Violence Against Women and Girls PSA's Air During MN Sports

A big thanks to Chuck Derry at Gender Violence Institute for the notification.

Anoka County Domestic Violence Council/CBIM in Anoka County has partnered with Fox Sports North, and other state partners, including MNMAN, to develop public service announcements to be played during Minnesota Wild, Timberwolves, and Gopher hockey games in January

Fox Sports North has also developed a Coaching Boys Into Men web page with excellent short video clips and blogs focused on Coaching Boys Into Men. http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/pages/north_supports/

Do your part and help support or gather new ideas to create a on-going dialogue about respect and fair play among kids and adults in your life and community. Use this as a tool, opportunity to reinforce messages of respect for women and girls


*Promo spots will be 1 - 2x during a game, equaling 30 placements for the month.

January 2011 Scheduled Dates (although subject to change)*

Gopher Hockey: Friday and Saturdays only

MN Timberwolves: Monday/Wednesday Games,(Tuesday/Thursday/Friday)*

MN Wild : Tuesday/Thursday, (Saturday/Sunday)*

*check website for specific days on each teams scheduled games

For information contact:

Chuck Derry- Gender Violence Institute
P:320-558-4510 or E:gvi@frontiernet.net

Men's Action Network
MN Men's Action Network
15510 Huber Avenue NW
Clearwater, MN 55320

Did Far Away Go Too Far or Not Enough?

"Marsha should have taken a different approach", at least in some circles whether large or small you can hear a overwhelming murmur that agrees or at least willing to argue the point.

Do you agree with what has been stated? What side do you find yourself on? Is your opinion solely based as a music lover? Is it the content of the video or something else entirely?




Anyone who has heard "Far Away" before release of the video (listen above) when and if polled probably had a specific visual creative direction in their head of what the song's concept would be when released.

Here's what I learned from being a vessel of creative spirit and observation.

Me
"Anything, once written and given up for an audience to share is up for interpretation"


Meaning- What lies in the head of every creative person(myself included) if asked, is a storyline that's interchangeable, accessible yet different to those who partake in it.

What is apparent and understood with our eyes and felt in our hearts unfortunately remains the same, hate and violence, especially in the minority community towards a non-heterosexual continues and we as minorities continue to suffer.

Hopefully, this visual tug at the heart can bring understanding and a necessary urgency to STOP.


Far Away- Marsha Ambrosius

Personally, I am happy that someone else (especially in the Music Entertainment world) is willing to showcase black love in it's various forms (Am I gonna get in trouble?) Who cares!

The effect good and /or bad that we can have as community members, neighbors, friends, loved ones, activists, advocates dealing with choices that we make as individuals has to be told.

Silence has never helped anyone. While you prepare to sit quiet we still are being ignored, underrepresented, hurt, beat, raped, outcast, ridiculed, forgotten and dying.

As you see, read, walk, listen or move around today I urge you to try something different, like Marsha Ambrosius did and SPEAK OUT to save a life!

Virginia to Offer 3,000 Small Grants for Teen Violence Prevention

The Virginia Department of Health is offering $3,000 mini-grants for community-based or youth-serving agencies to implement activities from the Choose Respect Playbook.

Applications must be received by 3:00PM Friday, January 28, 2011 via email, fax, or mail.

For more information, download the funding announcement and application materials at http://www.vahealth.org/Injury/datingviolence/index.htm under the “News and Events” heading at the bottom of the page.

For questions or submissions, contact:

Erica A. Williams, MS Violence Prevention Specialist
Division of Prevention and Health Promotion
Office: 804-864-7741 Fax: 804-864-7748
Email: erica.williams@vdh.virginia.gov


Office of Family Health Services
Virginia Department of Health
109 Governor St, 8th floor
Richmond VA 23219

Assurance Offers Free Wireless

Do you know any homeless teens or adults? Do you know any former inmates? Do you have a loved one or a friend who needs a phone but just can't afford one, then mention Assurance Wireless to them which could help create a new sense of normalcy.

Having access to a reliable phone is a great start for some who are low-income or for ones who may be starting over after fleeing domestic violence or assault. It also proves beneficial for communication, employment and survival for families and/or individuals when pay-phones, calling cards and landlines are becoming non-existent almost obsolete in many neighborhoods.

Taken from Website:

Assurance Wireless is FREE to eligible customers. Assurance Wireless offers a FREE phone and 250 FREE minutes of wireless voice service each month. There are no bills, long-term contracts, activation fees, recurring fees, or surcharges for Assurance Wireless customers. Additional upgrades are available for phone

For more information call 1-888-898-4888 for a advisor to assist you in the application process. Or print application online http://assurancewireless.com/Public/CustomerInformation.aspx
(provides application link to each state)

Assurance Wireless comes with a one-year warranty from the original equipment manufacturer. If you experience an equipment malfunction, lost or stolen call at 1-888-321-5880

Assurance Wireless is currently available in these states : Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.

Your Roots Matter-taken from Girlosophy 1997

LOVE EVERYTHING IN YOUR PAST. YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT.

Roots....

Where do you come from? What do you stand for?

I thought it was important to repeat this passage in writing because depending on where we are in life we can at times, whether intentional or subconsciously forget.

What and who we are as individuals take shape at our foundation (child development, growing years) but every day with our actions, our thoughts and our words we have the unique opportunity to consistently build upon that structure. The trick then becomes not to transform so high that we forget what or who we may be running from.

How can we do that?

We can accomplish this in part by self-monitoring our gut. We need to self-check often on our journey forward by asking the questions:

What am I casting aside by building "me" __________?

Who am I leaving behind on my quest to be better then my former self?

What am I willing to take with me ?

What Must be identified and eliminated? i.e. dead weight

Who can I reach with my history?

Why now?

Roots Matter : By Anetha Paul

They can make you - or break you.
Make peace with them, whatever they are,and be proud of your heritage, because it's unique.
Nothing, not even the most difficult upbringing or so-called disadvantaged background, need be a barrier to all the best things in life- Friendship, Love and Happiness.

So don't reinvent or cover up your past. Your story is as interesting as anyone else's.

Embrace your own beginnings and you'll find you can embrace the beginnings of others.

Whatever culture or tradition you come from, it is a part of your history and lineage. It is a part of you!

Love everything in your past. Your future depends on it.

TRANSGENDER SUPPORT GROUP(MN)

Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition Support Group





The MN Transgender Health Coalition is offering a Bi-monthly support group for all gender variant folks no matter where they are in their transition. The group will be held on 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month from 5:30-7:00pm at 3405 Chicago Avenue, Suite 103 in Minneapolis.
Please note: You do not have to be on hormones or transitioning to benefit from the support group. If you need information, contact 612-823-1152 or mntranshealth@yahoo.com

Topics to include hormone use, safe syringe use, HIV and Hep C, safer sex, medical referrals, weekly check-in, surgery discussions and name/gender change info.

The Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition is committed to improving health care access and the quality of health care received by trans and gender non-conforming people through education, resources, and advocacy. (taken from website)