Real Men Wear Heels~May 20th

To increase Awareness of the increase of Sex trafficking in Chicago and to help organizations combating the causes and effects of trafficking, Mr. Rose’s Modern World History Class at Clemente High School will lead a school and community wide march through the Division street.

All are welcome to join in and support in any way that they can, whether through Spreading the word, Advertising, Donating, or by walking themselves.

Heres how to sign up!!!  http://walkamileinhershoes.wikispaces.com/here+is+how+to+sign+up
To “Walk A Mile in Her Shoes” All participants are humbly asked to wear Red High Heels in support of this cause, and to seek sponsors to inspire them in this endeavor  http://www.walkamileinhershoes.org/calendar.html

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Express Train::May 21st

A night of visual ART reflecting the various ways we EXPRESS gender and sexual identities. 

djs • music • dancing • drinks

Suggested donation $6. All proceeds go to Dyke March Collective.
To find out more about Chicago Dyke March Collective visit their website
 or facebook page

See you at the Silver Room! 1442 N. Milwaukee Ave

Call for Art for “Express Train” May 21

Venus Collective presents…

 Express Train :: Sat 5/21/2011

a fundraiser for Dyke March Collective

8pm to 2am :: $6

The Silver Room :: 1442 N Milwaukee Chicago IL

~ Get on board~

~A night of art reflecting all the various ways we EXPRESS our gender and sexual identities~

Venus Collective  will curate a fundraiser at the Silver Room for Dyke March  Collective and we want your art to tell the story of gender & sexuality in all their multiplicity.  Exhibit your art and add to the larger discussion on lesbian, straight, trans, two-spirit, bi, queer, womyn-loving-womyn, questioning, married, single, asexual, committed, feminine, masculine, urban chic femme, studs, boi, butches, lipstick, lipgloss, fitted caps, nailpolish, jewelry, gauges, tattoos, writers, artists, drummers, dancers, athletes, divorced, partnered, polyamourous, motherhood, gender non-conformity, refuse to be labeled or fluid.

Please share with us 1-4 pieces of art, (photography, sculpture, mixed media, paintings, etc) that reflect all the wondrous ways you are you or how you conceptualize gender & sexuality.

To exhibit your art email Venus Collective at venuscollective@gmail.com

by May 10th

How do you identify?

Is it in the pumas or stilettos you rock?  Is it displayed in your dyke do or your long twisted locs? Is it in the home you create with your boy/girlfriend? The pronoun with which you identify?  Is it in the rituals or family customs you share with your mother or sister?   We each perform our gender and sexuality uniquely.  How do you do it?  Are you even aware you do it?  Has your expression of your gender or your sexuality changed over time?

 Express Train

Taking off 5.21.11

Get on Board

Venus at Dominican University

Venus Collective is honored to participate in Dominican University‘s “Latino Community Spaces by and for Women” panel discussion today with Mujeres Latinas en Accion and Catholic Charities

Happy Women’s History Month!

“Damaged Goods” Book Release

Next Saturday, March 19th,  join us in attending a one of a kind Book Exhibit + Release Party for “Damaged Goods | Learning, Growing & Letting Go” by Olga Maria Marroquin as we walk throught the mind of “Mella”

Liberating “Mella” Exhibit:
An extension of the book “Damaged Goods – Learning, Growing, and Letting go” – explores a young woman’s (Mella) journey of self-discovery with an enthralling art exhibit that brings the book to life, and takes the viewer on a visual story-telling tour of her transformation from negative to triumphant.

Exhibit Program:
Hosted by Daisy De La Cruz of De La Croix Media Group, a special word by Bridgette Outten Vice President & Editor-in-Chief of It’s Not Enough to Dream Women’s Small Business Circle & Magazine, Eclectic Hip-Hop and Indie sounds by D.J Mr. West, displaying original works by: Alex V. Puryear & Amanda Mudrovich, spoken word pieces by Brittney Ortiz of “The Massive”, Ashley Joyce of TRM Magazine and more special guests.

Featured exhibit illustrations by:
Veronica Mercado curated by Olga M. Marroquin, Author of featured book + creator of “Liberating Mella” exhibit tour + advocate for non-violence/positive reinforcement programs through creativity and arts.

“Liberating Mella” Philosophy:
Mella is anyone who has battled with insecurities of not fitting in to a world that is molded to a specific shape – and if you don’t
fit in it, you are judged, condemned, and labeled for it. She’s a celebration and positive reinforcement for those times when we
don’t feel like being different is necessarily a good thing. This is testament of the power you hold when you take life’s uncomfort-
able moments and turn them into fuel.

The Mission:
Mella aims to expand, culture, and liberate the mind from the shackles of main stream media and social expectations – so that young women can be aware of the great power they harvest inside of themselves and use it to its greatest potential

How beautiful and unique does this sound?

We are all looking forward to this wonderful event. We hope you join us in supporting a powerful sister.

Happy International Womens Day!

Today is the 100th International Womens Day. Its so humbling to think of all the work by our mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers to create the world we are in now. Though there is still much more that needs to be done for true gender equality, we are filled with love & gratitude for all of our feminist foremothers.

