Black Women Empowered International
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My name is Jasmine Rogers and I am the president of a student organization at Miami University titled Black Women Empowered (BWE). I am reaching out to you because BWE is going on its first Cultural Enrichment Trip toThe Dominican Republic for spring break and we are in need of some assistance!
Everyone is beyond excited for this overall life changing experience, as it is a service-learning trip! The objective for this trip is to give and recieve empowering experiences and pursue deeper understanding, through meeting, sharing and celebrating with people whom we share common legacies, albeit dramatically different circumstances.
We will travel to Hispaniola to explore and experience the history, culture and the current social realities that shape daily life on an island that is shared by the peoples of two culturally distinct nations, Haiti, where roots remain deeply embedded in African culture, and the Dominican Republic, where strong cultural European influences took hold. We will do this through a combination of pre-trip research/study tasks then traveling to Dominican Republic where we will visit the "stories" lived by a number of remarkable people, mostly women, who have dedicated and even sacrificed life in their pursuit of social justice.
As this is our first time planning a trip of this magnitude, we have run into some obstacles! We were under the impression that the airfare grant offered for Study Abroad was available to all that needed it for any trip abroad. Unfortunatly, our trip does not align with the requirments so we are in need of some assistance to make up the difference. There are 20 passionate people that have worked so hard to fulfill the prerequisites to take part in this once in a lifetime experience! Many of these young women/men are first generation college students and some will be the first in their family to ever leave the country. Think about how this experince will change their lives and the lives of those around them!
Thank you in advance for any assistance that you may be able to offer!
Day 1 Travel Day
Day 2 Activity: On the trail of the Mariposas. Road trip follows the route of the final tragic trip of the Mirabal Sisters, to the monument erected at the site where their lifeless bodies were recovered. / Time for visit to amber mines.
Day 3 Meet Jean Girigori. Road trip to the mountain region of Jarabacoa and to the studio- residence of Jean Girigori. Q&A, ceramics workshop with Jean. Group will make ceramic tiles with the intention to gift a mural to Caitlin McHale's school
Day 4 Meet Caitlin McHale on a visit to her schools. Walk the slum neighborhoods where her students live, interact with students, Q&A with Caitlin. Service component: interaction with students. / Time for a tour of Puerto Plata historical center and oceanfront promenade
Day 5 Meet Tricia Thorndike. Group will participate in a workshop given by Sara Renelik which will unfold as a celebration of African dance workshop to be shared with the students of the Mariposa Foundation (see * workshop note below). Q&A with Tricia, tour of facilities / Beach time in Cabarete
Day 6 Visit the Haitian border region of Dajabón / an impacting experience visiting to the border market. See Dajabon on YouTube
Day 7 Morning-long debrief workshop to review the week and ponder such questions as: What is oppression? What is privilege? What are the forces that squash so many spirits, yet inspire others to take action and induce change? As participants in the "First World" economy, how individually responsible are we vis-a-vis the plight of people elsewhere? What might each one of us do with the gifts and the challenges we have been given? Afternoon beach and shopping.
Day 8 Travel Day
Everyone is beyond excited for this overall life changing experience, as it is a service-learning trip! The objective for this trip is to give and recieve empowering experiences and pursue deeper understanding, through meeting, sharing and celebrating with people whom we share common legacies, albeit dramatically different circumstances.
We will travel to Hispaniola to explore and experience the history, culture and the current social realities that shape daily life on an island that is shared by the peoples of two culturally distinct nations, Haiti, where roots remain deeply embedded in African culture, and the Dominican Republic, where strong cultural European influences took hold. We will do this through a combination of pre-trip research/study tasks then traveling to Dominican Republic where we will visit the "stories" lived by a number of remarkable people, mostly women, who have dedicated and even sacrificed life in their pursuit of social justice.
As this is our first time planning a trip of this magnitude, we have run into some obstacles! We were under the impression that the airfare grant offered for Study Abroad was available to all that needed it for any trip abroad. Unfortunatly, our trip does not align with the requirments so we are in need of some assistance to make up the difference. There are 20 passionate people that have worked so hard to fulfill the prerequisites to take part in this once in a lifetime experience! Many of these young women/men are first generation college students and some will be the first in their family to ever leave the country. Think about how this experince will change their lives and the lives of those around them!
Thank you in advance for any assistance that you may be able to offer!
Day 1 Travel Day
Day 2 Activity: On the trail of the Mariposas. Road trip follows the route of the final tragic trip of the Mirabal Sisters, to the monument erected at the site where their lifeless bodies were recovered. / Time for visit to amber mines.
Day 3 Meet Jean Girigori. Road trip to the mountain region of Jarabacoa and to the studio- residence of Jean Girigori. Q&A, ceramics workshop with Jean. Group will make ceramic tiles with the intention to gift a mural to Caitlin McHale's school
Day 4 Meet Caitlin McHale on a visit to her schools. Walk the slum neighborhoods where her students live, interact with students, Q&A with Caitlin. Service component: interaction with students. / Time for a tour of Puerto Plata historical center and oceanfront promenade
Day 5 Meet Tricia Thorndike. Group will participate in a workshop given by Sara Renelik which will unfold as a celebration of African dance workshop to be shared with the students of the Mariposa Foundation (see * workshop note below). Q&A with Tricia, tour of facilities / Beach time in Cabarete
Day 6 Visit the Haitian border region of Dajabón / an impacting experience visiting to the border market. See Dajabon on YouTube
Day 7 Morning-long debrief workshop to review the week and ponder such questions as: What is oppression? What is privilege? What are the forces that squash so many spirits, yet inspire others to take action and induce change? As participants in the "First World" economy, how individually responsible are we vis-a-vis the plight of people elsewhere? What might each one of us do with the gifts and the challenges we have been given? Afternoon beach and shopping.
Day 8 Travel Day
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Organizer
Jasmine Rogers
Organizer
Oxford, OH
