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15184: Minsky: 3/22-Dwa Fanm "Voices of Women"-Bklyn Museum of Art (fwd)
From: "tminsky@ix.netcom.com" <tminsky@ix.netcom.com>
Dwa Fanm Celebrates the Voices of Women Mar 22, 2-6PM
Introductions and excerpts to the films of eight
Haitian women directors, live music performances and reception.
http://www.dwafanm.org 718-230-4027
Brooklyn Museum of Art
200 Eastern Parkway,
corner of Washington Ave, near the #2 or #3 subway Brooklyn stop
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Dwa Fanm ("Women's Rights") Celebrates The Voices of Women
and Haitian Women Survivors of Violence
The voices of women, the voices of Haitian women, will be heard
on March 22 at the Brooklyn Museum of Art from 2:00 PM-6:00 PM when the
organization Dwa Fanm meaning "Women's Rights" in Haitian Creole
acknowledges its 3rd year and Women's History Month.
The Museum celebratory event and benefit "Voices of Women" will
highlight
excerpts from eight films directed by Haitian women. The films are
concerned with women's struggles, racism and gender oppression,
homosexuality and voodoo, class and economics, child prostitution
and child labor.
Dwa Fanm is an organization dedicated to eradicating all forms of
discrimination, injustice and violence against Haitian women and girls.
Its mission: empowerment for women and girls to live as equal
individuals in order to participate in all aspects of life.
The organization advocates for Haitian emigrants, helps them
understand their rights and traverse their new situation.
A community organizer, a social worker supervisor, a case worker
are part of their seven person staff assisted by Master's and
undergraduate college interns.
One of Dwa Fanm's major programs is HAVH, Haitians Against
Violence at Home. It is the first organization in the New York area
that addresses issues of domestic violence for Haitian women. Visits
and referrals, counseling, accompaniment to court, housing resources,
emergency shelter referral and funds and play therapy for children are
part of their services. Peer education is part of the program also.
Women meet their case managers at a confidential location in Brooklyn.
The administrative office is in Park Slope. All field staff are
bilingual.
West Indian and French-speaking African women have made use of Dwa
Fanm's resources in addition to Haitian women.
The Survivors Advisory Board, nine survivors of violence, of childhood
sexual abuse, rape, political violence in Haiti, and domestic violence
advise Dwa Fanm's general board and staff. They are seriously active. They
are working with the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence and the
NYPD
Headquarters to develop a training curriculum for police responding to
domestic violence calls in the community. They are also organizing to
affect policy that prevents victims of domestic violence from getting
public housing because of a past legal history.
They have organized in family courts in all five boroughs to insure
that written domestic violence legal materials are also available
in Haitian Creole.
Dwa Fanm's executive director Ms. Farah Tanis cautions, "When people
in the United States think of survivors of domestic violence they
automatically think, 'poor, uneducated, and disadvantaged.' Women of
domestic violence represent a diverse group across class and education
lines."
The Survivors Advisory Board includes a radio talk show host, an
economics major at Fordham University, a Pace University law student, a
security guard, a receptionist, an administrator, and a mother and a
housewife.
In June the Advisory Board will be doing street theatre and interactive
skits with the communities in parks and bus stops and at vegetable
stands in East Flatbush, Flatbush, Crown Heights, and Midwood.
"We want women to know we're a resource," says staff member Molly
Houston, hoping that Dwa Fanm's outreach can include public
service notices in public venues such as the subways.
"We're also meeting at schools, churches, and community based
organizations to let people know we're here."
Past years' benefits have helped build community awareness while raising
funds to help women victims of violence in Haiti and New York and
have helped support and raise funds for feminist organizations and other
groups committed to the survival, respect and dignity of Haitian women
and girls.
"We're interested in expanding in all areas of women's rights," says
Ms. Houston. Child domestic abuse and girls empowerment education
including workshops on sexual abuse prevention and self-defense classes
for girls are future projects the organization wants to develop.
Saturday's benefit includes a reception, live musical performances
and raffles. Filmmaker Laurence Magloire will be present with her film
Of Men and Gods (the intersection of homosexuality and Haitian vodou)
and filmmaker Michele Stephenson will present excerpts from Faces of
Change (individuals from 5 countries shoot their own stories at home
and at the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa.)
Starting on March 26 at 5:30 pm and then for the following 5 consecutive
Thursdays at Brooklyn Central Library Grand Army Plaza the previewed
entirety. films by the Haitian women filmmakers will be screened in
their. Ticket holders will be given priority seating.
"Voices of Women is our third event," says Dwa Fanm's Board Chair
Professor Carole Charles. "This event is to amplify women's voices,
promote women's work, and acknowledge their activism, their struggles,
and their achievements." Dwa Fanm will inaugurate its newsletter
Fanm Vanyan, "Brave Women", at the event.
Tickets can be ordered from http://www.dwafanm.org or 718-230-4027.
The Saturday, March 22 event will be at Brooklyn Museum of Art,
200 Eastern Parkway, corner of Washington Ave,
near the #2 or #3 subway Brooklyn Museum stop.
Discounts are available for museum members, seniors, and
students.
Dwa Fanm presents VOICES of WOMEN
Brooklyn Museum of Art
Saturday, March 22 2-6PM
Perforances by jazz singer Myriam Augustin and Alix (Buyu) Ambroise,
Eddy Bourjolly, Robert (Bob) Raymond and Sergo Decius, and songstress,
Sandra Lebrun. Reception.
Ticket reservations: 718-230-4027 http://www.dwafanm.org
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