By Eva Wolchover, Chicago Sun-Times

Hip hop star Chris Brown’s arrest for allegedly beating singer Rihanna has sparked outrage in the media for weeks, but a survey conducted by the Boston Public Health Commission found almost half of Hub teens think she is to blame for the assault.

“Somehow young people have gotten the message that this is just part of a relationship,” said anti-violence advocate Deborah Collins-Gousby.

Of the 200 Boston youths (ages 12 to 19) surveyed last month, 51 percent said Chris Brown was responsible for the incident, 46 percent said Rihanna was responsible and 52 percent said both were to blame; 52 percent said the media was treating Brown unfairly; 44 percent said fighting was a normal part of a relationship; and a “significant” number said “Rihanna was destroying Chris Brown’s career.” Women blamed Rihanna as much as men did.

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Each month, the YWCA Missoula Minute profiles one of our Circle of Change multi-year donors about why they feel compelled to give their money and in many cases, their time, to help women and children in our community.

Susan Estep is the senior partner and PIA Portfolio manager at Merrill Lynch's The Great Northern Group. A longtime supporter of the YWCA and many other worthy causes, Estep joined as a founding member of the Circle of Change in 2006.

Estep serves on several non-profit boards in Missoula and is a member of the YWCA USA Asset Management and Development Committee. She is also member of the Women's Donor Network and is the lead educator for the Socially Responsible Investing committee.

YWCA: How did you come to be involved with the YWCA?

By Cindy Weese, executive director, YWCA Missoula

Thank you to the planning committee for tonight’s event and for the events in previous years. I know that some of the committee members have been organizing the rally every year for a long time now, and I really appreciate their dedication.

It is an honor to speak in tribute of a great visionary and on the eve of what will be one of the most historic events in our lifetime. I am truly humbled by the significance of this time, and I share my thoughts and words with you fully aware that we all sit here tonight anticipating the extraordinary speech tomorrow morning.

As Murray mentioned, I’m the director of the YWCA, a 150-year-old organization that works to eliminate racism and empower women. I am proud to be part of an organization that has been doing this work for generations.

Courtesy of Missoulian.com

A day set aside to honor the legacy of human rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. will culminate in a rally and march Monday evening at Caras Park.

The Caras Park event, which honors America's most prominent civil rights leader, who was gunned down in 1968, begins at 5 p.m. Monday. The event features Missoula Mayor John Engen as guest speaker, a performance by folk singer and songwriter Amy Martin and choral music from the YMCA's Coyote Choir.

The celebration will then move to St. Paul Lutheran Church, via a march across the Higgins Avenue Bridge, and stand-up comic Mike Beers will headline the entertainment. Murray Pierce, a mentor for African-American students at the University of Montana, will emcee the program, and YWCA Executive Director Cindy Weese will also speak.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The YWCA USA is a founding partner of the January 17-19 Days of Service sponsored Presidential Inauguration Committee and many of its nearly 300 local associations will host community service projects and discussion sessions to increase racial tolerance.

Some YWCAs will combine traditional service activities with the discussion sessions by charging "admission" in the form of a canned good for the association's food bank, a children's book for association's child care program or other such activity to support local program efforts. To participate in a local YWCA service event or discussion, individuals can check the Presidential Inaugural Committee's USA Service Web site, Presidential Inaugural Committee's USA Service Web site.

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