Post by dk on Nov 19, 2006 20:27:37 GMT -5
POWER Camp Website Submission
TEXT:
Anti-dote - Multiracial Girls and Women Network
Who:
Our group is a new network in Greater Victoria of approximately 100 women and girls from the ages of about 14 and up. We represent diverse ages, ethnic and religious backgrounds, professions, and affiliations in the community. We are committed to:
Increasing the psychological and social well-being of racialised women and girls in their schools, social service organizations, families and ethnic communities;
Promoting the visibility and needs of racialised minorities and Aboriginal women and girls in the greater community;
Promoting community development and social change through participatory action approaches at the local level.
Why:
A major catalyst for the formation of our network was our association and participation with a University of Victoria research project on Racialised Girls and Social Cohesion that began in spring 2001 under Dr. Jo-Anne Lee. We continued to grow and come together through our attendance at the research project’s conference “It’s About Us”: A Conference for Girls on Race and Identities in July 2002 at the University of Victoria. We are now at a point where we would like to strengthen this network and build an organisation where we can continue the process of community development and social change among ourselves and the many racialised women and girls with whom we have yet to connect.
In Victoria, due to the fragility of services to immigrant, refugee, Aboriginal and Canadian born women and girls of colour, government cutbacks have devastated the few programs that once existed. Ethnic and Native communities have few resources and programs. The majority of programs tend to be gender and race neutral or gender and race blind.
Our initiative addresses the specific needs and concerns of racialised women and girls who grow up and live in smaller, less ethnically and racially diverse communities—those who live under dominant whiteness.”
What:
Anti-dote will assist racialised women and girls in developing and acting on issues identified out of their own lived reality, rather than premised upon assumptions and experiences of women and girls living in more ethnically and racially diverse metropolitan centers.
Anti-dote is aimed at developing the capacity of racialised girls and women living in Victoria and surrounding communities to engage in social change activities intended to reduce their marginalization and unequal treatment.
The central and overarching methods and principles for Anti-dote consist of:
Community development;
Participatory Action Research;
Engaged "learning-by-doing" models of action;
Peer to peer, youth-led initiatives; and
Self-empowerment and mentorship among racialised girls and women
Expressions of girls and women involved;
Julie, 18, Chinese-Canadian:
"Finally someone who wanted to hear about my story and about my life growing up as a visible minority girl in Victoria BC. To my astonishment there were girls who experienced or were experiencing similar situations that I had experienced or was experiencing at the time. I found this incredibly intriguing and continued along. Now I'm a youth member of Anti-dote."
Rita, Lebanese-Canadian:
"In my culture, high achievement in school is the single most important thing for a girl or a boy. It's funny how in a country that is considered to be "civilized" and "advanced", girls and women have to pretend to be "dumb" in order to be popular. Also, I wasn't as feminine and "cute", especially as much as the "white" girls, and did not quite fit in to their cultural ways. I remember even hiding my lunch at some point, because I had pita bread sandwiches and the other kids had ham and cheese "normal" white bread sandwiches."
Sun-Kyung Yi, Korean-Canadian
"My father also said, “It doesn’t matter how Canadian you think you are, just look in the mirror and it’ll tell you who you really are.” But what he didn’t’ realize is that an immigrant has to embrace the new culture to enjoy and benefit from what it has to offer. Of course, I will always be Korean by virtue of my appearance and early conditioning, but I am also happily Canadian and want to take full advantage of all that such citizenship confers. But for now I remain slightly distant from both cultures, accepted fully by neither. The hyphenated Canadian personifies the ideal of multiculturalism, but unless the host culture and the immigrant cultures can find ways to merge their distinct identities, sharing the best of both, this cultural schizophrenia will continue."
Winnie, Chinese-Canadian
"Living in a predominately white community, there is a dire need for Anti-dote for girls to have a space to vent and have support. As a racialized girl and woman, you always feel different, there is not a space in the community unless it is at home, that one can feel like they fit in. Anti-dote provides that space and arena to talk."
Miranda, Anishnabe Nation
"Amidst the rhetoric of Canada being a 'multi-cultural' state that values 'diversity', the reality is that systematic racism and oppression is prevalent. Indigenous peoples from within this sphere and Indigenous-racialized peoples from other places in the world have lost the ability to see and talk to each other amidst all of this idealism. Our language has become scrambled and shaped by whiteness. We will be stronger once we learn how to understand, speak, and support another as racialized peoples sharing similar spaces."
