Women of Color Media Justice

Youth Media Education Conference

2010-05-29T15:49:00.000-07:00

The second annual Youth Media Education Conference will be sponsored by the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission and the Women of Color Media Justice Initiative on June 3, 2010 at California State Dominguez Hills’ Loker Student Union. Students from Crenshaw, Gardena, Washington Prep and King-Drew Medical Magnet High Schools, in addition to Bret Harte and Clay Middle Schools, have been invited to participate. The conference will involve students in youth presentations on media literacy and advocacy workshops and socially conscious youth musical performance. Topics will include improving media representations of young women and men of color, addressing violence against women of color in music and video, developing positive images of masculinity and male responsibility, highlighting LGBT youth perspectives on the media, undocumented youth advocacy and media and designing alternative media by countering the influence racist, sexist and homophobic media stereotypes have on youth behaviors and mental health.

Info: 213-703-6982

Youth Media Education Symposium

2009-08-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

On June 4th, 130 students and adults from Gardena, Crenshaw, Dorsey and King-Drew Medical Magnet High Schools, in addition to Audubon and Horace Mann Middle Schools, participated in a Youth Media Education Symposium sponsored by the Women of Color Media Justice Initiative (WCMJI), with generous support from the California Women’s Foundation, the Gardena High School Healthy Start Collaborative and the Harbor Gateway Neighborhood Council. The event was held at California State Dominguez Hills’ Loker Student Union. Students and youth advocates presented on such issues as media literacy and advocacy which focused on analyzing media representations of young women and men of color, addressing violence against women of color in music and video, developing positive images of masculinity and male responsibility, and dissecting media stereotypes of LGBT communities of color. King-Drew Medical Magnet students opened the sessions with a presentation on academic stereotypes of South L.A. students. Women’s Leadership Project intern Diane Arellano and students Jeimy Noguera, Veronica Serrato, Clay Wesley and Jatoya Jackson from Gardena High School presented a workshop that examined the similarities in the history of media imagery of African American women and Latinas. Shaunelle Curry and Kelley Nicole of Mother’s Day Radio, D'Anthony Allen from Peace Over Violence, and riKu Matsuda from KPFK and the L.A. County Human Relations Commission also gave presentations to an engaged audience of diverse youth. Musician Nailah Porter provided inspirational words and songs on socially responsible music for the closing debrief session. The conference was moderated by WCMJI co-founder Sikivu Hutchinson.

http://womenofcolormediajustice.blogspot.com

Mother's Day Radio Interview with Gina Rene

2009-05-01T12:17:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day Radio's exclusive artist interview with GINA RENE, multi-talented performance artist, featured in our upcoming "Ladies in White" Benefit Concert, sits down with Mother's Day Radio Executive Director, Shaunelle Curry to discuss this powerful movement to honor the value of womanhood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv-PJcyBGOg

Youth Media Education Symposium

2009-04-29T12:42:00.000-07:00

The Women of Color Media Justice Initiative
Presents

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T”
Defining Our Image, Defending Our Rights
YOUTH MEDIA EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM
South Los Angeles Partner Schools

JUNE 4, 2009
9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

LOKER STUDENT UNION
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
DOMINGUEZ HILLS
1000 E. VICTORIA STREET
CARSON, CA 90747

With generous funding from the Women’s Foundation of California and the
Gardena High School Healthy Start Collaborative

Contact info: Sikivu Hutchinson, 323-304-9578

Day of Rest and Uplift

2009-04-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

SAVE THE DATE
"Shattered Glass on the Kitchen Floor"

Friday, May 8, 2009
7-9 pm
Vegan Village Community Room
4061 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019
Cost: $10 at the door or $15 for weekend package of events

Join us for this multi-media stage presentation about the universal power of women to overcome victimization and oppression. This production looks at the transcendent power of faith and the power of identification with the Divine Feminine Archetype. Featuring dramatic readings, live music by Ms. Kelley Nicole, visual art, slide show presentation and video interviews! Proceeds to benefit the Women of Color Media Justice Initiative.

SAVE THE DATE"We Honor Our Mothers"

Saturday, May 9, 2009
8-10am
Oceanside (TBA)
Cost: Free
Please wear all white.

