Women's Programs
Target Group Overview
Working on specific women's programming helps to develop relationships with female students, generates programs around women’s issues, and engage Jewish students involved in the sorority system. Of course, it is necessary to overcome some of the stigma's attached to women's programming; that it is ultra-feminist, too cheesy, or boring. Actually, women's programs are a great chance for bonding and thinking about topics that are easier to discuss in all-women's groups such as body image, sexuality, and spirituality. Essential partners for this work are the few sorority houses on campus, the leaders of the Jewish Women's Collective, and the Women's Community Center. Below are three of the programs that I have worked on this year with this target group.
Rosh Hodesh Services -- These small new moon celebrations held in the Women's Center targeted any interested Jewish women. Each month a student leader organized a short service and planned a discussion and creative arts project around the topic of the month.
Nourishing the Body and Soul -- (Click here to read the description of this program posted on the Hillel program bank) This was a one-time workshop on body image and spirituality that I planned with a local, Jewish, “life-coach,” Ali Berlin. Twenty-five students came to discuss their issues around eating and body confidence. The project grew into a weekly body image support group in one of the sorority houses lead by a Jewish student.
Israeli Folk Dance Night – A student board member and I co-planned an Israeli folk dance night, with both modern and traditional dancing in her sorority house. After working up a sweat, students were invited to stay around and chat while sipping on fruit smoothies.