Happy International Women's Day

All around the world today, people are taking note, celebrating, and demonstrating in observation of International Women's Day. March 8th has marked this occasion since the early 1900s and has taken on many forms. According to Wikipedia (one of my favorite research tools- don't believe the school hype), "In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements."
This day shows that we have come a long way in showing love to the women of the world, but also shows that we have much work to do. In this country, there are still many hurdles to overcome and viewpoints to change when it comes to women- from the home to the office building and to the street. In history, rules and regulations have been mostly decided by men, and only in recent decades, have women begun to exhibit their rights as human beings to make decisions and show and prove that they are capable of so much more than has been taught to be our glass ceiling in the past- on every front. We are sisters, wives, mothers, daughters, the Earth that life springs from- and without us, existence would not be. Can we all reflect and recognize that?!?
So, men and women, please take the time today to acknowledge the women that have impacted your life & our community - and if you are a woman, take the time to show some love for yourself!
OurDHStreets supports and loves the women of Denver Harbor, Houston, Tejas, and the World.

Happy International Women's Day!!!!

Events going on today for IWD 2010:

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Join other Houston area women in celebrating International Women's Day. We will share food and stories of the women who have inspired us.

There will be an open mic for anyone wanting to share poetry, music or stories with the group beginning at 8pm. Drinks will be available through Avant Garden - alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

Para Las Mujeres / For the Women

Sisters, in my opinion, there is not enough dialogue between us - as women of color, as conscious women, as women who have become educated, built, suffered, survived, and experienced. I think this mostly has to do with the fact that our society is not set up in a way that gives women instant equality and space to express ourselves. It is really up to us to carve out spaces and events in order to help conversations & understanding happen. Many of us do not have close female friends because we are taught to distrust each other from the workplace to the home. I've heard many women talk about how another woman has betrayed them, used them, manipulated them, etc. and they have in turn, decided it's best to not interact on personal levels with the female sex to a large degree. Yet, in looking at where our lives and livelihoods are taking us- bringing us into a recession/depression, with growing hate crimes, with growing stress on us and our men due to joblessness & a lack of money, with kidnappings in our area, with the state of women who are being used and abused and made to feel hopeless- it is only right and necessary that we open ourselves up to building with our fellow women again. There is so much that we can accomplish as women who work hard, have created spaces inside ourselves for other women to come, have suffered, have survived, and have experienced whatever we have experienced. We all have something to bring to the table.

So, in that spirit, this coming weekend, there will be an event honoring International Women's Day here in Houston's East End. The event will be hosted by women featuring women about womenly things. But, yes, men..you are more than welcomed to attend!

I know the ladies who have come together since late last year to make this happen & I hope to see & meet many more sisters there.

Bohemeos is a great cafe/deli so come hungry & thirsty!

For more info/ complete schedule/and artist info:

http://www.myspace.com/creativewomenunite

creativewomenunite@gmail.com