CompassPoint Vision:



64891341630Gathering 2: BodyJanuary 25, 2019Facilitators:Spring Opara | Tarita Gans Thomas | Jasmine HallCompassPoint Nonprofit Services500 12th Street Suite 320Oakland, CA 94607Tel.: 510-318-3755web: e-mail: workshops@twitter: @CP_changeDisclaimerAll material is provided without any warranty whatsoever, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Any names of people or companies listed in this book or in its companion computer files are fictitious unless otherwise noted.Copyright? 2019 CompassPoint Nonprofit Services unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. This publication, including any companion computer disk, or any component part thereof, may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the prior written permission CompassPoint, 500 12th St, Ste 320, Oakland, CA 94607, 510-318-3755, or the passPoint Vision: Ultimately, we see a world where … Our boldest vision is envisioning a world where the interlocking systems of white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism are broken. Self-determination and dignity are accessible for everyone.People live with love. Truth, reconciliation, restorative justice, and healing become pathways to mutual flourishing. We feel liberation in our souls and in our bones.We envision a world that centers creativity, where there is peace and safety and where the ability to play and make art is not just a privilege or luxury for a select few. We see a world where we treasure the wisdom of elders and ancestors, and where the importance of family (chosen or through birth) is celebrated.We see a future where there is justice and healing to reckon with genocide and slavery and where sacred ritual connects us to purpose and to each other. We see a world where we ensure choice and freedom over coercion and control; collaboration and regeneration over domination and extraction. In our vision for this future, the movements, organizations, and individuals we work with are contributing to this transformation.And this vision doesn’t belong to any one of us…It belongs to all of us…And our vision starts today.About Our LogoOur logo is the Adinkra symbol, Aya, the fern, a symbol of endurance and resourcefulness. The red font color of “Self-Care For”, the black font color of “Black Women” and the green font color of the Adrinkra fern, represents the Pan African flag created by Marcus Garvey – a symbol of the FREEDOM for those of the diaspora.According to Wikipedia, Aya also means “I am not afraid of you,” “I am independent of you.”I thought that was fitting… Community GuidelinesGeneral:Show up – Stay Present – Take care of yourself44672259525000Trust the process – give it a try; Right to PassBring heart, and mindRelaxed rigorConfidentiality5x bolderAccept and expect non-closureCreate space/Accept spaceYour Additions:Help and support each otherStart with Love (& ________?)We gon win the Fight!Respect each otherListen to Your SpiritCry more; pee lessHelp and support each otherRespect our differencesClaim the space/take the space you needProgram OutcomesUpon completion of this series, you will:Have a better understanding of the impact of racism on your health,Know how to draw upon the wisdom of our ancestors and community in creating daily self-care practices that work for Black women, Understand the importance of a “community of learning” to create systems of support and accountability so that you achieve and maintain your self-care goals, Understand the importance of re-connecting to Mind, Body and Spirit in order to be a healthier leader, Understand the importance of leading and strategizing from a rested and rejuvenated place, Understand how nurturing oneself creates empathy for yourself, your team(s), and the communities you serveWelcome & OverviewGathering 2 OutcomesExpand our knowledge of what self-care is, why it’s important, and how it is a radical act of liberation for Black women. To go deeper on how to reconnect to our bodies as Black women and to continue to build community.To correct the narrative around Black women’s bodies – the inaccurate message: There’s something wrong with being a woman and it has to do with our bodiesAgendaJanuary 25, 2019BreakfastWelcome & OverviewBreakModified World Café (Part 1): Our Bodies, Our Stories, Our Healing – How do we protect Black women and girls bodies from the many faces of abuse?Lunch – Menstrual Bingo!!!Movement: Dance, Dance, DanceModified World Café (Part 2): Our Bodies, Our Stories, Our Healing – How do we protect Black women and girls bodies from the many faces of abuse?BreakCreative Activity:GardeningLemonadeAngel Wash of AppreciationEvaluationsAdjournSetting the Tone for Re-Connecting to Your Body – Brief Review3352800167640Before we get started, there are a few items I’d like to state upfront – these are NOT the Truth (with a capital T) but truths, in that…your ears will know the truth when they hear it. My ears heard these things and perked up!!Everything we need…we already have within usThe Mind, Body and Spirit are hardwired together; you have to attend to all 3 and Spirit will be the common thread through it allOnce the process of healing and creating a unique self-care plan begins…areas of resistance WILL pop up…don’t sweat the small stuff and keep it movingThe fastest way to change resistance is through the body – ie, focusing on our breath; creating a physical practiceWe carry historical, as well, as current trauma in our body/DNA – be gentle with yourself during this processSelf-care is NOT a luxury for only the rich – CLAIM yo shit!There is NO one way to this – so don’t get stuck on perfection…each person’s path will be unique to them…again, don’t get stuck on comparing the journey – ENJOY yours!!!The oppressor despises “joyful” action – do this, and do it often!Our primary objective in this Re-Evolution is to SHINE and THRIVE!You cannot be wise if you’re undisciplined – practice will require discipline and the by-product will be that you become WISE!As illustrated in the image below, in order for the colonized worldview to perpetuate itself, it requires:A disconnect from Source/Spirit (key)A disassociation from the BodyA denial or distancing from Emotions/Feelings, andA distortion of the Narrative/StoryThis is necessary in order to quell the guilt around the genocide and enslavement of nations of “people” via an agenda of violence.center925195If you will recall the video on Thomas Jefferson; in order for him to embrace his ideology around slavery – he had to disconnect from Source, especially, in order to carry out such barbarism against two nations of people…AND his own children…*shut the front door …Thus, the act of (re)connecting to Source/Spirit, a (re)claiming of sovereignty of our Bodies, a (re)engagement with our Emotions/Feelings and a correcting of the Narrative are the practices that will assist us, as leaders, in liberating ourselves and our people and will dismantle this system of racism.