Gen Eq Newsletter Alejandro's Note

Gen Eq Newsletter Alejandro’s Note: I hope the new academic year finds students well. Please make a note of upcoming events at Gen Eq this Friday, September 14th 5:30pm at the Cesar Chavez Atrium. We will have FOOD, national Youth Speaks award winner Yosimar Reyes, hip hop performers and more performers. 1. Amor Sin Fronteras 2. ENCUENTROS INTIMOS/CLOSE ENCOUNTERS 3. STUDENT OPPORTUNITY FUND 4. Transgender-inclusive healthcare 5. Queer of Color Reading Group 6. RACE, SEX, POWER 7. Academic Advising at Cal 8. Aida Santos 9. 2008 Thinking Gender Conference 10. Internship with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom 11. QRC 12. VDay at UC Berkeley ********************Amor Sin Fronteras*************************** For Immediate Release on: September 10, 2007 Contacts: Angel Fabian 415-699-2495 Rodrigo 415-558-8403 x309 LATINO/A PRIDE CELEBRATES LOVE AND DEMANDS RIGHTS When: Sunday, September 16th, 2007 from 11am – 5:00pm Where: Dolores Park (between 18th & 19th and Church streets) San Francisco, CA Rain or Shine THEME: Amor Sin Fronteras: Aqui Estamos y No Nos Vamos (Love Without Borders: We are Here and we are not leaving) Bay Area Latino/a LGBTQ community and their allies will gather to celebrate with consciousness, and demand that the rights of LGBTQ immigrants be upheld and promoted. Hundreds join in the festivities and support the Latino/a Pride list of demands. There will be vendors, food, cultural performances, music, activities for children, and demands in defense of immigrants. **************** ENCUENTROS INTIMOS/CLOSE ENCOUNTERS: ***************** ENCUENTROS INTIMOS/CLOSE ENCOUNTERS: Dispatches from the Queer Borderlands Curated by Ms. Cherry Gallete QueLaCo and Galeria de la Raza Present Encuentros Intimos/Close Encounters: Dispatches from the Queer Borderlands Tales of trespass, transgression and desire from immigrant and first generation queer and trans artists. Friday, September 21st 8pm Galeria de la Raza, 24th and Bryant, San Francisco $10 Through story, dance, and theater, Bay Area artists reveal the queer sides of immigration: the intricacies of living multiple illegalities; body memories, migrations and exile; homes remembered, lost and found; deportations, criminalization and the struggle to survive these war years. Encuentros offers an unforgettable night of performance featuring Justin Chin, Cherry Gallete, Lamya Amir, and more. Open mic/stage to follow! ***************** STUDENT OPPORTUNITY FUND *********************** STUDENT OPPORTUNITY FUND I am very pleased to announce a new source of funding for student activities and events. Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Christina Maslach and Interim Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Harry Le Grande have joined me in creating the Student Opportunity Fund to support both co-curricular and academic activities planned by and for Cal students. One of the objectives of the Student Opportunity Fund is to support efforts that foster a greater sense of campus community and that are conducive to free intellectual exchange. Another goal is to encourage more interaction and educational experiences for students outside of the classroom, such as visiting speakers, forums on topics of general interest, and student publications. Application for the Student Opportunity Fund is now on-line and can be submitted at any time; there are no deadlines and funds are awarded on a rolling year basis. Students are encouraged to consider this funding as they plan special projects and programs; please go to (http://students.berkeley.edu/myberkeley/misc/opfund.asp) or contact sof@lists.berkeley.edu if you have questions or would like additional information. ***************** Transgender-inclusive healthcare *********************** “Transgender-inclusive healthcare” means that transition-related surgeries and procedures should be covered by our healthcare plans. As it is, most UC grad healthcare plans have transgender specific exclusions. For example, the UC Santa Cruz GSHIP exclusion reads, “Expenses incurred for transsexual surgery or any treatment leading to or in connection with transsexual surgery.” These transphobic barriers in access to health services prevent many of us from living in the bodies we want/ need. Such exclusions also position our medical care (and our bodies) as “unnecessary” and a “waste of the University’s money”. Of course not all trans/ gender variant people want or need medical interventions, but for those of us who do the option must be there. We should not be forced to BUY health insurance that directly excludes our needs and us, nor should the University be supporting