Paradigm Shift

Friday, April 9 – 4:00-6:00pm Workshops

• Criminalization of Sexuality Some of us are deemed criminals by our very existence — targeted for policing, state violence, and incarceration by the way we dress, whom we love, the color of our skin, how we work or have created families, and our mental or physical health. This workshop will explore ways in which identities and behaviors are being criminalized in different communities in the U.S., and how activists are building movements of resistance. (Speakers: Nerissa Kunakemakorn*, Gabriel Arkles,  Angel Brown, Deon Haywood, J.D. Rosario)
• Feminine-tastic will explore what it means to be feminine/female within a feminist movement, and how we can embrace gender, challenge it, critique it, and live it authentically. (Speakers: Helen Hua, Bianca Laureno, Jos Truitt, Tonya Williams*)
• HIV/AIDS as a Human Rights and Economic Justice Issue What is the current political commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS in the U.S., and what is the continuing impact of the virus on our communities?  Presenters will discuss policy advocacy and community organizing and mobilization efforts, as well as new developments in prevention and treatment technologies. (Speakers: Wanda Hernandez, Tim Horn, Unique Robinson, Coco Jervis*)
• International Reproductive Rights Roundtable Activists from different countries will present their diverse experiences promoting and defending reproductive and sexual health and rights around the world. Come to hear about our colleagues’ successes in different political and cultural contexts, and to discuss strategies for transnational organizing.  (Speakers: Nada Ali, Francisca Amanda Centeno Espinoza, Mutinta Muyuni, Patricia Orozco Andrade, Betsy Hartmann*, Cinthya Amanecer Velasco Botello)
• The New Eugenics: Whose Choice? From the targeted application of new reproductive technologies to discriminatory social policies, eugenics takes multiple forms and reinforces prejudices against people with disabilities, women of color and sexual minorities.  ( Speakers: Amanda Allen, Jennifer Hamilton, Sujatha Jesudason, Jacqueline Luce*)
• Reproductive Justice 101 You’re familiar with the term, but what does it really mean? What sets reproductive justice apart from reproductive health and reproductive rights? Join us in this session where we will introduce the reproductive justice framework and provide concrete examples of groups organizing for reproductive justice. (Facilitators: Akira Cespedes Perez, Charlie Rose)
• Resisting the Right This workshop gives an overview of the Right, including an analysis of the ways in which the attacks on abortion and providers, immigrants, LBGTQ rights, and comprehensive sexuality education are linked. Presenters will highlight successes of the Right and offer strategies for resistance. (Speakers: Pam Chamberlain, Aryn Kinnetz, Carol Mason, Meg Stern, Marissa Valeri, Marlene Fried*)
• SSEX: Safer Sex Education Experiences© Black Women for Reproductive Justice’s Safer Sex Educational Experiences© (SSEX) workshops teach HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections prevention and transmission, but also about ways to spice up sexual encounters, contraceptive methods, healthy relationships, as well as healthy intimacy alternatives. (Speaker: Cherisse Scott)
• Strategic Action Session: Organizing for Health Care Access (Eesha Pandit and Juno Obedin-Maliver)
• Street, Interpersonal and State Violence What role does gender and state-based violence play in reinforcing and furthering reproductive oppression?  What is at the root of violence?  Join us as we explore the connections between violence on the streets and interpersonal and state violence, and strategies for creating peace in our communities. (Speakers: Stephany Cannon, Zimryah Barnes, Lindsey Bartgis, Shira Hassan, Juliana Valente, Davi Koszka*)
• Translating the Gender Landscape: Creating Awareness and Activism This workshop will help participants develop personal best practices for working as activists and allies with gender non-conforming individuals, to transform our communities into more accountable spaces for individuals to define their own genders and gender expressions.  Through experiential group exercises and moderated discussions, we will explore the fears and concerns of allies and gender non-conforming individuals, internalized transphobia, gender phobia and homophobia. (Facilitators: Translate Gender–Shannon Sennott, Tones Smith)

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Saturday Workshops 1, April 10 – 1:15-2:45pm

• Blogging for Reproductive Justice This interactive workshop will cover the basics of what a blog is, the benefits and potential impact of a blog, common challenges, and how to use blogging strategically to achieve your goals. (Speakers: Miriam Perez, Jos Truitt)
• Community Responses to Environmental Injustices explores how environmental degradation disproportionately impacts health and rights in marginalized communities nationally and internationally, and how communities mobilize in the face of these threats. (Krista Harper, Mickie Imanguli, Kathleen Sanchez, Meredith Crafton*)
