[Wamvan] DTES Women "In Our Own Voices" Writing launches!

[Harsha W.]

Linked here: http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/newsrelease/7375

- pls forward widely -

The Downtown Eastside Power of Women Group Presents “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


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 at dewc.ca or Phone: 604 681 8480 x 234

Some of what we have been doing recently:

A short film “Survival, Strength, Sisterhood: Power of Women in the
Downtown Eastside”
http://vimeo.com/19877895

Campaign for “No More Stolen Sisters: Safe Shelters, Safe Housing, Safe
Services” which has recently forced the provincial government to commit
funding to a 24-hour low barrier shelter for women!
http://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/campaign-no-more-stolen-sisters-safe-shelters-safe-housing-safe-services/

“Power of Women: Building Change at the Grassroots”, featured on Rabble.ca
http://rabble.ca/news/2011/04/power-women-building-change-women-grassroots


The DTES Power of Women Group Believes:

1. Safe, supported, and long-term affordable housing should be available
immediately. This housing should be controlled, maintained, and directed
by residents of the DTES.

2. Women who are survivors of violence, especially those with children,
should be given high priority for affordable housing.

3. No housing units, including supportive housing and special-needs
residential facilities, should be exempt from the Residential Tenancy Act.

4. Rent controls as well as price controls on foods and other basic
necessities.

5. No condominium development in the DTES and an immediate moratorium on
conversions of low-income housing into tourist, student, or market rental
housing. No one should be forcibly evicted or displaced from their homes
due to gentrification.

6. An end to police ticketing and violence.

7. All women should have access to subsidized childcare instead of
apprehending children due to poverty.

8. A community-driven and independent provincial public inquiry into the
missing and murdered women should be established immediately.

9. Social assistance rates should be increased by 40 percent, and barriers
to accessing assistance should be removed.

10. All levels of government should implement a living wage of at least
$16 per hour.