In our Own Voices, In Our Own Words
Keynote Speaker: Lorene Garrett-Browder, Founder of Women As Allies
Workshops:
Returning to the Heart: An Experiential Workshop
with Ann Yabusaki
Questions about Purpose - Why am I here? - Process of going within. Exercise about looking at the patterns that we have created throughout our lives. What do these patterns tell us about our selves past, present and future? Have these patterns been preparing us for something at different stages in our lives? Can we change these patterns? What are these patterns telling us?
Advocating for Members of Underserved Communities
with Rolanda Pierre-Dixon
Domestic violence is an "equal opportunity" crime. It involves individuals who are rich, poor, black, white, brown, yellow and red. It also includes among its victims citizens, non-citizens, senior citizens, developmentally delayed, physically disabled and underage persons. Domestic violence is perpetrated in opposite and same sex relationships. No religion, sect or culture is exempt from this type of violence.
Since victims of domestic violence are so diverse, those of us who seek to help them must understand their culture, background and limitations. We must assist them in whatever manner is the most helpful and the least disruptive. All of our systems (law enforcement, advocacy and prosecutorial) must work together and deliver the same message that domestic violence is a crime and we are here to protect victims and hold batters accountable.
Enrichment Through Shared Experiences
with Seema Weatherwax
I chose this topic because the experiences of my life have been sharing my life with people of different backgrounds. We are still together after many years as friends and neighbors. We learned the importance of listening to each other. We also learned that decisions based on ignorance and fear only separate us. We all need love and respect.
Our differences are in only how we experience or get our needs met. We all have shared experiences of a spiritual nature. The spirit can encourage action. Women don't always support each other at work or in relationships. Women don't have to prove themselves to anyone when we know that we are already good.
Women and Spiritual Connectivity
with Christine Brooks-Martin
I attribute everything that I have in my life to my connection to my creator. My purpose is to promote healing, enlightenment and to help breaking down walls. Spirit is in us and defines us. It is our guiding force. Stay connected to your source that gave you life.
Faith helps me through difficult circumstances. To help other we need to we connect to our spirit. Spirit needs to direct our mind. Questions for you to ask yourselves. Who am I? - What am I to do? Where, when, why have I been sent today? You are a seed, what is your purpose? Affirmations: you posses love and truth, You are perfectly made for you, you have strength, you have given to someone, you have encouraged someone, you have influenced someone, you are talented, you keep going. The character of a seed planter is who you surround yourself with and what you do is important.
Women Inside: The Prison Industrial Complex and it's Effect on Women and Their Families with Zoe Sodja
Since mandatory sentencing laws went into effect in the mid 1980's, the California female prison population has skyrocketed. At the end of 1980, women in California's prisons totaled 3,564. In 1998 the population rose to 10, 876 an increase of 305% in 12 years.
Every prison for women in California is 160% or more above its designed capacity. Although African-American women make up roughly 13% of California's female population, they constitute 33.6% of the California female prison population. Although white females are around 48 % of the female population of California, they make up only 37% of the state's female prison population. Latinas constitute 22.3 % of the female prison population.
Being an Ally
with Gloria Villagomez and Lorene Garrett-Browder
What does it mean to be an ally?
A dependable ally is willing to be open, listen, support, trust and respect another's experience or point of view without judgment or blame. A dependable ally has no need to control situations, persons or outcomes and is willing to be wrong. A dependable ally is open to learning from a variety of situations, both comfortable and uncomfortable.
A dependable ally is open to hearing and feeling the pain of another without needing to understand or defend against it. A dependable ally is not adversarial and understands how privilege, unequal access and lack of protection impacts the lives of women and girls in general, but specifically women and girls of Color.
Finding the Strength Within Yourself
with Yolanda Perez-Logan
Asking who was there for you in your life, parents, teachers or counselors. Sometimes we are asked to be mentors, to be active in our communities and to empower groups and ourselves. We can do more than tolerate diversity. Telling our stories we can influence others. And they can grow in self-esteem by our mentoring and caring. We have to find common ground and work together. We must keep trying and never leave the table. It is important that organizations express the connection of sisterhood and reinforce the idea that one person can make a difference and that lives can be changed. We can plant seeds in others.
Participants' Comments
· "I am empowered. I now have more tools in my "belt"".
· "You made me feel special, you made me feel comfortable and you made me happier".
· "It was a wonderful time to share and learn".
· "Conference exceeded my expectations".
· "I feel renewed to continue to do the work".
