Sexuality Happens

Hello!

I wanted to you let you know about a very exciting event is taking place for women of color this year in New Orleans.  The Femme of Color Symposium is an event created by women of color for women of color who self-identify as FEMME.

FOCS2010: Celebrations and Reflections, the inaugural symposium for FEMMES of COLOR, will create the opportunity-through workshops, community building/social activities, presentations, panels, and/or performances-to uncover and discover our similarities, our differences, our needs and how to support one another. It will serve as a launch point for a real-time and virtual nation-wide network of diverse individuals, prompt dialogue, and empower us to cultivate, sustain, and celebrate the vibrant connections we have made among femmes of color.

Check out the rest of the email for information about the hotel, our call for submissions and quick links to our Facebook, registration and website pages.  REGISTER TODAY to take advantage of our Early Registration Rate!

Three days of workshops, 2 keynotes, 1 great evening event and 100s of Femmes of Color rockin’ the Bayou in the French Quarter in historic New Orleans.  This is going to be a weekend to remember.  I hope to see you there!

Miz Chris
FOCS2010 Co-Chair

Astor Crown Plaza – Bourbon Street
The Astor Crowne Plaza is located at the Gateway to the French Quarter where Canal Street meets Bourbon Street. The excitement of the French Quarter awaits you right outside our door. Whether it be world renowned dining or the intoxicating sounds of New Orleans’ Jazz or Blues – you are in the heart of it all. The Astor Crowne Plaza offers easy access to nearby attractions like Harrahs Casino, the Aquarium of the Americas , Jackson Square, Morial Convention Center , Riverwalk Shopping, the New Orleans Sports Arena and the Superdome.

Call for Submissions

Call for Workshops, Papers, Performance, and Art

Femme of Color Symposium (FOCS) 2010: Celebrations and Reflections
March 26-28, 2009
Astor Crowne Plaza
739 Canal Street
New Orleans , Louisiana 70130
www.focs2010.com

FOCS2010: Celebrations and Reflections, the inaugural symposium by and for self-identified FEMMES of COLOR, will create the opportunity-through workshops, community building/social activities, presentations, panels, and/or performances-to uncover and discover our similarities, our differences, our needs and how to build the bridges that will allow us to support each other in all ofwho we are. It will serve as a launch point for a real-time and virtual nation-wide network of diverse individuals, prompt dialogue, and empower us to cultivate, sustain, and celebrate the vibrant connections we have made and will make among femmes of color.

We invite femmes of color from all over the map-community members, artists, academics, homemakers, activists, etc..-to participate in FOCS2010 as presenters and participants.

Submissions of all kinds are welcome. In particular, we hope that the intersections of femme with race, region, class, faith, access, ability, privilege, and marginalization will be talked about, given space, meditated upon, constructed, and deconstructed.

We hope to draw participants from across discipline, medium, and social boundaries. We encourage submissions from anyone interested, regardless of sexual identity (lesbian/gay, bisexual, etc.). We do ask that you read our mission statement before submitting. Though we would not be able to live, love and/or laugh without our many allies, this conference is for elf-identified
femmes of color only.
We are soliciting contributions from any woman who is interested, including (but not limited to):

• Workshops
• Performances
• research presentations
• skill shares
• activist & organizational topics
• visual art
• video or film

Submission deadline is January 31, 2010.
To submit a proposal, please submit the following to Krysia Villon at klvillon at aol dot com. Please put “FOCS Proposal” in the subject header.
*For research presentations, send a 300 word abstract
*For workshop and skillshare proposals, send a 300 word description of your workshop or skillshare ideas
*Visual artists should send samples of work and a 300 word description of their artistic vision
*Performers, filmmakers and other creative artists should contact us for more information
To learn more about us, our mission and to contact us with any questions, comments or concerns, please find us at our website:
www.focs2010.com