Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Kaplan, Claire (cnk2r)" <>]

Date:    Thu, 1 May 2008 18:27:03 -0500
From:    "Russo, Ann" 
<>
Subject: Great Report on Chicago Innovative Initiatives to End Violence 
Against Women

Greetings!

I'm writing to share a report, Communities Engaged in Resisting Violence, 
that documents the innovative work of 16 Chicago organizations that are 
working to end violence against women and girls, with a focus on women of 
color, youth, queer and trans youth, women with disabilities, young women in 
the sex trade, among others.  It's a great report for use in the classroom 
and in community organizations to illustrate alternative ways to organize to 
end violence, beyond social services and/or the criminal legal system.

The report, initiated by a group in Chicago - Women and Girls Collective 
Action Network, documents a "new" movement in Chicago to resist violence, to 
create community involvement and accountability, and to develop strategies to 
end violence and the oppressive systems that support it.

The report offers individuals and groups concrete strategies to use in their 
own existing and new initiatives.  For instance:
*     It documents how groups have broadened their definitions of
violence, rethought the roles of survivors and perpetrators, and identified 
systems of oppression as root causes of violence.
*     Rather than copy the structures of the mainstream nonprofit
system, many of these groups are creating new structures and negotiating 
older ones.  The report provides concrete examples of how groups are building 
safe communities within the movement, responding to acts of violence within 
social justice communities, and grappling with the non-profit industrial 
complex.
*     The report offers examples and suggestions for concrete
strategies to end violence, including how to create community conversations, 
organize communities, use arts and performance, develop popular education, 
incorporate harm reduction, and partner with men.

You can check out the organization - Women and Girls CAN that initiated the 
report - and also download the report at www.womenandgirlscan.org.
If you'd like a hard copy of the report, let me know!

Sincerely,
Ann Russo


Director, Associate Professor
Women's and Gender Studies
DePaul University
2219 N. Kenmore
Chicago, IL

773-325-1774