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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
 ---

 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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