“May You be with the Force, not May the Force be with you!” ~ Norma Wong, Art of War Retreat, 2018A few points to note about the body work required.Trauma lives/sits in our bodiesOur bodies need space – breathing assists with thisWe interrupt the “Gates” by moving our bodiesIn caring for our bodies, grounding is necessary. There are various ways to achieve that:Grounding (see handouts, I Feel Your Pain, by Nikki Elliot, pgs 122-126)EarthAirWaterFireEarthing – grounding through direct contact with the earth. Our bodies are energy and the planet is a ground or conduit of exchange for us. As we make direct contact with the earth, we exchange our negatively charged energy with the earth’s positively charged energy and thus, we ground. That’s why it is important for humans to connect, directly with nature OFTEN! Video: Earthing video (9 mins.): Chi – one of my daily practices that incorporates meditation, breathing and movement into one, is Tai Chi. It allows me at least 45 mins. to just breathe deeply from the diaphragm, in a relatively “safe” space; the rest of the day I am monitoring my breath as it goes shallow or to “fright” breath when I am back out in the world.Self Defense:As Black women we are often targeted and don’t necessarily feel safe – I would suggest a self-defense class…and yes, my tai chi class fulfills this need as well. Though I don’t know how to spar with someone, I do know that if I put enough force behind any of the moves – I can defend myself enough to at least get out of harm’s way.*Hand to Hand Kajukenbo is located in Oakland: Modified World CaféOur Bodies, Our Stories & Our HealingYour Notes – What Resonated for You!Therapy for Black GirlsDoing The Work Helped This Podcaster Surpass 2.5 Million Downloads: The Evolution Of Dr. JoyPlant the seeds and watch them grow. Licensed psychologist Dr. Joy Harden Bradford – host of the wildly popular and ever-necessary Therapy For Black Girls podcast, probably would have never imagined just how much her "seeds" would flourish. However, after chatting with her about her career growth since launching the platform in April 2017, and getting to know her on a personal level, I will say this: Her desire to continue to find a way to get mental health information to Black women in a way they can relate – is always guiding her next steps.0508000The Louisiana native always knew she wanted to work in the psychology field – but was unsure of what her specialty would be. It wasn't until her doctorate studies in Counseling Psychology at The University of Georgia did Dr. Joy realize she had found her sweet spot. "My PhD program groomed me for what I'm doing now. All of my work was centered on Black women and Black graduate students."She then went on to work at the Counseling center at Georgia Southern University and later transitioned into full-time private practice work. Her specialty became helping women recover from breakups with her passion for holding space for Black women to become the best possible version of themselves at the core of her work.Podcasting was a growing interest, but wasn't a skill she had perfected. "I always listened to a ton of podcasts. It always felt like something I would likely do, but I didn't know how. I had already been blogging on the Therapy For Black Girls website but it felt like I could do something different with the podcast." So, she put in the work: Conducted research, took courses on launching a podcast, and got her community excited. Note: Having a husband with a production background was an added bonus.Now over 85 episodes, a 19,000+ member Facebook group, and 2.5 million downloads later with features on major outlets such as Forbes, Women's Health, The Oprah Magazine, The Washington Post, and Essence – Therapy For Black Girls reaches women globally covering topics such as entrepreneurship, breakups, pregnancy and fertility, self-sabotage, social media, colorism, body image and more. "I never imagined that it would pick up steam so quickly. I figured I'd have to do a lot more marketing and figure out how to grow it."The need for Therapy For Black Girls is real. Dr. Joy contributes most of her growth to word of mouth recommendations, having a solid college student listenership, and consistent community social media sharing. Viral retweets about the Therapy For Black Girls therapist directory by celebrity fans such as Solange also helped. (That one retweet crashed the Therapy For Black Girls website for a week!)Behind the couch, Dr. Joy notes that her personal ability to "trust her intuition" served as a foundation for her practice's success and is something she brings to her show. She's in-tune with her audience and even incorporates popular culture into her show themes."When we talk about mental health, there's a tendency to only talk about depression and anxiety. There are a lot of other things that go into our mental health. I wanted to expand the conversation and help Black women get connected to resources that can help them if they felt like they needed help...the emails that I get from people who listen talk about how they learn something new and how an episode touched them… and how they are going to reach out to a therapist because of me [touch me]. I thought eventually it would get to that place, but to be what it has been now has been amazing."The speed of growth was something to which Dr. Joy had to adjust. She added a virtual assistant and social media manager to her team. More opportunities came, such as guesting at popular podcast live shows (The Friend Zone and Gettin' Grown). 381003689350"Building the Therapy For Black Girls brand was my intention from the beginning. I've always been the face of the brand, but now there feels like a need to create a separate brand outside of Therapy For Black Girls because not all of my press opportunities have been solely about Black women in therapy. They have been about my expertise as a psychologist and how I can have conversations about pop culture and other things. The Dr. Joy brand is now an emerging brand."The thing about nursing any seed though is that when you put in the work, you will have interested spectators. Then what?"Put the work out there, and be consistent. It will take you a long way."In December 2018, Dr. Joy was invited to be co-host alongside Angela Simmons on MTV's Teen Mom: Young + Pregnant reunion special – her first TV hosting gig. This came about after responding to a pitch from a MTV talent producer. Though she sent in her media clips and didn't hear back for six months, she gladly accepted the job and got to work (a common theme of her story) on prepping. She credits her legal team for helping to navigate the specifics