violence Against Women in May of this year. Over 270 reports published between 1993 and this year have been compiled.

The reports are grouped under several categories:

• Justice and related systems (Advocacy, Arrest and Prosecution, Offender Interventions, Courts and the Criminal Justice System, Forensic and Investigative Methods, Protection Orders, Policy and Legislation, Victim Services)
• Definition and Measurement (Development of Risk Assessment Instruments, Context, Meaning and Motive)
• Epidemiology (National Surveys, Databases, Secondary Data Analysis of National Surveys Examining Risk Factors for Violence Against Women, Risk Factors for Homicide and Serious Injury)
• Social and Cultural Context (Specific Populations, VAW(Violence Against Women) and Welfare, Domestic Violence and Children, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, Drug and Alcohol Use and Criminal Histories, Context and Life Course)
• Trafficking in Persons
• VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) Evaluations
• Synthesis of Existing Information
• NIJ Jointly Funded Projects
• Teen Dating Violence

The compendium includes several reports related to domestic and intimate partner violence. The following is a partial list of these reports:

• Impact Evaluation of Special Session Domestic Violence: Enhanced Advocacy and Interventions
• Prosecution of Domestic Violence Offenses
• Community Policing of Domestic Violence: Neighborhood and the Effect of Arrest
• Domestic Violence Cases: Effect of a Specialized Court
• Evaluating a Domestic Violence Training Program
• Targeting Cycles of Domestic Violence: Assessment, Review and Recommendations
• The Effects of Court Dispositions on the Likelihood of Rearrest for Domestic Violence
• Domestic Violence Cases: What Happens When Courts Are Faced with Uncooperative Victims
• Evaluation of a Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence
• The Effect of Procedural Justice in Spouse Assault: A Reanalysis of the Milwaukee Domestic Violence Experiment
• Domestic Violence Intervention Project
• A Domestic Violence Electronic Monitoring Project in San Diego County
• The Richmond/ Police Foundation Domestic Violence Partnership
• Police Intervention and the Repeat of Domestic Assault
• Evaluating the Impact of a Specialized Domestic Violence Policing Unit
• Examining the Effect of Different Case Screening Practices Upon Domestic Violence Recidivism
• Investigative Strategies for the Successful Prosecution of Intimate Partner Violence
• Crime Control Effects of Prosecuting Intimate Partner Violence
• Victim Participation in Intimate Partner Violence Prosecution: Implications for Safety
• Practical Implications of Current Domestic Violence Research, Part I: Law Enforcement
• Practical Implications of Current Domestic Violence Research, Part II: Prosecution
• The Brooklyn Domestic Violence Experiment: A Twelve-Month Follow –Up Investigation
• A Test of the Efficacy of Court- Mandated Counseling for Domestic Violence Offenders: A Broward County Experiment
• Change and Associated Treatment Outcomes in Assaultive Men
• Process of Resistance in Domestic Violence Offenders
• Stages of Change and the Group Treatment of Batterers
• A National Portrait of Domestic Violence Courts
• Understanding, Preventing and Controlling Domestic Violence Incidents
• Prosecution Strategies in Domestic Violence
• Do Domestic Violence Courts Reduce Recidivism? A Statewide Impact Evaluation in New York
• Child Custody and Visitation When Father Batters Mother
• History of Intimate Partner Violence and the Determination of Custody and Visitation Among Couples Petitioning for Dissolution of Marriage
• Effectiveness of Civil Protection Orders in Deterring Domestic Violence
• Evaluation of Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies in Domestic Violence Cases
• Protection of Women: Health and Justice Outcomes
• Increasing Victim Safety and System Accountability
• Use and Outcomes of Protection Orders by Battered Immigrant Women
• Domestic Violence Against Older Women
• Testing a Model of Domestic Abuse Against Older Women and Barriers to Health Seeking
• Domestic Violence Shelter Study
• An Empirical Examination of a Theory of Women’s Use of Violence in Intimate Partner Cases
• Employment, Family and Social Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence: A Longitudinal Analysis of Impacts Over Time
• The Effects of Welfare Recipiency on Domestic Violence
• Linkage of Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse Services
• Offender Characteristics , Offense Mix and Escalation in Domestic Violence
• Next Millennium Conference: Ending Domestic Violence
• Dating Abuse Prevention in Teens of Moms with Domestic Violence Protection Orders

To access the compendium, go to www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/223572/223572.pdf Copies of the final reports are available on the National Criminal Justice Reference Center (NCJRS) website at http://www.ncjrs.gov. An NCJ number is listed where final reports are available. Where an NCJ number is not available, contact the author or principal investigator for additional information.

The NCJRS is a federally funded resource offering extensive reference and referral services about justice and substance abuse information to support research, policy and program development worldwide.

Intimate Partner Violence: How to Keep Yourself Safe

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene published a Health Bulletin titled “Intimate Partner Violence: How to Keep Yourself Safe.” This publication, number 62 in the Health Bulletin series, is available in English, Spanish and Chinese. The bulletin is prepared by the Department of Health and Hygiene’s Bureau of Communications, in conjunction with the Division of Epidemiology, Injury Epidemiology Unit, Bureau of Epidemiology Services.

“Intimate Partner Violence: How to Keep Yourself Safe” gives readers a brief overview of intimate partner violence (also called domestic violence) and offers resource information for those who are affected by intimate partner violence and people who know someone who is affected. The material is presented under the following headings:

• It Can Happen to Anyone
• About Power and Control
• Health Effects of Abuse
• You Are Not Alone

Some facts about intimate partner violence:

• Partner violence can happen to anyone, regardless of age, race/ethnicity, income, education, immigration status or sexual orientation.
• Most victims are women—but men can be victims, too.
• Your partner may apologize, give you gifts, and promise never to hurt you again.
• The abuse usually does happen again.
• A violent relationship is NOT your fault.
• Abusive partners must want to change. They must stop all violent behavior.
• There are different types of violence and abuse: emotional abuse, threats, physical abuse, sexual abuse.
• Partner violence can cause or worsen many health problems.

Resource information offered in the publication includes:

• New York City Domestic Violence Hotline (800-621-4673)
• Life Net (800-543-3638) 877-298-3373 (Spanish Life Net) 877-990-8585 (Asian Life Net)
• NYC Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project (212-714-1141)
• National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline (866-331-9474) 866-331-8453 TTY
• Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men 888-7HELPLINE (888-743-5754)
• Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence Call 311 or nyc.gov/domesticviolenc e
• Safe Horizon www.safe horizon.org
• Arab American Family Support Center 718-643-8000 or www.aafscny.org

Copies of “Intimate Partner Violence: How to Keep Yourself Safe” are available by calling 311 or visiting nyc.gov/health

The Woman Next Door

The last thing I wanted to do after working over 12 hours was call the police.

A couple of Fridays ago, I got into my apartment around 11:30pm. Surprisingly, I was not tired, so I decided to stay up and watch an episode of “MASH.” Not even ten minutes after I got home, I heard a loud, booming noise. I thought something had fallen in my kitchen.

Before I could leave my bedroom and take a look, I heard the noise again. I moved cautiously toward my door. Someone was furiously banging on a door. Then I heard shouting. I became alarmed. It was a man pounding away on my next door neighbors’ door, yelling his head off at the young woman who lives in that apartment with her mother. I was frightened, and hoped this scene would end quickly. But it did not. The man was acting as if he were trying to knock their door down! If he had been able to get into that apartment, I have no doubt that there would have been some violence.

From what I heard, the man was enraged over the end of his romantic relationship the woman. He sounded awfully possessive. The man kept yelling about the woman and another man, and made one statement that sounded very threatening. I could not hear anything she said from her apartment, but she must have told him she would call the police, because I heard him boldly reply “go ahead and call the police!”

I wondered about him saying this. If the police had shown up with him there, would he have challenged or threatened them ? I did not want a potentially violent confrontation outside of my door. I rarely have to call the police. But I was afraid for the woman he was yelling at, and he had to go, so I went back to my bedroom and called 911 to report the situation. While I was on the phone, his yelling and door banging grew louder and fiercer. Shortly after I got off the phone, it became quiet. He had gone away.

The police came within five minutes or so after I called. I went back to my door very briefly. I heard them talking with the woman in question. She said that the man had been harassing her. My guess is that he has probably hit her or threatened to hit her before this incident. This man obviously has a serious anger management issue. That evening, he did not care about anything, not the woman he was yelling at, or the neighbors like me he was disturbing and quite frankly, frightening with his rage-filled ranting and threats.

I was blessed to have gotten home when I did. If I had been delayed by a few minutes, I would have walked right into that situation or worse. It was very ugly. The next morning, I was still feeling a bit shaken.

My neighbor is probably still shaken. I hope that she will reach out for some help so that she can be safe and get some peace of mind.

If you are not directly affected by intimate partner violence, chances are it affects the woman or (man) next door.

Announcing the “Domestic Violence, Mental Health and Trauma” Conference

The Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness Domestic Violence Committee is holding its Annual Domestic Violence Conference to commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The conference, titled “Domestic Violence, Mental Health and Trauma,” will be held on Wednesday, October 19th from 9am-1:30pm at Richmond University Medical Center, Sipp Auditorium, located at 355 Bard Avenue on Staten Island. The conference is free and open to the public. A continental breakfast will be served at 9:00am and certificates will be available to all attendees.

The Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness Domestic Violence Committee is a dedicated group of Staten Island social services providers, legal advocates, child welfare representatives and criminal justice personnel. The committee meets monthly to share resources, educate the community, and ensure that service providers throughout Staten Island infuse their work with an understanding of the prevalence of domestic violence and the direct impact it has on service providers’ work.

THE EVENT FLYER READS:

“In honor of October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Staten Island Partnership for Community Wellness Domestic Violence Committee presents our annual conference: “Domestic Violence, Mental Health and Trauma.”

This half day conference presented by Dr. Sue Parry will discuss how domestic violence affects victims’ mental health – particularly post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and substance use. It will examine the risks victims face in separating from abusive partners, and why it is dangerous to focus too much on leaving as the solution. And finally it will highlight the needs of victims facing both domestic violence and mental health or substance use issues.

Dr. Sue Parry is Coordinator of Special Projects at the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. Her current projects include training for service providers who work in mental health, substance abuse, disability services, veterans’ services and traumatic brain injury. She has trained hundreds of service providers throughout New York, presented at state and national conferences, works with state agencies and other organizations, and serves on the faculty of the NYS Victim Assistance Academy. She is a nationally recognized trainer on domestic violence and traumatic brain injury. Before coming to OPDV, she taught psychology and served on the staff of the Counseling Center at Siena College, following similar positions at other universities, specializing in issues related to women.

Please join us in learning about this important topic to cultivate a deeper understanding of the mental health and advocacy needs of survivors of domestic violence.”

For additional information about the “Domestic Violence, Mental Health and Trauma” conference, please contact Claire McCue, Social Worker, Staten Island Legal Services, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 718.233.6482.

Shine the Light on Domestic Violence

When I was a little girl, I watched in confusion, fear and sadness as my father threatened my mother with a knife. I remember him holding it menacingly, and her asking him fearfully what he was going to do with it. I do not know what started the incident, but there it was, unfolding right in front of me.

I was witnessing this horrific scene with my younger sister, brother and an older cousin who was visiting from South Carolina. My siblings and I were all under ten years of age. We were huddled together and protected by my cousin, who stood there frozen and silent, as did we.

This incident lasted a few minutes. I do not know what diffused the situation, but it ended, mercifully, without bloodshed. My father was out of our home shortly thereafter.

My mom would probably be none too pleased to read this. African Americans have this thing about not “putting your business in the streets” as we say. I get that, and there are good reasons for this, but I am not doing this to harm or embarrass her. This is also about my memories and my pain. Time has dulled my recollections of other incidents that took place, but not this one. I could have lost my mother that day, and that matters terribly to me. I doubt that I would be the person I am without her example and influence.

My father is still alive. Over the years, I tried forgetting, and I worked on having a relationship with him. Admittedly, it is a strained relationship. It is difficult to reach out to him, so I don’t-- for now.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. For me, and for so many other survivors of, or witnesses to, violence in the home, this is personal. This month, most of my blog postings will deal with the issues of domestic violence and intimate partner violence. My intention is to “shine the light” on domestic violence, to put our business in the streets when it comes to violence in our homes, because the silence and denials are killing women, children and men.

This issue is also professional. Many of the women served by my agency are domestic violence survivors. Some of these women have witnessed domestic violence as children.

“Shine the Light on Domestic Violence” (aka Turn the State Purple 2011) is New York State’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month campaign. The New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) (www. opdv.state.ny.us) coordinates the campaign. The campaign seeks to get everyone talking about “purple” as a way to discuss domestic violence. Purple is the symbolic color for domestic violence awareness. Each year, New Yorkers are asked to wear purple on one day. This year, it is Wednesday, October 19th.

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month observances are taking place across the country. I have been viewing various websites to see what other states are doing to promote domestic violence awareness. For example, the Pennsylvania-ba sed National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) (www.nrcdv.org) , along with its national partners the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233); the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) (www.nnedv.org); and Casa de Esperanza (www.casadeesperanza.org) will be hosting a 2011 National Call of Unity on Tuesday, October 4th at 3pm Eastern Time. The event flyer reads:

“On this free, 45 minute national call, we’ll hear from survivors, advocates, national experts, and government officials working to end domestic and sexual violence. Kalyn Risker, one of our phenomenal guest speakers and founder of SAFE: Sisters Acquiring Financial Empowerment, will be on the line to share her amazing story of survival, healing and empowerment. Together, we’ll share in a collective moment of silence for all the women, children and men who have lost their lives to intimate partner violence and we’ll hear a dramatic recitation from nationally renowned spoken word artists Sunni Patterson and Asia Rainey.” To register for the call, click on http://bit.ly/2011NatlCallforUnit y

Visit The New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) at http://www.opdv.state.ny.us/public_awareness/campaigns/shinethelight/shinethelight11.html to join the “shine the light on domestic violence” campaign during the month of October.

One Million Hearts (Including Mine)

It is interesting how things happen at times. A couple of months ago, I had the song “Some Like it Hot” by the group The Power Station on my mind. Just out of nowhere, I started singing the song, which was released when I was in college. I went on You Tube to see if I could find it and sure enough, I found myself enjoying the song again after all of these years.

I had totally forgotten that the English singer Robert Palmer (”Addicted to Love”) fronted The Power Station. I was watching some Robert Palmer performances on You Tube, getting all caught up in his soulful voice and exciting presence, when I was reminded that he was deceased. Mr. Palmer died in September 2003 at the age of 54. He suffered a heart attack. It was reported that Mr. Palmer was a heavy smoker. In fact, I saw a You Tube video of a recording session with Mr. Palmer and there he was, singing and puffing away on a cigarette.

The song motivated me to resume exercising after a several months long hiatus. This came right on time, as my doctor had just done some blood work and told me that my “bad” (LDL) cholesterol level was high. I saw the test results myself and became alarmed. I already live with high blood pressure, and I just did not need this added health challenge.

I got the message: Janice, attend to your health, especially your heart health. It is not that I am not serious about my health. I am. But I admit, I have been slacking on some things. For example, I have been nibbling on way too much fried food this year. And again, I find myself battling a potato chip addiction. I love and regularly eat fruits and veggies, but I get tempted all the time to eat foods I should avoid.

How timely that the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in conjunction with several public and private partners, has launched the Million Hearts Initiative. The campaign aims to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. According to the HHS, cardiovascular disease costs 444 billion dollars annually in medical costs and lost productivity in Americans, and causes 1of every 3 American deaths.

The Million Hearts Initiative is focused on two goals:

• Empowering Americans to make healthy choices such as preventing tobacco use and reducing sodium and trans fat consumption. This can reduce the number of people who need medical treatment such as blood pressure or cholesterol medications to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

• Improving care for people who do need treatment by encouraging a targeted focus on the “ABCS” (Aspirin for people at risk, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management and Smoking Cessation)—which address the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and can help to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Some of the HHS’ Million Hearts Initiative partners include:

• The Agency for Health Quality Research (AHQR) www.ahrq.gov
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) www.cdc.gov
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) www.fda.gov
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) www.cms.gov
• Indian Health Service (IHS) www.ihs.gov
• National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) www.nhlbi.gov
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) www.samhsa.gov
• American Heart Association (AHA) www.heart.org
• American Nurses Association (ANA) www.nursingworld.org
• American Medical Association (AMA) www.ama-assn.org
• The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) www.ncpanet.org
• United Health Care www.uhc.com
• Walgreens www. walgreens.com
• YMCA of America www.ymca.net

Partners will provide a range of services including giving consumers access to heart health management tools, offering free blood pressure testing, expanding diabetes prevention programs, participating in community based collaborations to raise awareness, and addressing obesity and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

“If we succeed in achieving our Million Hearts goals, 10 million more Americans with high blood pressure will have it under control, 20 million more Americans with high cholesterol will have it under control, and 4 million fewer Americans will smoke by 2017,” said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH, in a press release about the campaign.

Just yesterday, I printed out an HHS brochure about the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Eating Plan, which is designed to help lower high blood pressure. A doctor told me about DASH a few years ago. I was encouraged to see that I was already following several of the eating plan’s guidelines, but I still need to do more. Ultimately, I want to get off my blood pressure medication and get and keep my cholesterol at normal levels. One of the million hearts helped through this campaign will be mine.

For more information about the Million Hearts Initiative, visit http://millionhearts.hhs.gov

September is National Guide Dog Month

My niece and I visited a pet store on Saturday to buy some treats for her cousins’ dog Brownie. As I was paying for the items, the cashier asked me if I would consider making a donation for National Guide Dog Month. Being the animal lover I am, of course I said yes.

National Guide Dog Month is a time to honor guide dogs and their trainers. Guide dogs ably serve persons with visual impairments. Roughly ten thousand people use guide dogs in the United States and Canada.

The observance was inspired by actor Dick Van Patten. This year, he is being joined by actors Eva La Rue and Omar Miller (“CSI: Miami”) to help raise awareness and funds to support Guide Dog organizations. Many guide dog organizations rely on volunteers to raise and socialize puppies to become guide dogs and to train qualified individuals who seek to be paired with a guide dog. It takes up to two years and forty thousand dollars to train a guide dog.

Every seven minutes, someone in America becomes visually impaired. It is estimated that there are over 10 million blind or visually impaired persons in the United States. Guide dogs provide safe mobility, love and companionship, and give the gift of independence to the visually impaired.

Here’s to Guide Dogs and their trainers everywhere!

In Prayer and Quiet Contemplation

I have received several emails to participate in some 9/11 commemorative activities taking place this week, leading up to the 10th anniversary of September 11th on Sunday. In fact, as I am writing this, I am looking at yet another few invitations to participate in some events, including a multi-media exhibition, a fellowship meal, and a play.

I was considering taking part in a 9/11 event, but have finally decided against this. Instead, I am going to stay home and spend time in solitude. While I can certainly see the benefits of being in community with others on Sunday, I need to be by, and with, myself.

For me, the memories of that day are still strong. I remember where I was and what I was doing when the attacks happened. I recall so many details. I was supposed to be in lower Manhattan that morning, attending a breakfast meeting with representatives from a computer training program. On the spur of the moment, I decided not to go, which is so unlike me. I usually do not bow out of attending meetings at the last minute. Instead, I headed to my office in the Bronx. The rest of my day was spent trying to make sense of the senseless act that changed so many lives.

None of my loved ones died in the attacks, but one of my graduate school classmates lost her soul mate. When I came home from work that evening, one of my professors called me and told me that my classmate’s fiancé was killed. What a heartbreaking phone call! My professor gave me her home phone number. I did not know what I was going to say to her. I was an emotional wreck. But somehow, I found the strength and the words to express my condolences. I could not say much, so I just listened. I was devastated for her. Over the years, I sent greeting cards to her until we lost touch when she left the city a few years ago. We recently reconnected, and I am pleased that she is doing well. I always think of her this time of the year and I always wish her peace.

Sometime later, I learned that a man I had gone to junior high school with also perished that day. He was a Port Authority police officer. As soon as I heard his name, I remembered him. We were in a music class together. I easily recalled him, a mild mannered young man. He sat in the back of the class and I remembered that he played the trumpet. He left a wife and two children behind.

Because I need to be alone with my memories and feelings, I will spend this September 11th in prayer and quiet contemplation. My radio will be tuned to special programming for a few hours. I will listen to Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings,” one of the most moving pieces of music ever, and quite fitting for a day of remembrance. Most of all, I will read the names of those whose lives were lost that horrible day. It has been ten years, but I still cannot forget.

Literacy and Peace

“Literacy and Peace “ is the theme for this year’s International Literacy Day observance on Thursday, September 8th. International Literacy Day recognizes the role literacy plays in all of our lives. Individuals, organizations and countries throughout the world renew their efforts to promote literacy and demonstrate their commitment to providing education for all.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (www.unesco.org) founded International Literacy Day on September 8, 1966, the opening day of the World Conference of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy in Tehran, Iran. It was officially inaugurated on September 8, 1967.

The mission of UNESCO, a specialized organization of the United Nations, “is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. The organization focuses, in particular, on two global priorities: Africa and gender equality”(www.unesco.org)

In 2003, the United Nations declared 2003-2012 the United Nations Literacy Decade (UNLD). UNLD initiatives are spearheaded by UNESCO. The UNLD’s slogan is “Literacy as Freedom”. The UNLD is described as follows: “The Decade aims to increase literacy levels and to empower all people everywhere. The international community believes that the promotion of literacy is in the interest of all, as part of efforts towards peace, respect and exchange in a globalizing world.

The UN Literacy Decade expresses the collective will of the international community to promote a literate environment for all, girls and boys, women and men in both developing and developed countries. The Decade was established for three reasons:
• On a global scale, one in five adults cannot read nor write. According to the latest estimates, 776 million people are illiterate and two-thirds of these are women. In a modern world, such levels are unacceptable.
• Literacy is a human right. Basic education, within which literacy is the key learning tool, was recognised as a human right over 50 years ago, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This right continues to be violated for a large proportion of humanity.
• Literacy efforts up to now have proved inadequate, at national and international levels. The Decade is an opportunity to make a sustained collective effort which will go beyond one-shot programmes or campaigns.

In response to these factors, efforts undertaken during the Decade are to target the poorest and most marginal social groups (including women) and to accompany initiatives to reduce poverty. According to the draft proposal and plan for the UNLD, ‘Literacy policies and programmes today require going beyond the limited view of literacy that has dominated in the past. Literacy for all requires a renewed vision of literacy….’ In order to survive in today‘s globalized world, it has become necessary for everyone to learn new forms of literacy and to develop the ability to locate, evaluate and effectively use information in a variety of ways.” (Source: UNESCO website, www.unesco.org)

According to data from UNESCO’s Institute for Statistics, 67 million children of primary school age are not in primary school. 72 million adolescents of lower secondary school age are also missing out their right to an education.

UNESCO presents International Literacy Awards on International Literacy Day. They include two UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prizes, which honor the “creation, development and dissemination of mother tongue languages in developing countries,” and two UNESCO Confucius Prizes for Literacy , which reward exemplary literacy activities for rural adults and out-of-school youth, particularly women and girls.

