Free Webinar: How Understanding and Responding to Children's Sexual Behaviors Can Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

Date: April 25, 2012
Time: 1:00 PM -2:30PM Eastern

This workshop covers how to determine whether sexual behaviors in children are age-appropriate and how to respond to behaviors that are outside of what you would expect to see in children of various ages.  Register:  Stop It Now Webinar

Objectives

• What are Age Appropriate Sexual Behaviors in pre-pubescent children
• How to use context to determine whether behaviors are concerning or harmful
• How to respond appropriately including talking with parents or other adults about concerning behaviors
• Practice putting knowledge into action by discussing various scenarios

This workshop is particularly appropriate for professionals who work with families or children, including child care providers, home visitors, teachers, and staff of youth serving organizations.
The focus is on pre-pubescent children
Presenters

Yvonne Cournoyer - Program Director, Stop It Now!

Sarita Hudson - Director of Public Engagement, Stop It Now!



April is Sexual Assault Month!

Community Conference 7/16/2011 : So, How Are The Children?

Join Kwanzaa Community Church for a conference addressing our children’s multi-layered trauma from the experience of the recent tornado in North Minneapolis.

We will examine the healing power of childhood resilience, how it can be enhanced, and how it can lead them toward recovery and restoration.

Date and time:
Saturday, July 16, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Location:
UROC
2001 Plymouth Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55411

(break out sessions at the Minneapolis Urban League)

Cost:
$10 to attend (scholarships available)

Questions?
Email kwanzaachurch@msn.com

Register two ways  :
http://www.kwanzaachurch.org/   (pay in person)

http://sohowarethechildren.eventbrite.com/   (to pay online)

Upcoming WATCH Webinar Training

Improving Your Court’s Response to Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Cases

Join WATCH on Tuesday, July 26^th at 1pm CST (11am PST, 12pm MST, 2pm EST) for its webinar training on Improving Your Court’s Response to Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Cases.

This webinar will provide an overview on how to monitor misdemeanor domestic violence cases in suburban and rural settings including a review of WATCH’s most recent report, Promoting Victim Safety and Offender Accountability: Improving the Response to Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Cases. This webinar will help you create a framework for examining misdemeanor-level cases including creating a research or monitoring project designed to improve your courts.

Topics include:

• partnering with criminal justice and community stakeholders
• reporting case outcomes
• incorporating best practices
• implementing recommendations

COST: $35 for current National Association of Court Monitoring Program members and $50 for non-members. You may pay with a credit card at www.watchmn.org or send a check to the address listed above.


* If paying by check, please include the name of the webinar you are registering for, as well as a phone number, mailing address, and e-mail contact.

QUESTIONS: Contact Anna Light at alight@watchmn.org or (612)341-2747 x7.

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)

Disparities Still Exist for Women in Minnesota-Three Reasons For Gap

Among women of color, the disparities are more extreme, with some
making 56 cents for every dollar earned by a white man

St. Paul, Minn.

Women's Foundation of Minnesota and The University of Minnesota's Center on Women and Public Policy released research today that states, Minnesota women on average are paid $11 dollars less each year than men with the same jobs.

*The gap exists in every occupation, including those dominated by women

THREE REASONS FOR GAP

Lee Roper-Batker, the president of the Women's Foundation of Minnesota, said economists site three reasons for the income gap. She said women often choose careers that pay less and employers sometimes punish women who take time off to have children. "And the third thing economists say is just unexplainable," she said. "We don't know to attribute the wage gap to so we just call that good old fashioned sexism." The report said Minnesota women are clustered in low-wage jobs.

MOST HOMELESS ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Families headed by single women are most likely to live under the poverty line. On an average night, women and children make up two-thirds of the state's homeless population.

That statistic is played out every day, said Liz Kuoppala, the executive director of the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless. She works in northern Minnesota, on the Iron Range. "We talk to homeless women in rural areas who are staying up in a tent," she said. "Up in my part of the state, they climb down steep embankments to mine dumps where there's access to water."

DANGER OF ASSAULT

The research shows girls and women also live in danger of assault. It said one in every three women in Minnesota will be the victim of sexual or physical assault by middle age.

According to the Women's Foundation of Minnesota, that adds up to 250,000 women at any given time, a population that could fill the Metrodome four times. "It has become so normalized that many of our young girls believe it is inevitable," said Suzanne Koepplinger, executive director of the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center in Minneapolis.

Indian women have the highest rate of sexual assault in the state -- 42 percent of Indian women are victims. "I heard a story about an elder giving instructions to working with young girls and she said don't tell them if they're raped this is what they should do, tell them when they're raped, this is what they should do," she said.

POOR HEALTH

The study also found women and girls in Minnesota have poorer health than men and boys.
Girls are less likely to be physically active than boys. Forty-eight percent of 12th grade girls participate in sports, compared to fifty-nine percent of boys. A majority of the state's women are now considered obese or overweight and women in northeastern Minnesota have disproportionately high cancer rates.


Links:

Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center
http://www.miwrc.org/

University of Minnesota's Center of Women and Public Policy
http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/wpp/

Women's Foundation of Minnesota
http://www.wfmn.org/

Minnesota Coalition of the Homeless
http://www.mnhomelesscoalition.org/

Minnesota Public Radio
http://minnesota.publicradio.org

World Pulse
http://www.worldpulse.com/node/22009

Plea Agreement Reached in Hibbing Gang Rape

Andrew Jonathan Williams








A former Hibbing Community College Football Player pictured above reaches an agreement within the court pleading guilty to a lesser charge stemming from a Gang Rape in 2006.



