October 2021 Update: The work of, and for, women

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Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00
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October @ SOVI

Two photos are stacked on top of one another. The top photo is a famous picture by Fred W. McDarrah, of a women's march in 1970. In the black and white photo, about thirty women hold a huge banner reading "Women of the World Unite." Below them, a crowd raises their fists in solidarity. The bottom photo shows a women's march from 2020, where two women up front hold a banner also reading "Women of the World Unite." FEATURE INTERVIEW

To acknowledge Women’s History Month in "Canada", we decided to turn our feature interview over to the SOVI team. We wanted to share with our community the organizations and groups working in intersectional, feminist ways that inspire us in our work. So, we prompted everyone with one question...

What's an organization focused on uplifting, advocating for, and/or supporting women that inspires you in your work?

Here's how SOVI responded.

CB:

An organization that inspires me and my work is the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, which focuses on providing self-identifying women with basic necessities as well as capacity-building workshops and cultural programs. They are also dedicated to research and policy reform, such as through their collaboration on Red Women Rising, a project spearheaded by Indigenous women in the DTES that documents their experiences with colonialism and state-sanctioned violence, as well as their resilience.

CE:

The organization I first thought of the Victoria Women in Need Community Cooperative. Their programs provide women, trans, non-binary and Two Spirit people with practical and empowering support along their own journey between crisis, financial self-sufficiency and wellness. They are a great example of a community based non-profit that uses a business and cooperative model to create sustainable change for marginalized women here in Victoria.

JL:

The Vancouver Women's Health Collective is a non-profit shelter based in Downtown Eastside. It serves as a safe place for self-identified wom*n who are street-involved and provides resources such as hygiene products, clothing, healthcare, and group classes. The collective is run through a collaborative approach and this is only made possible by the incredibly selfless volunteers and directors. Their programs are gender-inclusive, pro-choice, culturally safe, and feminist-based.

JT:

VIDEA is an organization based out of "Victoria" that is constantly producing resources, programming, events, and educational opportunities that work both locally and globally. I learned about VIDEA through working at SOVI, and I look to this organization as inspiration for creating accessible, equitable, and feminist communications content. VIDEA focuses on climate and gender justice, decolonization, international development, anti-racism and beyond, and I am blown away by their team’s ability to handle such a diversity of issues with care and success. They are leading the way in how organizations can work in new, just ways that contradict the colonial history of this work, and I admire them for it.

RL:

The Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Colour (SNIWWOC), founded in "Victoria," constantly inspires me. I was introduced to their work through Ruth Nakalyowa, our former co-chair and now community advisor, and have followed their work ever since. The services that they offer, and the community that they build- and, perhaps more importantly, the way in which these are built and communicated- bring me such learning as a white woman working towards deepening my understanding of my place and space in the work of social justice.


Inter Pares, based in "Ottawa" but with counterparts around the world, prioritizes working in a feminist way. While the organization doesn't only focus on women, their work supporting women's leadership and their thoughtful use of feminist approaches has been a source of inspiration to me in my work for a long time. Working for global equality, and in a practice of solidarity in all parts of their organization, Inter Pares has given me insight and applicable examples of how to do good work in a good way.

CHAPTER NEWS

The SOVI team has welcomed two new team members, Bryan Benner and Marianne Much! Bryan is acting as a Program Analyst, and quickly getting to know all things SOVI. He is currently wrapping up his Masters degree in Sociology from University of Victoria, where he has focused on HIV/AIDS, vulnerable populations, and social movements. Marianne is joining us as an Administration and Operations Assistant, and is leading the way in organizing our internal structure and processes. Marianne holds a Masters degree in English Literature from UVic, and is passionate about justice, equity, and breaking down heteronormativity and cissexism. It’s been so rewarding to continue to strengthen the SOVI team and benefit from the knowledge, lived experiences, and skills of these folks.

In September, SOVI hosted (You)th Talks: Intersections and Climate Justice. This panel was facilitated by the inspiring community movers Sage Lacerte, Emily Lowan, and Maya Mersereau-Liem. It was a fulfilling and educational discussion around how young people can continue to address climate change meaningfully, and in an anti-oppressive, decolonized way, and we thank all participants!

The SOVI Unconference has been postponed until early 2022, which means there’s still time to be our Unconference Coordinator! If you have a background in developing community-led online events, and have knowledge of the nonprofit and/or international field, reach out! Compensation is $1000. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to connect.

