GEN's Voice

Issue 28
October 2003

In This Issue:

Here’s what’s going on in October:

"Relationships and Healthy Choices." Helping girls age 13-15 think through dating expectations and choices, relationships and intimacy is the focus of this program led by Ellen Sanchez, SafePlace Co-Director of Community Education and certified sexuality educator.

For girls.
Thursday, October 2, 3:00 p.m., Kealing Middle School

"Building a Toolbox of Friendship Skills." If relationships came with instructions, what would they be? If every girl had a toolbox full of tools to help her friendships in middle school, what would be in it? An experienced counselor will teach girls how to use their tools to keep friendships strong, honest and healthy through the preteen and teen years. Kathleen Gubitz Falbo, M.Ed, LPC, is the ROPES coordinator and Safe and Drug Free Schools Counselor for the Leander ISD.

For girls.
Tuesday, October 7, 2:30 p.m., Dobie Middle School.

"Girls as Friends, Girls as Foes: Strategies for Spotting and Diffusing Relational Aggression in Girls and Their Friends." Peer relationships are everything in middle school. When they’re good, they’re very, very good. And when they’re bad... "Girl fighting" is often a hallmark of middle school, and some of the most painful times in girls’ lives. Girls may express their aggression and insecurities through hurtful words, gossip and other forms of relational violence that can damage each other emotionally. Parents can help by understanding the conflict and communicating with their daughters. Karen Hampton, a LMSW-ACP social worker, will share successful strategies for dealing with ways girls love, hurt and can heal each other.

For girls & parents.
Wednesday, October 15, 11:05 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Covington Middle School

"Raising a Daughter to Be Successful And Stay Close to Family." Growing up in Austin is very different from growing up in Mexico or even along the Border. Sometimes this creates problems between parents and children. They love each other, but they don’t understand each other. Annabelle Arteaga will help parents better understand their daughters and how they can help them be successful in school, and also not forget the values held by their families. Annabelle Arteaga grew up in the valley with Spanish-only speaking migrant parents. Annabelle has a PhD in Psychology, is actively involved with Austin’s Las Comadres group, works as a consultant for Spherion, and is actively involved with the Girls Scouts of Central Texas Chapter.

For Spanish-speaking parents.
Wednesday, October 22, 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Mendez Middle School

GENaustin is featured in a just-released book on Relational Aggression (RA) called Girl Wars: 12 Strategies That Will End Female Bullying. Written by Drs. Cheryl Dellasega and Charisse Nixon, experts on RA, the book provides girls and adults strategies for dealing with bullying. GENaustin’s Speaker Series and clubGEN programs are highlighted as national model programs that are examples of grassroots-driven initiatives that are successful in supporting girls and parents in helping young women form more positive self-identities, and in turn more supportive relationships.

A section titled Changing the Culture "shows the multifocal approach GENaustin takes through afterschool clubs, speakers series, website, and then shows how GEN is working to make a difference," according to Dellasega. "That's why I think GENaustin’s a great organization, because anyone can do these things given the passion and support."

Cheryl Dellasega, Ph.D., is the author of the bestselling Surviving Ophelia: Mothers Share Their Wisdom in Navigating the Tumultuous Teenage Years. Charisse Nixon, Ph.D., is on the board of the Ophelia Project and has created programs on relational aggression for inner city junior high and suburban high school students.

Austin, Texas recording artist and GEN board member Trish Murphy has staked out a niche with her songwriting that transcends predictability - and gender. A Houston, Texas native, Ms. Murphy officially launched her music career by quitting her college job at The Wall Street Journal for a stint of local open-mic nights. While she was working her way through school, her dad encouraged her to get gigs to support herself rather than pursue the proverbial something-to-fall-back-on. After receiving a B.A. in philosophy, she decided to fall back on music full-time. Her discography includes three solo albums, two of which she recorded and released on her own label. She tours throughout the U.S. and Europe and has appeared on the Lilith Fair tour and many nationally syndicated radio programs. Trish has lived in Austin since 1996.

Trish’s highly anticipated fourth album, Girls Get in Free, will be kicked off in a night of fun, festivities and frolic in partnership with the Texas RollerGirls—all in the name of celebrating girls with guts, whether on the skating rink or on the stage – and to benefit GENaustin. As an active board member of GENaustin, Trish felt strongly that she wanted to make the event a benefit for this important non-profit dedicated to helping girls. Come one, come all, and Girls Get in Free!

WHEN: Thursday, October 16, 2003, 6-9 p.m.

