21 Jul What Constitutes “Self-Defense” for Black Trans Survivors?
From 12:00 PM until 1:30 PM
At Virtual Event
Presented by Mirror Memoirs and IMPACT International
Join Mirror Memoirs and IMPACT International for a free, public panel discussion exploring the question: What constitutes "self-defense" for Black transgender survivors of sexual violence? Our panelists include: Wriply Bennet, Co-Founder of THORN; edxi betts, multi-media insurrectionary artist; and Ky Peterson, Co-Founder + Executive Director of Freedom Overground. This panel will be moderated by Jaden Fields, Co-Director of Mirror Memoirs.
PANELIST BIOS:
Wriply Marie Bennet is a proud self-taught illustrator and activist/organizer born and raised in Ohio. Her art and organizing work started with the Trans Women of Color Collective and expanded in Ferguson when she and a few other freedom riders traveled to stand with the family and community of Mike Brown. In 2017, Wriply co-created an action at Stonewall’s Pride Parade in Columbus, Ohio, which birthed the name Black Pride 4. In August 2020, she co-founded THORN, a grassroots collective in Chicago arming Black & brown trans folks, prioritizing trans women, sex workers, & disabled people.
edxi betts is a multi media insurrectionary artist. Her work entails political education while providing material support to marginalized & colonized communities. Creating art/media for the sake of propagating resistance culture with counter narrative. They utilize autonomous collective liberatory projects to spark discourse, sources of healing, critical thought, mutual aid and direct action.
Ky Peterson is a trans advocate from South Georgia who was incarcerated for self-defense. During his incarceration, he fought for trans prisoners’ rights to medical care. In 2017, Ky co-founded Freedom Overground, an initiative that supports the transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) incarcerated community. Today, Ky shares his story of courage and perseverance with TGNC communities across the country.
MODERATOR BIO:
Jaden Fields is an LA-based organizer, cultural strategist, and educator dedicated to cultivating healing-centered spaces committed to our collective liberation. As Mirror Memoirs' Co-Director, Jaden plays a pivotal role in co-designing the national organization's strategic vision, programs, and structure. His work within grassroots and nonprofit organizations has included designing and leading programs for trans folks to access health services, training government agencies to better serve transgender people, participatory action research, and policy advocacy at the city, county, and state level. Jaden was an inaugural member of the Los Angeles Transgender Advisory Council, a 2017 California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Fellow, 2019 Echoing Green finalist, 2021 Women’s Foundation California Solis Policy Institute Fellow and 2021 Weingart Foundation John W. Mack Fellow. He is also the newly appointed Equity Director for the Association for Size Diversity and Health. In 2019, Jaden self-published his first poetry chapbook, Intentional Musings on Staying Alive When I Want To Die, an honest depiction of navigating mental health and systemic oppression as a Black trans survivor.
EVENT SPONSORS:
Mirror Memoirs is a national storytelling and organizing project intervening in rape culture by uplifting the narratives, healing and leadership of Two Spirit, transgender, non-binary, intersex and/or queer Black, Indigenous and of color survivors of child sexual abuse.
IMPACT is a personal safety, assertiveness and self-defense training program, with independent, international chapters. It is part of a comprehensive effort to prevent sexual assault and other acts of interpersonal violence and boundary violations.
This event is co-sponsored by Empowerment Self-Defense Alliance and National Women's Martial Arts Federation.
ACCESSIBILITY:
ASL and live captioning will be provided. This event will be recorded and shared with all who register.