Austin Independent School District (AISD) has been a long-term collaborator with GENaustin and has been the incubator for developing and implementing our programs.

Countless teachers, principals, counselors, afterschool staff, and other administrators have played vital roles in our programs, from securing spaces to meet, to making referrals, to providing an adult supervision while programming is underway.

Many schools have played a role in bringing our high-impact programming to girls. One school which has played a particularly significant role is Fulmore Middle School, which has provided GENaustin with an office in its Community Center for many years. By providing our staff with office space, Internet access, meeting space for Board meetings, and access to interdistrict mail, GENaustin is able to direct more funding to the girls we serve. Principal Lucio Calzada has been key in making this collaboration successful.

We would also like to acknowledge all the people at the Ann Richard's School who have made our move possible: Jeanne Goka, Ellen Richards, Geoff Rips, Ingrid Taylor, and the board and faculty.

The P.O.W.E.R. Girls (Powerful Outrageous Women that Expect Respect), which is a group of geographically, economically and ethnically diverse girls interested in becoming leaders and mentors in their communities. The P.O.W.E.R. Girls are from various high schools around Austin, who provide training and education to other young men and women in order for them to become leaders and learn how to prevent sexual harassment and cyber-bullying, use self-defense and have a positive body image. This is a project coordinated by Every Woman's Self-Defense, GENaustin, Latinitas, Life Works, Lone Star Girl Scout Council, Phoenix House, SafePlace, Youth Advocacy and YWCA of Greater Austin. The P.O.W.E.R. Girls meet for an hour and a half every other Thursday to plan upcoming events and write agendas for their presentations.

The P.O.W.E.R. Girls are gearing up for their presentation on body image to girls at a halfway house, who were recently released from Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center. The presentation will take place this summer. Other opportunities that are in the works are additional presentations to girls who are currently on juvenile probation.

In addition to presenting workshops on body image, self-defense, internet safety and dating violence, the P.O.W.E.R. Girls have built their own website (www.austinpowergirls.com).The girls are also working on creating public service announcements from the workshops they have presented. The psa's will also be accessible via the website.

The Girls Empowerment Network of Austin is pleased to accept funding from the Governor's office to serve Travis High School teen parents and girls who are incarcerated at Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center.

Gardner Betts detention center is a short-term facility for arrested minors between the ages of 10 and 17 who are awaiting sentencing before a judge. Infractions, which led to incarceration, range from simple misdemeanors to third degree felonies.

At Gardner Betts, the girls will participate in clubGEN during the holidays, spring break and summer, when services are critical due to higher levels of trauma.

GENaustin is providing a program called "Super Moms" at Travis High School this semester in collaboration with Communities in Schools and the Pregnancy, Education, and Parenting Program (PEP). This unique program serves pregnant and parenting students with the objective of enhancing their awareness of their relationships with themselves and others. Themes include "Expressing Myself", "Accepting Different Parts of Myself", "Giving Voice to Feelings", "Romantic Relationships", "Girlfights or Girlfriends" and are complimented by activities such as journalling, roleplaying, sculpting, and more.

Communities In Schools is a dropout prevention program. Through campus-based programs and special projects, Communities In Schools creates a network of volunteers, social services, businesses, and community resources that work together to break down barriers and help students succeed.

GENaustin works very closely with communities in schools to provide services to girls that they refer.

For more information please visit their website: www.cisaustin.org .

GENaustin is excited to expand our partnerships with other like-minded organizations. If you are interested in collaborating with GENaustin, please contact Julia Cuba at [email protected] or (512) 841-4093 .