CLEAN SLATE & SUSHI: NEWS FROM SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA CHAPTER

Following the "Turning Point" Assembly in Las Vegas, women in the WFWP San Francisco Bay Area division continued work on their local projects with renewed vigor.

One of the projects the women are getting involved with is the Clean Slate Project, an original program and curriculum offered by WFWP, designed for young people who want to renew their commitment to purity. They held a meeting recently with those interested and formed a committee. Sarah Brown and Liz Buergi, both of Northern California, who are both passionate about this project, will be the co-chairs.

When asked what inspired her to get involved with this project, Mrs. Brown replied: "I see there is a real need for abstinence education, especially in the state of California. When I was in college, I saw how the topic of sexuality can be taught in a very warped way. If people have no basis of values regarding sexuality, these kinds of [warped] values can be very easily adopted." The women hope to invite Heidi Iseda, director of the Clean Slate Project in Las Vegas, to come to Northern California and give a training session, which will help those interested to implement the Clean Slate program in their area.

Cooking With Meaning, another project of the WFWP San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, is bringing comfort in the form of food to women who have been victims of sex trafficking. Recently, a team of three Bay Area women visited the Women on the Way to Recovery Center to cook dinner. The three Japanese ladies created California rolls, vegetable rolls, vegetable tempura, and salad, and even provided hands-on instruction in the art of sushi making.

From the smiles, hugs, and laughs generated, it was clear that the experience was uplifting for all involved. Speaking of her experience helping out with the project, Yukiko Zinke of Northern California, said, "To me, it was a healing and learning opportunity that [what is] such ordinary cooking for us has the power to make other people so happy. I am glad to be able to help those women who are trying to support themselves. I feel deep in my heart that helping women who are living in the present is our responsibility to society."

(Note: If you live in the San Francisco Bay area and would like to get involved with this project, please e-mail Kinuyo Denni at kinuyod@yahoo.com for more information.)

In other news, the Schools of Africa project continues under the leadership of Mrs. Nojima of Northern California. She is working intensely with a team of mostly Japanese-American volunteers, and is planning a benefit for next spring. Prabha Duneja, a close contact and WFWP member, has agreed to be the committee chairwoman, and has donated $2,000.