Sister's Need Sisters: Let the Healing Begin
National iask Sister Buddy Group Roll out Aimed at Emotional Wellness of Professional Women of Color
New groups deemed critical in the wake of the tragic shooting death of iask Member Patricia Ann Kelly by her husband at local church in Silver Spring, Maryland on Sunday Feb 22, 2009
Washington, DC -- The membership committee of iask, Inc. today announced the National Kick-Off of its “Sister Buddy Groups” on Saturday, February 28, 2009 from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at various locations throughout the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. There will be a LIVE national call & International call for members that begins at 5:00 PM EST that same day.
These kick-off events are FREE and are open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. The Sister Buddy Groups were developed by the iask leadership to foster friendships, stronger support systems, and to better meet the needs of the individual Members and keep them better connected through smaller peer groups based on regions and states.
iask President Sophia Nelson said, “In light of the recent tragic shooting death of iask member Patricia Ann Simmons Kelly of Maryland by her husband the iask organization and sister buddy groups will devote considerable time and resources to educating members on how to deal with domestic strife, violence and tensions that can easily escalate into tragedy in difficult economic times.” She continued, “We will also be working with our national men’s advisory board so that the dialogue is not one sided and includes the critical perspectives of black men on why they think such tragedies occur and what assistance they need in dealing with their stresses and anger domestically.”
iask Wellness Co-Team Leader Dayna L. Smith, MA of Burke, Virginia said of the tragedy: “Black women are not sharing their hurt, pain, struggles, or challenges—that is why iask was formed—it is not just tragedies like what happened with Pat—if we can intervene early we can help avoid not only tragedies such as hers; but also chronic illness, nervous breakdowns, domestic violence, suicide, etc. in our community. Sadly, it is still taboo for us to “share our business” —the buddy groups are to be a gateway and safe haven for our needs, as well as to provide peer and personal support for our members.”
Event Facts: Three regional meetings will be held in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia and 1 National Call for those of you who are located around the country. There will be a brief information session that includes an introduction to the program and protocol. Then we will break into the groups where you will meet your “Sister Buddies” and plan your first meeting. iask officers and our wellness/health committee chairs will be floating to each event and making a brief presentation of why these groups are so important, and how they are going to radically and positively transform our lives as women of color.
iask, Inc., is a national organization that was formed in 2004 and is committed to becoming the premiere organization nationally that works to transform the lives of professional women of color to not just survive but to thrive in the 5 core areas of their lives: Relationships, Career, Health & Wellness, Spirituality, and Emotional Healing. Please join us in our mission to help professional women of color in the mission of service-self-success. Log on to our world-wide website coming mid-March 2009 at www.iaskinc.org for more information.
For Event Locations & Logistics information please go to: http://www.iasksisterblog.com
New groups deemed critical in the wake of the tragic shooting death of iask Member Patricia Ann Kelly by her husband at local church in Silver Spring, Maryland on Sunday Feb 22, 2009
Washington, DC -- The membership committee of iask, Inc. today announced the National Kick-Off of its “Sister Buddy Groups” on Saturday, February 28, 2009 from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at various locations throughout the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. There will be a LIVE national call & International call for members that begins at 5:00 PM EST that same day.
These kick-off events are FREE and are open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. The Sister Buddy Groups were developed by the iask leadership to foster friendships, stronger support systems, and to better meet the needs of the individual Members and keep them better connected through smaller peer groups based on regions and states.
iask President Sophia Nelson said, “In light of the recent tragic shooting death of iask member Patricia Ann Simmons Kelly of Maryland by her husband the iask organization and sister buddy groups will devote considerable time and resources to educating members on how to deal with domestic strife, violence and tensions that can easily escalate into tragedy in difficult economic times.” She continued, “We will also be working with our national men’s advisory board so that the dialogue is not one sided and includes the critical perspectives of black men on why they think such tragedies occur and what assistance they need in dealing with their stresses and anger domestically.”
iask Wellness Co-Team Leader Dayna L. Smith, MA of Burke, Virginia said of the tragedy: “Black women are not sharing their hurt, pain, struggles, or challenges—that is why iask was formed—it is not just tragedies like what happened with Pat—if we can intervene early we can help avoid not only tragedies such as hers; but also chronic illness, nervous breakdowns, domestic violence, suicide, etc. in our community. Sadly, it is still taboo for us to “share our business” —the buddy groups are to be a gateway and safe haven for our needs, as well as to provide peer and personal support for our members.”
Event Facts: Three regional meetings will be held in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia and 1 National Call for those of you who are located around the country. There will be a brief information session that includes an introduction to the program and protocol. Then we will break into the groups where you will meet your “Sister Buddies” and plan your first meeting. iask officers and our wellness/health committee chairs will be floating to each event and making a brief presentation of why these groups are so important, and how they are going to radically and positively transform our lives as women of color.
iask, Inc., is a national organization that was formed in 2004 and is committed to becoming the premiere organization nationally that works to transform the lives of professional women of color to not just survive but to thrive in the 5 core areas of their lives: Relationships, Career, Health & Wellness, Spirituality, and Emotional Healing. Please join us in our mission to help professional women of color in the mission of service-self-success. Log on to our world-wide website coming mid-March 2009 at www.iaskinc.org for more information.
For Event Locations & Logistics information please go to: http://www.iasksisterblog.com
