Project Grittygirl!

Create empowering visual art projects! Sing your heart out! Tell the world what inspires you on camera! Write and perform original songs in a pop rock band of your own creation!

Calling all Grittygirls!!!

GrittyGirl workshops use original curriculum to help teenage girls and young women find their voice through the learning of basic acting, poetry-writing, and music skills, as well as through an educational campaign that highlights famous and forgotten women and heroine archetypes as powerful role models.

 

For more info call Michelle Riu at 305-951-9054 

or email at grittygirl@gmail.com

Calling all Grittygirls!!!

Calling all Grittygirls!!! Ages 11-14

JOIN US for a two-week pilot summer camp for girls in the creative arts!

Sing your heart out!
Write and perform original songs in a pop rock band of your own creation!
Tell the world what inspires you on camera!
Create empowering visual art!

No prior experience necessary!

This is a unique opportunity exclusive to only 15 girls, ages 11- 14.
Don't miss out!!!

July 13-17th, 20-24th
9:00AM -4:00PM

LOCATION: Oasis Ranch
Coconut Creek/Coral Springs Area (Near Lyons and Wiles Road)

COST: $150./week

Music, Drama, Visual Arts, & TV production!!!

The only missing ingredient: Your daughters, your sisters, your friends, YOU!

What is a Grittygirl? Grittygirl is a spirited, fierce truth-teller. She is courageous and resolute, honoring her word and her body. A young woman of integrity, high self-esteem and clear boundaries, she is respectful of others, loving, ethical, and kind. She is a leader, a role-model, and a trusted volunteer in her community. Balancing creativity and critical thinking, she is emotionally intelligent and makes effective decisions.

Calling all Grittygirls!!!
We want YOU! : )

For more info or to enroll
Please call Marilyn at (954) 732-3345, or Michelle at (305) 951-9054
or email
michelleriu@grittygirl.com

The term 'Grittygirl' and the Grittygirl logo are registered to Michelle Riu

A New Mythology

I have the stoic spirit of Rosa Parks
I have the warrior heart of Joan of Arc.
I am as brilliant as I am dark
And you ain't even seen me start

I come from a long line of African Queens
My truth is the truth of Ma’at.
I come to claim my Kemet Kingdom
Now give me back what you got.

You see I traced my history,
I finally understood
Now give me back my priestess power
take your virgin-motherhood.

I am as beautiful as the Queen of Sheba
as raging as Kali
As sensual as the poet Sappho
as silent as the Furies…

I am as fiery as Brigit,
I’m the one who said no
I’m Lillith, I’m Nefertiti
and so many more you don’t know.

I am Judith, I am Esther, I am Deborah, I am Ruth
I am Nepthys, I am Hathor, I am Isis, I am Nut

I am the primordial Goddess, the first and the last
Some call me Gaia, some call me Tiamat

I am as independent as Artemis,
as whole and as fierce
And though you break through my hymen
my ‘virginity’ You can NEVER pierce.

I have the stamina of Eleanor, the guts of the Virgin Queen
I have the boldness of Hathsheput, and the strategy of Athene

I have the vision of Cady Stanton, the resoluteness of Susan B
I have the integrity of Dido, the depth of Proserpine

I am as wise as Sophia, as fruitful as Demetre,
I am as well-learned as hypatia, and man, would I have liked to meet her!

I am Inanna, I am Ishtar, I am Theodora, and Cybele,
Though I stand before you calling myself Michelle

i am evreywoman no matter how my name is spelled...

i am evreywoman no matter how my name is spelled.


in honor of women's history month, by m. riu

First female to run for US president

Why didn't we hear more about this during the election? So cool...

Check it out!

Sacred Sexuality

He did it! Someone finally did it! Just moments ago during the final presidential debate Obama mentioned the Violence Against Women Act (See post below) when qualifying Joe Biden as his choice for running mate. Not only that. He also said something really amazing: While  speaking to the difficulty of ever reconciling the two opposing views on abortion, he acknowledged that it IS possible to find some middle ground. For instance, both sides agree that no one is ever FOR abortion itself, and that reducing unintended pregnancies is key. Then he said it. The amazing thing. He said that if we could get people to realize that sexuality is sacred we could help reduce unintended pregnancies. Talk about changing the culture of this country- as John McCain had just said we need to do- in the opposite direction, of course. A country who was built on puritanical values and mores definitely could use some overhauling when it comes to sexuality- and it isn't in the traditional sex for procreation direction either. The implication of sexuality as sacred reminds more of the eastern tantric approach, and sounds a lot more appealing than abstinence, that's for sure. (We don't have to look further than Palin's own daughter to see THAT doesn't work.) Wow. Imagine a leader who is candid and responsible about sexuality? The implications here- especially for women- are huge. Not to mention the wonderful modeling of a healthy married couple the Obamas provide, as described in the recent article by relationship gurus, Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks. Read here to smile. This is getting better all the time. : )

Where are the women?

Maybe this is kind of heavy for a first entry, but it's heavy on my mind, mostly because I can't believe it isn't being talked about- at all- from what I've seen. Recently, I've been doing a lot of research about leadership, particularly women in leadership. I'm sure you can imagine why. And in searching for what's going on with women these days- in media, in politics, in education, in spirituality-here in the USA and abroad, I came across a disturbing site dedicated to stopping the stoning to death of women. Yes, in addition to gender mutilation, stoning to death and even live burials continue to be practiced in certain cultures under the protective veil of religious authority. While this makes me sick at heart, I am pleasantly surprised to learn about the International Violence Against Women Act waiting approval in the United States Senate. What absolutely floors me is that it was co-developed by none other than Democratic vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden! Why then, oh why, I ask myself, is no one- not even he- talking about it?! At a time when the Obama camp is trying to win over Hillary supporters and McCain chooses a woman as his running mate, why is no one talking about important issues specific to women? Not even Biden who is obviously engaged in this reform against violence toward women, and could easily have used it to reach out to us, makes mention of it. To me it is clear that A. We are not well-enough informed on these issues, B. The policy makers themselves do not understand the significance of these issues- not even in their potential for securing votes, and C. Perhaps saddest of all, is that the majority of women ourselves do not understand the real impact of living in a world in which more than half of the population is not equally represented in important decision-making. This situation affirms for me what seems obvious: That until there are more women in leadership positions, there will be few who advocate for them, perhaps out of sheer ignorance. You can support the passage of the International Violence Against Women Act here.