Urgent, Inc. 1600 NW 3rd Ave., Blg D Miami, FL 33136 (O) 305.576.3084 (C) 305.586.6694 (F) 866-811-7778 www.urgentinc.org Email: Shedia@urgentinc.org
Meet the Staff Vice President Saliha Nelson Northwestern University Graduate, BS Programs
NOVEMBER 2011
Manager Shedia Nelson
Urg e youn nt, Inc.’ s mi g mi ss com mun nds to h ion is t o ities e lp t . rans empow “EMPOWERING AND REVITALIZING URBAN COMMUNITIES” er form
Hawai`i Pacific University Graduate, BA Mentor Carla Stitt
Rites
Tennessee State
Ne e g a ss of Pa
ws
University Graduate, BS
Inside this issue:
Upcoming Events News stories
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Snaps
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Advice Column Calendar
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UPCOMING EVENTS
When: Wednesday, November 9, 2011 Time: 3-5pm
Where: Edison high school
What: Meet and learn about an ultrasound technician coordinated by IT Women When: November 17, 2011 Time: 3-5pm Where: Booker T. Washington Senior high school What: Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Women on the Rise PROGRAM ETIQUETTE COURTESY REMINDER No gum, candy, sunflower seeds, texting or MP3’s, ear phones
Photo Courtesy: Alx
Activity: Celebration of contemporary women artist with historical reference and visual art project incorporating conventional and unconventional media like photography and experimental multi-media collages. ART
PROJECTS When: Saturday, November 19th Miami Dade International Book Fair Receive a FREE book for attending
When: Sunday, November 20th World Dance Celebration at New World School of the Arts
DECEMBER When: Fri., Dec. 2nd for Art Basel at 7pm Thur., Dec. 8th at O Cinema, 11am-2pm Reproductive Justice Initiative Photo Voice Exhibit Includes “She Kept Her Bra On” play excerpt performance When: Saturday, December 11th Hands 2 Help, Inc. Holiday Event Earn community service hours Enjoy fun, food, entertainment
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NEWSLETTER TITLE
UPCOMING EVENTS When: Friday, Nov. 4th Time: 4-5pm Where: MDC Freedom Tower Event: "We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball" Art Exhibit Grand Opening Ceremony Featured Guest Artist: Kadir Nelson
College Tour Coordinated by the Dade County Bar Association: Horizons Committee ATTENDANCE REQUIRED TO QUALIFY FOR SUMMER PAID INTERSHIPS When: November 12th Where: Barry University Time: 9am - 3pm
JANUARY 27-29th
Friday, November 11, 2011 Time: 7pm—10pm Event: Miami is it! Urgent, Inc’s first Annual Fundraiser Peer Educators will share their stories of the impact of their experiences in Rites of Passage Tickets: $125/person
author and Caldecott honoree illustrator Special Performances by:
Venus Rising— An all female West African and Mid Eastern drum and dance company Madafo—Musician and storyteller
FEBRUARY
MAY
Bra Fitting at
When: Saturday, May 12th
MARCH
She Kept Her Bra On! Girls Stories of Empowerment, Self Discovery and Acceptance Play in production
Etiquette Lunch
When: Saturday, May 26th
APRIL
GRADUATION CEREMONY BANQUET
Macy’s Aventura
What: Camping with Get a FREE BRA! Sierra Club Miami Inner City Outings
Key note speaker: Kadir Nelson,
Career Tour
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
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A Reproductive Justice Initiative:
SHE KEPT HER BRA ON! - THE CAMPAIGN FOR GIRLS WELL-BEING A Youth-Led Project for Social Change to prevent Teen Dating Violence MIAMI, FLORIDA, October 6, 2011 - The girls of Urgent, Inc.'s Rites of Passage Program lead a walking tour through historic Overtown on Friday, October 7, 2011 from 4:00PM 5:00PM. Florida Representative Cynthia Stafford of the 109th District, University of Miami undergraduate students and the Director of the Overtown NET office will be accompanying the students on their walk. This initiative is a youth-led project for social change that is geared to build awareness, educate their peers and ad-
vocate for policy changes that will help prevent Teen Dating Violence. Did you know that in Miami- Dade County teen dating violence has increased by 40% since 2001? And although the Florida Legislature adopted legislation in 2010 to help prevent teen dating violence in schools, Miami Dade County Public Schools has yet to adopt a formal policy on the matter. This campaign is funded by the Women's Fund of Miami-Dade County. The Rites of Passage Program is also supported by The Children's Trust, City of Miami and Miami-Dade County.
