Workshop Descriptions

Anti-Racist Organizing

When fighting for justice there is power in knowing who you are. People of Color do know and start 10 steps ahead of white folks. In order to engage effectively, whites need to own their whiteness. We will examine our own experiences and racial attitudes, along with the history of race, to understand how whiteness is a power construct designed to privilege whites at the expense of people of color in the culture, society, and systems of the United States, and how we can work to organize around race and become anti-racist allies.

Atlanta Chapter of the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade (RCYB)

Bhrathanatyam--Indian Classical Dance (CANCELLED)

This artform is not only for American Southern girls, it's also for Indian Southern girls. It's a dance form that originiated specifically in southern India and although men are dancers, it is mostly female oriented. It is a dance form that combines beat and emotion through mimicry and recites the legends and stories of the famous epics--The Mahabharath and Ramayana--India's most treasured pieces of literature. Led by a dancer with ten years experience, Indian dance can increase your strength and endurance.

Bharathanatyam has risen from a dance done solely in temples in India to a dance form that is appreciated by millions of people--not only Indians. This workshop will detail the history of Bhrathanatyam and its roots in Hinduism, as well a "How To" workshop of some of the dance steps. It's a rigorous, fast-paced dance that not only requires concentration on physical movements, but also requires a spiritual mind-set.

Close the School of Assassins at Fort Benning, GA! (CANCELLED)

Southern Girls Can & Must... Defy The System of Terror & Violence! Work Toward a Culture of Justice & Peace! Help shut down the School of Assassins! In Colombia, 14 people per day die in political violence, & 1.5 million people have been displaced since 1985. Human rights advocates, union organizers, university students, & religious leaders are among the many people living under death threats or forced into exile. Often linked to these human rights crimes are Colombian military trained at the US Army School of the Americas (SOA), in 2001 renamed the "Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation," is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Georgia. Workshop will feature an 18-minute video, "School of Assassins: A Documentary," narrated by Susan Sarandon, followed by a group discussion.

Creative Writing for Kids

i and my 7-yo daughter chloe (author of 1 zine, many stories and a few poems) would like to get together with the other kids and mamas at the sgc this year for a workshop on kids' writing-- the writing process, illustrating, actually making it into a book or zine, etc. participants should be able to write (probably, say, age 4 and up?).

Criminalizing Women

This workshop will be similiar to last year's workshop. As a response to a statewide policy and a national trend, SCAPW works to decriminalize pregnancy, keep abortion legal, and to ensure that substance abuse and other health problems that women face during pregnancy are treated through the health care system not the criminal justice system. The workshop will discuss the intersection of the women's right, civil rights, class issues, and the war on drugs by discussing the policies affecting drug using pregnant and parenting women. This workshop will also look at holistic solutions to these issues through creative coalition building, awareness of our selves as "advocates" and using the basis of love as a touchstone for revolution. Wyndi Anderson (Executive Director), and Karen Moldovan (State Organizer) will be presenting the workshop.

Crucial Sisterhood: DIY Healthcare, Menstruation, Masturbation & Sex

This workshop is a group discussion, presentation, and how-to all in one. It begins with a short presentation reviewing diy health care, resources, birth control options, menstruation, masturbation, and sex. The workshop will end with group discussion and questions.

Current Custody Laws & the Discrimination of Non-Custodial Mothers

This workshop will consist of an lecture concerning child custody laws and group discussion. In addition, an attorney and two women will give testimonials concerning experiences will child custody.

Currently, custody laws in the United States are subjective and have become gender-biased against mothers. These laws are affecting mothers and children all across the country. Many of these decisions have their greatest impact on women in the South, minority women, and victims of domestic violence and child abuse. The institution of the Southern Mother is in jeopardy of losing to an abusive system of unchecked civil law. The leaders will present their own stories of divorce and custody in Georgia.

Dealing with Sexual Assualt within Radical Communities

I was sexual assaulted by an "anarchist" man a few years ago; this man, chris mellen, also assualt several other women. when we came out about it, supportive is not the word i would use to gauge the response. it was hard, there was no process, people didn't know how to deal with it or with us. i want to strive to make radical/leftist/liberal/anarchist communities/scenes safer spaces for survivors of assualt. i did this workshop at NCOR last year and a hella lot of people came.

A Discussion on Mental Health/Illness in Radical Communities

Mental Health and Mental Illness are two topics that seem to rarely get talked about in activist communities. There is a trend in community/political organizing to spend so much time organizing projects that activists fail to look out for the mental health of themselves and others. This is a discussion on how activists need to start talking about mental health as well as supporting each other so that we can keep organizing without fully burning out. This discussion will be focussed on sharing strategies that can be implemented in our communities so that we can all start taking better care of each other.

