GEN's Voice

Issue 18

December 2002

Today's flashy media images, social stresses and peer pressures are having a dramatic effect on the self-esteem of pre-teen girls. And the news isn't good. Low self-esteem in adolescent girls has been directly linked to drug abuse, smoking, poor school performance, eating disorders, sexual acting out and depression.

It's frightening being a teenager today, and it isn't getting any easier.

But there is hope.

GENaustin is offering educational programs that give families, schools, and communities the tools to foster confident, self-assured young women. This year, GENaustin will host a wide range of programs that will touch the lives of thousands of girls, parents, teachers and others.

Speaker Series increases awareness: GENaustin's Speaker Series sponsors more than 45 presentations at 17 central Texas locations that cover topics like: "The Rollercoaster Ride of Middle School Years," "WHATEVER! Successful Communication for Parents and Teens," and "Girls as Friends, Girls as Foes."

On-line Programs provide resources for girls: www.GENaustin.org, serves as a resource for adolescent girls:

• an on-line therapist who answers confidential questions via email,
• an on-line newsletter that highlights GENaustin programs, community girl-oriented events, and useful information for parents, educators, and girls.

Girls Clubs promote leadership skills and responsibility: GENaustin proudly kicked off its new clubGEN after school program in seven area middle schools last month. The clubGEN program will benefit over 100 middle school girls, and 80 high school girls in Austin, Round Rock and Westlake.

Public/Private partnerships promote healthy living: GENaustin has become a key partner in a new education project sponsored by the Texas Cancer Council and coordinated with help from the international communications firm, Fleishman-Hillard.  This education program is designed to help teen girls in Austin understand the dangers and consequences of smoking, and it includes the development of a large-scale community outreach campaign designed for teen girls by teen girls. 

The need for GENaustin programs is growing every day. But we can't meet that growing demand without your help. GENaustin is 90 percent run by the efforts of volunteers and is funded by donations like yours. Now, more than ever, we need you to give generously -- $250, $100, $50, $35 or whatever you can give – to help us continue this important work.

We hope we can count on you to help make our dream a reality. Click on this secure web link to make a donation on your credit card now and pass this email on to anyone you think is interested in helping our cause: www.active.com/donate/annualcampaign2002

Here’s what’s going on in December:

“What is Your Relationship with Your Body?” For many people, meeting society’s ideal body image has become more important than being healthy. Society’s top solutions appear to be “a diet” or surgery. But there are ways to change your body image without doing damage to your body! Lynne Bannatyne, Ph.D., will discuss how learning to love your physical appearance can positively affect self-acceptance, self-esteem and physical health.
Wednesday, December 4, 3 – 4:45 p.m., Kealing Middle School, 1607 Pennsylvania Avenue. For girls.

“Be All You Can Be.” Travis County Sheriff Margo Frasier uses humor to tell her personal story of beating the odds and rising to success in a male-dominated profession. From working her way through college, to practicing law, to becoming the first woman elected sheriff of Travis County, Sheriff Frasier credits the advice of her mother and grandfather: “Be all you can be.” With warmth and laughter, she shares inspiring advice with girls in an afternoon they’re sure to remember.
Thursday, December 5, noon – 1 p.m., Paredes Middle School, 10100 S. Mary Moore Searight Drive. For girls.

“The Red Shoes: Mother-daughter Relationships and Individuation.” As young women reach adolescence, their process of self-discovery includes defining how they are different from parents and family. Mothers and daughters can use their unique relationship to support the daughter’s exploration of her identity. Luniece Obst, M.Ed., LPC, will lead this workshop designed to help moms and daughters “sweat the important stuff,” enhance communication and appreciate the individuation process.
Tuesday, December 10, 6:30 – 8 p.m., Lamar Middle School library, 6201 Wynona Avenue. For girls and their mothers.

“Special Spanish Presentation on Growing Up in a Bi-Cultural World.” Spanish-speaking parents of middle school girls are invited to a special presentation at Mendez Middle School from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 10, focusing on parenting daughters and understanding the bi-cultural world they are growing up in. The purpose of the presentation is to help parents and daughters avoid conflicts that may seriously harm family relationships. The Speaker is Liz Sibrian with the College Assistant Migrant Program at St. Edward's University. Liz has much experience working with Latino high school and college students. This program will be conducted entirely in Spanish.
For more information contact the Mendez counseling office at 414-3514.  

"The Best of Friends: Helping Girls Navigate Peer Relationships.” GENaustin and SafePlace will present a professional workshop on adolescent girl-on-girl aggression 9 a.m. to Noon, on Saturday, January 18, at SafePlace. The workshop is certified for 3 hours of MSW and LPC continuing education credits. Presenters are Ellen Sanchez, M.Ed., SafePlace, and Carolyn Brooks, M.Ed., Westridge Middle School.  
Early bird registration by January 6 is $45. After that registration is $55. Cost to school employees and college students is $25. Parents are welcome.  Seating is limited.  You may register and pay by credit card by calling GENaustin at 512/414-0472. Call SafePlace at 512/267-7233 for location.

