The 21st Annual Women’s Studies Conference at Southern Connecticut State University was a beautiful, intellectually and spiritually uplifting experience. It was small enough to be intimate and large enough to be very diverse, and the panels I was able to attend and speakers I heard inspired me and reminded me that there are women all over the world with ku’e and fearless minds and spirits.
Mahalo nui loa to las professoras Virgina Metaxas, who instigated my participation and made sure to secure the funding for me to attend and hosted me at her home. I rode all over Connecticut with Ginny and it was kind and stimulating and yes, inspiring. I also want to mahalo Tricia Lin and Rosalyn Amenta, the co-chairs of the conference and two unbelievably inspiring women– their personal AND political stories are why they are such leaders in the women’s studies community of scholars and activists.
I am honored to have been able to screen “Noho Hewa” at this conference, and to have been on the opening plenary with an amazing Puerto Rican artist and scholar, Imna Arroyo.
Spoken Word artist, MindEvolution, is an incredibly gifted and fierce poet and artist, and it was a pleasure to see her perform.
Majora Carter was the opening keynote, and her work in the South Bronx makes me wanna visit the South Bronx the next time I’m in NYC… can’t say I’ve ever had that urge!
And last, but fabulous was the closing keynote, Dr. Chung Hyung Kyung. Some of you may recognize her from “The Tribunal.” She was a part of the people’s tribunal in 1992 here in Hawaii. What an incredibly gifted, brilliant and inspired soul and mind this woman is. Truly an honor to meet her.