Where is Anti-dote now?
As of September 2003, Anti-dote has been working hard to organize into a formal non-profit society. An informal network was created from the 'It's about Us Conference' that took place in the summer of 2002. An interim board of directors has been put in place, a constitution and by-laws developed, a bank account set up and opened, and community development is underway. We have a small grant from Status of Women Canada. A pre-launch event was successfully held shortly before the New Year, and formal planning committees were established.
The planning committee, members, and volunteers held a bake sale on December 4th in order to raise funds for 4/5 Anti-dote members to attend the National Power Camp for Girls conference in Montreal. Anti-dote members had a wonderful time at the conference (see two reflections below). There was also a 50/50 draw that was undertaken in support of this trip. The event was an excellent networking opportunity, and many new contacts and friends came out of this experience.
Anti-dote has also been working on a website, www.anti-dote.org that as of January 30, 2004 is up and running. The site offers information on Anti-dote, articles and other writing from Anti-dote members, links to other relevant sites, information on past, present, future events, reports related to anti-racism activism, updates and membership forms for women and girls wishing to join Anti-dote. The site is in its infancy stage, and there are great and exciting future expectations for our website!
Anti-dote has plans to undertake further research utilizing a variety of methods. The outcomes from this research will assist in establishing further services, funding, and opportunities for the network, as well as develop a strong foundation from community development. Research reports and handbooks on popular theatre and organizing focus groups with racialised minority girls will soon be posted on the website. There are further fundraising, networking, and planning events in the works. The various planning committees hope to engage with multi-racial girls and women in developing components that are designed with, rather than for others. Additionally there may be plans for a 2nd Girls conference, more discussion groups, and a mural with a theme of culture as a site of activism. One the main issues that we will be addressing in the future is how Aboriginal, First Nations women and girls can work in solidarity with racialised immigrant and refugee and other minority women and girls on common issues. We need new language to do that work.
REFLECTION ON POWER CAMP BY JULIE LEE
It's hard to believe that the conference was about two and half months ago. I remember being in the Victoria Airport and telling myself that we (Sandrina, Winnie, Pani and I) were going to board a plane soon. It seemed completely surreal that our organization was going to be presenting at a National Conference. I just sat there waiting for Pani to pinch me... Of course I don't ask her cause she would and in the end I would just get a huge bruise...(If you were at the retreat you would know what I'm talking about).
Once we arrive at the retreat... I was completely stoked. I will never forget some of the stuff we did there: the nights of salsa dancing, the nights of bonding with my fellow Anti-Doters on those horrible kiddy bunk beds, the days of trying to speak French, the wonderful tasty salad dressing, that awful night of Truth or Dare...(Nothing will leak out of the circle huh?! LOL), Pani trying to teach everyone how to shake their money maker, the discussions, the zine making workshop, the young women I met and then grew in to better friends at the Montreal Conference, the friendly smiles, the time when Pani's dessert fell on the floor and everyone laughed, Winnie waking me up and showing me the aurora borealis during the middle of the night and much more.
So the retreat part was over... kinda sad but we were going to Montreal! We all gathered together and tried to squeeze back onto the yellow cheese box school bus that we arrived on, plus our luggage remind you.
The city was amazing! It was like my niche! The nights walking around town, seeing street performers, that night having dinner at that Asian restaurant (Nas you'll see that cute from the table over some day *jokes*), that night at Reggie's, the spoken word performances and what we did afterwards and people thinking I was 21 when I only was 17. LOL Good Times...Good Times...
Presentation day, was even crazier! I remember everyone talking about going to our presentation. We Anti-Doters were terribly nervous. We didn't know if our presentation would live up to their expectations or not. We spent basically that day running around and a tad stressed out. But we had confidence in ourselves and we pulled through. In the end there were hugs and cheers. Tears streaming down some of our faces. We had finally done it. It was glorious.
The last day was hard. It meant saying goodbyes to people I met and people that I had gotten to know. I didn't want to leave but all good things must come to an end I thought... I had not only gained many valuable connections and resources but had met some very inspirational women in the process. I didn't realize that so many women from various parts of the world were struggling for their voice to be heard. During the whole trip it also helped me get to know my Anti-Dote colleagues better. We had bonded and somehow they feel like sisters to me now.
