The Downtown Eastside Power of Women Group Launches “In Our Own Voices” Writing Project!
The Downtown Eastside Power of Women Group is launching the In Our Own
Voices writing project in June 2011. After a six-week period of intensive
writing, we are ready to share our stories about hope, struggle, love and
resistance in the Downtown Eastside.
During the month of June 2011, you will find twelve exclusive stories from
In Our Own Voices on the Vancouver Media Co-op. A new story will be posted
every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday starting on June 6th. Week one will
feature the journeys that have brought women to the Downtown Eastside,
week two will draw attention to child apprehension and violence against
women, week three will explore daily life – from working the street to
police brutality – on skid row, and week four will highlight ongoing
issues of homelessness and poverty in our neighbourhood.
The stories will be available here:
http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/author/dtes-power-women-group
In Our Own Voices includes writings by B, Charlene, Courtney, Debbie V,
Diane, Joan Morelli, Karen Lahey, Madeline A, Pat, Pearly May, Shurli
Chan, and Stella August. The project is facilitated by Harsha Walia and
edited by Harsha Walia, Nassim Elbardouh, and Dawn Paley.
Support for “In Our Own Voices”
“The stories of the Downtown Eastside must be told and who better to tell
them than the women of the DTES – the incredible beauty of the area must
be revealed in the writing of these women.”
– LEE MARACLE, acclaimed author of Ravensong, I am Woman, Bobbi Lee-Indian
Rebel, and Bentbox.
“The publication of these voices is vital, as we enter into yet another
phase of capitalist austerity, poor-bashing, and victim-blaming. Speaking,
witnessing, and storytelling are perhaps the strongest tools we have to
resist a system meant to keep most people weak and passive. These voices
from the Power of Women Group are resistance in action. Heed them. The
path to freedom starts here.”
- WAYDE COMPTON, author of After Canaan, Performance Bond, Bluesprint, and
49th Parallel Psalm.
“Courageous and honest, the Downtown Eastside Power of Women Group shares
hard stories of survival. Voicing their experiences, these women keep
alive the possibility of justice and love in community. Listen, tremble,
and learn.”
- RITA WONG, award-winning author of sybil unrest, forage, and monkeypuzzle
Linked here: http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/newsrelease/7375
About the Downtown Eastside Power of Women Group:
We are a trans-inclusive group of women who live in the Downtown Eastside
of Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories, the poorest off-reserve postal
code in Canada. We are or have been homeless; living in shelters and on
the streets. Many of us are single mothers or have had our children
apprehended due to poverty; most of us have chronic physical or mental
health issues; many have drug or alcohol addictions; and a majority have
experienced sexual violence and mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional
abuse. For Indigenous women, we are affected by the racist legacy of
residential schools. We are from all walks of life, surviving in extreme
poverty and building a family with each other.
For more information about the DTES Power of Women Group:
DTES Power of Women Group on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/?sk=group_95044879752
Email: project@dewc.ca or Phone: 604 681 8480 x 234