Aha Foundation Inc

ALERT:SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES: 43,949 FOLLOWERS ON FACEBOOK, 11,741 NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS, 13,085 FOLLOWERS ON TWITTER, 146 ARTICLES WERE UPLOADED TO THE AHA FOUNDATION WEBSITE IN 2019 WITH UPDATES OCCURRING ABOUT THREE TIMES PER WEEK.MEDIA OUTREACH: AYAAN HIRSI ALI AND AHA FOUNDATION FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN NATIONAL MEDIA IN 2019 WITH PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, NBC NEWS, AND LOCAL AFFILIATES OF CBS, NPR, AND THE USA TODAY NETWORK DEFINING IDEAS COVERING MYRIAD TOPICS FROM FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM) TO ISLAMISM.AHA FOUNDATION WAS FEATURED IN MULTIPLE NEWS OUTLETS INCLUDING NBC NEWS AND CBS BOSTON DISCUSSING A REPORT BY SENATE HSGAC ON A FEDERAL MARRIAGE LAW LOOPHOLE IDENTIFIED BY AHA. AHA FOUNDATION'S TWEETS RESPONDING TO THIS NEWS REACHED OVER 57,000 SUPPORTERS.IN 2019, AHA FOUNDATION PARTICIPATED IN FOUR PODCASTS INCLUDING THE IN-SIGHT JOURNAL, WOMENANCE TO SOCIETY, AND NIGHTSIDE WITH DAN REA IN THESE PODCASTS, SENIOR DIRECTOR AMANDA PARKER RAISED AWARESS ABOUT THE PREVALENCE OF CHILD MARRIAGE AND FGM IN THE U.S. AND CALLED FOR GRASSROOTS SUPPORT IN EVERY STATE TO END THESE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.PUBLISHED IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, AYAAN ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM OF ISLAMIST ANTI-SEMITISM. SHE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED THE COMMONALITY AND SHARED EXPERIENCES BETWEEN HER LIFE AND REP. ILHAN OMAR, WHO BOTH GREW UP IN SOMALIA. AYAAN TOUCHES ON THE DIFFICULTY OF UNLEARNING HATE WITHOUT COMING TO TERMS WITH HOW YOU LEARNED TO HATE. AHA FOUNDATION CO-WROTE AN OP-ED PUBLISHED IN THE LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL, PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK, WITH FGM SURVIVOR JENNY AND BILL SPONSOR KENTUCKY STATE SENATOR JULIE RAQUE ADAMS. THIS PIECE RAISED AWARENESS OF THE PRACTICE WITHIN THE U.S., AND KENTUCKY MORE SPECIFICALLY. IN RECOGNITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ZERO TOLERANCE FOR FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION AMANDA PARKER, SENIOR DIRECTOR AT AHA FOUNDATION, WAS INTERVIEWED FOR GOOD MORNING CLEVELAND, ABC NEWS 5. SHE ADVOCATED FOR CITIZENS TO STAND UP AND DENOUNCE THIS PRACTICE, AND COMMIT TO PROTECTING WOMEN AND GIRLS FROM THIS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE. AMANDA PARKER WAS FEATURED ON WYOMING PUBLIC RADIO, A NPR AFFILIATE TO DISCUSS THE UPTICK IN FGM CRIMINALIZATION IN STATES ACROSS THE U.S. AND THE LACK OF PROTECTIVE LAWS AMONG WESTERN STATES. INTERVIEWED BY KUTV, A CBS NEWS AFFILIATE, AMANDA PARKER SPOKE ABOUT OUR EFFORTS TO BAN FGM IN UTAH. MS. PARKER AND THE BILL SPONSOR, FORMER REP. KEN IVORY SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BANNING THIS PRACTICE, INCLUDING EMPOWERING SURVIVORS TO PURSUE CIVIL SUITS IN ADDITION TO CRIMINAL CHARGES. MS. PARKER WAS INTERVIEWED IN A PODCAST FOR IN-SIGHT JOURNAL DISCUSSING THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF FGM, THE PREVALENCE OF THE PRACTICE ACROSS THE GLOBE, AND HOW CERTAIN CULTURAL NORMS CAN PERPETUATE THE PRACTICE. APPEARED TWICE ON WOMENANCE TO SOCIETY PODCAST TO SPEAK ABOUT FGM AND CHILD MARRIAGE, AMANDA PARKER ALERTED THE PUBLIC TO THE DANGERS AND REALITY OF BOTH OF THESE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. TRAININGS AND CONVENINGS: SINCE INCEPTION, AHA