DRAFT 1 pg Statement Announcing our group - for CSW

Dear all: Here is the draft 1-page statment for CWS .. I have put it with a logo into a PDF, with the top information (before the FOR RELEASE (below) in a box, and next to logo, nice looking. Thoughts, and /or any objections? (This fits on one page, exactly). NOte: I have a longer announcement ready too. Will attach in a second.. that one we can edit with more space to work./add. It has goals, etc and priority needs listed. - AC

POTO MITAN: REBUILDING HAITI
A global solidarity initiative that supports the needs, voices, and leadership of Haitian women and girls, and grassroots organizations engaged in Rebuilding Haiti after the January 12th earthquake.

Poto Mitan: Rebuilding Haiti welcomes members who are committed to these founding principles: gender equity, democracy, transparency, accountability, community empowerment, and partnership.

ONLINE: Group & Community Forum at WorldPulse [www.worldpulse.com] (See PulseWire ‘Groups’)

FOR RELEASE: March 4, 2010

-ANNOUNCEMENT-

New Global Solidarity Initiative to Support Haitian Women,
Girls, & Grassroots Organizations to Rebuild Haiti

Who We Are: Poto Mitan: Rebuilding Haiti is a global solidarity initiative that has been launched by Haitian and diaspora women’s advocates to support the needs, voices, and leadership of Haitian women and girls, and grassroots organizations in Haiti that are actively engaged in Rebuilding Haiti following the devastating January 12, 2010 earthquake.

What We Do: Poto Mitan: Rebuilding Haiti brings together Haitian, diaspora, and feminist women and men to work in global partnership with the Haitian women's movement and progressive grassroots organizations there to accelerate delivery of emergency services, resources, funding, and programs to women and girls and grassroots communities in Haiti. This initiative will advocate for the implementation of a women- and community-oriented approach to relief and reconstruction that are part of the larger Rebuilding Haiti agenda.

Planned Activities: Poto Mitan: Rebuilding Haiti is planning a range of activities that include advocacy, reporting, and networking with community and multisector partners to help deliver services, resources, funding, training, and possible twinning projects targeted to the emergency and longer-term needs of Haitian women and girls and affected grassroots communities. These include:

• Ongoing outreach to women and activists to join this initiative and share information.
• Establishing a website and communications and advocacy platform (web, newsletter, radio).
• Participation in March 8 Intl Women’s Day events, March 13th Circle of Solidarity event.
• A launch event at the March 31 Donor’s forum in New York to discuss this initiative.
• Advocacy at the April 14 key stakeholder’s Rebuilding Haiti meeting in Santo Domingo.
• Developing an action plan, implementing actions related to short term priority issues.
• Planning a Women’s Summit with Haitian women leaders and other stakeholders.

For more information, or to get involved, go to our Group and Community Forum on the web at: World Pulse | PulseWire (under ‘Groups’) at: www.worldpulse.com.

Members (to date) incude: Myriam Chancy, Edwidge Danticat, Leonie Hermantin and Karen Ashmore (Lambi Fund), Anne-christine d’Adesky, Janet Feldman, Taina Bien-Aime (Equality Now), Martha Waldman, Alice Backer and Georgia Popplewell (Global Voices), Soleil Phoenix, Sophie Toupin (FIRE Solidarity Feminist Camp), Beverly Bell, Régine Michèle Roumain, Julie Sutherland, Marie Bonheur-Gulotta, Marie St-Cyr, Jensine Larsen….

Outreach to Haitian and women’s groups (to date) include: SOFA, Kay Fanm, Fanm Deside, MPP-Femmes, MUDHA, Dwafanm, FANM (Miami), Ezili Danto forum, Dwa ak Demokrasi, CAFRA, Lakou, ATIS Fanm Matemwa....