A Voice For the Voiceless

MISSION

The Advocacy Project seeks to help community-based advocates produce, disseminate and use information, and so become more effective advocates for human rights and social justice

Barbra Bearden and Kosova Women's Network (KWN)

Barbra Bearden graduated in 2004 with a BA in Communication: Professional and New Media Writing from Centenary College of Louisiana. She is currently pursuing her Masters in International Communication at American University in Washington, DC, where she lives. Her research specialty is the role of culture, information technology and the educational system (both formal and informal) in democracy building and community empowerment for developing countries. Barbra's professional experience includes nonprofit fundraising, development, and external communications; corporate public relations and marketing; and website design. After graduation, she aspires to work in the non-governmental sector as a development professional. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (Louisiana Chapter), Sigma Tau Delta honors society, and the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority.

Barbra is working with the Kosova Women’s Network on a variety of new external relations initiatives. The first of these is an award from the United Nations Security Council – the Resolution 1325 Award. The aim of the award is to promote the participation of women, at the decision making level, in the peace process. The Kosova Women’s Network is an excellent candidate for this award given the work they do all over the Balkans promoting women’s political participation in peace making. This grant would provide KWN with 15,000 euros for capacity building.

Alongside this award, KWN is forming a partnership with the Serbian Women in Black – another women’s empowerment network dedicated to peace worldwide. While in Pristina, Barbra will promote this partnership to the international community and assist in facilitating programs.

Barbra’s background in marketing, web & graphics design and public relations suits the current logistical needs of KWN. After updating the informational technology in the office and discussing the priorities of KWN with the staff, Barbra plans on implementing a re-branding initiative. She hopes to unite the KWN network under a recognizable "brand" that can be used in monthly newsletters, brochures, email alerts, and throughout the website.

• Barbra Bearden's blog