DIY herbal remedies (CANCELLED)

I would like to run a workshop on how to make herbal remedies at home. Examples of these would be tinctures, salves, herbal oils. Also, I would like to teach identification and proper gathering and storing techniques for wild herbs that are known to be traditional womyn's remedies. I had planned on doing this workshop at the 1999 Midwest Grrl Fest before the fest was unfortunately cancelled. I believe it is pertinent for womyn to learn to heal themselves and not pay $20 at the health food store for a remedy they can easily make at home for much less.

Ending Prisoner Rape and Challenging the Prison Industrial Complex

There are over two million people now incarcerated in U.S. prisons, and one out of every 130 people in the U.S. will serve time during their lives. The U.S. incarceration rate is the highest in the world, and those incarcerated are disproportionately people of color and poor and working class people. In fact, one out of every three African American men will spend time in prison during their lives. The number of women in state and federal prisons has increased by 92% in the last ten years. As if these numbers weren't bad enough, life in a U.S. prison is often extremely brutal, violent, and devoid of all opportunities for self-betterment, such as GED programs or college education, work skills training, reading materials, and fair pay in a unionized work environment. Instead of having a safe opportunity for reflection and self-improvement, prisoners have been regularly and widely victimized by rape and other acts of violence, both from correctional officers and from other prisoners. In several documented cases, women have been forced to endure years of sexual servitude to correctional officers, and men have been subjected to repeated gang-rapes as well as years of sexual servitude to other male prisoners. Although the majority of people in prison are serving time for breaking unjust drug laws or committing nonviolent offenses, the public still largely perceives prisoners as violent, innately criminal "human garbage" and does not care what becomes of them in prison. As social justice activists, however, we ought to care about the rights of all people and think carefully about whether our criminal justice system is securing justice or perpetuating violence, racism, classism, sexism, and homophobia. Are people leaving prison more well-adjusted, more prepared for a successful life on the outside, or are they leaving prison more battered, more violent and less prepared to make it on their own? More importantly, why are so many people of color, poor and working class, and women being incarcerated in the first place. This workshop will seek to raise participents awareness about the Prison Industrial Complex in general and prisoner rape in particular. An inspiring and educational film by Critical Resistance that situates the struggle against prisons within a broader anti-oppression framework will be shown, and handouts that explain why mass incarceration is not a viable, long-term solution to our social problems will be available.

Ending Sexual Assault: Let's Get Serious!

An interactive brainstorming session to generate practical and radical methods that can be used to work toward ending sexual assault. May include video clips. This session is about taking power and using it in ways that promote social change!

Food Not Bombs in Your Town

Poverty, and attendent problems with securing good food, are common in the South, and sexist and racist power structures result in the burden of hunger falling most heavily on women, people in minorities, and children (for whom women are usually expected to care). Local chapters of Food Not Bombs across the country collect vegan food that wouyld otherwise go to waste (as a result of being unprofitable, not unusable), and distribute it to anyone who wants it. Come learn how to start a chapter in your town, or come share your Food Not Bombs/hunger eradication expierience with others.

Get Out LOUD: Take Your Page to the Stage and Start an Open Mic!

Cliterati is an open mic in Atlanta co-operated by a couplah dykes who believe words are revolutionary kindling. The real media, information, and news today comes from speaking out and sharing our stories, performing them, and creating spaces for catharsis, relief, and Writing on! Participents should bring journals, writings, and slogans and will learn how to harness the power of self-expression.

Holistic health & nutrition

This workshop focuses on the fundamentals of a healthy diet based on natural, whole foods as well as vegan nutritional needs. Discussion of some nutritional philosophy from macrobiotics and explaination of important cooking techniques/food combinations for balanced meals that are full of essential vitamins and minerals. Focus on womens' dietary health as part of the presentation. Discussion of various issues like the economics of healthy diet, vegan ethics, ecological food choices, and more. Following Q & A session.

How to organize an abortion fund in your community

This workshop will give you the nuts and bolts needed to start an abortion fund in your community. We will talk about the need for funds, how to involve the local community, and how to get the fund up and running.

i am not my biology

This workshop is more of a mix of a how-to and a prestentation. Explanation of how Body Modification (piercing, tattooing, scarification, etc.) is something revolutionary. Further thoughts on how you can take control of your body, hence the name "i am not my biology." Also, a presentation of basic knowledge concerning piercing, sterilization procedures, etc.

