CSVANW August 2018 Newsletter

August 2018 Newsletter

JOIN CSVANW THIS AUGUST AS WE CELEBRATE & HONOR THE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS THAT BEGIN AT BIRTH.

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Join CSVANW as we honor healthy relationships that begin at birth. We know that bonding is a foundation for life, and CSVANW celebrates all parents and their choices when setting the foundation for their growing little ones' lives.

You can join us in honoring healthy relationships that begin at birth by following us and re-sharing our posts and articles on social media , joining us at community events, and commenting/sharing on our social media about how you and your community are honoring all parents and their choices to meet the health needs, growths and development of their growing little ones.

Our grounding in the movement to end violence and work is to not only organize, but mobilize, and encourage our communities to promote, protect, and support choices for all parents in establishing bonds and the healthy relationships that begin at birth. The voices of our communities, our women and children, shape our priorities and approach.

BUILDING A LIFELONG BOND

REYES DEVORE

(JEMEZ PUEBLO)

The connection between a mother and child is instrumental to the relationships we have with others throughout our lives. Mine exudes strength beyond what I ever thought I could hold. Like many things in life, it has been a process arriving to this space.

This year I can confidently share that I am an Early Childhood Educator who has just reached her sixth year in the field.

This sense of self-assurance wasn't always there though.

My journey truly began when I was pregnant at the age of 19 with my son. There were so many fears as to what the future for us would look like. At that time, college was the last thing on my mind; I was focused on just getting by. Now we share a bond that's incomparable.

Two years of my son's life went by when I began growing tired of the retail world. This came along with the uncertainty of what road to take next. During this ambition for change, I was blessed with the means to pay for school. But college? Was it for me?

CLICK HERE to keep reading.

BREAKING THE CYCLE: BEGINNING WITH BONDING

CSVANW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DELEANA OTHERBULL

(NORTHERN CHEYENNE/CROW)

Motherhood is sacred.

When I had my son, I didn't have a lot of family nearby- or family that could stay with me- but I had created a supportive team around me. I had some family, friends, my midwife, my doula, and my home visitor.

I must admit, that motherhood was not 100% instinctual for me like I had envisioned the beginning of motherhood would be. I didn't automatically feel connected with my son and feel as nurturing as I thought I should be.

But nearly four years later, I can confidently tell you that there is no such thing as a "right" or "perfect" way of being a mom and that each motherhood experience is a very intimate and personal journey.

The first three months of breastfeeding my son was hard. Leading up to the birth of my son, I had this vision that breastfeeding would be a beautiful, simple and easy experience- but the reality of early breastfeeding meant soreness and struggle.

I worked actively on mother-baby bonding and I had a strong belief that breastfeeding would nourish his mind, body and spirit.

CLICK HERE to keep reading.

SURVIVING AS A SINGLE MOTHER

JESSICA BENALLY

(DINÉ)

Having children should not deter others from fulfilling their passion; for me, that passion is medicine. Since a young age, I knew I wanted to go into medicine despite limited exposure to health careers. When I was younger, my father always told me that I was going to be a doctor when I "grew up" and so I knew I was college bound after graduation.

However, under the impression that I knew everything about the world, I got married when I was 18, straight out of high school. I entered as a freshman at UNM; I failed my first class and had to drop out shortly after. College was a different experience that I thought it was going to be and not knowing where to get help set me back. When I had my daughter at 20, I was dealing with an abusive alcoholic spouse, an all-too-frequent occurrence for Native communities. Eventually, we divorced and I was faced with raising her alone when she was 9 months old.

CLICK HERE to keep reading.

SANTA ANA SOCIAL SERVICES JOINS CSVANW MEMBERSHIP

SANTA ANA PUEBLO, NM

CSVANW is excited to announce The Pueblo of Santa Ana Social Services is now a CSVANW member. Please join us in welcoming another partner is the movement to end violence!

The Pueblo of Santa Ana's Department of Social Services provides culturally competent and comprehensive social services for the welfare, care, support and protection, to the child, the adult, the elder, the family and the Pueblo of Santa Ana as a whole, including, but not limited to Domestic Violence.

The SASS Department provides education, assistance to victims seeking services in meeting their daily survival needs, victim advocacy, assistance with court orders, referrals for counseling for victims and children, and other needs that are identified by the family.

PUEBLO OF ZIA SOCIAL SERVICES JOINS CSVANW MEMBERSHIP

ZIA PUEBLO, NM

Join us in welcoming Zia Social Services to CSVANW membership!

The Pueblo of Zia Social Services is commited to supporting the health and wellbeing of the families they serve. Zia Social Services recognizes that a healthy community starts with healthy families.

Zia Social Services provides culturally responsive education and outreach, victim advocacy, and referrals for counseling services.

