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	Vol.7, No 30, October 20, 1999
	Women's center offers support for ethnic women By Johnna Walker Daily Forty-Niner African-American women, Asian-American women, and Latin American women are provided with support groups through a union of Cal State Long Beach Counseling and Psychological Services and the Women's Resource Center. "We're open to anything that the women want to talk about," said Rosa Moreno, co-facilitator of the Latinas Unidas women's group. Moreno and her group, formerly known as the Latina Women's Network, gather every Tuesday in the women's center to talk about a variety of issues. The group's six members discuss issues of cultural identity, domestic abuse, and life as students. "We talk to other Latinas who can identify with us, and we don't feel alone," said Veronica Herrera, a member of Latinas Unidas. An important aspect of the group is that these women have the chance to meet in a safe environment, Moreno said. Latinas Unidas, along with the Asian-American women's group, and Sisterfriends, the African-American women's group, all meet in the center. "The Women's Resource Center provides a place for these women to meet because groups like this are important," said Lynne Coenen, assistant director of the center. These meetings have brought members of the support groups into the center even when not in their groups, because they are comfortable there, said Pamela Ashe, founder and facilitator of Sisterfriends. Her group has met since the spring of 1994, after African- American staff and student organizations on campus encouraged her to provide a group that would give companionship and mentoring to African-American women, Ashe said. Ashe said that she, Moreno and Phi Loan Le, facilitator of the Asian-American women's support group, are psychologists who work in counseling and psychological services and volunteer to facilitate these groups. Anything that is discussed in the groups is confidential and does not go toward any kind of study, Ashe said. "The most positive aspect of this group is that students who would be unlikely to come to CAPS [counseling and psychological services] have access to psychological assistance," Ashe said. Members of the Asian-American women's group, which is also referred to as Asian-American Women Bridging Generations, emphasize celebration of heritage and struggles that are unique to Asian-American women, according to the promotional flier distributed throughout campus by Counseling and Psychological Services. Le's  group meets Wednesdays in the women's center. "The group helps facilitate psychological support," said Ashe.		Plane crash victim mourned   Housing problem affects many   Wireless Internet explodes into market   Women's center offers support for ethnic women Quakes can be fun   Shoppers decide where to buy New show needs woman's touch   Attempted shooting of Dogg Pound in L.A.   The Best Man' features a wealth of talent   The Straight Story' has humorous characters Slow start takes Ice Dogs on long road trip Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.