Young Women in San Francisco Publish First Health Book That Reflects Their Lives, Views, and Voices It's About Time! Provides "Real" Information That Responds to Young Women's Critical Life Questions
GirlSource, a unique San Francisco nonprofit organization that offers low-income young women employment to build their mind, body and soul – and their resumes – today announced the release of It's About Time!, the first health book created by and for young women that responds to urban young women's critical life questions.
Developed by an editorial team of young women ages 14 to 18, It's About Time! offers straightforward answers to young women's most pressing questions by combining real world experience with well-researched information. Proving that young women's well being depends on a lot more than conversations about weight loss, clean skin, and hair products, It's About Time! answers questions such as: How can I deal with stress? What are the effects of drugs? What's it like to be a young mother? What is discrimination? and How do I find a job I'll like?
"I realize young women have to deal with mixed messages everyday," said 18-year-old Ingrid Garcia, an editorial team member. "Working on this book gave me a chance to find out the truth and to publish it. As a result, I gained a lot of self-confidence just to be me."
In 1998, GirlSource surveyed more than 300 young women in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York to see what they identified as their most significant life and health issues. The survey, along with additional focus groups, showed that young women are most concerned about stress, finding a job, violence in their homes, schools, and communities, and decision-making about their future. Furthermore, they said they wished they had access to a book that would address these and other health concerns. In response, GirlSource developed the program that one year later lead to the publication of It's About Time!
"Creating this book was about giving young women their own power to tell their stories, to publish, and to work creatively with one another," said GirlSource Founder and Executive Director Lynn Gordon. "It's About Time! isn't just another health book. Instead, it provides the holistic approach to health we learned that young women wanted. It's educational, responsive, insightful, and real."
The 10-member editorial team interviewed friends, neighbors, and local experts to get the information they needed to write the book. Then, the young women partnered with a professional production team that included writers, a photographer, and a graphic designer to take their raw data, information, stories, and ideas and transform them into a professional, two-color, well-designed, 96-page book.
"Watching the face of a young woman who developed It's About Time! when she sees the book for the first time and realizes 'I did this!' is an amazing thing," says Christina Boufis, a member of the professional production team. "These young women were able to redefine their own sense of what they could achieve as they simultaneously redefined the concept of young women's health. Providing that experience is what GirlSource is all about."
A new group of young women is currently working at GirlSource to develop a health website for It's About Time! A second work team will soon begin a new program designed to raise awareness about the issues within the book while distributing the book locally and nationally.
It's About Time! is available at www.amazon.com. Additional ordering information is available on the GirlSource website: www.girlsource.org or by calling GirlSource at 415-252-8880.
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