 |  | |
Greetings and welcome to our 1st quarterly newsletter of the year! We hope this message finds you filled with hope, ambition, and a renewed sense of purpose as we continue our journey in the new chapters of our lives - the year of transformation. We've wished our farewells to the challenges and triumphs of the previous year, let us embrace the fresh opportunities that lie ahead. This year symbolizes a blank canvas, waiting for us to paint our dreams, aspirations, and ambitions upon it. It is an opportunity for growth, change, and the realization of our immense potential.
In this year of transformation, we will focus on three pivotal areas - personal growth, transformational solidarity, and building enfranchised power. Through various healing justice programs, workshops, and events, we aim to provide our community with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to ensure success and fulfillment in our lives. As we embrace this year of transformation, let us remember the remarkable women who have paved the way for us. We stand on the shoulders of our mothers, grandmothers, and ancestors, who fought tirelessly for our freedom and power. We honor their legacy by continuing to push boundaries, create change, and uplift each other. In closing, we invite you to join us on this incredible journey of transformation, growth, and journey to finding thy power. Together, we will rewrite narratives, shatter stereotypes, and create a world where every black woman and girl can thrive. Welcome to the new year - the year of transformation! With love, support, and endless belief in your greatness!
~Team Wisdom~
| Gwendolyn Winston officially Passes her Torch | | |
|
It was so fitting to celebrate the retirement of Gwendolyn “Mama Gwen” Winston during Women’s History month. Mama Gwen, Wisdom Institute’s co-founder and former Executive Director officially passed her torch to Cicely Allen and LaTanya Bell, Saturday March 23rd at her favorite social spot, Bert’s Market Place. The event featured the ritual of passing of the torch, poetry recitations by Dr. Gloria “Mama Aneb” House and Dr. Diane”Fabu” Jackson, story sharing by community leaders, friends, family and longtime Wisdom Institute supporters, and sacred song and march led by Eunice Bell. Mama Gwen’s vision, leadership and audacious bodacious spirit established the Wisdom Institute’s womanist-centered quest for a Gender Just Detroit that provides gracious space for sacred spirit-centered base building for enfranchised power using art as an engagement practice model and tool under our Womanist Praxis rubric. Mama Gwen is stepping into her new journey which still includes serving as WI’s trusted advisor. | | |
|
“Had a grand time celebrating this wonderful woman right here! My friend, mentor, colleague, think partner, dream team member, adventurer, counselor!! Gwendolyn Winston passed her brilliantly bright torch🔥of the Wisdom Institute Detroit to the very dynamic team of Cicely Allen and LaTanya Bell. 🔥🔥We celebrated in true style at Bert’s Market Place with beloved community love, dancing, stories, poetry, food, sips, laughs, tears, and more! Love you Gwen and can’t wait to see where your journeys lead you.”
- Lottie Spady
| |  |
|
“ What a beautiful passing the torch ceremony to witness! Mama Gwen (Gwendolyn Winston), I’m excited for your next chapter and so grateful to know you. ❤️
I love how intentional the Wisdom Institute Detroit is about the passing of knowledge and legacy. Wisdom isn’t meant to reside in one person in isolation. It’s meant to be shared and carried forward. There’s so much to learn from this practice.”
-Aiysha Jamali
| | |
|
Wisdom Institute’s Everyone Counts Detroit Coalition Presidential Primary Election Work
The Presidential Primary election served as an opportunity for the Wisdom Institute’s Everyone Counts Detroit Coalition (EOC) to reconvene, engage voters and protect the polls! To kick off our initiative, Wisdom Institute held a hybrid “Enfranchised Power Teach-In”, about the Presidential Primary to help dispel myths and misinformation; explain voter registration and voting processes and dialogue about the importance of the Presidential Primary to Black women’s lives and livelihood at our funding partner Michigan Voices office.
| |
During the initiative, EOC’s phone bank team reached out to over 28, 0000 voters explaining new voter rights, providing support with voter registration, and increasing awareness of the presidential primary election which happened earlier than previous years. | |
Prior to and on election day, several coalition members served as Poll Monitors at vote early sites and polling locations throughout Detroit’s voting district 2. | |
|
" I had a great experience considering it was my first time and everyone was friendly. Not only did I have fun but the opportunity to give back to my community was amazing. The WI organization was supportive and welcoming, making me feel like a valued member. Volunteering for the Presidential Primary Election made a positive impact. I highly anticipate doing it again".
- Alicia Gray, 1st time Poll Monitor
| |
EOC will continue our voter engagement work this year through voter registration drives, canvassing, phone and text banking, expanding our business to business network targeting local Black women-owned businesses, recruiting and deploying our street performance team and developing and distributing our Voting is a Superpower Coloring Book, 3rd edition. Click here to sign up TODAY, to join us and receive an invitation to our monthly coalition meetings and volunteer celebrations! | |
|
WI + State Rep. Rashida Tlaib with Cody Highschoolers, getting them activated to vote! Did you know the law regarding voting has changed, and now teens aged 16 1/2 + can register to vote?
