For their week of service, students at the Art Institute of San Diego are creating “umbrellas for peace” in conjunction with the Lamb Umbrellas for Peace project, which GTT will distribute to our city’s homeless, along with GTT’s first-ever dignity tents, on Saturday, April 25th at 11:30 am @ Neil Good Day Center (299 17th St between Imperial Ave & K St).  Come on out!

Even if you can’t make it, consider donating that used tent sitting in your basement or closet. It will protect homeless families turned out on the streets by the closing of the winter shelter from the elements and overexposure this summer.

GTT is the beneficiary of an art raffle to support our new Project AVOW!  (Take a vow to end violence against women).  Come out next Thursday to benefit GTT at a mixer and recycle/reuse clothing swap at the Hive downtown, 770 11th Avenue, from 6-9 pm.   There will be food, drink and speakers on “greening” businesses and sustainable materials in the fashion industry.  Proceeds from the benefit will also support GTT partner Shakti Rising, a local organization devoted to transforming young women’s lives after suffering trauma such as violence or abuse.  Cost of the event is $10.  Invite your friends!   

We will hold a Project AVOW committee meeting at 5:15 pm at the Hive before the benefit begins.  Feel free to join us and/or email Helen at helenz@zhlaw.com if you would like more information about this project.

Amylu and her daughter Rosalie at GTT assembly of Winter Survival Packs

Amylu and her daughter Rosalie at GTT assembly of Winter Survival Packs

One of the missions of GTT is to empower each other in advocating for the greater good.  Amylu Weas, our treasured co-founder, board member, and picnic-planner extraordinaire, recently stepped down from her position to finish her college degree.  We will greatly miss her but are ecstatic that she is doing good for herself as she does good for so many others.  Here’s what she wrote about her time with GTT:

Jump in, the Water’s Warm.  While you were swimming, you will have found you’ve grown!

My journey with GTT, being at it’s foundation.  It was literally at the corner of the Kava Lounge’s building foundation (corner of Kettner St. and under the dim glow of a street lamp).  This is where, after months of brainstorming, gathering, and word of mouth that found our group in a meeting to agree to sign and file the papers that would make us a certified 501(c)(3).  We chose our board member positions and next we knew we entered into our event being held on November 3, 2006, at The Kava Lounge to raise awareness: “Honing in on homelessness.”  This is event began our signature project come to be known now as Winter Survival Packs.

Now, two years flew by very quickly for me as a working Mom dedicated to family but looking to do the small part that I can do to help my community in a cause that is important to me.  I wore many hats as we switched roles and tasks from Treasurer to Secretary to others to fill the needs of our organization and the projects we loved and developed during that time.  Rachel Jensen and I appeared on San Diego Living to talk about something new to Winter Packs – in 2008, we added Baby Bags.  What we found is there are a lot of families in San Diego who want to help other families and are willing to provide many donations for GTT to deliver to the needy.

In my two plus years of action at GTT what I found was that it doesn’t take turning your life upside down to be effective and make good things happen, but it does take work.  In learning to advocate with my group and being active in San Diego’s community-working-for-greater-good, there was one voice that came back to me and asked 2 questions of myself.  If two years can go by that fast working for a good cause for others, what could I do to work for my own advocacy?  And how can I personally advocate within myself?  My answers have been inside me all along but the GTT experience boosted my confidence and gave me courage to answer … get that degree in College! 

The opportunity to be challenged, get involved and have fun is what Girls Think Tank is all about.  I served it and it served me back.  All the while helping administer kindness, helping hands and loving hearts to the folks you meet along with way – be it creating of social awareness to problems in the community, to social events, to the untapped needs of our poor and socially marginalized, there is a lot to be gained in working with Girls Think Tank for one and for all.

GTT is currently seeking new board members!  Please email us at girlsthinktank@gmail.com to become more involved.