GEN's Voice

Issue 7

January 2002

GENaustin’s web site now features current programs on the home page. Go to www.GENaustin.org anytime to see what events are coming up. Here’s what’s going on in January:

Loving Ourselves Just the Way We Are by Mary Combs, M. Ed., LPC.
Girls and women are besieged by messages saying their bodies aren’t thin enough, tall enough, curvy enough, feminine enough or muscular enough. Enough is enough! Ms. Combs specializes in body image and eating disorders and has done extensive work in helping individuals heal their relationships with their bodies, food and other substances. Friday, January 11, Noon – 1:30 pm. Small Middle School, 4801 Monterey Oaks Blvd (off 290 in Oak Hill). Ask at office for location.

Meeting the Real Needs of Early Adolescent Girls by Kathleen Gubitz, Austin area school counselor.
An overview of adolescent girl challenges and how the significant adults in their lives can authentically support them in developing healthy self esteem, critical thinking skills and life-affirming choices throughout their teen years and beyond. Monday, January 14, 7:00 – 8:30 pm. West Ridge Middle School, 19201 Scenic Bluff Dr. (off Bee Cave Rd. in Barton Creek West) in the cafeteria.

Keep Her Interested in Math! by Vera Preston, Ph.D.
Mathematics is the key to keeping options open for paths to all careers. Unfortunately, many young teen girls begin to fall off the math track, even if they are talented? Join your daughter in a fun, hands-on evening full of games sure to encourage her to stay involved in mathematics. Dr. Preston has been involved in education and speaking to the issue of women in math and sciences on a national level. Tuesday, January 15, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Chisholm Trail Middle School, 500 Oakridge Dr. (one mile west of I-35 and Hwy. 620 at Deepwood) in the library.

Keep Her Interested in Math! will also be presented on Wednesday, January 23, noon – 1:30 pm. Covington Middle School, 3700 Convict Hill (just south of Wm. Cannon & Brodie Lane). Check in office for location.

The Road Less Traveled: Celebrating the Unique Daughter by Lois Graham, Ph.D., teen and family therapist.
Many talented and famous women describe their teen years as miserable because they were considered different, when actually their uniqueness was a sign of tremendous talent, gifts, intellect or individuality. An expert will talk about those differences, the pain and joy of living with uniqueness, how parents can support their daughters and how daughters can embrace their unique selves with love and kindness. Monday, January 21, 7:00 – 8:30 pm. St. Stephens School, 2900 Bunny Run (take Westlake Dr. west from 360 and then left on Bunny Run). Call 327-1213 for the location.

Britney, Barbie, and Body Image: Media vs. Reality
Thirty million women don’t look like supermodels, and only eight do – so why do we think they should set the standard for the rest of us? Media expert Robyn Ross will expose how our culture sends mixed messages about food, beauty, and sex appeal. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the way women are depicted in the mass media, and learn how to outsmart advertisers and industries that make careers out of convincing you to feel dissatisfied with your body. Wednesday, January 23, 7:00 – 8:30 pm. Murchison Middle School, 3700 North Hills (one block south of Far West & Hart Lane). Check board at door for location.

Be All You Can Be by Travis County Sheriff Margo Frasier.
Sheriff 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 evening they’re sure to remember. Thursday, January 24, 3:30 – 5:00 pm. Fulmore Middle School, 201 Mary (off S. Congress at Mary). Check office for location.

Love and Sex on the Big Screen by Robyn Ross.
RESCHEDULED FROM DECEMBER
January 29, 11:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
How are men, women, and relationships portrayed in movies and television? Even movies aimed at very young viewers send strong messages about the relationships between women and men. Using clips from videos, we’ll uncover gender-role stereotypes and common ideas about love and sex conveyed by the entertainment media. We’ll talk about how these movies and TV shows might influence our lives and our decisions about relationships and sexuality. Please bring a brown bag lunch. St. Stephens School, 2900 Bunny Run (take Westlake Drive west from 360, left on Bunny Run)

We’re very excited to announce that GENaustin has secured a $25,000 Michael and Susan Dell Foundation grant. The grant will be used to fund the expansion of GENaustin’s GENclubs. Led by both adult and high school role models, GENclubs are year-long intensive programs that educate and mentor girls with the goal of developing them into critical thinkers.

“We are thrilled that the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation funded GENclubs,” stated Anita Mennucci, executive director of GENaustin. “This grant represents another great step for GENaustin's evolution as we develop our programs from being informational to effecting long-term, measurable change.”

The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation created the grant based on Susan Dell’s decision to focus much of her business philanthropy on projects that are dedicated to the self esteem of girls. “GENaustin’s efforts are making a real difference in the lives of girls every day by helping them build self-esteem and look at issues in a different way,” stated Susan Dell. “As the mother of three young girls, I appreciate the work they do in our community to help girls become independent and confidant adults.”

We certainly agree that this is an important endeavor, and we are thankful to the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation for their support of young women.