The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize was created in 1989 by the Government of the Republic of Korea. The UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy was created in 2005 by the Government of the People’s Republic of China. Each of the four winners receives 20,000 dollars USD. Two honorable mentions are also awarded with each prize. The recipients of this year’s prizes are:
• The National Literacy Service of Burundi. The programme was recognized for its innovative approach to linking functional literacy to daily life issues and to topics related to peace and tolerance, as well as for its overall impact. From 2010 to 2011, the Service presented more than 50,000 certificates to new readers. ( UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize)
• The National Institute for the Education of Adults of Mexico, for its Bilingual Literacy for Life programme. This programme was honored for its impact in reducing the rate of illiteracy among indigenous populations, especially women, and for improving indigenous people’s ability to exercise their rights. It provides a strong example to other multicultural and multilingual communities and countries that strive to improve social cohesion. ( UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize)
• The U.S.-based Room to Read for its effective programme, Promoting Gender Equality and Literacy through Local Language Publishing. Operating in nine countries — Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam and Zambia — the programme has assisted communities in the development of culturally relevant reading materials in local and minority languages. It has produced more than 500 new titles in 25 languages, of which more than 5 million copies have been distributed. (UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy)
• Collectif Alpha Ujuvi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for its programme, Peaceful Coexistence of Communities and Good Governance in North Kivu. The programme uses an innovative model for preventing and resolving tensions and conflicts among individuals and communities through developing literacy as a means to building better social cohesion and improved governance mechanisms. (UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy)
• An Honourable Mention of the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy was awarded to Dr. Allah Bakhsh Malik, Secretary, Government of the Punjab, Pakistan. He is recognized for his leadership role in the implementation of the Adult Education and Vocational Skills program, which aims at “Making Punjab literate by 2020”.
• The Honourable Mention of the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize goes to the City Literacy Coordinating Council, Tagum City, the Philippines, for its Peace Management Literacy and Continuing Education through Night Market program. The programme uses peace education activities, literacy teaching and business entrepreneurshi p to generate employment opportunities for marginalized populations. One of its main goals is to sustain a peaceful urban environment. (Source: UNESCO Website, www.unesco.org)

ProLiteracy (www.proliteracy.org) an organization which “champions the power of literacy to improve the lives of adults and their families, communities and societies,” sponsors a “Literacy and Peace Initiative” which integrates literacy and peace building to help men, women and children in African and Middle Eastern countries develop non-violent solutions to conflict-based problems. For example, ProLiteracy works with the Roqia Center for Women’s Rights, Studies and Education in Afghanistan (www.kabultec.org). In one of the Roqia Center’s programs, husbands and wives are brought into the same classroom to learn about human rights and constitutional rights, while simultaneously having an opportunity to build their literacy skills. According to ProLiteracy, 90 percent of women and 80 percent of men in Afghanistan cannot write their names or read a political candidate’s name (www.proliteracy.org)

The ProLiteracy website offers these Basic Facts about Literacy:
• Literacy is the ability to read, write, compute and use technology at a level that enables an individual to reach his or her full potential as a parent, employee and community member.
• In the United States, 30 million people over age 16—14 percent of the country’s adult population—don’t read well enough to understand a newspaper story written at the eighth grade level or fill out a job application.
• Adult low literacy can be connected to almost every socio-economic issue in the United States. For example, more than 60 percent of all state and federal corrections inmates can barely read and write. Low literacy ‘s effects cost the United States 225 billion dollars or more each year in non-productivit y in the workforce, crime and loss of tax revenue due to unemployment.
• Globally, illiteracy can be linked to gender abuse including female infanticide and female circumcision; extreme poverty (earning less than one dollar per day); and high infant mortality, the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other preventable infectious diseases. (www.proliteracy.org)

The International Reading Association (IRA) (www.reading.org), a global nonprofit whose mission is “to promote reading by continuously advancing the quality of literacy instruction and research worldwide,” suggests a range of activities for celebrating International Literacy Day. These include the following:
• Create an event with a reading theme;
• Hold a book fair;
• Have a discussion with students about ways to make communities more aware of literacy issues;
• Invite a publisher to a class to discuss how books are made;
• Hold a press conference to publicize literacy issues in your community;
• Ask an adult learner involved in a literacy program to give a testimonial;
• Invite an author to read her or his book to a group;
• Read and compare folk tales from different countries;
• Conduct a read-a-thon;
• Ask a local bookstore to donate books to a literacy project; and
• Invite guests who have lived in other parts of the world to read a story or talk about classrooms in other parts of the world. (www.reading.org)

In celebration of International Literacy Day, I have donated some children’s books to the West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC). This nonprofit organization, based in my second home, Philadelphia, PA, works with trained and dedicated volunteers to renovate, open and run closed elementary school libraries in under resourced communities in Philadelphia.

On the ProLiteracy website, David C. Harvey, president and CEO of ProLiteracy, said of the International Literacy Day theme and observance: “Programs that contribute to building safe, peaceful, and healthy communities around the world are a vital component of building a better world for us all. We urge the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to prioritize funding for these programs, and we encourage all Americans to consider on this International Literacy Day what they can do to move the world toward peace.”

“Join the Voices for Recovery: Recovery Benefits Everyone”

2011 marks the 22nd year of National Recovery Month, formerly known as Recovery Month. Observed every September (though it has become a year-round initiative that supports educational outreach and sponsors celebratory events throughout the year), National Recovery Month was created to educate Americans on the fact that addiction treatment and mental health services can enable those with a substance use or mental disorder to live a healthy and rewarding life.

National Recovery Month is sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Join the Voices for Recovery: Recovery Benefits Everyone” is the theme for this year’s observance.

In a letter to National Recovery Month supporters, Pamela S. Hyde, Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and H. Westley Clark, Director, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) write: “Recovery from substance abuse and mental disorders touches nearly everyone and every community. In 2009, 4.3 million people received treatment for a substance use disorder and 30.2 million people for a mental illness. As you know, treatment is effective and people recover.” This year’s observance will focus upon the positive changes that national health care reform will have on access to needed recovery services for substance use and mental disorders.

Various events will be taking place around the nation for National Recovery Month. A listing of some New York State events can be found on the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) website at www.oasas.state.ny.us New York- based events scheduled include:

Asian American Substance Abuse Symposium
Friday, September 16th 9am-1pm
NYU Langone Medical Center
550 First Avenue, Alumni Hall B
New York, New York
Register at http://aasas.eventbrite.com
212-720-4520
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

1st Annual Westchester County Recovery Rally
Saturday, September 17th 11am-2:00pm
On the grounds of St. Vincent’s Hospital
275 North Street
Harrison, New York
Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

5th Annual Understanding Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Forum
Tuesday, September 20th 8:30am-5pm
Montefiore Hospital, Cherkasky Auditorium
111 East 210th Street (Gun Hill Road Entrance)
Bronx, New York
Sponsored by Montefiore—The University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine SATP
Register at satpforum-eorg.eventbrite.com

Odyssey House 6th Annual Run for Your Life 5K Run and Recovery Walk
Saturday, September 24th 8am- 12pm
Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island
New York, New York
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
212. 361.1600
Carolyn Abrams, Contact

4th Annual New York Recovery Rally
Sunday, September 25th 10am-3pm
Riverfront Park at Corning Preserve
Albany, New York
Entertainment, Food, Recovery Art, Family Fun, Music
For more information, visit the Friends of Recovery—New York website at www.for-ny.org

The official website for National Recovery Month is www.recoverymonth.gov The website offers: a fact sheet including statistics about recovery, substance use disorders and health reform; a National Recovery Month planning toolkit online, with instructions for ordering free, hard-copy materials; a new media glossary that details how to use online engagement tools; an interactive section to view other activities across the country and post event information, photos and videos; tips for organizing traditional and online community events and developing community coalitions; a monthly “Ask the Expert” series with treatment-relat ed professionals answering your questions, and other features. Spanish language content about National Recovery Month is also accessible on the site.

The “Join the Voices for Recovery: Recovery Benefits Everyone” 2011 toolkit includes prevention, treatment and recovery resources. “Personal Stories About Recovery,” a booklet featuring profiles of over twenty individuals from across the country who share their personal testimonies about recovery, can also be found in the toolkit.

Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, writes of National Recovery Month: “This year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Recovery Benefits Everyone” was selected to educate as many people as possible about prevention, treatment and recovery. The message is clear that people in recovery live a healthy, full and productive life. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those struggling with addiction and mental illness. Help us celebrate the strength and determination of so many by continuing to support people on their path of recovery during Recovery Month and throughout the year. “

Loyal Dog

I was sitting in my office briefly last Thursday afternoon, tears flowing. After a couple of minutes, I pulled myself together because I did not want anyone to see me, red-eyed and sniffling.

The picture of Loyal Dog made me weep. Loyal Dog, as I am calling him, is actually named Hawkeye. You may have seen the picture last week. Hawkeye was the animal companion and friend of Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson, who was one of several Navy SEALS killed in Afghanistan a few weeks ago.

In the picture, Hawkeye is lying at the foot of Mr. Tumilson’s casket at his August 19th funeral in Rockport, Iowa. Mr. Tumilson’s cousin took the touching photo. I saw the photo again on Friday and had the same reaction as I did on Thursday---I burst into tears.

On Saturday, I looked at the YouTube video of Loyal Dog. It was a heart wrenching scene. But then I made the mistake of reading the comments. While most of the comments were wonderful, I could not believe how thoughtless, even cruel, some people were in their responses. I am not going to repeat any of the rude and disgraceful comments, but the fact that some people could not even be decent about a person’s death and the moving scene of his dog at the funeral really made my blood boil. That was not the time to be talking about politics or making dog jokes. Some of us really are heartless and hopeless.

I was so moved when I read in one story about how Mr. Tumilson referred to Hawkeye as his “son.” They really must have had a special bond. Lots of pet owners do with their animal companions, I imagine. I did with my cats, Cosmo and Bebe. Mo and Beebs, as I called them, gave me great comfort during the first agonizing year of my divorce and made me laugh constantly for over a decade. They always seemed to know when I needed to be cheered up. My cats were more of a joy to be around than some folks I know, and I do not say this lightly. On many days I would rush home from work just to relax with them, snacks in hand.

When Cosmo died four years ago, I was so surprised by the depth of my grief. I was crying all of the time, felt anxious, had many sleepless nights, and felt very angry. I went to see a therapist, and he was very helpful. He talked with me about the stages of grief, listened as I recalled my life with Cosmo, and gave great suggestions on how to cope and heal. I was also very encouraged by the emotional support that I received from others. My then three-year-old niece wanted to get another cat for me immediately because she did not want me to feel sad.

During that time I also found a great resource, the book “The Loss of a Pet: A Guide to Coping with the Grieving Process When a Pet Dies”(Third Edition, 2005, Howell Book House) written by Dr. Wallace Sife. Dr. Sife is the founder of the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB) (www.aplb.org) This nonprofit organization is comprised of compassionate volunteers who are experienced and knowledgeable in pet death. The APLB offers events, chat rooms, an “In Memoriam “ page dedicated to deceased animal companions, newsletters, links to other helpful websites, support and more.

Chapter one of the book, “The Human-Pet Bond,” helped me understand so clearly why I was so grief-stricken. Reading it again recently reinforced in my mind and heart why the bond that Jon Tumilson and Hawkeye had was so precious, and why it was right for Hawkeye to be at the funeral. Dr. Sife writes:

“The pleasures and benefits derived from keeping a companion animal are complex and many. They give us innocent dependence, companionship, and pure love—and are totally accepting and never judgmental. The unique emotional bonding between the pet and the owner strengthens for each. The result is a wonderful coupling that gives us added stability, purpose, and a sense of personal enrichment that defies description. People who do not have companion animals have no idea what they are missing.

Each of us is capable of wonders. When we reach down into our very being, we can come up with some amazing things. And our beloved pets help us to achieve this.

The bond we develop with pets is as wonderful and rewarding as it is fascinating and practical. It is an active reaching out and sharing of life with another living being, who happens not to be human. This relationship offers us a chance to share and express our pure selves, without needing to defend our actions or feelings. Companion animals, as we have come to call them, give us our greatest opportunities to express love, without ever having to worry about being judged or rejected. They give us back a devotion that is unmatched by any other relationship, in a very private bond. Pets provide us with an oasis of unqualified love and acceptance in an otherwise demanding and critical world. Their obedience and respect give us an increased sense of self-worth that adds new meaning to our lives. In return, we assimilate them into positions of great personal value. Our bonds with them can be very profound and deep.

People can open up completely to pets, and receive an inner sense of joy and strength from them. It has often been noted that pets can be truer friends than others of our own species. They are never critical, and therefore allow us to blossom emotionally in ways that would not be possible with fellow humans, who tend to be competitive and judgmental. We make our companion animals our secret sharers, often with greater intimacy and trust than that which is often given to the people who are closest to us. Our bonds with beloved pets are in many ways stronger, purer, and far more intimate than with others of our own species. We feel loved and completely secure in sharing our secret souls with them. How often can this be safely done—even with a spouse?.....

In this modern day of violence, superficiality, estrangement and loneliness, the bond with a beloved pet can be a stabilizing and even sustaining force in our lives. But unfortunately, there are still many who would disparage this. That is something we have to learn to deal with and not allow to upset us. The bond is an important part of us, and it helps define who we actually are.” (The Loss of a Pet: A Guide to Coping with the Grieving Process When a Pet Dies,” by Dr. Wallace Sife, pp. 14-16).

We all need a Loyal Dog in our lives.

Rest in peace Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson.

La Mia Estate Italiana (My Italian Summer)

This year, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I wrote a blog titled “La Mia Anima Italiana” (My Italian Soul) (January 17, 2011) in which I described my experience of having been married at one time to a man of Italian-America n descent. Toward the end of my blog I said that it was my intention to use my summer to catch up on some of my reading about the experiences of Italian Americans.

I have been engrossed in a fascinating book titled “The Lost World of Italian American Radicalism” edited by Philip V. Cannistraro and Gerald Meyer (Praeger Publishers, 2003). The book is based on key presentations made by scholars in the social sciences and culture at a May 1997 conference also titled “The Lost World of Italian American Radicalism”. The event was sponsored by the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute of Queens College, the City University of New York (CUNY).

“The Lost World of Italian American Radicalism” is divided into three sections: Labor, Politics and Culture. Some of the chapters include: “The Making and Unmaking of the Italian American Working Class”; “War Among the Italian Anarchists: The Galleanisti’s Campaign against Carlo Tresca”; “Italian Workers on the Waterfront: The New York Harbor Strikes of 1907 and 1919”; ”Donne Ribelli: Recovering the History of Italian Women’s Radicalism in the United States”; “Sacco and Vanzetti’s Revenge”; “No God, No Master: Italian Anarchists and the Industrial Workers of the World”; “Italian Radicals and Union Activists in San Francisco, 1900-1920”; “Father James E. Groppi (1930-1985): The Militant Humility of a Civil Rights Activist”; “Mario Savio: Resurrecting an Italian American Radical”;“The Radical World of Ybor City, Florida”; and ” Where They Came From: Italian American Women Writers as Public Intellectuals.”

As of this writing, I have read nearly seven of the sixteen essays in the book, most in the labor section. I am now reading the essay called “Italian Workers on the Waterfront: The New York Harbor Strikes of 1907 and 1919.” These essays are quite riveting. They describe intense labor actions and strikes; explore tensions between Italians espousing diverse political viewpoints; and talk about the struggles of Italian immigrants to be accepted into American society. Some of what I read reminds me of conversations I used to have with my former husband about his Italian immigrant family.

I was very surprised and inspired by reading Professor Jackie Di Salvo’s essay about Father James Groppi. I had never heard of this man. Father Groppi was a priest and civil rights activist who sought to improve social and economic conditions for blacks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He weathered intense persecution and death threats from people even within his own faith because of his convictions and actions. Professor Di Salvo writes:

“At one time, he was both the most hated and the most loved man in Milwaukee, around whom the city was completely polarized. His activities were debated daily in letters to the editor, in which he was alternately compared to Christ before Pilate or denounced as a traitor to Christianity and the priesthood.” (“Father James E. Groppi (1930-1985): The Militant Humility of a Civil Rights Activist” by Jackie DiSalvo, in “The Lost World of Italian American Radicalism “p. 232).

If Father Groppi were alive today, I think he would be very vocal and incensed about the social and economic injustices that are still rampant in this country. Again, Professor Di Salvo writes:

“Some of the greatest animosity toward Groppi arose as his cause broadened from racial justice to economic justice. On September 29, 1969, after his 83- mile march to Madison, about one thousand protesters took over the Assembly chambers for eleven hours to oppose welfare cuts by the Republican legislature. His rhetoric showed a growing class consciousness as he charged the legislators with placing the tax breaks of the rich over the needs of the poor and defended marches and civil disobedience as the only form of lobbying available to the dispossessed. Amid charges of anarchy, thievery and disorder, the Senate hastily adjourned and called in the National Guard. I remember it as a moment of utopian exaltation in which Students for a Democratic Society activists, black militants, and black and white welfare mothers imagined for a few hours what it might be like to have a government of, by and for the people. The significance of an interracial group of poor people taking over the Capitol was not lost on the legislators, who jailed Groppi for 10 days without bail for contempt of the Legislature under a hitherto- never-used 1848 statute, an action that would eventually be declared illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court. Like Martin Luther King Jr., he was moving toward a perception that the fundamental problem was economic. After King’s assassination, Groppi had become a passionate organizer for his Poor People’s Campaign, giving speeches around the Midwest to drum up support and taking the Youth Council to Resurrection City in Washington, D.C.” (“Father James E. Groppi (1930-1985): The Militant Humility of a Civil Rights Activist” by Jackie DiSalvo, in “The Lost World of Italian American Radicalism “p. 234).

Some of my favorite passages in Professor Di Salvo’s essay discuss Father Groppi’s Italian heritage and the inspiration for his activism:

“… Groppi would attend the Catholic school that had once barred Italians and would be stung by the “humorous contempt” evoked by his father’s broken English. ‘Some of us suffered from outright self-hatred,’ he wrote, and ‘were apologetic for our Italian characteristics; some Southern Italians …became extremely touchy about their dark complexions.’ He added ‘I attribute to my mother and father the best course that I have ever taken in inter-group relations. My father had a deep sense of the dignity of man. Wherever my father was..…if he was in the bocce alley, and someone used a term like “Pollack” or “Nigger” he would voice his disapproval. I remember him doing this a number of times in the grocery store. “That is like calling an Italian a “Dago” ‘he would say.’ Professor Di Salvo continues:

“ Groppi embraced his Italian identity. ‘Even today I feel a little kinship when I meet a man with an Italian name,’ he wrote. ‘It brings me back to my days as a kid in the streets. It reminds me of the bocce alleys, the mandolins and accordions, the Garibaldi picnics, the crap games and the unlawful swimming off the docks.’ He remarked that he learned civil disobedience delivering grapes to basement wineries in violation of the Prohibition laws. However, while he acknowledged the influence of his own experience as a minority, saying ‘I came from an Italian ghetto. I am committed to working in a Negro ghetto,’ he did not like to make too much of the analogy. When his father arrived in Milwaukee around 1913, Father Groppi said ‘The Italian was in pretty bad shape. But nothing as far as the black man is concerned…..An Italian is white, and that’s everything....Some of the worst bigots in this country are Italians who had gone through terrible suffering in the past.’ When he led open-housing marches just a few blocks away from his father’s store, some of his old Italian buddies threw rocks and shouted racist remarks, although some, he was glad to see, defended him courageously.” (“Father James E. Groppi (1930-1985): The Militant Humility of a Civil Rights Activist” by Jackie DiSalvo, in “The Lost World of Italian American Radicalism “p. 235).

In addition to reading my book, I watched two great films—one unfamiliar to me and the other, one of my favorites: “ Sacco and Vanzetti” and “Saturday Night Fever.”

“Sacco and Vanzetti” directed by Peter Miller (Willow Pond Films, 2006), offers a powerful account of the controversial case of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants who were, many believe, wrongly convicted of the murders of Frederick Parmenter and Alessandro Berardelli, a paymaster and guard for a company called Slater & Morrill. The crime took place in South Braintree, Massachusetts. Sacco and Vanzetti were executed for the murders in 1927.

I viewed this documentary several times because I became so involved in this story. Themes including immigration, racism, economic inequality, political intolerance, and disparities in the criminal justice system, which are still relevant today, emerged from the film.

The movie features accounts from people who personally knew or knew of Sacco and Vanzetti, and from historians, writers, other experts, even artists, who offer commentary on the two men and the infamous case that was watched around the world. Historian Howard Zinn, writer Studs Terkel, and folk singer Arlo Guthrie are among those who appear in the film. There is even footage of Sacco and Vanzetti being escorted into court, manacled to each other. You can hear, feel and see the passion and emotion in the film’s commentators.

In an opening scene, Professor Nunzio Pernicone, an historian whose essay “War among the Italian Anarchists: The Galleanisti’s Campaign against Carlo Tresca,” is featured in the book, “The Lost World of Italian American Radicalism” says: “Sacco and Vanzetti lays bare a lot of the mythology about American society. It certainly shows the difference between what America is supposed to be about and what it has been in certain circumstances.”

“I think that the case of Sacco and Vanzetti says a lot of different things about America. It says a lot about the tension that we live with constantly between individual civil liberties and collective national security. And the tensions that inevitably accompany a society that is constantly renewing itself through waves of immigration, constantly having to deal with foreigners in its midst,” said Professor Mary Anne Trasciatti, another historian who is interviewed in the film.

Opera composer Anton Coppola said: “It’s a story that talks about the injustices of prejudice in a society because of the social position that you occupy. The characters of Sacco and Vanzetti, the circumstances under which they suffered..As we talk about the passion of Jesus Christ, we can also call it the passion of Sacco and Vanzetti.”

In the film, we are told that Bartolomeo Vanzetti, grieving the loss of his mother to cancer, came to America for solace. Nicola Sacco came to the country as an adventurous young man who intended to return to Italy some day. Sacco’s niece, Fernanda Sacco, calls America, “il paese d’oro” (the country of gold).

Sacco and Vanzetti, “the shoemaker and the fish peddler”, both handsome and dignified, are described as men who became radicalized around the issues of economic and social disparities in America, Anton Coppola says of Sacco: “Sacco says ‘when I came to America, I saw that people were not living in America, but under America’. He meant the bowels of the earth, in the subterranean channels of the social strata.” Sacco and Vanzetti believed that structural change was essential, and they yearned for an American society that was responsive to the needs of the poor and provided opportunity for all. In the film, Vanzetti, a bachelor, and Sacco, married with two children, were described as very decent men. In fact, a heartwarming account is given of how Vanzetti nursed a sick kitten back to health. Of Sacco, Professor Pernicone said: “He has tremendous empathy for the poor and the oppressed. He has this connection with those who are less fortunate than he.”

Sacco and Vanzetti were Galleanisti, followers of Luigi Galleani, a renowned Italian anarchist who organized labor actions and strikes, and who endorsed acts of violence (usually bombings) as a tool for social change. One commentator in the film, Historian Michael Topp, says that there was no evidence linking Sacco and Vanzetti to any violent acts.

In the film, actors John Turturro (one of my favorites) and Tony Shalhoub read excerpts from letters written by Sacco and Vanzetti . In one letter Vanzetti, voiced by Mr. Turturro, writes:

“If it had not been for these things, I might have lived out my life talking at street corners to scorning men. I might have died unmarked, unknown, a failure. Now, we are not a failure. Never in our full life could we have hoped to do such work for tolerance, for justice, for man’s understanding of man, as we do now, by accident. Our word, our lives, our pains, nothing. The taking of our lives. That last moment belongs to us. That agony is our triumph.”

