The description of our event

Section 05

We will be holding a concert that raises awareness against domestic violence. It will be held in the University of Maryland, College Park mall on September 1^st 2008 from 12-10pm. Our audience is aimed mainly towards college students but everyone is welcome. We are distributing flyers around campus (including metro, Rt. 1, dorms and stamp). We will also have it published in the Diamond Back and broadcasted on local radio stations. The host of our event is Ellen Degeneres, a well known comedian who has herself, suffered from abuse. In her late teens her stepfather sexually abused her. She is now speaking out about it and says "it's important for teenage girls out there to hear that there are different ways to say no. And if it ever happens to them, they should tell someone right away." She is the perfect host for this event because not only is she viewed as a strong, independent woman in society but she has suffered through the hardships of abuse in the past and is now able to “raise her voice” about it.

Our performers include:

The Spice Girls are a well known pop group, composed of 5 strong women who have constantly throughout their careers tried to empower women through donations and charity events both as a group and individually. These 5 women are all about “Girl Power!”

Christina Aguilera has a past of violence that goes back to her childhood. Growing up her father would abuse her and her mother. She speaks out about these tragedies through her music with songs such as “I’m OK” and “Oh Mother”.

Alicia Keys is very well known for giving to charities. She teams up with artists and organizations constantly for charity events. Also her lyrics in many of her songs are directed towards empowering women.

Mary J. Blige is an independent, strong woman who devotes a lot of her time to charity work. She also has songs directed towards domestic violence such as “Runaway Love”.

Le Tigre is a feminist musical group. Member Kathleen Hanna used to work for an organization for women who were victims of domestic violence and states “the main reason I was in the band was so I could talk about the program between shows”.

Lupe Fiasco is an up and coming rapper who has been dubbed “the next anti-sexist rapper”. His music is “working to engage men as allies with women to prevent men’s violence against women.”

Our speakers include:

Oprah is considered one of the most powerful women in today’s society and even she has suffered through abuse and rape. She has dedicated many of her shows to raising awareness about domestic violence. She is also a major participant in various charity organizations.

Tyra Banks has a talk show directed towards empowering woman. Many of her shows are about overcoming domestic violence. She also founded the TZONE organization which was formed to enhance female relationships and help women reach their full potential.

Hilary Clinton is currently running for President of the United States. She is a strong woman that women all across the nation can look up to. She gives other women hope and shows them that they can achieve anything. She is truly fearless when it comes to raising her voice.

Nancy Pelosi is currently the Speaker of the House of Representatives. She is the highest ranking woman in the history of the United States of America. She is working to end violence against women. She signed the Violence Against Women Act, which protects women from violence, abuse, sexual assault and sexual predators.

The Guerilla Girls are a group of anonymous women that “expose sexism and racism in politics, the art world, film and the culture at large.” They are feminist guerilla-masked avengers saving the world with provocative and humorous facts, humor and outrageous visuals.

Judith Butler is an acclaimed author and post structural theorist. In some of her work, she questions the existence and construction of gender. She is a Maxine Elliot Professor in the Department so of Rhetoric and Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkley.

On the second stage there will be an art auction, featuring Paula Rego and other various artists. All proceeds will go towards House of Ruth, National Organization for Women and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Afterwards the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) will sign autographs for $5, all proceeds will also go towards the charities listed above. At first people thought the WNBA were just a bunch of lesbians and prostitutes but they fought for their rights and raised their voices loud enough to turn the WNBA into one of the largest women’s sports teams in America today.

This is a feminist event because all participants are willing to speak out about domestic violence for those who are unable to. They are raising their voices to reach all the victims of domestic violence that are not yet strong enough to do it themselves.

If anyone sees any mistakes or anything they would like changed please email me to make sure I read it in time. (abradsh1@umd.edu)