Meet The Team Monday! 2/23/15

We didn't get to have a Monday last week! :( But not to worry we're back with another Meet The team Monday!

Samara Rangel is a Psychology major from Cedar City, Utah. She is a freshman with an adventurous spirit. She loves travel and taking risks with trying new things! Samara is an excellent volunteer because she always has so much enthusiasm about every task she takes on.

"I volunteer at the Women and Family Center because I enjoy helping people and know that every small thing I do will impact someone’s life."

We also have Jenica Heaton today! Jenica Heaton is a  freshman Psychology major from Tooele, Utah who doubles as a Resident's Assistant for SUU Housing (shout-out to floor C400). Jenica loves long walks on the beach and volunteering. She doubles as a volunteer for Best friend's Animal Sanctuary. With a generous heart and and great work ethic, Jenica is always giving 100% whenever she volunteers. 

" I love volunteering here because the atmosphere is friendly and I love representing such a great organization on campus. Volunteering here has given me plenty of opportunities to be creative and making a difference on campus!"

Body Positivity Month!

Welcome back!

We try to make every month in the center a special month dedicated to an issue we feel passionate about. This month, it's all about body positivity! With all the images we are swamped with every day, it's difficult for your average person to sift through all the messages telling them how important it is to have the "perfect" or "ideal" body. We hear stories about photoshop scandals on magazine covers and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is  practically a national holiday.

We want to send the message that everyone can feel good about themselves and their bodies. Nobody's body is perfect or flawless, and there is no such thing as an ideal body. What's important is having confidence, being healthy and taking care of yourself. Everyone can feel beautiful because everyone has something that makes them beautiful. To encourage this, we have two events this month:

Good Body Performance Night is on February 20th at 6pm in the Sterling Church Auditorium. The Good Body is a series of monologues written about Even Ensler about women's relationships with their bodies. The stories are moving  and relate-able. They highlight women from several backgrounds with unique stories. We decided to scatter these readings with performances from other students and student clubs such as Orchesis, Belly Dance Club and Acoustics Club. It's going to be such a fun night! You can learn more about it and follow for all the updates here

True Beauty Fashion Show is being spearheaded by our volunteer Damaris!It will take place on February 24th at 6pm in the Sterling Church Auditorium.  She has called in reinforcements from Evan's hairstyling College, Poser's Place and other surrounding businesses to help our models get ready. The models will pick outfits and hairstyles that they feel showcase their personal brand of beauty. Follow this page for more updates and information.

Meet The Team Monday! 2/9/15

Welcome to another installment of Meet The Team Monday!

Jordan Stoddard-Stumph is a sophomore from Idaho Falls, Idaho. She is a double major in Political Science and Spanish. Jordan loves to play guitar, sing, and loves being part of the sorority Delta Psi Omega. She is also very interested in theatre.  Jordan is so passionate about social justice and civil rights, and she brings that with her every time she volunteers. Working with Jordan is a really enlightening experience.

"I volunteer at CWF because  I’m a huge advocate for LGBTQ rights and awareness, and women’s rights."

Next up is Sarah Asay-Braun. Sarah is a major in Sociology with a double minor in Women and Gender Studies and Anthropology.  Sarah's family used to be the owners of what is now Main Street Books. Sarah loves being on the other end of a lense and is an incredibly talented photographer.Sarah is a nontraditional student and  is an awesome mother to two amazing kids and a small furry dog.  Sarah is so warm and wise, and she has such a young heart. Working with her is always such a privilege because she lends her experiences so well to whatever she does.

"I volunteer because I am passionate about bodily autonomy and reproductive health and justice. LGBTQ issues and disadvantaged/marginalized populations are also among my advocacy interests."

What's a Doula?

Happy Friday everyone!

There are a heap of questions that we hear all the time in the Center. One of the most recent ones to come up is some variation of this:

"So, what exactly is a Doula?"  We scratch our heads at this one, because doulas are sort of birth masters. They do so much in support of pregnant and expecting mothers. A doula is a trained professional who offer support to mothers during their pregnancy. This support cam come in many forms, from emotional and informational support, to working with the mother on fitness and diet, to being a mediator between the mother and her doctors. They are well trained and excellent companions for expecting women. Doulas can help women prepare for the pregnancy by creating a pregnancy plan as well as helping the mother see to it that her wishes are well represented during the entire process. Below we have attached a link to a more detailed description of what a doula is and to the Utah Doula Assocation.

For the remainder of February, we are partnering with trained doula Stacey Davis to teach some classes here on campus! Tuesday at 5pm in the Great Basin room. Each week will be a different topic. It's a free class, open to campus and the public, so all who are interested are welcome!


http://www.dona.org/mothers/

http://utahdoulas.org/

Meet The Team Monday!

Here at the Center, we like to highlight the volunteers. They are the heart and soul of the space and without them, we would be a chaotic, disorganized, and unaccomplished mess! Let's begin, shall we?

Kasey Williams is on here second semester here in the center.  A pre-nursing major from Colorado "via Seattle", she speaks very highly of both home towns. Kasey loves sushi, books, Netflix and her dog. She is also on the beginners Ballroom Dance Company! She's a real sweetheart, bringing warmth and kindness with her each time she comes in. We're lucky to get to work with her!

"I like volunteering at the center because I support their purpose and I like the people!" -Kasey

Next up is Damaris Perez. She is also a second semester veteran here. Damaris is a Biology Major with a math minor who is incredible with graphic design. Almost all the posters this year have been of her creation. She is originally from Cancun Mexico, but calls Salt Lake home. She loves to read, draw, the color green, pastels,  write and discover new music. Damaris is always very active in the SUU community, being part of RHS, Honors Program, Animal Ambassadors and ODK. Damaris brings so much drive and creativity into this space, which is a unique combination. We're so happy to offer her an outlet for hr awesome talents!

"I enjoy volunteering for CWF because they host many important and empowering events, as well as provide resources that benefit the community. :)" -Damaris

Welcome to The Blogsphere

Hello!

This blog is for the Center for Women and Families at Southern Utah University, located in Cedar City, Utah. There's so much the we do here at the Center, we need a platform to talk about everything we offer. It's so exciting to be part of such a wonderful and positive space.

You might be asking yourself, "What is the Center for Women and Families? What do you do? Why should I care?" We are a student support center, located in the Sharwan Smith Center, room 175.  We are sort of a catch all for the nontraditional and women's community at Southern Utah University and Cedar City. In the simplest terms, we are here for the students to help them in any way we can't. If we cannot, we will move Heave and Earth to see to it that we find someone that can.  Without reinventing the wheel, here is the blurb located on our academic website

Mission Statement
The Center for Women and Families is dedicated to the achievement of gender equality and the wellbeing of families through education, advocacy, and providing resources to foster personal and social change and growth at Southern Utah University.
Vision Statement
The Center for Women and Families is dedicated to eliminating injustice and improving the quality of life for women and families at Southern Utah University
Guiding Principles

• To support the empowerment of all women through action and example.
• To promote and support a family friendly atmosphere at the Center and around campus.
• To provide a safe and welcoming space, by maintaining open mindedness and showing respect for all.
• To educate the campus community about all forms of inequality by way of community organizing, institutional training, interaction and education.
• To affect global change through local actions and programs.

What We Do
We do it all! From free diapers, condoms, and tampons and pads to Take Back the Night, to Family Fun Nights, and out new Doula Class on Tuesdays! We understand that the students on this campus need these services and more and that is what we are here for.
 
Hope this just about covers it. We are excited to be part of this blogging community. Look for more from us! Our Twitter Our Facebook