Jasmine's Peer Review:

Seems like a really fun topic to do! Relates to class content very well. You seem like you had a good idea of the mission statement and what would go in the lead when we talked in class. Milestones/Achievements seem pretty similar...maybe combine them into one section? The subheadings make it clear that the article will cover class content and black feminist thought/activism well, specifically through the projects and programs sections. Look back at Dorothy Roberts' piece on "Killing the Black Body", that definitely fits into this well!

Article evaluation

After reviewing the Wikipedia article for Incarceration of women in the United States, my suggestions include adding details to the Gender of guards and staff section. For example, I would reference accounts of interactions between male guards and female prisoners that deem this dynamic "problematic." I would also show differences in prisoner experiences from before and after gender integration of the workforce. The 1972 Equal Opportunity Act wikipedia page needs development in order to provide context and relevance for this page. A brief overview of what the Act entailed and the language that was used to write it would enhance the validity of this page in regards to gender dynamics and issues of guard gender. The article, to me, sounds like it is written from a neutral position according to Wikipedia standards. The Healthcare section of this article lacks organization and clarity. The large chunk of information ought to be separated into smaller, relevant sections with additional reliable sources to support the claims. Most of the statistics come from the same source. This page rates mid-importance on the WikiProject Feminism which is relevant to our course discussion. I am interested to evaluate the language that this article uses in regards to Black Feminist Epistemology rhetoric, and where it is lacking an updated use of inclusive terms.

Exclusionary legal practices Brainstorming topics Kimberle Crenshaw's definition of intersectionality examines the structures of oppression which harm individuals based on prescriptive identities in terms of three categories: structural, political, and representational intersectionality[1]. Heavily marginalized groups have historically been discriminated against based on race, gender, religion, social class, and physical ability, among other factors. The oppressive social and legal structures that are currently in place in the United States are a result of decades of legal discriminatory practices. The legality of redlining from 1937-1968[2] set the legal framework that still determines the racial makeup of low-income neighborhoods. The original area description files[3] use racially adverse language to designate a grade for each neighborhood which corresponds with a color on the map to confine certain races to specific spaces. The consequences of this system aid the denial of housing and employment opportunities to people of color. Specifically, the experiences of Black women have been underrepresented in the public sphere and in the historical political struggle for equal civil rights. Individuals who are marginalized by more than one projected identity often experience intersectional discrimination by employers, landlords, and other official authoritative figures.

Peer review response The feedback I received was helpful in refocusing my research in a more organized fashion. The source that was suggested to me was a helpful addition to the direction of my article. I would like to exchange rough drafts with my peers to receive further feedback on my more developed article. This was a useful exercise that made me more prepared to publish my work onto Wikipedia.

Black Women for Wellness

Early Work

Current Projects and Programs

Publications

Achievements

Related Organizations

Black Women for Wellness

Black Women for Wellness (BWWLA) ^[1] is a California 501 (c) (3) non profit organization based in Los Angeles, CA that was founded in 1997. ^[2] BWWLA is committed to creating a healthier lifestyle and future for Black girls and women in their community and beyond, through education, healthcare, and political advocacy ^[3]. Public discussions and community programs cultivate empowerment through the strength and collective efforts of intergenerational leaders and activists. BWWLA was founded by Akua Jitahadi, Moyo Shabazz, Shquestra Sitawi, Claudie Kiti Bustamante, Ndoni Forbes, and Jan Robinson-Flint ^[4] with the intention of increasing access to healthcare and resources for young Black girls in LA. Some of their projects include passing the reproductive FACT (Freedom, Accountability, Comprehensive Care, and Transparency) Act ^[5] in 2015, increasing diaper accessibility for low-income parents ^[6] in 2016, and facilitating sexual education that is inclusive of LQBTQQIA students ^[7] in 2015. Other recent successes include helping to prevent illegal sterilization of women in prison through public policy, and training reproductive justice advocates in their area who can efficiently spread important information regarding laws and policies to people in other communities. BWWLA programs focus on a wide range of well-being from physical, mental, and reproductive health, to natural hair care products and aromatherapy.

