Paradigm Shift

From Laura Joy, our fabulous membership coordinator here at Paradigm Shift NYC:

Hi there! Been awhile, hasn’t it?

So I was sitting here thinking. Thinking about… well, about life and how crazy it is. It dawned on me last night that I’ve been in the great state of New York for over five years. But on April 18th, I’ll be moving to Chicago. I’m excited about the opportunity, but also sad to be leaving so many friends behind. You wouldn’t happen to know any awesome places I should check out in Chicago, would you? Maybe some cool people I should meet? I’m so open to suggestions here.

In other fabulous news, I spent this January recording a new album produced by Suzi Reynolds at Bennett Studios in NJ with Rob Coover and Kelly Zullo. The result, a 10 song collection titled, What I Know, truly feels right and good. You can preview two tracks from it on my reverbnation page. What I Know will be available for sale online on April 30th.

Unfortunately, with my upcoming move, I haven’t had a chance to book too many gigs…YET. However, I will play a short set at Theatre 80 St Marks in NYC on Sunday, April 10th at 2:30pm (80 St Marks between 1st and 2nd Aves). Rob and Kelly will be joining me, and of course, I’ll bring a few copies of the new CD with me, just in case you want one. 😉

A little more about this performance: All proceeds will go to AmeriCares. The suggested donation is $30 (more is fantastic, less is accepted with love). Please understand, whatever you can give is greatly appreciated! I will be joining a fascinating group of acts and the schedule is as follows:

2pm – Michael Chaut of Monday Night Magic
2:30 – Laura Joy
3pm – Theatre Han
3:30 – Taylor Barton
4pm – Thee Shambels and Dana
4:30 – Miss Saturn (Hula!!)
5pm – Libby Johnson
5:30 – Sam Eaton’s The Quantum Eye

In the lobby and out front we will also have interactive art where people can paint messages to Japan, as well as close up magic. That’s right. Magic. UP CLOSE.

As always, you can find me on Facebook (like me, like me!!!). And twitter. And my website (which incidentally, I started to redesign today, so don’t go there now because it’s kind of… broken).

Don’t miss her performance this Sunday at 2:30 – You will have a great time and be supporting an amazing organization!

On April 13th at 7PM, Joanne N. Smith, Mandy Van Deven, and Meghan Huppuch will be at Bluestockings (172 Allen Street, Manhattan) speaking about their new book, Hey,  Shorty!: A Guide to Combating Sexual Harassment and Violence in Schools and on the Streets. The book narrates the work of teen women of color at Girls for Gender Equity who have been organizing in their communities to end gender-based violence against girls, women, and LGBTQ folks in NYC. The authors will talk about how street harassment and sexual harassment in schools is connected, and what strategies youth and adult allies can use to fight back.

For more information email publicity@feministpress.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 31, 2011

THOUSANDS TO GATHER ON CAPITOL HILL

FOR STAND UP FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH RALLY ON APRIL 7TH

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, April 7, Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and more than 20 other leading organizations will hold a Stand Up for Women’s Health rally at the U.S. Capitol in a united show of opposition to extreme proposals in Congress that take preventive health care and family planning away from women and undermine women’s access to the full range of reproductive-health care, including abortion.

Thousands of Americans from across the country will travel to Washington D.C. to send a strong message to Congress that the proposals undermining women’s health and reproductive rights are unacceptable and must be stopped.

Members of Congress and other high-profile women’s health advocates will speak at a rally at 11:30 a.m. near the U.S. Capitol.

The anti-choice House leadership took control of Congress on a promise to create jobs, but instead has focused its legislative efforts on undermining women’s health and taking away health care that women currently have. If enacted, these extreme proposals would result in millions of women losing access to life-saving preventive care, including cancer screenings and HIV tests, as well as family planning, birth control and private insurance coverage of abortion care.

