This past summer I interned with GESMujer, a cooperative women’s organization in Oaxaca, México, as part of UC Global Health Institute’s Center for Gender and Health Justice. GESMujer is composed of twelve different communities across Oaxaca each with two promotoras representing every region in Oaxaca. GESMujer allows for the representation of all Indigenous, Mestizo, and Afro-Latine women and girls that are scattered across the country and gives them the opportunity to share the unique challenges they face in their regions. GESMujer’s mission is to promote better living conditions for women experiencing gender-based violence and educate them about their rights. Their team consists of several community health workers, psychologists, lawyers, and more that all collaborate to tailor workshops and seminars to empower Oaxacan women. The range of their organizers exhibits MCAH leadership competency #10: Interdisciplinary/interprofessional team building. They all work in the same building and contribute to the workshop structures and topics to ensure that the staff are providing holistic information to the women visiting GESMujer. For example, in some workshops, our psychologists would open the workshops with reflective activities in a circle support group where everyone shares and listens to each other. Then, the second half of the workshop would be led by our community health workers and legal workers who educate our guests on what they can do to prevent gender violence and what local resources they can access. Additionally, this also displays MCAH leadership competency #7: Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Not only are the women visiting GESMujer from several different backgrounds, but so are the staff part of GESMujer. We make space for everyone to share their unique experiences and stories so we can all learn from each other. GESMujer goes above and beyond in providing transportation, food, and housing to any women across the 12 regions that may want to come to GESMujer to attend workshops, opening their doors to all girls and women and assisting them with any barriers that may have prohibited from accessing our workshops previously. In the six weeks I spent there, I learned so much from my colleagues and supervisors and am so grateful to have been part of their team last summer!
Maternal and Child Health Leadership Competencies:
7. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
10. Interdisciplinary/Interprofessional Team Building