What Makes SIIS Different

What Makes Sista II Sista Unique?

HOLISTIC APPROACH

CULTURAL INCORPORATION The celebration of culture is a fondamental aspect of the Sista II Sista Organization. Many of their members come from diverse Carribean, Latin American and African cultures and together they form a strong cultural community supported by creativity. SIIS has organized their community through events like Blcok partys and Cultural Action Days, using culture as a ways of rooting activism into people's daily lives.

THIRD WORLD SOLIDARITY

Sista II Sista is unique in its conscience efforts to remain grounded in the struggle against oppression on a global, not just local, scale. SIIS Collective members credit that fact that the organization is largely composed of young women who are either immigrants to the United States or first generation Americans for the heightened awareness of issues across the Third World. SIIS actively engages other social justice organizations and movements across the Third World, whether doing information exchange, physically travelling to help/learn/support, or promoting a cause. An example of how SIIS connects local and global struggle and appraoches to social justice is in their strategies to combat violence against women in their communities. Paula, a Collective member says, "In the US people think more police will stop domestic violence. In some other countries, that is not even an option, and women are working to find other ways to put an end to the violence."

"True transformation may not come within the belly of the beast," Paula says. "Maybe here in the US we don't have a clear view of true liberation." Working together to find "local to local" connections at a grassroots level is one way in which SIIS differs from many other social justice organizations.

VISIONARY

Members of Sista II Sista are committed to living daily the changes they wish to see in the world. Their beliefs in equality and community are manifested in their non-hierarchical managerial scheme.

DEPTH NOT BREADTH

Sista II Sista is "like a family," as many of its members will say, and much of its tight bond can be attributed to its size. A community based organization, Sista II Sista has chosen to choose depth over breadth, and remain a small group in spite of the myriad suggestions they have received to expand. The power in the work they do comes from their grounding in their community, and for core members of SIIS, growing too big would lessen their effectiveness.

The work of Sista II Sista has inspired groups across the city and country, effectively furthering the impact of the organization without spreading it too thin. "If we can influence others to go for it and start work in their communities, I think it's great," says Paula, who also explained the dangers of spreading the organization too thin.