Week in Review August 13-24, 2013

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Women’s Intercultural Center Aug. 18-24, 2013

Public Input Hearing Participants from the Women’s Intercultural Center show up to support the application for the Health Sciences Academy Charter School.

Lorna Samraj, Founder and Board Member of the Health Sciences Academy

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A place where WOMEN learn and work together to develop their SOCIAL, SPIRITUAL, ECONOMIC, and POLITICAL POTENTIAL.

Letter From the E.D. “If you walk the footsteps of a stranger / you’ll learn things you never knew.” a lyric from the song Colors of the Wind from the movie Pocahantas, written by Stephen Schwartz. Empathy is the capacity to understand the feelings of others. It allows us to step outside of ourselves and see another person from within. Words aren’t needed. Feelings are express even

when we don’t have the words to describe them. The realization that I may be there one day is a splendid teacher. Eventually we all face similar Obstacles: bad news about our health from the doctor, a home foreclosure, hunger, an unexpected betrayal, death of a loved one, loss of a relationship, or other obstacles. We are all in this together. Someone right now is having the difficulty of placing one foot in front of the other. Someone’s relationship just ended and they can’t seem to drag themselves out of bed because of it. Someone is suffering domestic violence. Someone just lost her mother and is undergoing a depression. Someone is worrying about her children so much that it’s affecting her health. Someone lost their job and can’t pay their bills. Someone has no place to sleep tonight. Someone is going to bed on an empty stomach. Someone is having their home foreclosed on. Someone is being sexually abused. Someone is being beaten. Someone is being robbed. Someone has been in an accident. Someone has had their dream taken from them. Someone has messed up. Someone can’t have the child she always wanted. Someone was raped. Someone has been kidnapped. Someone is a slave. Can you enter their world? Can you see or feel their pain? Can you respond to that someone with care and compassion? The day will come when you will need someone to put their arms around you, pray for you, ache with you and say, “I understand. I’ve been there.” No one wants to experience a crisis in their lives. Many of us don’t even know how to respond to them

when they happen. Your live can be turned upside down from one minute to the next. Are you prepared? That’s why WInC is here. We are the go-to friend(s) that will be there for you. When the worst happens, we will help you draw strength. We will guide you through the chaos and uncertainty. We will give you a shoulder to cry on. We will give that human touch that acknowledges your pain and gives you hope that things will get better. Were else can you find a safe place where a little gesture, a simple touch can mean so much. Making little go a long way,

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It is amazing how the dynamic duo of Alberto and Cookie work together to unravel the misconceptions associated with Domestic Violence and their ability to train others to understand the difficulty an individual has in being able to get out of the relationship. The photo on the left shows the participants doing the web activity. The object of this activity is to have everyone participate as part of the web. When the web is completed balls (or balloons) are thrown into it. The balls represent the barriers that a domestic violence victims identify as barriers (i.e. money, children, home, lack of employment skills, etc.) to them being able to leave the relationship. It is the job of the web holders to ensure that the ball is not dropped. Eventually all the balls are dropped. This is used as an example that a team of 40 managed to drop the balls, now imagine one person having to juggle them all. This exercise brings greater understanding of the many barriers a domestic violence victim goes through. The 32-hour Intensive Domestic Violence Training increases the awareness of domestic violence and creates greater understanding in a society that can be extremely critical of a victim.

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The New Mexico Public Education Commission (PEC) scheduled a community input hearing for the Health Sciences Academy charter school application at the Anthony City Hall. The PEC is the official state authorizer for charter school since 2006 after an amendment to the New Mexico Charter Schools Act. The community public input hearing was scheduled for 90 minutes. Members of the PEC listened to Comments from the Health Sciences Academy Board Members and future school director (Ron Haugen, Raphael Nevis, Mary Carter and Jaime Tamez). After the comments Mr. Efren Yturralde, Superintendent of Gadsden Independent School District and a representative of the Las Cruces School District had an opportunity to speak. Both individuals spoke against the Health Sciences Academy claiming that there was no need for the school. The PEC then questioned The Health

Academy representatives on their charter application. Then the public had the opportunity to speak in favor or against the school. The majority of the public input was provided by the participants of the Women’s Intercultural Center who were in favor of the school. Other individuals spoke with majority being in favor of the school. PEC members are scheduled to vote to authorize or deny the applications at their next PEC meeting scheduled for September 19 & 20, 2012 in Santa Fe. We will keep you posted as to the approval or denial of the Health Sciences Academy.

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Zumba® Toning

Rockin Party.

