We know how to “sista”. We know how to partner with each other. 

~Serena Garcia, SisterSong Communications Coordinator

Day 3 of the 2011 SisterSong “Let’s Talk About Sex” Conference focused on leadership. We cannot sustain ourselves as a movement if we do not have leaders on the front line and behind the scenes. To me, leadership takes many forms: from the spokesperson of an organizations (such as SisterSong’s National Coordinator, Loretta Ross ) to the intern who or volunteer who does a lot of the footwork in getting signatures for petitions that can encourage lawmakers to support laws that work for women of color and our reproductive health.

This day was very important for me because there was more of a focus on developing and sustaining leaders among younger women. I volunteered as a sophomore at Spelman College for the first SisterSong conference back in 2003, and I was swept up in the reproductive justice movement because of it. Even almost 8 years later, I still try to find ways to develop my leadership. It’s an ongoing process. As Serena’s quote above mentions, we’re very good at partnering with each other. But how can we develop leadership in ways that are inclusive and highlight all parties involved without the usual competitive nature?

Here are some highlights via Twitter from Day 3’s leadership plenary panel:

Paris Hatcher, SPARK Reproductive Justice Now: Shackling as a reproductive justice issue

• Many of us are in the reproductive justice   movement because we want to dismantle patriarchy.
• I’m tired of politics that are coated as reproductive justice   issues…it creates advocates instead of leaders.
• This movement was centered around having transformative work become deeper.
• Incarcerated women and shackling issue allows us to shift framework from abortion. How can mothers protect their children when they themselves are shackled with chains in jails and prisons?

Maria Rodriguez, Florida Immigrant Coalition discussing immigrant human rights issues

• Immigrants in this country are just displaced poor people, not different than some of the gentrification we’ve seen.
• Our immigration policies are driven by racism. Let’s bring some humanity to what immigrant women are going through.
• In 2024, Florida will be majority people of color.
• We need to have a broader analysis when we look at gender, race and class.
• The criminalization of women and immigration policies is about creating a permanent underclass and profiteering.
• Under our Democratic administration, there are record numbers of detainees.
• We have to self-lead our own sexuality.

Maria Nakae of Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice, discussing strong families and reproductive justice

• No matter what our families look like, women are at the center. Families are at the core of reproductive justice.
• By telling your own story, you can make your voice heard.
• We’re moving away from the image of the “nuclear family” to an image of a family that is multicultural and multi-loving.
• When women struggle, families struggle.
• ACRJ’s Strong Families program consists of families where reproductive justice   for all members are met and provided.
• Strong Families is an opportunity for women of color to be at the lead of cross-sector work.
• Now is the time for women of color to take strong leadership in a bold vision to build our families.

Crystal Crawford, California Black Women’s Health Project, discussing engaging young women in policy advocacy

• Folks are more focused on ourselves instead of on how we can serve the people we partner with.
• We have to honor the legacy where we come from and the shoulders we stand on. We should never go into this work alone.
• Engaging young women in a two-way process. We have to have their backs to help them to be effective leaders.
• Inter-generational leadership is critical. We in the  reproductive justice movement oftentimes don’t walk the talk. We need to take care of our bodies and wellness.

(more…)

Day 2 of the SisterSong “Let’s Talk About Sex” Conference was all about legislation. The past year has brought on many egregious (i.e., really lame and dangerous) policies that have placed women in the forefront of the debate over whether we truly have complete autonomy when it comes to our bodies. From anti-abortion billboards strategically placed in Black and Latino neighborhoods to legislators calling for the defunding of Planned Parenthood, reproductive justice has been all over our televisions, newspapers, and radio stations. I mean, the government almost shut down this year because of reproductive justice.  The theme of legislation was so important that there were two plenaries dedicated to the topic. I used my trusty Twitter account (follow me —> here!) to tweet important statements from the awesome people after the break:

We do not define the movement for you. We help to provide the space and support for you to define what it means for you.

~Luz Rodriguez, one of the moderators and the founder of SisterSong

Jasmine Burnett, SisterSong NYC: Trust Black Women Partnership & fighting the billboards:

• The anti-choice movement taking true civil rights and justice messaging hostage.
• We need to re-frame the debate, do opposition research, recruit civil rights organizations, and connect with the medical community.
• Re: the name Trust Black Women Partnership: Trust Black Women is a statement and a call to action.
• Know who is doing the research. Who are the people behind the statistics on Black women and abortion?

(more…)

This past week, I attended the Let’s Talk About Sex: Love, Legislation & Leadership Conference (LTAS) with SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective . Women of color of all ages traveled to Miami Beach and stayed at the ultra-fab Eden Roc Renaissance Hotel  a few blocks away from South Beach to attend this conference. The sun, sand, and beautiful skies provided the perfect backdrop to talk about love, legislation, leadership and how sex plays a pivotal role in policy, community/organizational organizing, and our interpersonal relationships. This will be a 4-part post highlighting each section of the conference (Love, Legislation, Leadership) followed by my own reflections of the conference.

With over 80 workshops, one day of information-filled institutes, caucuses, 6 plenary sessions, open mic discussions, break-out group meetings, morning exercise and self-help sessions, and cultural entertainment, attendees of LTAS were entertained, enlightened, humbled, appreciative, and energized.

While the main portion of the conference took place between July 14th-17th, LTAS 2011 offered pre-conference institutes on July 13th. The institutes included Reproductive Justice 101 and 102 by SisterSong, How to Build Leadership Among Young Women of Color, Trans Youth, and Allies by the amazing folks at Civil Liberties & Public Policy , an institute on being White & an ally for Women of Color, a Queer & Trans People of Color institute led by the Brown Boi Project , and an Indigenous people institute led by the Native Youth Sexual Network.

The days of the conference were filled with concurrent workshops, and throughout the conference, six plenaries took place. Each plenary (Love, Legislation, Leadership) showcased individuals doing amazing work in the Reproductive Justice movement and in their communities.  I along with some wonderfully awesome conference attendees tweeted quotes from the speakers via Twitter (#LTAS2011) . Here are those priceless gems that made us think, laugh, shout, and become energized:

(more…)