Fighting back

When I'm mildly peeved about a social issue, I put on some Ani DiFranco or Amy Ray and sing along.  When I'm royally and uncontrollably pissed, I put on this odd mix of Rage Against the Machine and Holly Near, turn it up to 11, sing along raucously, and stomp around my apartment waving my fist in the air (my landlord thankfully doesn't live in the complex, otherwise he would be regretting renting to me).  The Holly song I posted is the one she sang at the very first Take Back the Night.  I've grown to like her music, but before I heard her music, I loved her social activism!  The woman was a freakin' powerhouse and remains so today!

However, I posted the Holly song not because I am royally pissed but rather because I'm pretty re-invigorated.  I went to (and volunteered at!) the advocate national conference, and it was unbelievable! I met social service professionals from all 50 states, including a lady who works at the national Office on Violence Against Women (how much would I like that job??) and representatives from state coalitions around the country.  It feels unbelievable to know that I am part of something bigger than just my center and me.

The keynotes were incredible.  The first one, Cassandra Thomas, is the director of the Houston Women's Center, and she was powerful and aggressive.  Cassandra began her speech by saying, "I'm here to speak the truth.  It might not be your truth, but it is true for me.  It might piss you off, but frankly, I didn't come here to make you feel good.  That's what chocolate is for."  All 1,200+ attendees watched in rapt attention as she then demanded that we revive our outrage and our anger.  "When did we lose the sense that the world could change?" she asked.  Her speech challenged us advocates to move beyond working on an individual, social service basis and instead to work toward a society where abuse was neither tolerated nor condoned.  She demanded that we examine the underpinnings of our society that created the conditions for abuse to occur, such as sexism, racism, classism, and heterosexism.  It was very much like Paul Kivel's keynote at my panel, only even more passionate and aggressive.  I really felt re-invigorated after the keynote.  As a fundraiser, I always try to attract people to our work by getting them to think about the necessity of our services and the need to create a safer and fairer society.  I feel that connecting on that level is mutually beneficial, and luckily for me, many funders do understand the need for our social services and our prevention efforts to prevent abuse from ever happening.  That said, I really was struck when Cassandra said, "I want all of your rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters to eventually achieve your own non-existence!"  At this point, I wanted to jump up and scream YES!  As much as I love the two centers I've been blessed to work at, I would indeed see our main goal as to no longer be needed.  Can it be done?  I am not sure, but I believe that with all of our efforts, we could indeed help to make that happen.  The women who were at the Seneca Falls Conference to get women the right to vote did not know when women would be enfranchised, but they worked tirelessly (even facing arrest and torture) to make that happen.  In fact, only one woman who had been one of the attendees was alive to see the 19th Amendment passed.  But they kept fighting because they knew suffrage would not only benefit them but also their children, children's children, and people all over the United States. 

The same is true for preventing violence.  I don't know when we will come to the point when all of our centers will serve as reminders of a time past because they are no longer needed.  But I'm definitely working toward that.  My sisters and brothers in advocacy are too.