Tuesday , February 23rd, 6:00pm-8:30pm
Large Conference Room, Urban Justice Center

123 William St., 16th Fl

New York, NY 10038

Ask most people about government and they tend to talk about their federal representatives, the White House, or maybe the Mayor. But the state government may have the most significant impacts on our daily lives, particularly in the realm of criminal justice. This two hour seminar is presented via a partnership of Sex Work Awareness and the Urban Justice Center’s Sex Workers Project. In it, sex workers, former sex workers, and allies will learn from a veteran staffer of the state legislature how the legislative process works, how to talk to elected officials about sex work issues, and what opportunities exist to engage with elected officials and affect change in Albany.

This is a FREE event, but you must RSVP to info@sexworkawareness.org.

For more information, please contact info@sexworkawareness.org.

Snacks and coffee will be provided.

]]> http://www.sarahjenny.org/blog/2010/02/08/sex-work-issues-and-the-state-legislative-process/feed/ 0 http://www.sarahjenny.org/blog/2009/12/15/icm-and-pcomp-final-project-in-progress/ http://www.sarahjenny.org/blog/2009/12/15/icm-and-pcomp-final-project-in-progress/#comments Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:48:10 +0000 Sarah Jenny http://www.sarahjenny.org/blog/?p=360 Memorial for Catherine

This piece is in progress. It is an interactive installation which will also have an audio recording (narrative) triggered by the same sensor that triggers the lights. The first person narrative will reveal the life and death of Catherine, a sex worker murdered in 2003.

This series will be an ongoing memorial for sex workers who have been victims of violence.

The first draft will be completed on December 17th, 2009 to coincide with the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.

In Glen Beck’s effort to critique ACORN via a highly edited series of videos, he in fact belittles the efforts of sex workers who seek services to find stable living circumstances and financial help. “The Fox news report tears down the efforts of grassroots service providers all over the country to reach out to hard to reach communities of sex workers to help them,” said Tara Sawyer of SWOP-USA.

“Sex workers are already very fearful about accessing services that could help them and these low-brow media attacks on service providers increase barriers and harm” she added.

All of our organizations are concerned that the “expose” will cause service providers and non-profit organizations to shy away from
providing harm reduction services and helping sex workers “where they are at.”

“Providing sex workers with information about how to live safely, even though what they do is criminalized, is essential,” said Susan Lopez of Desiree Alliance “And we commend all organizations that provide these services to prevent HIV, help sex workers find housing, seek financial support and to take care of their health needs. Don’t turn sex workers away because of unconscionable undercover reports like those carried out by Fox.”

About the Organizations:

The Desiree Alliance is a diverse, volunteer-based, sex worker-led network of organizations, communities and individuals across the US working in harm reduction, direct services, political advocacy and health services for sex workers. We provide leadership and create space for sex workers and supporters to come together to advocate for human, labor and civil rights for all workers in the sex industry.

Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA is a national social justice network dedicated to the fundamental human rights of sex workers and their communities, focusing on ending violence and stigma through education and advocacy.

When/Where

October 24, 2009 (Time TBA)
• UnionDocs: 322 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211, [http://www.uniondocs.org/].

Submission Cost

All proceeds from this event go to support community activist work.

Submit Your Film/Video
Please send a link to your work for submission, the title, director, 200 word or less synopsis, year (ex 2007), location (ex. US), and length (ex. 8min), and a URL if applicable (ex. http://www.sexworkerfilm.com) by October 1st for consideration. If selected, you will be required to send in a DVD, to be received by October 20.

Send to: sarahjenny@gmail.com or contact for mailing address.

Thumbnail Image: Taking The Pledge