In another letter, Vanzetti writes: “I championed the weak, the poor, the oppressed, the simple and the persecuted. I maintain that whosoever benefits or hurts a man benefits or hurts the whole species. I sought out my liberty in the liberty of all, my happiness in the happiness of all. I wanted a roof for every family, bread for every mouth, education for every heart, light for every intellect. I am convinced that human history has not yet begun, that we find ourselves in the last period of the prehistoric. I see with the eyes of my soul how the sky is diffused with the rays of the new millennium.”

Early in the film, commentators talked about the difficulties Italian immigrants faced. They worked long hours in extremely dangerous jobs, lived in grinding poverty, and endured discrimination and social contempt. Opera composer Anton Coppola remarks: “The Italian was looked upon as some kind of inferior being, and there’s no question about it…They were called all kinds of names. The attitude was, these people are different from us, so therefore, because they’re different from us, we don’t like them.”

Professor Nunzio Pernicone observes:
“Life for Italian immigrants was very difficult. They are coming in on the bottom rung of the economic ladder. They are viewed largely with contempt and disdain. So fitting in, acclimating into American society was very difficult.”

The poverty of which Sacco and Vanzetti railed against was harsh. There was a disturbing piece of footage in the film of a young Italian American boy, maybe 9 or 10 years old, who reached into a garbage can and picked up what looked like a large piece of bread and happily started eating it. I am used to seeing adults rummage garbage cans for soda cans (and people should not have to do that), but seeing a young boy reach into the garbage for some food was absolutely horrifying to me. I just could not shake that image.

The film’s commentators argue that Sacco and Vanzetti were persecuted because they were Italian immigrants who held what were seen at the time as unacceptable viewpoints about the government. They consider these to be key factors in the convictions of Sacco and Vanzetti. According to historian Howard Zinn, much was made of these two issues, as opposed to proving their innocence or guilt of the crime.

Experts challenged the legitimacy of the trials and the evidence presented against the men. They cite unreliable witnesses, witnesses who were seemingly coerced by the prosecution and others who provided outright false testimony against the men. For example, one of the witnesses testified that he saw Vanzetti drive away from the crime scene. In fact, Vanzetti could not drive a car! Italian witnesses who testified to Vanzetti’s innocence were dismissed as untrustworthy and unreliable by the prosecution. There were also problems with Sacco and Vanzetti’s defense, as Sacco was said to intensely dislike their attorney, Fred Moore.

Webster Thayer, the judge who presided over the trials, is cast in a very harsh light, deservedly so. In fact, Professor Pernicone states that Vanzetti referred to Judge Thayer as “ a cobra in a black frock.” Judge Thayer was said to passionately detest foreigners and radicals, thus seriously compromising his ability to be fair and impartial.

Outraged by their convictions, supporters worldwide pressed for a new trial. Howard Zinn discusses Sacco’s resignation to the fact that he and Vanzetti would be executed: Of the protests and court actions, Sacco believed: “It won’t matter. They are determined to kill us. And they will do it.” Even though there was compelling evidence, even a confession, that another man named Madeiros was involved in the South Braintree crime, appeals were denied by Judge Thayer. To appease the swell of protesters, who were very vocal in their anger over the guilty verdicts, the governor of Massachusetts set up a three-man committee comprised of the Presidents of Harvard, MIT and a retired judge to review the proceedings in the case. The committee concluded that the trial and verdict rendered in the Sacco and Vanzetti case had been fair and just. Sacco and Vanzetti were condemned to die.

Actor Tony Shalhoub, voicing Nicola Sacco in the film, reads an excerpt from a letter written by Sacco to his son just before he is executed. In it, he admonishes his son Dante:

“But remember always Dante, in the play of happiness, don’t you use all for yourself only. But help the weak ones that cry for help—help the persecuted, and the victims. Because they are your better friends.” According to Howard Zinn, Sacco goes on to tell his son that he will be proud of him one day and will know that he and Vanzetti were not guilty. Sacco and Vanzetti were sent to the electric chair on August 23, 1927, seven years after they were imprisoned.

“It’s interesting how people’s consciousness can be radically changed by one event that’s taking place during their lifetime. That happened with Sacco and Vanzetti. People followed the case for years. People became so close to the case. People became so wrapped up in their humanity. These were not two ordinary men. Now these were men of poetic sensibilities. These were men of infinite courage,” remarked Howard Zinn.

Historian Michael Topp said of the case:
“Research discovered in the late 1970s that the prosecution knew all along that Vanzetti’s gun hadn’t belonged to Berardelli, that the serial numbers didn’t match. And that’s just a stunning revelation. Not only does it indicate that the prosecution lied to convict Vanzetti, that the case against Vanzetti was basically non-existent. But it also leaves open to enormous speculation about what they did to convict Sacco. If they lied to convict Vanzetti, of course the implication is they would be willing to lie to convict Sacco as well.”

Historian Mary Anne Trasciatti remarked:
“ I think it’s important to remember this case because of what it suggests about the United States. We pride ourselves on being a nation of immigrants, on the American dream being available to everyone who comes here to pursue it. And there are moments when we don't live up to that ideal. There are moments when we fail. And I think if we forget our failures, then we’re in serious trouble.”

Also commenting on the relevance of the case, Historian Nunzio Pernicone states:
“It sort of gets into the guts of American society. It exposes realities that many people would like to forget. This is a case which is about political intolerance. This is a question about racial prejudice. It demonstrates aspects of American society that then and now still persist. If you espouse the wrong political views, if you are not a conformist, the chances of your getting a fair trial are substantially diminished. And if Italians are no longer looked upon with the disdain and contempt they were in 1920, they have been replaced with other ethnic groups.”

This film left me with a heavy heart. I had the feeling that a great injustice had been done. As Anton Coppola said in the film: “The question of their living is over now. The rest of the question is—did they deserve that fate? That’s something else again.” After watching the film and following up by reading the chapter “Sacco and Vanzetti’s Revenge” in my book, I have joined the ranks of persons fascinated with this case. In fact, I found a website (http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/saccoV/saccoV.htm) which focuses on the Sacco and Vanzetti case. It has some letters written by Sacco and Vanzetti in prison, as well as court transcripts from their trials. I would like to review the site in much greater detail. I also identified some books on the Sacco and Vanzetti case that I plan to read someday, as well as some additional films I just found that I would like to view.

On a lighter note, my summer studies gave me a great excuse to watch “Saturday Night Fever,” one of my favorite films about an Italian American character, Tony Manero. I love this film. Everyone raved about the music and the dancing, but John Travolta made Tony Manero so real to me. I think that many of us have experienced Tony Manero’s longing to create a life of meaning and purpose at one time or another in our lives. Tony wants to feel and believe that he is not useless, as his family sometimes makes him feel. For example, when Tony tells his father that he received a raise at work, Tony’s father, who is unemployed, belittles him. Tony responds: “You know how many times somebody told me I was good in my life? Two, twice—this raise today and dancing, dancing at the disco. You sure as (expletive) never did! (Expletive)!”

There is a scene where Tony is hanging out on a basketball court with his friends. As they are walking back to their car, his friends get into a conversation in which they talk about what they perceive to be as the lack of opportunities available to them. “ Hey you guys see what the Knicks gonna pay Frasier? We’re never gonna make that much money in our whole life! It’s a dog eat dog world, right? Everybody’s out for what they can get. Ah, it’s true. They got it all locked up. Ain’t nobody gonna give you a chance. Nobody give you nothing, Joey. It’s every man for himself. It’s a stinkin’ rat race.” As Tony’s friends are talking, he listens silently and sullenly, resignation and disappointment registering on his face.

Two of my favorite scenes in the movie involve Tony and Stephanie, his dancing partner and possible love interest. There is the scene in a restaurant, actually their first “date” where she talks about how she is working to improve herself and get out of Brooklyn. She criticizes Tony and says to him “you‘re going nowhere. “ The hurt in Tony’s face is palpable and you feel for him. I was so annoyed; I wanted to tell Miss Diva Stephanie a thing or two! In another scene, as they are walking, Tony, remembering all of the important people Stephanie has bragged about meeting, asks Stephanie, almost shyly, “Do you think I am intelligent or interesting?” He wants to know that he matters. I studied to be a guidance counselor, and I would have found it rewarding to work with a Tony Manero, helping him explore his options and set some achievable life goals.

(Okay I confess—I also watch “Saturday Night Fever” because I like the opening walking scene and John Travolta’s solo dance number scene. Both leave me breathless (smile). Better put this one back in my Netflix queue before summer ends)!

My summer studies have been quite rewarding! Reading “The Lost World of Italian American Radicalism” and viewing “Sacco and Vanzetti” have given me a tremendous opportunity to nurture my interest in American history, specifically my interest in the experiences of Italians in America. I am looking forward to reading the remaining essays. And I will definitely move on to read other books. In fact, I will probably have “un anno Italiano!”

First to Fall, Last to Climb: Black Workers in the New Economy

The Women of Color Policy Network at NYU Wagner (wagner.nyu.edu/wocpn ) has released an August 2011 policy brief on Blacks in the labor market. “First to Fall, Last To Climb: Black Workers in the New Economy” examines Black unemployment, looks at the Black employed, and offers recommendations to support the Black labor force.

“The most recent unemployment figures for July 2011 show that the Black unemployment rate remains the highest of all documented racial and ethnic groups at 15.9 percent, nearly twice as high as the white unemployment rate of 8.1 percent. For Black youth between the ages of 16 and 19, the unemployment rate is a staggering 39 percent, and the current percentage of employed Black men has fallen to the lowest level since the Department of Labor began tracking employment rates in the 1970s.” (“First to Fall, Last to Climb: Black Workers in the New Economy”, p. 1, August 2011)

Some findings:
• Among Black workers who are employed, 26 percent are college graduates.
• 54 percent of Black workers are women.
• Black workers are disproportionat ely represented in low-wage and low-skill industries that offer few benefits or opportunities for career advancement.
• Only 29 percent of Black workers hold management or professional occupations, such as business and financial operations, versus 38 percent of white workers.
• In 2009, the median worth for white households was 98, 860 thousand dollars versus two thousand one hundred and seventy dollars for Black households.

The Network’s recommendations for bolstering the Black labor force include:
• Extend federal unemployment insurance benefits, a second line of support for unemployed workers. Federal unemployment insurance extensions for workers who are still unemployed after exhausting their state unemployment benefits will expire on January 1, 2012 unless Congress renews the extensions before the end of the year. Not doing so will have a profound impact on unemployed Blacks, who are disproportionat ely represented among the long-term unemployed: In 2010, 48 percent of all Black unemployed workers were unemployed 27 weeks or longer, compared to 42 percent of unemployed whites.

• Support early links to the labor market and educational opportunities for people of color in low-income and economically disadvantaged communities. Education and training programs should focus on preparing workers to enter occupations and fields with greater opportunities for career advancement and growth. Training programs and initiatives should include soft as well as hard skill development and focus on employment maintained over time rather than on placement alone.

“A true recovery can leave no community behind. Unemployment and job insecurity can be decreased among Black workers by increasing funding for job creation programs, promoting workforce development and training opportunities that create career pathways, and providing employer incentives to recruit, retain, and promote workers of color in the labor force.” (“First to Fall, Last to Climb: Black Workers in the New Economy”, p. 2, August 2011)

For a copy of “First to Fall, Last to Climb: Black Workers in the New Economy” visit www.wagner.nyu.edu/wocpn

Announcing “Think Outside the Cell: A New Day, A New Way

The Think Outside the Cell Foundation, with funding from the Ford Foundation and in full partnership with The Fortune Society’s David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy, College and Community Fellowship, and the Riverside Church Prison Ministry, is sponsoring: “Think Outside the Cell: A New Day, A New Way”. The program will be a national symposium on issues affecting the incarcerated, the formerly incarcerated and their families.

This full-day symposium will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 7:30am until 5:30pm at the Riverside Church, West 120th Street and Riverside Drive in Manhattan. It is free and open to the public. Breakfast and lunch will be served.

THE EVENY FLYER READS:

Purpose: To support a thoughtful national conversation about issues that impact the incarcerated, the formerly incarcerated and their families, and to explore ideas, practices and initiatives that address their needs and those of the greater society. More than 650,000 men and women return home from prison every year, and they are currently doing so against a backdrop of dwindling public resources. It is important that our nation grapple with these issues in smart, well-considered ways. We hope that the symposium will be helpful in making that happen.

Agenda: The symposium will be a day-long event in the main sanctuary of the Riverside Church. It will be broken into three segments—one dealing with children, families and the human cost of mass incarceration, another dealing with reintegration/recidivism issues and a third that will explore policy initiatives, ideas and best practices. The policy segment is to be conducted in the style of a town hall meeting, with CNN’s Soledad O’Brien moderating. The other two segments will be more along the lines of panel discussions. For all of the segments, we will carve out time for questions from the audience.

Participants: Those who’ve agreed to participate include:
• The Rev. Al Sharpton
• Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, NJ, who was recently named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People
• Randall Robinson, author and activist
• Jeremy Travis, President of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice
• CNN journalist Soledad O’Brien;
• CBS 60 Minutes correspondent Byron Pitts
• Rossana Rosado, CEO and publisher of El Diario La Prensa, one of the nation’s top Spanish-languag e newspapers
• Dr. Khalil Muhammad, noted historian and incoming director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
• Michelle Alexander, author of the book, The New Jim Crow
• Terrie Williams, youth advocate and author of the book, Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting
• “Chef Jeff” Henderson, formerly incarcerated motivational speaker, author and star of the Food Network.

Audience: We anticipate a range of attendees, from thought leaders and policymakers to social justice advocates and the formerly incarcerated and their families. We are encouraging the general public to attend.

Sponsors: The Ford Foundation gave a generous grant to the Think Outside the Cell Foundation, founded by Sheila Rule, to develop the symposium, which is being presented in partnership with the Fortune Society’s David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy, the College and Community Fellowship, and the Riverside Church Prison Ministry.

Space is limited. Register NOW at www.thinkoutsidethe cell.org

I Can Never Let Down My Guard

“Wow. Why would a rich and powerful man like him want to raped a girl like her when he could have any beautiful and gorgeous girl he wants!!!!!!”

“Why is it necessary to say she is ‘not glamorous’? And has acne pock marked skin and flat hair? What does that have to do with anything? Where is his physical description?”

“That is such an evil thing for a female to say about another female victim of rape and assault. Wait til it happens to you, and see what you have to say then.”

“She looks like a gorilla.”

I gleaned these comments (which I quoted verbatim) from the comments section of Newsweek’s story on Ms. Nafissatou Diallo, the woman accusing Dominique Strauss- Kahn of rape. Obviously, folks have some strong feelings about this incident. To be honest, I have not been following the case much lately. The debt ceiling talks were my focus, and they gave me and probably many of you one big wah-wah.

But after reviewing some of the hundreds of comments that were posted about the story, I took some time to reflect upon the issues of sexual and other violence against women. I have heard variations of the above referenced remarks made before in other sexual assault cases. People make comments about a woman’s looks to be dismissive of her claim. Men sometimes fail to hold themselves or other men accountable for their act of violence against a woman, and some of us (men and women) consciously or unconsciously aid them in eluding blame by ascribing blame to a woman for a man’s destructive actions. There is still a lot of ignorance out there about sexual and other violence against women.

Over the years, I have had some scary incidents of sexual harassment in the streets, provoked by all types of men of all ages—White, Black, Latino, foreign men, so-called religious men. During these encounters, I worried about being harmed, even raped. And I did absolutely nothing to draw attention to myself or encourage these men. In each case, I was minding my own business. These men violated my personal space and shattered my sense of safety.

I have been groped on buses and trains, and have been followed off buses and trains and as I walked down streets. Another time, I was cornered in an elevator with a man who moments before, made an obscene remark to me. When I was a teenager, I was waiting at a bus stop and some man pulled up in a car and tried for several minutes to convince me to get into his car. Years ago, I endured harassment by four men in my neighborhood including two men in my building (one of whom was an assistant to my super). A couple of years ago, a man just walked over to me while I was doing my laundry in a local laundromat and touched me, in what was a very feeble attempt to flirt with me. After I shot him an “are you insane?” look, I yelled at him to get away from me and told him to never touch me again. Since then, whenever I’m in the laundromat, he has the good sense to steer clear of me, though I do catch him staring at me sometimes, forcing me to put on my “don’t mess with me” face. I like to smile, but sadly, I have had to keep that “don’t mess with me” face on way too much over the years. Unfortunately, the list of incidents is longer, because too many men out there just don’t respect women and girls.

Each incident scared me and left me shaken, though in the laundromat episode, I was more angry and outraged than shaken. I honestly wanted to slap that guy in his face. I wanted to lash out.

Imagine all the women and girls for whom incidents like those I experienced have ended in assault and death. How many women and girls have been followed by men, forced into alleys, elevators, stairwells, and even into their own homes, and been raped, sometimes even killed? How many women have been forced into cars at knife or gunpoint? How many women have experienced their terror at the hands of a family member?

We are not to blame.

After one particular incident occurred, I told another woman I thought I could trust. She actually told me that I was making a big deal out of it, and dismissed my complaint. I was stunned. She even had me thinking for a minute that perhaps I was making a big deal out of it. But when I thought about it later, I concluded that I was right to be upset about the incident. It was then that I learned that some women need to be educated on sexual and other violence against women as well.

Two years ago, one of my writer heroes, former New York Times columnist Bob Herbert, wrote a powerful column titled “Women at Risk” (August 8, 2009). It was great to have an eloquent male voice weigh in on the subject of violence against women. Mr. Herbert began his piece with an account of George Sodini, the man who opened fire in a Pennsylvania gym, killing three women and injuring nine others before taking his own life. Mr. Sodini was bitter about not having been in a relationship or having any sexual activity in years, outrageously claiming that “30 million women rejected me.” I read some of Mr. Sodini’s blog and it was sickening. He planned and executed a dastardly crime, all the while blaming women for his “plight”, for the lack of love and affection in his life. Mr. Herbert commented on this, writing “One of the striking things about mass killings in the U.S. is how consistently we find that the killers were riddled with shame and sexual humiliation, which they inevitably blamed on women and girls.” Of the frequency of sexual assault and battering experienced by women and girls, Mr. Herbert reported: “A girl or woman somewhere in the U.S. is sexually assaulted every couple of minutes or so. The number of seriously battered wives and girlfriends is far beyond the ability of any agency to count.”

So, I can never let down my guard. Now I don’t walk around constantly looking over my shoulder. I live my life. But I follow suggestions that crime prevention experts have given to help women stay safe. In fact, one of my male friends sent me safety tips some months ago. (Now that’s what a good man does, ladies and gentlemen!! He expresses care and concern about a woman’s well-being). For example, I avoid getting into elevators alone with unfamiliar men; I do not walk down poorly lit streets; I do not let strangers into my apartment; I stay alert to my surroundings. I walk with confidence and avoid looking vulnerable.

I am encouraged by the work of male-led groups that are addressing the issue of violence against women. Just recently, I published a blog in which one panel presenter, Norma Ramos, the Executive Director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (www.catwinternation al.org), referenced groups including Man Up (www.manupcampaign.org) and A Call to Men(www.acalltomen.com) that are working to end violence against women (“Trafficking, Sex Workers, Migration and Slavery” July 12 and July, 14, 2011). Back in April, I published a powerful piece written by a group of men from Men Speak for Gender Justice, http://www.facebook.com/pages/MenSpeakforGend erJustice/194551133915620 who objected to the way the media covered the story of an eleven- year -old victim of a gang rape (“Men Speak Out About Sexist Coverage of Rape: A Call to Action” April 12, 2011) I am pleased to see men stepping forward on this issue, educating, training, and empowering other men, and calling out those men who persist in their violence toward and disrespect of women.

We, men and women, have to get our minds right about the issues of sexual and other violence against women. Looks and age have nothing to do with sexual and other violence against women. Men have to own and be responsible for their attitudes and acts of violence. And folks have to stop blaming women for the poor choices a man makes that results in violence in the life of a woman.

KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT RAPE
• Rape is a violent crime—a hostile attack---an attempt to hurt and humiliate. It is NOT the result of “uncontrolled passions.”
• Rape can happen to anyone. Students, working women, wives, mothers, children, grandmothers (didn’t some man rape a woman in her eighties a few months ago here in the city?) and even males are the victims of rape.
• Rape can occur anywhere and at anytime, in public or in your own home, day or night.
• Rapists are not necessarily strangers. In fact, in over one-third of reported cases, the rapist is an acquaintance, neighbor, friend or relative of the victim.
• Rape is one of the most underreported crimes. Most rapists will keep re-offending until they are caught so it is important to report any kind of sexual assault to law enforcement.

(Cited from “Preventing Sexual Assault”, Crime and Violence Prevention Center, California Attorney General’s Office)

July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

In recognition of Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, the National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health (NNED) (www.nned.net) will be sponsoring a webinar entitled : “Empowering Our Voices: Developing and Sustaining Multicultural Consumer Networks.” The webinar will be held on Wednesday, July 27th from 1pm-2pm EDT.

In May 2008, the United States House of Representatives proclaimed the month of July “Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month” in honor of author and mental health advocate Bebe Moore Campbell, who passed away in 2006. Ms. Campbell was co-founder of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Urban Los Angeles and a national spokesperson. The annual observation recognizes Ms. Campbell’s ideals, which include:

• Improved access to mental health treatment and services and public awareness of mental illness are of paramount importance; and
• Enhanced public awareness of mental illness and mental illness among minorities.

Ms. Campbell and a friend, Dr. Linda Wharton-Boyd began working on the idea for a national minority mental health month in 2005, coinciding with the release of Ms. Campbell’s book “72-Hour Hold”, which deals with a mother trying to cope with her daughter’s bipolar disorder. They began speaking with government agencies and elected officials, holding news conferences, and creating a National Minority Mental Health Taskforce with family and friends. The effort continued after Ms. Campbell’s death. With support from Representative Albert Wynn (D-MD) and Representative Diane Watson (D-CA) the bill was passed.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the publication of the US Surgeon General’s August 2001 report, “Mental Health: Culture, Race and Ethnicity,” which found that minorities:

• have less access to, and availability of, mental health services;
• are less likely to receive needed mental health services;
• who receive treatment often receive a poorer quality of mental health care; and
• are underrepresente d in mental health research.

The National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health (NNED) (www.nned.net) was formed with support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with the National Alliance of Multi-ethnic Behavioral Health Associations (NAMBHA) (www.nambha.org).
NNED’s mission is “to build a national network of diverse racial, ethnic, cultural and sexual minority communities and organizations to promote policies, practices, standards and research to eliminate behavioral health disparities” (www.nned.net). The NNED is committed to:

• Excellence in behavioral health;
• A strong community voice;
• Collective dialogue;
• Inclusion, respect and consensus;
• Trust and reciprocity;
• A strengths-based approach to policy, practice and research;
• A holistic view of health and wellness across the lifespan;
• Understanding system intersections;
• Understanding of good business principles; and
• Flexibility

The webinar will highlight the development of community specific consumer networks helping to eliminate mental health disparities. The presenters will be Elnora Jenkins-Christi e, Executive Director of the National Leadership Council on African American Behavioral Health; Gilberto Ramos, Board Member, The National Latino Behavioral Health Association; and Blanca DeLeon, Board Member, The National Latino Behavioral Health Association. It is co-sponsored by the NNED and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

The National Leadership Council on African American Behavioral Health’s (NLC) (www.nlcouncil.com) website reads:

“There is a growing awareness that a combination of factors may influence the help-seeking and service utilization behavior of African-America n individuals and families including general mistrust of medical health professionals, cultural barriers, community stigma associated with mental illness and substance abuse, myths about their causes, and availability of as well as access to services. The impact that a lack of information about mental illness has in African American communities is intensified by the shortage of trained, culturally competent professionals prepared to provide quality services.

