Busting Out is a professional theatre program for GIRLS aged 12 to 16. Its goal is to provide a forum for young women, through a series of theatre-based workshops, discussion and collective creation. The participants of the program will have the opportunity to work with professional playwrights, actors and directors on their own Writing Project, as well as a public presentation of their own creation. Professional artists will lead the girls in classes, which include playwriting, acting, improvisation and spoken word. Out is an exciting and unique program opportunity for teenage girls. CREATIVE, THOUGHT-PROVOKING AND FUN!
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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 wonderful Andrea Thompson…

A popular performer at venues and festivals across North America, Andrea Thompson is a pioneer of the Canadian Slam Poetry scene. Her work has been featured on film, radio, and television; as well as been included in magazines, literary journals and anthologies across Canada. Her Spoken Word CD One, was nominated for a Canadian Urban Music Award in 2005 and she was the host of season 2 of the 13 part television series, Heart of a Poet (Bravo TV, 2007). On top of all that, she’s this week’s Shameless Woman.
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To be honest, I don’t normally pay attention to the JUNO Awards. Often reflecting what major radio stations are playing as opposed to what Canadians are actually listening to, the Junos have in the past seemed…”out of touch” is a nice what to say it, I think.

This year, things appear to be a little different.
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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 Adebe D. A.…

Adebe D.A. is a Toronto-born writer and former research intern at the Applied Research Center, home of ColorLines magazine. A recent MA graduate in English/Cultural Studies, and Cultural Editor of Race-Talk, Kirwan Institute’s blog on racial politics, she writes on issues related to race, social justice, migration, and the phenomena of culture. She currently holds the honour of Toronto’s Junior Poet Laureate and is the author of a chapbook entitled Sea Change (Burning Effigy Press, 2007). Her debut full-length poetry collection, Ex Nihilo, will be published by Frontenac House in Spring 2010, and she’s this week’s Shameless Woman.

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As you may have heard, Toronto’s Women Bookstore is in danger of closing its doors. A number of fundraisers have been arranged to help out…
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OPEN CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!

OTHER TONGUES: Mixed-Race Women Speak Out

Co-editors Adebe D.A. and Andrea Thompson are seeking submissions for an anthology of writing by and about mixed-race women, intended for publication in Fall 2010 by Inanna Publications.

The purpose of this anthology is to explore the question of how mixed-race women in North America identify in the 21st Century. The anthology will also serve as a place to learn about the social experiences, attitudes, and feelings of others, and what racial identity has come to mean today. We are inviting previously unpublished submissions that engage, document, and/or explore the experiences of being mixed-race, by placing interraciality as the center, rather than periphery, of analysis.
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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 awesome Leanne Prain…

Vancouver, BC graphic designer and author Leanne Prain is passionate about creativity: yarn, fabric, street art, design, handmade goods, art, publishing, pop culture, antiquarian printing, typography, social media, and technology. She has a particular interest in how handmade skills can flourish and be taught in the digital age. Co-author of the subversive knitting graffiti book Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti, Leanne also blogs about knit graffiti at www.yarnbombing.com and about design, publishing, writing, and life at www.leanneprain.com and is this week’s Shameless Woman.

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Do you have role-models? Mentors? A woman you look up to for some reason or other?

Every other week I profile “positive female role models for young women” in my Shameless Women column. They are amazing ladies that I hope inspire the women who read each interview. However, the women I interview tend to be “regular” people.

Back in December, columnist Kate Carraway wrote in her article, “What’s next for sex? Feminism didn’t really work. Oopsie!” that the reason for the lack of motivation and accomplishment (and in her opinion, the failure) of the “third-wave” of feminism is because we have no visible leaders:
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Did you watch the Golden Globes this year? Were you moved by Mo’Nique’s emotional speech? Were you caught up in the “issue” of her leg hair?

Wait…what?!!

Yes, that’s right, because there are those who insist on anally analyzing every aspect of women’s bodies (especially those on red carpets) NYDailyNews.com went ahead with a story titled, “Mo’Nique: least superficial actress ever? Before Golden Globes most moving speech, flaunts leg hair”.

Yeesh.

Here’s a bit of the article…and make sure to watch out for some of my favourite bits, like…

“And if she was at all embarrassed by her shaggy state…”

“..she picked up the skirt of her long gown on the red carpet, exposing the issue.”

“A long dress covers a multitude of personal appearance sins…”

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