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| Message from the Executive Director
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Dear Friends,
Just two weeks ago, we were all ringing in the New Year and looking
forward to a decade full of abundance, hope and optimism. Despite our best wishes, the world was
rudely awakened on January 12 to one of this century's worst natural disasters.
This week's devastating earthquake in Haiti
and the shocking humanitarian aftermath reminds us of the frailty of life and
the tragedies in disasters. From
thousands of miles away, we mourn and grieve for their losses and their
struggles. It's a call to our conscience
to act and to give. Even though we are
all doing what we can, it unfortunately never feels like enough.
DAWN realizes that many of you are gripped with worry and
concern over the crisis in Haiti. We know that being so far away is even more
frustrating, almost like you're helpless and can't do anything to make the
situation better. But we believe that there
is still hope for Haiti.
Undoubtedly, Haiti's
greatest strength is the resiliency and strength of its people. Like so Haitians are survivors.
Since emancipation they've banded together through one crises after
another and survive under the saying l'union
fait la force -- unity is strength! A true symbol of hope and
perseverance is the spirit and unity of
people in times of crises. DAWN needs
to take a page from the very people we are trying to help and focus on that
hope and that strength.
That's why today, we're launching the DAWN Hope for Haiti Campaign,
an online initiative to serve as a resource portal and fundraising source for
our members and supporters. The Hope for
Haiti Campaign is a long-term initiative aiming to raise awareness about the
developments and recovery in Haiti,
identify ways you can help, and provide you with opportunities and events to
support the reconstruction and recovery process. We want this to be a resource for you and your community. You are welcome to send us links, information and suggestions. We also are creating a Hope for Haiti Volunteer committee, which everyone is welcome to join. If interested, please email
us at info@dawners.org.
L'union fait
la force!
In Unity There is Strength!
Sincerely,
Semhar Araia
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DAWN Hope for Haiti Campaign - How You Can Help!
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This week, Haiti experienced one of the worst natural disasters of the century. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck southern Haiti completely
flattening the capital, Port-Au-Prince. Thousands of people have been
forced to sleep in the streets without any food, water or shelter. The death toll, feared to reach the tens of thousands,
continues to climb.
After everything Haiti has endured since independence, there is every reason to believe tits people will not be able to recover from this disaster. But DAWN believes in the power and resilience of the Haitian people and their brothers and sisters in the Diaspora. There
is still so much hope for Haiti.
In response to the crisis, DAWN is launching the DAWN Hope for Haiti Campaign, an initiative aimed at raising awareness on Haiti's developments and recovery, identifying ways you can help, and providing the public with opportunities and events supporting Haiti's recovery and reconstruction.
Some of the Many Ways You Can Help:
- Go to the DAWN Hope for Haiti Campaign website to find an organization to support at http://hopeforhaiti.dawners.org
- Attend the Survival Kit Drive and donate relief items, THIS Sunday January 17, from
11:00am - 4:00pm at the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti, 2311
Massachusetts Avenue NW,DC 20008. For more information, contact Gideon (718.755.0119) or Meme (202.904.9070)
- Items Being collected include:
Baby formula (dry/powder), Baby wipes, Baby bottles, Diapers, Baby
clothes, Toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste), Hand sanitizer,
Vitamins, First aid kits, Over the counter medicines,Socks, Blankets,
Mosquito repellent, Flashlights,, Batteries, Candles, Flip flops ,
T-shirts, pants, lightweight jackets, water purifier tablets or kits,
Non perishable food that's not in cans (e.g. seal-paks of tuna or
sardines)
- Find local volunteer and fundraiser opportunities for Haiti at our partner organization, Haiti Volunteer DC or DAWN Hope for Haiti Campaign
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SEEDS Mentorship Program
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This year, President Obama formally declared January ia National Mentorship Month. As part of its commemoration, DAWN has kicked off its SEEDS Mentorship Program for its first class of DAWNistas. From now until the middle of February, thirteen young women will be paired with interested DAWNers for a year-long mentorship.
These fantastic and
ambitious young women are looking forward to an exciting, empowering
and engaging mentorship experience.
They hail from various backgrounds, are currently students or
recent graduates, and looking for a chance to learn about life.
If you are a DAWNer who would like to volunteer as a mentor or as an officer for the program, please contact us at info@dawners.org. We welcome your ideas and support and look forward to a wonderful SEEDS Mentorship Year!
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Membership
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The next membership drive will be held in March 1 - 31, 2010. If
you know of any dynamic charismatic women interested in DAWN and share its vision, please encourage
them to apply! For questions or more information, contact our
Membership Officer, Nkechi Mbanu, at membership@dawners.org. |
DAWNer of the Month - Mame Khady Diouf
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A native of Senegal, Mame
Khady is a Program Associate with the Africa Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars, an institute that
aims to promote dialogue among policymakers and academic specialists on both
African issues and U.S.
policy toward Africa. In this position Mame Khady facilitates the
Program's training projects in Burundi,
DRC as well as its Washington-based publications and conferences.
Prior to joining the Wilson
Center, Mame Khady
completed her Masters in International Affairs focusing on African Affairs. The
program focused on issues such as governance, conflict resolution, development
and leadership. Past experience includes a research internship with the
National Council of Negro Women's (NCNW) International Development
Center. As a Research
Intern, she contributed to a report documenting the partnership between (NCNW)
and African women organizations.
Congratulations Mame Khady!! We are proud to have you as a DAWNer! |
| Quote of the Month
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"Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. |
| Upcoming Events
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Some of events lined up for the upcoming month include:
DAWN January Dinner
Start off the year with a bang! Come and get together with other DAWNers while enjoying authentic East African cuisine.
Date: Friday, January 29
Location: Safari Restaurant
4306 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington DC, 20011
Also...
- USIP Haiti Working Group Discussion with Paul Farmer, UN Special Envoy to Haiti, January 15, 9:30am - 11:30am
- USIP: The Other Side of Gender: Masculinity Issues in Violent Conflict, January 15, 12:00 -1:30pm
- TransAfrica Forum: The Obama Administration, Africa and the Diaspora: Promises, Prospects, & Realities, January 25, United Methodist Building, 9:00am - 5:00pm
For a listing of more events in the Washington, DC area, please visit DAWN's Calendar of Events at http://www.dawners.org/events.html.
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