during such a tight time crunch."Even though it can be exciting and the temptation may be to not pay attention to contracts, there were things that they thought about in the contract negotiation, such as my compensation and my rights that I would have never thought about. It's always good to have conversations with people that do this on a more frequent basis than you do."When you're building the dream and looking for more opportunities to broaden your impact, the most important thing you can do is continue to do the work. "You can have a publicist and look bright and shiny but if you're not credible and you can't talk to the kinds of things that they want you to talk about, it won't really matter," Dr. Joy reminds us. "Now I know that there are talent departments [whose sole job is] to look for people like me to do this kind of thing. Put the work out there, and be consistent. It will take you a long way."3810043815However, growing both the Dr. Joy and Therapy For Black Girls brands isn't exempt from challenges. Managing schedules – all while being a wife and mother to two young boys, all while balancing her personal commitments and self-care routines can be tough."During the Teen Mom prep, there were also a lot of schedule changes. That was the weekend of my college homecoming and sorority reunion, so I completely rearranged my schedule. It's a lot, given that I also have two small children. Being able to be flexible with your schedule helps because I don't know that you always have a lot of time to prepare and get ready for these kinds of opportunities."Setting clear boundaries (a topic often discussed on the show) with listeners has also been important as the platform's popularity rises. Hence, the ever-present disclaimer that opens each show: "And while I hope you love listening to and learning form the podcast, it is not meant to be a substitute for a licensed mental health professional."Moral of the story? When there's a need, there's always room to find a way to fill it. Find the void. Identify your platform of choice and execute. The best part about creating your own path is the ability to define success for yourself. "Therapy For Black Girls is helping women take their mental health more seriously. That's all I ever set out to do.""Therapy For Black Girls is helping women take their mental health more seriously. That's all I ever set out to do."It's also inspiring the future generation of mental health professionals and culture changers."Someone in my Instagram comments commented how cool it was to see me [hosting Teen Mom] because she had grown up watching Dr. Drew do this and often thought, 'Could I be doing something that he's doing?' To see me doing it, opens up options for people who don't know or think that this is something you can do with the degree. [Me stepping into opportunities like this] also helps more therapists expand their ideas about what we can do with our degrees. Sometimes we only think we can see clients in our office or within an agency. Seeing Black female therapists on TV is very sparse. You typically don't see diversity in terms of who is represented on these shows. It's important that these companies are being more active in trying to find people from diverse backgrounds."If you're trying to find the courage to take risks and pursue your own dreams, Dr. Joy suggests staying away from overconsumption of social media, scheduling, investing in coaching, and cultivating a strong support system.The Therapy For Black Girls empire continues to grow. In late 2018, Dr. Joy launched the Yellow Couch Collective - a space for Black women "to gather, support, encourage, and learn from one another." This is only the beginning – and Dr. Joy – calmly, but with a joyous excitement – knows it."It's always been my goal to have an advice column in a [major Black woman's publication]. A part of these expanding opportunities, I've always thought about, but not necessarily TV. I would absolutely do TV hosting again! It's still too new to me to go too far in imagining what this could be become. I'm open to what's next for sure."We'll be here rooting for you. Photos via Dr. Joy Harden Bradford.To learn more about Dr. Joy & Therapy For Black Girls, visit or follow @hellodrjoy & @therapyforblackgirls on Instagram.6 Self-Care Tips for Sexual Assault SurvivorsAs the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings continue, with today's Christine Blasey Ford testimony, the process can feel overwhelming and triggering for survivors. What kinds of self-care methods will help us when the conversation is filled with rape culture?In general, it's vital that we prioritize ourselves and our mental, physical, and emotional health. But when we need some extra love, it can be hard to figure out how to just breathe. Besides sharing what's worked for me, I asked some experts about what you can do to care for yourself in this difficult time.1. Have an emergency self-care plan.Having a strategy in place for when you have an anxiety attack or a sudden post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) episode can help you take the steps you need to recenter. Whether it's meditation, deep breathing, going for a walk, or talking to a friend, having a plan in place can help you find peace. It might even help to let a close friend know what your emergency self-care plan is, so they can help support you.“The truth is, you can't avoid all of it, so it can be helpful to try to think now about strategies that can help you if you get caught up or caught off guard by these stories," says Lena Solow, Teen Vogue’s resident sex educator. "What makes you feel grounded? Maybe you need to remember to take deep breaths and take stock of your current surroundings — think about what you can see, hear, and feel right now. Remind yourself that you are safe. Drink some water. Maybe you have some friends who you know get it, who you can text.”2. Physical self-care.Your body is your temple and your home in this world. When you take care of your body, it can help reduce feelings of anxiety or depression. RAINN suggests that you start by asking yourself questions, like: How are you sleeping? What types of foods are you eating? What kind of exercise do you enjoy? Do you perform routines that help you start off your day or wind down at the end of your day?When I’m feeling triggered, a witchy trick I like to use is to hold a crystal in each hand and alternate squeezes. This is a modification of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and really calms me down. Whatever your tricks may be, spend some time figuring out what works best with your body and keep that in mind. Knowing what works for you will help you build a toolbox of self-care methods that will better equip you to take on the world.3. Find a creative outlet.For me, healing often comes in the form of artistic expression. Solow says, “You might want to write something of your own. It doesn't have to be anything perfect or beautiful or for publication — just a rant in a blank document or email can get the feelings out.”This method really helps me — I open the notes section of my phone and let out whatever I might be feeling on the screen. A trigger can come from seeing a person who looks like your abuser or even the same car they drove. In those moments, try to find a safe space to sit down and release your emotions through writing or drawing.4. Find community and support.