STAND UP FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH RALLY DETAILS:

DATE: THURSDAY, April 7, 2011

TIME: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Camera preset details to be announced later

LOCATION: In front of the U.S. Capitol Building Reflecting Pool (between 3rd and 4th St., SW)

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS:

In addition to Planned Parenthood Federation of America and NARAL Pro-Choice America, the following organizations are participating in this grassroots lobby day: The American Civil Liberties Union, Advocates for Youth, American Association of University Women, Arizona Progress ACTION, Black Women’s Health Imperative, Catholics for Choice, Center for Reproductive Rights, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Choice USA, Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc., DC Vote, EMILY’s List, Feminist Majority, Guttmacher Institute, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, National Council of Jewish Women, National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, National Network of Abortion Funds, National Organization for Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Law Center, National Women’s Political Caucus, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, Religious Institute, Sister Song: Women of Color Collective, Sisters Together And Reaching, Inc. (STAR), Union for Reform Judaism, Women of Reform Judaism, and YWCA.

Background on Policies that Attack Women’s Health

In this Congress, the anti-choice House leadership has already introduced various pieces of legislation that attack women’s health, including: a proposal to bar Planned Parenthood from providing health services through federal health programs like Medicaid, the elimination of the national family-planning program (Title X), and the Smith bill, which would use tax hikes on individuals and small businesses to end private health insurance coverage of abortion care.

Each year, the national family planning program (Title X) provides five million individuals with family planning, birth control, and lifesaving preventive care that includes cancer screenings. Planned Parenthood health centers, which are the foundation of the national family planning program, provide millions of additional women with the very same kind of care, as well as HIV testing, STI testing and treatment, annual exams, and other important services that women need, deserve, and have been receiving for decades.

In addition, H.R.3 (the Smith bill), is a far-reaching piece of legislation that will raise taxes on America’s families and small businesses in an effort to end the private insurance coverage of abortion. Recent expert testimony before Congress highlighted that vague provisions in H.R.3 also have the potential to increase taxes on large businesses that provide health insurance coverage for abortion services. During that same hearing, a nonpartisan tax expert told the committee that bill could subject rape survivors who choose abortion care to audits by the Internal Revenue Service to ensure that their request was tied to an actual rape.

Another bill, H.R.358, includes restrictions on private insurance coverage of abortion and a provision that allows hospitals to refuse to provide abortion care to women who will die without it.

Simply put, the new House majority is launching an all-out legislative assault on women’s health and reproductive rights, and Americans from across the country are demanding that Congress reject these extreme efforts and focus on jobs and the economy.

Contact: Ted Miller, 202.973.3032

Date: Tuesday, April 5th

Time: 6:30pm

Location: Main Auditorium of the CUNY Law School at 65-21 Main Street Flushing, NY 11367

“Fatal Promises”, is a documentary which tells the personal stories of victims who were trafficked to the United States from other countries. After the film screening there will be a short Q&A from the director, followed by an in depth panel discussion with expert on Human Trafficking Christa Stewart, Coordinator of NYS Human Trafficking Programing and Women’s Issues Committee Chair, Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras.

Click here to watch a trailor of the film.

You can also RSVP for this event on Facebook!

***EVENT ADVISORY***

PRESS CONTACT: Erica Sackin – (212) 274-7294

Sara Benincasa, Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, Ana Egge, The Bloodsugars, And Pearl and the Beard PLAY FOURTH ANNUAL ROE ON THE ROCKS BENEFIT FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY

Concert Celebrates 38^th Anniversary of Roe v Wade

New York, NY – This April 4^th, 2011, At a time when our right to basic health care is under attack, Thao with The Get Down Stay Down, Ana Egge, The Bloodsugars, and Pearl and the Beard will play the fourth annual Roe on the Rocks benefit concert at Bowery Ballroom. Comic Sara Benincasa, of Wonkette, Comedy Central and CNN), will be the evening’s emcee. All proceeds from the event will go to Planned Parenthood of New York City.

The Roe on the Rocks concert is held every year to recognize the anniversary of Roe v Wade, the historic Supreme Court Case which 38 years ago confirmed women’s right to privacy and thus access to abortion services. The show couldn’t come at a more important time – following three months of the worst attack on not just reproductive rights but the right to basic health care, that our country has ever seen. Past acts have included Regina Spektor, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and (others).

