I’d like to spread this on in order to give a glimpe of my trip to New Orleans a few weeks ago. This year, the Vagina Warrior Workshop (VWW) (formerly the Regional Empowerment Workshop), sponsored by yummy (actually, yes, it was) LUNA bar and co-sponsored by delicious (a little fruity, a little tangy!) HER energy drink, was held at Tulane University in New Orleans, November 18th, 2006.
I was the intern note-taker, writing feverishly in my moleskin journal. It was good practice for interviews to come, I’m sure! Eve stated why New Orleans in particular at the beinning of the workshop: “I wanted to bring America to New Orleans and keep our eyes on this. Or else the people will be forgotten…we aren’t free, we aren’t safe, until they are. I hope that you reach out, connect up, do something in your own community.”
The Newcomb College Center for Research on Women at Tulane and the New Orleans Women’s Studies Consortium not only co-sponsored the event but lent their expertise, their commitment and their passion to the workshop. I’m also grateful to the Department of Housing and Residence Life at Tulane University for offering us comfortable (inexpensive) accommodation in their dorm rooms. (I got a single, which I was happy about.)
The following is excerpted from an email from the V-Day organizers:
For those of you who could not make it we wanted to offer you a brief recap off our time in New Orleans and the issues discussed in the workshop. Thank you Jean M. Beebe for lending us some of your notes for this recap!(Continue reading…)
Friday night, November 17th was a night of celebration. The fabulous Vagina Warriors at The Newcomb College Center for Research on Women welcomed us all with ‘Vagination,’ a Vagina Warrior Dance Party that offered organizers the chance to meet and mingle with Vagina Warriors from around the country. The night included amazing food, a great DJ and dancing by all! It was a fantastic way to break the ice and get everyone excited about the following day’s workshop.
At 9am on Saturday, November 18th, we all headed over to the Rogers Memorial Chapel to begin the day. With everyone sitting cozily on the floor in a large circle, Eve Ensler and Cecile Lipworth gave an update on V-Day, the number of events we have registered so far (878 events), our plans for 2007 (Beirut, Africa, Haiti) and our big plans for 2008 (V-Day’s 10th Anniversary at the Superdome).
We continued the workshop by asking each of the 50 organizers two questions: What are you most afraid of? And, Why are you involved with V-Day? The exercise brought everyone together and raised issues that would then be addressed in the remainder of the day.
“I’m afraid that we’re not doing something progressive. I’m afraid of non-feminists.” Amy, Tulane University
“I’m most afraid that people won’t get it. That they’ll come and just go home.” Elyse, Western Ontario
“I’m doing it for my own Latino community. I want to give them a voice.” Veronica, Austin
“My goal is to have an equal number of men and women at our performances this year.” Ryan, University of Central Missouri:
“I fear that women in the show will see this as a production, nothing more.” Patrice, Maryland
“I fear for the future of my city.” Susana, Loyola University
“I’m here because of my grandmother. It’s not against men. It’s against violence.” Bailey, Coe College, IA
“No one is alone. Your stories do blend together. I’m coming out as a feminist.” Erin, IL State University
Following a short break, organizers and V-Day staff returned to discuss topics that were brought up in the mornings exercise. We also used this time for Q&A with Eve and organizers had a chance to ask all the questions and concerns that they and their V-Teams had regarding their V-Day production. Topics included facing resistance from the community/school as well as family members and friends; and bringing the mission of V-Day to their colleges and communities.
V-Day staff offered suggestions and comments on V-Leadership, education/awareness opportunities, bringing the mission of V-Day to their colleges and communities, working with diverse members of the community and dealing with facing resistance:
Ideas and comments expressed regarding resistance were:
Honor people’s opinions. Get a “why” out of them.
It’s their right. We get to do what we want to do. It’s not canceling out someone’s point of view, but allowing two points of view.
Anytime someone resists you, it’s an opportunity for discussion. It’s all about finding a new context for truth.
Don’t do it on your own, ask for help!
Some important messages to remember about V-Day, why you do it and why others are drawn to it were also presented by Eve:
The bulk of V-Day is a grassroots movement. You all spread this movement.
Everyone in this world is a Vagina Warrior. We made a decision to use this play. There’s a shift in our consciousness, a shift in our laws, the way we treat each other. In the worldwide community there’s a common purpose we share, a model of how the world should work.
We’ve never said that we’re going to tell you what you need. It’s all about how we support the work that goes on. Trust that women know what they want. Who knows better than you how to fix your community?
Ask people, ‘What can we do for you?’”
Have transparency within your cast and crew. “I’m all for transparency. We have to be transparent about everything. It’s my favorite new word.”
You are surrounded by fierce, wild women who could be really damaged. This is about love and asking yourself ‘How do you help loving people through the pain?’
Eve then took time to talk about the 2007 Spotlight on ‘Women in Conflict Zones’ and the 2007 theme, ‘Reclaiming Peace.’ “It’s about peace in home. In your community. In the world.” We held a brainstorming session on ways to incorporate this year’s theme in their colleges and communities. Some ideas included: Putting pink poster boards on the walls outside the theatre, so the audience can jot down “ideas for peace” as they enter and exit, and posing the question “What does your vagina have to do with world peace?” to cast and crew as well as audience members.
At this time Eve read for the first time the new 2007 Spotlight Monologue, “What Happened to Peace?” which is now available on the V-Spot.
Organizers heard from V-Day’s sponsor LUNA Bar representative Brook Golden who again urged organizers to get in touch with LUNA for products for free LUNA bars for their events and host LUNAFEST movie festivals.
With an hour left to the workshop, everyone broke off into teams of 5 and were asked to how we as Vagina Warriors could help move our communities into a world of peace. The groups met for the duration of the workshops and presented their ideas at the evening’s dinner.
The workshop concluded with a circle in which we all said one word that expressed what it would be like to live in a world without violence. Free, safe, strong, blessed, powerful, creative, open, warm, tranquil, peaceful, forgiving and caring were some of the words spoken.
The workshop was followed by a reading and signing of Eve’s new book Insecure At Last: Losing it In Out Security Obsessed World. The event was held at The Newcomb College Center for Research on Women and was open to the public, bringing in a variety of people from Tulane University and New Orleans. Copies of the book were for sale in the lobby and everyone was welcomed to wait in line following the reading for pictures and autographs.
After a short break, the day ended with a scrumptious New Orleans style Dinner. Entirely vegetarian and organic, and prepared by a local chef who uses products from local farmers, the delicious food included red beans and rice, gumbo, salad, corn bread and Hibiscus iced tea. Organizers ate, talked and reflected on the day with each other and with V-Day staff. When the last dish was finished, we parted ways, feeling alive and empowered to go back into our communities and reclaim peace.
Thoughts about the workshop:
“I had a great time at the workshop, I have so many wonderful ideas to bring back to add to our V-Day.”
“I loved the ending circle, holding hands and saying what the world would be like with no violence. I felt so connected to everyone and everyone was so open, it was beautiful.”
“The whole weekend was a magnificent experience. One clear thing in my mind is that I felt the essence of V-Day and this gives me even MORE confidence and pride in carrying out our work here in Austin and NOLA and globally. I am so inspired and I have you all to thank for.”
At Princeton, we had our first Big Vagina Rehearsal this Sunday, which was a blast. Thanks for everyone who has chosen to be a part of this special production!