DoorwaysVA Blog

100th Anniversary of International Women's Day

Tuesday, March 8, 2011 was the 100 year anniversary of International Women’s Day (IWD). IWD has blossomed into a day to recognize the political and social struggles that women have faced throughout history.  In many countries on this day, men also honor the women in their lives similar to Valentine’s Day.

In 1975, the United Nations sanctioned International Women’s Day.  Every year, organizations, governments, and women’s groups select different themes to highlight global and local gender issues.  One of this year’s themes is the “Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women.”

There is a growing emphasis worldwide to provide and encourage education for women and girls. The philosophy goes that if a woman receives an education, she will help her entire community.  It is an investment which will pay off, and the theme above for this year’s IWD only further proves the growing emphasis on the matter.  We have found that to be true here at Doorways which is why we have been serving women with a full-range of services from counseling to financial education.

Within the United States, President Barack Obama issued an official proclamation in 2009, declaring March as Women’s History Month.  President Obama emphasized the role of women “in preserving and protecting the environment for present and future generations.”  There are numerous events to celebrate this year’s 100^th anniversary and to recognize the many women who have made a difference throughout history.

We here at Doorways just want to thank women everywhere for all that they do for others and hope that our services over the past 30+ years have, in a humble way, shown our appreciation.

It’s important to talk to your kids about homelessness, but you are not alone.  There are a wealth of resources to aid the conversation.  And remember, the conversation should happen over a long period of time.  Use events as they come up but don’t be afraid to start the conversation early.

Children services counselor with children at the Family Home.

Books:

• Ralph da Costa-Nunez writes some great books that teach children about homelessness.  I recommend Our Wish
  
• Check out the Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness for some activity books to support books like Our Wish

Facts and Stories:

• Stories are always more compelling than facts when talking about homelessness.  Here are some case studies from the Campaign to End Child Homelessness. Also check out stories of our clients in our Stories of New Hope series
• Doorways has got your back with some facts on the Impact of Homelessness on Children

Using TV and Culture:

• Ch1ldren Now talks about watching the news with your children and how to use that to spark a healthy and productive conversation

Get Involved:

• Get your child to engage their community actively.  Have them collect goods that go to some of our clients coming out of homelessness, have them organize their school group around a community education event or raise money that goes to help end family homelessness.  Your children are best going to internalize this education if they are actively teaching and engaging the problem

Tonight, we have children at our Family Home that are acting like kids.  They are playing, running, falling and laughing.  We encourage you to talk to your children about the kids tonight in our community still learning what a home means to them.  Please, during this month talk to your family about ours.

If you have any questions or want to get involved, please contact us.  Good luck building your child’s values by talking to them about family homelessness!

Talk to your kids before everyone else does (hat tip to Ch1ldren Now).

Children are learning about homelessness every week.  They are seeing it depicted through movies, music and in the classroom.  The only problem is that you, as a parent, aren’t a part of that conversation . . .unless you sit your child down and discuss the topic.

There are more than 1.5 million children without a home each year.  These are kids that just want to act like kids.  The reason we should talk to our children about homelessness is not so that our kids can become policy wonks.  It’s so that they can learn important values.  This is why it is important to start early with your children on the subject, so that you can mentor the cultivation of these values.

Teaching your kids about homelessness allows you to teach them:

• Community, it takes a community to end family homelessness
• Responsibility, the risk factors of homeless affect us all
• Empathy, these are kids that just want to be kids
• Service, dedicating ourselves to helping end family homelessness

It shouldn’t be a traumatizing conversation.  You can make it fun!  There are resources to help you out.  You are not alone.

Also, don’t feel the need to have the entire conversation all at once.  It’s a conversation that plays out over a long period of time.  Look for those “teachable moments” as you watch your child develop.

Our children are already learning about homelessness.  We just need to make sure that we take the time to be a part of the conversation and make sure that our kids are learning the values we need to end family homelessness.