Girls

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

woman_working_out_debtIn today’s rundown: While the full-time employment rate in the region has been stable, part-time workers here have faced some of the worst pay losses in the country. | Why climbing out of poverty is nearly impossible for former inmates. | A large number of DCPS students are now getting three meals a day at school. | A new report finds that women are bearing most of the caretaking burden when it comes to Alzheimer’s, and it’s affecting their health.

— “Part-time workers in the Washington region suffered some of the worst pay losses in the nation during the recession,” reports The Washington Post. The median pay for women slipped from the highest in the country to fourth place.

— NPR reports that climbing out of poverty is nearly impossible for former inmates and explores the long-term effects of incarceration.  The U.S. has the highest rate of incarceration in the world, with more than 2 million people in prison.

— D.C. Public Schools are now serving dinner to an estimated 10,000 students, according to The Washington Post. The $5.7 million dinner program is meant to help fight childhood hunger, reduce the rate of obesity among students, and get more children into after school programs.

— A new report on Alzheimer’s finds that women take on most of the caretaking burden.  The Shriver Report on Alzheimer’s finds that the majority of patients and caretakers are women.  More than half of them report serious emotional and physical stress.

Spotlight on Poverty's Weekly Round-Up

Posted on by The Spotlight and Opportunity Team

Spotlight on Poverty LogoThe latest news, analysis and opinion on the state of low-income women and their families from Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity. For the week ending 9/10/2010: Meet “Girlzilla,” the robot created by a group of young women in New York.  Plus, an initiative by one women’s fund to raise money and awareness.

Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, a national foundation-led initiative, is excited to collaborate with the Women’s Foundation to bring you the latest news and analysis on women and poverty. Spotlight is the go-to site for news and ideas about fighting poverty.

Here’s this week’s news:

·An initiative by the Cincinnati’s Women Fund, 1,000 Women Strong, aims to raise $240,000 in order to create awareness of women’s issues as well as award grants to local women and girls facing homelessness and domestic abuse, as reported in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

·The New York Times interviews a group of young teens about their robot “Girlzilla,” a project sponsored by the Lower East Side Girls Club, which teaches entrepreneurial and technical skills to girls from low-income families.

·The Times-Picayune profiles Keeshler Pittman, who, in honor of her mother’s dedication to helping the homeless, has opened the New Life Women’s Center to assist abused women and their children.

·Patrick and Libby White, two residents at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, have started a program to educate the homeless on health issues at Gateway 180, the largest 24-hour emergency shelter for single women and families in Missouri, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

To learn more about Spotlight visit www.spotlightonpoverty.org

To sign up for our weekly updates with the latest news, opinion and research from around the country, click here.

The Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity team

Spotlight on Poverty's Weekly Round-Up

Posted on by The Spotlight and Opportunity Team

Spotlight on Poverty LogoThe latest news, analysis and opinion on the state of low-income women and their families from Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity. For the week ending 8/27/2010: A look at one foundation’s achievements in helping low-income and at-risk girls find confidence and empowerment.  Plus, more than half of babies born into poverty are being raised by mothers who show symptoms of depression.

Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, a national foundation-led initiative, is excited to collaborate with the Women’s Foundation to bring you the latest news and analysis on women and poverty. Spotlight is the go-to site for news and ideas about fighting poverty.

Here’s this week’s news:

·The State highlights the achievements of the DIVA Foundation, founded by Monicka Carey-Green to help low-income and at-risk girls find confidence and empowerment.

·A new study recently found that more than half of babies in poverty are being raised by mothers who show symptoms of mild to severe depression, potentially creating problems in parenting and in child development, as reported in The Washington Post.

·In an editorial in the Courier-Post, Donald Norcross criticizes New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for vetoing a bipartisan bill authorizing $7.4 million to help thousands of low-income women and their families receive vital health care services.

·Carrie Morgan Handy, 63, tells the Times-Picayune that after Katrina destroyed her house, she illegally squatted in a foreclosed building for three years until she was discovered by UNITY of Greater New Orleans, who reports that squatters are four times more likely to be elderly and usually choose to avoid shelters.

To learn more about Spotlight visit www.spotlightonpoverty.org

To sign up for our weekly updates with the latest news, opinion and research from around the country, click here.

The Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity team

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

In today’s rundown: A Women’s Foundation Grantee Partner has a new CEO. | For the first time, voters in Maryland can begin heading to the polls tomorrow.

— The Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital (a Women’s Foundation Grantee Partner) has a new chief executive officer.  Lidia Soto-Harmon took over as CEO last month.  Click here to watch the introductory message she videotaped.

— Early voting starts tomorrow in Maryland.  This is the first time voters in Maryland will have the option of casting their ballots before Primary Day.  For early voting and other election details, please click here.

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

girls inc logoIn today’s rundown: A Grantee Partner talks about empowering girls on DCTV.  |  It’s going to get “oppressively hot” this weekend.  |  The Living Wage Rate for the District remains unchanged.

— Girls, Inc. of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area, a Women’s Foundation Grantee Partner, is featured in DCTV’s “School’s Out – Self Worth” video.  In the video (at the five minute mark), Program Director Jamila White discusses how Girls, Inc. empowers girls to be “strong, smart and bold.”

— It’s hot.  And it’s going to get even hotter.  This weekend, it’s expected to feel like 105 – 110 degrees in the metro area.  Earlier this month, DCist compiled a list of local cooling centers that had been opened to help residents stay safe.

— The District has announced that the Living Wage Rate for 2010 will remain at $12.50 per hour, the same as last year’s Living Wage Rate.  Click here for more details.

