Victim's Rights Week

Victim's Rights Week is over and as before, it was a tremendous honor to participate in events with our artwork.  Every year, Arizona State University provides a wonderful forum for guest speakers and community participants to come and learn more about legislative efforts, lessons from real stories, and to meet some movers and shakers who are working hard to promote the rights of victims.  Interesting that we have this movement in the first place until you take a look at the legal system.  Touted as one of the best in the world because a defendent is "innocent until proven guilty," the due process makes for many rights for perpetrators in an effort to prevent real innocents from prosecution.  The victims who suffer the consequences of a crime are left to their own devices.  Don't believe me however, talk to someone who has lost a loved one from a homicide or trying to put a life back together after identity theft has left them bankrupt.  Not easy. 

Remembering the victims from the Tucson Shooting.

Things are changing thanks to groups like the FBI Victim Assistance, Victim Services with the Attorney General's Office, Victim Advocates with the Police Department, and organizations like Against Abuse and countless other groups.  Many of these folks were victims themselves and have chosen to help others because no one will do it for us if we don't come together as a community.  Another lesson?  Don't think a crime can't happen because, heaven forbid, you may find yourself in the middle of picking the pieces of your life.  At least you know there are understanding people out there for you to lean on and THAT is something that no criminal can take away.

Crime Victim's Rights by State

Girl Scouts Are Much More Than Cookies

Once a year, it happens. Checking the calendar daily and salivating during many day dreams of biting into a favorite Girl Scout Cookie.  I'm definitely guilty of it.  Thin Mints and Do Si Dos are the cryptonite my diet. 

Aside from scrumptious treats, The Girl Scouts turn out to be much more than I had anticipated.  An invitation to speak and show art at the Girl Scout Arizona Cactus-Pine event for Women's History Month educates me on this amazing nonprofit.   Most people know about the Girl Scouts, but may not realize that Arizona Cactus-Pine serves roughly 2/3rds of Maricopa County or 24,568 girls.  They also have programs for underpriveledged girls and those living in unique circumstances. 

Just Us Social Programs offer special programs for girls who need a nurturing environment with positive role models and to learn the skills of success.  For instance, Girl Scouts Beyond Bars provides for girls with incarcerated mothers. Scouting in Detention Centers provides girls, living in detention facilities, with mentoring within the facility and a program after leaving the facility.  Girl Scouts Baby Camp provide pregnant and parenting teenage mothers with a weekend to learn valuable resources and skills to help them through the rigors of parenthood.  GS GEMS: Girl Scouts- Girls Education Empowering and Mentoring with Support provides girls who have been human trafficked with the much needed support to break the silence and increase awareness about this preventable issue.

I am honored to be sharing Bravery Project artwork and speaking at a Leadership Salon to celebrate Women's History Month at the Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine event on Wed, March 16th.  This is free and open to the public.  I hope to see you there to support this wonderful organization.

RSVP to our event with Girl Scouts

Don't compete...Collaborate

The economy is very tough on all of us, especially nonprofit organizations.  I distinctly remember when trying to give away free sponsored tickets to another nonprofit to get at-risk kids at one of our awareness events, they refused to tell anyone because our event was too close to thier fundraiser event.  In a tough economy, the mission to serve gets replaced with the mission to receive. 

Upset at the time, I don't hold it against them, because panic mode is completely understandable when trying to stay alive during a recession.  However, we have found that collaboration with other organizations can fill these expense niches and build strong relationships that focus on a common cause, which is why we passionate community members got involved in tough social causes in the first place.

For example, Bravery Project has been so blessed to receive the generosity of office space from a nonprofit agency, Jewish Family and Children Services.  We are placed next to a program that focuses on the same goal of reducing abuse in the community and are finding even more ways to collaborate.  This is the future of making a difference in the community...working together.  It produces resources far richer than money.

Back in the Game

So much has happened since the last post.  After a little haitus from blogging, we are once again reaching out to you, the online community. 

In a nutshell, Bravery Project had a back off period to regroup the Board of Directors, revisit our Bylaws, Mission and Vision and we are on a roll!  Our programs are successful enough that we now have a brick and morter office in downtown Phoenix accompanied with all the accessories we could ever need as a growing grassroots nonprofit.

Our website has been (still being) revised into a more professional, interactive, user friendly experience. We will be ramping up our newsletters, events, programs, and online community.  Please take a look at our new design and share.

Stay tuned because we are back in the game!

New Projects - New Year

This year has been a real blessing for myself and for Bravery Project. We have over 30 art pieces with several more in the works, 18 art exhibits, our first out of state show, 2 fundraisers, 2 speaking engagements, raised 2 scholarships, and a growing group of wonderful volunteers on our board and office. In just a little over 2 years this organization that began as just an idea at a dinner conversation has become much more than I had imagined. The results thus far have been from me working 7 days a week with the help of dedicated volunteers. This new year, I want to bring the growth from our team to yours.

We are launching three new programs:

1. Bravery Project Scholars: Our program, currently with 2 $1,000 scholarships, is modeled after other successful programs, which means that we have done our homework. We have two separate committee teams for the unique application and selection process. Our funds will be offered to survivors and at-risk youth who are in transitional housing programs. The application will be available in January and funds dispersed for Fall 2010 and Spring 2011.

2. The Community Connection Newsletter: Over the past two years, I have found significant resources available for survivors to rebuild their lives, yet the information is fragmented and hidden among the millions of websites. Our newsletter will pull the resources together in one place as well as provide interviews with companies involved in the cause, nonprofits who are effective, an answer database and so much more. This is a free newsletter that will go directly to your mailbox every quarter. Preview the newsletter and subscribe.

3. The Bravery Project online community: We were donated an entire membership program that will enable us to build our own exclusive community of followers who want to stay in touch with us, network together, and have a SAFE and moderated place to communicate. There will be many great features offered in the future for our members. There is a FREE version and a paid version. To become a paid member is simply a $25 tax exempt donation to Bravery Project via Paypal or check to receive special benefits. Join here.

Funding has been a challenge, but we are looking for sustainable ways to support our programs. One such way is through our yearly membership. We hope that you will enjoy what we have to offer, help us mold the information for your needs, spread the word, and enjoy the benefits of our programs into 2010 and beyond!