“If you are looking for a support group, reach out to RAINN or your local sexual assault center for information," says Brian Pinero, vice president of victims services at RAINN. "It’s also important to keep in mind when finding a group to look for one that suits where you are in your healing process. If it was a very recent experience, you might heal best in a group tailored toward victims with more recent experiences. Or, if you are a domestic violence survivor, finding a group with other domestic violence survivors.”If you have a loved one who has been assaulted and you want to support them when rape culture comes to the forefront of our media, Pinero suggests reaching out in person or on the phone. You can say something as simple as, “Hey, I stand with you. I’m here to listen if you need to talk.” Pinero pointed out that it's important to be cautious of what is a personal declaration of support versus a public declaration (in other words, do not do this over social media). You want to keep the survivor, their privacy, and their self-care in mind first.5. Know and communicate your sexual boundaries.Navigating sex after trauma can be difficult, but knowing your boundaries and having a partner who respects those boundaries are key aspects to feeling great about your pleasure. Solow provides insight into how to have these conversations: “First of all, you get to decide how much of your story to share. If you know certain sexual activities are triggering, you can totally say something like, 'I don't want to be on my back during sex,' without offering further explanation — you deserve to have that boundary respected. You can also say, 'Before we sleep together, I need to tell you some things about my past trauma so that I feel safe.'"You deserve to have that request respected," Solow continues. "Any partner who shames you for having boundaries doesn't deserve to be with your body. Period. And this is a good time to remind yourself and your partner that there isn't one particular activity that 'counts' as sex — you can explore lots to figure out what makes you feel safest.”Pinero suggests role-play with a safe person before you have a conversation in which you come out as a survivor. You can call the RAINN hotline and the person who answers can help you navigate this dialogue in a safe way that works for you. It might mean starting off by telling the person something like, “I want to tell you something that happened to me and I need you to just listen and give me the space to walk away if I need to.”6. It’s OK to walk away from a situation or conversation that feels triggering.For me, this has probably been the most difficult self-care lesson to learn. I want to engage, educate, and empower people to understand how we can eradicate rape culture. But sometimes, people aren’t open to learning and it can cause you more harm than good to engage in these situations.Solow has some great advice for how to handle these difficult, and often triggering, conversations: “The thing is, you have capacity for different responses in different situations. It's not your job to educate someone and it's not your job to stay calm or even stay in the conversation — do what you need to do to take care of yourself in the situation.""When possible, I like to call on someone else who I know is less activated by those words to do the leg work. Call them and say, 'Hey, did you hear what that person said? Can you tell them why that's not cool?' I'm also a big fan of follow-up emails or messages after a heated discussion, or even just after hearing an oppressive comment that you didn't get to respond to at the time. There are always opportunities later for you or someone else to message that person and say, 'Hey, here's how what you said affected me, here's why it's not cool, here's an article you should read about this.'”At the end of day, remember that you come first. Figuring out what works best for you is a huge step in your healing process. Remember that you aren’t alone and we all need help sometimes, especially when rape culture becomes a national conversation on every news channel.If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can seek help by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673). For more resources on sexual assault, visit RAINN, End Rape on Campus, Know Your IX, and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.Our Hair, Our Glorious, Gravity Defying Hair!Your Notes – What Resonated for You!-1905036195000Never Forget #021: Black Women’s Hair Was Once IllegalBlack hair has long been a topic of discussion, if not a cornerstone, of the Black community. It is an integral part of Black identity, especially for women. While our hair and what it means to us individually may be unique, what is universal for all Black women is that our locks are closely tied to our beauty, or perception thereof. That’s why we go to such great lengths to care for?and protect Black hair, not just in the literal sense, but also from outsiders who try to change or simply steal that part of our identity.In recent years, with the onset of social media, it’s been easier to identify and call out these perpetrators. Cultural thieves who take Black hair, as well as other aspects of Blackness, and treat it with the same respect a white person treats raw chicken: cut it, be unsure as to how it’s seasoned, and then throw it in a large casserole. (I imagine that’s how casserole was invented…a white woman didn’t know how to cook all the ingredients separately so she just said fuck it, and threw it all in a bowl then set the oven to 350…or 375…but I digress)Not surprisingly there was a period when white folks, or anyone else for that matter, just didn’t have time to copy & paste our style so they did what they do best—desperately tried to eliminate Black beauty. During the late 18th century, Black and Creole women in Louisiana were forced to wear head wraps, or tignons, because they wore their hair “in such elaborate ways that it attracted the attention of white men.” And when I say ‘forced’ I mean sanctioned, as in the Louisiana government passed laws to effectively regulate Black women’s hair. The “tignon laws” were to not only