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Women’s Well-Being Initiative
C OMMUNITY A DVISORY B OARD M EETING
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
6:00 PM
West Columbia City Hall, Brookland Room
Meeting Notes
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Welcome – DeAnne Messias, WWBI Co-director.
Introductions –
The following people were in attendance:
Janice Bailiff, MS, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Alumnae Chapter
Jennifer Bailey, Doctoral Candidate, USC College of Education
Lacy Baker, Bilingual Victim Advocate/Intake Coordinator, Dickerson Center
Kathryn Barton, Program Director, Solicitor’s Office/Lexington County Juvenile Arbitration
DeAnne Messias, Co-Director, WWBI
Sophia Mort, AmeriCorps VISTA; Grants Implementation, Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers
Onieka Shiver, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Alumane Chapter
Dean Slade, Director of Grants and Planning, Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers
Anna Smith, Program Coordinator, WWBI
Alexis Stratton, Prevention Education Coordinator, Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands
Ellen Stringer, Youth Services Coordinator, Lexington County Public Library
Lynn Weber, Co-director, WWBI
Michelle Williams, Branch Librarian, Lexington County Public Library, Cayce-West Columbia
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Presentations
o WWBI history/Past projects – Lynn Weber, WWBI Co-director.
o Fall 2013 Community projects and WWBI Update – Anna Smith, WWBI
Program Coordinator.
- Second Chance Program: 8 –week diversion program for juvenile
offenders held at Brookland-Cayce High School. Collaboration between
Lexington Juvenile Arbitration, BCHS, Lexington Mental Health, DJJ,
Lexington School District 2, LRADAC, and Airport High School. The
program is about to start its 4th session on March 4th. Emphasizes team
building, anger management, community service, career building, etc.
WWBI primarily is responsible for the community service/community
art projects, program evaluations, and will provide a co-facilitator this
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spring. Notably, this fall, Airport High School joined Second Chance
and will continue to send students this spring.
- Juvenile Arbitration Arts Workshops: WWBI’s longest-running project
with Lexington Juvenile Arbitration. Class is offered as a sanction to
female juvenile offenders ages 12-17. Emphasizes engaging with
difficult issues through art. Spring and fall 2013 session theme was
“Sheroes,” and girls designed mannequins that displayed heroic
qualities. Spring 2014 session begins February 22 at State Street
Baptist Church.
- Women’s Wellness Series: A new collaboration with Cayce-West
Columbia Library. Three-part series: Women and Heart Disease;
African American Women, Literature and Spirituality; Stress and
Coping through Art. Thank you to USC’s Dr. Stephanie Mitchem and
Dr. Minuette Floyd for leading the literature and art
presentations/discussions (respectively).
- English for Speakers of Other Languages Projects: Helped provide
Interpreters for ESOL parents at Lexington School District 2
orientations and registrations. Thank you to our volunteers and the
SCHLHC for their participation.
- United Way Reading Consortium: Helped recruit volunteers for tutors
for students in K through 2nd grade. Also, partnered with UW to
provide professional development for SC Teaching Fellows.
o Upcoming events/projects – Anna Smith, WWBI Program Coordinator
- Spring Juvenile Arbitration Session/ USC art seminar collaborationbeginning February 22
- Spring Second Chance Program Sessions – beginning March 4
- USC’s Women’s and Gender Studies Conference – February 20-21.
WWBI will present a panel.
- Intersectionality Conference – April 24-26 in Vancouver. WWBI will
present a panel on its arts initiatives.
o Future Support/Fundraising – Lynn Weber, WWBI Co-director
- WWBI is currently funded in-part by Women’s and Gender Studies
foundation fund. Certain projects are funded by small grants, such as
the LRADAC Rise above It grant. We are looking for additional funding
sources:
o Internal and External Grants – currently applying for an
Aspire II grant. May be calling on some of our partners
to write letters of support.
o Women’s and Gender Studies’ Community Advisory
Board Fundraising Campaign – WGST CAB has agreed to
take on fundraising for WWBI
Organization Announcements:
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Dickerson Center’s Strengthening Families Program: a new initiative for families, provides groups
for infants, children, teens, and parents. Still one more week to enroll in the program. Perfect
attendance = free membership to the zoo. Contact Lacy Baker.
Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands:
“Imagine If” Art Initiative
People of all ages encouraged to create art that imagines a world without violence.
Selected art to be displayed in Tapp’s Art Center through the month of April.
Free art workshops twice a month. All ages. Kid friendly. Next workshops: Feb. 8, Feb. 22,
Mar. 8, and Mar. 22 at 1PM at Tapp’s Art Center.
April 3: Imagine if Sexual Assault Awareness Month Kick-off Event Party at Tapp’s, 6PM.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes – April 17th at State House. 530PM kick-off event; 630PM event
begins; after-party at Tin Roof.
Contact Alexis Stratton.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority:
RHOER Girls Club for teens;
Youth Symposium - April 18 at Allen University;
HIV Testing March 7 at Benedict College.
Contact Janice Bailiff or Onieka Shiver.
Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers: Partnering with New Morning Foundation to provide
women’s sexual health presentations to high school and middle school students.
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Discussion – Facilitated by DeAnne Messias, WWBI Co-director
Women’s Series at Cayce-West Columbia Library: discussed possible presentations/events to
benefit women. Ideas include:
A presentation by Dickerson Center on recognizing child abuse
A Women’s Circle – with a topic and facilitated discussion. Particularly focusing on
domestic and sexual violence.
A film series. Suggested films include My Zip Code My Health… (Streaming documentary
suggested by Dean Slade), MissRepresentation (on women’s portrayal in the media).
Sigma Gamma Rho’s RHOER Girls Club/Youth Symposium – discussed hosting an art exhibit
showing girls artwork from WWBI issues-based arts class with female juvenile offenders. Exhibit
followed by a discussion or panel on girls’ issues.
First Steps Nurse Family Partnerships: program for young pregnant mothers but must sign up
between 13th and 28th weeks.
Transportation problem in Columbia and Lexington.
DOT’s LDN: $3 door-to-door service to disabled residents. Need 24 hours notice.
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WWBI plans to host community art exhibits in 2014. Organizations encouraged to contact the
program coordinator if they would like us to host an exhibit at their sites.
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Adjournment