(August 8, 2002)                                                                                             Hot News Main Page

"Finding Our Voice" At Melpomene:
 A New Book By And For Abused Girls

ST. PAUL MN (August 8, 2002) She's the girl at the bus stop with puffy eyes who looks away when others approach. She's at the checkout counter at the grocery store, or skipping lunch in the school cafeteria for a smoke outside. She's 13 or 14 or 15, and can't tell anyone how she feels, because she thinks they won't have a clue - and in many cases, she's right. "Finding Our Voice: Everything We Needed to Know That We Were Never Told" was created for girls like these; victims of domestic violence in need of hope and coping tools.

According to a study on the children of battered women, 3.3 million children in the United States aged 3-17 are annually at risk of exposure to parental violence. In addition, more than 10 million children witness intimate partner violence within their families. Abused girls are more likely to smoke, drink, and get pregnant before the age of 18, according to the Centers for Disease Control and other studies.

How does growing up in a violent home affect a girl's body image, and self-esteem? Can physical activity help girls cope with their problems, and feel better about themselves? Under the direction of former Program Director Susan M. Hadley, MPH, an expert on domestic violence issues, Project Coordinator Molly Ginther-Wang, and with funding from the 3M Foundation, Melpomene worked with girls from violent homes in the Twin Cities from 2000-2001.

The recently completed project resulted in Finding Our Voice -- a 40 page booklet of personal stories. The book was written and illustrated by 7 girls from the AWAKE Program at Cornerstone Advocacy Service in Bloomington, MN. It is divided into three sections: What Came Out of Our Hearts, devoted to each girl's personal journey; What Came Out of Our Heads, containing chapters on physical and emotional abuse, stress, peer pressure, and physical activity, and a section called Tools to Use with resources and a safety plan.

The booklet, Finding Our Voice was also funded by 3M Foundation, and was created by girls at Cornerstone, an agency working with abused youth in Bloomington, MN, and the Wilder Foundation's Voices and Choices program in St. Paul. Melpomene staff interviewed girls to find out what they were going through and how best to serve them.

After detailed interviews and focus group discussions, the girls were introduced to physical activity through several activities, led by guest instructors from the community. Participants engaged in kickboxing, climbing walls, self-defense, African dance, and yoga. The activities required concentration and built up the girls' feelings of confidence and camaraderie. "This is a good way to express how to be strong in situations that aren't always so great," says an 18 year old participant.

During the project sessions, some of the girls decided they wanted to write down their stories and communicate how this project had impacted their lives. Through poetry, drawings, and short essays, the girls impart their experiences to other girls who may be going through tough times - and give them a message of hope.

"These girls really have learned a lot," says Molly Ginther Wang, Melpomene's Project Coordinator. "They have so much to say and have so much insight to give to kids who are in the same situation. The whole program really has helped them develop a new sense of self."

A full report on Melpomene's work with girls from violent homes can be found in Melpomene's 20th Anniversary Journal, and is available on request. Copies of "Finding Our Voice" may be purchased for $9.25, while a manual for organizations wanting to replicate this program is also available for $13.15, which includes tax and shipping. For more information, e-mail your inquiry to health@melpomene.org or call (651) 642-1951.

[Source: Jenna Zark, Public Relations & Fund Development Director,Melpomene Institute, 1010 University Avenue,St. Paul, MN 55104, 651-642-1951 phone, 651-642-1871 fax, publicrelations@melpomene.org]