"I Don't Care What You Think of My Ass:" Women Fighting Street Harassment

This workshop will be a discussion of street harassment and how it interferes with our right as women to exist freely in public spaces. Participents will brainstorm and share different techniques for organizing against and combatting street harassment. Learn how to organize a counter-harassment patrol in your own neighborhood! Women and women-identified trans only PLEASE!

Intersex: What it is and why it should concern you

We will start off defining intersex and some common intersex conditions. Then we will possibly (we should know in the next few weeks) show a video. Then Caitlin will tell her personal story of being intersexed (and possibly someone else if we can find someone) and then we will talk about why this issue should concern queers/feminists/activists and how to be an ally. We want to have time for plenty of q and a and discussion. This pertains to SGC because intersex issues are something that has been overlooked in a lot of activist circles and lots of hurtful things are said/done/implied regularly due to peoples ignorance on these issues. Intersex people are everywhere and we need to be visible and have strong allies from everyone and because of commonalities the activist community seems to be a natural place to start.

intro to flying dance trapeze!

Hey y'all, trapeze skills actually do give the practitioner the kind of characteristics that fit in with SGC's atmosphere. As someone who often fell down the stairs/bumped into stuff (for real!), was picked last in PE and was generally introverted, I can say that my years in trapeze training have given me a sense of grace, fearlessness, balance, and physical and mental strength that I have truthfully never felt before. It encouraged attention to my overall physical health, inspiring a drastic diet change and increased physical activity. As cheesy as it may sound, there is a genuine sense of play, wonder, and energy up in the air. Like any physical activity, trapeze is also great stress-reliever. I plan to teach with a partner with whom I have performed many times. There should be about 8 trapezes up, so up to 16 people -no experience/ level of fitness necessary! - can join the class, as much of the workshop will consist of partnership - very important in trapeze, especially the beginning. We would begin the class with stretching/warming up and end the class the same way. We would start close to the ground with add-on bars/belts and work our way up, becoming comfortable with the equipment and learning a few tricks, too!

It's Time to Rewrite the Budget From the Perspective of Young Women

STAND (Students Take Action for New Directions) "Young Women's Leadership Workshop" (WLW) engages women in the process of understanding the federal budget and provides tools for them to talk about it. Despite the fact that women are in the majority of US citizens and have the most at stake in federal budget priorities, they are largely underrepresented in Congress and leadership positions in this country. A nation's budget ultimately reflects the values and needs of the people. Young women in particular, are often overlooked during discussions affecting our own lives. STAND, WAND and the WLW is changing that, workshop by workshop, one voice at a time.

Keep your Laws Off My Body: Abortion, Birth Control, and Why we still have to fight!

This workshop will be a presentation and group discussion of reproductive freedom in the United States with a special focus on why girls, especially those in the South, need to be actively involved in the fight to keep freedom of choice alive! We will start with a philosopical discussion of choice, discuss current events, and finally find out all the easy ways to be an activist.

Knitting and Creative Association

This will be a craft workshop that discusses knitting, practical applications, and ways old patterns can be adapted to suit different needs and modern tastes (e.g., hats from doilies; fishnet stockings from socks; shrugs from scarves; a million uses for shawls). Handouts with tips and tricks as well as a pattern for knit fishnet stockings (my own non-copyrighted, non-published design) will be distributed.

Lame is Good: How to be an Ally to Folx with Disabilities

This workshop will be led from a disability rights perspective by both an ally and a person who uses a wheelchair. They will first discuss what disability rights means, as well as what is "ableism" and how ableism occurs in the radical community. Additional topics include how to be an effective ally to folx with disabilities and how to address ability issues as an organizer.

let's be burly! (burlesque, that is)

Organization of and rehearsal as an impromptu burlesque troupe to perform on saturday nite! all genders! Invention of some songs and dances, progression towards kinda naked if we wanted!

Making Our Voices Heard Through Writing

Helene Cixous said "Women must put herself into the text--as into the world and into history--by her own movement." I am a masters student in creatvie writing and love exploring the power of language. This workshop/discussion will focus on ways in which women can utilize writing to voice opinions, explore ideas, and express themselves creatively. We will look closely at how to break into three realms of writing: journalistic/academic, poitical letter writing, and creative writing. Then we will finish the session with a mini-poetry workshop! A packet with information, exercises, and resources will be provided.

The Other Side of Activism

This workshop is designed to present to progressive activists an overview of and hands-on experience in working on an election campaign. Participants will be presented a basic overview of campaigns and will discuss the importance of this activism. They will then participate in a simulated camapign that is designed to get them to start thinking strategically about election campaigns and the work that goes into them. Participants will then be provided with a list of opportunities to get involved in this arena.

