2nd Annual Safe Neighborhood Summit- Brooklyn, NY

Saturday, April 25th, 2009 from 12pm-6pm at Restoration Plaza in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, the S.O.S. Collective will host our 2nd Annual Safe Neighborhood Campaign Summit to mobilize against violence for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Transgender and Gender-Non-Conforming people of color. Last year's Summit was a huge success reaching over 75 members of the community, and this year we would love for you to attend!

Our Safe Neighborhood Campaign began as a response to a number of devastating incidents of violence in Central Brooklyn. We knew we wanted to do something about this, so we organized this campaign as a way to ensure that all of us feel safe in our spaces. Local institutions including businesses, schools, faith-based institutions and other organizations agree to become Safe Spaces which means that they will do their work to learn how to promote a welcoming environment for everyone and how to intervene and deescalate situations of violence. As always, this year's Summit will focus on individual and community safety systems for LGBTSTGNC people of color without relying on the police. Instead we will promote creative community-based alternatives. Let's come together to discuss and continue to build ways we can support each other by remembering those we've lost, putting together a community map of safety, participating in interactive workshops on how to respond to an incident of violence, practicing self-defense and community-defense skills, hearing from local leaders, learning how your institution can be a Safe Space and breaking it down with S.O.S.'s Step Team. Your organization could be a part of something powerful. Come learn novel, exciting and effective ways to strengthen our communities. Our safety can't wait.

As always, the S.O.S. Collective supports your health and safety by providing free food, free Metrocards, free childcare, free knowledge and free fun!

Although space is limited, don't keep this opportunity all to yourself; bring a friend and support community mobilization towards safety. Sign up today to ensure your spot.

Register online now:

http://alp.org/whatwedo/organizing/sos/2009_summit_registration

Contact Ejeris Dixon at (718) 596-0342 ext. 22 or edixon@alp.org for any questions.

More information about S.O.S.

The S.O.S. Collective works to challenge violence that affects LGBTSTGNC people of color. We are guided by the belief that strategies that increase the police presence within our communities do not create safety. Therefore we believe in fighting the root causes of violence by building stronger relationships within our communities to prevent, intervene, and hold attackers accountable outside of the system.

About the Audre Lorde Project

The Audre Lorde Project is a community organizing center of LGBTSTGNC people of color. Through mobilization, education and capacity-building, we work for community wellness and progressive social and economic justice. Committed to struggling across differences, we seek to responsibly reflect, represent and serve our various communities.