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The Connection
The e-newsletter of the Girls Coalition of Southwestern Pennsylvania
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REGISTER NOW!
First Annual Girls Coalition Conference
for Professionals who Work with Girls
Dear ,
Registration for our first annual conference is now open. We hope you will attend and help us spread the word!
Where: Sheraton Station Square Hotel
Time: 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m. registration)
Cost: $75 early bird rate through January 7 ($90 thereafter)
Who: Managers and staff of girl-serving organizations as well
as concerned parents, educators, policy makers and others who work with girls and who want to know all they can
to empower the young women they care so much about!
- A day focused on promoting the health, well being and empowerment of girls
- Featuring
national and local speakers, including Peggy Orenstein, columnist and
author, and Leslie Bonci, Director of UPMC Sports Medicine Nutrition Program, Dr. Kristin Anderson Moore, Senior Scholar and Program Area Director for Child Trends and Leslie Kantor, Assistant Professor of Clinical and Population Health, Columbia University
- Breakout sessions and panels around three
themes: Programming, Girls Empowerment
and Health
- Be part of a regional dialogue
- Learn about cutting edge research and best practices
- Create a promising future for girls
- Lunch, coffee break and snack included
- CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS! Six hours of Act 48 credits are available through Carlow University, a co-sponsor of the conference. Applications for NBCC and Social Work credits are pending. Please consult the Girls Coalition website for updates, or email info@girlscoalitionswpa.org for more information.
View conference scheduleRegister now!
The conference is made possible through the generous support of the following sponsors:
Champions: Adagio Health, Comcast, The Ellis School, FISA Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Women and Girls Foundation
Advocates: Elsie H. Hillman Foundation, The Grable Foundation
Mentors: Carlow University, Jewish Healthcare Foundation, Winchester Thurston School
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Monthly Poll
December Poll
By answering three short questions, you will
be able to share with us your thoughts and insights on issues that
affect the
girls in our region.
Click here and push the "vote" button to take the poll. It takes less than a minute to make your voice heard!
November Poll Results Summary
The
second Girls Coalition monthly poll, which appeared in the November
Newsletter asked readers for ways in which we could increase agencies'
referrals to ensure that clients receive effective services and that
their needs are being met. Half (50%) of the respondents indicated that
creating an agency resource guide that lists agencies and services
provided would help increase referrals to other agencies. A third of
respondents (31%) indicated that increasing opportunities for professional networking
could strongly impact the number of referrals made. Both networking and
agency resource guides present effective solutions for informing
organizations about services available in the community, also providing opportunities for partnership-development, information sharing and more effective service provision to improve clients' care.
The
second poll question inquired about the reasons that hinder an agency's
ability, or willingness, to refer their clients to other organizations.
Half (50%) of the respondents stated that lack of relationships is the
greatest barrier to providing referrals, while fear of competition as
well as lack of information about services each garnered a quarter
(25%) of respondents' votes. The response to this question ties in with
the answers discussed above. Increased opportunities for networking are
valuable in helping organizations learn about each other's activities
but also, and perhaps most importantly, lead to relationship-building
between staff members of different organizations in our region.
In 2009, the Girls
Coalition of Southwestern Pennsylvania will launch its Online Resource Directory which will be
an invaluable source of information listing girl-serving organizations
in southwestern Pennsylvania. Make sure to check back for updates on this upcoming
resource. Also upcoming in 2009 are Girls Coalition networking events.
Please, read our monthly newsletter for event updates! If
you have questions you would like to have answered in a monthly poll or
have comments you would like to share with the Girls Coalition, please
email them to info@girlscoalitionswpa.org. |
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Events and Announcements
Conversation and Connection Networking Event
For the second time, the Girls Coalition of Southw estern Pennsylvania hosted a Conversation
and Connection 'speed networking' event. Held at Calvary Church in
Shadyside, more than 50 professionals participated in the fast-paced, interactive
session. Prior to the networking activity, participants heard from executive
coach Barbara Schwark, who provided tips on delivering an effective elevator pitch.