The Political Girl's Guide to Getting to What She Wants: How to Lobby

I would like to share the lessons that I have learned from others and through my own experience lobbying. As girls we make up a larger portion of the voting population and therefore have quite a political advantage especially because of our numbers. Girls are also more likely to get out and vote. These are two key points that we as girls can use when gathering support (and votes) for important issues and legislation. I also plan to pass out some voter registration forms with a bit of FAQ in reference to that.

Power in the Paintbrush -- Creating Your Own Cartoon Dolls

Cartoon dolls are those cute little (usually) female figures adorning web pages. Unfortunately, they all too often, reflect a standard of beauty that exalts nubile white blue-eyed blond teenagers, in other words, Barbie. There is of course a solution to enjoying cartoon dolls: make your own. There are several ways to do this, and none of them are as difficult as you think. The reward is dolls that reflect your own idea of what is beautiful.

Queer and Trans Youth in the South

Queer and trans youth in the South face specific hardships--the religious atmosphere, living in rural towns, and/or not having a strong queer community (among other things). This will be a space to discuss these issues and network with other Southern queer/trans youth.

Resistance in Motion

presentation over the connections between dance and protest, especially how it pertains to women/women's lives. i want this to be a presentation and a how to (presenting some about history and then allowing people to create their own resistance through movement).

Resisting the Symbolic Order: An Ecofeminist Look at Popular Imagery

This workshop involves an ecofeminist slide show analysing patriarchal imagery (mainly from advertising). The first version of this presentation was given at last summer's Southern Girls Convention as part of a workshop on ecofeminism. Now, after travelling down to Florida and up to a few colleges and community centers in New England, it comes full circle, heavily modified, back to the SGC. The discussion will focus on how the subjugation of women is related to the subjugation of animals and the earth, and how this is evident in popular imagery. More over, there will be discussion about how to combine feminist, animal liberation, and ecological projects.

safe sex for lesbians

I have been reading through some of my friends text books for their college level health classes, and when it comes to safe sex, there is no mention of lesbian safe sex.

Sexism within Radical Communites

Jaysun and I have been working on this workshop for over a year. We have often felt that a lot of sexism workshops send a lot of time proving that sexism exists. We want to spend our time find ways to call it out, and stop it. We use the "Power + Prejudice = Oppression" equation, along with a discussion of male privelage, by someone with male privelage (jaysun) and then go into a discussion about working on it.

The Struggle to End Homophobia, Transphobia, and Sexism in Boy Scouts

Most people don't think of the Boy Scouts as a bigoted organization. Yet, the Boy Scouts of America has worked tirelessly to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, atheists, agnostics, and all those trying to create an anti-sexist scouting program that respects social justice for all people. Led by an Eagle Scout who has been active for about 10 years in the international human rights movement to create progressive social change in the Boy Scouts, this workshop will seek to explain why this fight matters, what progress has been made so far, and what YOU, as someone concerned with social justice, can do to keep the pressure on the Boy Scouts. One out of every five boys in the U.S. is in scouting, so this is a campaign that has the potential not only to radically affect the lives of millions of young people but also to send a powerful message of inclusion to the rest of society that both sexism and discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, and (lack of) religious affiliation are unethical. Handouts will be available and part of the award-winning documentary, "Scouts Honor," which details the growth and ongoing progress of the movement to make scouting truly for all people, will be shown.

Such a pretty face: a fat girl discussion

A workshop discussing being fat, loving our bodies and some of the stumbling blocks on the road to true body acceptance.

TransFeminism

Can trans-folx be feminists? Can feminists be transgender? Are transguys "selling out" by becoming men? Are feminists reinforcing the binary gender system? How do gender/queer identities influence this important dialogue? Can Transfeminism be included within feminism? How is the gender binary system connected to capitalism, sexism, racism, etc.? Come participate in an open discussion around the complexities of these two communities who are often either at one or at war. Learn about how to bring the ideas of "feminism" and "transgenderism" together in our lives and our work. Role plays and small group discussions will lead to specific action plans that attendees can bring back home to break down the walls that divide these communities. This workshop connects this important dialogue to work towards social justice and social change in feminist and transgender communities.

The Truth and Lies About Self Defense

This workshop will focus on women's self-defense and empowerment. Participents will learn options in self defense based on women's and girl's self defense success stories.

Underground Community Spaces

Led by young queer activists in Richmond, Virginia who moved into a warehouse and started running a queer action center but were later kicked out by the city. This workshop will be a discussion of their experiences running an underground-ish community center, with the hope that it turns into a group discussion.