To learn more about becoming a member please contact our Membership Coordinator, Angel Charley, at 505-243-9199 or [email protected] or CLICK HERE .

NEW DAY YOUTH SHELTER VISIT

ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Our Sex Trafficking - Project Coordinator, Cheyenne Antonio, visited the New Day Youth and Family Services to get to know more about their programs and facilities. New Day is the only youth shelter and serving young people within the city of Albuquerque. New Day's Family and Youth Services mission is critical: to authentically connect young people to safety, community and themselves. We appreciate their work and dedication to support young people in anyway they can.

Thank you New Day! For information about New Day, CLICK HERE.

ACTIVE SHOOTING TRAININIG

ALBUQUERQUEM, NM

Our Training and Education Manager, Kim Benally, and Native Youth Coordinator, Keioshiah Peter, both participated in Active Shooter Training earlier this month hosted by the Crime Victims Reparation Commission (CVRC).

The condensed training provided participants an opportunity to develop a better understanding of an active threat, to prepare against active shooter scenarios, conduct self-assessments and run through various scenarios and preparedness activities.

For more information about CVRC CLICK HERE

SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES PRESENTATION

ALBUQUERQUE, NM

The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women was invited to present at this year's 2018 Navajo Division of Social Services Conference at Sandia Casino & Resort.

Our CSVANW Training & Development Manager, Kim Benally and with the assistance of our Project & Media Assistant, Curtison Badonie, presented on Sexual Violence Prevention in Tribal Communities.

CLICK HERE. to learn more about the presentations and trainings we offer or contact our Training and Education Manager, Kim Benally at [email protected].

THE NETWORK LOOKS FORWARD

ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Our Membership and Outreach Coordinator, Angel, teamed up with members of The Network Committee for strategic planning earlier this month. The Network is an inclusive, multidisciplinary collaborative that seeks to reduce the incidence of domestic and sexual violence by coordinating state, tribal and local groups to strengthen our collective response to ending interpersonal violence.

CSVANW recognizes that in building a movement, there needs to be more representation on the topics of violence against Native women. CSVANW staff holds seats on various taskforces, committees, and applicable external commissions that support CSVANW's mission so as to enhance response, awareness, and advocacy for Native women at the tribal, state, and federal levels.

To learn more about the committees, taskforces, and groups CSVANW sits on CLICK HERE.

2018 NM WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS 5K

ALBUQUERQUE, NM

The Life Link, First Nations Community HealthSource, Crime Victims Reparation Commission (CVRC), CSVANW, The Attorney General's Office, and Spoken For called upon the community to come together in solidarity, at the World Day against Trafficking in Persons Awareness Run at Mariposa Park on July 30, 2018.

In 2013, the UN member states adopted a resolution which designated July 30th as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons. They declared that such a day was necessary to "raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.

To learn more about the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons CLICK HERE.

6th ANNUAL TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Our Media & Communications Coordinator, Curtison Badonie, attended the 6th Annual Technology Summit, in San Francisiso, CA, July 30th - August 1st.

The 6th Annual Technology Summit focuses on the intersection of technology and domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking. Covering a wide range of technology-related issues, this conference will be helpful to advocates, law enforcement, and legal professionals who work with survivors of abuse.

#TechSummit18

#TechSafety

THANK YOU

TO OUR CHANGE MAKERS

JULY 2018 DONORS

Keith Pryor

Usa Backonja

Sicco Rood

Tonya Jones

Cheryl Eaton

Monica Waikaniwa

Rio O'Neal

Janalyn Ray

Kaye Anderson

Catherine B. Roseman

Elise Morgan

National Indian Youth Council

Pueblo of Zia - Social Services

SAFE House

GIVING BACK:CSVANW RECEIVES CHARITABLE ONGOING DONATION

PHOENIX, AZ

We are excited to announce that, Phoenix-based company JP Digs & Co. will be donating 10% of all of their sales to CSVANW! JP Digs & Co. specializes in desert lifestyle and rustic custom designs for home goods, garden and life in the Phoenix area. We are very humbled to be a part of their charitable giving program.

"For the year 2018, a portion of the proceeds from the sales of items sold on this website and our public events will go to support this remarkable organization. You can be assured each time you shop with JP Digs & Co., you too will be doing your part to stop violence against Native American women and we cannot thank you enough." JP Digs & Co.

To learn more about JP Digs & Co., or to shop, click here!

SUPPORT FOR INDIGENOUS SEX WORKERS

ALBUQUERQUE, NM

Thursday, July 19, 2018, CSVANW's Sex Trafficking Project Coordinator, Cheyenne Antonio, sat on Native America Calling, along with other folks, discussing the work they do to help keep Indigenous sex workers safe and healthy.

Click CLICK HERE to listen to the discussion.