this kind of discrimination. The union for Teaching Assistants, Readers and Tutors at the University of California, UAW 2865, is currently negotiating a new contract set to expire September 30th.Our union is negotiating a number of issues that will hopefully strengthen the rights of trans, lesbian, gay, bi, intersex, and queers throughout the University, including transgender-inclusive health coverage, full health coverage for domestic partners and dependents, queer friendly leaves coverage, and including gender identity or expression in the contract’s non-discrimination clause. Just recently the union succeeded in coming to an agreement to include gender identity or expression – the first major success so far on these issues. There’s still a lot of work left to do, however. If we win the rest of the demands in negotiations we would also be sending a much-needed message that any form of discrimination against trans/queer people is unacceptable. We are members who want to support both these specific demands and more broadly create conversations around such topics. We want to organize effectively to make sure that our union’s demands are met in bargaining. We also don’t want to lose a really key opportunity to use what’s happening in bargaining as a springboard for much needed action around trans/queer issues on all UC campuses. In that vein, we are looking for people who are interested in helping to organize around these issues. To find out more information or to get involved, contact eastanle@ucsc.edu. To see past bargaining updates go to http://www.uaw2865.org ***************** Queer of Color Reading Group *********************** This year the Queer of Color Reading Group will be hosting a dynamic group of scholars in roundtable discussions of their work. During the fall 2007 semester we will be joined by UCB Gender and Women's Studies Professor Juana Maria Rodriguez, UCSC History of Consciousness Professor David Marriott, UCSC Anthropology Professor Lisa Rofel, and are awaiting confirmation on an exciting keynote speaker who will deliver a public lecture in addition to joining the reading group for a discussion of her work. Our first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday September 12th 5pm in 3401 Dwinelle Hall. We will be reading "Affective Economies" and "Toward a Queer Phenomenology" by Sara Ahmed. You can find these readings on the Center for the Study of Sexual Cultures (CSSC) bSpace page under the 'Resources' section (go to bspace.berkeley.edu, enroll if you have not already, and add CSSC Reading Group, which can be found under the Membership tab, 'joinable sites'). We look forward to seeing you at our meetings this semester. Best, Roshanak Kheshti Queer of Color Reading Group Coordinator -Roshanak Kheshti UC Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow Department of Gender and Women's Studies UC Berkeley 3413 Dwinelle Hall, #1070 Berkeley, CA 94720 510-642-7893 kheshti@berkeley.edu ***************** RACE, SEX, POWER *********************** *RACE, SEX, POWER:* > *New Movements in Black & Latina/o Sexualities * > April 11-12, 2008 > University of Illinois at Chicago > Chicago, Illinois > > > Over the past decade, racialized representations of > Black and Latina/o > sexualities as perverse Others have been > systematically challenged by > scholars and political and cultural activists from > myriad disciplinary > fields. The steady emergence of new exhibitions, > performances, media, > writings, virtual communities, and activist groups > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > bear witness to the importance of how Black and Latina/o people love and express themselves sexually. This conference brings attention to these "bodies of knowledge" - in their biological, social, cultural, and political forms in order to rethink how the relationships between race, sexuality, and power has, and continues to, shape Black and Latina/o sexualities in the U.S. This conference intends to highlight debates, ideas, and practices relating to the meanings assigned to black and brown bodies in the U.S., how black and brown people experience their socially regulated bodies, and how those bodies are positioned vis-à-vis knowledge, truth, politics, and history. Bringing together activists, artists, independent scholars, faculty, practitioners, and students from a broad range of disciplines and fields, the conference aims to address issues of sexual desire and pleasure, cultural activism, black-brown dialogues and coalition-building, creating and performing sexual identities, human rights and social justice, and citizenship, among other topics. The conference venue presents a unique opportunity