We apologize for not bringing you An Exclusive this week but we invite you to join us next week when we resume An Exclusive by introducing you to another fascinating woman.
Meanwhile, we have a couple of entertainment specials below for you. We hope you will enjoy these specials and participate by casting a vote for the film and by attending the play.
Underground in America: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a film about a topic that most people in America avoid discussing, and it is FGM. Written and presented by Olivia Smith and Teri Whitcraft, the story is about a girl they refer to as Sarah, who recounts her experience with female genital mutilation as a child. Sarah was only 7 years old when her parents took her to their native India, under the pretense of visiting their family members.
Although she is now over 30 years old, Sarah still remembers the pain and terror associated with her gruesome experience with female genital mutilation. Sarah was born in Iowa and grew up in California with her parents who both originally come from India. What happened to Sarah is what is now called “Vacation Cutting”. Her parents removed a citizen of the United States from its soil and transported her to another country for the purpose of performing female genital mutilation on her.
Underground in America: Female Genital Mutilation was nominated for the Online Film and Video award in the 20th annual Webby Awards last week. The Webby Awards are determined by the number of votes the nominated films receive until the cut-off date and time. At the time of this write-up, this film had garnered 1,019,655 votes and the film was in second place. You have three more days to cast your vote for this film. We are asking you to support the film and visit the Webby Awards site and vote. To cast your vote, visit: https://pv.webbyawards.com/2016/online-film-video/general-film/drama-individual-short-or-episode/underground-in-america-female-genital-mutilation?utm_campaign=lazy-voter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=members
We thank Sarah for sharing her story with us as an inspiration, and we congratulate Olivia Smith and Teri Whitcraft for the film.
Shannon Whren Enterprises presents a stage play, Bound & Gagged – Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 3:00pm & 8:00pm at 14107 Gibbons Church Road in Brandywine, Maryland 20613. This phenomenal stage play spotlights the horrible phases of domestic violence in our families and communities. Bound & Gagged is a story that unfolds the life of a prestigious family well loved and respected in the community and church. Bound & Gagged reveals how children that are not validated or told who they are in the home by their parents fall prey to some form of abuse. Raising children in an abusive environment causes them to repeat or allow the same violent behavior throughout their life. Bound and Gagged has taken an up close and personal endeavor to bring information, knowledge, awareness, support, self-worth and most of all freedom. For tickets visit http://www.shannonwhren.com/events.html
Performing in Bound & Gagged is Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation’s own Board Member, Summer Pearson. Summer is a gifted singer and motivational speaker with a passion for making the world a better place. Mrs. Pearson worked as an attorney for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for eight years. She serves as the Contemporary Worship Leader at Riverdale Church at University Park, and as a soloist and speaker for various corporate events, religious services, and weddings. Summer volunteers some of her time performing for children and church organizations. She is a Director of the Board of Directors of Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation.
You’re invited: The National Organization of Women (NOW) of Prince William County invites you to their 2nd Annual “Celebrating Women Leaders” luncheon on this Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 1:00pm – 3:00pm at 8109 Counselor Road in Manassas, Virginia 20112. For details and ticket information, visit www.pwcnow.org.
FGM in the Nation’s Capital (a Science Café) hosted by 2 Virginia Tech University graduate students, Karyn Richardson and Maria Douglass – 1940 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314 on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 10:00am – 12:30pm. The event will be attended by FGM women advocates, thought leaders and Virginia Tech students. The express purpose is to generate the respectful exchange of ideas surrounding FGM, with topics directed by a facilitator. Some of the themes will be impacts of FGM, criminalization, health care for those who have undergone FGM, advocacy for those who have undergone FGM, preventative measures, rhetoric surrounding FGM, FGM in the DC area. Free of charge but you must RSVP at http:fgm.rsvpify.com.
Volunteers Needed: Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation is in search of volunteers for their 3rd annual Walk to End FGM in the nation’s capital on Saturday, October 15, 2016. Volunteers’ responsibilities are: Arrive early, set-up, on-site registration, T-shirt and bag distribution, oversee donations, supervision of the tents, coordinate pre-walk ceremony, seat speakers and guests, coordinate photo-ops and pre-walk interviews. All volunteers will have free registration for the walk. A special registration code will be provided once you have been approved as a volunteer. If you are interested in being a volunteer for the Walk to End FGM send an email to info@globalwomanpeacefoundation.org and put in the subject line, “Volunteer”.
Female Mutilation authored by Hilary Burrage is scheduled to formally be released in both the USA and Canada on May 2, 2016. The book will be on sale at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. This book is highly recommended for high school students and anyone who wants to learn more about the practice of FGM/C. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/female-mutilation-hilary-burrage/1123329211?ean=9781742576077
Save the Date: 1st Annual LifeAfter FGM’s Sister Talk Conference – Take Back the Power. Saturday May 21st, 2016. 1:30 – 4:00 PM at the Nyumburu Cultural Center, 4018 Campus Drive, College Park, Maryland. This event is organized for survivors of FGM and other forms of sexual violence. Attendees will receive tools which will help them take back the power their abusers have over them and live a life of total freedom. Open to all, so come and meet other survivors in your community and form a coalition to fight against #FGM.
Save the Date: Saturday, October 15, 2016. Plan to join us for the Walk to End FGM 2016. Call 703.818.3787 or email info@globalwomanpeacefoundation.org for additional information. Follow us on Twitter @1Globalwoman and “like” us on FaceBook www.facebook.com/globalwomanpeacefoundation.
Do you enjoy playing with words? This is a fun way to see how well you can unscramble the following words. We will reveal the unscrambled words in next week’s edition of the newsletter. If you enjoyed this, write and give us your feedback to info@globalwomanpeacefoundation.org.
Can you unscramble the following five words?
This Week’s Scrambled Words
MTWONNAERG
KLYNROOB
TROIETD
DRIAALEXAN
RICAMEA
Last Week’s Scrambled Words Last Week’s Unscrambled Words
HCIMAGNI MICHIGAN
MEYNE YEMEN
NOMA OMAM
RAMAIM JOBAGN MARIAM BOJANG
OGUNFNDEM GOFUNDME
We give you five scrambled words each week. We hope you enjoy playing.
Here are some of the ways you can help and support our programs in 2016:
We are located at 3920 Alton Place, NW, Washington, D.C. 20016. The hours of operation by appointments only are Wednesday and Saturday 10:00am until 12:30pm. All appointments and information are held confidential.
