This past Wednesday we had our first dress rehearsal; wow, I was so impressed. Each fellow did an incredible job. Although the six of us are fellows for the same program, I really did not know too much about each fellows topic and partnership. However, Wednesday I was able to learn all about each fellow's research. Sarah presented first. Her topic focuses on the importance of youth involvement in human rights/activism/etc. and her partner is WomenNC. I thought it was so clever of her to partner with the amazing organization that is giving us the opportunity to present at the CSW in March. Sarah is so well spoken and holds herself very well. Noreen presented next. She discussed the role of men and boys in eliminating violence against women. I really like that Noreen approached her topic (violence against women) in a less conventional way. Many people often forget the important role that men play in helping to improve the lives of women...after all, men do make up about half of our world's population! Amy also presented on violence against women and the importance of healthy relationship messaging. I was excited to hear that her partner was the Compass Center and she discussed their teen outreach programs. I actually did a project on the Compass Center's program Teens Climb High last semester, and I think it is a really phenomenal program. It makes me happy to know the the Compass Center will be mentioned at the CSW. Max's presentation on the importance of a standalone gender goal was really personable and presented really well. He really has such a confidence when he speaks. Finally, Alex presented on the importance of involving women and girls in the STEM fields. I knew least about her topic and learned a bunch. Alex is great at bringing the perfect amount of humor into her presentations. I feel so honored to get to present with the 5 other fellows. They have all done amazing work and I have learned a lot from their presentations. I cannot wait to go to the United Nations with them. I can tell it will be the experience of a lifetime!
Best,
Isabella
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Monday, February 3, 2014
Changing Tack: Research Updates pre-CSW
Hi all,
I just wanted to give you all a quick update on the status of my research in lieu of several upcoming deadlines and, of course, the main event itself in March.
After careful consideration and much thought, I have shifted years a bit. My work will still be focusing on the Post-2015 agenda--the topic I consider to be most relevant at CSW. However, I will now be focusing on the link between women's empowerment and gender-based violence (GBV), using a local organization as a call to action for the creation of a standalone gender goal in the Post-2015 agenda.
This new focus will allow me to tie together the various threads essential for a deeper understanding of GBV, while analyzing the legacy of the Millennium Development Goals. Further, I have found some interesting (... and perhaps unsurprising) links between the determinants of gender-based violence and women's empowerment, making clear a widely held belief of mine that women are less susceptible to GBV in spaces where they are empowered.
This research, while representing a decided change of tack, is interesting and crucial. Life is a series of compromises and every learning experience is valuable.
Thank you--
Max
I just wanted to give you all a quick update on the status of my research in lieu of several upcoming deadlines and, of course, the main event itself in March.
After careful consideration and much thought, I have shifted years a bit. My work will still be focusing on the Post-2015 agenda--the topic I consider to be most relevant at CSW. However, I will now be focusing on the link between women's empowerment and gender-based violence (GBV), using a local organization as a call to action for the creation of a standalone gender goal in the Post-2015 agenda.
This new focus will allow me to tie together the various threads essential for a deeper understanding of GBV, while analyzing the legacy of the Millennium Development Goals. Further, I have found some interesting (... and perhaps unsurprising) links between the determinants of gender-based violence and women's empowerment, making clear a widely held belief of mine that women are less susceptible to GBV in spaces where they are empowered.
This research, while representing a decided change of tack, is interesting and crucial. Life is a series of compromises and every learning experience is valuable.
Thank you--
Max
Sunday, January 26, 2014
It's All Becoming Real
Hey there,
Wow, this week has been a hectic one!
The student organization that I am a co-chair for, SURJ, finally held its conference. It was this past Saturday the 25th, and we finally got to see the results of all our hard work. We had been planning the conference since June! Overall, the conference went really well, and it was great to hear that attendees found out about campus and community organizations that they want to become a part of. I was especially excited to meet Monica Simpson, the executive director of SisterSong. SisterSong is a nonprofit organization with the mission "to amplify and strengthen the collective voices of Indigenous women and women of color to ensure reproductive justice through securing human rights." Monica Simpson was the keynote speaker for the conference and she talked all about reproductive justice, which is a term I mention in my fellowship paper.
In addition to seeing the results from months and months of conference planning, I am also seeing the results of my research for the fellowship! We are wrapping up the rough drafts of our papers, and I am so excited to see all my hard work coming together. The trip to the UN is becoming more and more real to me, and I cannot wait to present all my research!
If you are interested in hearing all the fellows research, I recommend you come to WomenNC's event on February 20th.
Hope to see you there!
Isabella
Wow, this week has been a hectic one!
The student organization that I am a co-chair for, SURJ, finally held its conference. It was this past Saturday the 25th, and we finally got to see the results of all our hard work. We had been planning the conference since June! Overall, the conference went really well, and it was great to hear that attendees found out about campus and community organizations that they want to become a part of. I was especially excited to meet Monica Simpson, the executive director of SisterSong. SisterSong is a nonprofit organization with the mission "to amplify and strengthen the collective voices of Indigenous women and women of color to ensure reproductive justice through securing human rights." Monica Simpson was the keynote speaker for the conference and she talked all about reproductive justice, which is a term I mention in my fellowship paper.
