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2007 National Convention
June 29 - July 2, Phoenix, AZ

DIVERSITY

Linda Robbins, Diversity Chair
diversity@aauwpa.org


Diversity Statement:
In principle and in practice, AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or class.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE FROM STATE DIVERSITY CHAIR

 

BOOKS
• African American and Latino Women Share their Stories of Success

VIDEO TAPES
4 R’s ----Readin, Riting, Rithmetic and Respect
A 24 minute videotape with training guide and supplemental materials, to illustrate what parents, administrators, teachers and students are doing to teach respect for diversity and what YOU can do to affect change and build stronger, safer schools.

Stopping the Hate with Harmony
A 24 minute video with training guides and supplemental materials; what you can do to affect change, reduce tension and build stronger, safer communities.


SU VOTO ES SU VOZ
A 12 minute educational video presentation (in Spanish) about the voting process, information on how to register to vote, where and when to vote, how a voting machine works, and more.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE FROM ASSOCIATION

Diversity Outreach at Association:

Adelante Book Club
Book clubs are a fun, social way to open a dialogue on women, diversity, and change. Many AAUW members share a love of reading, and that love, partnered with a desire to seek out books written from diverse perspectives, launched a new component of AAUW's diversity outreach program in 1996 — AAUW's ¡Adelante! Book of the Month Club.

Since then, AAUW members have enjoyed exploring new ideas and perspectives through monthly discussions, both in person and through e-mail. ¡Adelante! book groups meet in book stores, libraries, other public venues, and online, gathering both members and nonmembers to talk about issues of social justice based on the month’s selection.


AAUW National Organization on Disability Recognition Award
AAUW is one of 40 national non-disability organizations working with the National Organization on Disability, demonstrating a commitment to advancing the full and equal participation of people with disabilities in community life.

Through the National Partnership Program, N.O.D. encourages AAUW state and branch programs that increase outreach to people with disabilities in the communities they serve, while encouraging greater participation by members and volunteers with disabilities throughout state and branch activities.

Woman to Woman Community Dialogs on Social Justice
Woman-to-Woman is a community dialogue sponsored by an AAUW branch and at least one partner organization. The program gives diverse participants an opportunity to identify local issues of common concern, form new alliances, and gain new perspectives. Topics are determined at the local level under the umbrella of social justice. A strong Woman-to-Woman program culminates in action to address the topic at hand. To get involved, contact a local AAUW branch or e-mail program@aauw.org.


Association Diversity Toolkit
AAUW’s Diversity Tool Kit was released at the AAUW 1999 Convention. Members can use this tool kit to become more effective leaders and catalysts for change in their communities. Branch and state leaders and all members can use the tool kit, a synthesis and update of previous ¡Adelante! modules, to integrate diversity efforts into every aspect of their AAUW work. In the first chapters, members learn more about their own attitudes toward multiculturalism, the readiness of their group to expand outreach, and ways that groups can better address the concerns and meet the needs of the wide range of people in your community. The last chapters offer practical tips, many from the best practices of branches and states, for integrating diversity into all that we do. For the complete tool kit, see your branch or state president or order a copy from ShopAAUW online or at 800/225-9998.

Links of Interest - Diversity

Human Rights and Social Justice

  • www.tolerance.org,   a principal online destination for people interested in dismantling bigotry and creating, in hates stead, communities that value diversity.
  • www.phrc.state.pa.us is the link to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, promoting equal opportunity and identifying discrimination, prejudice and bias. A guide to questions about the commission and its role in Pennsylvania; investigating complaints of discrimination and monitoring bias-related crimes and tension within communities
  • Pennsylvania Inter-Agency Task Force on civil Tension (www.stopbias.org) is a group of governmental, law enforcement and private agencies working together to both prevent and respond to bias-related incidents in Pennsylvania.
  • www.adl.org – their mission is to stop the defamation of the Jewish people…. To secure justice and fair treatment to all. Priorities are to gather, analyze and disseminate intelligence on extremism and hate activity, enhance law enforcement’s ability to combat serious threats and provide assistance, support and resources on security to the Jewish community.
  • Amnesty International is a world wide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights (www.amnesty.org)
  • United Nations Commission on Human Rights (www.un.org.rights)

ENGAGE IN DIVERSITY

  1. Begin an ! Adelante! book discussion group
    Suggested readings on Association website
    Other suggested readings to follow
  1. Begin an International Relations Group
    Discuss current events, history
    Suggested speakers- College professors, teachers
  1. Attend ethnic/religious/cultural events sponsored by groups other than your own.    Expand your educational horizons.  Form a coalition with other groups. Senior citizens, Hispanic, Middle Easter, Asian, Islamic, disabled, or of a different sexual persuasion.
  1. Form or join a group that focuses on  specific  diversity concerns in your community, for example bilingual education in local schools
  1. Work with the branch to discern how diversity can fit into a community action project.
  1. When you dine or shop in ethnically oriented establishments, talk to the owners or employees.  Discover if they or their family are eligible to join or are interested in AAUW concerns.  They may act as consultants or present a program or initiative.
  1. Help with local literacy and English language mentoring skills.
  1. When diversity works, share the information.
  1. Study a culture
  1. Diversity dining out- select a restaurant from a different culture, research the culture, and share the experience with branch members as a program and in the newsletter. Or have ethnic dessert night, always fun.
  1. Celebrate Black history Month
  1. Team up with the League of Women Voters to register women of other cultures to register to vote.  Video  (in Spanish ) available form State Diversity Resources
  1. Learn about the Study Guide and Citizenship Test given to non- citizens; makes a great branch activity and you might learn something.
  1. Establish an internet with an IFUW contact in another country. Read emails at branch meetings and encourage branch members to join in.  A good tool to spur interest. Those without email access can write letters the old fashioned way. Also includes elderly and homebound members