Early Work

BWWLA began as a group of women who shared concern for the well-being of black infants in their area. The women partnered with the Birthing Project to create the Shangazi Program in 1993, ^[8] which "matched pregnant women to mentors who coached parents from pregnancy until the child was at least one year old." ^[9] These communal efforts harvested the community involvement that was necessary to start the non profit just four years later in 1997. BWWLA organizes locally in the Los Angeles area, but has national level goals in mind that are achieved through political advocacy and monthly community discussions that bring issues of healthcare and well-being to the limelight.

Current Projects and Programs

Sisters @ Eight ^[10] is a monthly event that brings health and wellness information to the public community conversation. Enabling empowerment and mobility in the local community is BWWLA's intention for these public forums.

Sisters in Motion ^[11] promotes healthy living through physical activity and mindful food consumption, with the goal of lowering the rates of diabetes ^[12], high blood pressure, obesity, and heart disease in Los Angeles communities and beyond. Involvement includes cooking classes, nutritional information, lifestyle coaching, and exercise encouragement in Los Angeles ^[13].

Sisters with Options ^[14] offers health screenings and mental health workshops as ways of spreading information related to self-advocacy for healthcare.

Publications

BWWLA has published a wealth of knowledge that is designed to benefit the well-being of black girls of all ages. Published works include cooking manuals, hair product ingredient awareness, voter guides, reproductive health information, among others ^[15]. BWWLA's publications are intended for a black female audience with special attention to the unique lived experiences of this demographic, such as increased financial stress and mental health issues linked to experiencing racial and gender discrimination ^[16]. BWWLA reaches out to minority communities with healthcare advice and political advocacy tactics that target public assistance programs for minorities ^[17].

Achievements

BWWLA helped pass Bill AB 1319 ^[18] in 2011 which protects children and infants from being exposed to harmful toxins like BPA in toys, bottles, jewelry, and more, by prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and distribution of such products. This larger impact on industrial level production increased public attention to BWWLA and their efforts.

Related Organizations

Women's Intercultural Network ^[19] formed in 1995 in San Francisco, CA as a California 501 (c) (3) non-governmental organization (NGO) to advocate for girls and women in the public sphere.

Black Mamas Matter Alliance ^[20] began in Atlanta, GA in 2001, and ensures that black mothers have "rights, respect, and resources" throughout and beyond the pregnancy process.

Black Women's Health Imperative ^[21] based in Washington, D.C. aids in healthcare advocacy for black women and girls.

Center for Black Women's Wellness ^[22] began in 1998 in Atlanta, GA to assist women of color with physical, mental, and economic needs for their families.

Sister Song, Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective ^[23] is also based in Atlanta, GA with the intention of increasing reproductive justice for black women through arts and leadership programs.

Bibliography

“AB-775 Reproductive FACT Act.” Bill Text - ABX2-15 End of Life., California Legislative Information, 2016, leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB775.

“Black Women for Wellness.” Black Women for Wellness, 18 Apr. 2018, www.bwwla.org/.

Butler. “AB 1319 Assembly Bill Analysis.” ABX2 15   Assembly Bill. 2nd Ext. Session – CHAPTERED, 21 June 2011, www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/1112/bill/asm/ab_1301-1350/ab_1319_cfa_20110621_174917_sen_comm.html.

Jones, Lani, et al. “Expanding the Psychological Wellness Threshold for Black College Women.” SAGE Jornals, Sage Publishing, 2016, journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1049731514549631.

“LGBTQ Youth Need Inclusive Sex Education.” Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights Campaign, 2015, www.hrc.org/resources/a-call-to-action-lgbtq-youth-need-inclusive-sex-education.

Miller, Joshua. “Innovative Approaches to Closing the Diaper Gap.” National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration, 2016, obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2016/12/22/innovative-approaches-closing-diaper-gap.

references

http://www.blackculturalevents.com/event/sisters-eight/

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