The NLC seeks to provide leadership in building and supporting behavioral health systems that reduce disparities and contribute to optimal health in our communities.

The NLC is comprised of individuals who share an interest in promoting the strengths and health of African American children, families, and communities. The group represents an array of perspectives including:
• Peer/consumers and family members
• Education
• Human resource development
• Nursing
• Psychiatry and psychology
• Research
• Social Work” (www.nlcouncil.com)

The mission and goal of the National Latino Behavioral Health Association (NLBHA)(www.nlbha.org) “is to influence national behavioral health policy, eliminate disparities in funding and access to services, and improve the quality of services and treatment outcomes for Latino populations. Its vision “ is to bring attention to the great disparities that exist in the areas of funding, access, and quality of care for Latino consumers and families needing professional mental health and substance abuse services.

The objective of the NLBHA is to provide national leadership on mental health and substance abuse concerns of the Latino community in five major areas of focus:

• Policy issues in Mental Health and Substance Abuse
• Education and Workforce Issues
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service Delivery
• Latino Focused Behavioral Health Research
• Latino Family Focused Interventions

The Strategies for meeting the NLBHA Mission and Objectives is to actively address the behavioral health issues of Latino families through:

• Convening of State Latino Behavioral Health Policy Roundtables;
• Providing Cultural Competency Training;
• Providing consultation to policy makers, community agencies, and others on Latino behavioral issues;
• Identifying characteristics of community based programs and services that are successful and effective in delivering culturally appropriate services to Latino families;
• Serving as a clearinghouse for Latino related behavioral health information, studies and reports;
• Educating the public on Latino disparities;
• Providing conferences, workshops, task forces, and interviews on Latino behavioral health related issues;
• Training of mental health interpreters;
• Providing testimony to the President’s Commission on Mental Health regarding mental health issues impacting on Latino populations; and
• Collaboration with other national racial / ethnic behavioral health organizations on issues of mutual concern.” (www.nlbha.org)

To participate in the “Empowering Our Voices: Developing and Sustaining Multicultural Consumer Networks.” webinar, go to https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/281075154

The report “Mental Health: Culture, Race and Ethnicity,” can be accessed at: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/cre/

More on the Trafficking, Sex Worker, Migration and Slavery Panel

This is the final installment of my report on the “Contemporary Slavery Symposium”, a day-long discussion about modern day slavery, held at Exit Art, 475 Tenth Avenue, in Manhattan, on Saturday, June 11th from 10am-6pm. It was conceived and organized by Mary Anne Staniszewski, Associate Professor, Department of the Arts, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. In this blog, I continue my report on the panel discussion “Trafficking, Sex Workers, Migration and Slavery.”

The panelists were Norma Ramos, a public interest attorney currently serving as Executive Director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW); Jennifer Mac Farlane, a Brooklyn-based humanitarian photographer ; and Dina Francesca Haynes, a Professor of Law at New England Law School in Boston, MA. Following the remarks by panelist Professor Dina Francesca Haynes, Dr. Tiantian Zheng, the panel moderator, offered some comments:

“I just want to point out empirical research of sex workers throughout the whole world has revealed that the vast majority of women engage in sex work as a result of poverty and lack of alternatives such as the feminization of poverty in the whole globe rather than trafficking. To these sex workers, it is not sex work per se that is harmful to them, but rather under the rules of the anti-traffickin g framework, their rights to work as sex workers are violated.”

Dr. Zheng referenced a book written by a sex worker in the San Francisco bay area whom she met at an anti-traffickin g conference. The woman is described by Dr. Zheng as a leader in the sex worker activist movement. Dr. Zheng quoted from the woman’s book:

"Actual working prostitutes should be empowered to be in control of their own working conditions. Society infantilizes women. And most people think we’re incapable of taking care of our own selves. The most vulnerable members of our communities are used as examples of our frailties. For instance, only 10 or 20 percent work on the street in San Francisco. But the statistics for everything from drug use to child abuse are culled from this population and used to represent the broader population of prostitutes.” The author goes on to say, according to Dr. Zheng, that “laws that punish prostitutes are crimes against women and arrest and institutionaliz ed harassment of prostitutes are atrocities.”

“In my own research,” continues Dr. Zheng, “ many women point out that the women’s bodies belong to the women themselves. As owners of their own bodies, they feel that they have every right to decide what they do with them. They feel that nobody has the right to tell them if they can sell or allow other people to buy their bodies—not the state, not the church, certainly not those women who deem themselves superior and oppress other women by imposing their own moral standards on other women under the pretext of saving them. They said they want their voices to be heard. These women that I work with, although they marry their clients, they have a good livelihood, sometimes they still seek out work as sex workers. And they feel that they are entrepreneurs of their own bodies.”

Dr. Zheng referenced Jennifer Mac Farlane’s statement about the Cambodian brothels not having any showers. Dr. Zheng said that in doing her research in China, she lived with the women in the underground brothels which also had filthy conditions and no shower facilities. “I had developed lice all over my body during two years of my research because I was living with them. However, the sex workers I was working with, they saw the alternatives of working in the sweatshops, factories or domestic maids in households or low paying service sectors, they see that as much more oppressive, which not only have much worse living conditions but also subjected them to frequent rapes by their superiors without any financial compensation. So for the women that I studied, exploitation and true denigration of women lies in men’s free use of women’s’ bodies and adhering to morality that causes women to be sexually usurped by men without proper compensation.

A lot of rescuers in China see sex work as captivity and want to free the women into factory work, which they see as freedom. For the sex workers that I worked with, they rejected this..I think there are a lot of problems in people who advocate for abolition of sex work because I think there is a lot of discrepancy between the women’s voices and those people who are operating from top down and do not really hear or listen to the women’s voices and their own lived experiences,” said Dr. Zheng. At this point, Ms. Ramos interjected.

“I want to join Professor Haynes’ call for understanding and really challenging the growing income inequality in the United States and around the world. Because while poverty is not a cause of commercial sexual exploitation, gender inequality is the heart of the cause of commercial sexual exploitation. Poverty is a huge exacerbating factor.”

Ms. Ramos said that the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW), in partnership with the New York State Anti-Traffickin g Coalition, a coalition of 80 organizations dedicated to fighting human trafficking, “passed the nation’s two strongest laws against human trafficking. “ One is the Safe Harbor Bill, which she described as survivor-led. She stated that Rachel Lloyd, of Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS) and a survivor of commercial sexual exploitation, partnered with them on getting the bill passed. The bill recognizes prostituted youth as sex trafficking victims. “Now, states all around the country are trying to pass the Safe Harbor Bill. These are huge gains. We also passed the nation’s strongest bill on human trafficking in general, signed by former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer… We are right now in a campaign with Police Commissioner Kelly to get him to stop arresting the wrong people. Let’s arrest those who would sexually exploit others.” Ms. Ramos talked about a petition on the website Change.org directed at this effort. “They already know what to do, except the law enforcement and political will is not there,” said Ms. Ramos.

Showing a brochure on child sexual exploitation, she said: “Anything that can be done to an adult is going to be done to a child. So, the easiest thing to do, is to get people to agree that children should not be commercially sexually exploited, because I get very little argument on that.” She digressed to respond to an earlier statement about the statistic on the age of entry into prostitution and said that according to Prostitution Research and Education, 13 is the average age of entry into prostitution in the United States.

“If you’ve been prostituted since you were a teenager, are you in school? You’re not getting an education. You’re going to have an 18th birthday if you’re lucky. What is the murder rate of women in prostitution? Forty times higher than women not in prostitution. We have an ugly story unfolding right now in Long Island. So they face a forty times higher rate of murder. This is work? What job has a murder rate attached to it? So please understand, that’s she’s going to turn 18, and she’s probably going to still be in prostitution. But then we’re going to have professors who are highly paid, privileged, and they’re going to say ‘She’s 21? She’s 22? She’s 32? Agency. That’s her choice. She wants to be there.’ And survivors, American survivors of the commercial sex industry in this country all say the same thing to me. They say ‘Norma, there’s so much sympathy for the foreign born. But people see American prostituted women and girls as having choices and wanting to be there.’

But meanwhile, we have a Democratic governor who just eliminated the millionaire tax. Put some pressure on this governor to start addressing and getting a budget that starts addressing the growing poverty in New York City. And this is happening all over the country. We have tremendous unemployment. Who’s affected disproportionat ely? People of color. Women of color. And then we have academics who say they are there by choice. Well I’m trying to fight back. Why don’t you all join us and start taking on the growing income inequality in this country and start taking on violence against women.

And we just had a rape trial in this city….This is a cultural context. We’re living in a US based culture that has a show like “Cathouse” ( an HBO show about workers at a legal brothel in Nevada). We have been doing a demonstration in front of ‘Cathouse, HBO. We have normalized commercial sexual exploitation. It seems that Hollywood cannot tell a story unless there is a dead woman’s body.

So where are the leaders in the artistic community that are saying ‘We need to start telling the real stories of what the toll of commercial sexual exploitation is? Why are we living in such a sea of violence against women? Child sexual abuse. The State Department sends me people from all over the world –policymakers, so they can know the policies we support, which is the Swedish Model, the bright light in the world. And I ask these international groups, and I say ‘women for this question please keep your hands down. Men, please tell me, what is the rate of sexual abuse in your country, of children? And they can’t answer. And then I say ‘okay women’ and the women raise their hands and they all know.” Ms. Ramos then asked the audience about the rate of child sexual abuse in the United States. Audience members guessed and then she said “officially, I think it’s about 25 percent for girls, lesser for boys, but that’s growing too. So, we are living in a sea of sexual abuse of children. These are the ones that are going to be vulnerable.
We are working on not just finding the victims because we do have law enforcement to do that.

What we are working around the clock doing is to challenge the social, political and legal conditions that are hospitable to human trafficking. The coalition is looking at the big picture and yes, we are going to end it, I say, in our lifetime. Yes we will,” said Ms. Ramos.

The question and answer session followed these comments. It was raucous and emotional at times as diverse viewpoints were expressed.

One audience member recommended that others see the movie “The Whistleblower” with Rachel Weisz. The movie is based upon a true account of Kathryn Bolkovac, a police officer who became a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. She was a UN International Police Force Monitor. “The movie showed about human trafficking and what she went through. The movie just shook me up so. It’s the kind of movie that stayed with me for days,” said the audience member. She called the movie “a big eye opener.”

In response to this woman’s remark, Professor Haynes talked briefly about the movie and Ms. Bolkovac’s work as part of a stabilization force in Bosnia. She talked about the subcontractor issues the United States has been facing in its effort to assist post-war countries in their reconstruction efforts. For example, some subcontractors like DynCorp have been sending over individuals who ended up purchasing, buying and selling women, according to Professor Haynes. “We’re paying for all of these individuals to go over and protect people and they’re doing the opposite. And this isn’t news, I’m sorry to say. Kathy was there in 1996. It was in all of the newspapers.”

Professor Haynes mentioned that KBR ,Haliburton was being sued in Texas and California for trafficking Sri Lankan and Pakistani individuals into Iraq to run their food concessions in the Green Zone. She said that this too was old news from ten or eleven years ago, but since fifteen of the individuals who were trafficked were killed by a roadside bomb, the families can now sue under the Aliens Tort Claims Act. “So it came to light that these subcontractors who are getting billions and billions…Haliburton and KBR made 88 billion dollars from Iraqi concessions through human trafficking, in part because they aren’t having to pay out anything in labor. The concessions are the food concessions and the cleaning crews in the Green Zone. That’s a lot of your money.

So, as Benedetta (Rossi) said, we need to follow the money. We need to see where our money is going. We really, really do. We really do. This (Obama) administration has been disappointing in terms of shifting policies. Believe me, I was much more disappointed in the last administration, but having friends who are appointed by the President to key positions and seeing no change has really been frustrating. We need to look where the money’s going. It’s big business.”

Another questioner asked if Ms. Ramos could talk about the “Swedish Model” which she alluded to earlier in her remarks. “It’s my favorite thing to talk about. The Swedish law is a beautiful thing that happened in our lifetime. The Swedish law happened because of the collapse of the Soviet Union. And what happened is that part of the world became, because of its geographical location, became overrun with labor and mostly sex trafficking. And they had to make a decision—were they going to go the way of the legalizers, of legalization of prostitution, and I’m going to talk about that for a minute, why we need to reject legalizing prostitution. So they had to decide-- were they going to go the route of Germany or were they going to do something radical? Were they going to listen to their own in-house experts who had been working against human trafficking? And they actually decided to do that. “

Ms. Ramos referenced Andrea Dworkin, the late American radical feminist and writer, and Catharine MacKinnon, the American feminist scholar, lawyer and activist, who gave a speech in Sweden before the Swedish Model was adopted. She said that Catharine MacKinnon planted a seed in her speech, which is found in her book, “Are Women Human?” Ms. MacKinnon said in her speech that if people wanted to address the issue of commercial sexual exploitation of women, the buyers of commercial sex should be arrested. “And this took root, and it caught on, and they became the world’s first country to be the architects of a human rights based, women’s rights based law that recognizes that prostitution is violence against women, a crime against all women, and is at odds with achieving gender equality. So they start with this premise. And then they also say something radical. They say women and girls are human beings and therefore cannot be bought and sold. So they enact a law that gives the women and girls, the sexually exploited, an exit strategy.” Ms. Ramos explained that the law was passed in which the buyers of commercial sex are arrested, and the sexually exploited women and girls are given educational and therapeutic opportunities.

“So what happened in Sweden when they passed this law ten years ago, which was just evaluated and has something like seventy percent support of the population? The men support this law of arresting the buyers. Sex trafficking dropped dramatically. It’s extremely, extremely effective.” Ms. Ramos said that the area has the least amount of human trafficking in the world because of the law. She listed other countries such as South Korea, Iceland, and Norway that have passed similar laws. The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women “supports this law, and we are supporting this passage all over the world.” Mexico is currently looking at the law, and other countries throughout Latin America have passed laws that address the demand side of commercial sex, according to Ms. Ramos.

She talked about author Victor Malarek, author of the books “The Johns”(Sex for Sale and the Men Who Buy It) and “The Natashas”(a book on human trafficking). “He’s a big supporter of this law. He says the three most important letters in the word “demand” are m-a-n. Victor does a real analysis.

Now, I’m looking at this sea of beautiful faces and I see so many women. Where are the men? One of the things that we’re doing is working with more and more abolitionist men who reject masculinity models that are founded on the domination of women and girls and who reject the notion that men have the right to buy the bodies of women and girls for sex. And so there are many more men who are beginning to step up their leadership and become voices among men that are fighting this particular form of violence against women.”

On the subject of legalized prostitution, Ms. Ramos said that countries that have legalized prostitution are now trying to reverse themselves. She said that these countries realize they have created a class of human beings that can be bought and sold. She talked about the connection between drug addiction and prostitution, saying that women who are sexually exploited use drugs to “numb out.” Of Germany, one of the countries with legalized prostitution, Ms. Ramos said: “Even the German government is beginning to issue reports saying that they have to admit it’s a failed social policy experiment, legalization. So what is legalization? It’s a gift to the traffickers. Because what happens is when you legalize prostitution, you’re allowing a class of human beings to be bought and sold. Traffickers become businessmen and they know that’s where to be. What’s happened in Germany? The brothels in the Netherlands are filled with what faces? Women of color. Women of color. So women of color all over the world from developing countries get brought into countries that allow this. And so the human trafficking goes off the charts. So educate yourself about this.”

Dr. Zheng commented: “I think instead of speaking for the sex workers I am going to let them speak for themselves. Again, I’m going to read from this book written by a sex worker from the San Francisco Bay area, Carol Leigh. I met her at the conference where she spoke about legalization and victimization of sex workers. And she did comment on the Swedish policy in her book. She said’ criminalization of clients adds to the stigma of the work. It supports governmental discrimination against prostitutes, such as the tendency of courts to deny prostitutes custody of their own children. Prostitutes need to protect their clients from arrest and must operate covertly. Recent criminalization of clients in Sweden has resulted in very few arrests of clients but a substantial increase in the hardships of Swedish prostitutes.” Dr. Zheng then referenced a report written by a Swedish sex worker activist, which was presented at a sex worker conference in 2001. “Criminalization has forced prostitution underground, increasing exploitation within prostitution including juvenile prostitution and trafficking. Instead of speaking for them, I want you to get in touch with sex workers, their own voices and see what they really think. “
Ms. Ramos countered: “There’s no proof of that. They feared that the Swedish Model would make prostitution go underground? It was just a ten-year review. There is absolutely no proof that what you just read is true. The evidence is the opposite. You can go on the Swedish Embassy’s website. You can see the studies. There is no evidence supporting. I know she says it’s so, but the studies are not showing what she says. The studies are showing that….You know the Nordic countries lead the world in all indicators in achieving equality for women.

INTERPOL has intercepted lots of communication between traffickers. And the traffickers are saying ‘No no no, Sweden’s too hot. Norway’s too hot. Can’t go in there. Can’t do our business in there.’ What happens is that Sweden and Norway and these Nordic countries lead the world on their social policies. We all know they are socialist countries, they are Social Democratic countries and they’re doing their best to go at the root causes that lead people to be in positions of vulnerability of commercial sexual exploitation. So the opposite, there’s no evidence for that statement. “

Professor Haynes said: “I’m no fan of prostitution. We’re on a trafficking panel so when I think about prostitution and trafficking and trying to put together the comments, I think pimping is the… As a lawyer, representing a client, if the client were pimped, if a client were not making money for her sex work, I would call it trafficking. And I would argue that it’s trafficking because that’s the only way she can get any benefits under any law. It’s the only way she can get any social protections from any government. It’s the only way she can get any immigration protections. It’s the only way she can access any civil suit.

So, one of the problems that has cropped up with things, again, when I saw the lawsuit against Craigslist at first I thought it was really interesting as a Constitutional Law professor, First Amendment issues on the one hand, and interest in human trafficking on the other. I thought ‘that’s a really interesting approach.’ There have been arguments, however, that taking, and I’m not coming down either way on this because there’s not enough data yet. But there have been arguments that taking advertising for escort services, prostitution off Craigslist has increased, exponentially, the amount of pimping. Why? Because just like the last panel, you increase the power of all of the middle men and recruiters. Women who do want to and I’m putting that term in quotes because I understand all of the issues with consent. I’ve spoken on panels with Catherine MacKinnon, Gloria Steinem and I love them for what they do. I think it’s great work. But if somebody wants to engage in “sex work”, we take that ability away from them to engage directly with a john and they have to go through a pimp. And pimping to me is a problem. Pimping is trafficking, clearly. So I just wanted to raise that as an issue,” said Professor Haynes.

One audience member talked about how some of the buyers of commercial sex are seen as victims themselves. She said that in Cambodia, they are trying to educate the buyers. “I think in the whole system, everybody’s victims,” she said.

Ms. Ramos talked about partnering with others to lead a direct action against Craigslist. She was part of a lawsuit aimed at eliminating ads on Craigslist that reportedly promoted prostitution. The group filing the suit lost, but waged a demonstration with Prostitution Research and Education, an organization that conducts research on prostitution, pornography and trafficking. The demonstration was held at Craigslist’s headquarters in San Francisco. 85 human rights organizations and other individuals co-sponsored the demonstration. Three weeks later, Ms. Ramos debated Craig Newmark, the founder of Craigslist, on a San Francisco radio station. She said she received “man hater” remarks from callers.

“Within three weeks of that debate and the demonstration, Craigslist pulled their adult services section in the United States, and then we kept up the pressure and out of their 457 sites around the world, Craigslist sites, 250 had adult services sections. We looked at them, they were all in countries that had the worst trafficking rates and a few months later, he pulled them from the rest of the world.
So that direct action that we took, led by the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women and Prostitution Research and Education did have an impact because we were watching Craigslist, which is a mainstream company, speaking of corporate responsibility, move their company into the sex industry. And now of course what happened is the ads have migrated to the back page. So we have more work to do. But this is taking on the facilitators of human trafficking and we are working toward a sex trafficking-fre e internet,” said Ms. Ramos.

An audience member asked others to call their state representatives and ask them to vote against Bill S01313, sponsored by New York State Senators Ruben Diaz Sr., Eric Adams, Carl Kruger and John Sampson. The bill establishes the offense of prostitution in a school zone and promoting prostitution in a school zone. The audience member expressed concern that the women who were engaged in the sex work would be criminalized by the law and not the buyers. She added “I would like to emphasize the importance of men and women uniting on this issue, and in fact for all of us, to unite on the issue. And so it concerns me really deeply when I hear the insistence on prostitution or pornography as empowerment.

And one simple way that we can help to end the exploitation of women, the violence against women that occurs through prostitution is to make the distinction to others when we hear others talk about prostitution. And so to be clear, this person is probably not a prostitute, probably someone who is commercially sexually exploited. And that’s a simple thing that men and women can actively do.” The woman then asked Ms. Ramos to talk more about the anti-sex trafficking bills she referenced earlier (the Safe Harbor Bill, the Anti-Traffickin g Bill) and how they have been implemented.

“In Victor Malarek’s book “The Johns”, he talked about most prostituted women and girls around the world and that includes here, know police from the belt buckle down. So, we have a big problem don’t we?” asked Ms. Ramos. “ The police force in New York State, they need training and they need to begin to understand who the prostituted are, what sex trafficking is, and they need to be able to identify the victims and know where to direct them for services, and then not to arrest the wrong people. So that is why we have the petition, the “Man Up”, “A Call to Men, Change.org. Please, please, that’s an action you can all take today is to put pressure on our Police Commissioner Kelly to arrest the johns.

As far as the enforcement of the 2008 law it’s been a problem. It took us three years to get that law passed in New York State. It was a heavy lift. Three years. And the Safe Harbor Bill was around the same time too. And it has been barely enforced. Do you know who should have been the first person prosecuted under the law he signed? Spitzer. He shouldn’t have been rewarded with a show on CNN. He should have been prosecuted. He violated the Mann Act. He put a woman on a train for the purposes of prostitution. But that’s male privilege, another thing that we haven’t really talked about here when we talk about gender inequality and how that works to create men to think that they have the right to buy the bodies of others.

So we haven’t had a lot of enforcement on that. And that’s why we’re doing this initiative with Police Commissioner Kelly. We’ve been meeting with him. And one of the things one of our partners, Sanctuary for Families, did a couple of months ago, is we invited the head of the Swedish Police Anti-Traffickin g Unit to come to New York City and he did, and he met with various groups, groups of attorneys. He also met with Police Commissioner Kelly. So we are working on raising awareness about the human rights, women’s rights solution and to get this enforcement of moving against demand. And so that takes political will. And we have to build political will.

