Between lots of laughs, articles for our consideration and a interactive, challenging group activity, SACHA staff members and volunteers had the chance to better understand the social networking and media trend that, whether we like it or not, has become and ingrained part of the ways we communicate.

Though I’ve become heavily submersed into the realm of online social media since seeing the wonders it was able to do for community support post-G20, this workshop provided me with the chance to branch out. Basecamp was something I hadn’t even heard about before. As a grassroots community organiser, I’m excited to investigate and try it out and get friends interested as well. Basecamp allows you to work on projects together, even if and when meetings in the physical realm — “Fleshspace” as I’d eloquently dubbed it during Friday’s seminar — may be nigh impossible (due to various time restrictions of participants, for example). Tools like this could work wonders for coming up with a Comments Policy for this blog; for composing group-written letters; or for working on group assignments.

– amelia

—

Many many thanks to the amazing Margaret Shkimba for sharing her social media savvy and smarts with us last Friday at the SACHA social media workshop! Not only did I learn about SM platforms that I’d never heard of or knew little about (Basecamp, LinkedIn), but I also had the chance to participate in a creative and fun brainstorming process where we all worked together on a collective vision of what a robust social media policy and approach might look like for SACHA. A great day full of good ideas, good humour, good food, and good company! But I can’t say that I have always been so enthusiastic about the world of social media…

You see, social media and I were never what I would call fast and easy friends. I’m thinking in particular of that Facebook character. I was aloof. I was critical. I kept my distance, thinking we didn’t have a lot to offer each other. I guess some relationships take more time than others, and admittedly, sometimes I can be a little slow on the uptake. To adapt a well-known phrase: when the going gets good, well, sometimes I neglect to get going with the rest of them. It was the eventual combination of a move from a much loved city, endless attempts by thoroughly smitten friends to woo me, and not just a wee bit of curiosity, that helped me succumb to its pervasive and network-y charms. This new relationship proved a resounding success, and it wasn’t long before I was also happily wandering through the wonderful world of the feminist blogosphere—an inspiring, informative, and sometimes infuriating place to be.

Sure, I do still think that social media offers our already hyper-individualist culture yet another medium for narcissistic, navel-gazing type activities, but it also holds an unprecedented power to connect people—to share stories, ideas, passions and politics—across vast regions, cultures, time zones and languages.

I’m not sure that I can properly fathom the full potential of social media—platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and the like—when it comes to social justice activism, as I’m no social media maven yet, but the political power it holds as an organizing and consciousness raising tool has already proven itself many times over. It really is a revolutionary tool.

So yeah–I’m pretty new to this, and I’m still learning. But the going has definitely gotten good, and I’m happy to say that I finally got going too.

– Jenn

…

You can read about Margaret’s experience working with us on one of her blogs: http://inthesisterhood.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/social-media-sisters/

We spent the day exploring the potentials of social media and how it can be used to advance the SACHA mission of eradicating violence against women (vaw).  Despite the seriousness of the work, the commitment to anti-oppressive and anti-racist process that they bring to their social justice work was inspiring and a reminder of the importance of respectful consideration in building and maintaining relationships.

SACHA is still figuring out social media and how to use it but you can always follow this blog, hang out with us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

SACHA will be celebrating and raising funds yet again with our successful and tasty Chocolate Fest!

Come sample chocolate treats from some of Hamilton’s premier chocolatiers, restaurants and bakeries.  Also, you can bid on some fabulous items in our silent auction!

When: Thursday, February 9th, 2011
- Doors open at 5:30pm
- Silent auction opens at 5:30pm and closes at 8:00pm
Where: Hamilton Convention Centre, Chedoke Ballroom, 1 Summer’s Lane, Hamilton ON
Tickets: $25 in advance – until February 8th, $30 at the door.

Tickets are available:
- By phone during SACHA’s centre hours – 905.525.4573
- In person at SACHA – 75 MacNab Street South, 3rd Floor
- Online at Brown Paper Tickets – http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/207737

Money raised at Chocolate Fest helps SACHA to support survivors of sexual violence and to work to end gender injustice in Hamilton.  For more information on SACHA’s amazing programs please visit our website.

If you have any questions about Chocolate Fest please give us a call at 905.525.4573.

You can always visit the Chocolate Fest Facebook event page.

The film Miss Representation is coming to Hamilton!

From Miss Representation’s website:

[T]he film exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself.