Suggested Readings - General:
My Name is Asher Lev    Chaim Potak
Up from Slavery  Booker T. Washington
Tortilla Curtain   T.C.Boyle

Suggested Readings on Islam:

Islam  Karen Armstrong    
Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate  Leila Ahmed
The Red Tent   Anita Diamont
Getting God’s Ear   Eleanor Doumato
Daughter of Persia  Sattareh Farman Farmaian
In Search of Islamic Feminism Elizabeth Fernea Warnoch
Shattering the Myth   Bruce Lawrence
Qur’an and Woman   Amina Waddud
The Veil and the Male Elite   Harriet Logan

Suggested Activities:

Diversity for website Fall 2007

ADOPT A CAUSE
Bina Roy Partnerships in Development Programme (BRPID) encourages international solidarity and partnerships between IFUW federations and associations.  Its primary goal is to support projects empowering women and girls through education and leadership development. Contributing to these community projects made it possible to help women and girls in 27 countries in 2005.   (www.ifuw.org/brpid)     

 Current Bina Roy Partnership Projects:

Argentina         New project: “Education for Older Women”. Computer skills training
for women 45+.

Armenia           “Women and Development Rights and Opportunities”- a project designed to increase women’s involvement in public and political life, through a series of seminars, conference, roundtables and the establishment of regional information centers.

Bangladesh     Health, education and vocational project for women and children living in a rural community. Emphasis on primary education, literacy courses and tailoring skills.

Bulgaria           New project: Publication of a book to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Bulgarian Association of University women.  The book will feature articles by 17 women writers, marking women’s struggles for visibility and highlighting the work of women who were the scientific, educational and political pioneers of twentieth century Bulgaria.

Cameroon       New Project:”Empowering Girls to become Future Leaders”. Project to encourage girls in secondary schools to continue their education to a higher level.

Costa Rica      Expansion of community dental clinic and oral health education programme for elementary school pupils and their teachers.

Croatia            Handiwork and traditional skills training for refugee women and returnees

Egypt               Continuation of the computer training and English language course for graduate women

El Salvador      Multi-function clinic, providing medical, dental, clinical laboratory and pharmaceutical services to the urban poor

Estonia            Computer training courses for members of the Estonian Association of university women to help them improve employment prospects

Fiji                    Project promoting gender equality in non-traditional disciplines in tertiary education

Guinea             New Project: Enquiry into “Violence in Schools: Effects on Girls”. The project aims to promote peace and an environment conducive to learning.

India                 New Project: “Sustainable Progress through Empowerment and Knowledge”. Creation of a “Talent Bank” to share the expertise of the members of the Indian Federation of University Women’s Associations with other organizations in India

Mexico             Urban Community shelter for battered women and community self-help workshops, focusing on violence prevention, health, education, income generation, social & legal assistance.

Nepal               Literacy project with a special library and reading room for women and girls in central Katmandu

Nigeria             Continuation of skills training project in dressmaking and beadwork, to help women develop small businesses and improve their economic circumstances

Pakistan          New project: Health and Vocational Programme for unskilled and partially educated women

Panama          Project introducing income generating skills in clothing production and computer training to women living in a depressed urban area

Philippines       Multi-part project, encompassing income-generation, literacy, medical and physical development activities, and working with community leaders in disadvantaged areas of Manila

Romania         Civic responsibility and leadership project for adolescents in 3 regional centres-projects to encourage young to stay in Romania

Russia             capacity building project enabling the FUWR to establish and operate new regional branches and plan a programme of action for the whole federation and for joint projects

Sierra Leone   Scholarship programme for girls at the primary, secondary and tertiary level

Slovenia          Project to support and advocate equality in the family and the work place

South Africa    Mentoring programme, providing training for members of the South African Association of Women Graduates, in an attempt to address a variety of social, economic and educational problems

Sri Lanka         Continuation of the project: “Rebuilding the Lives of Victims of the Tsunami Disaster”, which attempts to help support single parent mothers who have lost husbands and who are in need of housing and protection from abuse

Tanzania         New Project: Project to improve the access, participation and performance of girls in science, technology and mathematics at secondary level, in vocational training and at colleges and universities

Thailand          Informal education project for women and children, offering courses in health care, education, career development, leadership development consumer awareness and Thai culture

Tonga              Scholarships for tertiary level studies and training

Turkey             Continuation of project: Education and Training of Women Living in rural Areas.  Currently offering training for 80 women in child care and the care of the ill and elderly, in order to provide paid employment oppurtunities for women with minimal education

Uganda            New project: “Popularising Science Education for Girls in both Primary and Secondary Schools”.  The main purpose of this project is to change the attitudes of girls, teachers, parents and the community towards science education and science careers for girls

Zimbabwe       A national scholarship programme for girls and women in government schools

 

 


 
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