The networking session gave participants t he opportunity to practice what they
had learned. Feedback from the event reinforced participant appreciation for
the opportunity to meet other professionals who work with girls.
Look for more
networking, educational, and professional development opportunities from the
Girls Coalition of SWPA in 2009!
Member Announcement: North Hills Youth Ministry Counseling Center
WORKSHOP FOR TEENS
Anger Management Group for Adolescent males ages 13-16. Teens
attending this group will develop strategies which will empower them to better
manage their anger, to challenge their irrational beliefs, and to exhibit
mastery over their behavior. Techniques include: Assertiveness Training, Trigger
Identification, The ABC Model, and Deep Breathing
When: Six consecutive Wednesdays: January
28-March 4
Where: North Hills
Youth Ministry
Counseling Center Offices
Time: 5:30 -6:45 pm
Cost: $10 per session
Click here for more information
FUNDRAISER
Save the date
Ladies!
North Hills Youth Ministry
Counseling Center's "A Day of Renewal" Fundraiser at Bedford
Springs Resort
Friday, March 20, 2009
Ladies Only Event! It's
time to kick off your heels and join us as we travel via motor coach to the
elegant Bedford Springs Resort for a day of relaxation, renewal, and
"yes" a bit of networking too. Plans are underway for this
new and exciting fundraising event which will benefit the women and children
who desperately need our professional mental health services, but have limited
financial resources. Plans are being finalized...call to save your
spot...spaces are limited!
Call us to learn more about this
event 412.366.1300
Sponsorships for this event are available!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Tutors Needed at
North Hills
Youth Ministry
Counseling Center
Help a child bloom! Come make
a wonderful difference in the lives of area kids through our dynamic tutoring
program.
NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED
INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT IS PROVIDED
Call Sandy Niekum today, 412.366.1300
For
more information about North
Hills Youth
Ministry Counseling
Center 's class offerings
and counseling services, please contact us at 412.366.1300 or visit us online
at www.nhymcc.org.
Member Announcement: Outreach Teen and Family Services Parenting Series
Parenting PositivelyDiscover effective parenting skills that will benefit you and your familyFall 2008/Spring 2009Six-week course scheduleAfternoon and evening classes are offered for all dates listed below12:30-2:30 p.m. or 7:00-9:00 p.m.$95/person * $150/coupleWednesdays, January 14-February 18, 2009Mondays, February 23-March 30, 2009Thursdays, April 16-May 21, 2009Classes presented by and held at
666 Washington RoadMt. Lebanon, PA 15228For more information, or to enroll, please contact Outreach:412.561.5405info@outreachteen.org
Member Announcement: POWER
Volunteer Recruitment
This time of year, we are often asked to give donations of
cash and gifts. We at POWER would like
to offer one more option: please consider
giving the gift of your time by volunteering.
There are many benefits to volunteering at POWER: making a real difference in the lives of
recovering women and their children; stretching
the limited budget of a small nonprofit; and gaining valuable employment
skills are just a few. Volunteers also
enjoy the rewarding experience of meeting women who are in the process of
building brand new lives-what POWER volunteer Ava Cipri has called "being a
witness to change."
Our volunteer opportunities include:
Escorting - drive women
to medical appointments
Welcome bag donations
- organize a drive to collect items such as deodorant, toothpaste, notebooks
and gift bags that are given to every new POWER client
Fundraising - help
coordinate and publicize our annual fundraising event
Gardening - help
plant and/or fund five new flower gardens in the POWER House lawn
Sharing a skill - spend
an hour or two a month teaching POWER clients your skill or hobby (our
volunteers have taught various crafts, yoga and writing, as just a few
examples)
For more information, please contact Karen Clark, Volunteer
Coordinator at 412.271.0500, ext. 125 or kclark@power-recovery.com or visit
our web site.
Thank you and happy holidays!
Member Announcement: Young Men and Women's African Heritage Association
North Shore
Community Foster Care Receives 2008 Best of Pittsburgh Award
North Shore Community Foster Care, a program of the Young Men and Women's African Heritage Association (YMWAHA), has
been selected for the 2008 Best of Pittsburgh Award in the Social Services
category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).
