Movement Building in Malawi JASS Southern Africa brought together 68 grassroots activists living with and affected by HIV AIDS in workshops in the three regions of Malawi (South, Central and North) over the month of February. "...Almost every woman who attends the workshops talks about the disruption of her life by HIV and AIDS but they also share stories of rebellion (crossing the line) and coming to terms with defying cultural norms..." reflects Hope Chigudu (JASS team). Read more about Malawi Southern Africa Webpage
JASS Mesoamerica with partners Las Petateras and the Nobel Women's Initiative JASS and our Mesoamerican allies, the Petateras, in collaboration with Radio Feminista, mobilized alongside hundreds of feminist activists at the XI Encuentro Feminista in Mexico City, March 16-20. At the forum, JASS conducted a "Technology for Movement Building" workshop to discuss new media tools in the context of activism and feminist organizing. JASS’ communications manual for activists - Crossing the Tech Line - tested during the workshop, will be featured on our website shortly. The Petateras also mobilized an Observatorio or Feminist Transformation Watch at the Encuentro, with a daily program on Radio Feminista covering some of the most controversial issues at the forum, including the intensely debated, first-ever participation of transsexuals; the contribution and visibility of indigenous women's issues; and the voices of women with disabilities. Meanwhile, a day after Obama’s historic inauguration, the JASS Mesoamerica team was in Washington DC for planning and on January 26, JASS co-convened an event entitled “A New U.S. Administration, A New Agenda for Latin America: Women's Perspectives on Re-invigorating Democracy, Human Rights and Economic Stability” with the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and the Nobel Women's Initiative. Read more. Mesoamerica Webpage
Southeast Asia in Action To support the North Sumatra’s Women Activists Coalition campaign – “Vote for Women” – JASS SEA is partnering in media production, including a television talk show and the Suara Perempuan newsletter. JASS SEA is in the planning stages for movement building workshops in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, working in each country with “alumni” – participants from previous JASS regional activities and training. Applications are flooding in from activists eager to attend! Meanwhile, JASS SEA has been busy on the communications front – blogging and sending out press releases on the controversial pornography bill and on democracy without violence, and making creative and strategic use of Mothers’ and Valentine’s Day to salute and promote women’s political participation. Southeast Asia Webpage
Coming Soon! Nobel Women's Initiative Conference in Antigua, Guatemala JASS is partnering with the Nobel Women's Initiative for their 2nd global conference, Redefining Democracy for Peace, Justice, and Equality,hosted in Guatemala by NWI member Peace Laureate, RIgoberta Menchu, May 10-12. This event brings together 80 women leading the fight for women's rights from community to international levels, including twelve women from JASS.
Who's New at JASS! Maria del Carmen Sahonero, Finance and Operations Manager. Carmen comes to JASS with 25 years of financial and grants management along with operations experience with NGOs big and small, and extensive work on microcredit projects for local and international organizations. Born in Bolivia, Carmen moved to Washington, DC in 2006. Martha Tholanah, Southern Africa Regional Coordinator. An advocate for universal access to holistic healthcare and for women's reproductive health and rights, Martha participates actively in national, regional, and international advocacy and activism around the rights of those living with HIV, particularly women and children. Having lived positively with HIV since January 2003, Martha has been public about her status since 2004. Read her full bio.
Sea Change Award Given to JASS E.D. Lisa VeneKlasen, JASS E.D., was awarded a Sea Change residence sabbatical by the Gaea Foundation for the month of August in Provincetown, Massachusetts. "Sea Change Residencies (explains the Foundation) provide time, space and funds to outstanding artists and activists making critical headway in bringing forward alternative paths to social change .... Nominees are deeply involved in a variety of movements, from radical feminism to hip hop theatre, from anti-globalization to justice for American Indians.... The Sea Change ....values are simple: Support artists and activists whose stunning work is re-creating definitions of “center” and “margins”, whose commitment stems from a determination to shift structures of power that are as common as air, and lethal to the core."