Physical activity is not just for boys. And it’s not just good for the body.

“Exercise and sport participation can enhance mental health by offering adolescent girls positive feelings about body image, improved self-esteem, tangible experiences of competency and success, and increased self-confidence. It can also help with academic achievement.”
– The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports

Join GENaustin for “Training for Life: The Importance of Sports in Girls’ Young Adult Years.” Athletics can help girls develop self-esteem, confidence, time management and discipline. Two accomplished athletes will share their experiences of winning, losing, and learning how to play the game of life through sports. Jessica Dailey of RunTex and Andrea Fisher, a professional triathlete, will explore the importance of being involved in sports while growing up. Jessica was an All-American in track and cross country (12 times) at the University of Arkansas and competed at the 2000 Olympic Trials in the 5,000 meters. Andrea was an All-American Swimmer (18 times) at The University of Texas and finished 13th at her first Ironman World Championship in 2001. Both women will discuss their personal experiences with sports—past and present—and the impact sports have had on their lives. The event will be taped and aired by ACAC on their cable programming stations.

RunTex Riverside will contribute 10 percent of its sales on December 11 to GENaustin. So, if you’ve been putting off buying those new running shoes or athletic wear, please make a purchase on December 11th at the RunTex Riverside.

Wednesday, December 11, 7 p.m. RunTex, 422 W. Riverside Drive. For girls and their parents. Presentation free of charge, although a minimum donation of $3 is suggested. For more information call GENaustin at 512/414-0472.

Please join us for the upcoming Winter Art Show and Silent Auction. This fundraising event will include local arts and crafts, great food, tarot readings and more. Ten percent of all proceeds will benefit GENaustin.

Sunday, December 22, 1:00 – 5:00 pm. Lazy Oak Bed and Breakfast, 211 West Live Oak, free admission. For more information contact Renee Buck at 512/447-8873 or visit http://www.lazyoakbandb.com.

Now you can support GENaustin and its important programs simply by shopping on-line. Simply go to http://www.genaustin.org/public/content/getinvolved/shop.asp and follow the links to over 400 stores, including Barnes & Noble, Land’s End, Ann Taylor, Linens-n-Things, Neiman Marcus, L.L. Bean, Dell, Amazon.com, JC Penney, Old Navy, Gap, and many more.

Also, mention GENaustin when you shop at Giada, a unique boutique and gift shop just west of downtown, and 2% of your sale will go directly to GENaustin. GENaustin is excited to be a part of Giada's Community Investment Program. Giada is located at 704 West Sixth Street, a block west of Katz' Deli, 512/457-8881.

The PACT Adult Institute, a professional development opportunity for educators and education policymakers interested in peer assistance and youth empowerment, will be held December 6-7, 2002, in Austin, Texas. Registration for the two day conference is $150. The Adult Institute will offer dynamic, insightful keynote presentations with practical learning sessions and opportunities to network with other professionals involved in working with youth. For more information and to register for the PACT Adult Institute, go to http://peerassistance.org/networking/pact_institute.php.

The GENaustin web site committee is looking for volunteers who have experience in any of the following areas: HTML, Flash, JSP, ASP, PHP, JavaScript, CSS, FrontPage 2002, writing content for the web, user research and usability, software/web QA, or just general knowledge of the web development process. Contact Jane Chambers, [email protected], if you’re interested or want to find out more.

RunTex is offering a free running clinic on Saturday, December 7th from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The clinic is for RunTex Marathon Kids/NEXT Running Club students and other elementary and middle school students. The clinic will focus on form, stretching, drills and relays and will emphasize correct running form, proper shoes and support, stretching, drills, warming up and cooling down.

The clinic will be held at RunTex Riverside (422 W. Riverside Dr.) at Riverside Dr. and South 1st Street, across from Auditorium Shores and the Palmer Auditorium and will include activities on Auditorium Shores.

Most of GENaustin's staff will be off between December 20th and January 3rd to celebrate the holidays. From the GENaustin family, we wish you a wonderful holiday season!!

GENaustin's programs are made possible through the generous support of 3M, Alice Kleberg Reynolds Meyer Foundation Applied Materials, Austin Ventures, Brown McCarroll, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, Hogg Foundation, IBM, Milkshake Media, Southwest Airlines and Xopix Productions.

When you make a purchase at the following places part of your purchase goes to help fund GENaustin.

• Randall's (Remarkable Card code 9033)
• Greatergood.com
• iGive.com
• Bookpeople.com

This site was last updated on 04/04/2005.

Copyright © GENaustin, Inc. 2001. All rights reserved. GEN, GENaustin, and GENaustin logos used and displayed herein are registered and unregistered trademarks of GENaustin, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks and logos used herein are the property of their respective owners. Email us at office@genaustin.org.