In a society where media is the most persuasive force shaping cultural norms, the collective message that our young women and men overwhelmingly receive is that a woman’s value and power lie in her youth, beauty, and sexuality, and not in her capacity as a leader. While women have made great strides in leadership over the past few decades, the United States is still 90th in the world for women in national legislatures, women hold only 3% of clout positions in mainstream media, and 65% of women and girls have disordered eating behaviors.

When: Sunday, January 15, 2011 at 1pm
Where: McMaster Campus, Downtown Centre , 50 Main Street East, Hamilton, ON
RSVP: Please contact Audra Petrulis 905.522.9922 x112 apetrulis@ywcahamilton.org
Cost: FREE!
Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/events/112011235582484/

Presented by YWCA, SACHA, The Women’s Centre and Gender Studies and Feminist Research McMaster University.

Check out the most awesome trailer here:

Nellie’s Blog has a really amazing post about the history of this day and the current violence that women in Ontario face:

Today is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, otherwise known as December 6th, when on that date in 1989, a man murdered 14 female students at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal because they were women.

Each year we remember Genevieve Bergeron, Helene Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganiere, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michele Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte, and Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz and grieve over each promising young life cut short by misogyny and violence.

Two years ago we marked the 20th Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre. It remains important today that we continue to honour not only these 14 women who lost their lives 22 years ago, but also the number of women who continue to die at the hands of their abusers.  This year in Ontario, 16 women were murdered by their intimate partners who were later charged or committed suicide (OAITH Femicide List).

Audra Petrulis from the Be The One… Campaign said it really well in her status update today:

Today is December 6th – the National Day of Action and Remembrance on Violence Against Women. Today we honour the 14 women who were killed in an act of gender-based violence in 1989 at L’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, known as the Montreal Massacre. A man entered the Engineering classroom with a gun, told the men to leave the room, ranted about feminists, and shot and killed the women in the room. They were killed because they were women. This was not the work of a “mad man”; this was the work of a man who was taught that he had power and priviledge over women and that he had the right to take out his rage on them. Today we honour the lives these women led and the lives they should have had.

 

There are two events happening today in Hamilton.  Check out this post for more information.

*This post’s title is paraphrased from the words of an amazing woman, Mother Jones – “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.”.

Don’t be that guy — a campaign from Edmonton has come to Hamtilon!

Maybe you’ve seen these images widely posted online or visited the Edmonton campaign’s website – sexualassaultvoices.com?

This campaign encourages a couple of Extremely Important responses when it comes to partying it up and getting your bevvy on. First and foremost, it encourages male participants to Not Be That Guy — you know, the one who Only Talks to Drunk Women, the guy who Buys The Drinks For The Ladies all night; who Comes On Strong; and who is seen behaving coercively, pressuring or seem entitled (to certain women, for example).

In contrast, and by making a monstrously glaring example of That Guy, this campaign also encourages a different way for men to respond to women while drinking: with Respect for her needs; a Desire to Foster Safer Space for women; and An Ear for Consent — and the ability to honour the lackthereof.

Let’s encourage folks to Be That Guy.

Don’t Be That Guy is being brought to Hamilton by:

• Hamilton Health Sciences – Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centre
• City of Hamilton Public Health Services
• Elizabeth Fry Society of Hamilton
• McMaster University Student Union
• McMaster University
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
• Hamilton Police Service
• Interval House
• Mohawk College
• Mohawk College Student’s Association
• Sexual Assault Centre (Hamilton and Area)

– amelia

There are two events honouring this day in Hamilton, one in the community at the Worker’s Arts & Heritage Centre at 5:30pm and one at McMaster Unviersity at 12:30pm.  Please see below for details of both events:

On December 6^th, 2011 We Remember…
…that 14 women were gunned down at a University in Montreal on December 6^th, 1989
…that over 600 Aboriginal women and girls are missing or have been murdered across Canada
…that over 400 women (and their children) have been killed by an intimate partner in Ontario over the last 20 years
…that right now, hundreds of Hamilton women are living in fear
…that there is still more work to do to end violence against women

Every year, on December 6^th, the Hamilton community gathers in ceremony and reflection to honour the women who have been murdered at the hands of violence, and for all women who continue to be affected by violence.  The Women’s Centre of Hamilton invites you to this year’s event at the Worker’s Arts & Heritage Centre, 51 Stuart St in Hamilton.

