The San Francisco Foundation Jumpstarts Straightlaced Curriculum

With this grant, GroundSpark will work in collaboration with the San Francisco Unified School District and other Bay Area partners to develop and pilot the curriculum guide that will accompany the film as well as a professional development training program that supports high school teachers to use the film in their classrooms.

"Gender and sexual identity issues can be insurmountable during the teen years," says Lisa Villarreal, the Foundation's education program officer. "Now more than ever, youth need the ability to access and maximize their unique and diverse potential. The Straightlaced film and curriculum series will ensure that Bay Area youth have an opportunity to address their most personal challenges safely, and emerge as smart, confident, caring young adults."

While this project will benefit local schools and communities, it also will provide the foundation for wide-ranging national programming with Straightlaced over the next several years.

Respect for All Can Help Prevent Teen Dating Violence

The California Department of Public Health, Injury and Violence Prevention Program has launched a new effort focused on strengthening the capacity of local domestic violence organizations to implement primary prevention programs in their communities.

The Domestic and Teen Dating Violence Primary Prevention Program is focusing on promising approaches to prevent first-time perpetration of violence and abuse. Groundspark's Respect for All Project was chosen as one of three "promising strategies" that will be implemented by demonstration projects around the state because of its unique approach engaging young people and adult influencers in fostering social change to prevent domestic violence.

"It's inspiring to be working in collaboration with Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault prevention programs and a great sign that the wider community is committed to social justice in the classroom," says Cristy Chung, GroundSpark's Director of Community Programs. "It's exciting to know our resources will be used in this new way to further violence prevention work in the field."

Honoring our Mothers

We were tickled to receive a $500 check from a new donor, Jean Simons, from Washington, DC. When we called to thank her for her gift, we asked what prompted her to give and learned that it had to do with her partner's mom, who had passed away recently.

"I recently found a letter Debra Chasnoff wrote to my mother-in-law in 2004 and I remember that she used a Groundspark film in her Anti Bias Task Force. She loved that your theme was "respect" and not "tolerance." Anyway, I thought it was about time that we supported you and your very important work. Thank you for all you do."

The Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado Matches Gifts

We made the match! The Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado's $10,000 grant to GroundSpark for the state's October premiere of Straightlaced was structured as a partial matching grant, giving donors the opportunity to have their gifts to GroundSpark doubled. We put the match to use in conjunction with our successful end-of-the-year fundraising campaign. Many donors to GroundSpark were inspired to increase their year-end gifts after learning that the increase would be matched. Thanks to all for making the match pay off and for helping GroundSpark keep our eye on the prize.

Dear Sporty Hot Dog Girl -- Live from the GroundSpark Blog!

Subscribing to the GroundSpark blog is easy--just click on the RSS button on the lower-left side of the GroundSpark Blog's homepage and choose whether you want to "Add Bookmark", "Mail Link to This Page", or "Subscribe In Mail". That way you'll never miss a post like this amazing one about Moreau, a very brave ten-year old.

The latest GroundSpark Blog post features a remarkable letter from a girl named Moreau to one of the students who was interviewed in Straightlaced.

Her mother, who, is a teacher, brought the DVD home to show her daughter.
"I totaly new you wer a girl but a lot of other people thought you were a boy ..." Read the rest on the GroundSpark blog.

Volunteers and Interns Wanted

Got some time? Want some karma points? We always need people to help who are expert proofreaders, HTML coders, Filemaker Pro data entry queens, general office supporters, social media whizzes, and graphic design gurus. Please contact Michelle Abrenilla, Finance and Operations Director, if you or someone you know is interested!