DC feminists - hating on domestic violence

DVRP is fab, please support them! They're also hiring PAID bilingual advocates, so apply by 8/25! More here.

Event announcement:

Please join the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP) for a Yard Sale and Bake Sale to support survivors of domestic violence in the greater D.C. area. We are selling a ton of stuff - lots of clothes, books, baby items, shoes, bags, furniture, etc.

Here are the details:

Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Corner of 18th Street, NW and Columbia Road, NW in Adams Morgan. In front of SunTrust Bank.

A little about DVRP:
DVRP’s mission is to address and prevent domestic violence in Asian/Pacific Islander communities in the Washington, DC metropolitan area through a three-pronged approach:

To ensure that abused A/PI women have access to culturally and linguistically responsive resources in order to make their own life choices;

To raise awareness about the problem of domestic violence; and

To unite A/PI communities against domestic violence.

We will have more information about DVRP at the yard sale and information about donations, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming events. You can also visit DVRP's website at www.dvrp.org.

Photo credit: bobster855 on Flickr

PAID opportunity for API activists in DC!

The Asian/Pacific-Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project is seeking bilingual advocates to assist survivors of domestic violence. Advocates earn $20/hour and receive extensive training.

The application deadline is August 25, 2009, so apply now and forward this info to other folks who would be interested!

Photo credit: ben pollard on Flickr

Landmine pageant cancelled

While I think that we can all agree that beauty pageants are generally not a feminist event, there's one that I think might be actually a good idea. In an effort to empower women injured in landmine explosions, a group in Cambodia organized a pageant for the women.

The event was organized to raise awareness of the terrible and devastating impact landmines have on human lives. Unfortunately, the Cambodian government has canceled the event. It's really too bad. These women's lives were permanently changed by landmines, and I think that it is a good idea to celebrate these women not only for surviving but for also believing in their own beauty and worth.

You should look through the photos of the women. They are incredible. I think that this also exposes how ridiculous the construction of beauty is on our country when we think about how some women waste hundreds of dollars and minutes lamenting the fact that they have visible pores when there are women who have gone through an awful accident and lost limbs and still feel that they are beautiful.

And they should believe that they are beautiful, because they are. It makes me sad that these women have been denied an opportunity that would have empowered them, and raised awareness of a serious problem.
Photo courtesy of www.flickr/worldbank

Lights, camera, activist!

Are you an aspiring feminist filmmaker?

DC Asian Pacific American Film is hosting free filmmaking workshops this summer for folks 16-19 years old. Applications are due June 15, and are available at www.apafilm.org.

If you're already a seasoned filmmaker, the 10th Annual DC Asian Pacific American (APA) Film Festival will be held this October. The deadline for film submissions has been extended to May 23, 2009, so apply soon. If you participate, let us know how it goes!