The Rites of Passage Program helps girls find their voice to speak out against the threats to their well-being, lead community awareness activities, use the arts, culture and media to spur positive change and engage in their communities to promote solutions which will support their ability to make positive life choices as they transition through adolescence towards adulthood. Girls also engage in deep discussions about relationships, dating, body image, life skills, avoiding risky behavior and prepare for high education, job and career. By Saliha Nelson
Fieldtrip Reviews Joseph Caleb Center— September 24, 2011, eleven young ladies of Rites of Passage attended the “No More Broken Hearts,” a domestic violence workshop presented by school board member Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall. The young ladies enjoyed a day of workshops from panelists, keynote speaker Bea Hines, first black female reporter at Miami Herald in 1970. Bianca Novembre
learned from Hines’ story of domestic violence that “in order to leave, it had to be her choice.” Shaquitta Andrews thought the speakers “expressed how they felt when their family had been abused and it made them feel bad. They learned how to make it better and to not trust everyone you meet.” Tallahasee, FL— October 27-28, 2011, eleven young ladies set out on a an overnight roadtrip to
visit FAMU for a campus tour and an opportunity to meet and ask questions to college students. Aniyah Simpson had “fun and would do it again and visit more colleges.” Tatyana Wimberly wished “we could’ve stayed longer on campus and go through the buildings to get a feel of what college is like.” Magalie Gabriel was inspired from “touring the journalism department and receiving the Journey magazine to probably major in journalism.”
International Makeup Artist shares talent and powerful beauty message A humble, down to earth and very talented international make up Rory Lee, International Artist Rory Lee provided three workshops at three sites for the young ladies in Rites of Passage, a make up artist team and photographers for a photo shoot at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens.
She engaged thirty young ladies in three days in helping to self-identify their beauty on skincare, the concept of beauty and basic age appropriate makeup application. Her message from her Our Girls program is “putting your best face forward” by bringing out your inner beauty. Urgent, Inc. titled the sessions as “I’m loving me.” Tanisha Fleming, peer educator learned how to apply makeup since “nothing worked for me. I learned I was using the wrong products” and to look into using natural
products. Magalie Gabriel couldn’t “wait for Saturday’s photo shoot and the information she was giving more time to explain was helpful for skin care and eye shadow.” Twenty young ladies enjoyed having their make up professionally done and professional photographers providing modeling tips in the gardens.
Thank you Rory Lee and your team! www.makeupbyrory.com Thank you Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens!
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RITES
My relationship Manual
My guidelines for what I do and I don't want to be treated
I tolerate being treated with respect I don't tolerate being disrespected I tolerate honesty
Violence would never come my way Hope you understand this one day Love me like you'll always do and I promise I'll never leave you‌ By Shakia Rankin
I don't tolerate not being paid attention to
Going from girl to girl passing this!
I tolerate matureness
That! No need to get mad
I don't tolerate immaturity
If I leave and don't come back Funniness is what I like about you cupcake and my boo Faithful I been to you, it's only fair That's why I care because I care because I care about your feelings I lie to them because I don't give a f--
My manual
I tolerate being recognized
Don't come me saying
No means no so stop asking
I tolerate being appreciated I don't tolerate being called names I don't want be called By Shaquitta Andrews
He wants me? He better respect me! He wants me? He better address me! As his girl, not his friend As his woman not just his thing
Love
Over here asking if you can suck...
I like 'em real, yup that's just my type! Strong and built yep that's right He better not lie, or I'll be mad
All I want is you to be respectful, trustworthy, appreciate me. Maybe even treat me like a queen. I bleed for a week and I'm still not dead. I don't care what he or she said. Baby listen to me, look into my beautiful Black skin and tell me what you see.
