May 2019 Newsletter
Domestic violence and sexual violence impair health and create an imbalance within Native American communities at rates that far exceed national standards. In fact, research indicates that American Indian/Alaskan Native populations have disproportionately higher rates of mental health problems than the rest of the US populations.

Survivors of domestic violence often experience mental health issues long after the abuse has stopped. Psychological damage caused by domestic and sexual violence manifests later in life for many survivors. PTSD, substance-abuse, substance-dependency, depression and anxiety are common, often co-occurring, illnesses that arise after the physical violence ends. Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable. It’s important to pay attention to both your physical health and your mental health, which can help you achieve overall wellness and set you on a path to recovery.

Here are some tips from Mental Health America for staying mentally fit:
-      Finding a reason to laugh, 
-      going for a walk with a friend,
-      meditating,
-      playing with a pet,
-      or working from home once a week can go a long way in making you both physically and mentally healthy.
CSVANW Transition
Greetings CSVANW Community, 
On behalf of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW), we would like to thank everyone who came to our Membership Meeting on May 3, 2019. For years, CSVANW has been shifting toward a model of collaboration and authentic shared leadership at every level within our organization. The attendance of our esteemed members offered our broader community of staff, board and community partners the insight and wisdom needed for CSVANW to continue to build upon its legacy of working alongside our communities. 
As we work to critically examine what is needed to further the vision of CSVANW, space was held for honest and critical conversations to discuss the transition and direction of CSVANW at our member meeting. We would like to apprise our communities about the decisions that were reached by consensus from our attending CSVANW Deciding Members regarding the leadership and vision of the Coalition. 
It was unanimously voted to replace our board of directors and we thank them for sharing their time and energy helping to grow CSVANW into the who we are today. Our members also felt it important that we move toward finding an executive director who will continue to advance CSVANW into the next phase of the movement to end violence. While an active search is conducted our Membership and Outreach Manager, Angel Charley, will act as interim executive director.
CSVANW is well positioned in its new transitional direction. 
At CSVANW, we are committed to supporting the transformative change of our work and the vision we have held for our communities for the last 23 years. We reassure everyone that in the days ahead, there will be reconciliation and healing that will be member-led and community focused. As a collective body, we value the leadership of our Native women and LGBTQ relatives and seek to construct an organization that is invested in the development and care of not only our leadership but of our communities so that we not only advance, but we embody our mission. 



Take Back the Night

April 2, 2019

CSVANW joined Casa Fortaleza and the New Mexican Asian Family Center for Take Back the Night. We gathered at the Asian Family Center with different organizations tabling with important information and then marched to Kellys Brew Pub where Poet Laureate Michelle Otero performed. Survivors spoke, shared powerful stories and music and dancers accompanied the event. Take Back the Night is the first worldwide effort to combat sexual violence and violence against women.
4th Annual Silence No More 5k Run and 1K Walk

April 13 , 2019
Twin Peaks, NM

CSVANW went out to Twin Peaks, NM to support the 4th Annual Silence No More 5k Run and 1K Walk. We are honored to be invited to community and have conversations around consent.
2019 International Conference on Sexual Assault, Intimate Partner Violence, and Increasing Access

April 22-24, 2019
San Diego, CA

Our Media & Communications Coordinator, Curtison, attended the 2019 International Conference on Sexual Assault, Intimate Partner Violence, and Increasing Access in San Diego, CA. The conference focused on sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking, human trafficking and elder abuse. Moreover, the conference brought together law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, victim advocates, judges, parole and probation officers, rape crisis workers, health care professionals, faith community members, educators, researchers and others in this three-day conference highlighting promising practices and emerging issues to effectively respond to these crimes in all of our communities.
Using Social Media to Create Movement

April 23 , 2019
Hyatt Regency Tamaya
Santa Ana Pueblo, NM

Our Sex Trafficking Project Coordinator, Cheyenne, gave a presentation on using social media to create movement at the 24th Annual Advocacy in Action conference hosted by the New Mexico Crime Victim Reparation Commission. The conference offered three days of skill enhancing information on national, state and tribal issues. In addition, the conference increased awareness and strengthen capacity of attendees to effectively serve victims of crime.
Sexual Violence in Tribal Communities & MMIW Presentation

April 25, 2019
San Juan College

Our Sexual Assault Project Coordinator, Alegra, and our Sex Trafficking Project Coordinator, Cheyenne, presented at San Juan College on Sexual Violence in Tribal Communities and on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
#MMIW Red Dress Jingle Special

April 28 , 2019
UNM Johnson Field

CSVANW held a  #MMIW Red Dress Jingle Special at UNM KIVA’s Nizhoni Days Powwow. Because April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) CSVANW wanted to hold this  #MMIW  Red Dress Jingle Special to bring public awareness about sexual violence in our tribal communities,  #MMIW , and bring healing to those devastated by sexual violence against indigenous people. We want to extend a warm thank you to all the jingle dancers who participated in this red dress special and bringing healing to our relatives. We would like to thank UNM KIVA Club for giving us the space to spread an important awareness. And we would like to thank the community for taking part in this red dress jingle special and for healing with us.
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THANK YOU 
TO OUR CHANGE MAKERS 
April 2019 DONORS
Ashley Morris
Elise Morgan
Andrew Smith
Keith Pryor
Cynthia Pelak
Katie Harris
April Pink

MAY 21, 2019
Community Conversations Book Club Meeting

Red Planet Books and Comics
1002 Park Ave SW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Open to Community!

Upcoming Readings:
JULY 10-13, 2019
8th Annual Native Youth Summit

CSVANW’s 8th Annual Native Youth Summit “We are the Voice" will take place from July 10-13, 2019 at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

More information coming soon!
MAY 11, 2019
2019 Ashlynne Mike Memorial Run
MAY 14, 2019
Pathways to Justice® Course Registration
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