New UA Conference explores Gender-Based Violence

30 Minutes spoke with three University of Arizona organizers and participants in First Annual Gender-Based Violence Conference. Amalia C. Mora is the Program Coordinator UA Consortium on Gender-Based Violence. Jamie Utt is a Graduate Assistant at the Women’s Resource Center, primarily working with young men and boys in sexual assault and prevention work. He will be leading a workshop on rape culture and patriarchy intended for young men and boys at the conference. Bryant Valencia is a Graduate Assistant in Early Academic Outreach and a Doctoral Candidate studying Higher Education. He coordinates a program called Masculinity Initiatives which is in the Early Academic Outreach program.

The First Annual Conference on Gender-Based Violence Conference takes place on November 3-4, 2017 and is open to the public. Registration is recommended. It’s hosted by the University of Arizona College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and The University of Arizona.

UA faculty, staff, and students, Tucson community leaders and activists, and health and legal advocates will discuss complex issues surrounding the epidemic of gender-based violence and marginalized populations. Workshops, keynotes, performances, and panel discussions will focus on how to build survivor-driven, intersectional activism and programs aimed at providing the best possible care to survivors while radically uprooting the social and cultural attitudes that recreate cycles of violence.

This conference marks the soft launch of the newly developed UA Consortium on Gender-Based Violence. As a hub of innovative research, education, outreach, and service inside the University of Arizona, in the surrounding community, and well beyond, the Consortium will be the first of its kind on any U.S. campus with the goal of leveraging campus strengths and expertise for social and institutional change.

Program Highlights
Friday, November 3rd
Welcome Address by Melissa Vito, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Senior Vice President for Academic Initiatives and Student Success
Keynote by Brooke Axtell, writer, speaker, performing artists, and activist, Founder and Director of She is Rising, a healing community for women and girls overcoming rape, abuse, and sex trafficking.

Saturday, November 4th
Panel Discussions on Institutional Responses to Gender-Based Violence, Cycles of Violence and Harm, the Politics of Disclosure and Intersectionality, and Building Grassroots Movements and Workshop on feminist social justice activism for young women and girls
* Research experts including featured guest Dr. Kiera Ladner, indigenous scholar on gender-based violence and genocide
* Guest Speakers from YWCA Tucson, Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse, American Friend’s Service Committee (AFSC), and more!

***With questions about access or to request any disability-related accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in this conference such as ASL interpreting, captioned videos, Braille or electronic text, etc. please contact: [email protected]