for the participants to examine critically the state of empirically grounded, historicized, and theoretically informed inquiries and practices around Black and Latina/o bodies and sexualities. Equally important in this moment then, is the recognition and scrutiny of how these interventions have made an impact on the fields of African American studies; Latina/o studies; women's and gender studies; sexuality studies; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer studies; as well as mainstream disciplines like literature, sociology, history, public health, psychology, art history, public policy, etc. Participants from all disciplinary fields and perspectives who wish to engage with these issues are welcome. Through this interdisciplinary forum, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > the conference seeks to create a diverse intellectual community, to foster healthy debate about the intersections of race and sexuality, and to provide unique opportunities for networking and professional development. In turn, such working relationships can better inform public policy, present and future scholarly agendas, and community needs. Interested participants may submit an abstract (approx. 300 words) for: 1) *individual papers*; 2) *panels and roundtables* (approx. 4 persons); 3) *poster presentations*; or 4) *visual presentations* (film, performance, video, photography displays). If applicable, please include any technology requests, space needs as well as low-resolution images of your work, in addition to your abstract. *Please submit abstracts (as well as any queries) to * RACESEXPOWER2008@DEPAUL.EDU*. * ** *The deadline for submission of abstracts is September 15, 2007.* TOPICS MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: ü Art, Music, Literature and Censorship ü Black-Brown Dialogues and Coalitions ü Black and Latina/o Sexualities and Prison Culture ü Critical Approaches to Activism ü Cultural Productions and Activism ü Desire, Eroticism, Fantasy and Pornography ü Disability and Desir/Ability ü Family and Kin Relationships ü Geography and Sexual Identities and Practices ü Health and Sexual Decision Making ü Health Care and Health Education ü Human Rights, Sexual Rights, Civil Rights ü (Im)Migration, Diaspora and Transnationalism ü Intersections of Race, Sexuality and Spirituality ü Making and Un/Making of Erotic Black and Latina/o Bodies ü Mass Media Representations of Black and Latina/o Sexualities > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ü Philosophy ü Psychoanalytical Approaches to Black and Latina/o Sexualities ü Public Sex, Private Sex ü Queer Black and Latina/o Feminisms ü Queering Spaces, Producing Sexualities ü Race, Sex and the State ü Sex Work/Sexuality at Work ü Racialized Bodies and Data Collection ü Sexual Citizenship ü Sexual Desire and Knowledge in the Archives ü Sexual Economies, Sexual Communities ü Sexual Health and Pleasure ü Sexual Initiations/Rites Of Passage/Sexual Scripts ü Sexual Attractiveness and Intimacies ü Sexual Rights, Civil Rights and Citizenship ü Social Justice and Public Policy ü Technology, Virtuality, and Racialized Sexualities ü Urban Sexual Cultures ü Visual Cultures *SPONSORING INSTITUTIONS* Chicago State University City University of New York Columbia College Chicago DePaul University Loyola University Chicago Northwestern University Roosevelt University University of Chicago University of Connecticut University of Illinois at Chicago ----http://www.glbc.uic.edu ***************** Academic Advising at Cal *********************** Dear Colleagues and Members of the Campus Community, On behalf of the Deans of the College of Letters and Science, I am pleased to invite you to the next L&S Colloquium on Undergraduate Education, entitled "Take My Advice - Please! ~ Academic Advising at Cal". The Colloquium will be held Wednesday, September 19th, 2007 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Toll Room of the Alumni House. There are many approaches to academic advising used across the academy: developmental, prescriptive, intrusive, and mentoring, to name a few. What are they and how and when do we put them into practice? How does your unit or department structure itself to foster effective advising? What philosophy or theories do you draw on when working with students? This session will be an interactive discussion about the various ways faculty members and staff advise students. We will joined by the following panelists: Lisa Thomas, College Adviser, Letters & Science Hertha Sweet Wong, Professor, Department of English Derek Van Rheenen, Director and Lecturer, Athletic Study Center Anne Aaboe, Student Services Manager, Molecular