WHERE: Playland Skate Center, 8822 McCann Drive, Austin, Texas

ADMISSION: $5.00 suggested donation at the door and, of course, girls under 18 "get in free." This event is family-friendly, but also PG13. Roller Derby can get pretty rough! No outside food or beverage will be permitted. Skate rentals are first come, first served, so attendees are encouraged to bring their own skates. This is an alcohol-free event.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: The Rollergirls will play an exhibition bout; there will also be a "free skate" with the music of the K-Tel Hit Machine; Trish Murphy will then perform at 8 p.m. The snack bar will be open!

ABOUT THE CD: Girls Get in Free follows Trish Murphy’s previous release called Captured, her 2001 live acoustic CD. The newest CD arrives as an exuberant return to the attitude and energy of Crooked Mile (Raven 1997) and Rubies on the Lawn (Doolittle/Mercury, 1999). Produced by Jim Ebert, Girls Get in Free showcases fresh and hard-won ground from a literate, incisive writer hitting her creative stride.

"I wanted to make a record for girls," Murphy says of the CD’s colorful title. "A lot of Texas music at the moment is written from a guy perspective, and it started me thinking about all the girls at concerts - the ones up on the guys’ shoulders, singing along at the top of their lungs. How much fun would it be to have our own anthems to sing?"

Gutsy barnburners like "The Trouble with Trouble" are destined for Austin songwriter immortality. "The trouble with trouble is/it starts out as fun, fun, fun," crows the chorus; "Thelma and Louise" tells the story-behind-the-story of the popular film; a duet with Bob Schneider gives an edgy twist to the Lyle Lovett song "Cowboy Man" that puts the girl in charge; "Eternal Dream" and "One for the Boys", on the other hand, display the range of depth, tenderness and simplicity that mark a true career songwriter.

Girls Get in Free follows the national media and industry attention Murphy received from Rubies on the Lawn, including a week touring with Lilith Fair and appearances on Mountain Stage and World Cafe. Girls Get in Free is available through Crystal Clear Distribution.

Check out www.trishmurphy.com for more information and to order her CD.

As you flip through GEN’s exciting new Speaker Series calendar and marvel at the fresh colors and vivid layout, or get the urge to yell "I can do it!" when you see the GEN logo, you have one group of dedicated and talented volunteers to thank — the creative folks at Milkshake Media.

Milkshake Media has donated countless hours (on average about 250 hours per year) of creative services, including graphic design, branding, and Web site services to GENaustin in the past three years.

Among the tremendous amount of creative energy Milkshake Media has provided GENaustin –

• Developed a new name, logo and identity system for GENaustin, to reflect a hip, cool image that girls love and potential donors find professional and exciting.
• Redesigned the Speaker Series calendar, including layout of the entire piece, copywriting and illustrations.
• Coordinated publication of Speaker Series calendar, including obtaining paper, printing and photography — all of which was either donated by Milkshake Media or firms they persuaded to donate.
• Created the GENaustin website to support GEN’s message and help spread the word about events, volunteer opportunities and news.

Milkshake Media’s continued efforts in support of GENaustin—especially during this tough economy, when many firms have drastically cut back on pro bono work—is enormously appreciated. We can honestly say, "We wouldn’t be GENaustin without you!"

Web-savvy volunteers are needed for the GENaustin Web team. If you are skilled at HTML, CSS, Microsoft's Front Page or other Web design and development tools, and are interested in assisting with development of the GENaustin Web page, please contact Carolyn Greene, cgreene@texas.net.

GENaustin's programs are made possible through the generous support of 3M, Alice Kleberg Reynolds Meyer Foundation, Austin Independent School District, Austin Wine Merchant, Austin Ventures, the Dell Foundation, the Favrot Foundation, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, the Silverton Foundation, Milkshake Media, Shoes for Austin and the Webber Family Foundation.

GENaustin has been selected to take part in Buffalo Exchange’s Tokens for Bags Program. The program allows customers to choose to receive a token instead of a bag when making their purchase and the token represents a cash donation to a particular charity. So the next time you’re shopping at Buffalo Exchange (2904 Guadalupe), be sure to forego the bag and help out GENaustin by placing your token in our box. Our box is in the middle!

Now you can support GENaustin and its important programs simply by shopping online. Just go to http://www.genaustin.org/public/content/getinvolved/shop.asp and follow the links to more than 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 W. 6th St., one block west of Katz' Deli. The phone number for Giada is (512) 457-8881.

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This site was last updated on 06/22/2004.

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.