CSVANW February 2016 Newsletter

Newsletter

Februrary 2016

SEE WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO!

February is Teen Dating Awareness Month.

At CSVANW, we are excited to share our new Native youth initiatives involving Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month with all of you! We have been working diligently to carefully craft engaging, empowering and inspiring Native youth presentations and outreach materials for our tribal communities here in New Mexico. After all, more than one in three Native teens will experience some form of abuse in a dating relationship, and at CSVANW we think that's one too many.

Since part of our mission is to stop violence against Native women AND children, we have been working to focus a part of our time to help our Native youth build healthy relationships and prevent dating violence. This includes discussing with youth what healthy relationships look like, what setting healthy boundaries mean and what positive communication looks like within our communities.

From the Mescalero Apache Nation to our communities in the northern Pueblos up to Jicarilla Apache Nation, to Navajo Nation and all around our urban areas of Farmington, Gallup, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, CSVANW has been reached hundreds of Native youth in the last month with our presentations about Native youth healthy relationships, healthy boundaries and positive communication.

Lastly, last week was an exciting week for CSVANW, as we began filming our first Native youth video this year. We are focusing on educational and empowering youth videos, created by Native youth for Native youth, that addresses the sensitive and much needed conversations about teen dating violence. Stay tuned!

FEBRUARY IS TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

In support of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women has resources for Native youth, tribal domestic violence and sexual assault professionals, tribal law enforcement, advocates, health care professionals, and survivors on the signs of dating violence and how to build healthy, positive, relationships through healthy boundary setting and healthy communication.

We are proud to share that CSVANW was asked to present the work we are doing with our Native youth at the Department of Justice Office

on Violence Against Women New Grantee Orientation on February 9-11, 2016 in San Diego, CA.

Our Native youth deserve to be safe, loved and respected. Here are signs to help Native youth in your community who may be facing dating abuse: Love is Respect.

For more information, be sure to check out our CSVANW website and Facebook page! Or the National Teen Dating Violence Resource Center Hotline: 1(866) 331-9474 or Text: LOVEIS to 22522

UPCOMING EVENTS AT CSVANW

February 5th, 2016

American Indian Day at the Legislature

More information: New Mexico Indian Affairs Department

February 25th, 2016

Planning Committee Meeting

CSVANW Native Youth Summit

Los Duranes Community Center

2920 Leopoldo Rd NW

Albuquerque, NM

March 3rd, 2016

New Mexico Tribal Task-force on Human Trafficking

1pm-3pm at Los Duranes Community Center, Community Room 129, Leopoldo Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104.

Light refreshments will be served.

March 18th, 2016

CSVANW Board & Member Meeting

Location TBD

March 9-10th, 2016

Mentoring the Next Generation

Holiday Inn (across from IPCC)

Albuquerque Old Town

2300 12th Street NW

Albuquerque, NM

March 15- 18, 2016

Advocacy in Action

Hyatt Regency Tamaya

For More Info

2016 New Mexico State Legislative Session

CSVANW is always proud to support the strengthening and broadening of state and tribal relations at the New Mexico State Legislature. This year, at American Indian Day, each of our State congressmen and women were given a CSVANW sticker on the House floor and we discussed the work of CSVANW. Additionally, CSVANW was in attendance at both the NewMexicoWomen.Org's legislative reception, "Power and Possibility: Investing in New Mexican Women & Girls" and at the Indian Affairs Department's Tribal Leaders Legislative Reception.

Advocating for our tribal communities and for our Native women and children is an honor at CSVANW. We understand the importance of ensuring the voices of our tribal communities are heard and that the presence of our communities are always at the table when policy and legislation is discussed.

MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION

Our sister tribal coalition, the Southwest Indigenous Women's Coalition from Arizona, will be hosting "Mentoring the Next Generation" in ABQ on March 9-10, 2016. They are looking for young Indigenous leaders who are interested in sharing stories of activism, empowerment, transformations, humanity, triumph, gratitude, leadership and advocacy. Please encourage any young leaders to apply! CSVANW is proud to assist with recruitment!

SAVE THE DATE!!!! JULY 20-23, 2016

The 5th Annual Native Youth Summit will be held at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa on July 20-23, 2016. Flyers and Registration will be released in the next month. Stay tuned!

LEARN MORE

CSVANW STAFF SPOTLIGHT

KIM BENALLY-HOOD

Training and Development Manager

"Being presented with the opportunity to work with a great organization that is staffed by amazing Native women and a Board of Directors who truly care and are passionate about the mission has been a wonderful experience. I am fortunate to be in a position where I can utilize my education and knowledge to give back to our Native community in New Mexico. There are numerous statistics around violence against Native women, but there are also numerous stories that hold our strength, our resilience, and hope. These stories carry our work forward. It is truly a blessing and honor to work with The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women."

Read her bio

CSVANW VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

JULIA SHAHVAR

Volunteer Support

"Volunteering at the Coalition is a fantastic experience. I get to volunteer in a professional, upbeat environment with passionate employees who truly care about the work they do. And although I may be new here, I have already learned a lot about issues of violence facing many native women and feel like I can play a small part in aiding the Coalition to make people's lives better."

Click here! To learn about CSVANW Volunteer Opportunities