Women, Development & Global Security

Clearing brush from an Amish farm and learning anthropological frameworks for identifying cultural differences is not how most high school students spend a weekend. But that is what was in

Laura from Brazil and Ellie from Westerville.

store for the special few who participated in CCWA's annual Global Issues Retreat. The Council added a second session this year, attracting a total of 36 student representing 14 countries.

Participants kept busy with a variety of fun globally-oriented learning activities. During a talent component, students showed off their dance and rap skills. Ciera Young (a Columbus Alternative High School student) demonstrated the art form of slam poetry. Her piece expressed frustration at Pat Robertson's religious commentary on Haiti (her mother's ancestral homeland) in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake.

"It was very nice ambiance there with a mix of having fun and doing serious and important stuff!" said one attendee in an anonymous survey following the program.

Special thanks are in order for several people who helped make the weekends a success, including:

-- Local Rotary, FLEX, and PAX program coordinators for presenting the opportunity to their exchange students;

-- Jesse Geiger and Luke Barbara for co-facilitating and chaperoning the Retreats;

-- Cherylyn Rushton and Treye Plants of Invention Convention, and

-- Patricia Felinger, CCWA's 2010 International Educator of the Year for her session on "Communicating Tolerance."

Council Fellows are a select group of teenagers from Columbus schools, who meet weekly with a CCWA staff advisor to develop their leadership skills around one thematic global issue. These topics have international AND

Rickelle presents testimony to Charletta Tavares during a Columbus City Council Committee meeting.

local implications. This year, members are working to end human trafficking, applying their efforts in a three-part approach: 1. Influence current legislation, 2. Provide direct aid to local victims, and 3. Inform the larger community about the prevalence and devastation of human slavery in Columbus, the US, and the world.

Council Fellows and their parents obtained donations and made 200 sandwiches and lunch packs for a street outreach initiative.

At the outset of their campaign, our student leaders met with representatives of Polaris Project following a CCWA symposium.  They've since made connections with several local stakeholders to ensure that they are directing their efforts towards actual community needs.

 

Professional Development Opportunity at Yale
Pathways for Mutual Respect and Yale University's Center for Faith and Culture are joining forces and presenting their 2010 Summer Institute on June 6-18, 2010 in New Haven, Connecticut.  This event called, Paradigms and Practice: Approaching "Islam-West" Relations, will feature approximately 20-30 participants from around the globe.  There is also a one-week option available for those whose academic or professional schedules limit their flexibility.  Visit www.pfmr.org or call (203)737-0841 for more information.

Locally-based native of Sierra Leone heads book drive
After witnessing devastation in her home country due to a lengthy civil war, Hussainatu Bah founded an organization in Columbus called the HEES Foundation. Their current project is to collect quality books and school supplies to assist children in Sierra Leone. If you would like to help, contact her at 866-936-7778 or heesfoundation@yahoo.com.

 

Kids Need Cameras!
Somali Documentary Project (SDP) is bringing the Kids with Cameras program from Minneapolis to Columbus.  Kids With Cameras is a comprehensive, 7-12 week class taught by SDP artists at no cost to the participating schools. Students learn the basics of art production and appreciation through an introduction to documentary photography and investigative reporting. Click here to donate!

Become a Global Scholar: free summer online training
Over the course of seven interactive online sessions, high school and college students learn about key global issues like poverty, HIV/AIDS, climate change and nuclear weapons from experts and activists in those fields. Through conversations, movies and independent readings, you'll explore what it means to be a global citizen, and what the US' role in the world should be. You'll also learn how to take action on these issues, and get one-on-one coaching on how to start a campaign in your own community. For more details, visit the Global Scholar website.