July 8th Recap

Today's show prominently featured the musical stylings of Alixa and Naima a duo from Brooklyn who together are known as climbing poetree. I was introduced to their work at a conference in Washington D.C. and also saw them perform last year at the Toronto Women's Bookstore as part of the Prisoner's Justice Film Festival. I didn't get a chance to talk about their S.T.I.T.C.H.E.D. workshop on the program today, so I leave it up to the listeners to visit their website and learn more about the amazing work these beautiful wimmin are doing - really, they will blow your mind.

We also highlighted two current space issues that particularly affect women in Toronto. First, we discussed the Association of Part-Time Undergraduate Students' (APUS) fight for space at the University of Toronto. This is the second time in one year that APUS, a student union comprised largely of women, is facing eviction by the University. In 2006 the community rallied around APUS and forced the University to offer an alternative space; we need the community to once again come together and support APUS so that we can now keep what we have worked so hard to gain. Show your support by coming out to the APUS BBQ Wednesday July 11th 4:30PM @ 100 Devonshire where you will be regailed with dj's, free food, performances and speakers!

The Women Against Poverty Collective (WAPC) are also engaging in a fight for space, especially space for women who are fleeing abusive situations. At our most recent action on June 3rd, our efforts to bring attention to the issue of women abuse and lack of housing for survivors were brutally silenced with the use of police force. One of the women involved in this peaceful action was arrested and will have her first court date Tuesday July 8th 2:00PM @ College Park courtroom. If you feel strongly that women have the right to speak out against women abuse please come out to support Franscesca at her court appearance. We are also having a rally and media conference starting at 11AM on July 19th outside of police headquarters at 40 College St @ Yonge. There will be several speakers and performances, and women are invited to join us out and speak out about their own experiences with underpolicing/overpolicing at our open mic.

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