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I hope all is well with you and yours. True to our mission, STSI has been on the MOVE locally and globally! We are advocates for peace and say “No to WAR”! It’s unfortunate when any UN member state takes unilateral action. It undermines the UN and violates the charter. More importantly it violates people and unnecessary lives are lost. Our hearts go out to all of the soldiers’ families who have lost loved ones in this unnecessary war. How can leaders of the world truly be about peace and war at the same time? It seems to me that one has to stand firm in one arena or the other.

 We all know that war has a particularly negative impact on women and children. This is not to say that the Iraqi government were saints. In fact, I have heard first hand accounts of the many atrocities inflicted on the people of Iraq. Nonetheless, we agree with former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, who recently said, “The United States, which callously dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has no moral authority to police the world.” Why can’t we learn from past mistakes? When does this madness stop? Shouldn’t our focus be the elimination of weapons of mass destruction wherever they reside in the world, starting here, in the U.S.? Nobel Prize winner in Literature Toni Morrison states that the “Language of peace has more force and power than the language of war, which is primitive in comparison to the maturity of peace. If used constantly and effectively, the language of peace has the ability to reverse the trend of suffering, violence and injustice.”

We applaud the UN and its myriad accomplishments during 2003! We are pleased to work with the UN Department of Public Information (DPI) the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the World Health Organization (WHO), along with many of our sister NGO’s globally on programs and projects that support the achievement of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, with specific focus on advancing women of African descent. As a result of strong collaborative efforts, STSI and partners have played a catalytic role in insuring that race and gender issues are mainstreamed into our society at large.

STSI was pleased to sponsor a spectacular day at the UN during the 48th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women. Our activities were multifaceted and intergenerational. The day kicked-off with a tour of the UN for our youth contingent, and continued with a first time STSI Workshop (standing-room-only) and wrapped up with our Fifth Annual Farewell & Networking Reception. We were also pleased to make a financial donation to the Kondwa Day Care Centre in Lusaka, Zambia, which cares for children with HIV/AIDS. STSI is also proud to announce a new partnership with the WHO and Links Inc., which focuses on improving maternal health and minimizing the transfer of HIV/AIDs from mother to child. If you wish to have an opportunity to participate in our “Maama Kit” campaign, please check out our fund raiser link to make a contribution today.


As we move forward this spring let’s make sure we have our health in order. We need to do some spring-cleaning of our minds, bodies and spirits. I’ll be starting my overdue juice fast and trying to lose a few pounds. What’s your plan? Developing healthy lifestyles is a priority for STSI. We must continue to work toward moving the health of women of African descent to the top of the agenda in our respective communities. This work begins with each of us!

I would also like to acknowledge and commend the members of the Board of STSI who are committed, conscious and courageous captains on the thorny road that leads to advancement for women of African descent globally, in all aspects of economic, political and social life. I am blessed to work with such a talented and committed group of sisters. Please join me in applauding them and all of our committed members who work to ensure our ongoing success.

Happy Spring!

Love & Peace,
Cheryl
Founder & President

Newsletter August 2009