Wednesday, September 17, 2014

10 DAYS OF RESILENCE



COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO LAUNCH 10 DAYS OF RESILENCE EVENTS

According to Stats Canada 2013, Guelph is one of the safest cities in Ontario. Despite being what many people would deem a safe city, gender-based violence still happens here. That is why some community organizations have decided to collaborate to bring 10 Days of awareness, celebration, action, and change this fall from September 25th to October 4th.  While much of the focus of the 10 Days is around raising awareness of gender-based violence, the group also wants to try and create more room for discussions around the ways queer and trans folks experience violence, as well as celebrate the resilience within these communities.  
Because violence in our community affects everyone, the 10 Days group wanted to provide lots of different opportunities for people to get involved, says Jessica St. Peter, the Public Educator from Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis; “People can connect with equality in various ways and sometimes certain events limit people’s participation but by expanding the opportunities for people to be engaged and informed we can have a greater impact in our community”. 
Experiencing violence has negative impacts on people’s health as well and can put them at a greater risk of HIV says Olivia Kijewski, the Women’s Community Development Coordinator at HIV/AIDS Resources & Community Health. “It’s important that we work together to challenge violence and its detrimental effects on our community”, says Kijewski.
Some of the multiple organizations working together on the 10 Days include: the Guelph Resource Centre for Gender Empowerment and Diversity (GRCGED), Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis, HIV/AIDS Resources & Community Health (ARCH), the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG), SlutWalk Guelph, and the Wellness Education Centre. 
The week will kick off on Thursday September 25th at 6:30 pm in Marianne’s Park for the 27th Annual Take Back the Night march and rally to raise awareness about and end sexual violence against women and girls. Other events during the 10 Days include: A workshop for young girls on bullying & self-esteem, Wen-do self-identified women’s self-defense training, service provider training on Anti-Oppressive Practice Approaches to Women’s Health, a sex Toy Workshop, trivia night at the Jimmy Jazz, an LGBTQ+ discussion group on Queer responses to violence, a documentary screening of “Jasad and the Queen of Contradictions”, an information sharing and discussion of ARCH’s sex worker needs assessment, as well as a workshop on consent by Karen B.K. Chan. The 10 Days will conclude with the 2nd annual SlutWalk Guelph march at beginning at 1 pm at the Market Square, City Hall. SlutWalk Guelph is a movement that works to challenge victim blaming, slut-shaming, and sexual assault, stating that those who experience sexual assault are never at fault. 

For more information regarding any of these events visit www.gwwomenincrisis.org/ or contact wiceducator@gwwomenincrisis.org for details.
Jessica St. Peter
Public Educator
Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis
Cell: 519-993-5624