While on the plane back to Victoria I thought... all good things don't have to come to an end. That through Power Camp National and the wonderful world of technology we can still remain friends and not lose touch while trying to fight for our causes. So when I look back and think about it, during the last day of the conference was not about saying goodbye to each other but more or less of us saying to each other : I'll hear from you or see you soon.
Or as Nelson, from the Simpson’s, nicely puts it: “Smell you later!”
REFLECTION ON POWER CAMP BY WINNIE CHOW
Not only was it exciting to visit Montreal for the first time in my life, but also travel to the Laurentian Mountains was breath taking and soul fulfilling. It was amazing to be part of a gathering of so many cool, fun, strong, independent youth and women from across Canada. What struck me the most was how the group came together during the retreat. There was so much positive energy in the group in terms of brainstorming ideas to make Power Camp National more unified, but also how we could help each other in our own organizations. The networking that took place was great and I thank the organizers for such a wonderful opportunity.
Flowing stream of memories of the retreat: Long bus ride, beautiful location, brisk walks, circles, sharing ideas, barking, being chased, great food, sleeping, dancing, the “hip” thing, drumming and singing, told to sing quietly, truth or dare, crazy knitters, talking, laughing, games, drama, rant about the bus driver (5 minute bathroom break), positive energy, and new friendships…
After leaving the retreat for Montreal we arrived at the Clarion Hotel. Envision a mass of women, with lots of luggage, trying to get their hotel keys in a tiny lobby. I distinctly remember this feeling of loss when we entered the hotel because we had spent 3 days with each other in a communal environment and then in a matter of five minutes we all disappeared into our individual hotel rooms. We were all at a loss in terms of how we could connect with each other. So we started shouting out room numbers and frantically writing numbers on our hands, scraps of paper and hopefully if our brain was functioning, memorize 13 or more different numbers and names before cramming into the elevator. This demonstrated how powerful of a bond we all developed in such a short period of time.
During the conference, there was a real tightness to the retreat members and I felt like I was part of this big family. We all continued to meet after workshops and go for dinner and of course, shop! Gene, great job at the spoken word, you rock!
The presentation by FAWEU from the delegates from Uganda truly inspired me. The stories of girls not getting an education because of their periods really blew me away. The organization is working on educating Ugandan families about menstruation and providing washable pads for girls going to school. I could not imagine not getting an education because I had to stay home during my period. I think back to my youth that I used my period as an excuse not to go to gym class was pretty sad considering there are girls out there now who don’t have a choice to go to school because of the “curse”. This presentation really put life in perspective for me and how lucky we truly are in North America.
I meet so many amazing young women who are doing great things in their own communities. And I believe this conference was about them and for them. I want to thank the young women from the retreat who reminded me about my youth and how much fun it was to play truth and dare. I also want to thank the ladies who came dancing with me on Saturday night and help remind me that I don’t miss the pick up bar scene. The girls showed me that we have taught them to be strong and independent. They have the knowledge and strength to know their own boundaries and also know when and where to ask for help. It was wonderful to be able to step back and see it all happen in front of me and it was difficult not to step in. But as someone wise said to me that night “We have to trust we have taught them well to make the right decisions”. And with that said, well-done ladies and keep in touch!
GRAPHICS:
See attached files.
friends.jpg = "Friends" by Eva Campbell
movingtogether.jpg = "Moving Together" by Eva Campbell
confdebrief.jpg = July 2003 "Its About Us" conference organizers
itsaboutus.jpg = July 2003 "Its About Us" conference participants and organizers
pc5.jpg = Anti-dote Members at Montreal Power Camp conference - L to R: Sandrina Definn, Pani Mosleh, ?? (Not Anti-dote member), Julie Lee, Winnie Chow, Jo-Anne Lee
More photos from the Power Camp conference can be found at www.anti-dote.org/guests/powercamppics.html
CONTACT INFO:
Post:
Anti-dote Multi-racial Girls and Women's Network
c/o Jo-Anne Lee
Dept. of Women's Studies
PO Box 3045
University of Victoria
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3P4
Telephone: (250) 472-4278
Fax: (250) 721-7210
E-Mail: antidote_victoria@hotmail.com
Website: www.anti-dote.org
TEXT:
Anti-dote - Multiracial Girls and Women Network
Who:
Our group is a new network in Greater Victoria of approximately 100 women and girls from the ages of about 14 and up. We represent diverse ages, ethnic and religious backgrounds, professions, and affiliations in the community. We are committed to:
Increasing the psychological and social well-being of racialised women and girls in their schools, social service organizations, families and ethnic communities;
Promoting the visibility and needs of racialised minorities and Aboriginal women and girls in the greater community;
Promoting community development and social change through participatory action approaches at the local level.
