"Hand in Hand, we brew and forge a revolution", Gloria Anzaldua in "El Mundo Zurdo"
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Greetings and salutations to the beginning of a new school year. As always, I hope this note finds all of you safe and healthy.
In many cultural traditions, autumn is a season that represents forces that shape our lives and are often thought of as diametrically opposed. Autumn represents abundance and scarcity, the future and the past, and in the face of these dualities we, and the many that came before us, have responded by gathering for celebrations of memory, remembrance, generosity, and community.
In keeping with the broader spirit of autumn, for me the excitement of fall quarter lies in its promise of renewed togetherness. Each year as students return to campus, I am invigorated, reminded of the beautiful community we are all a part of, and inspired to find new ways to support students as they begin or continue their educational journeys. It is a fresh start for all of us, ripe with possibility and potential.
As the leaves turn and classes commence, I am reminded of over 30 years that I have been on campus, and am filled with gratitude for all that we have learned from the ever evolving community, the connections we’ve made to each other, and the strong foundation we have maintained together. I also recognize that there are centuries of knowledge and networks that come before me, and this is something I cherish as we continue to build.
With both sentiments in mind, let me again give the warmest of welcomes to all of you who may be new to the University of Washington community and to the larger Seattle community. The Women’s Center Team is delighted to welcome back with open arms returning colleagues, community members, faculty, staff, and students. On behalf of the Women's Center, we are eager to share with you programming that spans across topics such as safety across genders, financial empowerment, and purpose-driven action organizing. We hope you can join us. As always, we are grateful for the support the Center receives from all of you.
Here is to another year of mutual support, growing together, and celebrating each other.
With warmth and appreciation,
Sutapa Basu
Women’s Center Staff Highlight
We are pleased to introduce you to Dora Reyes Saavedra, Making Connections Coordinator! We took a stroll with Dora (ella/she/hers) and asked some questions. Get to know Dora below:
What is your background and what is your favorite part about working as Making Connections Coordinator for the Center?
My favorite part about working as a Making Connections Coordinator for the center is being able to support the program’s overall goals with the work that I do. I know that the Making Connections program impacted me in all the right ways, so all I hope for is that I can do the same for other youth.
I know that the Making Connections program impacted me in all the right ways, so all I hope for is that I can do the same for other youth.
I joined the Making Connections program my Sophomore year of high school. Making Connections was instrumental in preparing me for college, and thanks to the support of it and programs like it I am now a proud UW Senior, double majoring in Psychology and Sociology.
This year will be my second year as a work study student at the Women’s Center, where I am now able to give back to Making Connections by supporting the program manager with projects and outreach. I feel very grateful to be surrounded by the Center’s hard-working team, a team that gives me many opportunities to learn and grow. As a student and mother, working at the Women’s center also gives me a flexible schedule where I know that my needs are respected, and my time is valued.
Programs
Prepare to apply for the Leadership Academy 2024
When: Weekly meetings during Spring 2024
Where: Alene Moris Women's Center, Cunningham Hall, UW Seattle campus
Who: Students from all gender identities attending college or university in the Puget Sound region
At the Alene Moris Women’s Center Leadership Academy intersectionality is more than just academic theory—it is also practice. We believe that, with the right tools, skills, and support, anyone can be a leader.
Founded on this principal, the Leadership Academy is an intensive program that offers college students skills integral to becoming civic leaders, and/or leaders in the public and private sectors.
Students will engage in skill building exercises on topics that include how to build a powerful network, community organizing, purpose driven activism, running for office, community driven policy making, salary negotiation, financial literacy, and many more. Participants will also be given the opportunity to connect, network, and learn from community leaders from a wide range of fields.
How to apply: The program is limited to 35 students. Students are invited to apply via this link. Participants will be notified of acceptance once applications have been reviewed by the selection committee.
Deadline for applications: March 1, 2024 11:59pm PT
For more information or learn how to get involved, contact newlead@uw.edu
Making Connections Summer Bridge 2023
This July Making Connections was thrilled to continue our Summer Bridge program, a three week-long career exploration and skill building intensive for Seattle area students ages 13-15. With 100% of our students being low income or who will be first the generation to attend college, we are continuing to work towards a future where higher education is accessible to all.
