MNCASA’s Prevention Initiative Demand the Change, Change of Heart Lindsay Gullingsrud, Cordelia Anderson www.demandthechange.org www.cordeliaanderson.com; Acknowledgments • Thanks Amy K & SVPN & all of you • This Initiative, is sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Health and supported by funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. – The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of MDH or of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 2 Goals for Today • Explain the rational for and basics of Demand the Change, Change of Heart • Feature activities to date • Engage you in dialogue about how to use this to mobilize communities & link to VOE • Discuss/Identify related efforts Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 3 Activism & Prevention • Incorporating a % of effort into LT service & response plans for prevention is an ethical issue. • What does in mean when we just focus on more services and ways to respond to the harm and not on fundamental social change • Need to not only help people beat the odds, we need to change the odds • Think about the area of your study/work and where ACTIVISM fits & what it means to you Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 4 We live in a ‘Culture of Cruelty’ in which Sexual Exploitation & Violence are Normalized Grand Theft Auto IV Developed by Cordelia Anderson www.cordeliaanderson.com 5 Needs & Opportunities Need “values” as basis for the action Need to build on what was learned at the MN Summit and from all the Roundtables Need to engage member programs & others to mobilize communities Need to advance MDH’s state SVP Plan SV throughout the lifespan as health/public health Keep identifying and nurturing champions Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds Change social norms 6 Needs & Opportunities Need to build a much stronger movement Need tools to assist others in mobilization Need a theme to mobilize around Need a way to challenge normalization & numbness of “just the way it is” Need to give voice to the “outrage” Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 7 Need a MBA: Movement Building, Action Initiative: A doable action the “it” that can: • Challenge demand for children and women as sexual objects/commodities - “things for others sexual use” • Ignite the political will and individual courage to take action against unhealthy social & gender norms, commoditization of sexuality and ‘acceptance’ of the endemic of sexual harms • Mobilize for equality, social justice, our collective sexual health – AN INVESTMENT IN PREVENTION Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 8 Demand the Change 9 Why “Demand?” Porn Free Prevention involves addressing “supply” & “demand” Fighting demand, rather than focusing solely on reducing risk of victimization, is a shift in how problems and solutions are viewed Demand is not only an issue in To COUNTER DEMAND – • Commercial sexual exploitation and pornography, but also • in all forms of sexual abuse & violence with both individual and societal strategic levels. • Demand the Change; Focus on those who perpetrate or profit Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 10 Why Change with “of” Heart? Research Shows…. Values Matter As a basis for the Action Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 11 Change of Heart Value the strength of heart (power with, not over) Value the feminine “heart,” & the masculine with heart In a time of politics of fear and hate, heart power Shift to a value of heartware over hardware Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 12 Change with HeART • Heart is a value • Change with HeART is a how > Change of heart (outcome) • Arts are currently used in many efforts because of the power of the arts to: – Reach diverse communities – Give voice to those often not heard – Get past the head (pre-existing frames) and to the heart….. – Engage youth voices – Mobilize communities – Serve as a catalyst for action – Serve as a catalyst for change Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 13 Demand the Change – Change with HeART MN Summit: Until Someone Wakes Up MN Summit: YouthThriveLIVE! 14 Summit Students Arts Display 15 Art & Power of Stories Whoever tells the story defines the culture Dr. David Walsh Ping Chong Theater: Undesirable Elements Demand the Change Story Form – You tube – Creative depiction (photo, song, drawing, sculpture) Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 16 SAAM 2011 Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 17 30 Days of Demanding the Change, Change of Heart Day 5: Take a moment to educate others on the sexual objectification of women with our state sponsoring a team for the Lingerie Football League. Ask for them to not make this part of Minnesota sport culture. Day 7: Spend today preventing the normalization of the term MILF in our culture. Day 13: Support J. Crew’s mailer that was sent out on April 5th. Day 20: Connect with your local entertainment businesses and ask them what policies they have in place to prevent sexual violence. http://demandthechange.wordpress.com/blog/ 18 I demanded the change (by)… For some young people, bullying is an assault to be not just endured, but survived Stevens County Violence Prevention Task Force Day 30: Cat in Minneapolis, MN demanded the change AND is continuing to inspire a change of heart because she shared her story on the Demand the Change, Change of Heart website. 