• Demystifying Reproductive Health Demystifying Reproductive Health focuses on speculum self-exam methods for people who want to be better acquainted with their anatomy. Patient rights in the context of a clinician administered pelvic exam will also be covered, as well as the basics of pelvic anatomy for the female-bodied. We will also discuss patient education and empowerment techniques for male-bodied and transgender people, with a brief discussion of those exams. (Speakers: Kale Edmiston, Lauren Mitchell)
• Disability Justice (continued in Workshop slot 2) (Mia Mingus, Sebastian Margaret)
• Building a Cross-Class and Multi-Racial Movement for True Economic Recovery Job creation programs and stimulus spending have failed to meet the need in our communities, as the economic crisis continues to drive low-income families, particularly LGBTQ folks and people of color, deeper into poverty.  How can we build a movement for workers’ rights and economic justice that is inclusive of all of our communities?  Join us as we explore our history, our current situation, and our hopes for the future. (Speakers: Alexandra Cawthorne, Elizabeth Eisenberg, Kenyon Farrow, Jon Weissman*)
• Gender and Militarism How global feminist organizing can make visible the gender-based violence of militarism and war, and challenge the structures of power that are responsible. (Nada Ali, Patricia Hynes, Paki Wieland, Laura Reed*)
• The Global Fight Against HIV/AIDS Speakers will discuss their work fighting against stigma, discrimination, and the marginalization of people living with HIV/AIDS, the negative impact of U.S. foreign policies on prevention and treatment programs, and the need to integrate HIV/AIDS programming into comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services. (Speakers: Coco Jervis, Tim Horn, Mimi Melles, Jill Lewis*)
• How the Right Took Power Combining a verbal presentation with slides, this is an intensive training workshop and crash-course in how the U.S. political right is organized, where it gets its ideas, how it frames messages, and how attacks on reproductive rights are part of a larger package promoting patriarchal, White, heterosexual, Christian supremacy. (Pam Chamberlain)
• How to Holla Back: An Introduction to Combating Street Harassment How can we reclaim the streets and make it a safe and equitable place? This interactive workshop will provide an overview of street harassment and its impact on particular communities and introduce participants to techniques they can use to fight back against harassment, with an empahsis on the use of technology such as camera cell phones and web sites.  (Facilitator: Megan Lieff)
• Reproductive Rights as Human Rights on the Home Front Reproductive Justice cannot be achieved by advocating for rights out of the context of our lives, and the economic, social, and cultural barriers to health that affect us, our families and our communities.  What rights should be guaranteed through government, individual, and community action?  This workshop aims to demystify the human rights framework and help attendees begin to identify violations and strategize solutions. (Jill Adams, Liz Kukura)
• The Politics of Reproductive Safety How are new contraceptive choices and reproductive technologies being marketed in this country and abroad, and what communities are impacted by these new technologies?  We will discuss how we can promote reproductive health and choice in a way that protects our rights, dignity and autonomy. (Sujatha Jesudason, Judy Norsigian, Malika Redmond, Danielle Bessett*)
• Positive Sexuality and The Politics of Sexual Practice This workshop examines the intersections of sexuality, class, race, sex, gender and politics, as we celebrate and build social support for our own and others’ sexuality and sexual identities. (Toni Bond Leonard, Gina de Vries, Kaitlin Nichols, Cyree Johnson*)
• Prisons as Agents of Reproductive Oppression By focusing on the lived experiences of people in prison and detention centers, this session will expand participants’ understanding of how gender-based violence and abuse are integral parts of these systems that reinforce gender oppression and population control. (Gabriel Arkles, Diana Kasdan, Theresa Martinez, Amanda Scheper, Imani Walker*)
• Strategic Action Session: Organizing Around Contraceptives on Campuses (Scott Jelinek, Alicia Johnson)
• Reproductive Justice for Immigrant Communities Come to engage in discussions on how the human rights and reproductive justice frameworks can help mobilize communities in support of immigrant rights.  (Amanda Allen, Celeste ‘Cele’ Spink, Seth Wessler, Jeff Napolitano*)
• Beyond the Gender Binary: A Trans 101 presents a basic overview of transgender and genderqueer issues, terminology, and ally-ship. We will address the history of transgender involvement in the gay rights movement, and the impact of institutional, interpersonal and overlapping oppressions of racism, ableism, other forms of oppression and transphobia.  (Speaker: Gunner Scott)