Join our next teach-in TBA.
| | |
WI was invited to be a guest speaker by Beautymarc, a teen-girl focused self-esteem organization, during this years Galentine's Day self-esteem brunch. The brunch was hosted in Detroit and it was an awesome opportunity to be invited to speak to these young ladies and their moms. The presentation consisted of an interactive, self-love BINGO activity that taught and reminded the girls of several daily actions and affirmations that can be done in order to show love to themselves and others. Prizes were given to these winners. For more info on Beautymarc click here. | | |
|
Earlier this year the Wisdom Institute welcomed high school intern Jewel Farmer to our team. Jewel is a senior at Northwestern High School currently serving as a Community Organizer in Training. Her work focuses on supporting communications efforts, planning and coordinating events to engage students about voting, growing and activating our student volunteer base and coordinating voter registration drives this spring/summer. This opportunity was made possible through our partnership with the Urban Alliance Detroit High School Internship Program. We are delighted to welcome Jewel to Team Wisdom and we look forward to pouring into her as she boldly journeys through life.
Find out more about Jewel below!
| |
 | |
Hello My name Jewel farmer and I am a young lady who was born and raised in Detroit Michigan. I am also a senior at Northwestern High School and is an intern for Urban Alliance. I have also participated in the program TRIO Upward Bound and JROTC for 3 years. While taking part in these programs have strengthened my community outreach in and outside of school. I have kept straight A’s throughout my high school journey. Some of my hobbies are baking, painting and listening to music. My favorite genre of music is R&B. My interest is in culinary arts, mainly the aspects of baking and pastry. I love to make people smile with different sweets and most people would say that I am an optimistic and caring person. Some of my best skills include my ability to manage my time well, problem solving skills, attention to details and my ability to communicate efficiently. I am looking forward to working with the Wisdom Institute to encourage more people to spread the word about the importance of voting and learning more about women empowerment and voters rights through their projects and initiatives.
| |
Listening Partners Cast their Visions for 2024 | |
Listening Partners are an intergenerational group of African American women who gather to experience belonging, restoration, and support through soul level listening. We hold monthly Listening Circles, sacred social gatherings where we come together to listen and share life experiences, revelations and aspirations to cultivate wisdom, healing and self-evolution in our quest for healing justice. We spent time connecting through artmaking, expressing the vision we hold for ourselves and the Listening Partners program at our first Listening Circle of 2024 which was held in January. Listening Partners are trained and practice the Art of Listening. The Partners motto is “ when judgment stops - listening starts”. Listening sparks a process of self-evolution and community revolution. Sign up to learn more about the Listening Partners and receive an invitation to our exclusive Listening Circles held on the last Saturday of the month. | |
|
Stand Up for the Detroit Right to Counsel, The People’s Law
Detroit’s eviction crisis is causing harm to Black women, spiritually, mentally and physically . Research shows that 30% of all evictions are Black women heading households. These are our sisters, aunts, grandmothers and daughters. As an active member of the Detroit Right to Counsel Coalition, Wisdom Institute co-hosted a community meeting held on January 27th to increase awareness of the Right to Counsel ordinance that was passed unanimously by the Detroit City Council in May of 2022. The law provides right to an attorney free of cost to eligible Detroiters who are facing eviction. $27 million dollars must be released by the City of Detroit for law to be fully implemented. Detroit has a $2.76 billion dollar budget and over $200 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds which are still available. These funds are supposed to help vulnerable tenants and homeowners facing eviction!
| |
|
Healing Justice requires us to rise up, listen and advocate for the issues we care about. Join us, April 1st and April 8th at 5pm and USE YOUR VOICE to make public comments on this important issue at the City of Detroit Public Budget Hearings. Sign up with Wisdom Institute’s Everyone Counts Detroit Coalition as we stand with the Detroit Right to Counsel Coalition for the people’s law!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xciku7XMf7Xn7DvgDIVeWl5sbe6BUcSRL6i9uhirlRc/edit?usp=sharing
| |
|
What is a Champion for Wisdom and what do they do?
Wisdom Institute (WI) Advocacy Champions are selected for their commitment to gender justice, their involvement with Wisdom Institute’s Everyone Counts Coalition and ability to lead, challenge and effect change. Champions are considered experts based on their lived experiences, level of knowledge, understanding and passion related to the issues in our hearts and minds. Wisdom Institute holds positions at community tables, committees and coalitions that build power for transformative change. WI uses its voice at the table to provide the perspective of African American women. Champions for Wisdom have exciting opportunities for personal growth and development to influence those in positions of power. They bring their experiences into outreach dialogues, share resources and information and are in the process of developing a resource guide.
read more
Duties of a Champion for Wisdom:
- Attend monthly community committee/coalition meetings and report on meeting outcomes
- Speak at monthly Everyone Counts Detroit Coalition meetings
- Identify partnership opportunities within committees/coalitions
- Support message development
- Support volunteer engagement and recruitment efforts
- Support with planning and execution of community events
Benefits of being a Champion for Wisdom:
- Access to WI’s robust womxnist network
- Recognition of champion status
- Monthly stipend
- Personal and professional growth
If you are interested in becoming a Champion for Wisdom, please sign up today!
| |
|
Hello Neighbors!
