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Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom
A project of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
 February 2007
   
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Greetings SYRFers!

We're busy preparing for the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) annual conference, here in Washington, DC!

The conference promises to be educational, inspiring, and fun! We've set a special evening aside to showcase some of the wonderful work SYRF organizers are doing around the country and have confirmed several nationally-recognized youth organizers who will share some of their expertise with us. You won't want to miss it!

The conference will take place from April 24-26, 2007 and is open to interested SYRF activists. We are providing scholarships to cover travel and hotel costs, so please e-mail me and let me know if you'd like to attend!

This issue of the SYRForecast includes more information about the RCRC annual conference (including details about our new SYRF Spotlight Award) and a scholarship opportunity for law students. It also includes details about an essay contest about sex education, an activist training program, and a thought provoking Glamour magazine article!

Hope to see you in April,

Emily Goodstein

Director, Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom

RCRC Annual Conference
April 24-26, 2007
RCRC

The RCRC Annual Conference will take place in Washington, DC April 24-26, 2007! SYRF activists are encouraged to attend. Scholarships are available to cover travel and hotel costs. E-mail us as soon as possible to secure your spot!

We're organizing a special evening celebrating SYRF accomplishments and organizers called "SYRF in the Spotlight" on April 25, 2007. To pull off a great evening, we need your help. Please submit photos from SYRF events for a slideshow we're putting together.

We will also be unveiling three SYRF in the Spotlight awards during the evening. Nominate outstanding SYRF activists for these exciting awards. Nominations are due by April 13, 2007.

Learn More: SYRF in the Spotlight Awards
SYRF + Law Students = Scholarships
Take a trip to Stanford in the name of SYRF
many voices

SYRF has partnered with Law Students for Choice (LSFC) to provide scholarships to interested law students looking for some financial assistance to get to the LSFC annual conference. For more information, check out the application online!

LSFC Conference Scholarships
Youth Activist TRAINing
Host one!

SYRF activists have been invited to participate in a very exciting activist training program, organized by the Center for Progressive Leadership (CPL)! We're looking for several SYRF activists to host general activist trainings on campuses across the country (about topics like coalition building, publicity, and event planning).

The trainings will consist of a web-cast featuring organizing experts! Hosts are required to secure a room on campus and spread the word about the training.

This is a great opportunity to get the word out about SYRF, gain new organizing skills, and meet other activists at your school. If you're interested in hosting a training, e-mail us ASAP.

Host a TRAINing
Glamour Magazine takes on Purity Balls
What do you think?
Glamour

"It’s like a wedding but with a twist: Young women exchange rings, take vows and enjoy a first dance with their dads. 'Purity balls' are the next big thing in the save-it-till-marriage movement."

Check out this Glamour magazine article and tell editors what you think!

Consider thanking Glamour for including realistic statistics like this one: "STD rates were significantly higher in communities with a high proportion of pledgers. 'Pledgers are less likely than nonpledgers to use condoms, so if they do have sex it is less safe,' says Peter Bearman" You may also want to highlight some of the great work that youth activists (you!) are doing to educate other young adults about comprehensive approaches to sex education.

Write a letter to the editor
Show your SYRF support on change.org
SYRF is excited to invite you to join our new social network on Change.org!

Change.org is a new community platform that creates a web of social networks for over 1 million nonprofit organizations and their supporters. SYRF has been invited to be a part of Change.org's private release, and we want you to be the first to join and help build our community before the site is available to the wider public. Click the link below to join our community.

    Change.org


Emily Goodstein
Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom
phone: 202-628-7700 x15
One Voice: Reproductive Health and Population Summit and Essay Contest

Advocates for Youth, Population Connection, SIECUS and the Sierra Club are very pleased to announce an essay contest for youth advocates to win a trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in the second annual One Voice: Reproductive Health and Population Summit. If you are interested in sexual and reproductive health and rights and bridging the divide between domestic and international advocacy efforts around issues like international family planning, comprehensive sexuality education, and environmental protection, then the One Voice Summit and essay contest are for you. For more information about the contest and summit, please e-mail submissions@advocatesforyouth.org.