September 08, 2009

Advisory Board

Dear Collaborators,

I am putting out an open letter for anyone interested in becoming a member of the Women's Collaborative Circle Advisory Board. Please review and contact me with your interest.

September 8, 2009

I would like to invite you to participate in the development of the Women’s Collaborative Circle as an advisory board member. I believe that your participation would be instrumental in the ongoing developmental endeavors of the organization.

The Women’s Collaborative Circle (WCC) is a women-centered, feminist-based organization with a mission to support, empower, and educate women, providing an online space as well as a physical, free-standing center that allows for women to speak their minds and have their voices heard. From young girls to older adult women, the WCC provides individual counseling, support groups, workshops, educational programming, and a space to just be you! The WCC is a safe and nurturing environment for women to receive support, exchange information, and through personal and collective empowerment, create change.

At this time, the Women’s Collaborative Circle is an incorporated entity and has a website with numerous resources and information to generate thinking outside and inside of ourselves, provide information about our needs locally and globally, and act as a catapult for networking within the local Philadelphia community and beyond. Through networking efforts, the WCC has already been contacted by a number of individuals and organizations to offer words of praise and collaborative services.

What is needed now is you and your voice. Below is a description of qualities needed in a WCC board member as well as member responsibilities and expectations.

Desired Qualities of a WCC Advisory Board Member:
· An interest in the organization and belief in the importance of its mission.
· A shared women-centered, feminist vision for serving women’s needs locally and globally.
· A willingness to commit time, energy, and resources to the development of the WCC.
· A desire for personal and shared growth for yourself and fellow board members.
· An open mind and desire to have your unique voice heard.

Responsibilities:
· Participate (in person or via conference call) 3-4 board meetings per year.
· Participate in subcommittees.
· Open to other responsibilities as agreed upon by board members.

Current WCC Priorities:
· Form an active advisory board
· Establish 501 c (3) (non-profit) status
· Devise a business plan and budget
· Develop programming
·Networking
·Fundraising

I am aiming to have our first board meeting in November. If you are unable to attend in person, then I will make sure you are able to phone in on a conference call. Again, your voice, knowledge, and skills are very important to not only the WCC but women everywhere. I hope that you will consider becoming a member of the Women’s Collaborative Circle.

If you have any questions, thoughts or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at (610)930-3025 or by email at carly@womenscollaborativecircle.org.

Sincerely,
Carly Goldberg MSW, LCSW
Founding Collaborator

September 05, 2009

How do you W.A.V.E.?


Self-defense education has always been something that women feel is "important" to do, but never get around to doing.

Perhaps you may think that you would never need it, or that you wouldn't be able to defend yourself if you ever were assaulted. Besides, who really wants to ever think about the possibility of this actually happening?

On the other hand, we think about it all the time. Do I walk down this street, or should I cross to walk down a better lit street? When I am getting in my car, do I take a peak to make sure no one else is in there? When I am at the park exercising, is someone following me? If I am dating a new guy or girl, will I be able to say no and feel safe? The list goes on! It may be conscious or not, but in reality we question our level of personal safety on a daily basis.
It is imperative to know that you have a right to keep yourself safe! You have a right and duty to know that you do not have to be a victim of an assault or gender-based crime.

Women's Anti-Violence Education (WAVE) is a program of Women in Transition, and is one program in the Philadelphia region that offers such an education.

What does a self-defense program offer? It teaches practical, supportive, empowering safety, assertiveness and self-defense skills to women, girls and others targets for gender-based assault. WAVE programs are based on the practice of mindfulness, or being fully aware. WAVE programs build the external awareness required to avoid and to defend ourselves against assault, the internal awareness enabling us to tune into our own intuition, or “early warning system,” and awareness of the contribution we each can make toward creating safer, more peaceful communities. WAVE combines the spiritual centering, discipline, power and exhilaration of many self-defense arts with the practical skills and attitudes needed today for survival, personal safety and peace of mind.

Why self defense and assertiveness training? Studies show that self-defense training improves the mental, emotional and physical health of participants. When the instructor’s attitude is peaceful and positive, rather than militaristic and negative, the training imparts newfound confidence and determination to protect one’s own personal safety, while also promoting respect for others. WAVE programs reinforce participants’ self-esteem while teaching how to avoid, deter, de-escalate, escape from, resist, and above all, survive assaults. The most concrete result is that participants in WAVE programs are less likely to be victimized. Participants in the full-length training develop a sense of confidence beyond mere “self-defense” skills.

The WCC will be offering self-defense and assertiveness training programs. Please check back or contact us for more details as they become available.
For more information about W.A.V.E. and Women in Transition please visit their website or contact Debasri Ghosh at 215-564-5301 x122

September 04, 2009

Food Fight!

Will you be around town this labor day weekend? Looking for something different to do? Interested in seeing a one-woman show about eating disorders? Well, we have just the show for you!


FOOD FIGHT: A Solo Performance about Eating Disorders , Written and Performed by Judy FreedThis boldly honest one-woman show portrays the poignant reality of food compulsions through original music, monologue, and movement. Judy Freed, a psychotherapist and performing artist, takes the audience on a deeply personal journey of recovery - frightening and humorous, touching and triumphant - revealing stories of struggle, strength, and survival. Post-performance discussion.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 at 3 pm,andSUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 at 3 pm.
UU Church of the Restoration 6900 Stenton Avenue (at Gorgas Lane)
$10 TICKETS - AVAILABLE NOW THROUGH THE BOX OFFICE AT:(215)413-1318or online at:http://livearts-fringe.org/details.cfm?id=8966
For further information, please contact Judy:(215)581-3969 or (215)701-7013
Enjoy!