more happy COLAGErs at the retreat
Last weekend, COLAGErs from up and down the east coast descended on Baltimore to participate in our 3rd Annual NE Regional Retreat and add some queerspawn voices to the resounding chorus of LGBTQ activism at Creating Change 2012!
The closing circle: COLAGErs toss thread between each other and share what they’re taking away from the retreat in their heads, their hearts and their feet.
Some of the quotes posted during the PP2 workshop. COLAGErs were asked to stand next to a quote they identified with and explain what it means to them.
Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love.
“
| — | Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, 1967 |
Day 3 of the COLAGE Northeast Regional Retreat: The Personal is Political, Part 2
On this third and final day of our retreat, we’re thinking about social justice - not only for ourselves and our families, but for all the voiceless and all of the peoples and movements struggling against oppression.
We know that COLAGErs represent a cross section of society. There are COLAGErs of every race, gender identity, class, nationality, religion, and sexual orientation. Therefore, our movement, ideally, is tangential, symbiotic, coalescing with, part of and built upon myriad social justice movements working towards the equality of all.
This morning, in the second part of THE PERSONAL IS POLITICAL workshop, we discuss the different issues we are passionate about, the campaigns for change that inspire us, and the organizations with whom we are excited to collaborate with.
Today, we do our best to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - an individual who understood the interconnectedness of all movements toward social justice, and devoted his life to progress along its path.
Big THANKS to Jackie & Chris from Camp Highlight for joining us this weekend!
More about CH: “We are excited to begin this great adventure to provide a wonderful camp experience for children ages 8 -15 from LGBT families. Camp Highlight will provide an overnight camp experience that fosters positive values and creates lasting memories and friendships. Our goal is to create a safe space where our children can grow, learn and play.”
An issue I’d like to see addressed more in our community: acceptance and visibility for non-normative LGBTQ families.
“
| — | Jamie Larson, during the panel discussion at Bluestockings |
As COLAGErs, we grow up with an understanding for marginalized people of all kinds because we know what it’s like to be voiceless. We’re lucky ‘cause we get this experience that teaches us to have compassion for all social justice issues - so, I would say COLAGErs can help tackle any issue.
“
| — | Kerry, on building coalitions with other movements |
