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From January 10-17, 2006 our sister organization, Justicia Global, held several activities and forums at high schools and colleges in Goshen and Richmond, Indiana, USA. We also met with several student groups, women's groups, Latino/a groups, and members of the local media.
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Full of enthusiasm and hope, Mariela Jáquez and Berenice Pacheco arrived in Indiana. We went to speak about the realities in the Dominican Republic today, about the work of Justicia Global, and (of course!) about Perla.
Laura Sweitzer, a student at Earlham College, organized the First Meeting of Women's Organizations at Earlham.
This gathering took place on Monday, January 15 in the Landrum Bolling Center at Earlham (a liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana, USA).
"There are many different women's groups here on campus and in Richmond," Laura said. "We're all doing good work, and what we're doing is important. But we've never met all together before. I've been dreaming about this moment for a long time, where now for the first time we can all share experiences and to establish a connection of mutual support for one another's work.
"I'm very happy to have Mariela Jáquez and Berenice Pacheco with us today. These are two women who have a lot of experience working with gender issues and with gender violence, and work with women's groups in the Dominican Republic," she said.
Below is a photo of the women who attended this event -- nearly 50!
In attendance were representatives from: "Amigas", "Feelings You Dare to Tell Your Friends", "Black Ladies United on Campus", "Action Against Rape" and "The Advocates".
Each group briefly presented their organizational objectives and what they are working on now, as we enjoyed a delicious Mexican dinner.
Mariela and Berenice were in charge of speaking about the realities for women -- youth, adults, and elderly -- in the Dominican Republic.
"Unemployment, underemployment, and discrimination in the workplace, sexual harassment, the deficiencies in sexual and reproductive education, deficiencies in health care, and violence in the home are many of the issues that are affecting Dominican women today."
"We have to look for new, creative, interesting ways for women to work together and join forces organizationally."
We had the opportunity to talk about the origins of Perla and about the experiences we've had up to now with the two offerings of our ten-week course, "Ser Mujer Hoy" [Being a Woman Today], and with our Circles for Action and Study (CAE) for Dominican women.
"Perla was born out of the need to create a safe space, a space of trust, where women could talk about our fears, problems, struggles, accomplishments, dreams... This is a space where women realize that it's not that we've had "bad luck" in our personal lives -- whether it be with our partner, in our professional lives, in the workplace -- but rather we realize that we're living in a society that discriminates against all women."
"Perla is a space for getting to know yourself, for growth, for empowerment and leadership. It is a space that fosters the idea that only together we can be reborn as leaders, as capable women who are content with who we are, as women who work toward the construction of a world of solidarity and peace."
Our message of hope was received with great enthusiasm. We were able to share with these women's organizations a little about our methodology of work with women, as well as our goals, difficulties, and accomplishments that we've had along the way.
At this point Laura is doing follow-up work from this first meeting, and for all of us Perlas, it's a joy that they have been able to continue meeting and sharing together.
The bonds of solidarity and cooperation continue to grow!
Perla sends thanks and big hugs to...
- All of the women who shared with us at Goshen and Earlham Colleges.
- Laura, Johanna, Sarah Thompson and Elizabeth Miller, for believing in our work, and for actively spreading hope and joy.
- Jason, Laura, Danni, Joel and Tim, for receiving us with beautiful welcome signs, and for being a part of our joy during that week.
- Eva Jiménez of Earlham College, for giving us her great smile and for giving us a tour of campus.
- Leah, Danni and Ana María, for your support and your company.
- The Shenk family, for your inspiring example.
- Sarah and Lindsy, for sharing your dorm rooms with us at Goshen.
- Laura, and to our friends Amy Warner, Katie Henninger, Ximena Puig, Amy Jaret, Stephanie Virgo and Elly Porter-Webb, for sharing your houses with us at Earlham.
- Rodolfo, for helping us get our visas, for supporting our work and for inviting us to be a part of your Latin American Poetry class at Earlham.
- A young women at Earlham whose name we don't know, who gave us directions in the rain when we were lost on campus.
- Grupo NIV, and the Latino Student Union at Goshen College.
- El Puente newspaper.
- In general, to the communities of Goshen and Richmond, for your receptiveness to hear about our work, for your willingness to collaborate and be a part of us, and for your hearts, your hospitality, and your solidarity with us. Thank you all!
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