Event description

Redefine, Redesign, and Realign: Writing to Free, Writing to Be with Paradigm

Tickets

Virtual writing workshop with Paradigm. Pay what you can and there will also be opportunities to donate to Paradigm during and after the workshop.

Closed Captioning via Zoom.
More info

Zoom info sent to all attendees who register via Eventbrite.

Workshop Info:
In masculinity and femininity, what do we perceive to be healthy? Toxic? Do gender norms truly define us? Is equality the same as balance? As queer folk, we are often perceived as loving against the required harmony of masculine and feminine romance. However, as butches, femmes and everything outside and in between, we understand these energies can still exist in various relationships. And, while some of our partnerships reject gender roles entirely and balance out in various ways that defy “rules”, others do not. So, when do our perceived norms and stereotypes become harmful and limiting in queer relationships?

In this poetry workshop we will be discussing the dynamics of queer romances and how these dynamics can be stifling and/or freeing. We will address power games, rules of attraction, and nature versus nurture. As we navigate the gender wars, we will write to redefine, redesign and realign with one another for the purpose of challenging, dismantling, affirming, and healing, where needed. Come with an open mind and open heart, prepared to laugh, let loose, and get serious while we write and share through the many layers of our identities and what makes you YOU as an individual and lover/partner. Everyone can and will benefit from this workshop so both singles and couples are encouraged to attend!

Presenter info:
A native of the Universe, Joann “Paradigm” Roberts, aka “The Jovian”, was born and raised in the Chicago area. A poet/MC and musician/producer; Paradigm is a 3-time slam champion as well as a Hip Hop educator and teaching artist for at-promise youth. She promotes healing, self-reflection, awareness, and liberation by blending STEM with the expressive arts and is known for her laid back, mellow stage presence that is complimented by powerfully cosmic wording.

Paradigm travels all over the U.S. and overseas, performing music and poetry, as well as facilitating Hip Hop and poetry workshops that encourage healing and self expression in others. She harmonizes topics in physics, metaphysics, and philosophy for purposes of engaging in meaningful dialogue, creativity, and spiritual growth. In addition to speaking at many colleges and universities, she has opened for Cornel West and performed on stage with Reggae artist Pato Banton. Paradigm also does feature performances at various events such as slams, open mics, festivals, and retreats.

The arts aside, Paradigm dwells in her passions for traveling, mentoring inner city youth, piloting small planes, and spending time in nature. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Engineering-Physics with a Philosophy minor at Chicago State University and earned her Private Pilot’s License at Southern Illinois – Carbondale. Paradigm is currently working on a PhD in Astrophysics at the University of California – Davis.

RSVP on our Facebook event

BUTCH Voices aims to be an inclusive and welcoming space for folks to engage and connect with others across the myriad of gender and sexuality communities in anti-oppressive and intentional ways. We value and hold space for self-identification, encourage dialogue about difficult topics, and often intentionally seek these conversations out for our workshops. BUTCH Voices has created a set of community guidelines for fostering respectful, compassionate spaces for all participants and presenters while engaging with one another at our conference and events.

Our virtual events will have butch/MoC folks at the center of the conversations. Allies are welcome and encouraged to attend. Please be mindful about the time and space we each take up during the event. As any BUTCH Voices event: BIPOC, trans folks of all identities, people with disabilities, and those at the intersections of these and other marginalized communities are centered and prioritized.

BUTCH Voices Netiquette:

In order to foster a positive community environment, please express your points of view and opinions with mutual respect and avoid the use of terms and adjectives that are derogatory. BUCTH Voices centers BIPOC folks in our leadership, presenters, performers, volunteers, and attendees. Racism, colorism, discrimination based on documentation status, anti-feminism/anti-womanism, transphobia, femmephobia, biphobia, ableism will not be tolerated. BUTCH Voices fosters diversity, inclusion and promotes respect for others, gender identify and pronouns; engage in respectful dialogue; assume best intent of others; take care of yourself; and let us know if you don’t feel safe. Please follow these guidelines during our virtual events, including our upcoming virtual conference, to make it a success.

Virtual Attendance Guidelines:

This event is for adults over 18 only. In order to comply with Zoom’s terms of services, participants must be fully clothed if on camera. No recordings or screenshots are permitted. Tips for using Zoom: you can change your screen name to a preferred name, and add your pronouns there. We encourage folks to turn your camera on, so that we can connect with each other visually. Set aside the time to be fully present if you are able. We know that folks are multi-tasking, but we want to take the time to really connect. We value this time together as butches/MoC folks, and need these spaces in the best of times, much less during a pandemic. We will ask folks to post questions in chat, and use the raise hand function to monitor folks’ participation so that our conversations go smoothly. BUTCH Voices is a trans inclusive, anti-oppressive space. If participants don’t respect one another, they will be asked to leave. Full stop.

Questions? Contact Joe@BUTCHVoices.com.