And men need to be a part of this. Because over and over again people ask me ‘what can we do?’There are so many things you can be doing. We want 5,000 signatures on that petition. Help us get that. There’s another thing that’s going to happen in August. We’re partnering with a group called MATTOO (Men Against the Trafficking of Others www.mattoo.org) And they’re going to hold a rally right here in New York City in August against the demand…It’s an abolitionist male-led organization and they are going to have a demonstration right here in New York City and they want it to be men taking a stand against human trafficking and particularly sex trafficking and the buying of bodies of others. There’s so much that you can do. Help us get the word out about that rally. Go to the men in your lives, tell them this is what they can be doing,” said Ms. Ramos.

An audience member who described herself as an activist said “I think that we live in a sad state when a woman says that I need to sell my body so I can go to college. There’s a problem with that.” She asked Dr. Zheng “What side are you on?” She expressed concerns that Dr. Zheng was quoting statistics and making statements that would, in her words, “ cause more harm”. “How is that information and you putting it out there going to benefit us?” asked the woman.

Dr. Zheng responded: “I think violence against women, I think, is the law against sex work, because during my research, I actually visited these women’s families in the rural areas. I lived with the parents, with their siblings in their rural village. And I heard the inside stories of these women’s lives. And what did their parents tell me? The parents told me that five people living in their household, every single person, their survival is hinged upon, is dependent upon, this daughter’s sex work in the city. So, her work in the city saved all five people’s lives.

And what causes the violence against women in sex work? It’s the law against sex work. It’s the police raids, it’s the rescuing. Those cause the biggest fear and violence in women’s lives because if she were raped, for instance if they were raped or any physical violence against them happens in the brothels, they can’t have any legal redress. That’s the violence. That’s the point of the violence. If the law is for them, giving them police protection, giving them legal protection, they don’t think that’s violence. They don’t construe that as violence.

It’s a political policy and the government harasses these women all the time. I open up in my book with incidents of the police raid, where every single sex worker, all the hostesses and I have to hide in this back room and under the bed and hold our breath because the police are coming up and that was an everyday occurrence. And once there is a police raid, usually it lasts for two or three months and these women are out of luck. They don’t have any income. No income means their parents and their siblings endure hunger, and they have to go back to the rural areas and wait, wait until the police raids ended and then they will come back and continue with their work.

So the people that they thought exploited them the most is the government officials and police officers. Because they came in and they demanded sexual services and these women were shuttering, they were terrified, terrified, because they can’t say no. And so the people who are doing violence against these women are law enforcement, and also the clients because the law is protecting them and against the sex workers. They have to be on the vulnerable side of the whole story. I think when you talk about violence against women, to these women, violence is again, this political policy.

And also I mentioned exploitation for the families, for us who are living in an affluent livelihood, for us exploitation can mean somebody violates our body. But for these women, exploitation means men’s free use of their body because almost 90 percent of these women talked to me about their being raped by their household masters when they were serving as domestic maids or in factories, when they were working in sweatshops as workers and many of them were made pregnant by the man and they were abandoned and then they were stuck in a situation with an aborted child. And for them, that means exploitation.

And when they’re working in hostess bars, they actually get money from the man just sitting there, just having conversation with them. And they feel it’s empowerment because the man actually pays. But before then, they were raped without any financial compensation. And so for them, getting something back means really conquering, this empowerment they felt as rural migrant women who are undocumented, illegal aliens in the city.”

Jennifer MacFarlane commented: “ From my experience, it’s a false sense of empowerment. That’s not true empowerment. You used the word “raising consciousness.” A lot of these women don’t know they have any rights at all. The women that I met in Cambodia, they accept this fate. They think that that’s what it is. I mean if we have freedom and liberty in this country, I don’t know why people shouldn’t have those same ideas elsewhere in the world.”

“I don’t think any of these comments is inconsistent with the others,” said Professor Haynes. “I think all of us in this room would really like women everywhere to have a choice between being a teacher or a police officer or anything other than a prostitute or sex worker. And Tiantian’s experience working with women in China shouldn’t really just be denied out of hand because she was working with them. And your(the questioner) experience working with domestic violence victims shouldn’t be denied out of hand either. Why are we pitting ourselves against each other?…You (to an audience member) asked a question about agency and if I’m using a word, agency, whether that’s going to bring down the whole house of cards and ruin the likelihood or possibility of us eradicating human trafficking? We have a hell of a lot more problems than me using the word agency in eradicating human trafficking.

The reason I use it, it’s because I’m speaking from my experience representing clients. I’ve only represented people pro bono and I only represented them…well, I’ve represented a lot of people. But in the context of human trafficking representing…I’m a lawyer. I have to listen to what my client wants. Law is just a tool, it’s just a tool for achieving what individuals want to achieve. And I will make the best case I can. But it pains a client to have her own lawyer tell her to use Catherine MacKinnon’s words, ‘Oh you have false consciousness. I’m sorry, I actually know better about what it that you want.’ And I’m not going to do that to my client. I’m not. I agree with many things that Catherine MacKinnon and Andrea Dworkin say, but I think that really deprives the people that I care about deeply and personally having worked with them personally, to deprive them of their own reality of themselves,” said Professor Haynes.

Dr. Zheng commented: “I also want to point out that in my research, almost every single woman after ten years had exited sex work. Now they are either married to the clients or they are businesswomen because in China, it’s different. Here, sex workers have a lot of stigma attached to them. But in China, there’s a history of supporting your parents. So these women are considered harbingers of the moral Chinese woman, because the first thing they do is they sacrifice themselves, they sacrifice their chastity for their parents. The majority of their remittances go back to their parents. They’re not working for themselves. So a lot of clients when they talk about these women, they admire them, they respect them. And so I see a lot of them marrying their clients. “

Ms. Ramos commented: “I thank you for your question because we should not be afraid to politically disagree. Social justice movements are built on people gaining clarity about their values and the directions they want to go. There is a difference of political opinion here. Make no mistake about it. Here’s the difference: My heart sank when she (Dr. Zheng) talked about the one child who is being sacrificed to be in a brothel so that five other family members could eat. Now do we want to make the cage more comfortable for that five-year-old? Or ten-year-old who’s being sacrificed? Here’s that thinking. Over here, I want to destroy that cage. I don’t want one child to be sacrificed so that her siblings can eat. We need to all be working to destroy the cage, not to make the cage more comfortable.

That is the political discourse. There is a political disagreement up here. And we ought not be afraid of that. She has been reading from Carol Leigh. Carol Leigh is the one who termed the phrase “sex worker”. That is a pro-sex industry term. There is a political difference. Don’t be afraid of it, understand it. Figure out where you are on that. Do you want to expose the myths that surround the sex industry, that prostitution is a job like any other? Or do you want to be a part of exploding the myths and understanding that it is the world’s oldest oppression? Pimping is the world’s oldest profession. Do you want to live in a world that is free of commercial sexual exploitation and violence against women? That’s our vision. “

The final questioner made reference to a 2002 raid that took place on a suburban house in Plainfield, New Jersey that turned out to be a brothel. She asked “How can anyone defend the violation, the drugging, the beating, the abuse of children and say they had a choice?”

Professor Haynes responded: “I want to make it clear that I don’t believe in the prostitution or human trafficking of children nor violence against them.”
Dr. Zheng responded: “We have not been talking about children here. Nobody’s talking about children.” Professor Haynes added: “I’m not now, and never have been in favor of prostitution of children, human trafficking of people. In fact, I work against the human trafficking of people, that’s what I do. Nor am I in favor of prostituting children or having them in brothels.”

At the end of the question and answer session, Professor Staniszewski returned to the stage, and, acknowledging the tension surrounding the last panel discussion said “I knew this was going to be very exciting! This was a very exciting panel. When we went into it, we knew people were not going to fall asleep. Having listened, I do think there were some misinterpretati ons. I don’t think anyone here, may I say, I don’t think anyone who showed up for this conference endorses exploitation of six month to a one hundred- and- ten –year- old person. Everyone here is here because they’re trying to make change, to fight injustice and to deal with whatever you want to call it, our slaveries, which has increased in visibility and resurgence in the past thirty years that has to do with a lot of things including poverty.

I think though this has been a very fruitful panel in that you really hear the diverse opinions on how to deal with one of the most visible of these so-called slaveries of our time. Whether you want to use that word or not, it’s an umbrella that is used, ” said Professor Staniszewski. She thanked the panelists and audience members and reminded all participants that “the reason why we’re here is the faces of the people that surround us.”

My thanks to Professor Mary Anne Staniszewski and Mark Looney for inviting me to this important and informative event.

For information on the Contemporary Slavery Exhibit, visit the Exit Art website at www.exitart.org The exhibit runs through August 5, 2011.

Trafficking, Sex Workers , Migration and Slavery

The final panel discussion of the “Contemporary Slavery Symposium” was titled “Trafficking, Sex Workers , Migration and Slavery” and was moderated by Tiantian Zheng, a Professor of Anthropology in the Department of Sociology/ Anthropology at SUNY Cortlandt. The event, a day-long discussion about modern day slavery, was held at Exit Art, 475 Tenth Avenue, in Manhattan, on Saturday, June 11th from 10am-6pm. It was conceived and organized by Mary Anne Staniszewski, Associate Professor, Department of the Arts, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York.

Dr. Zheng is the author of four books on sex, gender, migration, HIV/AIDS, and the state. The panelists included Norma Ramos, a public interest attorney, eco-feminist and social justice activist, currently serving as Executive Director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW); Jennifer Mac Farlane, a Brooklyn-based humanitarian photographer who traveled to Cambodia to do a story with Marianne Pearl for Glamour Magazine on the brothels in Cambodia and Somaly Mam, a heroic woman who has risked her life to rescue girls working in brothels; and Dina Francesca Haynes, a Professor of Law at New England Law School in Boston, MA. She teaches courses related to immigration, women’s issues, human trafficking and Constitutional Law. She spent a decade practicing international law and is an author. This last panel discussion was the most spirited of the three.

“I’d like to start the panel by addressing some of the historical background of anti-traffickin g discourse and the debates,” said Dr. Zheng. “Back in the 19th century, discourses on gender and international migration patterns set a stage for racialized social panic about the White slave trade. Panic about “barbaric, uncivilized nonwestern others” who brutalized White women, served to restrict European women’s mobility and sexual freedom. The anti-White slavery crusade became synonymous with anti-sex work campaigns in an effort to save “fallen sisters.” These anti-sex work agendas and ideologies continue to be manifested.

In 1994, the United Nations’ defined trafficking as exclusively attached to sex work. In 2000, the Palermo Protocol disengaged the concept of trafficking from that of sex work and expanded the notion of trafficking to all kinds of labor that involve coercion and forced labor. However, because the global paradigm on trafficking does not address the root causes that give rise to exploitation and coercion of migrant workers, it fails to significantly reduce trafficking. The results are trafficking resurfaces elsewhere because of the changes in migration patterns, also it drives trafficking more and more underground.”

Dr. Zheng talked about the possibility of those who are deported being re-trafficked, as their primary motive is to migrate for better lives. She said that while foreign migrants are seen as a threat, white collar crime committed by large transnational corporations such as Walmart and Tyson Foods, who exploit the labor of those who have been trafficked, goes ignored.

She explained that critics say that claims made about trafficking are often unsubstantiated and not based on empirical studies. Dr. Zheng referenced the George W.Bush Administration’s war on trafficking, and described how countries looking for US aid often reported overblown statistics on trafficking. For example, she said that in some cases, when compiling statistics, distinctions were not made between voluntary and involuntary sex work.

“The trend of condemning sex work as illegal and criminal, and rescuing strategies, has been embedded in the US international aid policies, which since February 2003, require all nongovernment organizations to denounce sex work in order to be eligible for funding. Organizations that advocate or support sex work as employment strategies or work with sex workers or HIV/AIDS prevention programs are now subject to a withdrawal of US funding and deemed as inappropriate partners for US aid.” Women who willingly seek sex work are classified as sex slaves, according to Dr. Zheng, and the organizations who work with the women are considered pimps or traffickers. “Women’s decisions and their choices are denied legitimacy,” said Dr. Zheng.

Dr. Zheng discussed some of her two-year research with karaoke bar hostesses in China. “The Chinese government believes that prostitution is a form of violence against women, and a woman would never voluntarily choose a profession that violates her own human rights, by declaring that all prostitution is sex trafficking and a woman who engages in prostitution is a victim who needs help or to be rescued."

Chinese anti-traffickin g campaigns have resulted in brothels being raided, and women arrested and deported. Dr. Zheng said that this has resulted in pushing sex work underground, making it more dangerous as women face continual harassment from the police and from corrupt officials, and threats of violence by local gangsters and clients. She said women often seek out sex work outside of China in places such as Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea, where they can make more money faster. They usually return to China after about a year or so. These women actively seek out traffickers to help them migrate, said Dr. Zheng, because they do not meet the criteria for legal immigration, such as for reasons of family reunification or being in an entrepreneur recruitment program. “To them, the source of their exploitation is not the traffickers but the restrictions in their mobility and their illegal status.” She said that these women “exercise their agency to seek out people to help them migrate and conduct sex work.”

Dr. Zheng continued: “My empirical research shows that exclusive focus on raid and rescue strips away voluntary sex workers’ livelihood strategies and fails to create alliances to access the expertise of these communities and for successful information to tackle trafficking and exploitation of workers in informal sectors.”

Before the discussion began, Dr. Zheng cautioned, “people are going to disagree with each other and this is a very controversial issue.”

The first panelist was attorney Norma Ramos. “Discussions on human trafficking can very quickly become very academic. I want to talk a little bit about how it is I came to do this work and how it is I developed a political understanding that today defines me as an abolitionist,” said Ms. Ramos.

She talked about her working class upbringing in Manhattan, stating “My whole background has always informed everything about my politics. I quickly rejected the notion of sex work.” In the 1970s, Ms. Ramos, as a volunteer for the Legal Aid Society in the Bronx, first encountered the women she describes as sex trafficking victims. She knew she wanted to become an attorney, and was shadowing an attorney who worked in night court once a month. One evening, a group of prostituted women were being arraigned.

“And I looked into their faces as the defense attorneys, and the prosecutors and the judges were all making jokes about these women. And I was just a college student, but it was then and there that I made a promise that one day, I would do some political work that would hopefully impact the lives of these women. Because I am a self-defined leftist, and the left has always been for the most part male-led, and violence against women, in particularly commercial sexual exploitation, has never been a political priority on the left, and that’s true today, by the way.”

In her first years as an attorney, Ms. Ramos provided direct services to indigent clients for MFY Legal Services in Manhattan, “right near the epicenter of Manhattan’s sex industry at that time. And I remembered my promise when I worked as an attorney there. I began to do work that directly challenged the sex industry. And it was the first time in my life that I began to watch how my politics were being politically distorted. It was the most difficult political work that I had done.”

Ms. Ramos began working with other feminists around this issue, leading to the creation of the Coalition Against Trafficking Women (CATW), now in its 23rd year. “And we were the first organization to fight human trafficking internationally.” Ms. Ramos said that the group wanted to know more about the sex trafficking industry around the world, “and we sent letters to women’s rights leaders all over the world and so many of them accepted our invitation and came to this big conference we held at Martin Luther King Jr. High School, and many of these women are on our board today.

So we are the world’s leading abolitionist organization and we remain accountable to survivors of sex trafficking, who reject the notion that prostitution is sex work. They see prostitution, and we see prostitution, as a function of lack of choices, not as a function of choices. We don’t see agency in commercial sexual exploitation unless you’re the man with the money in your pocket to buy the bodies of other human beings who are less privileged, most likely who have been sexually abused in childhood, most likely are poor, disproportional ly women of color. So we don’t see agency in those who are being bought. We see agency moving in the direction of those who have the power to buy.

I refuse to capitulate to capitalist values that say everything about a human being can be commodified and be made for sale. I see human sexuality as a gift, not as something that can be bought and sold as a commodity,” said Ms. Ramos, adding that indigenous women around the world, noting Canada, Brazil and the United States, are most vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation.

“We will concede that one percent of prostitution may or may not be freely chosen, maybe one percent. But we make our policy, and we argue that public policy across the board should be made off the 99 percent of reality of what prostitution really is. And it ain’t pretty woman—it’s pretty ugly. And all you have to do is really listen to what the survivors have to say once they have exited the sex industry.”

Ms. Ramos made reference to a recent conference sponsored by the Minneapolis , Minnesota based organization Breaking Free, which works with women and girls who have been prostituted. Survivors of the sex industry and advocates convened to talk about the causes of commercial sexual exploitation.

She talked about the shift in CATW’s political tactics. In the beginning, most focus was on who was being sex trafficked and commercially sexually exploited. They learned about the most vulnerable populations. Ms. Ramos disclosed that she was once in foster care and said “you would be amazed at the rate of women, children and transgendered people as well, who end up in prostitution in this city and in the nation as a result of starting their lives out by being essentially homeless, because that is what foster care is.

When I hear terms like ‘agency’ and ‘sex worker’, a term that comes right out of the sex industry, I want you to really start thinking about who in the world is born wanting to be a receptacle for numbers and numbers and numbers…by the way Latina women in this country who are both labor trafficked and then sex trafficked, as a parallel to labor trafficking, are having to be sexually exploited by 30 and 40 men a day….who chooses that, that has real choices? Ms. Ramos emphasized that women are not “prostitutes.” She said that prostitution is what is done to women and girls. “You are not what is done to you.” Ms. Ramos stated that most women report that they want a way out of prostitution, according to the world’s leading researcher on prostitution.

“We have now shifted the focus, yes, keep the focus on who the vulnerable populations are, but we need to put the focus on the buyers and the traffickers because commercial sexual exploitation is serving someone’s needs, and it’s coming out of a context of universal global inequality of that which is female.”

Photographer Jennifer MacFarlane, the next panelist, became involved in the slavery issue after a trip to Cambodia with journalist Marianne Pearl, who was covering a story on sex slavery in Southeast Asia. She told the story of meeting Somaly Mam, a former sex slave who was able to escape and has rescued thousands of girls from sex slavery.

Ms. Mac Farlane, reading from an account of Somaly Mam by actress Angelina Jolie, said that at the time of Ms. Mam’s birth, the Khmer Rouge, under Pol Pot,came into power. By the time Ms. Mam was five, the Khmer Rouge had killed over one and a half million people. Torture, execution and forced labor were the rule of the day, and families fled for safety.

Ms. Mam was sold into slavery by a grandfather figure and ended up in the Phnom Penh brothel where she faced rape and torture. Ms. Mam described herself as being dead during that period of her life. “Terror is the weapon of choice for those who hold women in sexual bondage. They depend on their victims being frozen with fear. Traffickers hope that with enough pain and degradation, women will simply accept their fate as inescapable,” said Ms. Mac Farlane.

When Ms. Mam’s best friend was killed in front of her in the brothel, she decided to escape. A French aid worker helped her, and she fled Cambodia and went to France, where she settled and eventually married and had three children. Ms. Mam could not forget the girls she left behind, and “at great risk to her own life and her safety, she returned to Cambodia to start her mission,” said Ms. Mac Farlane. She quoted from Ms. Mam’s autobiography, "The Road of Lost Innocence":

‘I don’t feel I can change the world. I don’t even try. I only want to change the small life I see standing in front of me, which is suffering. I want to change the small real thing that is the destiny of one girl, and then another, and another because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself or sleep at night.” Of Ms. Mam, Ms. Mac Farlane said “Her voice, her outspoken voice, is really changing the shape of her country and trafficking in Southeast Asia.”

During her visit, Ms. MacFarlane visited Ms. Mam’s shelter, where she found girls who were playing, laughing and studying. In contrast, when she visited the brothel, “there I just saw the look of fear and desperation and hopelessness and it’s something I’ll never forget. I spent a week photographing these girls and listening to their stories.”

Ms. Mac Farlane said that when she returned home to Brooklyn, she realized the severity of the situation the girls in the brothel faced. She took a shower and realized that she had not seen showers and bathrooms in the brothel. “These girls’ prison is a filthy sperm-covered bed in a tiny, hot room with paper thin walls. They couldn’t even see the horror of their reality in the simple act of a clean shower, something that we take for granted.

My mission since I returned is to make sure through photography that the world sees what I witnessed. I was surprised when I came home that so many educated people simply didn’t realize the extent of modern day slavery or even the fact that it even takes place. I met the faces of modern slavery. I heard their stories, and I want to share these stories as a first person witness. I hope that seeing these photos can open people’s hearts and inspire them to action. I truly believe that all of us have the responsibility to take care of every living being on the planet.”

Ms. Mac Farlane talked about the resilience of the survivors, and said that the rescued women often become social workers who fight for the freedom of other girls. She said that when she spoke to the girls in the brothels, they really opened up because they wanted their stories told. One girl showed her extensive scars on her arms from cutting. The pimps get the girls addicted to drugs that make them cut themselves.

“Somaly inspires me every day –the power of one single woman to bring about such massive change. She has lots of friends now and supporters all over the world,” said Ms. MacFarlane. When Ms. Mam speaks to supporters, she asks them to visit her shelter in Cambodia. Ms. Mac Farlane says that visiting Ms. Mam’s shelter is a moving experience.

“I believe that the world is on its way to eradicating slavery in all its forms. And the first step really is awareness.”

Dina Francesca Haynes, the last panelist, stated that the topics discussed in the previous panel strongly resonated with her because of her professional experiences in the field. “ Every client that I’ve ever worked with has had usually, actually, been involved in or have been at risk for, or have the potential to be involved in both kinds of trafficking, so they’re much more interrelated than I think we often think they are.

Professor Haynes said that she wanted to be careful about the terms that were being used at the event. For example, she said “ I think that focusing on victimhood does a disservice to people who don’t see themselves as victims, so I wanted to make sure I wasn’t continuing with that type of belief either.

I also wanted to focus on noncitizens, not because I fail to recognize that there is a lot of internal trafficking, there is. But because they have additional problems…and they have to do with barriers in language, culture and primarily immigration status, which as you heard already, traffickers are smart enough to realize is a huge, huge weapon to wield, power to wield, over trafficked persons.

I agree with many things that have been said on this panel including that no human should be used for sex or anything. No human should be commodified in any way.

I use (the term) agency to focus on the reason Barbara and others from the last panel mentioned. People who end up migrating internally and internationally do so because they’re trying to better their own lives and the lives of their progeny. And their interests and motivations are often really, really similar. And the vulnerabilities common to all of those types of migrants are what allow the traffickers to exploit them. There’s agency in the choice to move. And I use the term ‘agency’ because I want to be sure to mention that when we use victim language, the biggest risk is that we avoid actually finding victims of human trafficking because we’re not looking. What do I mean by that? Well, people do choose to move around the world and traffickers take them and pervert those intentions along the way….forcing people to work in fields, brothels, restaurants, mani-pedi parlors , hair braiding parlors, etc.

But very , very, very few people are actually taken in the same way that slaves were. There are very few people who are captured and literally chained to a bed in a brothel. So if we’re looking for these people who’ve been captured or chained to a bed and a brothel, we’re not going to find victims of human trafficking.”

Professor Haynes said that government agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Department of State, and the World Bank say that the statistics on human trafficking are “woefully off base, because there’s no way to count people. Everybody’s flailing around. So if we’re trying to come up with statistics that don’t have any basis or methodology and we’re talking about victims only in one way, or only as victims, we’re just not going to accomplish what we say we want to accomplish, which is getting people out of human trafficking, so I want to be careful about terms because of those reasons as well.

