The fall 2016 Feminist Lecture Series at Sonoma State University includes a special lecture by Sonoma County native Rebecca Fein, founding director of the "Powerful Voices Project." Her documentary film series tells stories of resilience, hope and recovery of people who have experienced sexual trauma. Other speakers include Sonoma State alumni and leaders from the local community. This fall's series includes topics like Islam vs. Feminism, breast cancer activism and more. Lectures are held on Thursdays, noon to 12:50 p.m. in Stevenson 1002. Admission is free, parking on campus is $5-$8. The series is presented by the Women's and Gender Studies Department at Sonoma State.
September 1
Feminism, Difference and Identities: What Role Does Feminism Play in Today's High Tension, Political, and Racial Climate?
Carina M. Buzo
As an alum of SSU's Women's and Gender Studies Department, Carina's understanding of feminism comes with love, critique, personal and professional commitment. She will share her knowledge of the ways that we can use feminism and postmodernism to understand the tensions between racial, political, and lived difference based on our identities. Carina has a master's in education and currently serves as the HUB Program Coordinator at Sonoma State.
September 8
Real Hip-Hop: A Culture of Peace, Love, Unity and Having Fun
Khafre Jay
Khafre Jay, the director of Hip Hop For Change, will illuminate the beauty and power of hip hop that has now been homogenized and oppressed through it's ties to corporate media and the prison industrial complex. Jay's idea of real hip-hop culture is rooted in community empowerment. It provides a culturally relevant platform for creative self-expression, education, and activism.
September 22
Islam vs. Feminism: The False Dichotomy
Sabina Khan-Ibarra
Sabina Khan-Ibarra is the founder of Muslimah Montage, a web platform where Muslim women of all backgrounds share their journeys and reflections, weaving powerful and unforgettable stories about their increasingly visible role in the global culture. She has been published in the Huffington Post and authored an essay in the book, "Faithfully Feminist: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Feminists on Why We Stay." Sabina also works as an editor at AltMuslimah, a media platform that is wholly dedicated to stories and commentary on gender in Islam culture.
October 6
Barbara Brenner, Breast Cancer Activism and Social Justice
Susie Lampert
Susie Lampert was Barbara Brenner's life partner for 38 years, from the time they met in graduate school until Barbara's death from ALS in 2013. Susie will talk about Barbara's life and influence on breast cancer activism, and read selections from "So Much to Be Done: The Writings of Breast Cancer Activist Barbara Brenner."
November 3
League of Women Voters Get Ready to Vote!
Nancy Burrington
Emerging from the Women's Suffrage Movement, the League of Women Voters has maintained it's prime mission of political education for 96 years and continues to be an iconic organization acting in the public interest. This presentation will cover highlights of the League's history, mission and current relevance. Nancy Burrington is an alumna of Sonoma State and is president of the League of Women Voters of Sonoma County.
November 10
Undocumented Students Speak Out
SSU Undocu-Scholar Coalition
Sonoma State University Undocu-Scholar Coalition provides support to current and future undocumented SSU students and their allies, enabling them to succeed. This presentation from Sonoma State Chicano and Latino Studies lecturer Mariana Martinez will cover information about policies including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), license information (AB-60), California Dream Act, and AB-540. Sonoma State students will also speak about their experiences and discuss the plans to start a Dream Center on campus.
November 17
Stories of Surviving and Thriving After Experiencing Sexual Assault
Becky Fein
Becky Fein is the founding director of the Powerful Voices Project, a documentary film series that tells stories of resilience, hope, and recovery of people who have experienced sexual trauma. This interactive talk will explore the power of storytelling in service to healing, and changing the conversation around sexual assault and its survivors. Becky holds master's in public health from Columbia University. She has been working in sexual assault prevention and mental health promotion for almost 10 years.
December 1
Queer and Trans Artists of Color
Nia King
Nia King is a queer, mixed-race writer, illustrator, drummer, filmmaker and activist from Boston, Massachusetts, who is proud to call Oakland home. She is a multimedia journalist whose work focuses on political art by women, queer people and people of color. She is the author of "Queer and Trans Artists of Color: Stories of Some of Our Lives" and the host and producer of "We Want the Airwaves" podcast. She will be sharing from her most recent book, "Queer and Trans Artists of Color."