Ubaka Hill Thursday, May 23rd @ 7pm

the Women’s Building, 373 Central Ave, Albany

Drum teacher and performer Ubaka Hill will be coming to the Women’s Building in  Albany  for a meet and greet about the Million Women Drummers Gathering  Global Initiative  and  Gathering  to be  held in New Paltz, NY on October 11-13 2013 at the Fairgrounds.

At the Women’s Building  event, there will be a presentation, refreshments, drumming and time for questions. All are welcome and encouraged to come- no drumming / music experience required. Details to follow.

For more information about the MWDG 2013 go to MillionWomenDrummers.com

What’s in here? Click on the links to read more

Launching “She Breathes”, a new feminist community blog

March 21-23, V-Day 2013: Albany–A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and a Prayer

March 26th, Miss Representation Film Showing

April 4-June 6, Inner Muse Amateur Performance Group for Creative Expression

April 9th, The Throwaways Sneak Preview

April 26th, V-Day 2013 at SUNY Albany

She Breathes Announcing A New Capital Region (and beyond) feminist community blog

On Friday, March 8th in celebration of International Women’s Day we launched “She Breathes“. You will find creative writing, report backs on community events, a bit of history and venue reviews and maybe even some rants. This special inaugural week will feature a daily post. Moving forward, we will post at least weekly.

Interested in submitting a post? Check out our Submissions Policy.

Just want to find out more about the blog? About She Breathes

Drop by and leave a comment, read, share, and consider joining the conversation. “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”

― Arundhati Roy

Check out some of the first posts:

Immigration: A Growing Humanitarian Crisis, Jacqueline Hayes

Image courtesy of the Dignity Campaign “women’s work” (for asmaa mahfouz* and israa abdel-fattah**) by blkcowrie

 

 

V-Day 2013: Albany

Thursday, Friday & Saturday, March 21st-23rd at 8pm

the WB, 373 Central Ave, Albany

On Facebook

J.A.M. Productions and A.B.B Event Productions are thrilled to present A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant & A Prayer. This show will benefit the WB, as well as the V-Day Spotlight Organization, One Billion Rising. Raffle tickets will be sold at all shows for $1 each. Fantastic raffle prizes include gift certificates to local restaurants and bars, hand made jewelry, art pieces, discount on a dance party cage rental, The Big Book of Vagina volume 2, and Big Pink II (vagina pinata!), plus lots more still to come. Also for sale at the shows, hand painted V-Day logo glasses. We are very excited about all our fantastic casts and fabulous prizes. These events are not to be missed!

Tickets are $10 and reservations can be made by contacting Jeremy Ward at 518-788-5254.

*NEW – Inner Muse Amateur Performance Group for Creative Expression

Starting Thursday, April 4, 2013, you are invited to begin unleashing

your Inner Muse!

Thursday evenings from 7:30 – 9:30 pm,  April 4 – June 6

The final performance showcase will be held  Friday, June 14th

at the WB, 373 Central Ave, Albany

The Inner Muse program is intended for women 18+, regardless of experience.  Whether you have acted recently, or not since the third grade, we want you to join us.   Maybe you are tired of working back stage, or watching your kids on stage having all the fun.  Whatever your situation, if you have dreamed about taking the spotlight, but never knew where, when, or how to make it happen, your time is now! (If stage fright or shyness is holding you back, this program is DEFINITELY for you too You do not have to freak out about auditions, you just need to show up with an open mind and the desire to try something new.  You can either bring ideas, or come without a clue.  We can help you choose a monologue, scene, or dramatic reading, or maybe you will be inspired to write and perform something of your own.  Always wanted to try out a stand-up comedy bit, why not?!  If you play an instrument, dance, or sing, you might want to do that.  You have a penchant for Circus tricks? OK.  You bring your passion and curiosity…and we will help you with the evolution of your art.

This program provides coaching, support, and as much fun as you are willing to have.  Don’t think about how you would perform today, think of what is possible after this 11-week program.  You will learn a ton about yourself, grow as a person, express yourself in a way that is outside of your daily routine, and have fun with new friends.  It’s time to remember how creative you really are and see what is just waiting to come out.

Registration fee:  $145 (a minimum of 5 participants is needed to run

the program) (Payment plans and scholarships available)

More info and registration:

http://insightsoutcoaching.com/Insights_Out_Coaching/Inner_Muse.html

Please email Rebecca@RebeccaBoswell.com  with any and all questions

Let’s Act Out!

Screening and Panel Discussion of “Miss Representation”

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Pre-screening reception at 6pm Screening at 6:30pm Russell Sage College, Bush Memorial Center 65 First Street

Troy, NY

Please join us for a compelling film and insightful panel discussion sponsored by the Capital District Women’s Bar Association, Russell Sage College, Emma Willard School, and Robert C. Parker School, as we present a screening of the award-winning documentary Miss Representation.

Miss Representation has sparked a “Call to Action” campaign (www.MissRepresentation.org) designed to provoke thought, conversation, and community action so that all individuals, regardless of gender or circumstance, can fulfill their full potential. The film explores how the media’s misrepresentations of women have led to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence.  This critically acclaimed film exposes the far-reaching impact of the media’s negative and limiting portrayal of girls and women.  The panel will discuss how to build different aspirations for young women – and expectations among their male counterparts – by incorporating change not only in the academic curriculum, but also in the cultures of our schools and communities.

