Deborah Santana: All the Women in My Family Sing: Perpsectives on Equality, Justice, and Freedom

Join us for an evening of readings and conversation with author, documentary film producer, and activist for peace and social justice Deborah Santana along with author and editor Hope Wabuke on the themes of Santana’s new anthology ALL THE WOMEN IN MY FAMILY SING:  Women Write the World – Essays on Equality, Justice, and Freedom. We will be constructing a shrine highlighting equality, justice, and freedom, and all are welcomed to bring any talismans or other items for the shrine. 
 About ALL THE WOMEN IN MY FAMILY SING
Since the Women’s March in January 2017, there has been a growing sense of solidarity amongst women who refuse to be silenced. What began as a protest of women from every racial and socioeconomic background has evolved into a social and political movement. We have seen arguably some of the most prominent, influential men in television and Hollywood be ejected from the industry once women began to bravely step forward to share their horror stories of sexual assault and abuse. The fall elections saw historic results when Danica Roem unseated 26-year delegate Robert G. Marshall in Virginia, making her the first openly transgender in the state’s legislature. And medical professional Ashley Bennett, who decided to run against Atlantic County NJ Freeholder John Carman after he mocked the Women’s March at a local meeting, successfully knocked him off the board.
 The last several months have proven that women’s voices really do matter and can make a difference. Three years ago, when author/activist Deborah Santana decided to publish ALL THE WOMEN IN MY FAMILY SING: Women Write the World — Essays on Equality, Justice, and Freedom, she felt a growing need to illuminate the diversity and complexity of women’s experiences in the world. She felt there was an increasing void when it came to women expressing themselves in a meaningful and emotional way about the many important topics that impact their daily lives, especially women of color.
 ALL THE WOMEN IN MY FAMILY SING is monumental and timely as human rights and justice are being challenged around the world. It is a watershed title that is both written and published entirely by women of color, including the editing, book cover design, and promotions. Santana’s vision is to empower underrepresented voices and to impact the world of book publishing in America — particularly important in an industry that considerably lacks diversity.
 About the Speakers
Deborah Santana is an author, documentary film producer, and activist for peace and social justice. Her non-profit, Do A Little, serves women and girls in the areas of health, education, and happiness. With a passion to provide educational opportunities for girls and women, Ms. Santana also collaborates with organizations that work to prevent and heal relationship and sexual violence and improve the lives of America's abused and neglected children.  Ms. Santana holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy and Religion with a Concentration in Women’s Spirituality.
Hope Wabuke is a contributing editor at the Root and a contributing writer for Kirkus. Her work has also been featured in Guernica, Ms. Magazine, Salamander, Fjords Review, Ruminate, NonBinary Review, and the North American Review and on The Daily Beast, Salon, Ozy, DAME, The Hairpin, Gawker, Literary Mama, and many more. Her work has also been featured in the anthology All about Skin, and her chapbook, Movement No. 1: Trains, was published in 2015. Wabuke was also a finalist for the 2015 Brunel International University African Poetry Prize. Her chapter “What is Said” was published in the anthology All the Women in My Family Sing: Women Write the World: Essays on Equality, Justice, and Freedom.