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THE BROOKLYN YOUNG MOTHERS' COLLECTIVE In This Issue Support BYMC When You Shop!. Welcome To BYMC! New Initiatives Congratulations Thank You! Quick Links Get Involved Donate to BYMC Support BYMC When You Shop! Imagine a world where a percentage of every online purchase you make goes directly to the Brooklyn Young Mothers' Collective; at no additional cost to you.  That world exists!  When you shop online through goodshop.com up to 37% of each purchase can go directly to BYMC!   You are still able to shop at all of your favorite stores like Amazon, Best Buy, The Gap, eBay, and many more.  Through goodshop.com you can also access coupons for over 1,000 stores. It takes just a few seconds to go to www.goodshop.com, select Brooklyn Young Mothers' Collective as your charity, and then click through to your favorite store and shop as usual. Just type in Brooklyn Young Mothers' Collective on the homepage and hit verify.   Wish List If you are interested in donating the following items please call us at 718-596-7074. Maternity clothes Diapers Baby Formula Books New or lightly used children's clothing Child safety supplies METROCARDS Hello Friends! Welcome to fall 2010! I will be brief because I am so excited to share with you news of BYMC's growth. It is still very hard for me to believe that I started BYMC in 2004 at my dining room table while caring for my newborn daughter. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of young families and because of your support, Brooklyn will never be the same.  Warmly, Benita WELCOME TO BYMC!  Stephanie Ferrell is a graduate student at Fordham University's Graduate School of Social Services.  Stephanie is BYMC's first social work intern and will work with program staff to support members. Originally from Houston, Texas, Stephanie graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Youth and Community Studies in 2009. She spent the last year working with a college access non-profit in Central Texas through the AmeriCorps program.                            Yeashea Braddock joined BYMC last April as a community-based  doula. Yeashe was trained as a direct-entry midwife at the Florida School of Traditional Midwifery. During her time in Florida she worked with teen moms and helped create a teen childbirth education curriculum.Yeashea holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health - Natural Sciences from John Hopkins University.          Last May, Chanel L. Porchia- Albert joined  BYMC as a community-based doula. Chanel holds a B.A. from William Paterson University in African American History and Political Science. Prior to becoming a doula, Chanel worked as a  stockbroker in NYC for five years. She is enrolled at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition studying to become a certified Health Counselor. Chrissy Etienne is a recent graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont where she received a B.A. in English and Theater. She enjoys bringing her passion for activism to youth work and to the community of young people. She joins BYMC team after a summer internship with the Sadie Nash Leadership Project. Hannah Wohl is BYMC's education policy fellow. Hannah, a recent graduate of Brown University, is charged with leading BYMC's policy initiatives. Additionally, she will be training a cohort of young mothers to be part of BYMC's policy campaign team.    New Initiatives Brooklyn Young Mothers' Collective at The Brooklyn Birthing Center In an effort to expose young women to an array of birthing options BYMC teamed up with the Brooklyn Birthing Center. BYMC members learned from the birth center's director, Katherine Ableson about the services offered and the major differences between midwifery care and obstetrical care. As BYMC members and staff left the birth center there was such a sense of excitement and awareness of about childbirth options. Kate Zondervan, a center birth assistants said, "I wish we could tape them this is a perfect commercial!" in reference to overhearing a member tell her partner, "Babe, I can have a water birth!"   Partnering with H.E.A.T. BYMC is partnering with the H.E.A.T. Program (Health Education and Alternatives for Teens) to bring monthly on-site HIV testing and counseling, and educational workshops to members. Young women in Brooklyn face some of the highest rates of newly diagnosed cases of HIV in the nation. BYMC is excited about this new partnership and opportunity to provide additional services to BYMC members. Young Men's Coordinator Segun Akande joined BYMC last July to work with young fathers as part of a pilot program funded by Twenty-First Century Foundation. Segun, a Brooklyn native graduated  with a B.A. in Political science from Duke University in 2007.  Prior to joining BYMC, he worked for New York City Council Member Daniel Garodnick. Check Out BYMC's New Education Policy  Blog  BYMC has launched a new education policy blog! Stay up-to-date: http://brooklynyoungmotherscollective.blogspot.com Congratulations! Staying Current BYMC program director, Aisha Domingue and program coordinator Liz Thomas, were awarded scholarships by the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) to attend New York City's Family Development Training Program. The Family Development Training and Credentialing Program (FDC) is a major New York State initiative that provides front-line workers with the skills and competencies they need to empower families. Congratulations Aisha and Liz!   Congratulations on your New Job!   Congratulations to BYMC member, Toni Walles, on her new job with DonorsChoose.  Toni will be a clerical assistant. Toni is a student at Brooklyn Democracy Academy.   Thank You A big thank you to Board Members C.J. Masimore , Meghan Hogan, Onida Coward-Mayers and, Kristin Meister for ending BYMC summer on a high note by raising much needed funds to support BYMC's work!