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Power & Consent in Communication

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COURSE DESCRIPTION

In this 3-hour workshop we will use Spring Up’s power mapping tool to discuss the intersectional power dynamics at play between partners, and explore how social norms of coercion and control show up in everyday communication and decision making in relationships. Participants will collaboratively uncover how both survivors and people who cause harm to internalize social scripts that shape their communication and expectations within relationships as well as from external interveners like the police and advocates. Finally, we will analyze a scenario to learn how to shift coercive and controlling communication into consensual healthy conversations.

Facilitated by Mara Martinez-Hewitt & Brianna Suslovic with Spring Up 

LOCATION

Online via Zoom

PRICING AND REGISTRATION

For any questions regarding registration, our sliding scale, work-trade opportunities or accessibility needs, please contact Shay Braden at sjp@ywcapdx.org or ‪(503) 294-7395.

ACCESSIBILITY

This class will be held online via Zoom. Please contact us to let us know if you need specific accommodations.

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM TIPS

Thanks for joining us online! Here are some suggestions for getting the most out of this workshop:

  • Mute your microphone. To help keep background noise to a minimum, make sure you mute your microphone when you are not speaking. When your microphone is not muted, avoid activities that could create additional noise.

  • Engage with the class. These are intended to be workshops, not webinars! Please come ready to engage and participate, and help build community within the “classroom.” Not everyone is able to participate via webcam, but if you are able, we ask that you do so as much as possible.

  • Limit distractions and avoid multi-tasking. You can make it easier to focus on the meeting by turning off notifications, closing or minimizing running apps, and muting your smartphone. You’ll retain the discussion better if you refrain from replying to emails or test messages during the meeting and wait until after the workshop ends.

  • Help us improve our program! Each workshop will have a brief survey sent out. All results are anonymous and help us continuously improve our program.

  • Take notes. Our facilitators’ own their presentation material so it is not a requirement for the presentation to be shared afterwards.

  • Need an accommodation? Email us so we can create an ideal learning environment for you. sjp@ywcapdx.org

GROUP PARTICIPATION FRAMEWORK & AGREEMENTS

While guidelines and expectations will vary from workshop to workshop, most of these apply to a typical workshop session:

  • One speaker at a time. When one person talks, everyone else listens.

  • Community wisdom. Nobody knows everything, together we know a lot.

  • Take space & give space. Be mindful of how much you’re participating in the discussion.

  • Intent vs. impact. Before sharing, consider how what you say will affect others in the group.

  • Confidentiality. Details shared in the class stay in the class, but what’s learned goes with you.

  • Active participation. In this environment, it’s better to be open and imperfect than worry too much about being overly articulate.

  • Embrace discomfort and expect non-closure. Learning and growth can be stressful, do your best to hold space for those feelings.


PRESENTER

Presented by Mara Martinez-Hewitt & Brianna Suslovic

Brianna (she/her) is a grad student and former therapist based in unceded indigenous land known as Chicago. She lives with her wonderful partner and two hilarious hounds named Maurice and Blaise. She is passionate about care work, prison abolition, and puppies. She is a big fan of somatics, healing outside of the medical industrial complex, good reads, and trashy television. In her free time, she likes to hike, stretch, nap, and read.


Contact Us
Shay at shayb@ywcapdx.org

Phone: ‪(503) 294-7395

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February 26

Understanding Gender

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February 28

Understanding Oppression