5K Walk/Run for Sexual Violence Prevention http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNTImwoN7qI Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 19 Collect & Tell Stories 4th grade with SBP “I demanded the change when I saw/heard …..” student, parents, staff Frats, drinking & individual predators • “I demanded that parties on campus be safe by….” • Demand Parties be safe (Duluth) 20 Voices of Experience Mobilize for Prevention •There are many groups but we can mobilize better beyond awareness & for prevention •Survivors •Parents of sexually abused children •Partners of survivors •Friends of survivors •Those transformed from perpetration • Employers •Professionals who see the trauma •Your stories/experience count 21 Build on the Efforts to Engage Boys & Men –Stories – Examples Change with Heart for a Change of Heart 22 Men: Collect & Tell Stories • Hunting for Bambi “gift” from hotel – what to do? • Invitation to stag party “strippers” part of the ‘event’ – what to do? • When a porn video was offered as a gift demanded a change by… • When I heard women were to be exploited as part of our entertainment, I demanded the change by… 23 • The first ever, first annual Demand Change Project is a groundbreaking event that will take place in the USA and Europe for the purpose of educating and engaging men and the general public about the issue of sex-trafficking to decrease the demand for commercial sex and unite the male and female anti-human trafficking movements as a united front against the selling of human beings. May 13/14, 2011 www.MATOO.org; www.cordeliaanderson.com 24 Your Stories • I will/I have demand(ed) the change by….. • I inspired a change of heart by…. Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 25 We Can Build on Other Efforts to Engage Youth (think of the “rip it out” effort) • To know, to feel, to experience the power of solutions, the power of their voice & their competence to act • Their ability to make change • Their experience, their perspective & their energy is needed – Collect their stories, examples of demanding change 26 We Can Build Momentum and Movement based on Solutions & Successes Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 27 Lingerie Football League. • Women play tackle football in tiny bra and underwear style “uniforms” during the halftime of men’s sporting events. www.cordeliaanderson.crg DAY 5: DEMAND THE CHANGE AND NOT SUPPORT THE LFL • Take a moment to educate others on the sexual objectification of women with our state sponsoring a team for the Lingerie Football League. Ask for them to not make this part of Minnesota sport culture. • Yes that is right; the Minnesota Lingerie Football League is on the fast track to be part of sport culture here in Minnesota. The name announced on Monday for this team is the Minnesota Valkyrie-which now holds the LFL record in votes at 31,451. Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 29 DAY 5: DEMAND THE CHANGE AND NOT SUPPORT THE LFL Sports are a serious business. In fact, it wasn’t until 1972 when Title IX made it official for women to have equal access to athletic programs. This is what set the stage for the professional female athletic teams we see today. There is no doubt that women are serious athletes. So why would we sexually objectify these women? Are their strength, determination, athletic skills only appreciated and considered a form of entertainment when they are in their underwear? Let’s support our women and take them seriously as athletes by demanding the change and not support the Lingerie Football League in Minnesota. You can demand the change AND create a change of heart by: Action: Write the stations and/or sponsors that are supporting this about how this sexually objectifies women and creates a sexually toxic environment for all Minnesotans Action: Speak up when you hear others say “it is no big deal” or “it is just for fun” or “this is an opportunity for women to show their athleticism”. Action: Post a statement on your social networking site about why you won’t watch or support and encourage others to do the same. Action: Take a headline or picture about it and include it in your presentations. Encourage discussion as to why speaking out against this is related to sexual violence prevention. Action: The MNCASA prevention initiative Demand the Change, Change of Heart will be following this and providing more concrete actions steps-come back and follow this on our site. You can demand the change to where female athletes will be treated and respected as athletes-just as male athletes. Let’s create a change of heart for Minnesota athletes. Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 30 USI Wireless Agreed to Pull Billboards 31 Amazon Book Protest Free Speech or Profit from CSE 32 Choose Porn Free Sites Hotels & Resorts Change 2008 • • • • MNMAN MDH Kohler/Marriott WINONA COUNTY SUCCESS Sample policies provided with webinar materials and available at http://www.menaspeacemakers.org/ programs/mnman/hotels 33 Families Going to Target Field - Twins Families Have to Navigate the Sexually Toxic/Pornified Environment Twins Banners, Turn Right- Turn Left I got frustrated, I got mad, I demanded the change by….. Karma Protest Organized by Breaking Free April, 2009 “Pimping is Bad Karma” Australian Mom 37 Things You Can Do To “Demand the Change” Individual – Select porn free hotel or • make preference known when booking (let them know the porn option is not your option idea of an amenity) • Collect titles available at each site and submit to MNCASA where/what – Express what you don’t like what you have to look at while waiting at checkout line (complaint forms, or to the manager) – Think of your “Bystander Power” – Send info and ideas to www.demand thechange.org; – pledge – Send in your stories – Sign up with MNCASA! Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 38 Things You Can Do To “Demand the Change” Family – Set limits about purchases, and entertainment choices – Talk & Listen Sessions: (CIRCLES) • Your rights/my rights – balance needed • Rights & responsibilities • Values, Sexuality, Healthy Relationships – R & P (Relationships & Physical - Gender) • Identify what actions you can take as a family that would make the healthy choice the easy choice? (Identify the ‘healthy choice’) • Discuss when and how to “demand the change” • Send in your stories • Be part of a movement. Sign up with MNCASA! Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 39 Josh Macedo • http://joshishollywood.tumblr.com/post/3097 842293/so-rape-cultures-kind-of-unsettlinghey; Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 40 Things You Can Do To “Demand the Change” Community – Standards that billboards will be sexploitation free (will not depict children, women as sexual objects, commodities/things; or males as users/abusers) - Identify community artists, activist, leaders to mobilize around a local initiative connected to the statewide effort - Address placement/zoning of business that profit from commercial sexual exploitation - Send in your stories. Send in your successes - Identify individuals and organizations who demanded the change & deserve an AWARD!! Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 41 Things You Can Do To “Demand the Change” Society – Will uphold business practices that are truly family friendly, gender equitable – Will not profit from sexploitive images, products, practices – Will identify harmful, broadly accepted norms and work to change them – Will invest in children – Will honor the rights of children and equal rights Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 42 Things You Can Do To “Demand the Change” (continued) Society – Will hold perpetrators of abuse, exploitation and violence accountable NOT the victims – Will address early trauma to children to lesson chances of re-victimization or development of perpetrating behaviors – Will address sexual behavior problems early in restorative manner – Will invest “CHANGE” in prevention! Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 43 Posters • You’re the one Who saw the sexual harm Who felt the outrage And said “no more” I’m not okay with ‘just the way it is,’ ….. It’s not the way it should be ….. It’s not funny to me I want you to stop I want this removed I am offended I demand a change! 44 Reality Check: Big Steps, Small Steps All Steps Forward Small Steps: No time, Resources, Low on the “to-do list” Bigger Steps: Big Steps: • What can we possibly do to counter demand? • What can we do about the normalization? The pornified culture? • What can I do about the environment in my WP, school, etc.? • Present the power point • Make a link to the effort on your website • Build in a few slides from the power point in other presentations • Set up a community task force or add this to an existing one • Announce and collect stories • Identify local artist to get engaged in the effort Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 45 Revolution with Heart for a Collective Change of Heart Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 46 http://www.mncasa.org; Together we can create the kinds of world we want to live in and our children to grow in. Together we can change the odds! Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 47 Awards & Contest for Content @ AWARE 48 Miscellaneous Ideas Sticker: Counter Demand, Demand the Change Sticker: Change with Heart, Change of Heart Sticker: Demand the Change, Change with Heart Deck of Cards: Examples of CHANGE Video shorts “I was outraged, I demanded the change & (insert story) …..I did it with heart” 49 What else can we do to help you to demand the change? • SAAM tool kit • User Friendly info on website • Use of this power point • Use of “Story Forms” • Pitch this with/for you • Develop stickers, posters, etc for your use • Other: Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 50 Other? Your Ideas Fit Here!!! • www.demandthechange.org; Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 51 For More Information Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault www.mncasa.org Demand the Change, Change of Heart www.demandthechange.org Lindsay Gullingsrud lindsay@mncasa.org Cordelia Anderson Cordelia@visi.com Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 52 Minnesota www.mncasa.org lindsay@mncasa.org; Cordelia@visi.com; Developed by Cordelia Anderson for MNCASA with MDH funds 53