We're in our new space and would love to see your face!
| |
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR OUR UPCOMING EVENTS | |
|
The 2024 total solar eclipse will cross the United States on Monday, April 8, According to NASA, parts of Michigan will experience the total solar eclipse as it crosses 13 states. Residents in southeast Michigan can view its totality just before 3:15 p.m. Eastern time.
The April 8 eclipse is the last total eclipse we'll see over North America until 2044. Before it enters the United States, it will cross over parts of Mexico. The pathway continues through North America in Canada, where it will exit the continent on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland.
| |
Healing Justice Events Recap | |
|
MLK Jr. Day Wise Womxn Virtual Circle
We absolutely loved giving gratitude to all of our honorees!
This 2024 MLK Day, Wisdom Institute honored and celebrated the movement building and accomplishments of artists, birth workers and thought leaders who all play a HUGE role in loving on the community! We felt it was important to take time to express how much you are loved and appreciated. Congratulations for being simply AMAZING!
Check out the replay here!
| |
Celebrating Black Love Day | |
|
Wisdom Institute celebrated Black Love Day showing love to ourselves with tapping and poetry. Our program consisted of tapping lead by sister Valeria Hazziez and poetry by award winning poet, One Single Rose.
Check out the replay here!
| |
|
In Honor of Black Midwives Day, A Conversation with Mama Leslie Huffman
The legacy of Black midwifery in this country dates back to the 1600’s. Black midwives aka Granny midwives “caught” all of America’s babies at one point only to later be deemed as unfit and unnecessary due to the profits associated with medicalized births. For Black Midwives Day, the Wisdom Institute connected with traditional midwife, Mama Leslie Huffman, a long standing member of Wisdom’s Wise Women Network. Mama Leslie is a loved and respected midwife in the community who has been practicing midwifery for over 30 years all over the world. Listen as she shares her experience working with a Granny midwife and her take on the history of Black midwifery.
“The Women they caught the babies, and catch them still, welcome them into the world, for loving” - Eloise Greenfield
LEARN MORE ABOUT BLACK MIDWIVES DAY
https://blackmidwivesalliance.org/black-midwives-day
https://www.michigan.gov/.../march-16-2024-black-midwives...
| |
|
Water Advocacy
Access to clean, potable water is critical to our daily lives. People
need water to drink, to bathe, to wash their hands, to cook, to survive
and, ultimately, to prosper. Despite the necessity of water, millions
of individuals living in the United States face the daily reality of
exposure to contaminated water sources that present serious risks to
reproductive and overall health. Unsafe water can cause serious illness,
including cancer in adults and children, and can damage children’s
nervous systems and hinder brain development. Unsafe water can also
interfere with people’s reproductive health, for example by increasing
the chances of experiencing infertility or jeopardizing a person’s ability
to have a healthy pregnancy. As members of We The People of Detroit's Water Policy Education and Engagement Project, WI will continue to educate and engage our community and advocate for life just water policies.
Take the Water Affordability Pledge
| |
|
Water Affordability Platform**
1. Water is a public good and should never be privatized. Water affordability must acknowledge that water is a public trust, the provision of water is a public good and water is not a commodity subject to privatization.
2. Water affordability is one piece of the puzzle. Water affordability must be situated within a broader commitment to ensuring access to clean, safe, affordable water for all.
3. Water bills should be on a sliding scale. Water affordability must be modeled along the lines of a sliding-scale, income-based rate system.
4. Water is a public health issue. Water affordability must be centered within a framework of preserving and maintaining public health.
5. Water affordability builds climate resilience. Water affordability must maintain a commitment to principles of conservation and provide assistance to low income residents to ensure they can be proper stewards of their water resources.
6. Water is a human right. Water affordability must enshrine quality customer service as a central value along with a commitment to acknowledge the human dignity of all the people it serves. Water affordability must find appropriate ways to deal with past consumer debt, such as the policies being implemented in Philadelphia.
7. Water shutoffs are not a solution. Water affordability must eschew water shutoffs as a policy for being inconsistent with the values of public health and the commitment to acknowledge the human dignity of all the people it serves.
8. Water assistance and affordability are not the same. Water assistance plans are not the same as water affordability plans and must not be advertised as such. Tiered water pricing plans, where water is priced by volume, are not the same as water affordability plans and must not be advertised as such.
9. Promote equitable community justice through the water affordability platform. Water affordability must ensure that jobs, training, contracts and other economic opportunities go to residents of the most impacted communities to align with the Justice40 framework. Recipients of government assistance for housing and businesses that provide economic opportunities to low and very low-income residents must be prioritized.
| | | | |
