The Nevada Empowered Women's (NEW) Project is a grassroots, multicultural organization whose mission is to further the rights of low-income women and children by addressing relevant issues such as welfare, child care, child support, housing, and health care, and by changing negative public perceptions.

To Everything, There Is A Season

Lisa Appelrouth Guzmán

I have written this "article" many times in my head, never being satisfied with how little words (or maybe just those that I know how to use!) are able to communicate. Please bear with me while I search for a way to share my thoughts with you.

I would like to let all of you know that after three years as the Director of NEW Project, I will be leaving my position here to move to the east coast, where I was born and raised. This has not been an easy decision for me to make, since I love my life and my job here in Reno, but the fact that my family is on the other side of the country has been gnawing at me for quite a while now. I'm sure those of you who have loved ones far away know what I'm talking about.

Things seem to be happening sooner than I had anticipated, and it looks as though I will be moving in early September. Although I am looking forward to being closer to my family, I am also very sad to be leaving NEW Project and all the wonderful people that I have met through the course of my work. I began this job when NEW Project was in its infancy. I never thought I would be the "Director" of anything, much less a nonprofit organization. Jan Gilbert of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada gave me the opportunity to grow and learn in this position, and that is something for which I will always be thankful. I have learned and done things that I never thought I would experience. (Those of you who know me well probably know I'm talking particularly about testifying in front of the legislature!)

There are so many people I want to thank for all of the help, support, and encouragement that they have given me over the years. The problem is, there are so many that I could fill this whole newsletter. First, I have to thank Maya Miller, Jan Gilbert, and Bob Fulkerson for...everything. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with you and have you in my life. You will always hold a special place in my heart! (Excuse me while I reach for the Kleenex.)

And I have to mention our wonderful Board of Directors, past and present. NEW Project would not be where it is today without your vision and direction. It has been great working with all of you, and I also have to say that I feel very fortunate to have worked with such a dedicated, competent (and fun) President as Teresa Benitez. (By the way, Happy 21st Terry!!!)

Joni Kaiser at CAAW, thanks for letting us have our meetings there. Sorry about the times we made a mess! Thanks to all of the foundations who have faith in our work. It has been a pleasure working with all of you. Special thanks to Jewish Fund for Justice, who gave us our very first grant. (That's another thing I never thought I'd find myself doing!)

Thanks also to all of our individual supporters, those of you who have contributed financially, by volunteering, by coming to meetings and events, and just by caring about issues affecting low-income families. I have all 900 of your names floating around somewhere in my head, and I wish I was able to meet all of you in person. I have talked to many of you who have wanted to come to meetings but haven't been able to make it out. I hope that in the next couple months I will have an opportunity to meet more of you, either in Reno or Las Vegas. I wish all of you lives filled with peace, love, and happiness, and of course a little financial security never hurt anything! For those of you who are facing challenges in your lives, hang in there and keep fighting for change!

OK, with all the tear-jerker stuff out of the way, I need to mention that NEW Project is now going to be looking for a new Director. If you have an interest in our work and would like to have an incredible opportunity to work with the best people in the world, I encourage you to apply for the position. See below for more information.

In Solidarity,

NEW Project is Looking for YOU! To Be Our NEW Director

Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree in Human Services or related field OR extensive work experience in the nonprofit sector. Excellent communication skills and grantwriting ability. Computer literate in wordprocessing and database programs. Commitment to social justice and ability to work well with diverse populations. Must be a self-starter and able to prioritize multiple tasks. Bilingual English / Spanish a plus. EOE.

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

To request an application and job description, please call (775) 348-9566. Applications will be accepted through August 13, 1999, although the position may be filled sooner.

Please feel free to pass this announcement along if you know someone who may be interested in the position.

Message From the President

Teresa Benitez

Hello NEW Project Members,

Nightly we watch our televisions, eager to discover what's happening in the world around us. Besides violence and classroom horrors, we hear tales of a booming economy - something completely foreign to many of us. On average, only 10% of the population is directly benefitting from this healthy economy. Coincidentally, it's usually our nation's wealthiest 10%. While a "prosperous" economy indirectly "benefits" some of us by putting a small percentage of us to work in low-paying jobs, those of us at the lower end of the economic spectrum hardly feel a trickle of prosperity.

But, times may be changing. With national elections approaching, Congress looks ready to pass a $1.00 hike in the minimum wage (to be implemented over the next three years.) Not much to write home about, but coupled with Clinton's "Opportunity Tour" (a trip with CEOs to American's poorest cities), it looks like America may be ready to put some thought into poverty issues.

"Sexploitation" in

Nevada Casinos

Those of us who live in Nevada and those who have spent any time in a Nevada casino are aware of the exploitation of female casino workers, particularly in regards to the "uniforms" worn by cocktail servers. The required revealing outfits and high heels bring about not only unwelcome remarks and the objectification of women, but can also lead to heath problems. Northern Nevada's Alliance for Workers' Rights and Southern Nevada's National Organization for Women (NOW) are investigating these abuses of female casino workers. Research shows that wearing high-heeled shoes for long periods can cause serious foot damage, as well as knee and back problems. For more information or to get involved in AWR or NOW's efforts, call (775) 475-0213 or (702) 387-7522. Thanks to these groups for making Nevada a better place for female workers. [Information reprinted from Alliance for Workers' Rights Newsletter, April 1999.]

The Sky's the Limit with Project SOAR

Remembering Mother's Day

May 1999 marked NEW Project's first Mother's Day event. As part of a national effort to speak out about welfare injustices, NEW Project sponsored a play written by Board Member Laura Rappa entitled "Jumping Through Hoops: A Parody of Life on Welfare". Laura used her theater and acrobatic experience to portray her personal experiences with the welfare system, including her struggle to get an education while receiving welfare benefits. The play was humorous, emotional, and included some amazing gymnastics acts courtesy of STARZ Gymnastics. Fortunately, the play had a happy ending with Laura completing her Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education. Congratulations, Thanks, and Best Wishes to Laura, and we will miss her as she leaves the NEW Project Board to embark on her career.