I just returned from a trip to Chicago. I attended The SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice “Lets Talk About Sex” conference hosted by African American Women Evolving. It was amazing. In 2004, I went to the first Sister Song conference before the March for Women’s Lives and it was life-changing. Just like last time the diversity and the passion conference members brought with them was beautiful, inspiring, spiritual, and energizing. The organization I work with co-sponsored an affinity group meeting to create a network of support for women of color working for national organizations. As a result, I was able to create partnerships that I am certain will be valuable for life.

The conference included workshops and plenaries on topics such as birth control, senior sexuality, STDs, microbicides, gynecological health and wellness, erotica, militarism, and more, all through a reproductive justice lens. I also spent a lot of time sharing stories with women, bonding based on our common struggles and learning from our different experiences. It was also really cool and inspiring to meet Margaret Sanger’s granddaughter (who was tabling at the conference for another organization) and to see her at a conference for women of color.

One other amazing part of the conference was the amount of workshops for and by young women and teens. I didn’t get to personally attend some of the workshops that were for youth 25 and younger or teens specifically, but I did have the wonderful opportunity to participate in a training from Sistas on the Rise, a South Bronx, NY based organization that empowers teen moms that is youth run and led. I really enjoyed the session because I was able to learn how I could better support teen moms in my community and across the country by gaining support for child care for all people, increasing educational opportunities, advocating for universal healthcare access, and supporting leadership development and personal support initiatives for young mothers.

I feel so empowered by the energy of the women I encountered at the conference– those I knew before and those who touched my life for a small amount of time with new ideas and insights… I feel blessed to have attended such an important event and to have experienced the beauty of life in a gender neutral, safe, sex-positive, anti-racist and open Sister-space.

Could the spirit of sisterhood been any stronger last weekend? It couldn’t have ended better than when I watched Hillary kick serious butt on the Democratic debates. Even though Mr. Obama still “Baracks My World” (couldn’t resist “)) Hillary held her own and RAN that debate (even in spite of Mr. Edwards constantly referring to her as Hillary when he addressed everyone else by their titles).– Ahem– and did anyone else get a question specifically about their spouse?Grrrr.
(I digress)

Our possibilities are endless. When we unify and join together through love, strength, and understanding our force is unstoppable.

Learn more: www.sistersong.net