• Translating the Gender Landscape: Creating Awareness and Activism This workshop will help participants develop personal best practices for working as activists and allies with gender non-conforming individuals, to transform our communities into more accountable spaces for individuals to define their own genders and gender expressions.  Through experiential group exercises and moderated discussions, we will explore the fears and concerns of allies and gender non-conforming individuals, internalized transphobia, gender phobia and homophobia.  (Translate Gender: Shannon Sennott, Tones Smith)
• Youth Activism Youth activism is central to building and strengthening the reproductive justice movement.  What are the challenges we face while working as youth leaders?  How can we support and build the leadership of youth as allies?  Come hear about current collaborative work being done by and for youth to advance youth empowerment and reproductive justice. (Gabriel Foster, Crystal Guerra, Ali Nininger-Finch, Akira Cespedes Perez*)
• Youth Rights Poverty, lack of education, violence and other social problems directly impact our sexual and reproductive health.  How can we ensure that our rights are respected by the state and society?  We will discuss current legal, political and social barriers, and organizing strategies that are prioritizing the rights and concerns of youth domestically and in other countries. (Sunyata Altenor, Cinthya Amanecer Velasco Botello, Anna-Kaye Rowe, Edith Sargon*)

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Saturday Workshops 2, April 10 – 3:15-4:45pm

• Abortion Care
• Art and Activism Art has been a powerful medium for activists, educators and organizers to connect across communities and borders and transform politics, culture and societies.  Presenters will discuss their work and approaches to art as an avenue for personal and political liberation and social change. (Javiera Benavente, Kamil Peters, Diana Whitten, Carla Wojczuk, Kara Lynch*)
• Climate Justice: A New Convergence explores the growing movement for equitable, effective climate change policy based in an understanding of the intersections between social, environmental and reproductive justice. (James Boyce, Chris Cuomo, Nia Robinson, Diana Wu, Betsy Hartmann*)
• Contraception 101 (Hampshire College Sexperts: Raphael Serota, Maggie DeBevic, Maya Dobjensky, Thea Henney)
• Demystifying Reproductive Health focuses on speculum self-exam methods for people who want to be better acquainted with their anatomy. Patient rights in the context of a clinician administered pelvic exam will also be covered, as well as the basics of pelvic anatomy for the female-bodied. We will also discuss patient education and empowerment techniques for male-bodied and transgender people, with a brief discussion of those exams. (Kale Edmiston, Lauren Mitchell)
• Disability Justice (continued from Workshop slot 1) (Mia Mingus, Sebastian Margaret)
• A Tisket, a Tasket: Putting All Your Eggs in One Basket Advertisements on campus and Craigslist to recruit egg donors target young women, sometimes offering more than $35,000 depending on the woman’s race, ethnicity, hair or eye color, or even SAT score.  What are the long-term implications of these baby and embryo markets for donors’ health, rights and well-being, as well as for our families and communities?  This workshop will provide an opportunity for honest, non-judgmental, and safe discussions to explore all sides of the issues. (Speaker: Edith Sargon)
• Globalization and Human Rights What is real economic power in the context of rapid economic globalization?  Presenters will discuss work conditions and their impact on transnational organizing, international economic arrangements that support equity and social sustainability, and how political investments in human rights can support true economic recovery. (Speakers: Noah Enelow, Robert Prasch, Smita Ramnarain, Frank Holmquist*)
• Health Care for All How will the new health care reform law expand access to health care, and how will it work?  Panelists will discuss the new law’s effect on private abortion coverage, continuing barriers that affect documented and undocumented immigrants, and what activists are doing now to fight for coverage of the full range of reproductive health services, including abortion, for all of our communities. (Liza Fuentes, Eleanor Hinton Hoytt, Coco Jervis, Eesha Pandit*)
• International Reproductive Rights Roundtable Activists from different countries will present their diverse experiences promoting and defending reproductive and sexual health and rights around the world. Come to hear about our colleagues’ successes in different political and cultural contexts, and to discuss strategies for transnational organizing.  (Speakers: Nada Ali, Fransisca Amanda Centeno Espinoza, Mutinta Muyuni, Patricia Orozco Andrade, Margaret Cerullo*)
• Young Women, Feminism and the Future Manifestaauthors Amy Richards and Jennifer Baumgardner will share 10+ years of experiences of how feminism is manifesting in young people’s lives. After travelling to over 200 college campuses across the country, we have dozens of examples of how young people are shaping social justice movements. Beyond a basic belief in equality, feminism now requires new strategies to challenge the injustices that continue to keep communities marginalized in the U.S. (Speakers: Jennifer Baumgardner, Amy Richards)
