Ai-jen Poo: National Domestic Worker Alliance

Ai-jen Poo leads a nationwide movement of nannies, housekeepers and care workers to gain long overdue workers' rights Read more: http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,1567605638001_2112245,00.html#ixzz1sPZGEEnG http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,1567605638001_2112245,00.html

Book Release: The Revolution Starts at Home: Confronting Intimate Violence in Activist Communities

The extent of the violence affecting our communities is staggering. Nearly one in three women in the United States will experience intimate violence in her lifetime. And while intimate violence affects relationships across the sexuality and gender spectrums, the likelihood of isolation and irreparable harm, including death, is even greater within LGBTQI communities. To effectively resist violence out there—in the prison system, on militarized borders, or other clear encounters with "the system"—we must challenge how it is reproduced right where we live. It's one thing when the perpetrator is the police, the state, or someone we don't know. It's quite another when that person is someone we call a friend, lover, and trusted ally.

Based on the popular zine that had reviewers and fans alike demanding more, The Revolution Starts at Home finally breaks the dangerous silence surrounding the "open secret" of intimate violence—by and toward caretakers, in romantic partnerships, and in friendships—within social justice movements. This watershed collection compiles stories and strategies from survivors and their allies, documenting a decade of community accountability work and delving into the nitty-gritty of creating safety from abuse without relying on the prison industrial complex.

Fearless, tough-minded, and ultimately loving, The Revolution Starts at Home offers life-saving alternatives for ensuring survivor safety while building a road toward a revolution where no one is left behind.

Ching-In Chen is the author of The Heart's Traffic.
Kundiman Fellow Jai Dulani is an interdisciplinary storyteller and activist/educator.
Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha is the author of Consensual Genocide.

Andrea L. Smith is Assistant Professor of Media and Cultural Studies at UC Riverside. She is the award-winning author and/or editor of several books, including Native Americans and the Christian Right: The Gendered Politics of Unlikely Alliances; Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide; The Revolution Will Not Be Funded: Beyond the Nonprofit Industrial Complex; and Color of Violence: The INCITE! Anthology. Smith currently serves as the US Coordinator for the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians, and she is co-founder of INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence. She recently completed a report for the United Nations on Indigenous Peoples and Boarding Schools.

In Honor of Laura Hershey

On November 26th, the world lost a powerful feminist, violence prevention advocate and disability rights activist, Laura Hershey. She's contributed so much wisdom to SFWAR and to the world. We want to share with you here some of her words and wisdom. Please take a moment to honor her passing.

deep respect.
(click Read More for poetry and links)

10 good reasons why trauma matters in political activism from Jen Cross

10 good reasons why trauma matters in political activism:

1. We're not immune: We are behind the mainstream, which has long taken the issue seriously. Many of us still think we're not affected by traumatic experiences and that we don't carry all the shit we have lived through around with us. The truth is that we are human beings and our systems react to distress just like everybody else's.

2 It can sabotage us: Trauma impacts our ability to be efficient in our work and get along with each other. Developmental trauma (the way we have been shaped by hardship in upbringing and society) plays out in the way we behave in meetings, collectives, actions, demos... We have great ideas but are often stuck in deeply entrenched, unhelpful patterns of behavior. Raising our awareness around trauma can help us to align our behavior with our intentions and to free up a lot of energy.

3. We care!: About the planet and its people, and especially about our comrades. We don't want to leave them alone when they are suffering; we want them to feel our support. When somebody feels held, they are more able to really show up, connect with the people in their lives, invest their energy in the work, and take risks.

4. Knowledge is power: Understanding traumatic responses can help us understand dynamics in ourselves, in our groups and collectives, and even in wider society. Trauma patterns are also prevalent in history, especially regarding systemic oppression and internalized oppression. Integrating the lens of trauma into our grasp of history and the present moment is essential so that we can break the cycles and move beyond history repeating itself.

5. More resilient movements: After a shock trauma (meaning a major traumatic experience) people can be unable to function for a long period of time. If we help each other and ourselves heal, we can move through it. If we ignore it, the symptoms will last longer, people will suffer more, often ending up disillusioned and leaving political work.

6. Taking care of the whole person: Though wounds from traumatic experiences are not always visible, they are often more painful than physical ones. They are also often accompanied with great shame and guilt. We need a paradigm shift that takes us into account as whole people and that supports taking care of ourselves.

7. Trauma work is radical! One - Social transformation goes along with personal transformation. One without the other is bound to fail. Two - If we believe in mutual aid, it needs to include a basic understanding of trauma and social context, so that we can support others and ourselves effectively. Three - trauma work challenges old and often gendered belief systems and messages like "just tough it out", "pull yourself together", "boys don't cry", "women do the emotional work", etc. and gives us a chance to come up with new ways of behaving.

