Sistafest – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
“Violence against women takes many forms – physical, sexual, psychological and economic. These forms of violence are interrelated and affect women from before birth to old age. Some types of violence, such as trafficking, cross national boundaries. Women who experience violence suffer a range of health problems and their ability to participate in public life is diminished. Violence against women harms families and communities across generations and reinforces other violence prevalent in society. Violence against women also impoverishes women, their families, communities and nations. Violence against women is not confined to a specific culture, region or country, or to particular groups of women within a society. The roots of violence against women lie in persistent discrimination against women. Up to 70 per cent of women experience violence in their lifetime.
In recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Upfront Theatre Foundation presents Sistafest at Upfront Studio Theatre, 1290 Finch Avenue West, Unit 17 (inside Keele plaza). The festival kicks off on Friday, November 29, 2013 with an information session on gender violence from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm broadcasting live on www.flexradio.net. The festival continues on Saturday, November 30, 2013 with a live performance by women and youth artists featuring J. Nichole Noel, Dahlia and Jahsmin Daley. The youth artists are Omri, Lyfe, Michelle Francis, Creation, Zauwana and Jemila Montague. The book, Empress Menen – A Woman for All Times, will be launched by the author, Anjahli Parnell.
Book launch and concert: 8:00 PM. Admission: $10:00. Children are free.
About Upfront Theatre Foundation:
Upfront Theatre started in September 2000 as a student based drama club at York University but has now grown into a service learning non-profit organization serving children, youth and women in the Jane and Finch community and surrounding areas. The mandate of Upfront Theatre Foundation is to organize and produce cultural, educational and social programs using arts and multi-media as tools to sensitize the society to the serious social problems afflicting children and youth in the community.
Check out www.upfrontt.com for more information on the organization.”
-submitted by Masani Montague, festival coordinator. From press release.
Read Upfront Theatre Foundation’s profile in our Community-Engaged Arts Directory and Map
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