It would be useful to know where the victims of trafficking were… the only way we’re going to know that is if we give credit to people who are actually doing legitimate empirical work finding them, and we’re not right now.”

According to Professor Haynes, when Congress reauthorized the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2008, it put emphasis on trying to quantify the number of child victims of human trafficking. While Professor Haynes supported that idea, she was concerned that they had not figured out how to accurately count the number of adult victims.

Of the use of the word “slave”, she said “I also am a little uncomfortable with the word ‘slave’ for the same reason that I mentioned before. But only because I think it makes us miss finding actual victims of human trafficking.” She added, “I would love it frankly if the term “labor exploitation” were given as much panache and gravity as slavery.”

Professor Haynes concluded her remarks by suggesting some approaches to combating human trafficking. “These are the things that we need to do. And we’re not going to do them, because they’re too big and we frankly don’t want to. But this is what needs to be tackled if we really want to be tackling human trafficking. We need to tackle:
• Excessive economic disparity;
• Poverty: Professor Haynes gave the example of how school fees in Indonesia rose by two dollars and as a result, “700,000 new people entered the global exploited labor market because they couldn’t pay for their children’s education.”
• Focus on social and economic rights;
• Make civil suits more accessible to victims of human trafficking;
• Forgo cheap goods and services and ask where they’re coming from;
• Sue corporations;
• Look at the users, the labor brokers, the recruiters and middle men “Who are sanctioned by the Department of Labor.”
• Start looking at corporations. “This is so fifteen years ago, but we need to start looking at corporations.”

The discussion and debate that followed this panel’s presentations was so important that I am writing a fourth and final installment to this report to highlight the conversations that took place on these topics.

Final Installment: More on the Trafficking, Sex Workers , Migration and Slavery Panel

The Slave Next Door: Local and Global Labor

Modern day slavery was the theme of the “Contemporary Slavery Symposium,” which was held at Exit Art, 475 Tenth Avenue, in Manhattan, on Saturday, June 11th from 10am-6pm. It was conceived and organized by Mary Anne Staniszewski, Associate Professor, Department of the Arts, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. This is the second of three reports about the event.

Prior to introducing the second panel, “The Slave Next Door: Local and Global Labor,” Professor Staniszewski acknowledged Aimee Chan Lindquist, another member of the Exit Art team who helped to coordinate the event.

“The Slave Next Door: Local and Global Labor”, was moderated by Ron Soodalter. Mr. Soodalter has worked as a teacher, folklorist, museum curator, Flamenco guitarist, and television producer. He has written for publications including The New York Times, Smithsonian, and the Civil War Times, and is the author of “Hanging Captain Gordon” and “The Slave Next Door”. Panelists included John Bowe, a contributing writer with the New York Times Magazine and the author of “Nobodies: Modern American Slave Labor and the Dark Side of the New Global Economy”; Barbara Young, the National Organizer for the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and an active member of Domestic Workers United (DWU); and Benedetta Rossi, RCUK Fellow in International Slavery at the Department of History of the University of Liverpool (United Kingdom) and Director of the MA Program in International Slavery Studies and exiting co-Director of the Centre for the Study of International Slavery (CSIS).

Mr. Soodalter opened his remarks by saying, “American humorist Will Rogers once said, ‘It’s not that we’re so dumb. It’s just that what we know ain’t so.’ As Americans, there are certain things we know to be true. We know that the South practiced slavery and the North fought a righteous war of liberation. We know that the slave trade was legal right up into the Civil War. We know that the Emancipation Proclamation freed all the slaves, and that the United States has been slavery free ever since. These things we know, and none of it is true.

On the other hand, most Americans do not know that slavery not only exists throughout the world today, it flourishes…It is estimated that there are some 27 million people in bondage worldwide today.” Mr. Soodalter named countries including the United States, England, Scotland, France, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Japan, Spain, Norway, China, and Syria as being engaged in some form of slavery.

“Sadly, most Americans do not know that slavery is alive and more than well right here, thriving in the dark and practiced in forms and in places where you would least expect…The simple truth is humans keep slaves. We always have.

Most Americans’ concept of slavery comes right out of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, “Gone with the Wind”, and “Roots”. The chains, the whip in the overseer’s hand, the crack of the auctioneer’s gavel—that was one form of bondage. The slavery plaguing America today takes different forms. Please be assured—it is the real deal.”

Mr. Soodalter described slavery as being illegal, though practiced and hidden, and said that the victims of slavery come from various ethnic groups. “We are democratic when it comes to abusing our fellow man.” He said that some people come to the US to find opportunity and find slavery instead. These people live under the constant threat of violence. Slaves can be found in all 50 states, Mr. Soodalter maintains, laboring as farmhands, domestics, factory and sweatshop laborers, restaurant and construction workers, and victims of sexual exploitation. “There are many other forms of slavery thriving under our noses.”

Mr. Soodalter talked about the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. “Every two or three years it undergoes a Congressional reauthorization. Many good things have been done. Much remains to be done.”

Despite endless stories about human trafficking, Americans are oblivious to it. “It is essential that Americans be made aware that this blight exists in our country today. Without an educated public, there is no hope of eliminating slavery,” said Mr. Soodalter.

The first panelist, John Bowe, has written on domestic slavery and has studied the history of slavery in various cultures. “What’s remarkable about most of the modern forms of slavery that Ron was just talking about is how little they look like slavery. We all have an idea of what we think it looks like. It very seldom looks like that.”

Mr. Bowe told a compelling story of an advocacy group called Thai CDC in Los Angeles. In 2005, the group started looking into complaints by some Thai farm workers who were brought into the United States by a company called Global Horizons. The workers paid fees between eleven thousand and twenty-three thousand dollars to recruiters back in Thailand to come to the United States to work as full-time farm workers for three years. Afterward, they would return to Thailand. These workers anticipated earning around fifty thousand dollars, compared to the two thousand dollars they made annually as rice farmers. In most cases they put up their family homes in Thailand for collateral to get the recruiting fee to come over to the United States.

The workers came and worked in 14 states. Work schedules were inconsistent. In some cases, the labor recruiter told them that he only had three months of work for them and they would then be sent home after that time. Sometimes they worked for only six months or one year, ensnaring them in debt bondage. “The Thai government had a law, you could only pay up to two thousand dollars for the right to go to another country to work, “ said Mr. Bowe. But unscrupulous recruiters take advantage of workers’ tendencies to migrate for better pay and opportunities and end up charging much more, as in the cases of these workers. Mr. Bowe said that it is common for these workers to pay a recruiter to have an opportunity to work in the United States, but this was the first time these workers had been defrauded in this manner.

Ending up in remote farms in states such as Maryland, North and South Carolina, and Hawaii, the workers had their passports taken away. “They would be given two days per week of work, sometimes a full time week, sometimes no work. There’s a calculator going—they all owe 20 percent interest on these loans. And they were in great danger of losing their homes,” said Mr. Bowe. He explained that in many of these Thai families, various relatives lived in the home. “So if you screw this up, you make your whole family be homeless. Your grandma’s out on the street.”

He continued: “ So these guys started getting really worried and they saw some of their co-workers be deported. Now a lot of them just ran away and took jobs in the underground economy to keep servicing their debt and pay the labor recruiter back in Thailand who had recruited them.

The feds all started coming into the Thai CDC in Los Angeles and the poor people working there realized that this was much bigger than anything they had ever seen. And in the end, it turned out to be over a thousand workers…This labor contractor was applying for permission from the US Embassy in Bangkok to bring in these workers legally and was given permission, brought them over legally and was, through this complicated mechanism, fleecing them out of a lot of money. And at first no one knew what that was ‘cause no one was getting raped, they were all men, no one was getting their arms or legs cut off, and it seemed like a very complicated fraud that was going on. And the US Department of Justice was contacted and this Thai group in LA was looking for visas for people so they could testify in a court proceeding against the trafficker, but it was just too complicated. It wasn’t a sexy story, “ said Mr. Bowe.

When Mr. Bowe learned of the story, he was hired by the New Yorker Magazine to write about it. 60 Minutes was also interested. He traveled to Thailand, and visited farms in Utah, Hawaii and other states. Mr. Bowe said that one of the issues that came up in his doing the story is how employers justify bringing in workers from Thailand to do work that is supposedly done by undocumented Mexican laborers. He said that the perception is that “they (the Thais) are even more disoriented and powerless than the Mexican workers who are undocumented. You get to see it for what it is. The whole point is to have the most powerless group of workers you can get.”

60 Minutes eventually rejected the story because what they really wanted was a sex trafficking case. Later, the New Yorker rejected the story as well because “it wasn’t a really great, sexy story because again, no one had been killed, they had only been defrauded. What I saw back in Thailand was family after family saying ‘we’re losing our homes, we’re losing our minds’….these people had been eaten up by the stress of the family being split apart, husband working underground in the US. And this thing that was supposed to be a one-time transaction was looking like it was going to go on for years and years and years with families being separated, “ said Mr. Bowe. He added that the interest rates on the loans taken out for the trips to the US were exorbitant, “so you never pay it off. It just keeps going and going and going.” The families were being threatened regularly with eviction.

Mother Jones eventually bought the story, titled “Bound for America.” Mr. Bowe received a grant to help him continue updating the story. “Everybody was having a hard time with this because it was a thousand workers. You knew that this was really important but it just didn’t look like trafficking. And finally when the thing got published in 2010, the Department of Justice moved in and went against the bad guy in Los Angeles, and now it’s the largest human trafficking case in modern US history and everyone can see it for what it is. But when you go through it, people just can’t be bothered ‘cause they want a sexy, really graphic story. Otherwise they don’t get it.”

He said that a representative from a legal services entity in Utah explained that this case crossed the line from fraud into trafficking because fraud occurs once, while trafficking lasts for a long time or forever. Mr. Soodalter interjected and remarked “it’s the gift that keeps on giving.”

On a side note, Mr. Bowe told an anecdote about the Maui Pineapple Plantation, one of the farms where some of the men worked. Mr. Bowe described it as one of the most gorgeous places he had ever seen in his life. It was partly owned by Steve Case, co-founder of AOL and Pierre Omidyar, who started eBay. Mr. Bowe noted that Mr. Omidyar donates money to anti-slavery causes. The trafficked workers on this farm reported being threatened with knives and baseball bats and had their passports taken away. They were given food, but complained that they did not like the food that was served, so they would sneak away to purchase Ramen noodles. At other times, they would get leaves from a bush that looked like one from Thailand to make some bitter-tasting tea in an attempt to satisfy their hunger. In spite of their situation, Mr. Bowe said that the men did not want to feel sorry for themselves or be seen as victims.

The Department of Justice, under prosecutor Susan French, (“she’s been at this a long time and you don’t mess with Susan French, “said Mr. Bowe), is working on the case. According to Mr. Bowe, Ms. French told him in an interview years ago that the Department of Justice has so many other cases to pursue and prioritize. “So for them to go after the case, they have to have overwhelming evidence that the bad guy is going to go down,” stated Mr. Bowe. He remarked of the man who is being targeted that he once said to Mr. Bowe in an interview ‘Trafficking? The only trafficking I do is when I bring my kids to school in LA.’ Mr. Bowe concluded, “this guy is really in the crosshairs and everyone below him has pled guilty, which means they’re going to give evidence against him. And he’s going to go down.”

Barbara Young, the next panelist, commented that the audience had heard a lot about the history of slavery and asked “How many of you think slavery is gone, done with? How many of you think there is just a little slavery around?” She responded : “Well I guess we have an audience of believers, because slavery is with us, as you’ve heard. The slave situation in this country continues although slavery was abolished back in 1865. Today, it’s in a different form. And as long as there are big businesses who want to build their fortune on the backs of labor, of workers in this country, slave-like conditions will continue for workers.

For the domestic work industry, it continues because there are no protections in place for domestic workers. Workers continue to suffer at the hands of people who employ them,” said Ms. Young. She referenced a court case that two domestic workers brought against their employers after they escaped from them. “The remnants of slavery are still here with us.

As an organizer at Domestic Workers United (DWU)here in New York, I have seen the many difficulties of workers who come to the organization seeking help.” Ms. Young gave an example of one young woman who came from Jamaica to the United States at the age of 15 at the urging of a couple of tourists, to care for their children. They promised her and her parents that she would be sent to school. The young woman took care of the family for 12 years and never got an education. She finally had the courage to talk to her neighbor about her situation, as she had not seen her family in years. She gave the neighbor her family’s address in Jamaica and the neighbor wrote to them. The family mistakenly thought the woman had become prosperous and forgotten about them. The woman learned through a letter that she had a sibling residing in upstate New York and she escaped and got to him. The woman came to the DWU when she was 27 and shared her story. She reported that she had never received a salary in the twelve years she worked for the family.

Ms. Young also told the story of another woman, Justina, who was injured on her job in the Hamptons. She was locked in the basement of the house by the seven-year-old son of the family for whom she worked because he thought she was “too strict.” She tried to get out of the basement to free herself and was injured. After her injury, she did not want to remain on the job. The employer reportedly told Justina, ‘I could let you die in here because no one knows you’re here.”

Domestic Workers United was so appalled by these cases that they went to the New York City Council with a bill to make agencies that send domestic workers out on jobs responsible for the workers. “After a lot of wrangling with the City Council, they passed a bill saying that the agencies would be held accountable to workers to tell the employers of their duty toward workers, and workers their rights as domestics, and this must be kept in the agency for three years. Sad to say, it was never really enforced, because a lot of laws in this country, although passed, are never enforced. And domestic workers continue to suffer,” said Ms. Young.

Ms. Young talked about her background and how she came to this work. She came to the United States from Barbados voluntarily with a visa. She worked in the domestic industry because she was undocumented and could readily find work in the field. Ms. Young was a union rep in her native Barbados, where she worked as a bus conductor. “I had it in me to always come out and be an advocate on behalf of workers. And that’s why I joined Domestic Workers United. Domestic workers in this country are low-wage workers, they’re excluded from many major labor laws in this country. There are so many women working in the domestic industry in the households of the rich and famous or just simply professional people who want to have a career and a family at the same time. But then, they hire workers and workers are working long hours, for low wages, and with the exclusion of laws to protect domestics.” She emphasized the fact that both domestics and farm laborers were excluded from certain labor laws.

“Today, domestic workers are excluded not only from the National Labor Relations Act, but the National Fair Labor Standards Act, and also the Occupational Safety and Health Act. And we know that the tasks that domestics perform both with dangerous chemicals in cleaning, heavy lifting, is a problem for many workers. But we as domestic workers, we are fighting back. And this is what we need to do.”

In 2010, through the efforts of organized domestic workers in New York, a domestic worker bill of rights was passed. “This is the first statewide legislation of its kind in the country,” stated Ms. Young. It gives some labor protections to the over 200,000 domestic workers in New York State. “It was a six- year battle of negotiation in the Senate and Assembly,” said Ms. Young. These domestic workers now have protections including the right to overtime pay after 40 hours of work, paid days of rest, and protections against discrimination on the job. Ms. Young acknowledged the support of allies including unions, churches and schools on behalf of domestic workers, and said that this has led to permanent partnerships.

In 2007, the National Domestic Worker Alliance was formed. It is currently comprised of 33 organizations in 17 cities and 11 states. A domestic worker bill of rights law in California recently passed out of its Assembly and is currently in the Senate. “Our sisters are demanding rights and respect and recognition.”

Ms. Young talked about a care program called “ The Caring Across Generations Campaign” also known as the “Five Fingers of the Caring Hands” campaign. Ms. Young said that this campaign is needed because the country is going to experience a care crisis, especially among the elderly and those living with disabilities. The National Domestic Worker Alliance is pushing for national legislation that will create jobs; transform the quality of current jobs; provide training and career ladders for domestic workers; provide a path for citizenship for workers who are undocumented and are already doing this work in this country; and provide support for individual families who are paying out of pocket to care for their loved ones.

Domestic worker campaigns are also being launched internationally. At the time of the symposium, a delegation from the National Domestic Workers Alliance was attending an international convention in Geneva, Switzerland sponsored by the International Labour Organization (ILO). They joined others to advocate globally in behalf of domestic workers. “We’re hoping beyond hope, that the United States is one of the countries that ratify that convention for decent work for domestic workers.”

As a footnote, Mr. Soodalter told the audience that a farm workers bill that would guarantee basic labor protections including a five –day work week, a standard lunch break, insurance and schooling for children, was recently defeated in the New York State Legislature. He asked the audience to support the bill when it comes up for a vote again in the future.

Panelist Benedetta Rossi’s presentation focused upon slavery in West Africa. She opened her presentation by showing a slide of a document. “What makes this paper that you see possible? In order to consider what makes this paper possible, we’re going to need to examine the experience of enslavement of the group of people who were legally enslaved in West Africa at the beginning of the 20th century, because slavery had not yet been abolished. We’re going to have to consider the struggles that they fought in order to improve their life and the obstacles that they encountered in their struggles,” said Dr. Rossi . The document was a certificate of ransom.

Dr. Rossi said that her presentation would focus primarily upon the region of northern Nigeria, Niger, West Africa, where her research has been concentrated. She avoided talking about specific countries. Dr. Rossi resumed her discussion about the document, saying “ this paper is attesting that a man of slave descent in 1988 has basically paid an agreed amount to obtain the manumission of his wife from the descendants of their former masters. And this was a considerable amount of money he spent. And this was a person who was extremely poor and lived in rural West Africa. Slavery in 1988 had been abolished and was illegal … Why did this man choose to have this document done? Why did this really matter to him if legally, slavery had been abolished? What explains this particular certificate of ransom?” Dr. Rossi told the audience that we needed to step back in time to answer these questions.

Most West African societies in the 19th century legally practiced slavery, in interior West African societies, according to Dr. Rossi. She said that slave labor was integrated in farming, herding, various forms of production, in long distance trade, the military, administration, religious rituals, and was part of the system of reproduction through concubinage. “There were many different categories of slaves in most West African societies throughout the whole of the 19th century and this is well documented in historical sources which are Arabic, indigenous and European.”

At the beginning of the 20th century, noted Dr. Rossi, colonial rule abolished slavery within West Africa. She called colonial legal emancipation “limited, gradual and ambivalent.” Its limitation came in that a handful of colonialists did not have the power to impose legal abolition in some regions outside of their reach. It was gradual because there were laws that did not immediately make emancipation a reality for all. Also, the colonialists feared instability would result from immediate emancipation, though they had to work to abolish slavery because of the ideals with which they invaded the continent, which were in contradiction to slavery. The ambivalence came because legal emancipation went hand-in-hand with forced labor and forced military service. Forced workers worked for nothing, as did slaves.

Dr. Rossi told the story of a former slave who was interviewed by colonial administrators and asked where she wanted to go since she had been emancipated. The woman gave contradictory answers. She first talked about returning to her two daughters, her father and her husband. Next she talked about staying near where she had just been liberated from with another woman who was also a former slave. Finally, she said that she wanted to return to one of her masters and live as a slave for that master. “What is suggested by her answers is that choosing where to go was also choosing who to be-- to be a spouse again, to be a slave again, to be a mother, to try an unsafe freedom close to someone who can share the same experience she has had,” said Dr. Rossi.

She talked about the numbers of former slaves who migrated from their region of enslavement. They either returned to their former homes or resettled elsewhere. Many former slaves chose to stay near the areas where they were enslaved because they either did not know where to go, or they had access to some resources like animals and land. The slaves had their labor, but no access to capital. The former slaves who remained in the place of their bondage migrated seasonally to regions where they could work for wages.

Dr. Rossi discussed some of her research with migrants of slave descent who had freely migrated elsewhere, beginning in the 1920s. They were, for the most part, able to work for themselves. She talked about migrants who walked for twenty days to get to a place where they could find a job “And they very often did the simplest and humblest of jobs,” said Dr. Rossi. She said they did not want to run the risk of traveling into areas where they would be recognized as slaves. They wanted to live as free persons. Making roads and carrying water were a couple of jobs they performed. The second generation of migrants were free, but they were still in contact with the descendants of the former masters and were never really able to cut ties. Because of their poverty, they were dependent upon the descendants of their former masters.

She shared an anecdote about a man she called Mohammed whom she has known for 15 years. He is the descendant of former slaves. He told Dr. Rossi that the former master had paid to help the man’s ailing son and wife. “ And so I was joking with him and I told him, ‘well, then it’s a good thing to have a former master.’ And then he looked at me, and he stretched his arms out and he said: ‘I have two arms. Give me one job that I can do here, and I will not look at this man again.’ It’s clearly the problem of labor that has been coming up again and again. It’s absolutely essential to the maintenance of these types of ties of dependence.”

Slavery is a vague memory for the newest generation of migrants, but when in their village, they still live near the descendants of their families’ former masters. Those who migrate abroad face discrimination common to most migrants—they migrate without papers and documents, reside in countries that are xenophobic and where there is intense competition among poor people for the few jobs they can find. They live in secret, help one another, look for work, and when they get work permits, they are often confiscated by corrupt police, according to Dr. Rossi. She added that some of the migrants are able to succeed and send remittances home.

The poorest groups are those who cannot afford to migrate abroad, so they do so locally. They live in a rural countryside at the edge of the Sahara, in a region where slavery has been dying very slowly said Dr. Rossi. There are no jobs available. After their harvest, they lock their granaries and migrate to a nearby town where they have contacts, usually with the descendants of their former masters and others who can provide them with work. Dr. Rossi showed a slide of a woman who made five dollars a month. The woman was able to eat at the house of the people for whom she worked. “So basically there are no costs attached to her living….so this is the only way you can actually go on, is to accept this exploitative relationship which still relies on kinds of dependence. So why does dependence go on in some places? Why do some slave descendants choose to get a certificate of ransom? Very often it is because they are so vulnerable, that maintaining the hierarchy, the ties of hierarchy and of dependence, is actually a way to have safety.”

At the end of her presentation, Dr. Rossi read a quote from a man of slave descent: ‘Before we used to work for the masters who sat down and did nothing. Then the White colonialists controlled our labor. Now project agents tell us what to do. Someone is always sitting and watching us work for nothing.”

Mr. Soodalter told the audience that the average citizen can do something about the issues presented. He made reference to a two-sided handout called “What You Can Do to End Slavery” that was available at the event. Mr. Soodalter also encouraged the audience to go online to “Google news alerts” and read about human trafficking to educate themselves about the issues.

Questions posed to the panelists focused on agricultural abuses of workers, the distinction between smuggling vs. trafficking, NAFTA’s impact on these issues, and environmental effects of slavery. One questioner asked if the term “slavery” actually applied to all of the issues being discussed. Most of the panelists felt that it was appropriate to use term “slavery” to describe these issues. Benedetta Rossi suggested that using the word slavery can help to attract media coverage of an issue, and can generate outrage. Barbara Young said that in the case of domestic workers “we’ve had people who were enslaved and abused.” John Bowe responded, “Slavery takes so many forms.”

In writing this blog, I found an article on The Root (www.theroot.com) , written by Brandee Sanders and published June 13th of this year, about a suburban Atlanta, Georgia woman who was recently convicted for enslaving two young women from her native Nigeria. The woman, Bidemi Bello, was found guilty of luring the women into bondage after promising them employment as nannies and the opportunity to be educated here . Ms. Bello was charged with human trafficking, harboring aliens, making false statements on citizenship applications, forced labor, and seizing her victims’ passports to force them into servitude.