prevent Black women from getting (unwanted) attention from white men?but also to curb white women’s jealousy. At the time, it was customary for white, Spanish, and Creole men to have placées, or openly kept mistresses. And more often than not, they were choosing Black and Creole women to be their mistresses instead of white women. So, let me be clear when I say this: white women were jealous that they couldn’t be the side chick.Now, I imagine there were some women who resisted these laws but the overwhelming response was, “LOL. Okay, girl.” Black women began to wear bright-colored tignons, proceeded to adorn them with jewels and other accessories, and used different styling techniques to wrap their hair. What was meant to signify Black women as inferior and hide their beauty was actually used to enhance it, thanks to the women’s ingenuity. In 2016, we call that #BlackGirlMagicOur Sexual & Emotional HealthYour Notes – What Resonated for You!10 Ways To Stay In Your Vagina's Good GracesThis is a douche-free zone. By Amber Brenza and Ashley Oerman Jul 27, 2018Getty Images Your vagina is kind of like The Incredible Hulk—not necessarily in the muscular and green kind of way (I hope?), but in a "you won't like her when she's angry" kind of way.Unfortunately, lots and lots of things can make her angry (she still doesn't know you refuse the lube, btw). The good thing is, it's not too hard to stay in her good graces. Here's how to keep her from hulking out. 1. Don't forget to use condoms with new partners.01179This should be a no-brainer, but condoms are the only effective way to protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), says Gokhan Anil, M.D., an ob-gyn in the Mayo Clinic Health System.One thing you may not have known, however: They can also help keep your vagina's pH level steady during sex, so all the good bacteria that's in there can stay healthy, according to a 2013 study in the journal PLoS One. That's super important since those little bacteria help prevent yeast infections, UTIs, and bacterial vaginosis. You know, just in case you needed another reason to wrap things up.2. Don't blow off your gyno. Although new guidelines advise against annual pelvic exams if you're symptom-free and not pregnant (every three years for normal Pap tests), a visit to your doctor isn't just about poking around your lady parts, says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Yale University. "I think an annual exam is important for talking about health problems," she adds. Before you automatically switch to the three-year rule, talk it over with your doctor. Some risk factors (along with your personal and family histories) can make it so you need pelvic exams and Pap tests more frequently. It's also okay to want an annual exam, even if you don't need one. You can use that time to chat about birth control, fertility, and STI checks.3. Use lube, for god's sake. It's a major buzzkill when you hit the sheets, but it seems like your vagina didn't get the memo. But it's totally normal—vaginal dryness can impact you if you take certain medications like antihistamines, antidepressants, or hormonal birth control, says Minkin. It can also crop up after pregnancy or shortly before menopause. When this happens, make sure you’re communicating with your partner so they don't forge ahead before you're properly lubricated, which is obviously painful and can cause abrasions. Or just use lube to speed up the process and make sex even hotter, says Minkin.4. Wear cotton undies (or go commando).02359When it comes to your underwear selection, your vagina has a preference: cotton. That's why most undies come with a strip of cotton in the crotch.It's all about that breathability—cotton lets air in and absorbs moisture, says Anil.Minkin, goes a step further, suggesting going commando when you're just hanging around the house to let things air out. One tip: Don’t go to the gym sans undies, because you want that extra layer between you and germy gym equipment.5. Definitely don't douche—or stop ASAP.That whole "your vagina is a self-cleaning oven" spiel isn't just a funny phrase—your vagina actually does clean itself. "The vagina already has healthy bacteria that maintain its harmony," says Anil. "Introducing new chemicals to that can disrupt that harmony."Another thing: A 2013 study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology found that that using intravaginal hygiene products can put you at increased risk of infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and STDs. Just don't do it.6. Try to be a little more careful during cycling class.An unexpected place you might be putting your vaginal health at risk is the cycling studio. If you're a frequent rider, you could be at risk for genital numbness, pain, and tingling (not in a good way) while cycling. In fact, a study of female cyclists in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that a majority experienced these symptoms. If you love to hit up cycling studios, try wearing padded shorts and following these form modifications to keep your vagina pain-free during your workout.7. Don't overuse antibiotics.02177"Unnecessary antibiotic use can significantly reduce vaginal health," says Anil. That's because antibiotics don't discriminate—they kill off both good and bacteria, which can then change the flora (i.e., the colony of healthy bacteria) in your vagina, causing yeast and other infections to grow.Obviously, if you have to take an antibiotic to fight infection, you shouldn't pass up the prescription—just make sure it's totally necessary before you start that course, says Anil.8. Treat sex like wiping—always go from front to back.Definitely don't go from anal to vaginal sex without changing the condom or properly cleaning off first, says Minkin. Going from backdoor to front exposes your vagina to a host of bacteria and can up your risk of infections, she adds.9. Skip the scented soaps for ~down there~.Scented body wash may be awesome, but it doesn't belong anywhere near your genitals, says Minkin. That's because, unlike your skin, your vagina doesn't have an extra protective layer—which means soap and other chemicals can be really drying to that sensitive skin, says Anil.You really only need to rinse with warm water to keep things clean down there. But if you just don't feel right about going soap-free, stick with a plain, gentle, unscented soap, adds Minkin.10. Do your kegel exercises.FYI: Kegel exercises aren't just another pointless thing your mom reminds you to do. Doing kegels helps strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, says Anil, which then helps reduce strain on your pelvic organs, and improves bladder and bowel function. Oh, and they can make your orgasms stronger, too.Anil recommends doing three sets of 10 kegels each day, holding