Uses and abuses of psychoanalysis for feminism

some of the most interesting and radical alternatives to the theorizing and performance of gender and sexuality emerge from the intersection of feminisms and psychoanalyses. however, latent in certain feminist psychoanalytical approcahes is a profound psycho-political conservatism (often a covert essentialism) couched in seductively liberatory rhetoric. thus, in a lecture/discussion format we will endeavor to explore the uses and abuses of psychoanalyses for feminisms.

War Zone: Film Screening and Discussion

Showing of the film War Zone and post discussion about Street Harassment.

What's a boy to do?

Boys working for social justice usually recognize the need to support the feminist struggle for women's liberation. However, we often don't know what to do. At best, "anti-sexist" or "pro-feminist" men's groups remain at the level of intellectualized abstractions about masculine psychology or social theory, or else are mired in support-group environments where men talk about their "feelings" in a private setting rather than taking serious action to undermine male supremacy, whether in themselves or in the surrounding society. After a brief discussion of some of the traditional pitfalls of men's activism, I want to open up a discussion about moving beyond these limited and limiting roles for boys in their attempts to undermine male supremacy. The emphasis will be on brainstorming practices for changing both the individual boy and the culture around him, with a view towards a comprehensive attack on the institutions of patriarchy. In order to support this much needed progress, we will prioritize:

• Concrete, simple action over intellectualized analysis or psychologized "feelings"
• Changing both the boy himself and the culture around him, over purely private or purely "activist" work
• Every-day progress over one-off grandstanding activism

Finally, I hope to build from this brainstorming by strategizing collective efforts that we in the workshop can begin to work on in order to further our progress and coordinate efforts of anti-sexist men.

Women and Work: The Ugly Face of Welfare Reform

I would like to present an overview of the recent debates in Congress about revisions to the 1996 Welfare Reform Act, and discuss how such changes will impact women in the South. The true experience of welfare recipients will be discussed - demographics, service constraints, and barriers to attaining sustainable work and adequate education and training. I will conclude with suggestions for activism beyond letter-writing campaigns - how to work for meaningful reforms and activities that could have a real impact in bettering the lives of low-income women in the South.

Women Artists througout History

A presentation of the plight and fight of women artists throughout history. Hope for a lively discussion after a slide/talk.

Women in the Media

Women's involvement in the media is essential for the democratization of media and continuing social justice movement. The presenter will bring many examples of women in media (mostly focused on print media, unfortunately), and will present different ways women have empowered themselves and will discuss with attendees the nature of women within alternative media settings and mainstream media. Will also discuss tips for women to get involved with media. Discussion based.

Women Living Intentionally: Communtes Still Exist

We are part of an intentional community called Acorn and also members of the Federation of Intentional Communities. While our communities are not devoted to women, we are all feminist and approach our daily living with feminism in mind. Unfortunatly, in many cases the communities tend to be skewed 60/40 in favor of men. We would like to put the word out there to more women that there are other ways of living besides in a corporate male dominated society. Plus we're in the south!

Women Power in Performance Poetry

Lecture led by a performance poet who has written several pieces that deal with eating disorders and body image. Cindy will perform these pieces and share CD recordings of other womens' performances. Emphasizes how to perform a poem, as well as incorporates the idea that your performance can be used to create a one-wo/man play that has the potential to change an audience member's mind because of your perspective on a topic. Illustrates the potential this art has to teach people through sharing work from minority women--ranging from ethnic differences to ones of size and even age-ism. Draws from Lawrence Grossberg's theories on the notion of affect. The presentation will be entertaining, empowering, and educational. Led by a composition instructor from the University of South Florida who has presented this particular lecture at the 2001 New England Writers Conference.

Womyn's Health Collectives

Liberate yourself from patriarchal coorporate health care. Take control of your body! This skill-share will address aspects of creating and maintaining a womyn's health self-help collective. Topics may include: menstrual alternatives, fertility awareness, pelvic exams, STD's, herbal supplements, birth control alternatives, pregnancy, and abortion alternatives such as herbs and menstrual extraction.

Writing and Rapping about Religion, Politics, and Sex

My mother and I would like to run this workshop as a space for those who write about or want to write and talk about current issues pertaining to religion, politics, and sex. We came upon the idea while discussing her teenage life and she mentioned "Rap groups" which were small community based groups that discussed, wrote, and sung about the issues of the day. I realized that as culture we had very few of these "rap" groups left and that this was a tragedy for modern southern activism because it was in those groups that much of feminism and other grassroots movements started. The aim of the workshop is to allow people to read their own peices, express their opinions, and finally to compile a list of individuals who would like to start somee regularly meeting "Rap" group here in Athens. This group would meet bi-monthly and function as a space for practicing ideas and work we would like to present to the public and a networking space for the active and opinionated.