It is reported that Ms. Bello subjected the women to inhuman conditions and atrocities including frequent beatings, verbal abuse, requiring bathing from buckets of water instead of a shower, feeding them spoiled food, forcing them to eat vomit if they became ill, and making the women perform strenuous labor that included hand-trimming Ms. Bello’s lawn.

Ms. Bello’s combined charges carry a maximum of 35 years in prison and 750,000 thousand dollars in fines. Additionally, she will also lose her American citizenship and be deported to Nigeria after serving her sentence.

Final Installment: Trafficking, Sex Workers , Migration and Slavery

The Contemporary Slavery Symposium

The Fourth of July holiday always reminds me of Frederick Douglass’ speech “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro.” In it, Mr. Douglass asks:

‘What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim.”

While most of us think of slavery as an evil of the past, it is, in reality, with us even today, some would argue. People around the world are still subject to slavery, “gross injustice and cruelty.” Modern day slavery was the theme of the day-long “Contemporary Slavery Symposium,” which was held at Exit Art, 475 Tenth Avenue, in Manhattan, on Saturday, June 11th from 10am-6pm. The symposium was followed by a reception. This is the first of three reports about the event.

The symposium was conceived and organized by Mary Anne Staniszewski, Associate Professor, Department of the Arts, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. It was coordinated and organized by Herb Tam and Lauren Rosati, with additional support from Mark Looney. The symposium was supported by a major grant from the New York Council for the Humanities, with additional support provided by the Puffin Foundation.

Exit Art (www.exitart.org)was founded in 1982 by Jeanette Ingberman and Papo Colo. It is an interdisciplina ry cultural center that presents innovative exhibitions, films and performances that reflect a commitment to contemporary issues and ideas. Exit Art supports emerging, under-recognize d, mid-career and international artists, emphasizing new and experimental forms of expression. Exit Art is interested in art that explores environmental, political and cultural issues as a means of initiating or instigating social change. The diversity of Exit Art’s programs reflect the multiplicity of its audience, which includes artists, activists, scholars, scientists, students, critics, educators, collectors, and the New York community at large.

The Contemporary Slavery Symposium was held in conjunction with the exhibit “Contemporary Slavery.” The exhibit was conceived by Papo Colo, Artistic Director, and was organized by Herb Tam, Associate Curator; Lauren Rosati, Associate Curator, and Jeanette Ingberman, Executive Director. The exhibit is a project of SEA (Social Environmental Aesthetics) and the second annual ECOAESTHETIC exhibition, and investigates various forms of contemporary slavery—from human trafficking and the sex trade; to the exploitation of farm and domestic workers, immigrants and prisoners; to sweatshop, bonded and child labor---through a bombardment of images taken by leading photojournalist s documenting on these issues. The exhibit is on view at Exit Art through August 5, 2011.

Of the Symposium, Professor Staniszewski, who is on the Board of Exit Art, wrote:
“In the past thirty years, due to globalization, new media technologies, and shifts in social, financial, and political patterns, there has been a recognition and resurgence of a wide range of human rights abuses commonly known as “slaveries.” From traditional forms of lifelong servitude to forced labor in the sex, prison, farm and domestic workers industries, as well as debt bondage, slavery persists internationally both in ancient and modern forms. This symposium is intended to bring together diverse communities, controversies, and conversations to address these varied but related concerns.”

The symposium featured three panels. The first panel, “The Long Chain of Slavery from Plantation to Prison,” “examined the legacy and contemporary guises of slavery in relation to prisons in the United States and abroad; the second panel, “The Slave Next Door: Local and Global Labor”, investigated current forms of what are commonly understood as traditional slavery. These can be hidden in plain sight, as seen with many restaurant workers, or in contexts where such servitude has been accepted as traditional custom and law. The final panel, “Trafficking, Sex Workers , Migration and Slavery”, dealt with types of “slavery” that have perhaps received the most attention in the United States and internationally: forced labor and trafficked persons in the sex industry. The panels featured an impressive assemblage of activists, artists, researchers, scholars, writers and thinkers.

Professor Staniszewski opened the event and welcomed the audience.
“Exit Art is really the place that takes on the issues that the rest of the art world will not touch. This is especially the case with this issue today.” Professor Staniszewski spoke briefly about the founding of Exit Art and the development of the Contemporary Slavery exhibit. When Ms. Ingberman and Mr. Colo put out a call for art work for the exhibit they received little response. They decided to reach out to photojournalist s who were working on the ground on these issues. Throughout the symposium, pictures from the exhibit were screened.

Professor Staniszewski acknowledged Herb Tam, Lauren Rosati, Papo Colo , and Mark Looney for their work on the event. She gave a special acknowledgement to Jeanette Ingberman, who was in the hospital that day.

“We wanted to bring together these different communities and issues to make visible this larger pattern that’s been going on the past 30 years, of exploitation and injustice.

And I personally view it linked to certain key things, this increase in several factors, this corporate globalization, this inequitable distribution of wealth—the wealthy are getting wealthier, the poor are getting poorer..they’re going to lay off 5,000 teachers, 10,000 state workers and Wall Street had its best quarter in history at the end of 2010. They never made more money. So the rich are richer, the poor are poorer. This is impacting the people whose faces we’re seeing around here.

Thirdly, there’s more migration internally and externally. There have been changes in criminal justice and prison labor policies, perpetual prejudices and then finally, new ones, old ones—media technologies, have made this situation “our slaveries.”And I’m hoping the conference today will not only be about ideas, but about action, and about meeting people, and about doing something about the faces that surround us as we speak today,” said Professor Staniszewski.

She then introduced Eddie Ellis, who moderated the first panel, “The Long Chain of Slavery from Plantation to Prison.” Mr. Ellis is the founder-directo r of the Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions, an independent think tank, and host of WBAI-FM 99.5 radio’s prison and criminal justice report “On the Count.” The panelists included Gloria Browne-Marshall, a civil rights attorney who teaches Constitutional Law and Race and the Law classes at John Jay College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and is the Founder/Director of the Law and Policy Group, Inc. and a noted playwright and author; Scott Christianson, an award-winning author, investigative reporter, documentary filmmaker and human rights activist specializing in American criminal justice and slavery; and Joanna Weschler, the Director of Research and Deputy Executive Director of the Security Council Report, an organization affiliated with Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

“This is not only about intellectual expertise, talent, but it’s about commitment and inspiration, “said Professor Staniszewski. “The people that are going to be here today are truly inspiring people in different ways. And I hope this is going to be a catalyst for you who are going to participate. I’m sure you out there are equally engaged and I hope this is going to bring people together as Exit Art always does. It’s a community building place.”

Eddie Ellis thanked the audience and again acknowledged the creative team that brought the event to fruition. He referenced the panel’s title and said “Whenever I talk about the plantation to the prison, I generally do not like to start at the plantation. I really like to start at the pyramids because our history as a people of African descent goes back that far. And our sojourn, if you will, has been, I think, from the pyramids to the plantation and then ultimately, to the prisons.

From the very inception of this country, the courts, the law, the police and imprisonment has always been a tool for social control, a way in which the dominant society has been able to, not only extract free labor but maintain control over minority populations,” said Mr. Ellis. He referenced slave patrols, the three-fifths clause in the US Constitution, and Supreme Court decisions such as Dred Scott and Plessy v. Ferguson. “There is a long litany of decisions and policy actions that have impacted African American and African American descendants in very negative ways. And it’s no accident that the United States prison system is overwhelmingly, disproportionat ely populated by people of color.” In New York State, the prison system is over 85 percent Black and Latino and over 90 percent Black and Latino in New York City. “In fact, the prison system has become the new plantation, the new slave plantation. And as such, it brings together many of the features that slavery held, that chattel slavery held for people of color,” said Mr. Ellis.

“This morning, we have a very distinguished panel who will present to you a wide panoramic look at the idea of prisons as slavery both in the domestic and the global context.” Mr. Ellis then introduced the first speaker, Professor Gloria Browne- Marshall.

“Mr. Ellis pointed out that this whole idea of the worker being used in the prison system is a long, long problem, long serving those who have wealth and oppressing those who do not, “said Professor Browne- Marshall. She referenced her book “Race, Law, and American Society 1607 to Present” and said “I’m going to go beyond my book and I’m going to go even further back, because as was pointed out, we look at the Transatlantic slave trade and we focus on that because that is something that is more a part of American history and it’s more relevant to us in many ways. But I think we should go back to this idea of slavery and the use of slave labor in the economic systems.”

Professor Browne- Marshall discussed the system of European slavery, serfdom, even the enslavement of Israelites in Egypt. “This idea that we have this labor that can be used for free ---it’s not new to us. It’s not new to the human condition. If we go back even to the use of war, and how war was used to capitulate, not just the enemy, but also to gather, to pillage , to rape, and to take on as prisoners of war, those who have been captured and then use those prisoners of war as laborers. So this idea’s an ongoing one.”

Professor Browne- Marshall talked about the use of the law as a means to sanction labor and human rights abuses. She discussed the slave trades in Portugal, Spain, France and Africa. She explained that the prevailing attitude, sanctioned by law, was that others could be used for labor, for free, in perpetuity, for their lifetimes and their children’s’ lifetimes. “The systems that we have in place today stem from not just that heritage, but from, as was pointed out, the transatlantic slave trade.”

She spoke about the 1607 founding of the Jamestown colony in Virginia by the English, who were determined to keep up with the other European countries that were extending their territories around the world, and talked about the introduction of the legal system at this time. The first Africans, twenty in number, arrived in the colony in 1619. “We (persons of African descent) were here before the Mayflower.” There were no slave laws at the time. Indentured servitude, firmly rooted in Europe, was the rule of the day in the colony. Professor Browne -Marshall talked about the first African couple in the colony, Mary and Anthony Johnson (originally named Maria and Antonio), a married couple who were servants, but who were eventually able to buy their freedom. They went on to own land, and had both White and Black servants.

By the 1680s, laws had begun to be used to suppress and oppress persons of color. For example, Professor Browne- Marshall talked about how African children born of English fathers originally had the right of inheritance under English laws, but new laws eventually denied these children the right of inheritance from their fathers. “Would slavery have continued if they had not changed the inheritance laws and those children actually inherited from the English father? Or on the other hand, how much money would I have right now?” quipped Professor Browne- Marshall. As the laws supported a new social and racial hierarchy and guaranteed more economic gain for the wealthy, it simultaneously decreased human rights for those being exploited for their labor. Laws were further used to criminalize people of color for challenging unjust laws. Once incarcerated, the labor of these individuals could be used for free. “We are building societies based on legal injustice and prison labor,” said Professor Browne -Marshall. She talked about the writing of the Declaration of Independence, and the contradiction of the use of language referring to King George of England as a tyrant and oppressor while being written in the presence of Black slaves. “We have fought and been conflicted and usually have capitulated to the oppression of groups, Native Americans, women, etc. in order to better support our economic basis as a country.”

After the Civil War, some attempts were made to return people of African descent to Africa and Haiti, out of fear of what the freed slaves would do. The country was not interested in giving Blacks full citizenship and rights, but saw them as a perpetual labor class. Ultimately the South, still reeling economically, used the criminal justice system to create and enforce Black codes, and used other measures such as convict leasing, to imprison Blacks and use their labor for free in order to rebuild the South. Professor Browne- Marshall said that this situation has brought us to the point where we are today, in which 25 percent of the world’s prisoners are in the United States, though we are only 8 percent of the world’s population. “We will be living with our very destructive choices for a very long time.”

Ending on an optimistic note, Professor Browne -Marshall noted that Blacks have survived the system of slavery, Plessy v. Ferguson, separate but equal, and lynching and said “We know we have the power to change the system that’s in place today.”

Before introducing the next panelist, Scott Christianson, Mr. Ellis noted that in her introduction, Professor Staniszewski did not mention that Mr. Ellis spent 25 years in prison. He was an activist in the Black Panther Party and was targeted for “neutralization.” In doing some research on this term, I found that this referred to the FBI’s attempts, under Director J. Edgar Hoover, to monitor and then extinguish the work of Black activists during the Civil Rights era. While incarcerated, Mr. Ellis met Mr. Christianson, a prison reform activist, and they stayed in correspondence over the years. Mr. Ellis said that Mr. Christianson could be called upon to investigate prison complaints. Mr. Christianson’s work, according to Mr. Ellis, has resulted in the exoneration of at least nine individuals who had been wrongfully convicted.

Of the slavery symposium, Mr. Christianson said “I think there are a lot of reasons why we need to have this discussion. We are part of a world that is seeing a lot happening with regard to all kinds of terrible oppression and struggles for liberation today. We are part of a country that not only has a huge prison system, but we are also exporting many of our prison ideas and technology,” said Mr. Christianson, referencing Abu Ghraib, “that was actually built by an American firm before Saddam Hussein, then used as a torture / execution center by Saddam Hussein, and since has been used for terrible things by the United States,” he added.

“So, we are part of a world that is still beset by these ancient problems of slavery and imprisonment, things that really predate history, and which continue to plague us to this day. And anybody who has the notion that there is progress in human history has to keep in mind that from time to time, we see hideous things happening, tremendous steps backward, and reversion to absolutely despicable kinds of practices that took hundreds of years before to get rid of, so we are not home free,” said Mr. Christianson. He went on to talk about the relationship between slavery and imprisonment.

“We had many ways in which as slavery was being gradually abolished, in the North, in New York State for example, at the same time the Legislature was making that step, it was gradually creating the penal system. We were moving from the slave pen to the state pen. And this happened over many years. We created a prison system here in New York, in the form of Auburn and Sing Sing, and these other model prisons that became the objects of study by people such as De Tocqueville, who came here to study not our democratic institutions, but our penal institutions, in particularly our system of penal slavery, because it seemed that we had worked out a way to not only lock a lot of people up but to make money from it, to make a profit for the state. Prison was the first large capital construction project by the state.” He added “It became, originally, the source of a lot of revenue for the state.”

When asked about prison privatization, Mr. Christianson responds: “We had prison privatization in this country for hundreds of years. It was called slavery. It was called indentured servitude. It was called the Atlantic slave trade.” He said that the slave trade brought in not only slaves, but convicts and indentured servants to the country. “It existed for hundreds of years. It was the foundation of the economic system of America.

We should not think that prisoners are such a despised group and they haven’t contributed anything to our country. In fact, they’ve contributed a great deal. The English language, the American language is the richest language on the world today because it contains so many words that have come to us from prisoners. We have many forms of music that have come to us from the prison—the blues, jazz, many other forms of music-- hip hop today. We have a lot of great writing and great art that has come to us from prison.”

He commented on the diversity of the audience, expressing delight that there were many young people in attendance. He said, “these issues are becoming the dominant issues of our time.” Mr. Christianson said that for the most part, people don’t want to know about prison issues. “Prisons are out of sight, out of mind.” He added that these issues have intergeneration al and economic impact. Of the prison system, Mr. Christianson noted: “We have more people working in prisons than in the military, and you know how important that is in this country.” Mr. Christianson further commented on the increasing punitiveness of our society, even though more people are sent to prison for drugs, “not murder, not mayhem, not rape.”

He said that he was encouraged about possibilities for change, citing a Supreme Court ruling that forces the state of California’s prison system to release some of its prisoners because the system is so bad, it could meet the standard for cruel and unusual punishment. Echoing Professor Gloria Browne- Marshall, Mr. Christianson said “We may have an opportunity for real change.”

Ms. Joanna Weschler was the final panelist. She said that the human rights community’s entry into prison reform work was slow. “It took a while for the human rights community to accept prison work as part of its spectrum. “ She cited the early prison work of Amnesty International, which focused on working for the release of political prisoners. “The key issue was not conditions of imprisonment, but reason for imprisonment, “said Ms. Weschler.

Ms. Weschler spent five years doing work on international prisons through a prison project by Human Rights Watch, saying that it was the most rewarding work of her career. In her work, she reviewed prison conditions in at least 20 countries that spanned five continents and involved various demographic groups and political systems. “Treatment of ordinary prisoners, I believe, is the crucial test of a society because when a state deprives someone of their liberty, it has a legal obligation not to punish the person beyond the penalty that was prescribed by law…When this happens, we are dealing with a form of slavery, not necessarily economic in nature,” said Ms. Weschler. She said that most countries have prison systems, and added, “very few of them have no human rights problems within their systems.”

Ms. Weschler noted that getting the United Nations interested in prisons “was simply out of the question. There was nowhere to go. We heard, ‘that’s not what we do.” A breakthrough came In 1994, when Sir Nigel Rodley, noted international human rights attorney, professor and member of the UN Human Rights Committee, “who initially didn’t see his mandate as including prisons,” according to Ms. Weschler, released a groundbreaking report on human rights abuses in the Russian prison system. “He essentially showed that you don’t need to have political imprisonment to have horrendous human rights violations in the prison system.” Ms. Weschler added that “the gulag was technically over as a political tool.” Another breakthrough happened when the UN adopted the optional protocol to the Convention Against Torture. It took ten years to get the document adopted. “That creates opportunities for looking at prisons, making them less closed and more transparent.”

In 2008, when the new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navanethem Pillay spoke openly about prison issues in her first press conference, Ms. Weschler said she was heartened that prisons were being talked about as a key priority. Before then, High Commissioners had never really spoken about the issue. Around four years ago, the UN Human Rights Council created a system of Universal Periodic Review which gives concerned groups and individuals an opportunity to engage in a public discourse about human rights issues, including prison conditions.

“I’m not saying that this work has made a tremendous impact in the United States. I’m afraid it hasn’t. But internationally, there is progress,” said Ms. Weschler.

Mr. Ellis then engaged the panelists in a brief discussion on topics including the three-fifths rule, Dred Scott, prison reform, restorative justice, and the United States’ standing in the international community regarding prison issues. Professor Browne- Marshall showed that today’s prison gerrymandering operates almost as the three-fifths rule once did. Panelists discussed the challenges of dismantling the current prison system and prison- based economies. For example, Mr. Christianson said that there are some families who have seven generations of prison guards, and are very dependent upon prisons for their economic survival. The discussion on restorative justice focused on prisoner accountability, and on bridging the gap between the prisoner and the victim. Mr. Christianson said that the restorative justice model was proposed in the 1970s and is more accepted in Europe. Ms. Weschler said that the human rights community has not focused as much on political prisoners in the United States, partly because the United States has been resistant to human rights scrutiny. She said that the United States lost some standing in the international community after the release of the Abu Ghraib pictures.

The question and answer session addressed audience inquiries about the increasing number of women going to prison, stop and frisk policies, and prison labor. In a brief segue, Mr. Ellis reviewed the Center for NuLeadership’s platform on prisons issues:
• The criminal justice system is punitive and should move toward a public health model.
• The Center advocates prison depopulation of the elderly, the infirm, and the mentally ill. The cost savings can be diverted elsewhere.
• Create a policy to help people access employment, housing, health care and other services upon release from prison.

I was most interested in the question about the increasing numbers of women of color going to prison because I have read that in my current research. I appreciated Professor Browne- Marshall’s response:

“The Black woman has been seen for centuries as being very strong. And we are. And I like it…very much. But there are people who are very concerned about the strength of a Black woman. And so when you look at concerns, social control, and you start to look at the Black woman as being a woman who is seen as threatening, and in many instances almost as threatening as a Black man, then it’s not a coincidence that you see her numbers going up.”

Professor Browne- Marshall said that the incarceration numbers of Black women are also up due to emphasis on drug arrests, with women being arrested for possession, sales, and serving as drug mules. She continued “when law enforcement encounters a Black woman, she’s almost treated as a man in many instances--the rough treatment, the physicality of it. And this idea of the Black woman as a threat—intellectual threat, in some cases a physical threat, to those who don’t understand her power.”

As a result of many Black women living on their own, they are vulnerable and have to fight on their own, because of their limited protections. “That’s another reason why she’s more vulnerable when it comes to the criminal justice system. So there are many different issues—social, psychological, economic, that plays into this. But I think that we have to do something about the Black woman and the incarceration rate. There’s a saying that women hold up half the sky. And when it comes to the Black woman, she holds up much more in her community.”

Next Installment: The Slave Next Door: Local and Global Labor

The Best of Themselves

Youth Communication, Inc. a program which helps teens develop their reading and writing skills and publishes “Represent,” a magazine written by and for youth in foster care, recently sponsored its 13th Annual Youth Communication Awards for Youth in Foster Care. The award ceremony was held on Wednesday, June 1st at the College Board, 45 Columbus Avenue in Manhattan, from 5:30-8pm. This is the second installment of a two-part report about the event.

Ms. Giselle John, the event emcee and a former Represent writer, introduced Mr. Max Moran, MSW, therapist and former Represent writer. He presented the Special First Prize award winners.

In his opening, Mr. Moran talked briefly about immigrating to the United States at the age of ten. He joked that he came to America “because I wanted to drink Pepsi.”

“But unfortunately, by the age of 14, I found myself in foster care, and bouncing around from group home to group home. By the time I was 21, I got kicked out (of foster care) with 3 to my name. It was a struggle. But three years later, I actually graduated with a bachelor’s in social work. A year after that, I got my master’s from Hunter College School of Social Work, at 25 years old. A couple of months later, I got my license to be a psychotherapist. So think about that, just four years prior, I was this group home kid that nobody wanted. And then four years later, I was a psychotherapist giving couples counseling, trying to save someone’s marriage. Meanwhile, I didn’t even know where my parents were.”

Mr. Moran thanked the Rev. Alfonso Wyatt for a speech that he had given years ago, in which he told the audience of young people that life was like a bank, and a person had to put money in it if they wanted to take money out. Mr. Moran recalled Rev. Wyatt’s statement, ‘You have to invest in yourself’. “And that is what I decided to do,” said Mr. Moran. He likewise encouraged the young people in the audience to invest in themselves.

The first award winner presented was a young lady named Najet (she asked that her last name not be published). Mr. Moran read from Najet’s nominator’s statement: “I am pleased to nominate Najet. She is a strong, motivated young woman who was a resident on the campus for 18 months and is now a B student at the school on campus. While in the residence, she worked through many obstacles and redefined herself as a student who went from being credit deficient to college bound. Najet’s personal strength includes her sense of responsibility to those around her.”

Mr. Moran told the story of how Najet befriended a new girl in her group home who was ostracized and bullied by other residents. One day, Najet walked into a room where some of the residents were sitting on a couch, and had made the girl sit on the floor. “Instead of her being a follower, she decided to be a leader. What she decided to do was sit next to the girl. So she sat next to her, and the girl smiled at her, and then they became friends. After that, all the bullying stopped,” said Mr. Moran. He reported that Najet said to the girls who were doing the bullying, “I don’t care what you think about me. I got a mind of my own, so I don’t need to pick on somebody to feel better about myself.” Najet, who is graduating from high school, scored a 1720 on her SATs. She will attend a SUNY university in the fall and wants to attend law school.