8. You're not alone: When we acknowledge trauma, we don't have to take everything personally anymore. Our psychobiological systems react to stress. It's normal. It does not mean we are weak or bad activists. Just imagine how much more powerful we can be if we can do away with identifying with our symptoms and focus on healing them instead.

9. Becoming strong: Healing from trauma can be empowering for yourself and the people around you. Working your way through it can give you greater perspective, meaning and strength. Especially if you feel supported throughout the process. Stronger people make stronger movements.

10. Compassion is a muscle: Exercising this muscle is crucial on our way towards social transformation. It counters the destructive socialization of western civilization that teaches us to avoid strong feelings and isolate, withdraw, consume, and become alienated. And it builds our capacity for a felt sense of safety and connection that fuels our collective strength in the struggle.

Standing up for Education: Coming Together to Defend our Rights

:: SOUL SUNDAY SCHOOL ::

Standing up for Education: Coming Together to Defend our Rights
Sunday, March 14th, 2010 | 3-5PM
287 17th Street, Suite 225 (@ Harrison)
Oakland



On March 4th, students, teachers, and workers struck in a statewide-turned-national day of action to support quality and affordable public education. Throughout the school year, this broad, multigenerational coalition has continued to find common ground in defending public education against deep budget cuts, job losses, and fee hikes.

SOUL, the School of Unity & Liberation, invites you on March 14th, 3:00-5:00PM to a Sunday School conversation about the upsurge in educational activism and its potential for transforming our campuses and our communities. We will discuss the progress of recent actions across the Bay Area as well as the future possibilities for this growing effort to address California’s systemic problems.

We will be joined by involved students, faculty and staff from area schools such as SF State, UC Berkeley, CSU East Bay, and UC Santa Cruz as well as representatives from Bay Area youth and community organizations.

For more information and to RSVP, please email info@schoolofunityandliberation.org or find SOUL at www.facebook.com/schoolofunityandliberation

Day of Action for Reproductive Justice

Day of Action for Reproductive Justice

Stop the War on Women

Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 10am Justin Herman Plaza's Music Concourse, San Francisco

RALLY & MARCH: Against the Right Wing "Walk for Life - West Coast".

10 am: Gather at Music Concourse outside of Embarcadero BART (click HERE for a map) for music, speakers and rally

11:30 to 12noon: Prepare to march

OUR DEMANDS:

-- Affordable, accessible abortion without apology
-- No insurance companies, no restrictions: universal healthcare now.
-- An end to sexual violence and rightwing terrorism
-- Protection for pro-choice doctors, our heroes. RIP Dr. Tiller
-- Civil rights for queers, immigrants and women

Activists, Volunteers and Endorsers NEEDED for the upcoming Jan. 23, 2010 Day of Action for Reproductive Justice. Please call 415-864-1278 and ask for Anita for more information, or email bacorrinfo.yahoo.com.

Support the Trauma Recovery Center

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Where should victims of violence turn for hope?
Now more than ever, San Francisco needs the Trauma Recovery Center.

The Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) is an award-winning, nationally recognized program that has removed barriers to care and has helped victims recover from the devastating aftermath of interpersonal violence. The TRC serves some of San Francisco’s most vulnerable citizens: victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, gun shot injuries, stabbings and family members of homicide victims.

There is no other program in San Francisco that duplicates TRC services.

Without City and County funding, the TRC will be forced to close on March 1, 2010, and hundreds of victims will not have access to these services.

What you can do to help:

1) Please call and e-mail Mayor Newsom and members of the Board of Supervisors. The telephone numbers and e-mail addresses are attached.

Phone calls: A simple phone call message stating: “I am calling to urge the Mayor or Supervisor X to support the Trauma Recovery Center and to put it back into the City budget.”

E-Mail messages: Please e-mail the Mayor and members of the Board of Supervisors Budget Committee. It is fine to send one e-mail, addressed to all the Board of Supervisors at once. A simple message like the one above would be helpful.

Contacts:	Phone:	E-mail:
*Mayor Gavin Newsom	554-6141	gavin.newsom@sfgov.org
*Supervisor John Avalos (Budget Committee)	554-6975	john.avalos@sfgov.org
*Supervisor Carmen Chu (Budget Committee)	554-7460	carmen.chu@sfgov.org
*Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi (Budget Committee)	554-7630	ross.mirkarimi@sfgov.org
*Supervisor David Chiu (Board President)	554-7450	david.chiu@sfgov.org
Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier	554-7752	michela.alioto-pier@sfgov.org
Supervisor David Campos	554-5144	david.campos@sfgov.org
Supervisor Chris Daly	554-7970	chris.daly@sfgov.org
Supervisor Bevan Dufty	554-6968	bevan.dufty@sfgov.org
Supervisor Sean Elsbernd	554-6516	sean.elsbernd@sfgov.org
Supervisor Eric Mar	554-7410	Eric.L.Mar@sfgov.org
Supervisor Sophie Maxwell	554-7670	sophie.maxwell@sfgov.org

2) If you can only make a few phone calls, names with an * are the most important contacts to call.