I won't text you for a week, I'll do just that So if you love me, if you care Respect my mind and I'll be here Warning: as real as it gets With Love,
Yo girl Le le
NEWS
Lover and friends are always meant forever
I don't tolerate being lied to
baby I love you
PASSAGE
Snaps! Poetic Expressions
of Being Me
to
OF
Love me for who I am Not for anything else I want a guy who always act himself Don't judge my book by it's cover
Dala
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RITES
OF
PASSAGE
NEWS
Dear Blue Rain... Dear Blue Rain,
Would it be a good idea to have sex before marriage? Sincerely,
A confused virgin Dear Confused Virgin,
I think whomever you end up marrying it would be a good idea to be pure, but the truth of the matter is
Dear Blue Rain,
What do you tell a friend that is in a bad relationship? Sincerely, Worried
Dear Worried,
You can tell her whatever you feel is right but at the end of the day, the choice to stay in a relationship is ultimately up to her. In most bad relation-
that's not reality. But then again having sex before marriage isn't the worst thing in the world. I think you should at least value yourself, boundaries, body and how you want to be treated before anything else. Take a moment to write down ten ways of how you would like to be treated in a relationship and a list of 5 behaviors you won't ships leaving is not easy and sometimes it's scary but what is best. Sincerely,
Blue Rain Dear Blue Rain,
If I saw someone being peer pressured into doing something they didn't want to do, should I stop it?
Sincerely,
Scared and confused
tolerate. This becomes your manual of healthy guidelines for both you and your friend or boyfriend. Remember, the expectations you set for your boyfriend are the same guidelines you need to follow as well. Sincerely,
Blue Rain Dear Scared and Confused,
Yes because that maybe you one day and you would want somebody to help you. A bystander is just as guilty as the bully when the bystander does nothing to stop the bully. You could stop it secretly by telling an adult. Sincerely,
Blue Rain
Poll: Questions to ask young men and young ladies Why is saying a girl is thick a compliment? Do most boys wash there hands after the use the bathroom? Why do people cheat on their boy/ girlfriend? Why do some boys talk about their size? Why are boys hairy? Do boys always leave their girlfriend if they were pregnant?
Why don't they understand your feelings? Why young men/ladies can't tell you the truth? Why are young men/ladies so hurtful? Why are young men/ladies so disrespectful, insecure and bragging? Do swag, personality, and sweetness matter to young men/ladies ? Do boys expect to pay for your hair-
style? Do boys have to look perfect around their girlfriend and vice versa? Do young ladies have to be lady like around young men? Do young men/ladies only want sex or do they want love? Why do some boys give back hand compliments? (ex. You’re cool for a short person)
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Rites of Passage Academy Girls Club Meetings Rites of Passage Girls Clubs!
Where: B. T. Washington, Sr. (BTW)
For Who: Girls ages10-18 Closed: Holiday and Spring Break, Teacher Planning, Early Release Days and inclement weather *For more information:
Where: Edison Eduplex High School
1200 NW 6th Ave. Miami, FL 33136
6161 NW 5th Ct. Miami, Fl 33127
When: Monday—Thursday
When: Wednesdays and Thursdays
Time: 2:30-5:00pm
Time: 3–5pm Rm: A-121
Room: 308
Work America, Inc.
Call (305) 576-3084 or
430 NW 9th St. Miami, FL 33136
(305) 586-6694
When: Mondays Time: 6:30-8pm
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THANK YOU COMMUNITY PARTNERS Hands 2 Help, Inc.: Passage to Womanhood 2nd year partnership Sierra Club Miami Inner City Outings 7 year partnership Dade County Bar Association Horizons Committee, 6 year partnership
Mi-Lola—Miami International Latinas Organizing Leadership and Advocacy, 3rd year partnership IT Women— Information Technology, 3rd year partnership
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA): Women On The Rise Booker T. Washington SHS, 7 year partnership
9 year partnership
Thank you for re-funding
Rites of Passage for 2011-2012 The Rites of Passage Program is generously funded by The Children’s Trust. The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of funding created by voter referendum in 2002 to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County by making strategic investments in their future – because all children are our children.