In addition to seeing the results from months and months of conference planning, I am also seeing the results of my research for the fellowship! We are wrapping up the rough drafts of our papers, and I am so excited to see all my hard work coming together. The trip to the UN is becoming more and more real to me, and I cannot wait to present all my research!
If you are interested in hearing all the fellows research, I recommend you come to WomenNC's event on February 20th.
Hope to see you there!
Isabella
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Bringing Myself to my Presentation
This past week was the first time we as fellows gave short presentations of our research--the first time we put it into words shared with others. It was also one of the top five most stressful weeks of my life to date—the kind with uncharacteristic mishaps and cruel humor. All the usual margins I plan my life with ran out and one small accident caused every responsibility and demand on my life to come crashing one into the other. By the time our presentations came around I was not prepared in the manner I wanted to be. This, however, turned out to be an important stage in the process for me.
The importance of our topics and the huge honor of presenting at CSW can, at times, create a sense of intimidation and a push to dress your research in a certain way. There's a temptation to try and bring what I think they're looking for--to give them performance instead of passion. But that drive can sometimes rub away the most importance pieces of your message till it no longer comes out as you. And if you’re not presenting you, how can you present your passion?
Our president, Beth, has spoken often about the importance of bringing our passion. She reminded us of this when we chose our topics--that people will be moved by the things that matter to us.
That night, I didn’t have time to think about how to phrase my research into what I thought others wanted to hear. All I had to bring to the table was me--my research and my passion. This forced me to give my research in the most truthful manner—true to what I had found and true to who I am and my passion for the subject. It wasn’t a carefully crafted slant of “here’s why you should care about this,” but a simple, “here’s why I care about this.” Sometimes you have to be caught off guard so what comes out of you is unaffected and deeply real.
By the time March comes around, we will have stood in front of many imaginary and real audiences. We will have prepared and practiced over and over. But what I prepare and what I present will ultimately come from the preparation of my life. How I have invested my time, how I have come to see the world, and the passions I have cultivated are all also preparation. I am preparation. And I hope that what I bring them is true to me—that everything I have practiced and prepared will only enhance the truth and passion of my topic. I hope that what shines through in my presentation, ultimately, is an important story that matters and comes from who I am.
The importance of our topics and the huge honor of presenting at CSW can, at times, create a sense of intimidation and a push to dress your research in a certain way. There's a temptation to try and bring what I think they're looking for--to give them performance instead of passion. But that drive can sometimes rub away the most importance pieces of your message till it no longer comes out as you. And if you’re not presenting you, how can you present your passion?
Our president, Beth, has spoken often about the importance of bringing our passion. She reminded us of this when we chose our topics--that people will be moved by the things that matter to us.
That night, I didn’t have time to think about how to phrase my research into what I thought others wanted to hear. All I had to bring to the table was me--my research and my passion. This forced me to give my research in the most truthful manner—true to what I had found and true to who I am and my passion for the subject. It wasn’t a carefully crafted slant of “here’s why you should care about this,” but a simple, “here’s why I care about this.” Sometimes you have to be caught off guard so what comes out of you is unaffected and deeply real.
By the time March comes around, we will have stood in front of many imaginary and real audiences. We will have prepared and practiced over and over. But what I prepare and what I present will ultimately come from the preparation of my life. How I have invested my time, how I have come to see the world, and the passions I have cultivated are all also preparation. I am preparation. And I hope that what I bring them is true to me—that everything I have practiced and prepared will only enhance the truth and passion of my topic. I hope that what shines through in my presentation, ultimately, is an important story that matters and comes from who I am.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
"Snow Brown and The Seven Detergents" by Banu Subramaniam
Hello everyone!
I wanted to make a quick blog post, and seeing as this is my designated "break" from my research, I thought I should seize the opportunity.
The inspiration for this post comes from a library, where I stumbled upon a metanarrative (apparently that is a "narrative about a narrative". Thanks Dictionary.com!) The story, written by Banu Subramaniam, follows the journey of a young, aspiring scientist, named Sneha. I don't want to give away anything, but have no fear! I included a link to a PDF copy below for convenience.
Snow Brown and the Seven Detergents
This re-creation of the classic fairy tale had me both captivated and appalled from start to finish. At the same time, I felt a new wave of inspiration for my research as I was reading. If I can find more stories like this one, I might start a book club.
Until next time!
Alex
I wanted to make a quick blog post, and seeing as this is my designated "break" from my research, I thought I should seize the opportunity.