and Cell Biology Join us for hors d'oeuvres, beverages and what promises to be a very lively and interesting conversation. There is no need to RSVP for this Colloquium. Sincerely, Christina Maslach ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Christina Maslach, Ph.D. Interim Dean of the Undergraduate Division of the College of Letters and Science Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Professor of Psychology University of California, Berkeley Office of the Dean, Undergraduate Division College of Letters and Science 301 Campbell Hall #2922 Berkeley, CA 94720-2922 Telephone: 510-642-5640 Fax: 510-642-4607 ***************** Aida Santos *********************** **Please forward to your contacts, we apologize for repeat emails "US militarism, Filipino women, and their struggle for genuine peace and human security" Guest Lecture by Aida Santos 4PM-5:30PM Monday, September 17, 2007 Tilden Room, MLK Building at University of California Berkeley Visit: http://www.berkeley.edu/map/maps/DE34.html Santos lecture will provide a historic framework on the ongoing involvement of U.S. military forces in the Philippines as a "cooperative security location" and "Advanced Operating Base-920" in Mindanao. She draws upon feminist and historical frameworks that focus on the Philippines. The consequences that will be developed during this lecture include: Philippinessovereignty, "national security" and "anti-terrorist" initiatives that impact women, children, and the Muslim community in the Philippines, and the health and education consequences of militarization. Aida Santos is a delegate from the Philippines that will be joining Women for Genuine Security and the PANA Institute for the 6th International Meeting, "Women Resisting Militarism and Creating a Culture of Life". About Aida Santos: Santos is a member of women working together to stop violence against women (wwtsvaw), convened by amnesty international-Pilipinas; founding member (1989) and current chair of the board of directors, women's education, development, productivity & research organization (wedpro), inc.; member of claimants 1081, an organization of human rights victims of martial law; founding member of sibol (sama samang inisyatiba para sa pagbabago ng batas at lipunan), an alliance of women's groups working on legislative reforms (drafted the anti-rape law, anti-violence against women and their children, among other policy reforms / legislative actions); founder and former member of the board of trustees, coalition against trafficking in women (catw)-asia pacific; member of several human rights organizations; and author and poet Our Sponsors: Gender & Women Studies, UCB Critical Filipina/o Studies Working Group, UCB Asian Pacific American Student Development, UCB Beatrice Bain Research Group, UCB Graduate Women's Project, UCB Women for Genuine Security, USA. Contact: Annie Fukushima at anniefukushima@berkeley.edu --Annie Fukushima Doctoral Student - Ethnic Studies & Designated Emphasis in Women, Gender, & Sexuality University of California, Berkeley Founder Students & Artists Fighting to End Human Slavery www.safehs.com Volunteer Asian Women's Shelter Programs Coordinator Narika at Berkeley International Board of Advisor Chinese Adoptee Links, International ***************** 2008 Thinking Gender Conference *********************** 2008 Thinking Gender Conference Call for Papers UCLA Center for the Study of Women In Conjunction With USC Center for Feminist Research Announce 18th Annual Thinking Gender Graduate Student Research Conference Thinking Gender is a public conference highlighting graduate student research on women, sexuality, and gender across all disciplines and historical periods. We invite submissions for individual papers or pre-constituted panels. We especially welcome feminist research on women of color, the pre-modern, queerness, and the sciences. For individual papers, please submit an abstract (250 words), a CV (2 pages maximum), and a brief bibliography (1 page maximum). For panels, please submit a 250-word description of the panel topic in addition to the materials required for the individual paper submissions. Please reference the submission guidelines at http://www.csw.ucla.edu/thinkinggender.html. Deadline for Submissions: Monday, October 29, 2007, by midnight. We will only accept completed submissions emailed by the deadline. Please send submissions to: thinkinggender@women.ucla.edu/ Conference date and location: Friday, February 1, 2008 UCLA FACULTY CENTER UCLA Center for the Study of Women Box 957222 Public Policy 1400H Los Angeles, CA 90095-7222 310-825-0590 http://www.women.ucla.edu/csw/ Email: thinkinggender@women.ucla.edu