The panel discussion will be led by Jennifer Bryan, Ph.D., an expert on gender and sexuality diversity issues in pre-K through 12 schools, Lori Caplan, Ed.D., Superintendent of the Watervliet City Schools, Penny Perkins, Assistant Professor of Communications at The Sage Colleges, Dr. Susan Scrimshaw, President of The Sage Colleges, and Bob Winchester, Member of the Niskayuna Board of Education and former Niskayuna Central School District’s Director of Health Education and Services.  City Court Judge Helena Heath-Roland will serve as moderator for the discussion along with Shealeen Meaney, Director of the Upton Center for Women’s Studies at Russell Sage College. The program is free and open to the public.

The sponsoring organizations are dedicated to ensuring that women achieve success in their educational, career, and life goals and to increasing gender diversity in the ranks of our nation’s leaders within government and private sectors.  We hope to create the foundations for a local effort to address negative media influences, which when not questioned and countered with positive influences are likely to stunt identity development in young girls and continue to negatively affect the progress of women in society.  We believe your participation and insight will prove invaluable and that working collaboratively with educators, students, community leaders, youth advocates, and individuals from all walks of life will be essential in furthering this important mission.

Please RSVP by March 19, 2013 to the Diversity and Gender Fairness Committee of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association at DGF@cdwba.org

 

 

the Throwaways Sneak Preview Showing

Thursday, April 9th at 6pm

Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center

University at Albany

1400 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12202

On Facebook

http://throwawaysmovie.com/

About:

THE THROWAWAYS tells the story of homeless filmmaker and activist Ira McKinley, documenting his quest to shed light on the struggle of people living on the margins of society and to challenge a system that oppresses them. McKinley aims to pull the curtain back for viewers and expose how the current economic crisis is having a devastating effect on those who have become throwaways, invisible to most, discarded by a system that has failed them.But THE THROWAWAYS isn’t just an illumination of marginalized people at their weakest moments, it is a call to action, it is the story of directly engaging in the struggle for economic and social justice. McKinley is not satisfied with simply exposing injustice, but pushes further, fighting for real changes seeking true transformation of his community in the South End of Albany, NY.

THE THROWAWAYS traces McKinley’s past from his upbringing in Ithaca, NY, where at the age of fourteen his father was shot by police, to a prison cell in Staten Island during the September 11th attacks, to his chance at redemption when he learns camera and editing skills at a small public access television station in Northampton, MA.

The film then follows McKinley as he joins the Occupy Wall Street protest just a week after the encampment is launched at Zuccotti Park in Lower Manhattan. As the movement spreads across the country, we journey with him as he travels to occupations in Atlanta GA, Washington DC, Durham, NC, Detroit, MI and McKinley’s hometown of Ithaca, NY, where he uncovers a city grappling with a string of suspicious shootings of young black men at the hands of police. McKinley eventually returns home and becomes an organizer and leader at Occupy Albany, bringing the gritty firsthand perspective of person who has spent the majority of his adult life living at the bottom of the 99%.

THE THROWAWAYS broadens the scope of the issues and the potential solutions by including the voices of some of America’s most visionary thinkers as they share their thoughts with McKinley on the re-imagining of inner city America. Conversations with Michelle Alexander, Cornel West, Grace Lee Boggs, Van Jones, and Marjora Carter confront the realities of life in our most distressed urban neighborhoods, a reality most would rather turn away from. These exchanges aim to breakthrough the stagnant despair with voices of hope, proposing a revolution in thought and action as an inevitable and necessary starting point in reclaiming our communities.

THE THROWAWAYS weaves McKinley’s personal narrative of survival with the stories of a mass movement rising up to challenge greed and corruption on Wall Street and in Washington. Speaking with his family members and neighbors on street corners, sidewalks and stoops, McKinley reveals the prevailing attitude in many inner-city neighborhoods that governmental systems and elected officials have failed, and that real hope lies in the power of the people.

As he strives to make a difference, McKinley also confronts the unavoidable stories of his troubled past and engages in the fight against his own personal demons. We bear witness as he struggles to make positive change by organizing, occupying and standing up to make his voice heard.

Ultimately THE THROWAWAYS aims to empower those who have been rendered invisible, to amplify the stories of those living on the fringes of a society that has rejected and forgotten them. It is a story of survival, of a person who resists against being discarded and refuses to be thrown away.

Co-Sponsored by: Graduate Student Employees Union (GSEU/CWA 1104), Albany UUP Executive Committee, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace, the UAlbany Latin American, Caribbean and US Latino Studies Department, Holding Our Own, NYSR, Occupy Albany, Save Our SUNY, Solidarity Committee of the Capital District, Students Revolutionary Coalition, Third World Impact, Upper Hudson Peace Action, SEIU Local 200United

V-Day at the SUNY Albany School of Public Health

Friday, April 26th at 6pm

George Education Center

1 University Place

Rensselaer, NY

Students from the SUNY Albany School of Public Health in partnership with SEA Change will be hosting the V-Day performance of A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer.  A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer is a collection of monologues shedding light on violence against women as well as promoting women’s empowerment. There will be a reception with food and guest speakers following the event.

V-Day is a “a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money, and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM), and sex slavery.” -http://www.vday.org/about

For tickets, please contact Charity Corman at charity.a.corman@gmail.com. For more information on how you can get involved, please contact Christina Kappiuzhathil at christym263@gmail.com.