When it comes to body sculpting, Zumba® Ton-ing raises the bar. Learn how to use lightweight, maraca-like Toning Sticks to enhance rhythm & tone all the target zones, including arms, abs & thighs. Zumba Toning is the perfect way to sculpt your body naturally while having a total blast. Classes are on: Mondays thru Thursdays 5:30 to 6:30pm Cost: $2 per class At the Women’s Intercultural Cen-ter 303 Lincoln St Anthony, NM 88021 575-882-5556

Classes by:

Aurora

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Luzelva Muñoz taught her students that birthday cake decorations come in all shapes, sizes and characters. Students learned that decorating a child's birthday cake is an exercise in appealing to the child's favorite television show, sport or entertainment. Decorations vary in type from plastic figures to icing decorations to silk screening on the frosting.

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Flowers are a popular cake decoration, and several different methods exist to create them. Luzelva Muñoz had her student come in an extra day to learn how to use icing to form flowers, what type of icing to choose with a stiff consistency, such as royal icing, to avoid

drooping or melting flowers. Each student had to make a certain number of flowers based on the design they wanted for their cake. We can’t wait to see the results of their labor.

Making Flowers for Cakes

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Flowers are a popular cake decoration, and several different methods exist to create them. Luzelva Muñoz had her student come in an extra day to learn how to use icing to form flowers, what type of icing to choose with a stiff consistency, such as royal icing, to avoid

drooping or melting flowers. Each student had to make a certain number of flowers based on the design they wanted for their cake. We can’t wait to see the results of their labor.

Making Flowers for Cakes

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Our prayers are with Ilse Arrieta, WInC's Programs Coordinator, who is currently undergoing surgery. We are sending her healing rays of light for a speedy recovery!

Students of the Acrylic Nails Class.

Don't Quit Author Unknown When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit- Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a fellow turns about When he might have won had he stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow - You may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than It seems to a faint and faltering man; Often the struggler has given up When he might have captured the victor's cup; And he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out - The silver tint in the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It might be near when it seems afar; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

What others are saying about us….

Jesus I have visited the center a few times. My significant other volunteers at the center and from what I have seen and experienced, this center really does look to help it's community and it's people.

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Interested in teaching a class, scheduling a workshop, presentation or training at WInC? We are always searching for Volunteer Instructors to teach in their areas of expertise. We currently have a special need for a haircutting instructor. For more info, contact Ilse Arrieta, Program Coordinator at

July

dates to remember For additional information please contact us at 575-882-5556 or the contact number listed next to the event announcement.

Diabetes Workshops: Learn about the 5 most impor-

tant Diabetes tests; how to talk to your health provider about your health and the medical exam results; how to prepare healthy meals for you and your family; and why it’s important to be physically fit. The workshops will take place on Fridays from 1-3pm on July 5, 12, 19 and on September 27. Olga Hernandez and Amir Hernandez will facilitate classes.

5–Sept. 27

We thank everyone who work so hard to ensure the success of the Women’s Intercultural Center. Without your assistance we would not be here or be the catalyst for change in the lives of women in Southern NM and West TX. Every little bit helps! Special thanks to Marisela Rosales for buying the glue to fix our cabinet and doing the work of gluing it! Thank you! Featured ways to help: Turn your old inactive cell phones as support for

WInC's operations. Donate them today! Won’t you help us raise visibility for our work by

posting a review of your experience with us? To post a review visit http://greatnonprofits.org/reviews/write/womens-intercultural-center-inc.

Print coupons this week & generate funds for

WInC! Sign on with Common Kindness at http://www.commonkindness.com/org/959271

We are running low on food in our emergency

food pantry! Please consider making a food donation today!

Help put WInC on the Big Game! Vote for us daily

at: https://www.smallbusinessbiggame.com/nm/Womens-Intercultural-Center/376067 Your votes will help us advance to the next round.

Thank you for your support!

August 32 Hour Intensive Domestic Violence

Training: Increase knowledge about the dynamics of domestic violence. Determine how to safely assist & provide support to those in violent situations through referrals & providing safety planning information. Work to decrease shame & silence around domestic violence. (32-hour training, 8-hrs a week every Friday presented by La Casa, Inc.)

16-Sept. 6

Centennial Care Educational Presentation at 3pm. Learn about exciting changes to improve healthcare coverage for New Mexicans…you have an important de-

cision to make and we want your decision to be the right one for you.

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Women’s Intercultural Center WHERE IT STARTS

303 Lincoln Street / PO Box 2411 Anthony, NM 88021

575-882-5556 Fax: 1-866-285-7245

www.womensinterculturalcenter.org

Documents

Week in Review August 13-24, 2013