by Isabel Law, Bristol Women’s Voice Volunteer
On Tuesday 15 October, Bristol Women’s Voice celebrated their AGM, presenting the ongoing successes of the charity, and welcoming new trustee members. Together, we were able to reflect on current concerns—such as the gendered nature of poverty and disproportionate impacts of the cost of living.
We said goodbye and thank you to some incredible trustees who have supported us in our journey to make women’s equity a reality in Bristol: Alice Clermont, Carole Johnson, Clare Meraz, and Hannah Stapley-Parker.
We also welcomed five new trustees: Alice Hulme, Katherine Hobbs, Sophia James, Lakhraj Minhas, Debra Newrick and Rosanna Vu.
Grassroots Movements for Change: Engaging Communities in Activism
A powerful panel was also held, led by Shoba Ram, BWV trustee and director of the Women’s Work Lab with experience in drug policy. We were lucky to hear from several guest speakers including Mali Sion Evans, the Head of Engagement and Advocacy at Feeding Bristol; Fadumo Farah, housing activist and communications officer for ACORN Bristol, and Katy Taylor, director of Bristol Women’s Voice with prior experience in male violence against women.
Shoba opened the discussion by asking how our guests engage with activism in their local communities. Fatima spoke specifically about the Somalian community and the importance of combatting racial stereotypes as a unified collective. Katy emphasised the importance of identifying small acts of resistance to patriarchy—for example: not giving way in mixed-gender conversations. Mali spoke about food’s role as a love language in the local community and the power in small acts like sharing a meal.
Food insecurity and poverty
Mali offered interesting contributions on the narrative surrounding food that we have normalised. She emphasised how choice and dignity are basic rights that are often overlooked in food insecurity—for example: food banks failing to cater to cultural and dietary needs.
Mali also recognises the element of structural inequality to food insecurity, as People of Colour and single mothers are disproportionately impacted. Yet, her description of food as a “catalyst for change” is something Mali works by to move away from the normalization of poverty.
Housing Activism
When our guests were asked how they chose what to fight for as activists, Fadumo shared her own personal experience. As a long-time resident of Barton House, housing activism was something that touched Fadumo and the generational trauma that this can perpetuate.
She wanted to interrogate why People of Colour were disproportionately at risk of being in insecure housing–as she shared that 86% of those affected by the Grenfell fires were People of Colour.
Her experience has inspired her to fight to ensure everyone has access to a secure home—which has even led to sit-ins at TSB bank to fight against their 1 year-mortgage policy, a notable factor in prompting housing insecurity.
Collective activism
This discussion also questioned how different sectors of activism can work together and the importance of interweaving what we do. Katy highlighted how essential it is to offer time and the capacity to listen to one another. Whilst sharing knowledge and experiences, we not only build empathy, but progress closer to our shared goal of equality.
Katy also prompted an examination of internalized misogyny and white fragility, recognizing how a degree of inner work is required to fully step into allyship—whether this is uncomfortable or not.
Spoken word performance
To close the evening, we heard from Shakara, an incredibly talented spoken word artist, whose work centers on the stories of Black, queer women.
Whilst speaking about Audre Lorde’s ideas of eroticism as a focal inspiration to their art, Shakara emphasised the importance of immersing yourself in feeling and letting this be the guiding principle of your life.
Together, we engaged in breathing exercises, audibly exhaling to release any emotions and Shakara introduced the Kundalini healing mantra. This involved sending healing energy to someone by envisioning them in the palm of your hand.
Shakara also led a patois style of storytelling, which intertwined ideas of spirituality, identity and heritage. Stories in honor of their grandma were reminiscent of her nurturing nature, prioritizing their dreams at the expense of her own.
For those looking to delve deeper, Shakara specifically recommended reading Audre Lorde’s “The Transformation of Silence into Action and Language.” This work captures the need to speak even when we are afraid, fighting the silence that is often bred in women’s socialisation.