What: 4^th Annual Roe on the Rocks Benefit Concert for Planned Parenthood of New York City

Who: Sara Benincasa
Thao with The Get Down Stay Down
Ana Egge
The Bloodsugars
Pearl and the Beard
Other Special Guests to come
Planned Parenthood of New York City

Where: Bowery Ballroom: NYC 6 Delancey St, between Bowery and Chrystie, New York, NY

When: April 4^th, 2011
Doors open at 7:00pm
Tickets: General Admission: $25 – VIP: $75

Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 3^rd 2011
For event information, please contact Stephanie Demmons

For press information, please contact Erica Sackin

Since 1916, Planned Parenthood of New York City (PPNYC) has been an advocate for and provider of reproductive health services and education for New Yorkers. Serving more than 50,000 clients annually, PPNYC’s health care centers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island offer reproductive health services, including gynecological care, contraception, pregnancy testing, abortion, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and HIV testing and counseling. Through a threefold mission of clinical services, education, and advocacy, PPNYC is bringing better health and more fulfilling lives to each new generation of New Yorkers. As a voice for reproductive freedom, PPNYC supports legislation and policies to ensure that all New Yorkers—and, in fact, people around the world—will have access to the full range of reproductive health care services and information.

Saturday,  April 2, 2011  11am-5pm

44 East 32nd Street, 11th Floor (Btw. Park & Madison)

Feeling a little confused with all that’s going on with your career and the economy? Not sure what to do next with your life? Maybe your just a bit unsatisfied overall but can’t exactly pinpoint what it is…. Our Visioning Workshop can help you sort it all out! Come to our popular and powerful semi-annual workshop for a creative, transformative afternoon where you will make a collage to manifest your heart’s desire – and you may be surprised as to what that turns out to be. It’s not unusual for participants to start new businesses, relationships, families or career paths as quickly as weeks or months after the workshop. If you are looking for both answers and results to help figure out where you are right now in your life and where you want to go next, this could be thing exact thing you need to push you forward and take you there… RSVP to hold your spot – these sell out fast!

COST: $85 for TWM Members in advance; $95 at the door;  $130 for Non-Members (TWM Members can bring a friend at the member rate)

Click here for more info and RSVP: http://conta.cc/eDIe5v

Join amazing feminist activists and scholars on April 11th, 2011 from 6:00 PM -to 12:00 AM for “Ain’t I A Woman: Race in the Feminist Movement.”  There will be great events happening all night: Mixer 6PM ** Panel 7-9PM ** Party 9-12AM

Long after Sojourner Truth pondered the question – “Ain’t I A Woman?” we continue to face a white supremacist culture that undermines women of color, young women, undocumented immigrants, and the LGBTQ community. We’re convening this panel to ignite a discourse about the experiences of women of color in the feminist movement and beyond. On this night, six outstanding feminists and activists will go head-to-head to discuss race in the feminist movement today.

Round One: Latoya Peterson, Founder of Racialicious and Elizabeth Mendez Berry, Journalist

Round Two: Lori Adelman, Program Associate at International Women’s Health Coalition and Aimee Thorne-Thomsen, Reproductive Rights Activist

Round Three: Jessie Daniels, PhD, Author and Sociology Professor at Hunter College and Anna Holmes, Jezebel Founding Editor

We know that the movements to eradicate racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia and sexism are inextricably connected. We reject the silencing and subjugation of women of color and aim to create a safe and courageous space to raise our voices, confront tensions, celebrate our triumphs, create collective solutions and share our stories. Through this sharing, we can create a united front so that, instead of surviving through silence, there can be a dialogue on how to battle institutionalized oppression.  Speaking our truth is crucial to our survival. By gathering together and learning from our shared and individual tales of love and struggle, we will each emerge with new perspectives that will enable us to engender the change we envision for the world.  In the words of bell hooks, ‘There can be no feminist revolution without an end to racism, classism, ageism…”

DJ Lobotomy Copter will be playing great music all night!  Check her Facebook out here!  The event organizers would also love it if people would live tweet during the event!  If you plan on doing so, use the hashtag #AIAW

Although there is a suggested donation of ten dollars, no will will be turned away for inability to pay.  For more information, contact Morgane with the subject line: “Ain’t I A Woman”

RSVP on Facebook today!