The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes
outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies
companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in
their local community and business category. These are local companies that
enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers
and community.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the
winners in each category. The 2008 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not
quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both
internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.
About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)
U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington
D.C. based organization funded by local
businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to
promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.
The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their
community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade
groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business
advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small
and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.
SOURCE: U.S.
Local Business Association
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Get Connected!
Call for Members
Join the Girls Coalition and enjoy these benefits to membership:
- Raise the profile of your organization through a detailed profile in the Annual Resource Directory of Girl-serving organizations
- Post and promote your events on the Girls Coalition website
- Reach Girls Coalition members with eblasts about your organization's monthly events and special opportunities
- Learn about the latest information, resources, and trends about girls
- Receive advanced notice for all Girls Coalition professional development and educational events
- Connect and collaborate with a network of like-minded agencies and individuals on projects and amplify the regional profile of girls and girls' issues
Download Girls Coalition membership application now.
Welcome, New Girls Coalition Members!
See a full listing of Girls Coalition members. |
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Profiles
Amazing Girl TeOnna TeOnna was a member of Coroʼs Community Problem Solving Fellowship this past summer, and truly
excelled as a leader in her group and now in her community. She is
currently attending Carlow University, and is very active with Dionneʼs Project, raising awareness for the fight against domestic abuse. TeOnna was placed at Pittsburgh Action Against Rape
for the summer Fellowship. She excelled as an intern there, and as a
leader in her seminars with Coro. By joining the Fellowship, TeOnna
committed 10-weeks of her summer to enhancing her leadership skills,
working in the community and interning at a local organization. This January, TeOnna will be moving onto another internship in Washington D.C., (PLEN) Public Leadership
Education Network's Women and Public Policy Seminar
Call for Amazing Girl Nominations
The Girls Coalition of Southwestern Pennsylvania is always accepting nominations for "Amazing Girls" to be featured in our newsletter. We have established broad criteria to consider when submitting an "Amazing Girl." We are interested in showcasing girls who
demonstrate the following characteristics: leadership; commitment and willingness to work hard; perseverance; the
drive to excel despite challenge; and creativity. The purpose of this feature is to hear about
girls who may be "truly amazing" but have not yet been recognized. Please share your recommendations, and we can all see how she shines! Send us an email about an Amazing Girl you think we should profile.
Member Profile: National Council of Jewish Women
National
Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and
advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. NCJW advocates for social
justice and the rights of all to education, health care, civil liberties, and
basic needs. For more than 150 years in Pittsburgh,
NCJW has been identifying community needs and taking action. More than 1,400
women (and some men) are currently members of NCJW in Pittsburgh.
NCJW
programs, projects and advocacy efforts work toward making life better for
all. Our Children's Playrooms in the Courts provide free, quality childcare
while parents and guardians deal with domestic and civil legal issues in the
courthouse. Each child leaves with an age-appropriate book, reinforcing one of
NCJW's core programmatic areas, children's
literacy.
The
Pic-a-Bag program provides duffels
filled with supplies for children being removed from their homes suddenly under
court order, and "Batch Packs," in
partnership with Steeler Quarterback Charlie Batch's Best of the Batch
foundation, provides back packs filled with school supplies to hundreds of
children in Homestead.
NCJW volunteers, including women, men and children, provide the labor to obtain
the materials and pack the bags for both of these projects.
The
Silent Witness Initiative provides
education and resources for domestic violence awareness. The project hopes to
stop generational violence and give women the strength and opportunity to
change their lives and protect their children.
NCJW
runs two social enterprises, Thriftique,
a quality resale shop in Swissvale and DDB,
a high end consignment shop in Shadyside. Both locations provide community
service opportunities and all revenues support the projects of NCJW. Additionally,
Our Suit Yourself Voucher Program
provides women coming out of programs of rehabilitation and recovery vouchers
to obtain clothing from the shops so they can confidently go to an interview.
Many of the women in the program are single mothers raising children on their
own; their ability to become self-sufficient and provide for their children
help make them role models for the next generation.
For more information, email info@ncjwpgh.org or call the office at 412.421.6118.
