Feminist Followings- Feb. 15

Issue 5 Week of February 15
Happy safe, loving, violence-free Valentines Day from Women’s Initiative! 
(Sorry for our late issue this week!)

Women’s Initiative is now on Twitter! Follow us at @au_wi.

AU EVENTS
Men’s Outreach Tabling- Tuesday, Feb. 16, 5 p.m.
Are you a male ally looking to get involved in Women’s Initiative?  Come find out ways to get involved in feminist issues at AU!

The Vagina Monologues are Coming!
Look for our table in MGC and outside of TDR this week and next!  Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for community members.  We’ll also be selling T-Shirts and Chocolate Vaginas to benefit local women’s shelters.

Multicultural Advocacy Discussion- Tuesday, Feb. 16, 5 p.m. McKinley 101
Any interested AU students are invited to attend this discussion, focusing on the insidious harms of racism within our communities. The goal is to provide a supportive and respectful forum for students to share their thoughts and experiences. It is also an opportunity for students to join a new initiative examining the campus social climate. Terms you will hear at this meeting: multicultural, diversity, whiteness, awareness, tokenization, privilege, activism, post racial. Interested? Refreshments will be provided.
Details about the Feb 16th discussion forum are on the Facebook group “Multicultural Advocacy”

Body Image Interest Meeting- Wed. Feb. 17, 8 p.m. MGC Couches
Interested in getting involved with the True Beauty Fashion show and Body Image Awareness Week?  Come out to Wednesday’s meeting or email Kelly at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)!

Men’s Health Forum- Thursday, Feb. 18, 7 p.m.
Come learn about men’s health issues and contemplate some important questions.  What do men need to know?  How does masculinity affect male health.  How can a healthy understanding of masculinity and gender benefit my personal health and the health of those around me?  How can women be allies to mens’ health? How can men be allies to the health of others in their communities (women, gender varient individuals, children, seniors)?  Everyone is welcome!

Bountifully Beautiful (Performance)- Thursday and Friday, Feb. 18 and 19, 8:15 p.m.
Join us for a play on body, women, love, size, and life. 
A New Play by American University Graduate Student Gina Evers
Directed by American University Alumna Halley Cohen
Sponsored by the Wellness Center and Women’s Initiative.

Public Panel and Reception In Honor Of Barbara Bergmann Professor Emeritus, American University – Friday, February 19 – 4-6 p.m. – MGC 200
“How Much Progress Has Been Achieved Towards Gender Equality And Which Way Forward”  Speakers will include Nancy Folbre (Professor, Univ Of Massachusetts, Amherst), Francine Blau (Professor, Cornell University), Heidi Hartmann (President, Institute Of Women’s Policy Research). Reception 6 pm - 7 pm

Campaign College- Saturday, Feb. 20- 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Ward 113
Learn the nuts and bolts of running a campaign for AUSG and plan your political future. 
Hear from veterans of the 2008 campaign trail, elected officials from AUSG, and members of Women’s Initiative and the Women & Politics Institute.  (This event counts as an AUSG info session needed to run for Student Government office).
Please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to register.
Chipotle will be served.

Screening: America the Beautiful- Monday, Feb. 22- 8:15 p.m. Location TBD

True Beauty Fashion Show- Tuesday, Feb. 23- 8:15 p.m. in the Tavern
Come join the women of AU as they show off the outfits and inner parts of themselves that make them feel beautiful!

DC EVENTS

Art of the Soul: An Exhibition of the Unspoken Thoughts & Feelings of Women – February 12-March 1 – Busboys and Poets – 486 K Street NW – 8pm to midnight
Art of the Soul is a multi-sensory depiction of the voices of women that are often unheard. This collaborative event will strive to facilitate communal dialogue surrounding female related issues and explore ways to empowerment and understanding, both collectively and individually. The show will highlight and discuss the topics of self-esteem, judgment, sexism, AIDS, beauty, domestic violence, FGM (female genital mutilation), and many other issues affecting women today.  For more information on the Art of the Soul, contact Kaira Johnson or visit our websitewww.artofthesouldc.info to view our mission and artists