• Effective Messaging and Communications Work How can we communicate the Reproductive Justice story in a way that resonates with the public and encompasses the values and goals of our movement(s)?  Presenters will discuss case studies of successful reproductive justice and immigrant rights campaigns from around the country, including experiences where new media was used strategically to reach a broad audience.  (Nerissa Kunakemakorn, Thanu Yakupitiyage)
• Reproductive Justice 101 You’re familiar with the term, but what does it really mean? What sets reproductive justice apart from reproductive health and reproductive rights? Join us in this session where we will introduce the reproductive justice framework and provide concrete examples of groups organizing for reproductive justice. (Akira Cespedes Perez, Charlie Rose)
• Reproductive Justice Report from the Red States This session will explore the challenges and obstacles for the reproductive justice movement in rural/red states: how geographic region and economic status affect the reproductive justice movement in our states; the specific challenges of providing access to affordable abortion services; and how technology has changed and influenced our organizing and mobilization. (Speakers: Carol Mason, Natalye Tate)
• Feminism and Sex Workers’ Rights This workshop will introduce participants to sex workers’ rights issues and current organizing that advances the rights of individuals involved in sex work and the street economies. Through interactive exercises and discussion, we will explore our assumptions and values around sex work and feminism, and best practices for cross-movement work. (Speakers: Melissa Gira Grant, J.D. Rosario, Shira Hassan, C. Angel Torres, Corinna Yazbek*)
• Strategic Action Session: Mobalizing against the Helms Amendment’s Ban on Foreign Aid for Abortion (Ali Nininger-Finch)
• Strategic Action Session: US Social Forum, Detroit, June 22-26, 2010 (Christi Ketchum-Bowman)
• Trans Feminism This workshop explores transgender activism and gender non-conformity within the third wave feminist movement, and the rise of transfeminism within the mainstream feminist movement. Panelists will address transmisogyny, ally work, and the role of gender and gender justice in the feminist and reproductive justice movements. (Speakers: Gina de Vries, Lilianna Angel Reyes, Jos Truitt, Gunner Scott*)
• Strategic Action Session: Young Latina Action (Kenia Morales, Celeste ‘Cele’ Spink, Cinthya Amanecer Velasco Botello)

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Saturday Workshops 3, April 10 – 5:15-6:45pm

• Active Anti-Racism Work in Social Justice Movements This interactive workshop offers participants an opportunity to examine their assumptions, biases and stereotypes. We will begin developing a common language around race, privilege and oppression, explore personal connections to the issues, and provide tools that generate confidence surrounding issues of social justice. (Ananda Timpane)
• An Introduction to the Global Financial Crisis In the worst global economic downturn since the Great Depression, communities in the U.S. are struggling with high unemployment, failing businesses, declining savings and the loss of homes.  What are the roots of this crisis?  What does the $3 trillion global bailout mean for you?  This session will review the recent collapse of large financial institutions and “bail out” of banks by national governments, providing explanations of key financial terms now commonly in use.(Speaker: Robert Prasch)
• Abortion Access Internationally An estimated 70,000 women die each year as a result of unsafe abortion; millions more suffer injuries, many permanent.  This workshop will highlight the courageous and creative approaches of activists to advocate for access to safe, legal abortion as a fundamental right and an urgent public health and human rights imperative. (Speakers: Fransisca Amanda Centeno Espinoza, Ali Nininger-Finch, Mutinta Muyuni, Patricia Orozco Andrade, Cinthya Amanecer Velasco Botello, Margaret Cerullo*)
• Building Community Resistance to Militarism Broadening strategies for peace activism can address the many different ways that increased militarism affects our lives and communities. (Sarah Hunter, Paki Wieland, George Williams)
• It’s a Class Thing This interactive, engaging workshop will introduce the basics of social class and classism: What is it? Where is it? How do we use it?  Group activities, dialogue, personal reflection and visual media will give participants a dynamic way to learn about economic inequality, identify systemic examples of classism, and reflect on social class identity, in order to bring the topic of class into our communities and movements so we can advance economic and racial justice. (Speaker: Rachel Rybaczuk)
• Cleaning Your Cock: A Primer for Sanitizing and Caring for Your Detachable Dick This workshop will cover basic information about materials, cleaning methods and health risks associated with dildos, butt plugs, harnesses, vibrators, and other insertive and non-insertive sex objects. Special attention will be paid to the risks poor cleaning and cock care pose to queer/LGBT folks. (Cyree Johnson)
