The third annual Women’s Empowerment Conference (WE Con 2016) will be held Friday, April 1, 2016 and Saturday, April 2, 2016 at the Austin Community College Eastview campus. WE Con 2016 is a community-driven event where women and girls share skills and have conversations about gender, race, sexuality, disability, class, and more. Women and girls can also make friends, connect with new ideas, and learn about other women-friendly organizations. This event is hosted by the Women’s Community Center (WCC).

Proposals are due no later than January 31, 2016 at 11:59 pm CST.

THEME
The theme of “Claiming Space || Making Space” was suggested by a community member and volunteer of the Women’s Community Center, and we ask that you use it to guide your creativity. Historically, patterns of marginalization have greatly affected feminist spaces, even as they espouse notions of equality and justice. Certain women’s voices and experiences are heard and valued while other women’s voices and experiences are ignored or silenced. This year’s theme encourages us to not only claim the space that we have been denied, but to also do the work of moving back. We want others to have the opportunity to be centered, valued, and heard.

FOCUS AREAS
The conference will be organized around focus areas, which were selected by the WCC, in collaboration with community members. These focus areas highlight ideas and experiences that we want to amplify throughout the conference. Workshops and programming must be connected to at least one of the following focus areas.

Reproductive Justice & Radical Motherhood
DIY Skill Building
Social Justice 101
The Impact of Violence
Health, Wellness & Self-Care
Youth (ages 12-19)
Activism by Transgender Women of Color & Gender Non-Conforming People of Color

NOTE ABOUT PROPOSALS
The WCC extends an invitation to all women and girls of central Texas to create and facilitate workshops and programming related to the focus areas listed above. We strongly encourage women and girls to pay close attention to intersectionality when submitting their proposals. In keeping with the theme, we will select proposals that demonstrate a keen (self)awareness of power, privilege, and oppression and will make space for historically marginalized voices and experiences accordingly.

LANGUAGE JUSTICE
We will provide English-to-Spanish and Spanish-to-English interpretation and welcome proposals in these languages for ALL focus areas. ASL language interpretation is possible on request. For all other language needs and other questions about accessibility, please contact conference@womenctx.org.