Mr. Williams made a plea agreement to second degree criminal sexual conduct on Monday. Under these terms he will serve 45 days in jail and have two years of probation, in addition he will not have to register as a sex offender as long as he complies w/ sanctions the judge ordered



At a previous hearing in December of 2008, a public defender argued that Williams couldn't get a fair trial in Hibbing because the community lacked racial diversity. Starr( Judge) denied the motion. This case is considered racially charged as reported in the local newspapers because the victim is a White female and the four accused are African-American Males.



The other three gentleman are: Talon Deante Jackson, Daily Whitten and Terrance Dominque Laverity. All have been charged for being involved, each have pleaded not guilty to first degree criminal sexual conduct as of today the court date has yet to be determined


Interesting Tidbits:


*Hibbing Community College Football disbanded after charges were made school cite poor academic performance from several players as reason for the school no longer having a team

*The area has had other incidents of Tension, regarding requiting of out-of-state-players and the fact that most are Minorities.

*This is not the first incident of Rape or misconduct at this college or the other community colleges in the area.

* Local residents angry enough to interfere and take matters in their own hands. one incident involved the beating of another gentleman based on the fact he was the first African-American he and friends seen after his daughter reported being raped by a "Black Man"

*Talon D. Jackson was arrested in 2008 on possession of firearm and aggravated assault at a community college in Orlando, Florida


For more on this story check here:

http://www.hibbingmn.com/articles/2010/01/06/news/doc4b42ac2f0875c390325157.txt
http://www.twincities.com/life/ci_14130572
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/156518/


For background on this and related stories follow the links below:

http://moderntribalist.blogspot.com/2006/10/three-college-football-players-and.html
http://www.startribune.com/local/11555836.html
http://www.wesh.com/news/15344662/detail.html

VICTORY TIME

October 18, 2009
　

Victory-noun,
a success or triumph over an enemy in battle or war.
the ultimate and decisive superiority in any battle or contest
a success or superior position achieved against any opponent, opposition, difficulty, etc.


Morning!

At some point you have to claim “IT” for yourself - I know you may be tired, preoccupied with life, don’t have time and the list may go on but repeat after me:

I know what I want,
I'll rewrite the rules
I know my value,
I’m(Insert:______________)’s precious Jewel”
(name of Renewal Source/Higher Power)

When I heard this song playing today, I was tempted to do the same thing I did two years ago which was to shout and say Yes, Thank You Karina, beautiful song indeed. You are more then welcome to say those words above every morning or just when necessary, I don’t mind.

Music can be a gateway to healing, I would leave this alone because that in itself is a statement but I want to explore with you further, so for Today only when you read this, at whatever time it comes across your eyes do me a favor, yes YOU take a moment by yourself, in your car, with friends then, PAUSE.

Okay, find that one song , you know the one, when you hear it compels you to move from the inside, the one that makes you want to rock, nod your head, fist pump, jump, the one thing that will make you scrunch up your face because it starts to feel good umph, it is about to catch you, permission granted..get ugly with it !

Are you ready ? Would you like to suggest or exchange ideas ? You can tell me, well while I’m waiting for you to share and get comfortable. I must admit this to you, I have several songs that fit this category, I will share my Victory Song first because we are in this together.

Are you with me ladies? Do I have your attention men?

Let’s practice with your choice… say it, hum, write it down or sing it . I love it! If you are like me you just may be belting it out WORK IT!

My song today is: “CAN’T BRING ME DOWN” by Karina P.(young lady is a powerhouse) feel free to utilize. Here are some words from the song:

“Trust me, I know they will try
But they won’t bring me down
I know what I’m made of inside
They can’t bring me down
It ain’t over until the last round
Will they bring me down? No!
If I stumble I won’t hit the ground
They can’t bring me down” - Lyrics from Can’t Bring Me Down by Karina

　

The song you pick for your moment will start to move you in the smallest of ways, feel the momentum, maybe even a slight smile on your face, ladies and gentleman at that point it should feel organic, familiar. What is that? Your core, a feeling, your inner-self ,that connection, that says YES…I am ready today.

Go ahead! You have my permission to Enjoy, Tap into it and ROCK OUT.

Remember, When you are unafraid and unashamed to LOVE yourself , you HELP to create a small opening where ___________(fill in the blank) can meet you right there as if to say Jamila,(put your name silly)

I recognize your power, I acknowledge you strength, your potential, your gifts...
I want in
I want a piece
I want you”

**Believe me, they “whoever” or “whatever” it will be, rightfully should want that newness.

Success is only truly measured from the inside, congratulations, the road to healing has never felt so good.

I appreciate, celebrate, applaud YOU because you, yes YOU all by yourself picked a great day to enrich yourself and start again.


Jamila

Man faces Charges of Sexual Assault on 17yr old Girl at High School

Christopher Robin Webster




17 year old Forrest Lake High School Student Sexually Assaulted


A 19 yr old Cambridge Man, Christopher Webster,was arrested 30 minutes after alleged assault on a victim who he may have been a acquaintance with. A staff member witness the incident and help detain suspect, while walking to office, Christopher Fled the scene but was quickly apprehended and is now in Washington County Jail. He entered the school through a locked side entrance that the victim opened for him after classes ended on Wednesday.

The school still had students and staff in the building at the time of incident and the school reports that there are 14 surveillance cameras in the school, but none of them covered the area between the exterior and interior doors where the assault took place.



For links to follow this story:

http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_12519212

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/06/04/sexual_assault_forest_lake_high?refid=0


Update:
Christopher Webster was released pending investigation, the Atty. General has declined to pursue in favor of more information and has giving it back into the hands of the Forrest Lake Police Dept. to investigate further.