Today, share the day with the special women in your life how much they mean to you. Reflect on the role of women in your life. Give a flower to a woman who has had an impact on you and spend time with those you love. Venus Collective and family will be spending the evening at The Tree of Life: Honoring the Influence of Women in Community at Allyu Spa with Everyday Medicine Woman to reflect, honor and appreciate everything that women in our Chicagoland community have done at . Join us if you’d like! Info on post below

Today is also Feminist Coming Out Day!  Check out www.feministcomingoutday.com

Some other great websites to navigate to today:

Feminists For Choice’s History of International Women’s Day

Huffington Posts’ 5 Ways to Help Empower Women

The Girl Effect

 

Follow us on Twitter for more great Women’s websites @venuscollective

The Tree of Life

Join Venus Collective in supporting Everyday Medicine Woman and Allyu Spa this Tuesday, March 8th to honor the 100th International Women’s Day at The Tree of Life:

Tuesday March 8th at Allyu Spa 600 W Chicago Ave

My Name is Flor Contemplacion…

Join Venus Collective in supporting this amazing production in observance of International Women’s Day

Nara Movement Project in Cooperation with Calles y Sueños presents …

My Name is Flor Contemplacion: I was hanged this Afternoon
by: JB Capino

“On 17 March 1995, at about 6am, Flor Contemplacion, a Filipino migrant domestic worker aged 42 and the mother of four children, was hanged at Changi Prison on the order of a Singapore court. In the days and weeks immediately before and after the hanging, millions of Filipino citizens rose in protest at the death of a woman widely believed to be innocent.”

Directed by: Giau Truong
Performances by: Aimee Algas, Ginger Leopoldo and Je Nepomuceno

Calle y Sueños
1901 S. Carpenter, Chicago IL
(Carpenter/19th)

Friday March 4 – 8 PM
Saturday March 5 – 8 PM
Sunday March 6 – 6 PM

Tickets are $15 General Admission and $10 for Students.
For more information please email us at naramovement@gmail.com
pls call 312-401-9929

To purchase tickets:
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/user/eventstatus/158561

About Calle y Sueños:

“Calles y Sueños”, was founded in the 80’s by several Latino artists, as a creative response to the once prevalent artistic void that existed in Chicago’s Latino arts community. The intention was to nurture change and liberation that was expressed on a multitude of levels. Culturally and politically, the artistic community that was created by “Calles y Sueños” till this day continues to cultivate its Latino roots and plant new seeds. Its ever-evolving identity continues to germinate into new manifestations. As the community of “Calles y Sueños” grows, we still realize we are a “transplanted people growing in a jungle of alienation, racism and economic hardship.” Our roots and branches are connected by the intermediate hope of our creativity.

100th International Women’s Day!

This Tuesday, March 8th is the 100th International Women’s Day.

Amazing that all of our sisters and,  yes, brothers, have been struggling for peace & justice for women for so long. Inspiring to think of how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.  International Women’s Day is celebrated all over the world, and there are still so many of our Sisters throughout the globe that continue to survive despite immense oppression, injustice  & violence.

Both to honor their continued struggles and to celebrate the freedom in which so many of us thrive, Venus Collective will be attending  “The Tree of Life: Honoring the Influence of Women in Community” an event hosted by Allyu Spa with Everyday Medicine Woman.

Tuesday March 8th at Allyu Spa 600 W Chicago Ave

Please join us in supporting these powerful & inspiring healers and activists as they honor three women doing inspiring work in the community.

“Our intention for this year’s celebration is to think globally and act locally. Throughout the world, if you want to get something meaningful done, you must get the women or mothers on board. Women who stay in their communities are like trees, offering sustenance, security, beauty and strengthen with age.” – Susan Lipshutz

If you’d like to RSVP to their facebook page click here.

If you’d like to see Venus Collective’s facebook page click here.

And if you have any questions, as always, email us at venuscollective@gmail.com

Pro-feminist New Years Resolutions for Straight Guys

We came across “bill’s profeminist blog” Bill Patrick, the author of the blog, describes himself:

“I am a man who has decided that I can no longer sit idly by while men’s violence remains such a hugely destructive force in the lives of so many women and girls around the world. It is time for us as men to step up and begin to support our sisters in working to end men’s violence.”

His post: “Pro-feminist New Years Resolutions for Straight Guys” is a fantastic list of some beautiful and logical recommendations that all humans should live by.

Here are some of our favorites. Go to his blog to read the full list of 15.

1. To take care of ourselves. For far too long, many of us have been neglecting our physical, mental, and spiritual health. And for many of us who have women in our lives, we have been all too quick to leave these responsibilities in their hands. Women often make our medical and dental appointments for us, and they insist that we take better care of ourselves. And what do we do in response? We get mad at them for nagging us! So let’s take back the responsibility for doing the things that are designed to keep us happy and alive. If we want the women in our lives to be there for us, then we need to ensure we are doing the things that will allow us to be there for them!

5. To do the laundry correctly. You and I both know that we all know how to do the laundry. It’s time to stop feigning ignorance. And for those few guys who actually don’t know how: you can learn to do it! It’s a lot easier than changing the oil, tapping a keg of beer, fixing a leaky toilet, or hooking up that new plasma t.v.

9. To only have sex that we know for certain is consensual. That means that she isn’t drunk, confused, or fearful, and that we aren’t, either. That she hasn’t been manipulated or bullied into it. And neither have we.

11. To settle any conflicts we have in a nonviolent, non-abusive way. This should go without saying. But the reality is that society would be a lot better off if more of us lived this way.

13. To work to eliminate our homophobia. Homophobia destroys our connectedness with all other men. It stops us from loving each other. And we need to be able to love each other deeply. As men we are deserving of being able to give and receive such love – and not just from women.

Bravo Bill for sharing this much needed sentiment.

Learning that there are men out there like you gives us all strength to continue to work towards a society of peace & equality.