FOUNDATION HAS TRAINED MORE THAN 3,000 PROFESSIONALS LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER SURVIVORS OR AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS FACING HONOR VIOLENCE, FORCED MARRIAGE, CHILD MARRIAGE, OR FGM.IN 2019, TRAINED MORE THAN 200 PROFESSIONALS LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER SURVIVORS OF FGM, HONOR VIOLENCE, FORCED MARRIAGE, OR CHILD MARRIAGE IN BOISE, IDAHO. PROFESSIONALS ATTENDED TRAININGS AT THE FACES OF HOPE VICTIM CENTER, THE CENTRAL DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THE FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY OF IDAHO. LED A TRAINING FOR MORE THAN 100 YOUNG WOMEN LEADERS FROM OVER 30 COUNTRIES AT THE WOMEN2WOMEN INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE.TRAINED THERAPISTS, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER WOMEN AND GIRLS AT RISK OF FGM AT THE INSTITUTE ON VIOLENCE, TRAUMA, AND ABUSE ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN SAN DIEGO. ADDRESSED MORE THAN 100 ATTENDEES AT THE ZONTA INTERNATIONAL 100TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT IN THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE CAPITOL TO DISCUSS FGM IN THE U.S.EDUCATED ATTENDEES AT A WORLD BANK LUNCHEON TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTION'S INFLUENCE TO COMBAT CHILD MARRIAGE.WEB-BASED TRAINING SESSIONS POSTED ON THE AHA FOUNDATION WEBSITE HAVE BEEN VIEWED MORE THAN 12,500 TIMES.ADVOCACY: SINCE INCEPTION, AHA FOUNDATION HAS SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR THREE FEDERAL BILLS PASSED INTO LAW, 30 STATE BILLS IN EIGHTEEN STATES CRIMINALIZING AND PROTECTING GIRLS FROM FGM AND CHILD MARRIAGE, AND HELPING PROTECT INDIVIDUALS FACING SITUATIONS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.CALLED FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT AND CONDEMNED THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S REFUSAL TO DEFEND THE FEDERAL FGM BAN ALONGSIDE ACTIVISTS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AT A NEW YORK PRESS CONFERENCE WITH U.S. REPRESENTATIVE CAROLYN MALONEY.EDUCATED LEGISLATIVE STAFFERS ON THE NEED FOR BIPARTISAN COOPERATION TO END CHILD AND FORCED MARRIAGE AND FGM ON A PANEL FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY ON CAPITOL HILL.ENGAGED IN ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE STAFF, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AND POLITICAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS TO SECURE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR A BILL THAT WOULD UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE FEDERAL ANTI-FGM LAW. PROVIDED SUGGESTIONS TO LANGUAGE DRAFTED BY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FOR THE BILL.EDUCATED U.S. SENATOR JONI ERNST, WHO LED THE 2019 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT REAUTHORIZATION EFFORT FOR THE SENATE MAJORITY, AND HER STAFF ON FGM IN THE UNITED STATES AND RECOMMENDED THE INCLUSION OF FGM IN THE REAUTHORIZATION BILL.IDENTIFIED AND ALERTED AUTHORITIES ABOUT LOOPHOLES IN U.S. IMMIGRATION LAW THAT HAVE FACILITATED THOUSANDS OF CHILD MARRIAGES IN THE U.S. IN 2019, THIS EFFORT CULMINATED IN AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT BY THE SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE THAT CONFIRMED THE LOOPHOLE'S DANGEROUS IMPACTS: 8,686 PETITIONS INVOLVING MINORS WERE APPROVED.ADVOCATED FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SET A MINIMUM AGE TO SPONSOR OR RECEIVE SPOUSAL OR FIANCE(E) IMMIGRATION BENEFITS.COLLABORATED WITH THE AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL (ALEC) TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO BAN FGM IN EVERY U.S. STATE. SECURED THE ADOPTION OF AHA FOUNDATION'S MODEL FGM POLICY AS THE BASIS OF ALEC'S MODEL POLICY. CONDUCTED IN-DEPTH WORKSHOP FOR POLICYMAKERS. FACILITATED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A U.S.