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SisterNet is a
network of African American women committed to nurturing healthy
lifestyles and community activism. We have envisioned a new model for
Black women's organizing dedicated to creating wholeness and balance
through physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual health. We see
our efforts as an essential part of a political strategy to resist
oppression and shape livable communities.
Current Initiatives
- Semi-annual Gatherings
Get With The Program is a health conference held in the
Spring and Fall of each year dedicated to one of our four
aspects of health and healing. These gatherings represent
a regular opportunity for re-acquaintance, renewal, and
re-commitment for community-based Black women.
- Reading Circles
We want to ensure African American women are: sustaining the
habit of reading; discussing material to increase our
depth of understanding; and imagining how it does or does
not apply to our lives.
- Success Circles
Central to our effort is a commitment to resist internalized
oppression through self-examination and mutual support.
Our Womanist Circles help participants with the arduous
personal and collective task of teasing apart what is
authentically African American female psyche and persona,
and what is a contrived caricature that does not serve
our interests.
- Action Circles
These groups are organized as needed to channel women
interested in building knowledge and experience in a
particular area where other members are already active; or
to initiate a project to further the interests of Black
women, for instance, an effort to ensure
culturally-appropriate counseling or other health-related
services.
- Soul Mates
Women have found regular mutual support to be a key element in
their efforts to get and stay on track with their personal
goals. Our Soul Mates (buddy system) help meet that
need.
- Afya Project
Afya (Swahili for "health") is a participatory action
research project designed to engage women in assessing and increasing
their access to health information and services. At the same time, it
nurtures their interest, proficiency, and participation related to
information technology and the Internet.
- Madame CJ Walker Health Empowerment Project
Local Black hair stylists receive training and
support to serve as health educators and resource
and referral agents for their clients. A small
resource library is also available to clients on
site.
Participant Profile
Between our semi-annual gatherings, circles, leadership support,
and other activites, our participants have been: all
Black; all female; between 18 and 70+ years, with the
highest concentration between mid-thirties to mid-fifties;
and from below poverty (public assistance) to
"comfortably" middle income.
Organizational Management and Responsibility
SisterNet is a local, independent, community-based network
managed by a part-time director in partnership with a volunteer advisory
board.
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SisterNet Online was
developed in the Afya Project
with support from the U.S.
Institute of Museum and Library Services and
Prairienet.
Last
updated March 15, 2002
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