Tag: EMily May of Hollaback

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Empowering Discussions

Is the Intimidation of Change and the Great Unknown Slowing You Down? Maybe it’s Time for a Pilgrimage.

Impower You

Life. What an adventure!

I’ve been slowly changing my career focus from freelance administration to something with more creativity(and less time staring at a computer) to feed my waning lust for life. It’s been a very slow process because change is intimidating and the unknown is a bit unnerving.

With a mother who liked to relocate, I was raised on constant change. Even though it took many adult years of growing braver(I teach self-defense after all) this did eventually teach me to brave and search out adventure. Sometimes though I get so distracted by the comforts of the familiar or exhausted by my struggle that I go TOO slow and get mired in doubt.

Just a few minutes ago I was feeling the need for a break from work that was putting me to sleep so I visited the Virtual Vinyasa​ site. There I found inspiration in the words of the founder, Jaimie, who I recently met through my friend Kelly. She invited me to attend Jaimies bon voyage celebration as she set off on a pilgrimage for her new yoga project. Smartly I had bookmarked her site in my browser so it was easy to rediscover on this slow-moving day.

Her story of how she prepared for a new project reminded me that to move forward I must take action. This means not focusing on actions that I feel obligated to do because it’s “normal”, but to focus my intention on the change I want to see. Maybe she will inspire you too. Virtualvinyasa.com/new-blog/2015/5/18/the-pilgrimage-part-2

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Empowering Discussions

Back and Better Than Ever: The Hollaback App Allows Women to Instantly Share Street Harassment on Social Media

Impower You

I don’t know any women who don’t have at least one story of being harassed or disrespected as they walk on the sidewalk. Street harassment happens to little prepubescent girls as well as full-grown women, women in hijabs, women on bikes, and women of all ages, colors, religions and backgrounds. Eventually I became resigned to this as a fact of life until…. iHollaback!(read my interview with founder Emily May here).

 Hollaback encourages women to do exactly as the name implies and record and report street harassment. Now they have a revved up app that helps women and girls to do even more. This new app allows users to map and track their experiences of street harassment and share their personalized “street harassment maps” on social media.

“We know that movements start because people tell their stories. In the last 5 years, we’ve seen the public conversation on street harassment change drastically as people stand up and share their experiences. This new app not only allows for individuals to share their stories, but to map and share their daily realities of street harassment on social media – that’s taking the conversation to the next level.” Emily May, executive director and co-founder of Hollaback!.

GET THE APP on ITUNES or GOOGLE PLAY. Get involved at ihollaback.org

As a self-defense instructor I highly recommend using the app and protect yourself. Harassment is wrong and with your help we can put an end to the idea that it’s just a fact of life.

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Support FREE SELF DEFENSE Classes through my new campaign, Gofundme.com/freedefense

Want ideas for a healthy lifestyle free of depression? Read my D.I.Y. Therapy posts.

Find inspiring books I wrote on Amazon.com and Bookemon.com.

Looking for books that support your personal development? Read my book reviews.

Check out my T-shirt and greeting card designs on Zazzle.com/OviedoStyle.

*If you like this blog share it…

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UTY.cover.2.we.will.changeFight.Back.New.Kindle.Cover

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Dating violence poster
Empowering Discussions

100 Colleges and Schools Unite To Stop Rape: National Carry That Weight Day of Action Supports Survivors of Sexual and Domestic Violence

Impower You

You may have heard of Emma Sulkowicz who has been carrying her dorm mattress everywhere she goes to protest Columbia University’s decision to allow her rapist to continue attending Columbia. While there are always critics and haters who convince themselves she is only doing this for attention, many more support her decision. On October 29th students at 100 colleges will join Emma in a National Carry That Weight Day by carrying their own mattress or pillow everywhere they go.

“Through this powerful demonstration of solidarity, these participants will tangibly express their commitment to lift the burden of sexual violence from the shoulders of survivors—to carry the weight together.”  Find a map of the events at carryingtheweighttogether.com. You can also look for events with the hashtag #carrythatweight.

This protest is more about supporting one woman’s brave stand, it also is a chance to empower students who are working to improve their schools policies on sexual and domestic violence response. “We must work together to support survivors in our communities and hold our institutions accountable to do the same. The Day of Action is a call to students nationwide to stand in solidarity with survivors and work toward safer, healthier communities in which survivors find compassion and support and are not silenced or stigmatized,” said Allie Rickard, founder of Carrying the Weight Together and a lead student organizer at Columbia University.

Having a national day of rape awareness gives us strength to confront and dismantle rape culture. “Want to support survivors? Believe them, listen to them. Want to end campus sexual assault altogether? Believe student leadership — and don’t stop following their lead.  All of us having a role in carrying the weight,” said Emily May, co-founder and Executive Director of Hollaback! and one of the lead organizers for the event.

On October 29th, the student demonstration at Columbia will begin at 3:30 p.m consisting of a march of 28 mattresses representing the 28 students who have filed a Title IX complaint against Columbia and a rally on Low Steps. Emma Sulkowicz and fellow students will be joined by legislators and public figures, including New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, and will speak on the topic of sexual and domestic violence.

The #carrythatweight National Day of Action is organized by No Red Tape and Carrying the Weight Together at Columbia University, with support from nonprofits Hollaback!, and Rhize. In addition, the following organizations have signed up as partners: PAVE, SurvJustice, Know Your IX, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, YTH, The UnSlut Project, Fem2pt0, FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture, Price of Silence, Feminist Apparel, YWCA of Brooklyn, National Organization for Women Virtual Chapter for Young Feminists and Allies, Girls Educational and Mentoring Services, Violence Intervention Program, Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence, and Surviving in Numbers.

Related Links:

Interview with Emily May of Hollaback. Changeisup2u.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/emily-may-hollaback/

Learn Physical Self Defense and Take Control. Impoweryou.org/selfdefense/

But wait there’s more….

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