Skyeview

What: National Black Lesbian Conference

Where: Las Vegas, Nevada

When: July 10-13, 2008 (conference dates)

Who: Skye Ward. International Education Professional

Workshop: Conjuring Wellness and Renewal Through International Travel

Description:
This interactive workshop is an introduction to international travel as a means for transformational healing, self-discovery and the development of global sisterhoods. Participants will explore notions of self-worth, scarcity, and financial accessibility as potential barriers and inhibitors to overseas travel.

Participants also will obtain logistical and anecdotal information on traveling abroad from an Afriles seasoned traveler, international education professional, and spiritualist, conjuring woman and experienced group facilitator.

Format: Overview of travel logistics, facilitated discussion on cross-cultural and societal barriers for WOC, brief visualization and writing exercise to help participants create a preliminary plan for traveling overseas.

Skyeview readers are especially invited to join the conversation.

What goes on in Vegas WILL be uploaded to Skyeview!
Stay tuned for a link to the workshop material.

African American Day Parade
Sunday, September 21, 2008 @ 1:00 pm
Harlem, NY USA

The purpose of the parade is to provide an opportunity for African people
to join together on a Special Day to highlight our history and salute
African people throughout America and the world for their outstanding
achievements. The parade promotes unity, dignity and pride. The parade
extends a special arena for organizations, dignitaries, celebrities,
community leaders and bands to showcase positive accomplishments for the motivation of African people to achieve higher goals.

Afrikan Day Parade
August 24, 2008 – Harlem, U.S.A.

Afrikan Day Parade & Street Festival 2008 is organizing for the 2nd
Afrikan Day Parade to take place in Harlem on August 24, 2008. ALL African and Diaspora countries, Diaspora communities, social and cultural
organizations are encouraged to participate; as we come together in full
force and show our unity.

Africa is our Global Reality….
2nd AFRICAN DAY PARADE
SUNDAY AUGUST 24TH 2008
Harlem, U.S.A.

54 Countries One Continent
Caribbean 27 Countries
Afrikans in America & ALL of the Diaspora
Be a Participant, Volunteer, Vendor or for More Information: call: Kone at
646-934-7337, or Mike 646-489.5341.

African Day Parade 2008 promises to be one of the most diverse African
cultural events to take place in New York City. The Parade and Street
festival will bring together performing artists and cultural groups
representing Central, North, South, East, West Africa and ALL of the
Diaspora. The breadth of the work extends from musical
performance to fashion, design art, folklore, dance, and live bands…A
portable stage will be set up in front of the Harlem Statte Office
Building on 125th Street for Performing Artists and African Designer
showcasing.

For more information: http://adp2008.tripod.com

Femme2008: The Architecture of Femme
August 15-17, 2008
Chicago Wyndham O’Hare

Mission Statement
Femme Collective is committed to creating conferences by Femmes, about Femmes, and for Femmes and their allies. We understand that Femme is more complex than just being a queer person who is feminine; it is a part of how we interact with and shape our world as queer academics, activists, artists, homemakers, parents, professionals, students, teachers, etc.

Our conferences seek to explore, discuss, dissect, and support Queer Femme* as a transgressive, gender-queer, stand-alone, and empowered identity and provide a space for organizing and activism within Queer communities. We hope to attract people of all genders who are interested in a deeper understanding of Femme identity, culture, and history as well as Femmes interested in learning, teaching, connecting, and building community geared towards social change. Recognizing that queer Femme gender can be constructed independent of and/or intimately connected to biological sex, this conference will build coalition among queer Femmes of every stripe. Taking into consideration the various ways in which Femmes across the country and the world construct Femme based on region, class, race, ethnicity, access and ability, the Femme Collective will strive to create a safe place for open dialogue among a plethora of Femme-identified persons and their allies.

We are dedicated to: creating a Femme-positive environment; selecting programming to honor differences in ethnicities, physical abilities and gender expressions; and highlighting the intersection of queer Femme identity with issues of race, class, age, and body. We hope that together we can create a space to explore many of the complexities of Femme identity, including (but not limited to) questions of privilege, invisibility, intersecting identities, class mobility, aging, and the differences between femininity and Femme identity. We hope to contribute to giving voice to queer Femme identity, and to building unity, coalition, and solidarity in and among genderqueer communities.

*We recognize that for many lesbians and same-gender-loving Femmes ‘queer’ is not a term that works and that it can often feel alienating and unwelcoming. We want to recognize that language is always imperfect, and make it clear that we use the term as an umbrella to include all of us who identify as Femme within LGBTQIA/SGL and genderphile communities. We are using this term to specifically and intentionally include lesbians and same-gender-loving women as well as genderqueers, transwomen, and folks of every sex and gender who identify as Femme and see themselves as part of LGBTQIA/SGL and genderphile communities.