We continue this month with our introduction of GENaustin’s Honorary Board Members. This month’s focus is on a Texas legend who almost needs no introduction – Ann Richards.

Throughout her distinguished career, Ann Richards has been opening eyes about the possibilities for women in American public life. She began as a junior high school teacher, later served on the local planning and zoning commission, helped elect the first female representative, the first Black and the first Hispanic from her home county, and then defeated a three-term incumbent to win a seat on the County Commissioners Court - where she was the first woman to serve as Commissioner in the county's 136 year history.

Subsequently, she was elected Texas State Treasurer, becoming the first woman to win statewide office in Texas in half a century. Having won reelection without opposition, she left the Treasurer's post to run for Governor. On January 15, 1991 Richards became the 45th Governor of Texas - the first woman elected to that job in her own right.

After leaving the Governor's office, Richards worked with a Washington law firm as an advisor, taught a popular course at Brandeis University, and expanded an already busy speaking schedule. Ann Richards now works as a Senior Advisor with Public Strategies, Inc., an Austin based consulting firm that helps companies analyze, develop and implement their public agendas.

In 1996, Ann Richards helped launch The Ophelia Project (now GENaustin) at its first major community event, speaking on “Girl Power.” She is a member of several boards including Brandeis University, JCPenney, the Aspen Institute, and Save the Children Federation.

Volunteer Opportunity:

GENaustin is currently looking for more volunteers who can take on an active role to represent GENaustin at our daytime and evening programs in the schools.

As a school liaison, you will learn about GENaustin's mission and programs so that you can introduce the organization at the events, and you will meet involved parents and girl-supporting adults who attend the programs. You will serve as a vital liaison among school counselors and teachers, girls, parents, and the GENaustin staff and volunteers. It's a great way for busy people to give back to the community and help build a stronger GENaustin. The time commitment is about 6 hours per month: one meeting per month, one program per month (at most), and some additional time promoting the events and networking with school staff. The hours are very flexible.

Interested? We are most in need of volunteers for Round Rock (Chisholm Trail Middle School), South Austin (Small and Paredes Middle Schools), and Northwest Austin (Murchison Middle School), but we can use your help even if you don't live near one of these schools. Contact Robyn Ross at 448-8508 for more information.

Internship Opportunity:

GENaustin is currently seeking part-time interns to assist with media relations for 10-12 hours per week during the Spring 2002 semester. Specifically, GENaustin seeks an intern to conduct media education and outreach; publicize GENaustin's on-going speakers' series; inform Austinites about upcoming GENaustin events; create content for the GENaustin website; and coordinate other media assignments as needed. The intern will work closely with GENaustin's Public Relations Committee and Executive Director on each of the above assignments. The internship is unpaid, but can be performed for class credit. This opportunity is perfect for individuals with an interest in issues affecting adolescent girls and in media relations. Intern applicants must be detail-orientated, self-directed and possess strong written and verbal communication skills.

GENclubs are expanding to four middle schools in the spring of 2002. The schools are Bailey, O’ Henry, and Paredes Middle Schools and Matthews Elementary. We will be recruiting teen leaders and adult mentors for our GENclubs in the month of January.

The structure of the GENclubs is a peer education model with teen leaders running the groups and adults leaders providing mentoring and support. (For more on GENclubs see the article in our December newsletter, which can be found at http://www.genaustin.org/public/content/news/newsletter.asp.)

We are currently looking for more high school teens to lead the middle school girls. We will start recruiting efforts at Akins and Austin High School as soon as school starts again on Jan. 8th.

We will recruit through the principals, school counselors, teachers and GENcontacts in the schools. We will ask these contacts to nominate potential high school girls to be leaders in the group. The girls that are nominated will receive a special invitation to an informational assembly at their school where they’ll receive information on time commitments, mission, purpose, activities, training, and leader meetings. After the assembly a panel of five to six of the GEN Curriculum Committee and the Bowie High School girls who have been responsible for our 2001 GENclubs will review the applications and select the girls to lead the 2002 GENclubs. All leaders will be required to complete training in February.

We need assistance in each of the high schools to let the girls know that this club exists and that there is an opportunity to be a part of it. To find out how you can help get your high school age daughter or student involved, call Jenny Bair at 452-9964 or [email protected] or Kim Soechting at 476-3910 or [email protected]. All nominations are due by January 18th.

We will be interviewing teachers/counselors/parents/adults interested in facilitating a GENclub at Matthews Elementary, O'Henry, or Paredes Middle School. We will also need a few volunteers to sit in on interviews. For more information on these opportunities, contact Kim Soechting.

Breakthrough is seeking two Master Teachers (one English, one math) to train and support their young faculty for eight weeks next summer. The summer session will be at the UT campus, June 5-July 31. The Master Teacher positions are part-time; each Master Teacher will receive a stipend of $3000. If you’re interested contact: Jessica D'Arcy, Executive Director, Breakthrough: Students Teaching Students, 512-414-0472 or [email protected]

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

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