The inspiration for this post comes from a library, where I stumbled upon a metanarrative (apparently that is a "narrative about a narrative". Thanks Dictionary.com!) The story, written by Banu Subramaniam, follows the journey of a young, aspiring scientist, named Sneha. I don't want to give away anything, but have no fear! I included a link to a PDF copy below for convenience.
Snow Brown and the Seven Detergents
This re-creation of the classic fairy tale had me both captivated and appalled from start to finish. At the same time, I felt a new wave of inspiration for my research as I was reading. If I can find more stories like this one, I might start a book club.
Until next time!
Alex
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Updates from Noreen
Hello everybody,
I hope all of you are having a wonderful long weekend. I
know this is my first blog post, but never fear, once I start blogging, it’s
pretty hard for me to stop. There is so much I need to update everybody about!
As many of you know, I have changed my Topic from “The Role
of Men and Boys in Women’s Education” to “The Role of Men and Boys in the
Elimination of Violence against Women.” Some of you might ask why I changed my
mind; the answer is that, simply put, I couldn’t find the right local organization
for what I wanted. This was sort of a blessing in disguise though. I realized
that there would still be a huge education aspect in my research with regards
to this topic anyway, and it’s been easier to find information for my paper
with this new topic, so I have lots of material to work with.
Also, I’ve found a great way to relate this topic to me
personally. I am going to talk about how in my own country, Egypt, the amount
of violence against women has increased so much since the Arab Spring. I've
been doing a bunch of research on it, and I think it would be pretty good way
to tie it to myself. Did you all know that on 3 July 2013, it was reported that
about 91 women were raped and sexually abused in Tahrir Square in 4 days, and by
some estimates, the figure was about 169. These are only the reported figures, so
there’s no way to really know the real number.
Anyway, don’t be alarmed if I start posting a couple of blog
posts in a row. I’ve got to make up for lost time. I will leave with this:
“The ultimate measure of a man(or woman) is not where he
stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of
challenge and controversy.” --- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. day!
Cheers,
Noreen
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Preparing for CSW...
Us fellows just wrapped up a wonderful session with the effervescent Barbara Moore this past Wednesday.
In particular, we focused on the mechanics behind delivering a presentation. Barbara introduced the topic by taking the floor and giving examples of effective and ineffective body language, highlighting the importance of not merely content, but also delivery. With precise gestures and a natural, but deliberate, rhythm and cadence, she demonstrated how to engage and captivate an audience.
Following this, each of us gave a five minute presentation as an update on the progress of our research thus far. I must say, if Wednesday's presentations were any indication, we're going to be a polished and persuasive bunch at CSW! Despite limitations on preparatory time, I feel as if the presentations I watched were eloquent, well executed, and, perhaps most importantly, clear of purpose.
Another key element of our meeting included reviewing proper practice in networking at an event like CSW. Anise spoke to the haphazardness that is often characteristic of UN-organized events and that we shouldn't be taken aback by empty cafeterias, informal dress, and a general informality. In addition to that, other participants highlighted the cultural norms behind varying methods of giving and receiving business cards. A previous year's fellow encouraged us to take chances and reach out to people whenever possible--even suggesting sitting down at a table of strangers for lunch and seeing what happens.
Needless to say, finally solidifying and speaking about these elements of the CSW Fellowship experience have raised my levels of excitement and anticipation for the event itself. I think I speak for all of us when I say that one of the most important elements of this experience may very well be the connections we make with other advocates for gender equality and women's rights around the world.
As Jeff said, at the end of CSW we shouldn't have any business cards left. Let's see if we can make that happen!
Keep fighting,
Max
In particular, we focused on the mechanics behind delivering a presentation. Barbara introduced the topic by taking the floor and giving examples of effective and ineffective body language, highlighting the importance of not merely content, but also delivery. With precise gestures and a natural, but deliberate, rhythm and cadence, she demonstrated how to engage and captivate an audience.
Following this, each of us gave a five minute presentation as an update on the progress of our research thus far. I must say, if Wednesday's presentations were any indication, we're going to be a polished and persuasive bunch at CSW! Despite limitations on preparatory time, I feel as if the presentations I watched were eloquent, well executed, and, perhaps most importantly, clear of purpose.
Another key element of our meeting included reviewing proper practice in networking at an event like CSW. Anise spoke to the haphazardness that is often characteristic of UN-organized events and that we shouldn't be taken aback by empty cafeterias, informal dress, and a general informality. In addition to that, other participants highlighted the cultural norms behind varying methods of giving and receiving business cards. A previous year's fellow encouraged us to take chances and reach out to people whenever possible--even suggesting sitting down at a table of strangers for lunch and seeing what happens.
Needless to say, finally solidifying and speaking about these elements of the CSW Fellowship experience have raised my levels of excitement and anticipation for the event itself. I think I speak for all of us when I say that one of the most important elements of this experience may very well be the connections we make with other advocates for gender equality and women's rights around the world.
As Jeff said, at the end of CSW we shouldn't have any business cards left. Let's see if we can make that happen!
Keep fighting,
Max
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