I know how busy you are, but it should take about 5 minutes to make these calls or to send an email and yet your help will have a huge impact.

For more information, please see the attached TRC Fact Sheet. Thank you for your help and support. It is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Stacey Wiggall

Stacey Wiggall, LCSW
Trauma Recovery Center
(415) 437-3010

The Exploitation of Sexual Victimization for Political Agendas

Powerful statement regarding the sexual assault in Richmond that has been in the news.

http://www.sfwar.org/pdf/SexualVictimizationPoliticalAgendas.pdf

Women of Color Resource Center Hosts Forum on Richmond Tragedy

Greetings folks,

This is an invitation to both attend and support an upcoming forum on Monday night of next week- 6:30-9:30 pm- at the Women of Color Resource Center in Oakland. We are hosting an open-forum to discuss, make meaning of, and strategize about solutions to address the protections of women, youth, and community members following the tragic rape of a young woman in Richmond last week. We are working to get a facilitator who will join us from a community-based non-violent communication organization which specializes in advocacy for women and girls.

The facilitator comes at a cost of $400 for the evening and we are trying to pull together the funds quickly to be able to hold space for a very important community matter.

Can you please spread the word to friends and colleagues letting them know about this forum, and our need for their urgent support to make sure that the session happens?

Please contact me for more information or if you are able to contribute something. Every little bit will help. The space will be youth friendly as well.

Anisha

Anisha Desai
Executive Director
Women of Color Resource Center
415/515/3816

Survivor of Rape Confronts David Vitter

Vitter Town Hall, Baton Rouge, 10/31/09
A rape victim in Baton Rouge asks David Vitter why he supported big corporations over sexual assault victims when he was one of only 30 senators who opposed a Senate amendment to make sure assault victims get their day in court.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6YZ1wP1978&feature=player_embedded

Peace March in Richmond in Response to Rape 11/7

A Peace March will be held in Richmond this Saturday
November 7, 11:00 a.m.
Richmond High School, 1250 23rd St, Richmond, CA (get directions)
For more info malupresents@gmail.com
Read More

Resistance Events

Tuesday, October 27th

Mamaz stand against the abuse and criminalization of our children 10am: City Hall, S.F. (on Polk Between McAlister And Grove) HEAL Group-Healing Addiction (through) Art and Liberation 2pm: POOR Magazine, 2940 16th St., S.F. Po’poets workshop 4pm: POOR Magazine, 2940 16th St., S.F.

Thursday, October 29th

A public celebration of the life of Gina Hotta 5-7pm: Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. 2nd floor, Pacific Renaissance Plaza, Oakland

Thursday, November 5th

Lifetimes 10th Anniversary featuring Barbara Lee 1:30pm: Historic Rotunde Building, 300 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland This first year, we’ll be honoring Congress woman Barbara Lee for earning her BA from Mills College as a single mother on welfare, and for her leadership in Congress on the issues that our families and communities care about! For more info: Earp Events @ 510/839-3100/events@earpevents.com Call to buy TX or purchase an ad in solidarity.

Wednesday, November 11th

Los Viajes Book Realese 6pm: Galleria De la Raza , 28 24th St., S.F. (near Bryant) Thanks-Taking Music/Story Circle & Benefit

Thursday, November 12th

POCC Chairman Fred and the welfareQueens 6:30pm: POOR Magazine, 2940 16th St., S.F. (at Capp) You can kill a revolutionary-but you can't kill the Revolution

R.I.P Gina Hotta

http://www.racewire.org/archives/2009/10/rip_gina_hotta.html

We lost another extraordinary Asian American community leader this past Monday. Gina Hotta passed away of a heart attack Monday night.
An Asian American activist raised in the Bay Area, she was fighting up until the UC walk-outs last week. She is probably best known for her work on Apex Express. Every week or so, awaiting in my email inbox, would be a thoughtful subject line ranging from human trafficking to tabla musicians. She brought together so many different issues and people into a one hour radio show. To me, she represented the type of woman I aspire to become—a life filled with dope music, loving people and political savvy. Her voice will truly be missed.
This has been a sad year filled with many losses—Gina Hotta, Ron Takaki, Al Robles and others. Let’s remember and honor them all, and continue fighting with their spirits.

Tales from the Trenches: The Transformative Activism of Queers of Color

Thursday, Sept 24th
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
657 Mission Street, Suite 300

The GLBTHS continues its Talking Back series with "Tales from the Trenches:
The Transformative Activism of Queers of Color." Members of this roundtable will explore four decades of social justice advocacy and organizing in diverse queer communities and communities of color.

The panelists will include Lyle Blake, Randy Burns, Prado Gomez, and Trinity A. Ordona, PhD.

Cosponsors include the Asian Pacific Islander Lesbian Bisexual Queer Women and Transgender Coalition, and the Native American AIDS Project.