We Care About Women and Are Pleased to Support You In This Work

Women who bike to our office now have a secure location to lock up  because of Advantage Bike Racks and Lockers.   “We care about women and are pleased to support you in this work” he said after donating customized bike racks to Battered Women’s Support Services.

bikeracks2_n bike_racks

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Battered Women’s Support Services, we are continually inspired by the communities we live in and work with.  Inspired by the generosity of word, spirit and action and we know that we can’t do this work to end violence women, alone.  It is the strength of our communities and our community collaborations that create safe and empowered spaces where women and girls exercise their agency and autonomy.  Over the next three months, we’ve committed to furthering outreach and community engagement.

*** February, 2015 ***

February 14th Women’s Memorial March 2015 – “Their Spirits Live Within Us”

Thousands gathered to commemorate the 25th Annual February 14th Women’s Memorial March to remember and mourn honour women from Downtown Eastside Vancouver who have gone missing or who have died as a result of violence. And celebrate women’s ongoing resistance to colonization, misogyny, poverty, racism and our shared commitment to bring justice for women who continue to experience violence.

So much respect and gratitude for the leadership of Indigenous women and the brilliant organizing by Women’s Memorial March Planning Committee.

If you haven’t read yet, please read February 14 — Why I March? blog series written by women to bring voice to the personal experiences of the activist, the family members, the women who work tirelessly in their communities to address violence.

 ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

AWARE Farsi Speaking Women’s Support Group

Every Monday, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

BWSS Advancing Women’s Awareness Regarding Employment is a program to help women move out of the cycle of trauma and violence through employment.  Our office in Vancouver supports women to identify their skills, interests and to develop personal and career goals.  AWARE helps women alleviate isolation, learn and grow together in a classroom setting. Importantly women will learn how to strengthen their own personal and community support network.

Now our program is offering a specialized support group for Farsi-Speaking women survivors of violence. For more information about the group, please contact Shakiba at 778-628-1867 or e-mail shakiba@bwss.org.

 ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

#‎50DollarsNot50Shades‬ ~ Fifty Shades of Grey: Power, Relationships, and Consent

Popular culture has a huge influence on real lives, people, behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs. So what is popular culture in this case in the form of Fifty Shades of Grey saying about relationships, about sexuality, about women, about men? What images, depictions, and portrayals are the audience leaving with and how true or how much of what they are leaving with is fantasy?

This is where media literacy, the ability and competency to enable people to analyze and evaluate, is important. What am I viewing? What messages are being conveyed? Who is presenting those messages? Do I agree? Disagree? Then we each have a choice on what we want to support. Do I want to support those messages by buying a ticket? Or do I not and what can I do to counter/correct those harmful messages?

Many choose to create and promote a hash tag campaign #50DollarsNot50Shades using social media to further a culture which promotes consensual, respectful, and healthy relationships and behaviours. Many donated the cost of a movie ticket to women’s organizations.

If you share this concern and want to promote equality and safety for women and girls, instead of purchasing a ticket to see 50 Shades of Grey donate those dollars to ending violence, BWSS.

Read the full article here.

 ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

My Sister’s Closet Creative Cafe Day

An incredible Creative Cafe Day happened on February 11th at our lil thrift boutique My Sister’s Closet!

Thank you to all the artists & musicians who came out & shared your talents. And thank you to all who came by to join in on the creativity!

You all brought a sense of togetherness & added strength to our ending violence work at BWSS ♡

creative_days

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

imageWhen women are victims of violence by their male partners who are also members of police services they are in a uniquely vulnerable situation. When women experiencing abuse consider police a part of their safety plan, they are entrusting the police. Women who are subject to abuse by a member of police services may actually be unable to receive assistance, police services may not be a safe resource for them. Research studies out of the United States indicate that police involved domestic violence exceed the general population by 2-4 times. (Read more here)

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

Every Thursday, 2 pm – 4 pm (Feb 5 to May 28, 2015)

16 Steps for Discovery and Empowerment is a self-help group which can work in tandem with 12 Step programs.

The group welcomes all self-identified women…
• who have substance use issues or who have used substances as a coping strategy
• who are seeking more empowerment in their lives
• who are in a journey of self-discovery
• who are interested in exploring healthier relationships
Abstinence from substance use is not requires in order to attend.

Each week we explore a step to help us in the journey of self awareness, self discovery and resilience. This is a closed support group and we will be accepting new participants within the first three weeks. At its core, this model is based on love, not fear, internal control not external authoritarianism, affirmation not deflation and trust in the ability of people to find their own healing path when given education, support, hope and choices*.

