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UH WILPF Delegation to the UN

Each year, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) sends US college student delegates to the annual session of the United Nations (UN) Commission of the Status of Women (CSW) as part of a Practicum in Advocacy. Through the practicum, WILPF delegates have the opportunity to strengthen their advocacy skills, grow their professional network, and deepen their understanding of international Issues.

This year, four University of Houston (UH) Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW) students have been accepted as delegates to the UN CSW for the 2014 cohort of the WILPF Practicum in Advocacy at the UN. However, in order to participate, each student must raise $1,499 to cover the cost of tuition. Help us represent our University and WILPF at the next session of the CSW by donating to our page. Every cent counts!

DEADLINE: January 31, 2014

Meet the Students

Arielle Stephens is a second year Clinical MSW student at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She is an advocate within her university and the community through her involvement as the Clinical Officer in the UH GCSW Student Association, a Student Ambassador, and founding member of a local Anti-Human Trafficking student organization called Beyond the Shadows. Arielle's specific areas of interest are in international social work where she has completed advocacy work in India, Kenya and Europe; as well as medical social work where she is currently completing a Clinical Fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Arielle is dedicated to gaining knowledge of Women's and Girl's issues as a WILPF delegate at the UN Practicum so that she can better provide services as an advocate in the Houston community.

Dixie Hairston is a second year, Macro social work graduate student specializing in political social work at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She is the Director of the MACRO Student Network, the Macro-track Representative for the GCSW Student Association and part of the Ambassador Program for the college. Dixie is also a founding member of Beyond the Shadows, an Anti-Human Trafficking organization dedicated to raising awareness and bringing resources to students and community members.She is currently interning at The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston and has previously interned with the PAL (Preparing for Adult Life) Program at Child Protective Services. Dixie is interested in international social work and is passionate about working toward social and economic justice for women worldwide.

Ana Rodriguez is a Center for Mexican American Studies Graduate Fellow and second year Graduate College of Social Work student pursuing a specialization in political social work at her alma mater the University of Houston. Before pursuing graduate studies, she received her Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a Phronesis minor from the UH Honors College. In 2013, she worked as state Representative Lon Burnam's Health and Human Services and Immigration Policy Analyst in the 83rd legislative session shaping her work with immigrant communities. Previously she worked at St. James Family Life Center where she was involved with program development, assessment, and evaluation. She also has experience in community organizing through her work in the implementation of the deferred action program. Ana is interested in gaining advocacy skills and working with a network of professionals dedicated to the political, social, educational and economic advancement of women and girls around the globe.

Jenna Cooper is a second year graduate student at the University of Houston, obtaining her masters in MARCO social work with a specialization in political justice. For the past two years she has dedicated her focus to human trafficking, working with victims directly, as well as from a policy standpoint. After seeing the many injustices that people around the world face she became the president of The Student for the Advancement of International Social Work, a student run organization devoted to addressing global issues. Jenna is also a founding member of Beyond the Shadows, an Anti-Human Trafficking organization dedicated to raising awareness and bringing resources to students and community members. Her hopes in attending this years Commission on the Status of Women, is to gain insight on how to better empower and inspire others to take a stance and make a change to promote a better world.

United Nations Commission on the Status of Women

The CSW is the main policy-making body of the UN dedicated to gender equality and the advancement of women across the globe. It was established in 1946 by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in order to provide reports and recommendations to the Council that promote women's rights in political, economic, civil, social, and educational arenas.

Each year, a session of the CSW takes places at the UN Headquarters in New York where a theme is explored and conclusions and recommendations are prepared at the end of the session.

58th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

The theme for the 58th session is focused on the challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls, the conclusions from the fifty-fifth session.

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom was cofounded by Jane Addams, considered in the social work profession as one of our first pioneering social workers. WILPF works to achieve through peaceful means world disarmament, full rights for women, racial and economic justice, an end to all forms of violence, and to establish those political, social, and psychological conditions which can assure peace, freedom, and justice for all.

University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work

The Graduate College of Social Work is a nationally recognized social work program for graduate and doctoral level studies. It is housed in a university recognized for its Tier One research status and it is the only social work program in the world to have a Nobel laureate on faculty!



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  • Suzanne Pritzker
    • $75 
    • 10 yrs
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UH Wilpf Delegation
Organizer
Houston, TX

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