In IMPACT, participants often discover themselves, the abilities and power they already have, and the incredible experience of being part of a supportive community. The confidence we gain in using our bodies, feelings, and minds in scenario after scenario most often expresses itself in our everyday worlds through our voices.
We have many examples on our blog that highlight the importance of our voices and speaking up, for instance:
·
In “Trust
Your Own Voice,” Victoria, 2013 graduate, shares how she gained the
confidence through IMPACT to contribute her ideas and opinions in her
male-dominated workplace.
·
In “Your
Voice Has Power,” Sandria, 2018 graduate, describes stopping a man masturbating
in public and ways that she alerted the larger community.
We can also use our voices to challenge
- disrespect for the bodies of children, immigrants, genderqueer people, people of color, people with disabilities, and women
- blaming victims for the violence they experience
- uses of personal and political power to disregard and override the NO from others.
Even when we know speaking up is the right thing to do, we may be afraid.
Audre Lorde reminds us:
...and when we speak we are afraid
our words will not be heard
nor welcomed
but when we are silent
we are still afraid
so it is better to speak
remembering
we were never meant to survive
Audre Lorde From A Litany for Survival
For more encouragement to speak out, check out my personal blog What Martha Thinks for a poem "Look Now" and for ideas about how to join our voices with larger efforts to improve our communities, see “Challenge
the Culture of Silence: Support Survivors and Hold Perpetrators Accountable."Audre Lorde reminds us:
...and when we speak we are afraid
our words will not be heard
nor welcomed
but when we are silent
we are still afraid
so it is better to speak
remembering
we were never meant to survive
Audre Lorde From A Litany for Survival
Martha Thompson
IMPACT Chicago
Social Media Editor and Coordinator
Social Media Editor and Coordinator
Instructor and Administrative
Team Co-Leader
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