Womens Initiative For Self- Empowerment

TO EMPOWER IMMIGRANT WOMEN AND GIRLS TO SUCEEED. WISE ENVISIONS A FUTURE WHERE IMMIGRANT WOMEN AND GIRLS WILL BE HONORED FOR THEIR WISDOM, CELEBRATED FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP, AND EMPOWERED TO CREATE CHANGE IN THEIR LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. WISE IS A VEHICLE FOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE WOMEN AND GIRLS

OVW - THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TO PROVIDE PREVENTION THROUGH INTERVENTION SERVICES IN RELATION TO DATING VIOLENCE/STALKING/SEXUAL ASSAULT/SEX TRAFFICKING/CYBERBULLYING FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTENDING WASHINGTON TECHNOLOGY MAGNET SCHOOL IN ST. PAUL, MN. IT IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE SCHOOL, WISE AND TRANSFORMING GENERATIONS, A HMONG-COMMUNITY BASED VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDER FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE TRAINING STUDENTS AND SCHOOL STAFF ON ACTIVE BYSTANDER INTERVENTION STRATEGIES, REVIEWING AND REVISING SCHOOL POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS IN RESPONSE TO INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE, GENERAL AND LEGAL ADVOCACY SERVICES TO YOUTH VICTIMS/SURVIVORS, AND TRAINING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT/JUDICIARY/PROBATION/SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ON TRAUMA-INFORMED VICTIM-CENTERED RESPONSES TO YOUTH VICTIMS/SURVIVORS OF THESE CRIMES.

GGAL PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR 6TH-12TH GRADE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE GIRLS TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE, IMPROVE ACADEMIC SKILLS, AND BUILD LEADERSHIP SKILLS WITH OTHER GIRLS FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES. GIRLS GETTING AHEAD IN LEADERSHIP IS DESIGNED TO CREATE A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT FOR THE PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. ITS NUMBER ONE GOAL IS TO HELP GGAL PARTICIPANTS TO DREAM BIG, AND THEN CREATE REALISTIC PLANS TO ACHIEVE THOSE DREAMS. THE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: ONE-ON-ONE COLLEGE PREPARATION AND ENGLISH LITERACY SUPPORT; LEADERSHIP AND CAREER EXPLORATION; GROUP FIELD TRIPS AND COLLEGE VISITS; FINANCIAL LITERACY SKILL DEVELOPMENT; SELF-CONFIDENCE BUILDING; MENTORSHIP PROGRAM; AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WORKSHOPS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2021 GGAL SERVED 70 STUDENTS.

THE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS PROGRAM IS PRESENTLY FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION, AND ONE FROM THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. TH MDH FUNDED-PROGRAM WORKS WITH WISE GGAL STUDENTS TO HELP THEM DECIDE IF, WHEN AND HOW THEY WANT TO INTERACT WITH OTHERS. THE FOCUS OF THE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IS TO PREVENT DATING VIOLENCE, STALKING, CYBERSTALKING AND SEX TRAFFICKING THROUGH KNOWING HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP AND AN UNHEALTHY ONE; AND TO LEARN ABOUT BYSTANDER INTERVENTION WHICH TEACHES THEM ABOUT THE SIGNS OF ABUSE AND HOW TO SAFELY INTERVENE WITH A CLASSMATE, FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER TO KEEP THEM SAFE. THE OVW-FUNDED PROGRAM WORKS WITH THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY AT WASHINGTON TECHNOLOGY MAGNET SCHOOL ON ACTIVE BYSTANDER INTERVENTION, REVIEWS/MODIFIES SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO RESPOND TO DISCLOSURES OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE BY STUDENTS, AND COLLABORATES WITH THE SCHOOL AND THE VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDER TRANSFORMING GENERATIONS TO ENSURE THAT VICTIM/SURVIVORS AND PERPETRATORS MAY ACCESS ADVOCACY, SUPPORT AND INTERVENTION SERVICES.