For more information and/or to join the group, please call 604.687.1867 or email daniela@bwss.org

16 steps support group for women__2015

 ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

Sexual Violence In Canada – An Equality Issue

Violence against women continues to be a barrier preventing girls and women from living healthy, happy lives. Women who experience sexual violence in their homes, communities, workplaces and on campuses have to suffer the long-term health effects both emotionally and physically.
While the majority of incidents of sexual violence go unreported we do know nine out of ten of sexual assaults reported to the police are by women… (Read more here)
 ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

Honouring the Legacy of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X) on the 50th anniversary of his assassination

Saturday, February 21st, 2015

To commemorate Black History Month, Colour Connected Against Racism hosts Honouring the Legacy of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X) on the 50th anniversary of his assassination and Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director, Battered Women’s Support Services is a scheduled speaker.  Her topic – Gendering Malcolm X.

10325749_845127085545213_8455589889179295169_nMalcolm X is an iconic figure who has inspired, controversy, debate, scholarship, revolution, fear, nationalism, and pride in the hearts and minds of those who contemplate his memory. One of the many topics of his ideology that people enjoy debating is whether Malcolm was a sexist or feminist. To be honest, there are very few who would call him a feminist, but many will readily admit that towards the end of his life El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz had a new view of women one that was far more accepting and egalitarian than it once had been. A handful of writers will interpret this new gender inclusive attitude as feminism (although it would probably better be described as anti-sexism).

Saturday, February 21st, 2015
7:00pm – 10:30pm
Heartwood Community Cafe
317 East Broadway Vancouver, B.C.
Unceded Coast Salish Territories

 ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

*** March, 2015 ***

Women Seeking Justice ~ International Women’s Day 2015

Friday, March 6th, 2015

BWSS International Womens Day - POSTER_FWomen Seeking Justice Forum convenes a former judge, researchers, academics, lawyers, legal advocates, and feminist thinkers to illuminate pressing legal issues for women in law practice and policy including international, Indigenous, immigration, refugee, criminal, family, and poverty.

When: Friday, March 6, 2015, 9 am to 1 pm

Where: SFU Harbout Centre

#1700-Labatt Hall, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, Coast Salish Territory

Webcast will be available. RSVP for the event or webcast by emailing endingviolence@bwss.org

For more information about the event, please visit here.

Many thanks to our sponsors:

Central City Foundation, The Law Foundation of BC and My Sister’s Closet-Social Enterprise of Battered Women’s Support Services

 ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

Goddess Rising

Saturday, March 7th, 2015

GoddessRisingEmpowered Bodies – with Loretta and Mel Mariposa are pleased to offer you an evening of intentional movement, dance, and connection in a consensual community environment. Proceeds from this event will be donated to Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS).

TICKETS
Everyone welcome! (All genders, all ages). $16 in advance – $20 at the door. Online Tickets are available here.

  ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

KDocs | KPU Documentary Film Festival

Saturday, March 14th, 2015

honor-diariesMicah Smith’s 2013 Honor Diaries “is the first film to break the silence on ‘honor violence’ against women and girls.  Honor Diaries is more than a movie, it is a movement to save women and girls from human rights abuses around the world.”

Special Guest: Raheel Raza, journalist, author, speaker, filmmaker, activist

Panelists:

Arzo Ansary, KPU alumna, social activist, Program Coordinator of Community Support Services for Cheshire Homes Society of BC

Angela Marie MacDougall, Executive Director of Battered Women’s Support Services

Mariam Nasrri, KPU student, documentary filmmaker

This event is $5 and includes snacks/beverages.

 ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

*** April, 2015 ***

Prevention and Intervention Training Program 2015

Starting April 10, 2015

Twice a year, BWSS offers training for self-identified women who want to volunteer on our Crisis and Intake Line to provide crisis support to women survivors of violence.

For more information, please call Emma at 604.687.1868 ext. 317 email intake@bwss.org.

Prevention-Intervention Training JAN2015 ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

 Boys Will be Boys: Fighting Sexism in Media and Journalism

Saturday, April 11, 2015

The Jian Ghomeshi scandal shocked the country, but maybe we needed to be shocked. Despite all the gains made over decades for women’s rights and gender equality, even our trusted public broadcaster had failed us.

Newsrooms have long been a man’s world, and while women are occupying positions as journalists, editors, producers, and broadcasters more than ever before, it’s clear that sexism, sexual harassment, and even sexual assault remains a problem in the industry. Whereas women remained silent for years, fearing they’d lose their jobs and ruin their careers if they spoke out about the misogyny they experienced working in media, they are finally beginning to speak out, buoyed by the courage and righteous anger of their female colleagues.

This panel features four prominent and courageous women who are experts on the issue of gender discrimination, violence against women, and sexism in the media. They will address the history of this insidious problem, the current climate, and the real-life impact of sweeping sexist practices and behaviour under the rug.

This is a conversation Canada needs to have. Join us.

Speakers:

Angela Marie MacDougall

Meghan Murphy

Laura Robinson

When: Saturday, Apr 11, 2015, 2–4 p.m.

Where: Room 7000, SFU Vancouver (Harbour Centre)

Admission: Free and open to all adults, but please Register.

 ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

Stay tuned for more updates!

Prevention of Violence Against Women Week

Earth Day at My Sister’s Closet

If you could do something to end violence against girls and women, wouldn’t you?

images