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

Medical symbol [credit cogdogblog]In today’s rundown: A one-day, no-cost medical clinic for D.C. residents.  |  A breakthrough vaginal gel could help decrease a woman’s risk of becoming infected with HIV.  |  The Senate will take another go at extended unemployment benefits.  |  A look at the rising number of girls in the juvenile justice system.

— A one-day free medical clinic will open up in D.C. next month for Washingtonians who can’t afford the health care they need.  The no-cost clinic will be open on August 4th from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.  Click here for more details.

— A vaginal gel can significantly cut a woman’s risk of becoming infected with the AIDS virus, according to research that will be presented today at the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna.  The gel, which was tested in South Africa, contains the antiretroviral drug tenofovir.  In the study, it reduced the risk of HIV infection by 39 percent in a group of women who used it for three-quarters of their sexual encounters.  According to The Washington Post, women who used it more consistently experienced 54 percent fewer infections.

— Senate Democrats are taking another shot today at a bill that would extend the deadline to file for unemployment benefits through the end of November.  Senate Republicans have blocked a vote several times over budget deficit concerns.  Click here for more.

— About.com’s Women Issues blog takes a look at “a vulnerable population” — girls who are in the juvenile justice system.  With an increasing number of girls entering the juvenile justice system, the blog explores what they’re being arrested for and why incarceration may not be the most effective way to help them.

Photo credit: CogDogBlog via Creative Commons

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

Green Jobs Signs_GreenForAll[dot]orgIn today’s rundown: Faith community leaders want the District to put more money towards green jobs.  | Local student are less than proficient in reading at a critical point and it could affect their futures.  | Donations to charities are on the rise in the first part of 2010.

— Leaders in the local faith community are asking the D.C. Council to put tens of millions of dollars towards green jobs.  They’ve chosen green jobs because the field is currently expanding and the federal government is willing to fund weatherization projects.  They told WAMU radio that if D.C. Council members don’t help create jobs they’ll be held accountable at the polls.

— Nearly two-thirds of students in Virginia and Maryland can’t read proficiently by the time they start the fourth grade.  83 percent of D.C. students are reading below proficient levels by the time they begin the fourth grade, a time when reading material becomes more complex.  According to a new report on nationwide reading levels there are links between early literacy and high school graduation rates and future economic success.  Click here for more.

— First lady Michelle Obama and Mexico’s first lady will tour a Silver Spring elementary school tomorrow. New Hampshire Estates Elementary School has been honored for having a focus on healthy living.  Many students at the school come from Central and South America.

— According to a new survey from the Chronicle of Philanthropy, donations to the nation’s biggest charities grew rapidly in the first quarter of 2010 compared with the same time in 2009.  It could be a sign that many nonprofits are making a recovery from the fundraising troubles they suffered last year.

Photo credit: GreenForAll.org via Creative Commons.

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

Medical symbol [credit cogdogblog]In today’s rundown: D.C. could become the first jurisdiction to take advantage of new Medicaid health-care savings.  |  Two Grantee Partners are featured in a story about child trafficking.  |  The National Capital region has the second strongest economy in the country.

–The District has become the first jurisdiction to ask the federal government for permission to add thousands of low-income adults to the Medicaid program as part of the new federal health-care law.  If the request is approved, 35,000 D.C. residents would be switched from a city taxpayer-funded insurance program to the federally funded program.  Click here for more.

— The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area has been named the second strongest local metropolitan economy in the county, despite the economic downturn.  According to POLICOM Corp., this area ranks second only to Seattle.  Click here for the details.

— It is estimated that 100,000 to 300,000 children in the U.S. are at risk of sex trafficking.  NPR’s Allison Keyes spoke with people from two Women’s Foundation Grantee Partners — The Rebecca Project for Human Rights and FAIR Fund — about the issue.  Click here to listen.

Photo credit: Cogdogblog via Creative Commons.

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

In today’s rundown: More than 100 D.C. child welfare workers have been laid off.  |  A controversial stance on female circumcision in the United States.  |  Do women make better doctors?

— More than 100 D.C. child welfare workers have been laid off from their positions at the Child and Family Services Agency.  The cuts were announced at a meeting yesterday.  Click here for more.

— The American Academy of Pediatrics is taking a controversial stance on circumcision rituals performed on girls.  The Academy has suggested that American doctors be given permission to perform a ceremonial “nick” on girls whose families want a circumcision ritual.  The Academy hopes the move will prevent families from sending the girls to other countries for a full circumcision.  Opponents of the idea say there’s no medical reason to perform the procedure and the current ban should be left in place.  Click here for more.

— The New York Times explores which gender makes a better doctor.  Turns out — it depends on the patient.  Click here to find out why.

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

Girl_at_ComputerIn today’s rundown: Getting girls interested in tech careers.  |  Why women politicians aren’t involved in the same scandals in which men are involved.

— Dozens of girls from the D.C. area spent a day immersing themselves in technology as part of Microsoft’s DigiGirlz Day.  The tech company held events worldwide in the hopes of increasing the number of young women involved in tech careers.  Locally, Rep. Donna Edward (D-MD) was the keynote speaker.  Click here for more details about the event.

— NPR contributor Cokie Roberts addressed issues involving women and politics on the airwaves this week, discussing why women politicians don’t get involved in sex scandals, and why Fox News’s Chris Wallace and Don Imus made a sexist joke about Sarah Palin.  Click here to listen.

Photo credit: San Jose Library via Creative Commons