Dr. Andrea Smith (Friday, January 22nd)
Dr. Andrea Smith is a Cherokee intellectual who is an anti-violence, feminist, community organizer and scholar. She is co-founder of INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence, a national grassroots organization that utilizes direct action and critical dialogue. In both her academic and activist work Smith has significantly contributed to the discourse of social change, community organization, anti-violence, and critical social theory. Smith has published widely on issues of violence against women of color and is a world-renowned expert on the topic. Some of her most prominent work includes: Conquest: Sexual Violence and American Indian Genocide, where she looks at Native American women in her analysis of sexual violence, The Revolution Will Not Be Funded: Beyond the Non-Profit Industrial Complex, and Color of Violence: The INCITE! Anthology. Dr. Smith was a nominee for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize, and has an outstanding academic and community record of service that is both nationally and internationally recognized.
Incite! Website: http://www.incite-national.org/index.php?s=35
Video: “We Are Ready Now”
Carlos Andrés Gómez (Sunday, January 24th)
Carlos Andrés Gómez is a poet, performer, actor, activist and teacher. He has won countless honours for his provocative spoken word poetry including the Toronto International Poetry Slam Championship, 2-time US National Poetry Slam Finalist and LA music award: Spoke Word Album of the year. Carlos stared along side Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and Jodie Foster in Spike Lee’s ‘Inside Man.’ He also appeared in the six season of Russell Simmons ‘Def Jam Poetry.’ With the mission of spreading his wisdom through his performances, Carlos tours internationally to speak out about social justice issues. His poetry is infused with and enriched by his experiences as a social worker and teacher in Harlem and the Bronx. He uses these experiences to engage his audience on issues of sexism, masculinity, racism, self-hate, poverty, oppression, education and violence. Carlos’s ‘spoken words’ are based in honesty and raw emotions that provoke his audience to reflect on these issues, as they weave through out his words.
Websites: http://www.carloslive.com/carlosmain.html
http://www.myspace.com/carlosandresgomez
Videos: “What’s Genocide”