Every other Thursday I profile a new incredible woman, each from a different walk of life. Different professions, causes, backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and anything/everything else!

So without further delay, let me introduce the amazing Abena Malika…

Photo by Sandy Nicholson

Have you ever felt the jitters? If Abena Malika has, you wouldn’t know it from the amazing work she does as both an actor and equally talented singer. With an impressive resumé that includes credits from both television and theatre, Abena is also the recipient of the 2007 NAACP Theatre Award for ’Da Kink In My Hair (San Diego Repertory Theatre) and has toured as a singer with Toronto band Jacksoul, as well as opening for James Brown on his last Canadian tour.

Currently performing in Soulpepper’s production of Jitters, which previews today (June 24th) and opens June 30th, Abena has taken time to answer our questions as this week’s Shameless Woman.
(more inside…)

Thanks to our friends in Tomboyfriend for letting us know about “the antidote is the venom”, an awesome fundraiser for Shape Your Life happening in Toronto on June 26th.

Featuring Ivan E. Coyote, Sasha Van BonBon, Tomboyfriend, DJ Holly Rock, and the Newsgirls boxers.

Here’s the info from the organizers:

Please help us kick off PRIDE week by joining us for a very special fundraising event starring Ivan E. Coyote, Sasha Van BonBon, Tomboyfriend and some of the Newsgirls boxers. Following the show, DJ Holly Rock will be spinning until the early morning.

For one night only, the Newsgirls Boxing Gym will be turned into a theatre/dance hall. Doors open at 6pm, show starts at 7pm, dancing starts around 10pm.

This fundraiser is in support of the Shape Your Life program. Shape Your Life is a recreational boxing program for women and trans people who self-identify as survivors of violence. Shape Your Life is based on the premise that physical exercise and sports can help our minds and bodies heal from the impact of violence and abuse. Being part of an empowering fitness environment can improve self-esteem and encourage positive changes in our lives. Survivors have a right to express the anger they feel at the injustices in their lives in ways that are positive and safe. Exploring healthy aggression in a safe space can help us express ourselves and build confidence. Boxing can help us get in touch with how strong we already are and contribute to building futures that are free of violence.
(more inside…)

‘A’ is for Orange - a reading series featuring queer Caribbean writers hosts

Replenish! A Pride Celebration
Friday, June 18, 2010
Palmerston Library Theatre
8 PM

How do we re-energize when we get depleted?
What gives us nourishment?
Where do we go for restoration?

Emerging and established queer Caribbean writers explore these questions through storytelling, dub, poetry, prose and spoken word.

Co-hosted by Michele Chai and Kyisha Williams, the evening will feature fresh faces and familiar favourites including trey anthony, D-lishus, Dianah Smith, Kim Quashie, Zakiya, Kyisha Williams, Kadeem Brown, tonya parriag and others.

You will leave feeling renewed, reinvigorated and replenished!

Readings will be followed by an audience Talk Back. Lite refreshments will be served.

Palmerston Public Library Theatre is located at 560 Palmerston Avenue
(between Bathurst and Christie just north of Bloor)

Tickets are $8-10 sliding scale (No one turned away for lack of funds)
Doors open at 7:30 pm, performances begin at 8:00 pm.

For more information please contact Dianah Smith (Curator)

Email: d@aisfororange.org
Website: www.aisfororange.org

Looking for an opportunity this summer to learn some new skills, meet some great people, and be part of the grassroots media movement?

CKUT, Montreal’s best community radio station (full disclosure: I’ve been a volunteer for a decade) is having its second annual Youth Radio Camp, a week-long primer in how to be a radio superstar. You’ll get to make a radio documentary, write and perform a radio play, learn how to DJ, make sound effects, create a podcast and host an interview, along with fieldtrips and sessions with amazing musicians and radio producers.

This could be you. (www.ckut.ca)

There are two age categories for the camp, 10-13 and 14-17. To find out more and sign up, check out CKUT’s website. Sessions run from June 28 to August 20. Now get out there and be the media!

Every other Thursday I profile a new incredible woman, each from a different walk of life. Different professions, causes, backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and anything/everything else!

So without further delay, let me introduce the amazing Suba Sankaran…

Suba Sankaran is a DORA award-winning, JUNO-nominated multi-musician (voice, piano, percussion). Regularly performing across North America, Europe and Asia with world music ensembles Autorickshaw and Trichy’s Trio, she also seamlessly crosses genres with artists such as the FreePlay Duo (with Dylan Bell) and Retrocity (80s a cappella revue). She has also performed for Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu, and Peter Gabriel.

In demand as a choral director, arranger, educator and composer, she has composed, recorded and produced music for theatre, film, radio and dance, including collaborations with Oscar-nominee Deepa Mehta. And she’s this week’s amazingly Shameless Woman.

(more inside…)

Some food for thought (HA!) from Lesley Kinzel of Fatshionista.com and the Two Whole Cakes Fatcast podcast:

“This is how I operate as an activist: I really like making people uncomfortable. I really like upending their idea of reality.” - Episode 6, “Language and ‘Safe Space’”

I highly recommend the Two Whole Cakes Fatcast for smart and funny fat politics and feminism.