One Billion Rising is:
- A global campaign calling for an end to violence and for gender equality
- An act of solidarity, demonstrating to women the commonality of their struggles and their power in numbers
- A refusal to accept violence against women and girls as a given
- An invitation to dance
In conjunction with the One Billion Rising global events Santa Cruz will have its own free, family-friendly, participatory experience for all women and girls and those who love them, to stand up against violence that affects 1 in 3 women and girls around the world.
This free event will be held at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History in downtown Santa Cruz on February 14th, 2013 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm and will be preceded at 5:00 by a candlelight walk from the Memorial Plaza to the Museum. All proceeds will be donated to local organizations dedicated to the prevention of violence against women: Survivor’s Healing Center, Walnut Avenue Women’s Center, Women’s Crisis Support~Defensa de Mujeres, and Rising International.
Activities include a candlelight walk downtown, art, music by local groups, and dancing. The music and dancing provides an opportunity to celebrate the incredible resilience of the spirit, and is inspired by women turning terrible circumstances into monumental strength and mobilizing for change. Participants are encouraged to wear their respective ethnic costumes and dance their cultural dances to represent their heritage, and to symbolize women in solidarity around the world rising to end violence.
The organizers are volunteers who care about the health and well-being of all girls and women and of the planet. The goal is to educate, network, inspire, and activate going forward. Sponsors include the Pacific Cookie Company, Verve Coffee Roasters, Buttercup Cakes, Vinocruz, Dirk Andrews Music, and Hutton Sherer. Other support provided by UCSC’s Student Health Outreach and Promotion (SHOP), the City of Santa Cruz Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children, and the Santa Cruz County Women’s Commission.
Please RSVP: http://onebillionrising.org/page/event/detail/wjc
If you would like to volunteer or schedule an interview please contact Kate Roberts at kate@thewiredwoman.com
