Hello dear reader! It's a pleasure to greet you again. Since our last newsletter, UNIDOS has made significant progress completed projects with the community, and with summer just around the corner, we are excited to present new initiatives that further strengthen our community and contribute to breaking the cycle of violence. We have recently completed our Annual Report 2023, which is now available for viewing on our website. We invite you to keep reading and stay updated on the latest news from UNIDOS! |
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APRIL - SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH (SAAM) Highlights |
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CREATIVE MANIFESTATION DENIM During this month, we invited Angélica Contreras, who led a creative workshop to design artwork using denim scraps. These pieces conveyed messages of support and healing to survivors of sexual violence. It was inspiring to see the participation of UNIDOS staff, as well as youth and children, in this meaningful collaboration. |
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MANIFESTACIÓN DENIM 2024 UNIDOS successfully organized the second edition of Manifestación Denim, providing a vital space for reflection and awareness regarding sexual assault and the issue of victim blaming. Furthermore, the unwavering support of the community for survivors of sexual violence was highlighted. The event featured an art exhibit with denim pieces created by members of the community, a silent auction, resource and creativity tables, as well as a delightful selection of snacks and live music. During the program, Virginia Gittens Escudero and Lucía Ledesma, Executive Director and Associate Director of UNIDOS, respectively, welcomed the attendees, emphasizing the objective and importance of the Denim Manifestation as a show of solidarity towards those affected by sexual harassment. Later on, Fitchburg Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta shared some words about the significance of Denim Day. Finally, Esteban Estévez, facilitator of the men's support group during 2023, recited an emotional poem based on reflections gathered from sessions held the previous year. We deeply appreciate the generosity and support of our sponsors and collaborators, whose contributions made this event possible for the benefit of our community. |
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DENIM DAY WITH RAZA UNITED Since 2023, we have collaborated with the student group Raza United from Madison East High School to foster spaces for reflection on sexual harassment. This year, we organized a special artistic activity involving the intervention of denim fabric pieces with messages of solidarity and support aimed at those who have been victims of sexual harassment. In addition to the artistic expression, there was an opportunity to explore the history and significance of Denim Day, as well as openly discuss the issue of sexual abuse. This initiative served as a valuable means to promote awareness and dialogue on important issues within our school community. |
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UNIDOS RADIO PROGRAM UNIDOS presents a bi-monthly radio program on La Movida. In the April edition, we had the pleasure of hosting Lucero Steele from Multicultural Mental Health Services and Nancy Gomez from Anesis Therapy as our guests. Together, we tackled a crucial topic: "No means no, learning about sexual violence and consent." If you missed the program, you can listen to the full recording by clicking here. We hope you find this conversation informative and enlightening! |
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During the first quarter of the year, we welcomed the Otto Bremer Trust as a new supporter! |
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The Otto Bremer Trust is a private charitable trust based in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was created in 1944 by Otto Bremer, a dedicated community leader involved in civic, financial, and corporate life. |
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IMAGINING TOGETHER In early 2024, we received a message from Lelia Byron, an interdisciplinary artist renowned for her paintings, sculptures, murals, installations, and public art projects. Lelia expressed her interest in collaborating with UNIDOS. Lelia's creative approach aims to integrate the voices and imaginations of the community, so we decided to gather our network of collaborators and members to participate in this unique process. During the working sessions, we shared experiences, drew, and wrote stories that will serve as inspiration for the mural's creation. We are excited to see how these contributions will transform into an artwork reflecting the diversity and strength of our community. The mural is scheduled to be installed in our offices by the end of the summer, and we cannot wait to share the final result with all of you. Stay tuned to our social media channels for more details about the unveiling and how you can attend! |
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CONNECTING WITH EMOTIONS We recently concluded an inspiring workshop aimed at the men's support group, led by the talented Guatemalan artist Richie Morales and sponsored by the Community Reinvestment Fund of Willy Street Coop. The workshop focused on processing emotions through painting. Throughout six enriching sessions, participants embarked on an emotional journey, exploring feelings such as anger, happiness, love, and sadness and then translating them onto canvas with paint. This process not only allowed attendees to express themselves creatively but also helped them deepen their connection with their own emotions, experiences, and stories. One of the participants shared: “I learned that my sensations are linked to my emotions. This was something I didn't see clearly before, but now I understand that this workshop awakened a renewed sense of connection with myself.” We feel honored to have facilitated this space for personal growth and self-exploration, and we look forward to continuing to offer transformative opportunities like this in the future. |
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MANIFESTING WELL-BEING Consideramos el arte como una vía para conectar con nuestra esencia interior. En la primavera, abrimos un espacio para mujeres: el Taller Árbol de la Vida del Bienestar, dirigido por la artista Monica Cliff. Este taller fue concebido tomando como inspiración la artesanía mexicana del árbol de la vida. Cada participante tuvo la oportunidad de diseñar su propio árbol de la vida, explorando y reflexionando sobre el tema del bienestar personal y comunitario. Durante el taller, las mujeres que asistieron tuvieron la libertad de imaginar, pintar y dar vida a sus propios árboles personales, mientras compartían en comunidad. |
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WHAT'S COMING THIS SUMMER This summer is filled with exciting opportunities at UNIDOS! We believe in the diversity of paths toward healing, and one of them is through dance and movement, connecting with our emotions and others to build community. That's why in July and June, we'll be launching our initiative "Bailando el Corazón" (Dancing the Heart). It's a series of free dance sessions in Spanish, aimed at our UNIDOS clients and the entire community. Stay tuned to our social media channels. You can also check out all upcoming events on our website for more details about our activities and events! |
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