New Voices Awards
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Chica Luna Productions (New York City) - seeks to develop and support women of color who use popular media to engage social justice themes. They implement projects and programs that give diverse and complex representation to communities usually excluded or stereotyped in both mainstream and independent media, placing their realties in a socio-political context. The Fellow, Ana Trinidad will serve as Media Justice Coordinator. Her work will consist mainly of developing and distributing a curriculum and media justice tool kit for Latina women. She will also train Latina women in media analysis and production; research; compile information about progressive popular media resources for use in trainings; and conduct train-the-trainer activities for community-based organizations. Ana has received a Certificate in the Dramatic Arts. Chicago House and Social Service Agency (Chicago) – the mission of Chicago house is to provide housing and supportive services to HIV-affected families and individuals, who may also be impacted by poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, and mental illness. All of the services provided are explicitly designed to guide people towards wholeness and self-sufficiency, without discrimination. In his role as HIV Employment Services Advocate , Fellow Gregory Braxton will help create a new HIV Employment Services System. He will develop an advocacy campaign to increase employment of people living with HIV/AIDS; secure partnerships with employment services organizations; challenge service providers to adapt services to increase employment; encourage peer-to-peer support groups and dialogues in community-based organizations; research HIV employment programs in other cities and countries; and recruit peers to take on leadership roles in efforts to increase employment. Gregory received his B.A. in Applied Behavioral Sciences. Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (Brooklyn, NY) - is a multi-issue, multi-racial organization made up of almost exclusively low-income women of color, the majority having first-hand experience with public assistance. They seek to change city, state, and national policies to win “permanent exits” from poverty for low-income people. In her fellowship role, Wanda Imasuen will serve as Child Care Policy Organizer recruiting members for the organization's city-wide child care advocacy campaign. She will develop the leadership skills of low-income women of color on public assistance; conduct child care policy trainings and research sessions; organize visits with policymakers to address the low wages and working conditions of the 60,000 home child care providers in New York City. Wanda attended Bronx Community College and the College of New Rochelle. Georgians for Choice (Atlanta, GA) - is a unified voice for organizations committed to attaining and protecting reproductive freedom. The coalition strives to develop opportunities for all Georgians to exercise their constitutional rights regarding their reproductive health. The fellow, Mia Mingus, will serve as the Reproductive Justice Fellow. In this role she will be responsible for increasing access to health care (including reproductive health services such as abortion, emergency contraception, and family planning) for underserved communities of Georgian women. She will also organize, build coalitions, and develop various messages in order to develop and redefine values for the Reproductive Justice movement in Georgia. Global Deaf Connection (Minneapolis, MN) - strives to empower Deaf communities in developing countries to organize and advocate for disability rights through tactics appropriate for each nation. The mission is to develop self-sustaining, successful cycles of Deaf education and leadership skills through multi-cultural exchange, support and mentoring programs. These cycles empower Deaf people around the world to increase their social and economic self-sufficiency. The Fellow, Heidi Corce , will serve as Disability Rights Coalition Builder , providing technical support to organizations and leaders in developing countries to defend the rights of Deaf people and to create sustainable models for Deaf education and employment opportunities; she will also establish coalitions within developing countries and new linkages between organizations in developed and developing countries and create online networks for Deaf people and Deaf-serving organizations. Heidi received a M.A. in Education, specializing in Deaf education. High Rocks (Hillsboro, WV) - supports and strengthens West Virginia women from all walks of life. The agency’s purpose is to educate, empower, and inspire girls, giving them the confidence to lead active lives and work towards the long-term betterment of the Appalachian community. High Rocks provides academic and emotional support which allows girls to take active roles in their own lives, defeating a culture of hopelessness and failure, and creating positive role models in the community. As Director of Community Programs, Fellow Samantha Brynn Kusic will create a pilot curriculum for a youth-led community change program. She will also improve the resource base for and increase girl’s leadership in Appalachian communities through research, training, advocacy, and video-documentation. Samantha currently holds a B.A. in Women’s Studies. Humboldt State University (Arcata, CA) - As Applied Research Associate at Humboldt State University, the Fellow Mariela Paz Caceres will engage college students in applied research and advocacy campaigns and will work on developing strategies to provide technical and grassroots support to indigenous communities in Latin America in their efforts to address the key human rights issues that affect them. Using the framework of international human rights instruments, she will develop a survey to map out challenges indigenous peoples face in defending and protecting their rights. She will also build strong collaborative relationships with indigenous communities in Mexico, Chile, and Ecuador. Mariela has a B.A. in Anthropology. Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) (San Francisco, CA) - strives to make immigration legal assistance and social service available to all regardless income, and to build a society that values diversity and respects the dignity and rights of all people. The ILRC serves as unique legal back-up organization -- training lawyers and non-lawyers, organizing immigrants and sponsoring formation of immigrant-based advocacy groups, providing technical assistance to local organizations. Serving as the Defending Immigrants Fellow, Angie Junck will work to improve community education to prevent detention and deportation of immigrants; provide technical assistance and training on immigration law to community groups and criminal defense attorneys; develop legal education materials and resources for criminal defense attorneys; facilitate communications and increase awareness of the consequences of opinions of the Ninth Circuit; and educate policymakers on effects of the 1996 immigration laws and other laws. National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (Washington, DC) - is a national grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to a progressive movement for social and economic justice and the political empowerment of Asian and Pacific American women and girls. The vision is to inspire leadership and promote the visibility and participation of APA women and girls in the political process and within national and international women’s movements. The Fellow, Courtney Chappell will serve as the Policy Director, helping to build coalitions and organize policy briefings highlighting reproductive health issues affecting APA women; she will develop testimony, position papers, and model legislative language; draft press releases and op-ed articles; create a reproductive rights curriculum for APA women and provide training to regional chapters and members. Courtney received her J.D. from American University College of Law in May 2004 Prevention Point Philadelphia (Philadelphia, P.A.) - works to provide safe and humane alternatives to the war on drugs. The agency began as a grassroots, volunteer organization conducting syringe exchange when it was still an illegal activity and has grown into a recognized, multi-service public health organization, seeking to minimize the adverse consequences of injection drug use and sex work. The approach is to meet drug users where they are, with respect and dignity, providing information and access to treatment. The Fellow, Corey Davis, will work as Legal Clinic Director, providing critical legal support to the city's needle-exchange program, collect data on police harassment of program participants, develop a harm reduction curriculum for and provide training to police and other criminal justice system employees, coordinate education (know your rights) efforts and represent clients in Philadelphia courts. Corey will receive his J.D. from Temple University School of Law in May 2005. Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (DC) - is a national organization advancing the interests of Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese Americans through leadership development, capacity building, and community empowerment. The agency serves as a coalition-builder and leader, carrying out action-oriented research projects and strengthening the capacity of community-based organizations led by and/or for Southeast Asian Americans. They also foster civic engagement among Southeast Asian Americans, and represent them at the national level in Washington, DC. The Fellow, Jennet Sambour, will serve as Southeast Asian American Women’s Leadership Advocate, training and organizing Southeast Asian American women in effective policy advocacy; developing a Southeast Asian women's leadership resource database; and assisting participants in identifying opportunities for leadership. Jennet received a B.A. in Psychology and Economics from Brown University. Toledo Metropolitan Ministries (Toledo, OH) works ecumenically to identify needs and opportunities for systemic change in metropolitan Toledo; the agency plans, develops, and coordinates strategies of mission among denominations, congregations, and other organizations in the area, initiating projects that advocate for justice and empower people to meet their needs. Jewel Woods will serve as Project Coordinator of the Men Overcoming Violence through Empowerment (M.O.V.E) Project. He will organize community social and civic organizations and men of color to reduce all forms of violence, with an emphasis on domestic violence; assist community organizers in fostering the leadership of men of color in social justice work; engage black media to raise awareness; collect data to improve violence prevention and intervention strategies and resources. Jewel currently holds a M.A. degree in Sociology and a M.S.W. from the University of Michigan. U.S. Campaign to End Israeli Occupation (DC) - is a diverse, national coalition of more than 180 member organizations that work together to challenge U.S. support for Israel’s military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. The organization educates the public about current U.S .policy toward Israel and Palestine, organizing national task forces and regional and national conferences, and mobilizing concerned citizens through action alerts and days of coordinated action. Noura Erkat will serve as National Grassroots Mobilizer/Legal Advocate, conducting grassroots organizing and education tours related to the Israeli occupation; linking and strengthening local organizing efforts; and carrying out legal activism initiatives (FOIA requests, ACTA litigation, legislative advocacy, etc.). Noura received a J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. Western States Center (Portland, OR) - strives to build a strong, progressive movement for social, economic, racial, and environmental justice in the eight Western states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and Alaska. The agency strengthens grassroots organizing and community-based leadership; builds long-term strategic alliances among community, environmental, labor, social justice, and other public interest organizations; and develops the capacity of informed communities to participate in the public policy process and in elections. In his fellowship, Kayse Jama will serve as Refugee/Immigrant Community Organizer/Trainer, developing connections between and providing capacity-building technical assistance to immigrant/refugee organizations and leaders in the western states. Kayse holds a B.A. in Sociology Wishtoyo
Foundation (Oxnard, CA) - utilizes traditional
Chumash beliefs, practices, songs, stories, and dances to create a greater
awareness of connection with, and dependence upon, the natural Environment.
The mission is to protect and preserve the culture and history of coastal
communities and foster responsibility to the waters, marine habitats,
and watersheds through preservation, education, research, community
action and, where necessary, citizen enforcement. Serving as Director
of the Cultural Resources & Environmental Justice Program,
the Fellow, Angela
Mooney-D'Arcy, will establish a strong legal
education and advocacy program for Native American cultural resource
protection; engage in organizing and activism for environmental justice
in Ventura County; and establish a Cultural Resources Protection Fellowship
and Clinical Program at UCLA. Angela will graduate from UCLA with a
J.D. in May 2005. |
