The Sister Collection
Event on 2012-03-31 10:00:00
CONTACT: Cynthia Smith
(513) 946-7901
cynthia.smith@hamilton-co.org
Cincinnati-Based R.E.A.L. Women of Cincinnati joins more than two dozen local organizations dedicated to the betterment of girls.
Cincinnati, Ohio- On Saturday, March 31, 2012, R.E.A.L. Women of Cincinnati will be hosting The Sister Collection. The Sister Collection will be held from 10:00 AM to 2:00PM at the Hamilton County Community Action Agency, 1740 Langdon Farm Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45237.
To nullify the epidemic of "teen" pregnancy and STDs plaguing the Cincinnati area, especially among African American girls, R.E.A.L. Women of Cincinnati will host The Sister Collection, assembling over two dozen local groups and organizations serving girls and young women. The Sister Collection is for anyone concerned with and dedicated to the betterment of girls.
After reviewing the findings from the Rise Sister Rise Research Study conducted with African American girls in four Ohio cities (Lima, Dayton, Akron, Columbus), Cynthia Smith, Director of Women and Infant Vitality Network gathered a group of women together on July 25, 2011 to hear the facts about women's health and infant mortality in Hamilton County, review the findings of the Rise Sister Rise study, and discuss the potential for using this information to improve birth outcomes among African American women in Hamilton County. This was the beginning of R.E.A.L. (Reaching out to Elevate and Advocate for Love of self among our African American Sisters) Women of Cincinnati. They connected with the following statement: “Our African American girls must be placed "at promise," rather than "at risk" in order to become contributing members of their families, schools, communities, and the broader society.” (American Psychological Association Task Force on Resilience and Strength in Black Children and Adolescents, 2008) The group decided to draw from their own experiences of trauma and resiliency and use community connections to engage and support Hamilton County girls in the promotion of physical, mental and spiritual health and wellness activities.
Since July, the R.E.A.L. Women initiative has mobilized more than three dozen women with diverse areas of expertise and a desire to give back to this special group of girls and women. They have compiled an inventory of girls' programs and services in preparation for The Sister Collection, a networking resource fair, and held a Rise Sister Rise data sharing session on Friday, November 18, 2011.
"The Sister Collection is an awesome opportunity for R.E.A.L. Women of Cincinnati to collaborate with other women and organizations to address the needs of young, African American women and girls in our community," said Cynthia Smith, Coordinator. "When we pool our talents and resources, we multiply the impact we have on our little sisters, placing them 'at promise'."
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at Cincinnati Hamilton County Community Action Agency
1840 Langdon Farm Road
Cincinnati, United States