Join us for an ocean-side tribute to our mothers, grandmothers, sisters and daughters. We stand in proxy for women everywhere who have been victims of violence and oppression. Featuring a Forgiveness and Gratitude Circle for the women and men that we love.

SAVE THE DATE
"Ladies in White" Benefit Concert

Sunday, May 10, 2009-Monday May 11, 2009
6pm-1am
Dakota Lounge
1026 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Cost: $7 at the door or $15 for weekend package of events
Please wear all white.

Bring in Mother's Day with live music, spoken word, fresh beats, dancing, laughter and the Spirit of Love! Join us as all-female singers, musicians, djs and spoken word artists rock the stage at Catch One! Proceeds to benefit the Women of Color Media Justice Initiative.

Declaration For Honoring Womanhood

2009-04-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, April 9, 2009, a group of Los Angeles men and women, concerned about the degradation of women and girls of color, gathered together to make a personal commitment to honoring the women and girls in their lives. Thus, began the work of creating a "Declaration for Honoring Womanhood."

"I commit to allowing each woman to be who she is without judgment or condemnation."
"I commit to being a part of building communities for women of color."
"I commit to honoring my true self as a woman of color."

Hosted by Mother's Day Radio and the Women of Color Media Justice Initiative, the evening opened with a snippet of the multimedia stage presentation, "Shattered Glass on the Kitchen Floor." It included dramatic readings of excerpts taken from Shaunelle Curry's book, Shairi's Journey Through Darkness Into Light, and original music by singer/songwriter Kelley Nicole.

The evening continued with an enriching discussion on practical methods for expressing respect in our personal thoughts, words and actions toward women. We answered the question: "How do I make respect and honor practical, tangible aspects of my daily life?"

The Commitment
"I commit to try my best to speak from a place of love, not ego, when speaking, especially when there is conflict or time for critical analysis."

We created our personal commitment statements and began the work of formulating a "Declaration for Honoring Womanhood."

"I commit to coming into my own voice as a woman of color, and speaking up for what I believe in."

Respect: The Declaration, the Commitment

2009-04-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

Shaunelle Curry and singer/songwriter Kelley Nicole will discuss "Respect: The Declaration, the Commitment."

We will also give you a taste of our snippet, "Shattered Glass on the Kitchen Floor," a multi-media stage presentation, presented in part tonight, April 9, 2009 @ Vegan Village Cafe, and in full at the Los Angeles premier on Friday, May 8, 2009 (Save the Date).

Then, please join us for...
Respect: The declaration, the commitment

TONIGHT
Thursday, April 9, 20097 p.m. to 9 p.m.
@
Vegan Village Cafe's Community Room
4061 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019

One block east of Crenshaw Blvd., at the corner of Norton. Free parking in rear of building.

This interactive evening includes a snippet of "Shattered Glass on the Kitchen Floor," featuring original music by Kelley Nicole, break out groups and the creation of the "Declaration for Honoring Womanhood."
RSVP: 310-251-8123 or reply to shaunelle@mothersdayradio.com
(Hosted by Mother's Day Radio, the Women of Color Media Justice Initiative, and Some of Us Are Brave Radio

Women of Color Media Justice Initiative (WCMJI)

2009-04-13T08:54:00.000-07:00

During the spring semester of 2009 the Women of Color Media Justice Initiative (WCMJI) has partnered with Gardena High School and two other high schools to train students on media literacy and media advocacy with an emphasis on gender politics. February-March trainings featured students from GHS Life Skills, Peer Health and Government classes in addition to King-Drew Medical Magnet’s media literacy and advocacy after school class. WCMJI partners Ida B. Wells Institute, Mother’s Day Radio, the City Commission on the Status of Women and the Women’s Leadership Project have received funding from the California Women’s Foundation to do training and education on media education. Mother's Day Radio and WCMJI recruited and trained Cal State Los Angeles students to work with its high schools on deconstructing racism and sexism in the media, challenging mainstream media-influenced gender roles and examining the gender/racial politics of hip hop representation. Students who participate in the program will be involved in letter writing, drafting editorials and contacting music industry corporations and media outlets to advocate for socially responsible images in hip hop, rap and other music genres.