each kegel for five seconds. That's just three minutes of kegel work—totally doable.Amber Brenza Amber Brenza is the health editor at Women's Health, and she oversees the website's health and weight loss verticals. The Sex-Positive Black WomanBy Arielle Loren on June 3, 2018 0254000I am a “sex-positive” Black woman, and I believe that the sexual empowerment of Black women is essential. Sex-positivity is a movement that celebrates consensual, safer sex and the multiple facets of human sexuality as natural, empowering experiences. As Black women have a complex, unique history of sexual oppression, from the rape of our enslaved ancestors to contemporary double gender standards, it’s important that we main spaces for conversation and affirmation that are created?for us,?by monly misunderstood, sex-positivity is not a movement rooted in liberating what’s between the legs. Rather, it is a framework for expanding consciousness, promoting tolerance, and rebuilding human respect. It’s a tool for reimagining our bodies, pleasures, and desires as healthy, normal, and diverse. It’s an instrument for reclaiming our power, challenging shame-infesting ideologies, redefining our relationships, and fortifying our sisterhood.Here are a few key things to understand about this way of thinking:Sex-positivity is advocacy for Black womenSex-positivity is advocacy for Black women,?and all other human beings, to experience freedom in sexuality, ignore pop culture pigeonholes, and encourage others to grow in the same capacity. It reaffirms the following:?Black women are not hypersexual, despite the presence of this stereotype in mainstream media and Eurocentric history. Sex-positivity reaffirms the need for Black women’s sexual empowerment, as it calls for the repositioning of (consensual, safer) sexual desire and expression as a human norm.Black women are not all one and the sameWe desire differently. We have different bodies. We have different sexual orientations. We are unique individuals. Thus, sex-positivity creates a space for the freedom to express our many sexualities, without judgment, in various (consensual, safer) ways.Black women are not a hopeless causeWhile we certainly have our prejudices, battles with religious dogma, deeply rooted cultural ideologies, and history of pain, we respond to sex-positive leadership that shares and understands our many identities, accommodate our concerns, and transforms our shortfalls into compassion and respect for people of different lifestyles.Black women are capable of transforming Black communities, and assisting the rest of humanity in growing toward respect for sexual autonomy and freedom. Through sex-positivity, there’s hope for our sisters, aunts, mothers, and girlfriends to be empowered in their desires, openness, and ever-evolving beliefs. There’s hope for our men to become our supporters of this consciousness and for us to equally provide them with support in their various sexualities and sexual expressions. There’s a chance that we might even have a generation of children that aren’t afraid to discuss sex and sexuality in the open without shame or fear of punishment. And thus, they will feel comfortable enough to ask the questions necessary to learn how to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases, infections, and other unfortunate calamities.But again, sex-positivity is about more than sex and even sexual health. It upholds freedom and reinforces basic human values. Sex-positivity is anti-patriarchy and anti-homophobia. It’s not a space for spreading negative, self-serving creeds that discriminate against certain individuals for being human.Sex-positivity is for the end of sexual abuseSex-positivity is for the end of sexual abuse, molestation, and assault. It doesn’t protect or respect abusers.Sex-positivity is for women’s reproductive rightsSex-positivity is for women’s reproductive rights and legislation, as choice and freedom are core elements of its philosophy.Sex-positivity recognizes that sex and sexuality are intricate and complex human experiencesSex-positivity recognizes that sex and sexuality are intricate and complex human experiences. Thus, it encourages us to always challenge our beliefs, think in tolerance, and respect each individual’s path.We all have the freedom to choose to travel this world with an open mind or with a closed mentality. But hopefully you agree that it’s better to make mistakes, confront the glare of our prejudices, and grow than to stand still and bathe in the shadow of ignorance. In sex-positivity, we can all nurture and learn from each other.Arielle Loren is a writer and filmmaker that offers real-life commentary on women’s issues, sexuality, health, and travel. She is the Editor-in-Chief of Corset Magazine, the “go-to magazine for all things sexuality.” Check her out on Facebook, follow her on Twitter @ArielleLoren, and visit her personal site.Our Bodies – Reclaiming Autonomy & SovereigntyYour Notes – What Resonated for You!Black women are 4 times more likely to have a positive body image than white womenBy Lili Radloff 24 October 2017 0272Other aspects besides race that can influence body image include history of abuse and attitudes toward food. As part of our She Says Female Nation Survey we asked women how they felt about their bodies. See this article to find out how eating, drinking and exercising to relax influence body image. Spoiler alert: using food and alcohol to wind down will have a negative impact on how you feel about your body, so when you are feeling stressed rather reach for those running shoes than that glass of chardonnay.?Since so few respondents polled identified with having very positive feelings about their bodies we decided to delve a little deeper…READ MORE: Find out what 16 000 of you had to say about love, sex and lifeDoes your race influence how you feel about your body??There is a strong relationship between race and body image. When we asked women to rate how they feel about their bodies on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is very positive, 3 is neutral and 5 is very negative the population group with the highest percentage of women who identified with ‘very positive’ was black women. In fact, nearly 1 in 3 black women said they feel very positive about their bodies.?This number is 4 times higher than the group with the lowest incidence of very positive feelings: white women (only 1 in 12 chose this option). Coloured and Indian women fell somewhere in between with 1 in 6 coloured women choosing that option and 1 in 5 Indian women feeling very positive.?Only 33% of white women said they were happy with the way they looked. This phenomenon was echoed in our questions about plastic surgery. When we asked women whether they would consider plastic surgery, one of the options was: No, I am