• Empowering Birth Who has access to the financial, legal, medical, and emotional support for safe and healthy birth experiences?  Presenters will discuss innovative programming that has improved outcomes among pregnant and birthing women in low-income and marginalized communities, in the adoption context, in prison, and internationally. (Speakers: Zimryah Barnes, Marianne Bullock, Mary Mahoney, Juno Obedin-Maliver, Marisa Pizii*)
• Environmental Activism: Shifting the Focus Environmental activists from the U.S. will share tools and strategies for putting the needs of poor communities and communities of color at the center of progressive environmentalism.  (Diego Angartia-Horowitz, Michael Ash, Kate Shapiro, Sue Darlington*)
• From Needle Exchanges to Movement Building: Harm Reduction as a Tool for Social Change Harm reduction is often used to save lives and teach skills for survival, but it is also an effective approach to community organizing and movement building.  Join this conversation to look at the role of harm reduction, drug use and sex work in the lives of individuals, families, and communities across the country. (Deon Haywood, Timothy Purington, Unique Robinson will speak and moderate*)
• Media Radicals Join us to learn what’s hot in new media activism and current media policy debates, how media policy affects you and the issues you care about, and what you can do to get involved. (Melissa Gira Grant, Bianca Laureno, Thanu Yakupitiyage, Misty Perez Truedson*)
• Global South and Global North: Power, Labor and Feminism From Free Trade zones to reproductive hierarchies, how feminist organizers are challenging global capitalist structures of exploitation. (Cruz Bueno, Latoya Lee, Diana Wu, Manuela Picq*)
• Political Strategies for 2010 and Beyond How can activists organize to impact the political process and achieve social change?  Presenters will share their experiences working to shift political power at the state and national level through involvement in electoral politics, get out the vote and voter education efforts, grassroots organizing and lobbying campaigns. (Mollie Fox, Tonya Williams, Causten Wollerman, Christi Ketchum-Bowman*)
• Politics of Family Creation What does it mean to be a family, and what are our rights to social and economic support?  Presenters will discuss the ways in which child welfare, criminal justice and immigration policies undermine families and devalue us and our children, and particular obstacles faced by queer, transgender and disabled individuals who are creating families. (Speakers: Seth Wessler, Mia Mingus, Sujatha Jesudason, Miriam Yeung*)
• Sexuality, Abortion and Religious Freedom How can spiritual and religious people reclaim their own sexual and reproductive rights, and build support for reproductive justice within their own communities?  Presenters will discuss the sources, within their religious traditions, that ground their support for reproductive rights, and current challenges and possibilities of shifting the public and political debate on abortion. (Toni Bond Leonard, Lloyd Steffen, Sapna Pandya, Marissa Valeri*)
• Rethinking Reproductive Rights in Our Communities What are the links between the movement for reproductive rights and the rights and concerns of LGBT folks and communities of color?  Come to learn about and discuss current efforts to advance reproductive rights within a holistic and inclusive vision of justice and activism that prioritizes access to economic, political and social resources, decision-making power and liberation for all of our communities, over all aspects of our lives. (Speakers: Kenyon Farrow, Jaime Grant, Celeste ‘Cele’ Spink, Carmen Vazquez*)
• Self-Help/Self-Exams Women’s health activists believe that empowerment includes making sure women understand their bodies. This workshop will demonstrate to participants how to use specula to look at their cervices.
• Living For Tomorrow: Cultural Contestations, Gender Politics and the AIDS Epidemic What critical and creative tools can we explore to develop sexual safety education that is vivid and engaging, and that challenges gender norms in different cultural contexts?  This workshop will discuss HIV prevention initiatives in other countries that involve youth in questioning gendered sexual behaviors that reproduce risk and damage, focusing on masculinity and sexual safety. (Speaker: Jill Lewis)
• Gender, Race and the Prison Industrial Complex This workshop will focus on current litigation, advocacy and organizing strategies that challenge the mass incarceration, criminalization and over-policing of our communities.  Panelists will discuss the racism and sexism inherent in the war on drugs; the impact of prosecutorial discretion in death penalty cases; and activism to create a world without prisons, led by women inside. (Jack Cole, Theresa Martinez, Amanda Scheper, Jane Simkin Smith, Katie Bryson*)
• Unusual Suspects: Getting Folks To Care about Reproductive Justice In this interactive workshop, participants will learn how to use dialogue and personal narrative to engage others and ground their interest in and support for reproductive justice. (Speaker: Mon!que Wright)