National Young Feminist Leadership Conference – March 20-22 – University of the District of Columbia
The first two days of the conference will feature amazing panels, workshops and feminist leaders. We will be discussing reproductive justice, global women’s health and rights, health care reform, ballot initiatives, birth control access, violence against women, campus organizing strategies and much more. Also, don’t forget to join us on Monday March 22 for our Congressional Day of Action, where you can speak to your Senators and members of Congress about the issues you care about.  Register before February 1st to lock in those early bird rates of $15/person and $12/person for groups of more than 5. Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to take advantage of the group discount. After February 1st, prices jump to $25/person. Act now and save money!
INTERNSHIP/VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Breakthrough Institute Announces 2010 Summer Fellows Program with Focus on Climate and Energy, and National Security and Counterterrorism
The Breakthrough Institute, a leading public policy think tank, is seeking up to ten of the country’s top young analysts, writers, and thought leaders for a paid fellowship in Summer 2010 as part of its young leaders initiative, Breakthrough Generation. Fellowships pay $300 per week and are awarded to individuals aged 18-25 who will be closely involved with Breakthrough’s high-level work. Activities and projects include writing short articles and op-eds, researching and writing policy white papers, and conducting interviews with the nation’s top political and policy experts. Fellows will work 40 hours per week for ten weeks during Summer 2010 from Breakthrough’s central office in Oakland, CA. To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume or CV, and three writing samples to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). In your cover letter, please indicate why you are interested in working with the Breakthrough Institute, making reference to Breakthrough’s policy work, the “Death of Environmentalism” essay, and/or Break Through. In your application please indicate if you are interested in participating in the climate/energy track or the national security track. Applications are due by 5:00PM PST on March 15th, 2010. Writing samples should include at least one oped-style piece and one research paper (these do not have to be published).

The Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund is looking for college student volunteers to help us raise money for our cancer hotline!
On Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Ben & Jerry’s in Dupont Circle will offer free ice creamcones to everyone, and we have been selected to be there to request donations (comparable to the cost of the ice cream) for all ice cream given away between 11:30am and 8:30pm. The only thing we have to do is find 6 volunteers to scoop the ice cream for each shift!  The shifts available are: 11:30-2:30pm, 2:30-5:30pm, 5:30-8:30pm
On Saturday, March 27, 2010 come help us make our first annual 5K race (and walk) a success on the beautiful Washington & Old Dominion Trail in Arlington, VA! This charity event will benefit the Cancer Prevention & Treatment Fund and promises to be a lot of fun! Volunteers are needed from 8:30am til approximately 11am.  (In addition to volunteers, we’re looking for people to participate in the race; the student registration fee is only $15, all of which supports our cancer hotline). If you would like to sign up to volunteer for either event, please contact Emily .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 202-223-4000.  Student groups that raise enough to sponsor the 5K will be included on the T-shirts that we distribute at the race.

OTHER

New Women’s Group on Campus!

AU Rosh Chodesh (AURC) is a group of women interested in Judaism, womanhood, and spirituality (dont have to be Jewish!) to celebrate the new Jewish month by shmoozing, eating food, and discussing past and present topics related to women, Judaism, Israel, and more! The goal of the group is to create a positive image for strong, spiritual, female activists who take charge of their own spiritual growth and take action on and off campus. AURC promotes the growth of individual’s identity as a spiritual and active female on and off campus. It is a safe, fun, and community-style group which will brainstorm and act on ways to be active in our individual lives and as a group.

The first meeting is Sunday, February 21st at 5:30 with Rabbi Toby Manewith as our speaker. She is in charge of an egalitarian synagogue in DC and is coming to speak about what Rosh Chodesh means, but most importantly she is going to talk about her open lifestyle as a lesbian rabbi.

Any person who lives their life as a female is welcome to come join us in the Kay center! If you have any questions please email Mollie at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or find the group on facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=507529456&ref=mf#!/group.php?gid=263520069599&ref=ts

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