A Safe Place for Trauma Survivors

Posted on January 11, 2015 by Robert Lloyd

There is a powerful reading by Nikki Patin 15 minutes into The MusicVox broadcast.

Surviving The Mic is a collaborative organization of survivors who are dedicated to creating a safe and affirming creative spaces for survivors of trauma (sexual trauma, racial trauma, violent trauma). Through their series of spoken word and performance-based events they seek to create a space for testimonies about sexual violence and to build skills to elevate those testimonials.

The goals of Surviving the Mic are:

to help survivor artists hone their creative voices in order to tell their stories in powerful, impactful and artistic ways
to create curricula and toolkits that can be used a model for other communities who’d like to make safe space
to support cultural, emotional, physical, mental and economic well-being for survivor artists through safe and affirming performances, workshops, publications and professional practice training and support
to provide opportunities for those who are not survivors to listen and learn from survivors

Click the link below to hear their conversation.

Surviving The Mic: Empowering Survivors of Trauma Through Performance-Based Events and Workshops

For more information on Surviving The Mic, visit them at survivingthemic.org/

A Change to Spokane NAACP

Posted on December 27, 2014 by Robert Lloyd

On December 23 the Spokane chapter of the NAACP held a strategy meeting where the president-elect Rachel Dolezal presented a PowerPoint of her suggested organizational structure and suggested officers for the new year. It was obvious looking at the room that there is new interest in the organization. See links to older 4comculture posts and pages regarding NAACP activity and compare them to posts of activity since Ferguson. I think this is the beginning of a new movement with a much younger and energetic group. Only time will tell. I would encourage those under 40 to join the civic engagement and that we older folks stay home and send a check to support the youth.

Historical Note: When Dr. King joined the Montgomery Bus Boycott he was 26 years old. When he died he was 39 years old. Below are photographs of the SCLC field staff who were all in their late teens and early 20’s.

Post Ferguson MO

Spokane solidarity with Ferguson MO

Gonzaga University Die In

Pre Ferguson MO

Spokane WA NAACP Freedom Banquet 2013

Spokane NAACP Photo Gallery

Gonzaga University Die In

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Robert Lloyd

The Black Student Union at Gonzaga University sponsored a demonstration on December 11, 2014, to stand in solidarity with communities across America against police misconduct.

Spokane Solidarity with Ferguson MO

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Robert Lloyd

After the unjust decision by the grand jury, newly elected Spokane NAACP President Rachel Dolezal called for a solidarity rally at City Hall and a march through the downtown business district. Guesstimates of participants ran from 100 to 280. The City Hall Plaza was closed. Demonstrators gathered on the corner in front of the City Hall building. Young African American men lay down on the ground symbolically representing the corpses of Black youth in America’s streets. The group was largely made up of college students including African Americans, Mecha members, Asian and white students. Members of the Spokane Socialist Alternative were represented, as was PJALS and GBLT. Absent Without Leave were the usual participants in Martin Luther King Day march – politicians, preachers and institutional representatives. And maybe that was a good thing. With new leadership coming from a younger generation grassroots organizing may begin.

Add your comments and let us know where Spokane should go from here.

Add your comments and let us know where Spokane should go from here.

MLK, Jr. Lecture: Dr King for the 21st Century

Posted on January 25, 2014 by Robert Lloyd

Michael Eric Dyson, Sociology Professor and Media Icon

Wednesday, January 29, 7:00 p.m.

To be video streamed from Washington State University Pullman WA
to the Spokane Academic Center Room 245 at 7:00 pm

The Spokane Academic Center address is 412 E Spokane Falls Blvd.

For more information contact Yvonne Montoya Zamora at montoyazamora@wsu.edu or 509.358.7554.

Please feel free to forward.

Yvonne

The Nuns Who Saved ObamaCare

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Robert Lloyd

My friend Betty Jones, a 1960’s SCLC civil rights activist, sent me this link. The Parking Lot God was looking out for me. This message is so timely because yesterday I attended my second meeting of the Men’s Book Group. This is a group of retired Whitworth University (Presbyterian) faculty and friends. The topic of discussion was the Time Man of the Year article on Pope Francis. We were discussing the tension between church activists at a community level with that of the hierarchy. The meeting ended after a great discussion but there was a question mark. Now that the hierarchy has heard the voice of the people and has provided cover for progressive social justice activities, no one has an excuse for their lack of activism. Enjoy this story of Sister Simone Campbell, the nun who saved ObamaCare.

Click here to listen to the podcast on iTunes—and if you like it, subscribe and post a review!

Nelson Mandela 1918 – 2013

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Robert Lloyd

We will long remember Mandela

“I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment”

Don’t Vote Alone – Encourage Your Friends to Vote

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Robert Lloyd

Voting is the essence of democracy. Voting in the United States is voluntary. Some people vote in person at the polls, while others vote by mail days or weeks before the actual election date. Regardless of how you do it, it’s important that all U.S. citizens who qualify participate in the democratic process of electing public officials.

For information to assist you in locating and contacting your government officials visit the Speak Up and Out to Government page.

Spokane WA NAACP Freedom Banquet 2013

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Robert Lloyd

Speak Out to Government

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Robert Lloyd

For information to assist you in locating and contacting your government officials visit the Speak Up and Out to Government page.

Robert Lloyd Artist & Advocate

Building The Community You Are Looking For

Category Archives: Social Justice

A Safe Place for Trauma Survivors

Like this:

A Change to Spokane NAACP

Post Ferguson MO

Pre Ferguson MO

Like this:

Gonzaga University Die In

Like this:

Spokane Solidarity with Ferguson MO

Like this:

MLK, Jr. Lecture: Dr King for the 21st Century

To be video streamed from Washington State University Pullman WA
to the Spokane Academic Center Room 245 at 7:00 pm

Like this:

The Nuns Who Saved ObamaCare

Like this:

Nelson Mandela 1918 – 2013

Like this:

Don’t Vote Alone – Encourage Your Friends to Vote

Like this:

Spokane WA NAACP Freedom Banquet 2013

Like this:

Speak Out to Government

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Post Ferguson MO

Pre Ferguson MO

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

To be video streamed from Washington State University Pullman WA to the Spokane Academic Center Room 245 at 7:00 pm

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

To be video streamed from Washington State University Pullman WA
to the Spokane Academic Center Room 245 at 7:00 pm