Summer 2019: The Girls Talk Back Forum

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Ceeds of Peace

Scott Nishimoto, Executive Director

808-783-6641

scott.nishimoto@ceedsofpeace.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

YOUTH PEACEBUILDERS TO LAUNCH COMMUNITY ACTION PLANS AS PARTICIPANTS IN THE GIRLS TALK BACK PROGRAM

HONOLULU, HAWAII, July 2, 2019 — On Friday, July 19, 2019, sixteen young women from across Oʻahu will be launching their own peace action plans, each designed to address social and environmental issues and build peace within their communities.  These young women, ranging from age 14 to 18, are current participants in the Girls Talk Back Program – a pilot program created by the partnership of the American Association of University Women (Honolulu Branch), Ceeds of Peace, and Women’s Fund of Hawaiʻi.  

“Our goal is to uplift girls in our community and give them platforms to find their voice, develop into leaders, and create community change.  Our Girls Talk Back Program does just that, and we’re so excited to support these young leaders,” said Leela Bilmes Goldstein, Executive Director of Women’s Fund of Hawaiʻi.The Girls Talk Back Forum will be held on Friday, July 19, 2019, from 5:30-7:30pm at Ka Waiwai (1110 University Avenue) and will be by invitation-only due to capacity.  This event will culminate six weeks of our young women learning, brainstorming, designing, testing, and implementing their action plans.  Participants will have the opportunity to share their action plans to the community and ask for the communityʻs support as they launch their efforts.

“Although the forum will be limited only to those invited, these girls will need the support of an entire community to tackle the issues theyʻve chosen to address.  Itʻs our hope that the community rallies around these worthy efforts by such impressive young changemakers and peacebuilders,” said Younghee Overly, board member for the American Association of University Women Honolulu Branch.

Girls Talk Back is a community-wide effort.  Though led by the partnership of AAUW, Ceeds of Peace, and Womenʻs Fund of Hawaiʻi, the program became a reality due to the time and expertise of several community partners, including our host organization, Hui Mālama O Ke Kai in Waimānalo.  Several mentors from the community volunteered their time and expertise to provide guidance to these young women, while several guest speakers from the community shared their knowledge during class sessions.

The young women in Girls Talk Back are in the process of launching action plans to address some of the following topics:  Discrimination toward African Americans and Micronesians in Hawaiʻi, debunking negative stereotypes of Waimānalo residents through the collection of oral histories, giving voice to students to discuss social and emotional well-being in school, and educating youth on a womanʻs right to choose, among other topics.  They will be tackling these issues with the support of their adult mentors.

Program participant, Vanessa Welch explains:  “This program has given us mentors to help guide us through the process.  As youth, we don’t always get opportunities to reach out or network with professionals, so I’m very excited about working with these passionate individuals.  I’m looking forward to working with my mentor and the community!”

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Honolulu, a branch of national AAUW, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit orgnaization whose mission is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.

Ceeds of Peace is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to raise peacebuilding leaders.

Womenʻs Fund of Hawaiʻi is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to support innovative, grassroots programs that empower women and girls statewide.

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If you would like more information about this event, please call Scott Nishimoto at 808-783-6641 or email scott.nishimoto@ceedsofpeace.org.