happy with the way I look. 54% of black women chose this option, compared to the overall average of 46%.READ MORE: Nearly half of SA women wish they were thinnerOnce again white women were the demographic with the lowest positive percentage. Only 33% of white women said they were happy with the way they looked.?When asked about this phenomenon, W24 editor, Zanele Kumalo says: ‘It is really fascinating to see how differently women view their bodies according to race.Interestingly, women with a very positive body image were more likely to have lost their virginity between the ages of 19 and 25. I wonder whether drives towards embracing a more positive body image like the natural hair movement and #blackgirlsrock #melaninmagic #thickness etc. have had an impact on black women’s psyches.’We can only hope these positive attitudes will in time filter down to other population groups too.?Body image, sex and child abuse?Unsurprisingly women who have a very positive body image were also 1.6 times more likely to be completely happy with their sex lives. Inversely, the lower your body image is, the less likely you are to find your sex life completely satisfactory.?Interestingly, women with a very positive body image were more likely to have lost their virginity between the ages of 19 and 25.?Tragically, respondents with very negative body image are up to two times more likely to have lost their virginity at an extremely young age (younger than 12 years). Since children under 12 cannot consent to sex this means that many women who were raped as children carry very negative body image into adulthood.READ MORE: In a room with 32 other women, only 1 of you would have faith in our governmentThis correlates with tons of research done over decades about the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse. This article by the Department of Applied Psychology at New York University shows how low self-esteem is an extremely common aftereffect of abuse. Despite this being a very small number of respondents, even a handful of girls who suffer this fate is too many. Colorism – My Black IS Beautiful!!Your Notes – What Resonated for You!Rwanda bans all skin bleaching productsThere are fears ban could drive consumers to buy unregulated products?Toyin Owoseje @toyinreports Wednesday 9 January 2019 14:45 01542President Paul Kagame condemned the use of the skin-whitening products in November ( Rex Features ) Rwanda has started enforcing its nationwide ban on skin bleaching products, according to reports.Whitening creams and soaps are being removed from shelves across the African nation, just two months after the government announced that it was banning them from being sold.It is believed that President Paul?Kagame?instigated the crackdown when he condemned the use of the products in November, urging Rwanda’s ministry of health to take action.“Quite unhealthy among other things. Includes use of prohibited chemicals,"?the president told a Twitter user who voiced their concerns over the use of such creams. “MoH?and RNP need to reign this in very quickly.”According to Al Jazeera, Rwanda’s ban follows similar crackdowns in South Africa, Kenya and Ghana, where the importing of such products is prohibited.Many skin-bleaching products contain chemicals like hydroquinone and mercury and have been linked to skin cancer as well as kidney and liver damage.?However, the move has raised fears that consumers will be forced to buy unregulated products, which could put their health at risk. Some of the products sold on the black market are smuggled into Rwanda.?“A woman would always find a way to lighten her skin. The fact that Rwanda has banned skin bleaching products does not mean women would not do it,” one person tweeted.“Banning is never an effective answer for products like this, forcing their use underground. Education gives the greatest power. Everyone wants to be a different colour,” another wrote.Skin bleaching is a multibillion-dollar global industry. At least four out of every 10 women in Africa bleach their skin, according to the World Health Organisation.Food & NutritionYour Notes – What Resonated for You!Why Farming is an Act of Defiance for People of Color00Photo by Jamel Mosely Leah Penniman is a Black Kreyol farmer who has been tending the soil for 20 years and organizing for an anti-racist food system for 15 years. She currently serves as founding co-executive director of Soul Fire Farm in Grafton, New York, a people-of-color led project that works to dismantle racism in the food system. Her first book, Farming While Black, is out today.As a young person, and one of three mixed-race Black children raised in the rural North mostly by our white father, I found it very difficult to understand who I was. Some of the children in our conservative, almost all-white public school taunted, bullied, and assaulted us, and I was confused and terrified by their malice. But while school was often terrifying, I found solace in the forest. When human beings were too much to bear, the earth consistently held firm under my feet and the solid, sticky trunk of the majestic white pine offered me something stable to grasp. I imagined that I was alone in identifying with Earth as Sacred Mother, having no idea that my African ancestors were transmitting their cosmology to me, whispering across time, “Hold on daughter—we won’t let you fall.”I never imagined that I would become a farmer. In my teenage years, as my race consciousness evolved, I got the message loud and clear that Black activists were concerned with gun violence, housing discrimination, and education reform, while white folks were concerned with organic farming and environmental conservation. I felt that I had to choose between “my people” and the Earth, that my dual loyalties were pulling me apart and negating my inherent right to belong. Fortunately, my ancestors had other plans. I passed by a flyer advertising a summer job at The Food Project, in Boston, Massachusetts, that promised applicants the opportunity to grow food and serve the urban community. I was blessed to be accepted into the program, and from the first day, when the scent of freshly harvested cilantro nestled into my finger creases and dirty sweat stung my eyes, I was hooked on farming. Something profound and magical happened to me as I learned to plant, tend, and harvest, and later to prepare and serve that produce in Boston’s toughest neighborhoods. I found an anchor in the elegant simplicity of working the earth and sharing her bounty. What I was doing was good, right, and unconfused. Shoulder-to-shoulder with my peers of all hues, feet planted firmly in the earth, stewarding life-giving crops for Black community—I was home.At organic agriculture conferences, all of the speakers were white, all of the technical books sold were