Why:
A major catalyst for the formation of our network was our association and participation with a University of Victoria research project on Racialised Girls and Social Cohesion that began in spring 2001 under Dr. Jo-Anne Lee. We continued to grow and come together through our attendance at the research project’s conference “It’s About Us”: A Conference for Girls on Race and Identities in July 2002 at the University of Victoria. We are now at a point where we would like to strengthen this network and build an organisation where we can continue the process of community development and social change among ourselves and the many racialised women and girls with whom we have yet to connect.
In Victoria, due to the fragility of services to immigrant, refugee, Aboriginal and Canadian born women and girls of colour, government cutbacks have devastated the few programs that once existed. Ethnic and Native communities have few resources and programs. The majority of programs tend to be gender and race neutral or gender and race blind.
Our initiative addresses the specific needs and concerns of racialised women and girls who grow up and live in smaller, less ethnically and racially diverse communities—those who live under dominant whiteness.”
What:
Anti-dote will assist racialised women and girls in developing and acting on issues identified out of their own lived reality, rather than premised upon assumptions and experiences of women and girls living in more ethnically and racially diverse metropolitan centers.
Anti-dote is aimed at developing the capacity of racialised girls and women living in Victoria and surrounding communities to engage in social change activities intended to reduce their marginalization and unequal treatment.
The central and overarching methods and principles for Anti-dote consist of:
Community development;
Participatory Action Research;
Engaged "learning-by-doing" models of action;
Peer to peer, youth-led initiatives; and
Self-empowerment and mentorship among racialised girls and women
Expressions of girls and women involved;
Julie, 18, Chinese-Canadian:
"Finally someone who wanted to hear about my story and about my life growing up as a visible minority girl in Victoria BC. To my astonishment there were girls who experienced or were experiencing similar situations that I had experienced or was experiencing at the time. I found this incredibly intriguing and continued along. Now I'm a youth member of Anti-dote."
Rita, Lebanese-Canadian:
"In my culture, high achievement in school is the single most important thing for a girl or a boy. It's funny how in a country that is considered to be "civilized" and "advanced", girls and women have to pretend to be "dumb" in order to be popular. Also, I wasn't as feminine and "cute", especially as much as the "white" girls, and did not quite fit in to their cultural ways. I remember even hiding my lunch at some point, because I had pita bread sandwiches and the other kids had ham and cheese "normal" white bread sandwiches."
Sun-Kyung Yi, Korean-Canadian
"My father also said, “It doesn’t matter how Canadian you think you are, just look in the mirror and it’ll tell you who you really are.” But what he didn’t’ realize is that an immigrant has to embrace the new culture to enjoy and benefit from what it has to offer. Of course, I will always be Korean by virtue of my appearance and early conditioning, but I am also happily Canadian and want to take full advantage of all that such citizenship confers. But for now I remain slightly distant from both cultures, accepted fully by neither. The hyphenated Canadian personifies the ideal of multiculturalism, but unless the host culture and the immigrant cultures can find ways to merge their distinct identities, sharing the best of both, this cultural schizophrenia will continue."
Winnie, Chinese-Canadian
"Living in a predominately white community, there is a dire need for Anti-dote for girls to have a space to vent and have support. As a racialized girl and woman, you always feel different, there is not a space in the community unless it is at home, that one can feel like they fit in. Anti-dote provides that space and arena to talk."
Miranda, Anishnabe Nation
"Amidst the rhetoric of Canada being a 'multi-cultural' state that values 'diversity', the reality is that systematic racism and oppression is prevalent. Indigenous peoples from within this sphere and Indigenous-racialized peoples from other places in the world have lost the ability to see and talk to each other amidst all of this idealism. Our language has become scrambled and shaped by whiteness. We will be stronger once we learn how to understand, speak, and support another as racialized peoples sharing similar spaces."
