First message is to Dan Mess: Dan, I really liked your idea because I too have been victimized by "heterothink" all my life. I have some ideas and would like to speak with you after class on Friday?

Second message, re the first proposal:
I am impressed by the organization's overall statement, particularly in that it addresses more than one of the "target groups" I think are important: socioeconomically, the Price Hill area is one of Cincinnati's most diverse AND at the same time is "endangered" by increasing poverty, crime and blight. Youngsters of both genders are at high vulnerability to low self-esteem (especially at those critical ages) and a feeling of "helplessness"--that "nobody cares" to try to help them aspire to higher educational goals and self-respecting moral values.
 I also especially appreciate the statement Dr. Fisanick read aloud, re young women needing to know they do NOT need a man to complement them and should learn to take comfort, support and friendship with each other AS WELL AS--if/when the time is right--seeking healthy male companionships and relationships.
 I say this last mainly because I have an aunt (now almost 70 years old) who several years ago confided in me that her life would have been much more enriched, and better supported, had she learned to trust women as friends and confidantes before the age of 50. In her day ("Pink Think" lives!), of course, a woman was "nothing" or at the very least "strange" if not accompanied by a man, and although she of course had friendships with women, she never realized just what a positive support and source of esteem they (we) can be for each other. This knowledge would have been especially comforting when her husband of 20+ years took up with a younger woman, left home, divorced her and disowned their two sons, and left her blindly groping about in the pink-rooted dilemma: "How will I support myself without Charlie?"
 Mind you, my aunt came neither from affluence nor poverty and hopelessness; if learning to rely on other women would have helped HER, imagine what it might do to young ladies of more needful, vulnerable standing.
 Sorry-got long-winded there. :)

I dont really have a whole lot to say. I covered my opinions of the proposal on the philanthropy post. I am however really excited about this Pink Think project. I think it will really open alot of eyes regarding its surviving presence in most of our culture. Though many women have been able to rise above the obvious detrimental ideas of the forties and fifties, I still think the subtlety (did I spell that right?) of Pink Think will surprise most of us. I cant wait to see what everyone comes up with!!

Kathy, I reposted your message about your thoughts on the proposal to the philanthropy message board. Check out the Criteria page on the Philanthropy site.