authored by white people, and conversations about equity were considered irrelevant. I thought that organic farming was invented by white people and worried that my ancestors who fought and died to break away from the land would roll over in their graves to see me stooping. I struggled with the feeling that a life on land would be a betrayal of my people. I could not have been more wrong.At the annual gathering of the Northeast Organic Farming Association, I decided to ask the handful of people of color at the event to gather for a conversation, known as a caucus. In that conversation I learned that my struggles as a Black farmer in a white-dominated agricultural community were not unique, and we decided to create another conference to bring together Black and Brown farmers and urban gardeners. In 2010 the National Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners Conference (BUGS), which continues to meet annually, was convened by Karen Washington. Over 500 aspiring and veteran Black farmers gathered for knowledge exchange and for affirmation of our belonging to the sustainable food movement.Through BUGS and my growing network of Black farmers, I began to see how miseducated I had been regarding sustainable agriculture. I learned that “organic farming” was an African-indigenous system developed over millennia and first revived in the United States by a Black farmer, Dr. George Washington Carver, of Tuskegee University in the early 1900s. Dr. Booker T. Whatley, another Tuskegee professor, was one of the inventors of community-supported agriculture (CSA), and that community land trusts were first started in 1969 by Black farmers, with the New Communities movement leading the way in Georgia.Learning this, I realized that during all those years of seeing images of only white people as the stewards of the land, only white people as organic farmers, only white people in conversations about sustainability, the only consistent story I’d seen or been told about Black people and the land was about slavery and sharecropping, about coercion and brutality and misery and sorrow. And yet here was an entire history, blooming into our present, in which Black people’s expertise and love of the land and one another was evident. When we as Black people are bombarded with messages that our only place of belonging on land is as slaves, performing dangerous and backbreaking menial labor, to learn of our true and noble history as farmers and ecological stewards is deeply healing.Fortified by a more accurate picture of my people’s belonging on land, I knew I was ready to create a mission-driven farm centering on the needs of the Black community. At the time, I was living with my Jewish husband, Jonah, and our two young children, Neshima and Emet, in the South End of Albany, New York, a neighborhood classified as a “food desert” by the federal government. On a personal level this meant that despite our deep commitment to feeding our young children fresh food and despite our extensive farming skills, structural barriers to accessing good food stood in our way. The corner store specialized in Doritos and Coke. We would have needed a car or taxi to get to the nearest grocery store, which served up artificially inflated prices and wrinkled vegetables. There were no available lots where we could garden. Desperate, we signed up for a CSA share, and walked 2.2 miles to the pickup point with the newborn in the backpack and the toddler in the stroller. We paid more than we could afford for these vegetables and literally had to pile them on top of the resting toddler for the long walk back to our apartment.When our South End neighbors learned that Jonah and I both had many years of experience working on farms, from Many Hands Organic Farm, in Barre, Massachusetts, to Live Power Farm, in Covelo, California, they began to ask whether we planned to start a farm to feed this community. At first we hesitated. I was a full-time public school science teacher, Jonah had his natural building business, and we were parenting two young children. But we were firmly rooted in our love for our people and for the land, and this passion for justice won out. We cobbled together our modest savings, loans from friends and family, and 40 percent of my teaching salary every year in order to capitalize the project. The land that chose us was relatively affordable, just over $2,000 an acre, but the necessary investments in electricity, septic, water, and dwelling spaces tripled that cost. With the tireless support of hundreds of volunteers, and after four years of building infrastructure and soil, we opened Soul Fire Farm, a project committed to ending racism and injustice in the food system, providing life-giving food to people living in food deserts, and transferring skills and knowledge to the next generation of farmer-activists.Our first order of business was feeding our community back in the South End of Albany. While the government labels this neighborhood a food desert, I prefer the term food apartheid, because it makes clear that we have a human-created system of segregation that relegates certain groups to food opulence and prevents others from accessing life-giving nourishment. About 24 million Americans live under food apartheid, in which it’s difficult to impossible to access affordable, healthy food. This trend is not race-neutral. White neighborhoods have an average of four times as many supermarkets as predominantly Black communities. This lack of access to nutritious food has dire consequences for our communities. Incidences of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease are on the rise in all populations, but the greatest increases have occurred among people of color, especially African Americans and Native Americans.To farm while Black is an act of defiance against white supremacy and a means to honor the agricultural ingenuity of our ancestors. As Toni Morrison is reported to have said, “If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” Farming While Black is the book I needed someone to write for me when I was a teen who incorrectly believed that choosing a life on land would be a betrayal of my ancestors and of my Black community. It’s a reverently compiled manual for African-heritage people ready to reclaim our rightful place of dignified agency in the food system.This excerpt is adapted from the introduction of Leah Penniman’s book Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land (Chelsea Green Publishing, November 2018) and is reprinted with permission from the publisher.Notes and ReflectionsThank you! Please continue to stay in touch!Spring Oparaspringo@Tarita Thomaspmstelethon@Jasmine Halljasmineh@ For questions about CompassPoint Workshopsworkshops@ ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download