Where is Anti-dote now?
As of September 2003, Anti-dote has been working hard to organize into a formal non-profit society. An informal network was created from the 'It's about Us Conference' that took place in the summer of 2002. An interim board of directors has been put in place, a constitution and by-laws developed, a bank account set up and opened, and community development is underway. We have a small grant from Status of Women Canada. A pre-launch event was successfully held shortly before the New Year, and formal planning committees were established.
The planning committee, members, and volunteers held a bake sale on December 4th in order to raise funds for 4/5 Anti-dote members to attend the National Power Camp for Girls conference in Montreal. Anti-dote members had a wonderful time at the conference (see two reflections below). There was also a 50/50 draw that was undertaken in support of this trip. The event was an excellent networking opportunity, and many new contacts and friends came out of this experience.
Anti-dote has also been working on a website, www.anti-dote.org that as of January 30, 2004 is up and running. The site offers information on Anti-dote, articles and other writing from Anti-dote members, links to other relevant sites, information on past, present, future events, reports related to anti-racism activism, updates and membership forms for women and girls wishing to join Anti-dote. The site is in its infancy stage, and there are great and exciting future expectations for our website!
Anti-dote has plans to undertake further research utilizing a variety of methods. The outcomes from this research will assist in establishing further services, funding, and opportunities for the network, as well as develop a strong foundation from community development. Research reports and handbooks on popular theatre and organizing focus groups with racialised minority girls will soon be posted on the website. There are further fundraising, networking, and planning events in the works. The various planning committees hope to engage with multi-racial girls and women in developing components that are designed with, rather than for others. Additionally there may be plans for a 2nd Girls conference, more discussion groups, and a mural with a theme of culture as a site of activism. One the main issues that we will be addressing in the future is how Aboriginal, First Nations women and girls can work in solidarity with racialised immigrant and refugee and other minority women and girls on common issues. We need new language to do that work.
REFLECTION ON POWER CAMP BY JULIE LEE
It's hard to believe that the conference was about two and half months ago. I remember being in the Victoria Airport and telling myself that we (Sandrina, Winnie, Pani and I) were going to board a plane soon. It seemed completely surreal that our organization was going to be presenting at a National Conference. I just sat there waiting for Pani to pinch me... Of course I don't ask her cause she would and in the end I would just get a huge bruise...(If you were at the retreat you would know what I'm talking about).
Once we arrive at the retreat... I was completely stoked. I will never forget some of the stuff we did there: the nights of salsa dancing, the nights of bonding with my fellow Anti-Doters on those horrible kiddy bunk beds, the days of trying to speak French, the wonderful tasty salad dressing, that awful night of Truth or Dare...(Nothing will leak out of the circle huh?! LOL), Pani trying to teach everyone how to shake their money maker, the discussions, the zine making workshop, the young women I met and then grew in to better friends at the Montreal Conference, the friendly smiles, the time when Pani's dessert fell on the floor and everyone laughed, Winnie waking me up and showing me the aurora borealis during the middle of the night and much more.
So the retreat part was over... kinda sad but we were going to Montreal! We all gathered together and tried to squeeze back onto the yellow cheese box school bus that we arrived on, plus our luggage remind you.
The city was amazing! It was like my niche! The nights walking around town, seeing street performers, that night having dinner at that Asian restaurant (Nas you'll see that cute from the table over some day *jokes*), that night at Reggie's, the spoken word performances and what we did afterwards and people thinking I was 21 when I only was 17. LOL Good Times...Good Times...
Presentation day, was even crazier! I remember everyone talking about going to our presentation. We Anti-Doters were terribly nervous. We didn't know if our presentation would live up to their expectations or not. We spent basically that day running around and a tad stressed out. But we had confidence in ourselves and we pulled through. In the end there were hugs and cheers. Tears streaming down some of our faces. We had finally done it. It was glorious.
The last day was hard. It meant saying goodbyes to people I met and people that I had gotten to know. I didn't want to leave but all good things must come to an end I thought... I had not only gained many valuable connections and resources but had met some very inspirational women in the process. I didn't realize that so many women from various parts of the world were struggling for their voice to be heard. During the whole trip it also helped me get to know my Anti-Dote colleagues better. We had bonded and somehow they feel like sisters to me now.