-BORN FGM SURVIVOR TO SPEAK AT THE ALEC ANNUAL MEETING. SPEARHEADED A LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE WITH ARKANSAS STATE SENATOR BREANNA DAVIS, WHICH RESULTED IN THE PASSAGE OF ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-FGM BILLS IN THE U.S.COLLABORATED WITH UTAH STATE REPRESENTATIVE KEN IVORY TO LEAD THE CHARGE IN CRIMINALIZING FGM IN THE STATE. WITH THE PASSAGE OF ITS ANTI-FGM LEGISLATION, UTAH JOINED JUST THREE OTHER STATES IN HAVING COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-FGM LAWS.ADVISED NORTH CAROLINA STATE SENATOR JOYCE KRAWIEC THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS RESULTING IN THE PASSAGE OF THE STATE'S ANTI-FGM LEGISLATION.PARTNERED WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MURT EVERY YEAR SINCE 2013 REVIEWING DRAFT LEGISLATION, EDUCATING PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATORS ON FGM, AND SPEAKING AT PRESS CONFERENCES, CULMINATING IN THE PASSAGE OF AN ANTI-FGM BAN IN 2019.ENGAGED IN EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY IN SUPPORT OF THE SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF ANTI-FGM LEGISLATION IN IDAHO.HELPED STRENGTHEN AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING TENNESSEE ANTI-FGM LEGISLATION: STATE LEGISLATORS PASSED A BILL TO STRENGTHEN THEIR ANTI-FGM LAW THAT WAS BASED ON AHA FOUNDATION'S STATE-BY-STATE GRADING ASSESSMENT AND MODEL BILL.CONSULTED WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THE NEED FOR ANTI-FGM LEGISLATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND ENCOURAGED LEGISLATORS TO HOLD A COMMITTEE FOR DRAFT LEGISLATION WITHOUT DELAY.SECURED SPONSORSHIP FOR A 2020 ANTI-FGM BILL FROM KENTUCKY STATE SENATOR JULIE RAQUE ADAMS, MET WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN LEGISLATORS TO RAISE AWARENESS. FACILITATED IN-PERSON TESTIMONY FROM A LOCAL FGM SURVIVOR AND ADDRESSED LAWMAKERS AT PRELIMINARY HEARINGS ON THE NEED FOR ANTI-FGM LEGISLATION.CONTINUED TO SUPPORT EFFORTS BY THE WOMEN'S BAR ASSOCIATION OFMASSACHUSETTS TO PASS ANTI-FGM LEGISLATION IN THE STATE BY PROVIDING MASSACHUSETTS-SPECIFIC MATERIALS AND RESEARCH.DEVELOPED A LEGISLATIVE TOOLKIT THAT OFFERS GUIDANCE TO LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES, A COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE FOR THOSE WHO WISH PASS ANTI-FGM LEGISLATION.PROVIDED IN-PERSON AND WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF MARYLAND STATE BILLS THAT WOULD OUTLAW ALL CHILD MARRIAGE IN THE STATE.MET WITH DOZENS OF MASSACHUSETTS STATE LAWMAKERS AND PROVIDED WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO ENCOURAGE SUPPORT OF A CHILD MARRIAGE BAN. THE BILL PASSED IN THE SENATE AND AWAITS A HEARING IN A HOUSE COMMITTEE TO CONTINUE ITS PROGRESS TOWARDS PASSAGE.PARTICIPATED IN A PENNSYLVANIA PRESS CONFERENCE AND PROTEST HELD BY UNCHAINED AT LAST, IN SUPPORT OF BILLS THAT WOULD BAN CHILD MARRIAGE IN THE COMMONWEALTH. BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO PASS THEIR RESPECTIVE BILLS, ONE CHAMBER MUST ACT FOR THE LEGISLATION TO MOVE FORWARD.