Femme2008: The Architecture of Femme
August 15-17, 2008
Chicago Wyndham O’Hare

Mission Statement
Femme Collective is committed to creating conferences by Femmes, about Femmes, and for Femmes and their allies. We understand that Femme is more complex than just being a queer person who is feminine; it is a part of how we interact with and shape our world as queer academics, activists, artists, homemakers, parents, professionals, students, teachers, etc.

Our conferences seek to explore, discuss, dissect, and support Queer Femme* as a transgressive, gender-queer, stand-alone, and empowered identity and provide a space for organizing and activism within Queer communities. We hope to attract people of all genders who are interested in a deeper understanding of Femme identity, culture, and history as well as Femmes interested in learning, teaching, connecting, and building community geared towards social change. Recognizing that queer Femme gender can be constructed independent of and/or intimately connected to biological sex, this conference will build coalition among queer Femmes of every stripe. Taking into consideration the various ways in which Femmes across the country and the world construct Femme based on region, class, race, ethnicity, access and ability, the Femme Collective will strive to create a safe place for open dialogue among a plethora of Femme-identified persons and their allies.

We are dedicated to: creating a Femme-positive environment; selecting programming to honor differences in ethnicities, physical abilities and gender expressions; and highlighting the intersection of queer Femme identity with issues of race, class, age, and body. We hope that together we can create a space to explore many of the complexities of Femme identity, including (but not limited to) questions of privilege, invisibility, intersecting identities, class mobility, aging, and the differences between femininity and Femme identity. We hope to contribute to giving voice to queer Femme identity, and to building unity, coalition, and solidarity in and among genderqueer communities.

*We recognize that for many lesbians and same-gender-loving Femmes ‘queer’ is not a term that works and that it can often feel alienating and unwelcoming. We want to recognize that language is always imperfect, and make it clear that we use the term as an umbrella to include all of us who identify as Femme within LGBTQIA/SGL and genderphile communities. We are using this term to specifically and intentionally include lesbians and same-gender-loving women as well as genderqueers, transwomen, and folks of every sex and gender who identify as Femme and see themselves as part of LGBTQIA/SGL and genderphile communities.

No matter how you say it DC Black Pride was ON! The full program included workshops, educational forums, networking opportunities, community resource exchanges, health education and the like. But I’m not going to front and write that I participated in any of those activities. I happened to be in town for business and I attended DC Black Pride for the PARTIES, the legendary house music and the outdoor festival.

Lawd have mercy the LGBT family up inna “Chocolate City” sure know how to gather the tribe, welcome visitors and host a very nice celebration of Black queer life. I even managed to meet up with long-time sistahfriends from outside of the DC area including a couple of former Bay Area residents. Luckily my buddy and author Dorothy Randall Gray was in town to conduct a series of writing workshops for DC Black Pride. She quickly brought me up to speed on where to find mature sistahs including the Saturday evening Old School Vocal House Music party at the host hotel and the Sunday evening Sister-2-Sister soiree.

Skyediver and writer Dorothy Randall-Gray

Sister-2-Sister Party

Big up former Oakland resident Papaya Mann for co-hosting this fun party at the stately Blair Mansion Inn that featured three dance floors, multiple bars, outdoor patio and a slew of elegant and handsome women.  Yum!!!

Washington, DC Photo Albums

Pages: 1 2 3

CHANGE WITHIN, CHANGE WITHOUT
A Women’s Writing Workshop
Facilitated by best-selling author, Dorothy Randall Gray
Thursday, May 29th, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, $35.00
The Mansion – 1500 Farragut Street, NW
Washington, DC 20011
Featuring Harp Meditation by Special Guest Victoria Payton Weber

—
MESSAGE FROM DRG

Dear Ones,

Last March we held a very successful women’s writing workshop in DC, “Writing The Word, Healing The Heart.” We excavated our experiences and manifested writings that invited healing and wholeness, creativity and consciousness.

The women who attended shared about how powerful the workshop was for them and asked to have another opportunity to access their creative spirit with music and meditation, affirmation and innovative exercises.

On Thursday, May 29th, from 6:30 – 8:30 PM my transformational workshop, “Change Within, Change Without” will be offered. We will gather at a lovely mansion in NW Washington DC, share light refreshments, and write our hearts out.

Once again we will evoke the creative spirit that lives inside each and every one of us. There will be writing and sharing, connecting and healing, joy, tears and a creative atmosphere that is sure to inspire all who attend.

I hope you will share the email announcement below with other women who are kindred spirits, and accept this invitation to continue manifesting your highest creative gifts. All you need bring is pen and paper and a willing heart.

Hope to see you soon.

Sharing the same sky,
Dorothy Randall Gray