RECENTLY

Image shows the statue of Nellie McClung in Ottawa, as she proudly holds the newspaper reading Image shows a piece of art representing the international day of the girl. This abstract painting shows three figures in motion, holding hands. They are different colours of green, blue, red, pink, yellow, and purple. Around them are animals and shapes. There are doodle-like flowers, waves and trees too.

Today is Persons Day, the commemoration of the historic day in 1929 when some women were included in the legal definition of ‘persons’ from the highest court of appeal. It was brought on by the action of the Famous Five, a group of women activists. This decision was monumental in facilitating the participation of women in public life, and helping women to further mobilize their work of fighting for women’s issues and rights, which we benefit from today. Though, many women weren’t included in this landmark decision. Women of colour were notably excluded, and many historians have pointed to the specific exclusion of Indigenous women and Asian women, two groups whose identities were particularly criminalized at the time of the Persons Case in the late 1920s. When celebrating history, it is equally important to critically ask: who was excluded, and why? This Persons Day, consider reading about the women Dr. Lynn Gehl has coined the Indigenous Famous Five. These women have worked “for decades to eliminate the sex discrimination that Indigenous women and First Nations have had to, and continue to have to, endure at the hands of Canada’s racist and sexist oppressive colonial laws.”

October 11th was International Day of the Girl. Globally, it’s a time to recognize the power, rights and potential of girls, whilst bringing attention and directing resources to how we can support them. The UN, World Health Organization and UNICEF focused on the digital divide girls face, especially evident since the onset of COVID-19. Plan International Canada highlighted the importance of access to critical information, and how to get involved to take action. Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan launched an educational awareness campaign to mobilize folks to pay attention to the plight of girls in Afghanistan, who have been barred from secondary schools by the Taliban. Last week, 200 Afghan girls arrived in Canada as refugees. Locally and globally, it is the responsibility of all folks working in nonprofit and international development fields to learn about the disproportionate human rights abuses girls face, and how we can help.

WHAT'S NEXT...

  • Belonging in Victoria: Muslim Voices for Change I October 19th I Canadian Urban Institute

    • Inspired by the National Summit on Islamaphobia in July, this local event gathers Muslim women from the community to explore themes of Islamophobia, belonging, racism and safety, by sharing their local and global everyday experiences. The panel will also offer recommendations for meaningful action on addressing ongoing faith-based hate, racism and colonialism on the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples.

    • Details at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_f03G48i9RN6o2eK9oHRzBA
  • Workshops: Understanding Consent Culture + Supporting Survivors | October - December | The Anti-Violence Project

    • The Anti-Violence Project seeks to address and end gender-based and sexualized violence. These workshops are filled with opportunities for discussion and learning new practical skills. Whether you’re learning about consent and support for the first time or these are topics you’re familiar with, these workshops offer the chance to cover some basics and dive into the nuances. All our workshops are open to anyone – students, faculty, staff and community members.

    • Details and registration, here: https://www.antiviolenceproject.org/support-training/
  • Anti-Racism Every Day Conversations: Invisible Disabilities I October 19th I Anti-Racism Every Day
  • Cultural Appropriation Townhall I October 28th I SNIWWOC

    • This event aims to highlight the objectification of Indigenous culture, and the stereotypical perception of Indigenous people and People of Colour. Join to hear about what cultural appropriation is, why it can be problematic, and questions you can ask yourself to find if you are contributing to cultural appropriation. We would like to discuss how appropriation gives people the privilege to wear another's culture, without having to face the discrimination that members of the culture endure for doing the same.

    • Register here: https://www.sniwwoc.ca/events/2021/10/13/culturalappropriationtownhall
  • Settlement Orientation Online Workshops by ICA I October -November I Inter-Cultural Association
    • The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria hosts online workshops to build community, and help folks settle into the city. Join ICA in a series of weekly online workshops focused on settlement orientation, including information on housing, financial literacy, employment and schooling. These easy-to-access workshops are a great opportunity to get to know Victoria, and meet your community!
    • For more information, visit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SVOLvZAbe-m-V8gRwbF434SOUCDOfYjB/view

  • VIDEA's Youth Conference I November 18-19 I VIDEA

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

"I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. … We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back."

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SOVI is based on the stolen lands of the Lək̓ʷəŋən Peoples (known by the colonial name of Victoria, BC). To contact us directly, please write us at r34.

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