Workshops were held in person at Cunningham Hall while cross-departmental, organizational, and corporate partnerships provided students with exposure to site visits around the UW campus and in the wider Seattle community. This year Summer Bridge gained seven new workshop collaborators and renewed five previous collaborations, with more to come!
Summer Bridge activities included:
Onsite visits to the UW Tectonics Lab, Burke Museum, School of Law and Community, School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, Department of Seismology, and the JackStraw Cultural Center.
Panels from UW departments such as the UW Schools of Music, Law, Seismology, the Department of Human Rights, and Foster School of Buisness.
Panels from community and corporate partners including representatives from Peacehealth Trauma Surgery and Google.
Informational sessions on college readiness with UW Admissions and tours of campus resources and accommodations lead by UWHFS.
Overall, this year’s Summer Bridge program was a real success thanks to our collaborators and the many opportunities students were given to learn, build community, and to lay strong foundations for their future careers and aspirations.
If you would like to get involved and support more high school students find community and support into their higher education careers, please donate to our Making Connections fund and/or become an MC Mentor!
Showcasing a Transformational Leader
At the Moris Women’s Center, we believe in the importance of celebrating leaders who have tirelessly worked to contribute their expertise, wisdom, and care to the greater good of our communities.
This month the UW Women’s Center is overjoyed to showcase Dolores Sibonga, a longtime activist, leader, and friend to the Center, who at 92 continues her extensive career as a public servant by working as a Hearing Examiner for the Court of King County.
For over half a century, Dolores has embodied and exemplified the values of bravery, ingenuity, perseverance, humility, and selfless public service. Her many accomplishments and contributions stand as a testament to the power we have in all of us to enact change and address need in our communities, and to the debt the city of Seattle (and the nation at large) owes to women, activists, and civil servants like her.
Born in 1931 Dolores grew up amongst a diverse community in Seattle’s International District, a community whose wellbeing she would devote her professional and personal life to protecting. From a young age she defied barriers, becoming the first Filipina American to graduate from the University of Washington’s journalism program in 1952. After graduation she became co-owner of local newspaper “The Filipino Forum”, one of the few news outlets reporting on issues impacting Asian, Black, immigrant, and Indigenous Seattleites.
In 1973 Dolores became the first Filipino American lawyer to pass the Washington State Bar, and in 1979 she accomplished yet another historic first by becoming the first woman of color to serve on the Seattle City council. During her tenure Dolores proved herself a force for change and a fierce defender of justice, access, and equity. Her dedication to these causes was also reflected in her work as a public defender, Deputy Director of the Washington State Human Rights Commission, and her service on the boards of the Wing Luke Asian Museum, the Art Institute, Inter*Im, Port Jobs, the King County Board of Tax Appeals and Equalization, and as an advisor to the Filipino American Political Action Group of Washington.
As stated above, Dolores continues her extensive career as a public servant to this day, working as a part time Hearing Examiner for King County. She has also remained a steadfast mentor and supporter of the Women’s Center’s mission and programs. As Dr. Basu states, “I have the utmost respect for Dolores and am so fortunate to have known and shared a friendship with her for almost 40 years. I feel beyond grateful that twice a month, I get to share a meal with her and soak up all her wisdom. She is my rock.” Learn more about Dolores Sibonga.
Did you know?
October is Domestic Violence Month. Although there has been many decades of research, policy, and practice devoted to drawing awareness to this issue the following facts remain true:
About 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men report having experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime (CDC NISVS).
Victims of DV collectively lose a total of 8 million days of paid work each year (MoneyGeek, 2023).
3 out of 4 advocates report that immigrant survivors fear accessing legal services related to their abuser (Tahirih Justice Center, 2019).
Resources for you:
On-Campus
Off-Campus
Sponsorships & Donations
The Women’s Center programs are always looking for sustainable and expansive support. Donations and financial contributions go a long way no matter the amount. Please feel free to contribute your financial gift at the link below!
So lovely to hear about all the wonderful things happening at the Women's Center! As an alum who benefited from your services when I was a student, I'm glad to be able to stay in touch.