Learn how to get involved and MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
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Member Profile: The Young Men & Women's African Heritage Association
Organization Information
The Young Men
and Women's African Heritage Association, Inc. (YMWAHA) is a community based non-profit
which provides educational, recreational, cultural, and social service programs. The  mission of the YMWAHA is, "to provide the
best quality services possible for children and their families with particular
focus on the needs of children of African Heritage and their families." Through
a contract with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, YMWAHA
operates a licensed foster care and reunification agency. Additionally, YMWAHA created Nia Cultural
Arts and Education programs in 1996. Under the leadership of co-founder and
Executive Director Janice Parks, the Association has woven itself into the
fabric of Allegheny County employing ten full-time staff, twelve part-time
employees and twenty teen/young adult trainees. Each of these tremendously talented groups brings a wealth of expertise,
enthusiasm and creativity to the community.
Programs and Activities
-
North Shore Community Foster Care
- Transportation and Visitation Program
- Standing on Solid Ground
- Nia Cultural Arts and Education Programs include:
- Saturday School
- Summer Day Camp
- Youth Employment & Training
- Youth Community Internships
- Black History Month Celebration
- After School Programs
- Steele-Pan Drum Corps
- Youth Dance Ensemble
- Adult Quilt Guild
- Annual Kwanzaa Celebration
YMWAHA's long range plan is to develop a scope of
services that reflect all aspects of its mission statement. We take seriously
our accountability to Northside neighborhoods and hope to address the real and
present needs of residents; Head Start programs, a family support center, and
family-based residential care for under-served older children and teenagers. We
hope to strategically focus on economic development through job readiness and
employment programs as well as entrepreneurial opportunities for all ages. To
meet the entrepreneurial and economic challenges facing children, families and
community-based agencies, YMWAHA is supporting the Nia Adult Quilt Guild in
marketing their artistic products on our website. The dedicated web page, which should be in place
by year's end, will feature note cards, quilts
and a variety of fabric art pieces. Items
sold will financially benefit; the individual artist, the Nia Quilt Guild and a
small portion will return to YMWAHA to sustain critical programming.
For more information, log on to www.ymwaha.org.
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Opportunities
Member Job Opportunity: Adagio Health
Adagio Health, a non-profit health care agency headquartered in downtown Pittsburgh,
PA, provides services to women and their families in western
Pennsylvania. Adagio Health services include comprehensive gynecology
and obstetrics care, nutrition counseling, screening for breast and cervical
cancer, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, community
education, training, research, and a regional program to reduce teen
pregnancy. For more information regarding our agency please visit our
website at www.adagiohealth.org.
Seeking a
Research Associate to work on applied research projects. The job responsibilities
include day-to-day management of behavioral research projects, qualitative
and quantitative data collection and analysis, and report preparation. Position requires Masters Degree with Public Health or social science
research background, excellent communication skills and proficiency in
statistics and SPSS software required.
Salary
Range: $31,800 - $43,300
An attractive benefits package is available that
includes health, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, pension,
employee assistance program, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
Member Job Opportunity: Angels' Place, Inc.
Angels' Place, Inc. (NAEYC Accredited and Keystone Stars- 4 Star)
Angels' Place, Inc. is a comprehensive social service agency that
provides free childcare and support services to low-income, single,
student parents. We are currently looking for qualified and caring
teachers in our Swissvale, Brookline and Northside locations. Applicants must have a degree in Early Childhood Education, or a related field (i.e. Elementary Education, Family Studies, Child Development, etc.). If you love working with children and would like to work in a supportive atmosphere, please call 412.271.2229 to speak with Beth Banas about the position, or fax your resume to 412.271.1445. Competitive wages, fully paid health insurance, dental and vision plans available, free child care, paid holidays and vacations, personal and sick time, opportunities for professional development, free meals and parking.
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Cool Stuff for Girls
Contemporary Books for Teens
Check out and share this reading list of contemporary books for teens, especially African American teen girls, compiled by the staff of Gwen's Girls.
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We hope you enjoyed this issue of The Connection. As always, we welcome any feedback. Sincerely,
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