Life has been hectic, but it's generally been the kind of good hectic that keeps butterflies in my tummy and gives life the sort of exciting, out-of-control feeling that I thrive on at times.
A lot of wonderful new things are in the works, and one of those things is the 1st Women's Freedom Conference, which I am SO proud to be a part of! If you're a dope woman of colour, or know a dope woman of colour - keep reading.
While I believe that those of us who are "other" can and should find ways to burrow ourselves into the mainstream, I'm a huge advocate of creating your own space - space to exist, to shine, to share, to be. It's no secret that marginalized people don't have red carpets rolled out in their honour, with escorts at the ready to usher them to spaces where they are positively centered. With the Women's Freedom Conference, intersectional women of colour are creating that space for other intersectional women of colour, to share their stories, their expertise, and their perspectives on life and liberation.
Our Leadership Team and Advisory Board are made up of incredible women like Feminista Jones, Reagan Gomez-Preston, Jamilah Lemieux, Linda Sarsour, and many others who represent the spectrum of women we hope to hear speak on October 25th.
Here's a bit from our press release:
"On October 25, 2015, the Women’s Freedom Conference will center and amplify the unique voices and experiences of underrepresented women who have been disenfranchised beyond gender alone-- women of color whose identities are intersectional and whose womanhood is shaped and defined along those intersections.
Last year, three close friends were having a conversation and one raised the idea of hosting an action that would bring together women of color from around the world together in one space. She asked the other two women if they would be interested in working to make it happen and they enthusiastically agreed. Initially conceived as a “freedom march” that would convene thousands of women in one American city, the women later decided that the platform would be more widely accessible to more people if it was a digital conference that could be accessed from anywhere in the world."
My favourite thing about this conference is that it's all digital - no need to travel across states and borders to attend. Find an internet connection, and you're in there. As the International Marketing & Promotion Committee Leader, this is HUGE for me in encouraging women outside of the U.S. to attend and participate, and eliminates a lot of obstacles that women would face otherwise.
"The mission of the conference is to center Women of Color-- our success, our concerns, our work, our activism, and our existence as vital contributors to making the world a better place. We want to make sure that women of color from around the world have a space to speak out and be heard, to teach others and to learn from each other, and to inform people of the work that they are doing in their respective communities.
Our goals include providing practical, real-world information from a diverse group of women, many of whom are actively working to improve the lives of women of color around the world. We want to make this information available to as many people as possible and we believe that utilizing modern technology is the best way to do so. Participants will engage in conversations, seminars, and direct actions focused on the empowerment of women of color by building solidarity and promoting sisterhood."
Our Call for Submissions is now LIVE! If you are a woman of colour who has something to say or to share with the world, here is your chance. Please review our submission details, and throw your brilliant hat in the ring!
Perhaps you don't want to speak, but you want to attend virtually - stay tuned for more info as we get ready to launch the Women's Freedom Conference on October 25th from 9am-9pm EST! Watch by yourself or organize a "watch party" with some friends, and take in all the amazing things we'll have to offer! There may be opportunities to attend official watch parties in your city or town (Toronto, I've gotchu), so feel free to reach out to me if you'd like to know if someone is hosting in your area, or if you're interested in doing so yourself!
So, what am I looking for?
- Women of colour outside of the U.S. who want to help share and spread the word about WFC2015 in their area (contact me)
- Women of colour who want to submit to be a speaker (go here for more info)
- Supporters who are willing to donate to the cause (visit our YouCaring crowdfunding page)
- Supporters who want to stay connected via the WFC2015 Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (and our hashtag #WFC2015)
I hope you're as excited for the Women's Freedom Conference as I am! More good things are on the way!