When: Tuesday, December 6th

• 5:30pm Art Display
• 6:00pm Opening Ceremony
• 6:15pm Speakers
• 7:15pm Candlelight Vigil
• 7:30pm Refreshments

Where: Worker’s Arts and Heritage Centre, 51 Stuart Street, Hamilton

For more info contact the Women’s Centre of Hamilton 905-522-0127.

We come together as a community to remember, because no woman should have to live in fear.

When: Tuesday, December 6 at 12:30pm
Where: JHE Annex Room 102, McMaster University, Hamilton

We remember all those affected by gendered violence. We remember the 14 women murdered in the 1989 “Montreal Massacre”.  We remember the more than 582 Aboriginal women who have gone missing or murdered in Canada.  Refreshments will be served following the scattering of rose petals.

Presented by McMaster University’s Anti-Violence Network.

For more information or accessibility requirements, please contact Vilma at (905) 525-9140 x 24235.

The ten week group starts on Thursday, November 17th from 5:30-7:30pm.

Please call Karen Demaline – 905.546.3606 x2007 – or Diane Sharp – 905.525.4573 x224 – to book an appointment to find our more information about the group.

Image from http://www.truthaboutrape.co.uk/4598.html

SACHA will be at Mohawk College on Wednesday, November 16th from 12-1pm in room A221A.

We’re going to be leading a participatory workshop on the lies that we are told about rape.

This workshop is presented by Mohawk’s School of Human Services and Mohawk’s Counselling Services.

Check out a PDF of the poster here.

photo by Audra Petrulis

Women-identified folks started arriving at Hamilton City Hall in the early evening to check out the over twenty-five community organizations, to chat about the work that they do and to get some amazing free give aways.

photo by Audra Petrulis

TBTN participants popped by the SACHA table to pick up information about what they can do to end sexual violence and some free buttons and patches.

Photo by Audra Petrulis

photo by Karen Madden

Both the glitter covered sign making table and the henna tattoo artists were busy all evening.

photo by Audra Petrulis

photo by Audra Petrulis

photo by Karen Madden

Kathryn Kimmins from Laugh Yourself Healthy lead the growing number of women in laughter yoga.

photo by Karen Madden

photo by Audra Petrulis

After the crowd was sufficiently warmed up and had had a hearty laugh, Hamilton’s Queen Cee sang while her incredible BE-You-tiful Girls Club surprised us with a dance with the whole crowd joining in for the last verse.

Photo by Karen Madden

As the sun was setting, Anne Marie from the YWCA got women warmed up for the march by leading participants in some energetic Zumba.

photo by Karen Madden

Then it was time for the TBTN Awards!  Most inclusive display went tot the Hamilton District Labour Council with a shout out to the AIDS Network.

photo by Karen Madden

Mohawk College won the award for most women from an organization with huge shoutouts to the YWCA and WomanKind who both put lots of energy and spirit into TBTN this year.

photo by Karen Madden

The best sign shoutouts went to the Hamilton Katimavik group and Sylvia.  The winner of the best sign was Amelia, who’s sign read:

“I Take Back the Night…

…Because I cannot take back the day on which I was raped;

…Because I cannot take back the time spent in court;

…Because I cannot take back the energy devoted to supporting myself (when my friends turned their backs);

I Take Back the Night because I cannot take back all the love I shared in 14 months in an abusive relationship!”

photo by SACHA

photo by Audra Petrulis

photo by Audra Petrulis

Once the giant puppets (created by Melanie Skene of Many Hands Art) and the samba squad (Rhythms of Resistance Toronto) were ready over one thousand five hundred women (as guessed by Hamilton Police) gathered behind the SACHA banner and  headed out to the streets for the march.

photo by Karen Madden

photo by Karen Madden

photo by Karen Madden

photo by Audra Petrulis

photo by Karen Madden

As the march rounded the corner of James and King, the women marching saw the male allies on the sidelines cheering on the TBTN participants.

photo by Audra Petrulis

The marchers returned to City Hall to share some incredible food and watch some awesome fire spinning.

photo by Karen Madden

photo by Karen Madden

It was an amazing night full of strong empowered women identified folks.  It felt special to be a part of it.  Thanks to everyone who helped make the event happen – the TBTN committee, TBTN event volunteers, SACHA’s sewing volunteers, SACHA staff and our donors.  I cannot wait for our thirty-first year of TBTN in Hamilton!

– erin

Thanks to Karen Madden for taking the photos.