The next award winner to be introduced by Mr. Moran was Irene Brown. “Irene Brown is really wiser than her age. This is what she wrote : When my daughter was born, I was so scared because I was told she could not go home right away. She had to stay in the hospital for at least four months to stabilize her breathing. I no longer had a life of my own. I quickly had to learn to share my time with my beautiful daughter. I don’t understand what was going on with her, how to take care of her. I knew that I wanted her and that I loved her very much. I also knew that I would never let anything happen to her.” Mr. Moran told the audience that Ms. Brown’s daughter Taliyah was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. To care for her daughter, Ms. Brown rises each morning at 5am, puts lotion on her daughter, exercises her daughter’s legs and arms, dresses her before putting her leg braces on, feeds her breakfast and gives her medication before the school bus picks her daughter up at 6:55am. “Obviously, she is a full-time mom. She’s also working and pursuing her GED,” said Mr. Moran.

He stated to Ms. Brown: “Sometimes when something like that happens to us, it’s hard for us to make sense out of it. Why did it happen to us? But when I was thinking about you, I could honestly say this—she (her daughter Taliyah) chose you. Because she knew what kind of mother you would be.”

Dominique Grady was the next award winner presented by Mr. Moran. He read from her essay: “What would you do if you were in a group home without any friends or family to help you? How would you get settled in a new environment that you never seen? How would you maintain yourself? Would you lead or follow good or bad influences? Would you be a follower or a leader?’

“Those were some of the questions she had to face when she entered foster care at 13. Instead of feeling sorry for herself like a lot of people do in that situation, she herself became a leader and an advocate and a mentor to other younger residents in her group home.

This is what the person who recommended Dominique had to say: ‘Dominique is a vivacious, determined and resilient young woman. She has consistently demonstrated strength during challenges and situations, and a desire to mature into a healthy, responsible and independent young adult. One of Dominique’s most remarkable traits, very likely developed as a result of some of her foster care placements, is that she is an incredible advocate for herself and a strong voice and spirit.”

In introducing the next award winner Wilson Martines, Mr. Moran joked: “I’m going to put you on the spot a little bit. This is what your mom had to say about you.
“What can say about my son Wilson? Well, he is a pain in the behind sometimes. And I am not sure of whether or not the pain is due to him being an adolescent, a product of the foster care system, or both. He is smart, arrogant, strong willed and a great friend. His determination is commendable. And when the chips appear to be down, he has this unique ability to rise to the occasion and fly beyond the stars.”

In 2009, Mr. Martines had a 45 average in school. Last year, he maintained a 3.11 average. He is in his second semester at John Jay College and in the fall, he will transfer to a SUNY school upstate, where he will major in political science. Mr. Martines volunteers with Housing Works, an organization that helps people living with HIV and the homeless.

Reading from Mr. Martines’ essay, Mr. Moran said: “He said, it means the world to me to be part of a cause, because I know how it feels to be homeless and bounce around from shelter to shelter. I understand the despair of not knowing where your next meal will come from, and not being sure if you’ll have a safe place to sleep. I provide as much help in the hopes that if I do enough, if I am ever down and out, somebody will remember and return the favor.”

The final award winner in the Special First Prize category was Jorge Ramos. Mr. Moran read an excerpt of what his counselor wrote of Mr. Ramos: “Jorge is an articulate and intelligent young man who has been able to turn his life from bad to good. He was able to receive his GED diploma. In addition, Jorge invested his time in helping his family and others who are less fortunate.”

“When you’re in foster care, it’s hard to even think five minutes ahead or five minutes before,” said Mr. Moran. “And this young man took the time to actually think about people who didn’t have the things he had. When I was in foster care, all I thought about was really how to survive. Meanwhile, he’s trying to help other people. Just think about what kind of character he has.”

Mr. Ramos learned to act on his concern for others in the second grade, when he was all of seven years of age. His teacher launched a food drive, telling the students that there were others less fortunate, who lacked the basic necessities like enough food. Mr. Moran read from Mr. Ramos’ essay: “I was horrified. I thought about how it would feel to not have food when I wanted to eat.” When he got home from school, Mr. Ramos grabbed some plastic bags and emptied his food cabinets! “Obviously mom wasn’t happy when she came home and there was no food in the house. But obviously his heart was in the right place, “ said Mr. Moran. To this day, Mr. Ramos continues to give to people. “This is what he has to say about that: I’ve been through a great deal of trouble in my life, but I always had someone there to help me through the trouble. The importance of helping others is phenomenal. The difference made when I help someone, although it may not be instant, has the potential to be great. The child whose self-esteem I help may one day go on to lead the free world.”

In the final portion of the event, the Grand Prize Winners were announced. Ms. John returned to the podium to introduce the first presenter, Ms. Pauline Gordon, NYC Regional Youth Partner, YOUTH POWER!, former Represent writer, and previous award winner. Ms. Gordon introduced award winner Isabella Amberstone.

“Research shows that youth in foster care are 44 percent less likely to graduate from high school. And after emancipation, 40 to 50 percent never complete high school or a GED program. Girls in foster care are six times more likely to give birth before the age of 21, more than the general population, etc. etc. etc. Despite these alarming statistics, these winners, all of tonight’s winners, are physical and visual proof that the community, we as a community, is doing something right.
I am proud to present to you a young lady who strives not to be just another statistic, not to fall into the pool of foster youth who are often labeled as at risk, vulnerable and troubled.

At the age of 20, Isabella Amberstone will be graduating from Metropolitan College this summer. In the fall, she will attend Hofstra to pursue her Master’s in Child Development and Business. In the future, she anticipates opening up a community based program that will serve as a safe haven for youth in foster care to access necessary resources to help them succeed and live productive lives. Her message for youth in foster care is to not always expect from others, to build your inner motivation and want it more than anything.

In Isabella’s winning essay, “Letting in Love”, she wrote that as a result of the trauma she went through before and after entering foster care, she had to set boundaries. And I quote from her essay: ‘I found myself developing mental, emotional and physical boundaries because I was abused as an infant. I would have flashbacks and throw fits. I believe these flashbacks contributed to my sense of physical boundaries. Setting boundaries is not only a way to feel secure in your environment, but it is a way to gain self respect shown to you by others.’ As a former youth in foster care and a Represent writer, I can relate to Isabella’s story. It is a skill to turn adversity into a teaching tool and a driving force to make you want to succeed in life. For that, I commend Isabella for all of her hard work and know that she will continue to influence others on her path to success.”

Ms. Amberstone thanked her nominator for encouraging her to enter the competition. He saw an essay she wrote and told her “you’re a really good writer.” She was given the contest entry form, and thought skeptically “this should be fun.” Ms. Amberstone typed the essay and submitted it. “I didn’t think anything of it.” Soon after, “ I got a little thing in the mail that said I won first prize and I said yay”, clearly downplaying her enthusiasm.

“Second, I would like to thank my parents. I was adopted and I’m truly grateful for that, because if it wasn’t for them, I don’t know where I’d be.”

The next presenter, Autumn Spanne, Editor, Represent magazine, introduced award winner Felicia Coohill.

“Parenting is the most important job in the world. Whether someone is a parent to his or her own child or another’s, the person who steps into that role and performs it selflessly and compassionately is creating the path for a child’s life. Sometimes, such as when a parent suffers from substance abuse or mental illness, they don’t do a very good job of making a smooth and hopeful path for their children. And so that child’s journey is treacherous, full of obstacles that could have profound consequences, putting her in danger of wandering into the wilderness.

But some young people have that special combination of resilience, tenacity and wisdom to be able to make their own path. Such is the case for Felicia Coohill. She says in her essay: ‘A perfect example of someone that helps another person out and expects nothing in return is a mother. I was a mother for my four siblings. I didn’t have to take care of them. I could have just let them fend for themselves like I did. However, I felt that they deserved to be taken care of and have someone to look up to.’

Felicia’s essays are so wise. She shows a capacity for forgiveness toward her parents’ substance abuse, and an understanding that all children deserve to be cared for and encouraged. So while in elementary school, Felicia made her siblings’ bottles and put them to sleep. She changed diapers, she taught them to walk, she even potty trained them. She cooked, cleaned, and got them to school, helping them learn to read and to count. At the age of 9, Felicia was going to school, selling candy after school to make a few bucks, and then coming home to make dinner. Felicia held back some of the money from her mother so that she could buy food and diapers with that candy money, and sometimes birthday presents for her siblings. She says ‘I know I didn’t do a perfect job of raising them, but I did the best I could and I know I helped to make each one of these kids into the person that they are today.’

I think about all the parents that I know and admire for the way they raise their children, the way they struggle to give their children the best that they can. It’s a hard, hard job. What an extraordinary human being it takes to understand while still very much a child herself, the incredible importance of giving children a strong, supportive nurturing start in life. Felicia didn’t just understand that, she made it happen. Despite missing a lot of school due to her responsibilitie s and the instability at home, this young woman is now a senior in high school and looking forward to college, where she plans to pursue a degree in nursing. Imagine how many people will be touched by Felicia’s compassion and support during her lifetime.

Felicia’s recommender says: ‘ Felicia’s drive and ability to overcome despair while simultaneously achieving success, is an amazing accomplishment.’ It is indeed.”

Presenter Virginia Vitzthum, Editor, Represent magazine, introduced award winner George Johnson.

“George Johnson writes: ‘Yes, we have a baby together. We were young when we had it. I’m in foster care. She’s in a shelter with our son. She wanted me to move into the shelter with them.’

Like many teens in care, George was saddled with too much responsibility too soon. He has had to decide three people’s fate at an age when you should be worrying about who to take to the prom. Like most teenage romances, his and Amanda’s didn’t last forever, but it made them parents for life. And here’s where George had to be good and smart—carefully weighing the needs of himself and others, the appearance of selfishness, and the reality of planning the present and the future. He takes us right into his agonizing process.

‘I want to develop independent living skills, I want to go to college, I want to get my own apartment. These opportunities are so beneficial and will help me be a better father to our son.’

He doesn’t make it easier on himself by denying that this is hard on Amanda. He writes: ‘She feels alone, like I’m not going through this with her. I know that she wants me to be with them every day, and part of me wishes that I could be. I’ve reached out to many people in my life to talk about what I should do. My decision to stay in care was difficult, but it’s the right decision for me.’

Reading George’s essay, I’m struck by how he balances the needs of himself, his son and his son’s mother without self-justificat ion or self -deception. He knows he’s hurting Amanda. He writes: ‘ When she’s mad and upset, she tells me that she would be somewhere better if she hadn’t gotten pregnant. I think that she’s jealous I finished high school and she didn’t get a chance to. By staying in care, I’ve had more opportunities to better myself.’

By offering Amada’s viewpoint without rebuttal, George communicates that yes, a teenage mom is more stuck than a teenage dad. And no, that’s not really fair, but sacrificing his own future won’t help anyone. George concludes his essay by detailing how he and Amanda are negotiating their enormous responsibility amid the disappointment of a broken relationship: ‘Well, we could not agree, and we had difficulty trusting each other. Right now, we are trying to be friends. There’s less stress and less confusion. We used to have deep conversations and now it’s just straightforward updates. Instead of spending time with Amanda, I only spend time with my son. We used to say “I love you” on the phone and now we don’t. I still love her, and I know she still loves me, but right now it’s not about us. It’s about each of us as individuals progressing toward our goals. I am still a father to my son and he always comes first.’

The boundaries George has had to draw are more complex than cutting someone off or even letting someone in. A sane, respectful relationship with an ex, who is also a co parent, is one of the hardest, strangest and most important kinds of ties there are. People younger and older can learn from this wise and honorable young man,” said Ms. Vitzthum.

Mr. Johnson offered a brief word of thanks to his social worker, Julie Glickman, for nominating him, and to Neil Freeman, the director of his group home, for accepting him into the group home. Mr. Johnson was in an upstate group home, and the move enabled him to be closer to his son.

Evette Soto Maldonado, an attorney who herself was once in foster care, presented award winner Carmen Rodriguez.

“I want to start by thanking everyone who has come tonight to support 20 amazing young people who have overcome obstacles many can only imagine, and who have persevered and become truly amazing individuals who will go on to do great things, so congratulations to all of you. I want to especially thank Gladys Carrion for being here tonight and for staying for the entire program. I know you’re a very busy woman, so thank you for your support.

I want to thank Youth Communication, Keith, Virginia and Autumn for working on this program every year and making sure that it happens. While most coverage of youth in care highlight the negative and often tragic aspects of the system, Youth Communication has chosen to highlight the best and brightest and I just want to thank you for that. And apparently the Daily News is coming along too.

My job tonight is to introduce Carmen Rodriguez, who is a truly exceptional young woman who has managed to not only adjust to her life in foster care, but in just under one short year, to thrive and work through emotional issues that many take a lifetime to come to terms with.

Carmen’s essay about boundaries describes her extremely painful but necessary decision to set boundaries with her mother, who was abusing drugs and would in turn abuse Carmen. After years of suffering abuse, Carmen realized that things had to change. And after an especially violent incident, Carmen was removed from her home and placed into a foster home. Faced with emotional turmoil most can only imagine, Carmen felt, in her own words, ‘like a victim, sad, angry and most especially neglected.’ Carmen questioned her decision to leave her home and began blaming herself, particularly when she and her mom stopped speaking. She also had to deal with the alienation of her brother, who remained with her mother and who also stopped speaking to her.

While most faced with being uprooted and placed in the home of strangers, while at the same time having to come to terms with years of abuse at the hands of her mother might wallow in self-pity and never recover, Carmen instead made the important and life changing decision to make use of the therapy she was offered by her agency. She was able to work through many of the issues she was facing. She knows that therapy was an extremely important step for her, and she explains that after just a few months of therapy, she no longer saw herself as a victim, and has learned and grown from this experience, and no longer sees herself as neglected. Instead, as described by Carmen’s social worker, Ms. Agolli, who recommended Carmen for tonight’s award, ‘Carmen has developed a strong sense of identity, which helps her stay grounded in the present reality and hopeful for the future. And above all, she tries to achieve self-acceptance and self-love.’

Carmen explains that although she has been through a lot, she has changed and become a better person throughout what she describes as her “journey.” She has not been on this journey by herself, either. She credits the guidance and understanding of several people including her foster mom, social worker, and therapist, who have been instrumental in helping her achieve all that she has.

Carmen has used the therapy she was offered wisely, and has come to terms with the painful fact that while she and her mother and brother are not communicating right now, she understands that they all have to work on their differences, and change takes time. And for right now, Carmen is committed to working on herself. However, she remains hopeful that in time, her family will choose to work on their own issues, and that they will one day be able to work out their differences together and interact as a family again.

Carmen has taken the life lessons she has learned in just one short year and used them to help others. In her essay on helping others, she describes her fortuitous visit to a nursing home, which allowed her to reunite one of her classmates with their grandmother who they had not seen in over ten years. Carmen notes that this experience was amazing for her, as she was extremely happy that she was instrumental in helping this family become reunited. And she was proud of herself, as well she should have been.

Carmen’s determination and commitment to better herself can also be seen by the fact that she is still in high school and scheduled to graduate on time next fall. Carmen plans to attend college and hopes to become a teacher. It is her dream to be able to work with children and be a significant part of their lives, in order to give them what she never had the fortune of receiving as a child. I know Carmen will make an amazing teacher and mentor one day soon. And I envy the children who have the good fortune to be taught by this wonderful person.

Ms. Agolli describes Carmen as ‘an articulate, thoughtful, and insightful young woman who demonstrates introspection, a willingness to work through difficulties, and above all, resilience.’ I would describe Carmen as a phenomenal young woman, who will do great things in the future.”

Keith Hefner briefly returned to the podium. He acknowledged the contest judges, remarking “this is torturous, to judge this contest, because everyone deserves to win a grand prize.” He also announced that filmmaker Phil Bertelsen, one of last year’s judges, was not able to attend the ceremony. He was scheduled to present award winner Yesabeth Martinez. Mr. Bertelsen, who himself was in foster care and was eventually adopted, works with a program called Adoptment ,where people who have been in foster care become mentors to foster care youth. He currently works on the MTV show “16 and Pregnant.” According to Mr. Hefner, “he was planning to introduce Yesabeth this evening and one of his subjects went into labor just a few hours ago, so he had to race off to wherever they’re filming and film it. So he was very disappointed he couldn’t be here. He has his speech on Giselle’s cell phone. And so she will introduce Yesabeth.” Ms. John remarked, “I did storytelling, so I can put a spin on this.”

‘Life is simple. Everyone falls into two categories. The things we have no control over and then there are things we have control over. Of all the people in the world, you can only control the actions of one.’ These are the words of Yesabeth Martinez. Yesabeth is not yet 20 years old. In fact, she celebrates her 19th birthday next Tuesday, so happy birthday is in order. Though she is not yet 20 years old, Yesabeth understands something about the human condition many people take a lifetime to figure out. Yesabeth knows that life is simple if you understand two things—control and lack of control.

How did she come to learn this at such a young age? An abusive stepfather and a disbelieving mother for one thing. The lack of trust, and years in foster care that followed, and the possessive, ultimately violent and abusive boyfriend she chose to leave. These were some of the circumstances Yesabeth faced, but they have not defeated her. In fact, in the face of it all, Yesabeth learned and understood one critically important thing that sets her apart from many who find themselves in difficult situations, that she herself personally, can take control of her life and be the source of change that she was so desperately looking for.

That’s not to say that she is in any way responsible for the circumstances that led her to care. She is not. Or that she has gotten support from friends, foster parents and advocates alike who are working hard on her behalf. She has. But somewhere along the line, Yesabeth had the strength and courage to rely on herself. She had wisdom enough to know that sometimes others can fail you, and that at the end of the day, you are the one person in your life whose actions you can control.

As an advocate for teens in care and an Emergency Medical Technician, a paramedic in training, Yesabeth has chosen to find ways to take her life’s lessons and impart them to others. She is a role model, setting an example for all of us, young and old. Life is simple, no one said it would be easy, though it’s easier if you don’t complicate it.

As someone who came up in foster care myself, I was adopted into a loving family as a young boy. My life’s journey mirrors Yesabeth’s in some ways. And while I’ve learned to value the strength of my convictions, her example inspires me to want to work even harder at living a meaningful life.”

Ms. Martinez was not able to attend the ceremony, but two members of her “success team” came to the podium to acknowledge her. Ms. Martinez’ social worker said “on behalf of Yesabeth, I would like to thank this program and everyone who made this possible for the youth in foster care.” Her colleague, Tiffanie Taiste from the Jewish Child Care Association (JCCA), said “I told her (Ms. Martinez) before, sometimes you may not know but you inspire me and you help me see things sometimes. So it goes to show you that even people younger than you can inspire you. I know she’s going to go really, really far. “

Ms. John returned to the podium to offer some closing words. “Ladies and gentlemen, I would like for you to, one more time, put your hands together for all the winners.” Speaking to the award winners, Ms. John said, “Take an opportunity, if you have time, to write for Represent. I am where I am because I walked through those doors some years ago and decided I wanted to write. Didn’t have a clue what foster care was, but I was living in it. Came from a different country, didn’t understand it. And I understood all that I did because I spent time writing about it. I am where I am because I have people like Keith Hefner and the editors on a daily basis, who helped us to bring these stories alive. I gained my voice because of that. I want to encourage you. Take this time, write a story or two, become a writer for Represent. Encourage other people. Continue to allow other people to read about you, to know who you are.

As a professional, as a former Represent writer, as a former youth in foster care, I really just want to give you guys kudos. This night has always been about you, though I’ve tried to steal it a couple of times. For the adults in the room, keep encouraging them. Always say a good word. Always, always give them the resources. Always help them to stand on their own. Foster care is difficult as it is. Without you, without the folks who fund this, we don’t have this one night a year, where young people in foster care come together and people only focus on the great things that they’ve done and the accomplishments they’ve made. So this is why we do this every year, and I pray that we will continue to have the opportunity to support it,” said Ms. John in concluding the ceremony.

After the ceremony, I spoke with Susan Goldstein, President of the Sunny and Abe Rosenberg Foundation. Her foundation supports the awards program, and she attends the awards ceremony annually. This year, Ms. Goldstein attended with her son and his fiancée.

The Sunny and Abe Rosenberg Foundation was established in 1966 by the couple who adopted Ms. Goldstein. She called this family foundation “a gift.” Today, Ms. Goldstein’s two children work with her at the foundation.

Ms. Goldstein learned about the work of Youth Communication through a friend who also works in philanthropy, and she supports the awards program because of her interest in foster care and adoption. Ms. Goldstein previously served as a judge for the awards competition. The judging process was intense, but Ms. Goldstein called it a “labor of love.” She applauded the young people who were honored for all they accomplished in spite of their often difficult life circumstances, remarking, “These kids are amazing.” Ms. Goldstein echoed the sentiments of another speaker, Tiffanie Taiste, and said, “You really can learn from the young.”

Before I left, I introduced myself to award winner Irene Brown. She was so cheerful. I told her that I was very moved (to tears) by her story and by Mr. Moran’s comment about her daughter Taliyah choosing Ms. Brown to be her mother. She proudly showed me a picture of three- year- old Taliyah, who was smiling and wearing an adorable pair of sunglasses. I chatted briefly with Ms. Brown about her future plans. For right now, she is focused on working and studying for her GED. What an inspiring young woman.

What exceptional young people! As Keith Hefner said in a later conversation, the people in the audience—the foster parents, social workers, friends, counselors, peers, relatives, and other supporters, came to celebrate and to reflect back to these young people “the best of themselves.”

To learn more about Youth Communication and Represent magazine, visit www.youthcomm.org

Thanks to:
The Judges:
Christopher Bell, Pinkerton Foundation
Amy Chou, New Yorkers for Children
Marsha Davis, Administration for Children’s Services
Diana Fenton, Office of Children and Family Services
Ronni Fuchs, Administration for Children’s Services
Sabra Jackson, Child Welfare Organizing Project
Nina Mogilnik, Child Welfare Fund
Max Moran, former Represent writer
Michael Skinner Mendelow, National CASA
Evette Soto Maldonado, Esq.
Autumn Spanne, Editor, Represent magazine
Lorraine Stephens, Administration for Children’s Services
Valerie Tomeck, Office of Children and Family Services
Alfonso Wyatt, Fund for the City of New York
Virginia Vitzthum, Editor, Represent magazine

The Adults Who Nominated This Year’s Winners:
Edlira Agolli, Catholic Guardian Society and Home Bureau
Eileen A. Bruno, Seamen’s Society for Children and Families
Andrea Byrne, Greenburgh Graham
Joy Felix, Jewish Child Care Association
Shannon Ferguson, Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center
Luz Freytes, Saint Dominic’s Home
Julie Glickman, Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services
Iris L. Johnson, foster parent
Patricia Klarl, Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics
Sean Mc Cormack, Jewish Child Care Association
Shajida McNab, Mercy First
Amy Morgenstern, Jewish Child Care Association
Polly Mygatt, Center for Family Life, SCO Family of Services
Patricia O’Brien, You Gotta Believe!
Donna Panzarella, Little Flower Children and Family Services
Richard Santana, Catholic Guardian Society and Home Bureau
Leah Schneider, Morris Heights Health Center
Michael Surko, Bellevue Hospital Center
Tiffanie Taiste, Bridges to Health, Jewish Child Care Association
Starr Tomczak, foster parent

The Agencies that Provide Services to This Year’s Winners:
Administration for Children’s Services
Catholic Guardian Society and Home Bureau
Graham Windham
Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services
Jewish Child Care Association
Little Flower Children and Family Services
Mercy First
New York Foundling
Saint Dominic’s Home
SCO Family of Services
Seamen’s Society for Children and Families
The Salvation Army