USC Center for Feminist Research University Park Taper Hall of Humanities 331C Los Angeles, CA 90089-4352 (310) 825-0590 (213) 740-1739 http://www.usc.edu/dept/cfr/ Email: cfr@usc.edu ++++++ Brenda Johnson-Grau Managing Editor, Publications Unit Center for the Study of Women 2203 Rolfe Hall x65487 ***** Internship with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom *********************** The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services (MONS) is looking for a few smart, thoughtful, motivated, and politically savvy interns to contribute to our team this fall. Could this be you? POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: FALL INTERNS MONS is dedicated to helping the citizens of the City & County of San Francisco receive the highest levels of service possible from all areas of City government. Our district and community liaisons work to ensure that the Mayor's Office is involved with helping to improve the quality of life for all San Francisco’s residents. Working with our diverse team, the Fall Intern will function as a Jane or Jack of all trades. This individual will apply their superb research, writing, organizational, and creative skills to meet the varied needs of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services’ clients. Exposure to City leaders, a fast-paced environment, real responsibility, and an overall great learning experience are assured. Duties & Responsibilities: - Monitor incoming emails and phone calls - Interact with constituents and troubleshoot concerns - Navigate the wide variety of city departments and community partners - Organize and staff community meetings and public hearings as needed - Conduct research related to local community organizations and their activities - Maintain contact database - Accompany the liaisons to community and staff meetings as appropriate - Assist the Office Manager and staff in performing other duties as needed Qualifications: A qualified candidate will be enrolled in a 2 or 4-year college (exceptional high school students also considered) and maintain an average GPA of 3.0. Foreign language proficiency is a plus. We also encourage recent graduates to apply. A focus on or interest in political science, public policy, communications or any other major really and a demonstrated commitment to San Francisco are highly desirable. To be considered for this position, candidates must be available 15 – 20 hours per week for the duration of the school year. Candidates reaching the interview phase will be given a writing test. Compensation: College credit available (if you do a good job and handle the necessary paperwork, we’ll sign it). Plus, the opportunity to work in a fast paced, never a dull day atmosphere, where you will have ever grateful people willing to give you awesome recommendations. Contact: Please submit a resume and cover letter to Alex Randolph at alex.randolph@sfgov.org to be considered for a position. Resumes and cover letters in PDF format are preferred. In your communication, please also include your earliest available start date and class schedule along with an accounting of previous commitments that may interfere with your internship at The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services. Please include “MONS Intern Position” in the subject line. (See attached file: MONS Internship Announcement.pdf) ________________________________________ Alex Randolph Liaison to District 8 and The LGBTQ Community Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services City and County of San Francisco 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 160 San Francisco, CA 94102-4639 (415) 554-6267 DIRECT (415) 554-7111 MAIN alex.randolph@sfgov.org Neighborhood Empowerment Network Summit on September 8th at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium Sign-up at: http://www.empowersf.org/ ***************** QRC *********************** "QRC will be holding a meeting this Thursday at 6 PM in the QRC (305 Eshleman). We will continue our discussion of goals and plans for this upcoming year." ***************** VDay at UC Berkeley *********************** Audtions for VDay at UC Berkeley benefit production of The Vagina Monologues are fast approaching! Info sessions will be held on Monday 9/17 and Thursday 9/20 at 7pm in 175 Barrows. This production is open to anyone who has, will, or currently identifies as woman. We welcome all woman and require NO dramatic experience. Come out to the info sessions and learn more about this exciting show and global movement! For more information, email: vday2008@berkeley.edu Audition sign-ups and scripts will be posted in GenEq starting Monday, September 17th.