BBWC cofounders will lead lecture at Bryn Mawr College
The co-founders of the Black & Brown Workers Cooperative, a social-justice organization, will lead a lecture at Bryn Mawr College.
According to the event’s flyer, BBWC cofounders Shani Akilah and Abdul-Aliy Muhammad “will discuss the intersections of race, gender, gender identity, sexuality, and capitalism within the context of the labor struggle. The psychological and physical impacts of oppressive nonprofit work spaces on Black and Brown bodies will be central to this discussion as this has informed their most notable win — the Mazzoni Center campaign. Speakers will focus on how the struggle for the rights of workers is ultimately a struggle against the violence and trauma of oppressive systems.”
The BBWC brought attention to racial tension in Philadelphia’s LGBT community and called for the resignations of leaders they said enabled racist institutions. Muhammad declined their HIV medications until Mazzoni CEO Nurit Shein was ousted from the organization. Furthermore, Gayborhood bars, in addition to Mazzoni and Philadelphia FIGHT, have undergone government-mandated implicit-bias training after BBWC’s protests.
The lecture, entitled “Black and Brown Workers Cooperative: Owning Your Own Labor” will take place 7-9 p.m. in the Ely Room at Wyndham Alumnae House, 215 N. Merion Ave., Bryn Mawr. The event is free and open to the public but Continuing Education Units are available for a fee. Visit http://bit.ly/2stw4DT for more information and to register.
DVLF now accepting HEROES nominations
DVLF, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and its board of directors is seeking the community’s help in selecting nominees for its 11th-annual HEROES Awards Luncheon.
Categories include Adult/Individual, Youth (21 and under), Straight Ally, Non-Profit, Business and Lifetime Achievement. Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Visit https://www.dvlf.org/heroes to submit a HERO nominee before the Feb. 23 deadline. The winners will be honored 12:30-3:30 p.m. April 22 at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, 433 Chestnut St.
Trans Wellness Conference calls for artists, workshop proposals
Representatives from the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference, formerly known as the Trans Health Conference, are seeking artists and workshop proposals for Mazzoni Center’s annual event.
For the second-annual cover art contest, trans and gender-nonconforming artists of any age have the opportunity to submit artwork to be published on the conference’s website, program book cover and other materials. The PTWC planning committee will select the winner, who will also receive a cash prize and a vending table for all three days of the conference. Deadline for submissions is March 25.
Mazzoni also opened a second contest for ages 12-19 for the first Youth Cover Art Contest. Winners will receive a cash prize ,and their piece will be featured on the website and the signs for Youth Space, Kids Camp and Community Room during all three days of the conference. The deadline for this contest is April 1.
Interested participants for both contests can email Mazzoni senior events manager Ashley Coleman at [email protected]. Visit http://bit.ly/2BOzgOu for more information.
Mazzoni is also seeking proposals for its Professional Track workshop series. Submissions will be accepted through Feb. 28. Visit http://bit.ly/2EmMfEE for more information.
‘Femme Invisibility’ to be focus at networking event
Queerality will host its monthly networking event with its current exhibition at the forefront. The exhibit, entitled “Femme Invisibility,” features work from artists Devon Reiffer and Jessica Reitmeyer.
Attendees will also enjoy appetizers, an open bar and performances from Zephyra Rivers. T-shirts benefiting The Attic Youth Center and/or Morris Home will also be available.
The Networking with a Twist event will take place 5-7 p.m. Feb. 21 at 1042 Pine St. Visit http://bit.ly/2H9kcud to purchase tickets