While on the plane back to Victoria I thought... all good things don't have to come to an end. That through Power Camp National and the wonderful world of technology we can still remain friends and not lose touch while trying to fight for our causes. So when I look back and think about it, during the last day of the conference was not about saying goodbye to each other but more or less of us saying to each other : I'll hear from you or see you soon.
Or as Nelson, from the Simpson’s, nicely puts it: “Smell you later!”
REFLECTION ON POWER CAMP BY WINNIE CHOW
Not only was it exciting to visit Montreal for the first time in my life, but also travel to the Laurentian Mountains was breath taking and soul fulfilling. It was amazing to be part of a gathering of so many cool, fun, strong, independent youth and women from across Canada. What struck me the most was how the group came together during the retreat. There was so much positive energy in the group in terms of brainstorming ideas to make Power Camp National more unified, but also how we could help each other in our own organizations. The networking that took place was great and I thank the organizers for such a wonderful opportunity.
Flowing stream of memories of the retreat: Long bus ride, beautiful location, brisk walks, circles, sharing ideas, barking, being chased, great food, sleeping, dancing, the “hip” thing, drumming and singing, told to sing quietly, truth or dare, crazy knitters, talking, laughing, games, drama, rant about the bus driver (5 minute bathroom break), positive energy, and new friendships…
After leaving the retreat for Montreal we arrived at the Clarion Hotel. Envision a mass of women, with lots of luggage, trying to get their hotel keys in a tiny lobby. I distinctly remember this feeling of loss when we entered the hotel because we had spent 3 days with each other in a communal environment and then in a matter of five minutes we all disappeared into our individual hotel rooms. We were all at a loss in terms of how we could connect with each other. So we started shouting out room numbers and frantically writing numbers on our hands, scraps of paper and hopefully if our brain was functioning, memorize 13 or more different numbers and names before cramming into the elevator. This demonstrated how powerful of a bond we all developed in such a short period of time.
During the conference, there was a real tightness to the retreat members and I felt like I was part of this big family. We all continued to meet after workshops and go for dinner and of course, shop! Gene, great job at the spoken word, you rock!
The presentation by FAWEU from the delegates from Uganda truly inspired me. The stories of girls not getting an education because of their periods really blew me away. The organization is working on educating Ugandan families about menstruation and providing washable pads for girls going to school. I could not imagine not getting an education because I had to stay home during my period. I think back to my youth that I used my period as an excuse not to go to gym class was pretty sad considering there are girls out there now who don’t have a choice to go to school because of the “curse”. This presentation really put life in perspective for me and how lucky we truly are in North America.
I meet so many amazing young women who are doing great things in their own communities. And I believe this conference was about them and for them. I want to thank the young women from the retreat who reminded me about my youth and how much fun it was to play truth and dare. I also want to thank the ladies who came dancing with me on Saturday night and help remind me that I don’t miss the pick up bar scene. The girls showed me that we have taught them to be strong and independent. They have the knowledge and strength to know their own boundaries and also know when and where to ask for help. It was wonderful to be able to step back and see it all happen in front of me and it was difficult not to step in. But as someone wise said to me that night “We have to trust we have taught them well to make the right decisions”. And with that said, well-done ladies and keep in touch!
GRAPHICS:
See attached files.
friends.jpg = "Friends" by Eva Campbell
movingtogether.jpg = "Moving Together" by Eva Campbell
confdebrief.jpg = July 2003 "Its About Us" conference organizers
itsaboutus.jpg = July 2003 "Its About Us" conference participants and organizers
pc5.jpg = Anti-dote Members at Montreal Power Camp conference - L to R: Sandrina Definn, Pani Mosleh, ?? (Not Anti-dote member), Julie Lee, Winnie Chow, Jo-Anne Lee
More photos from the Power Camp conference can be found at www.anti-dote.org/guests/powercamppics.html
CONTACT INFO:
Post:
Anti-dote Multi-racial Girls and Women's Network
c/o Jo-Anne Lee
Dept. of Women's Studies
PO Box 3045
University of Victoria
Victoria, B.C. V8W 3P4
Telephone: (250) 472-4278
Fax: (250) 721-7210
E-Mail: antidote_victoria@hotmail.com
Website: www.anti-dote.org