Here ye, here ye…Fight Back Productions (Girls Fight Back) is looking for some fabulous interns around the nation!  Specifically we’re seeking Events Interns in the states of: California, Colorado, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington state.

Their main role is to organize and promote Girls Fight Back Second Saturday events. Second Saturdays are free, open to the public, women safety & self-defense seminars held in cities across the nation on every Second Saturday of each month starting in August 2009.  Interns will directly assist our professional Speakers who conduct these seminars with a wide variety of tasks, and will also work closely with staff at our headquarters in Colorado.

The ideal Events Intern is mature, responsible, works independently, enjoys networking and has a go-getter mentality.  He/She is willing to assist our Speakers in any way requested of them that pertain to all events. He/She believes in our mission, that all women have the right to defend themselves from violence in all forms…and that this education should be available to women regardless of age, race, religion or economic status.

Interns should be pursuing a college degree in the subject areas of: women’s studies, advocacy, business, non-profits, journalism, marketing, publicity, communications, advertising, fundraising, graphic design, web design or education.  Other majors may also apply.  Interns must receive college credit, and are not paid.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
•    Determining a suitable Sponsor (non profit organization) for each monthly event
•    Secure a venue for Second Saturdays – gyms, auditoriums, libraries
•    Web publicity via Facebook, MySpace, the GFB website, etc.
•    Promote the event in the community via posters, flyers and networking events
•    Serve as Assistant to Speaker before, during and after the event
•    Assist in videotaping all events
•    Facilitate donations, raffle, distributing literature and merchandise sales
•    Be a friendly and welcoming face to all who attend the events

To apply, please e-mail your resume and a cover letter explaining your interest and qualifications to jobs@fightbackproductions.com.  We are looking to fill these positions immediately.  No phone calls please.

Book_Cover_PollMy book about college safety was first released as a self-published book in 2006. Since then, I’ve printed 2 more editions and last year the title was acquired by DK Publishing. This Fall, DK will be getting thousands of copies of the book into college classrooms to make safety on campus a top priority. A huge thanks to Mike Vaccaro at DK who is a true appreciator of girl power!

What is your favorite book cover design out of the 3 pictured above? (Click on the images to enlarge.)

Cast your vote by typing #1, #2 or #3 in the comments area.

It was 8 years ago today that Shannon McNamara was murdered. Since that day, so many of us were never the same again. In years past, I have dreaded this day. I’d feel anxiety for weeks before, accompanied by a dark depression for weeks afterward. Once we got past Shannon’s birthday on June 21st I’d start to feel better, and was normally back to my old self by 4th of July. But for the most part over the past 8 years, the entire month of June was dedicated to sleeping and crying and being pretty much a dark, sloppy mess.

But this year, things are different. There is too much light shining right now to let the darkness in. This year on this significant day, I still want to cry – but it’s happy tears because I have so much hope. This year I have a baby in my belly about 9 weeks from hatching. This year I have a team of 12 people working for Fight Back Productions. (Which encompasses Girls Fight Back, Students Fight Back and Women Fight Back – more on those coming soon…) This year, we will reach more people than ever with our message that each person in this world is WORTH FIGHTING FOR. And despite this being the hardest I have ever worked to make it all possible, I’m also sleeping more peacefully knowing that massive, global change is underway.

Next week I’ll be posting photos and videos of the incredible, first-ever Girls Fight Back Academy and I will introduce you to the marvelous women who will be representing us going forward. But for now, I just wanted to say that Shannon would be so proud of everything that has happened in her memory. She would be grateful that so many people are learning to prevent and fight back against the very situation that ended her life. She would be at peace knowing her short 21 years on this earth have left an eternity of change beyond her departure.

So I will leave you with this ancient Maori Proverb: “Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.”

Strong. Resilient. Spirited. Unified.
Erin Weed