Hi Everyone,
March is an extremely busy time of year for QCREDers! Thanks to everyone who responded to our urgent action call this week. Included below is an update regarding the situation. Additionally, there is a lot of info regarding upcoming QCRED events as well as Aboriginal Awareness Week (AAW), Pride Week AND International Women’s Week (IWW). In particular, we’d like to draw your attention to an event QCRED is working with Queen’s Pride Project (QPP) and the Queen’s Native Students Association (QNSA) on with sponsorship from CultureSHOCK! and the Women’s Centre….
This FRIDAY MARCH 12th, join us for SHADES OF GAY! Kingston’s first dance geared towards Queer People of Colour and 2spirited People! This event aims to provide a space for us to dance without fear and begin community building! Allies are welcome, 19+ pay what you can at the door. Guest DJ from Toronto spinning calypso/soca, funk, afro house, salsa, reggae, old school and zouk. 9pm-2am @ AKA 75 Queen St. Be sure to check out the Red Slam collective before hand as a part of AAW, also at AKA!
1. Update on Vagabond Theatre Situation
2. Aboriginal Awareness Week
3. Pride Week
4. International Women’s Week
5. Trans Day of Rememberance
6. Soul Shakedown for Mayworks
7. Moving Forward on Diversity
8. QCRED is recruiting new board members
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1. On Friday, the Vagabond Theatre issued an apology to ‘those offended by the original poster’. All original posters have been removed and replaced by new ones with different artwork. We are still waiting to hear a response from the administration. You can view the apology here: http://www.vagabondtheatre.ca/ QCRED has responded to the theatre company and hopes that the play achieves its goal of fostering productive dialogue around antisemitism.
2. March 8-12th, QNSA presents…
Love as Medicine, Aboriginal Awareness Week 2010
Full schedule and event info can be found here: http://qnsaclub.wordpress.com/
As a part of AAW 2010, QCRED is co-hosting a film screening and discussion of Singing Home the Bones with QNSA.
Thursday, March 11th
1:30-3:00 PM
Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre
Singing Home the Bones is an arts documentary suffused with humour and pathos that chronicles Métis poet Gregory Scofield’s lifelong striving to piece together his fractured identity. His ethnicity, his sexuality, his sense of family, his creative calling – all these elements have played a part in the process, as have the brutality and bigotry he’s had to stare down…. For Greg, the work of finding himself and of articulating what he’s found is at once serious and playful, and both moods are captured onscreen. Singing Home The Bones is structured around a fresh revelation about Greg’s ancestry, which has him radically redefining himself once again (and, here’s a hint, beading himself a buckskin yarmulke!). The film is stitched together by Greg’s voice as he chants and sings and recites his own poems, described by Joy Harjo as “so beautiful they are dangerous.”
Facebook event: http://is.gd/9W4B3
3. March 8-13th QPP Presents
Queen’s 4th Annual Pride Week!
Full schedule and event info can be found here: http://ww.queensupride.ca
As a part of Pride 2010, QCRED is co-hosting a discussion on the intersections of race and sexuality with QPP
Tuesday, March 9th
4:00-7:00 PM
QCRED Office (JDUC 343)
Join us for a discussion on Race & Sexuality! Facilitated by the wonderful Hagar Prah, this event aims to provide a safe space to explore our thoughts, feelings and experiences relating to race & sexuality. Food will be provided.
Facebook Event http://is.gd/9W4bU
4. March 6-14th is International Women’s Week!
Full schedule and event info can be found here: http://www.wedontstopkingston.com/
Feminist Book Exhange
Wednesday, March 10th
7:00-9:00 PM
The Grad Club, 162 Barrie St.
Cost: Free Admission
Members of QCRED Board will be performing at the Feminist Book exchange. A night of speakers and a chance to connect with members of the Kingston and Queen’s community who are committed to feminist issues. There is no cost but please bring a book (new or used) to exchange. Let’s find and support each other! Appetizers will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!
Sponsored by: Queen’s Women’s Centre
5. Trans Day of Celebration
As part of Pride week at Queen’s, March 11th is the Trans Day of Celebration. This year’s celebration will feature two exciting guest speakers: Daniel Beals, a NDP federal candidate, will speak about what the NDP is doing to protect trans rights. Aleta Gruenewald, from EGI will be leading a celebration of trans-identified people’s achievements over history.
This event is hosted by EGI and EQuIP and will take place in Wallace Hall of the JDUC from 2:30-4:30.
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=361665550638&ref=mf
6. Soul Shakedown for Mayworks
Join us at Soul Shakedown on Saturday, March 20th to support The Kingston Mayworks Collective. The Mayworks Collectives is a community collective of workers , students and artists who believe that bridging art and labour can bring powerful social change. Soul Shakedown parties raise funds for organizations doing social justice work and groups that challenge the status quo of neoliberal capitalism and colonization. it strives to construct a safe space where diverse peoples can shake it out with freedom and flair. Some come out, shake your soul and contribute to a great cause.
Saturday, March 20, 9:30 PM
Time to Laugh Comedy Club
$8 at door before 10:30 PM, $10 after
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10150105327710084&ref=ts
7. Moving Forward on Diversity
Queen’s community members are invited to engage in a discussion about common themes emerging from recommendations in past diversity and equity reports at the university. The discussion will help inform next steps for working on diversity and equity issues. What actions can we take and what is the best way forward from here? The discussion will be hosted by Adnan Husain, Arig Girgrah and Gordon Smith – members of the Diversity.
Bring your lunch and top it off with light refreshments and drinks provided.
Thursday, March 25th, 12:00PM (Noon)
Richardson Hall, Room 340
8. QCRED is recruiting new board members
Queen’s Coalition against Racial and Ethnic Discrimination strives to be an anti-oppressive non-hierarchical coalition of students, staff and faculty that work to create an anti-racist climate on the Queen’s University campus. QCRED works towards community wellness for historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups. Through education, community organizing and commitment to struggle across differences, we seek to responsibly reflect, represent and serve our various communities. If you have an active interest in engaging in anti-racist dialogue and action, QCRED may be a good place for you. Please visit our website at www.qcred.org for more information on our organization.
If you have any questions, feel free to email coordinator@qcred.org
