_gaia's mission remains as a collective of women, for women, for the making of textiles, clothing, printmaking, painting, architecture, music, film, photography, science, the performing arts, writing, environmental, social and political activism: all things which color the lives of the women involved.
_gaia is active in the visual arts space. We run and sponsor shows, events, and residencies for our sisters to come and work on their art. We are always brewing up something new and looking for new ideas. Contact us if you are interested in participating or have an idea you would like to explore with _gaia.
_gaia is active in the performance space. We run and sponsor shows, events, and residencies for our sisters to come and work on their acting and voice. We are always brewing up something new and looking for new ideas. Contact us if you are interested in participating or have an idea you would like to explore with _gaia.
Activism was the fire that gave birth to _gaia. We continue in that tradition by supporting and promoting socially conscious movement and agendas that are important to our members. We are active in demonstrations and events that help bring issues of importance to light. _gaia's main issues include but are not limited too: stop violence against women, human rights, reproductive rights and promotion.
_gaia loves to meet new people and make new friends. We have many opportunities for you to join _gaia in our mission to provide a space for women in the arts. Come play with us through our internships and volunteer programs. You will learn, work and have fun while opening up a whole new world. If you don't have the time but got the dough, please consider a donation to _gaia. We appreciate you and love you!
_gaia loves you and we are fortunate to have those who love and support us. There are those who support us with their time and expertise to make so many of our programs happen and continue on in the future. The partners who are generous with their space and businesses to help us make so many events happen. Of course, like anyone else we love our fans who come to our events and workshops.
About V-Day
V-Day 2008 Meet the Cast
V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler’s award winning play The Vagina Monologues.
In 2007, more than 3000 V-Day events took place in the U.S. and around the world. To date, the V-Day movement has raised over $45 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it, crafted international educational, media and PSA campaigns, launched the Karama program in the Middle East, reopened shelters, and funded over 5000 community-based anti-violence programs as well as safe houses in Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq. In June 2006, V-Day launched the UNTIL THE VIOLENCE STOPS: NYC festival which invited thousands of New Yorkers to stand up and join V-Day in making New York City the safest place on earth for women and girls.
The V-Day movement is growing at a rapid pace throughout the world, in 112 countries from Europe to Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, and all of North America. V-Day, a non-profit corporation, distributes funds to grassroots, national and international organizations and programs that work to stop violence against women and girls. In 2001, V-Day was named one of Worth Magazine’s “100 Best Charities” and in 2006 one of Marie Claire Magazine’s Top Ten Charities. The ‘V’ in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina. http://www.vday.org
MISSION STATEMENT
- V-Day is an organized response against violence toward women.
- V-Day is a vision: We see a world where women live safely and freely.
- V-Day is a demand: Rape, incest, battery, genital mutilation and sexual slavery must end now.
- V-Day is a spirit: We believe women should spend their lives creating and thriving rather than surviving or recovering from terrible atrocities.
- V-Day is a catalyst: By raising money and consciousness, it will unify and strengthen existing anti-violence efforts. Triggering far-reaching awareness, it will lay the groundwork for new educational, protective, and legislative endeavors throughout the world.
- V-Day is a process: We will work as long as it takes. We will not stop until the violence stops.
- V-Day is a day. We proclaim Valentine’s Day as V-Day, to celebrate women and end the violence.
- V-Day is a fierce, wild, unstoppable movement and community. Join us!
V To The 10
A Celebration of V-Day’s Tenth Anniversary
NEW ORLEANS Arena, April 12, 2008
Power The Movement, Preach The Word, Protest the Violence, Plant the Future, Push The Edge, Play The Music, Praise The Women, Plug In the Men, Party, Performance, Pink Parades! Vagina Power! PEACE!
Join us! On April 12, 2008 at New Orleans Arena, V-Day will celebrate ten years of ending violence against women and girls and will launch the next ten to heal and empower women worldwide. Toni Childs, Ellen DeGeneres, Eve, Jane Fonda, Salma Hayek, Joss Stone, Marisa Tomei and Kerry Washington have already signed on!
V To The 10th will showcase the work of the women of New Orleans—Katrina Warriors—and their efforts to bring the community back from post-Katrina violence, economic hardship, racism, and insufficient healthcare, childcare, and education. V-Day will donate funds raised by the performance and by our annual Spotlight Campaign to local women’s groups, to ensure the event has lasting impact on the ground. The disbursement of funds will be directed by the needs of women in New Orleans to be utilized for sustainable, long term projects that will have maximum impact and growth for women in business.
This evening will open minds and hearts and raise much needed attention and funds for groups working to end violence against women and girls in New Orleans, and around the world.
Save the Date and Join us! http://v10.vday.org
SPOTLIGHT ON WOMEN OF NEW ORLEANS:
“Although we cannot prevent such events as Hurricane Katrina, we can be there with and for each other when they occur. We can extend our hand; we can remember those who have lost their homes, their jobs, their minds and their way. We can bring water and food and hammers and nails to rebuild the broken walls. We can support and empower the women and the men left behind so that violence does not become the solution or the norm. When disasters occur, we can stand in solidarity and make a commitment to end violence itself.” - Eve Ensler
V-Day’s 2008 Spotlight Campaign focuses on the Women of New Orleans. These women - Katrina Warriors - have come to symbolize the universal plight of women in conflict zones– high levels of violence; economic hardship; racism; and public structures that failed to protect them. Katrina Warriors also highlight the dire need for resources to this still devastated community.
Through the 2008 V-Day Spotlight Campaign on the Women of New Orleans thousands of women and men throughout the world will be exposed to the issues facing women in New Orleans. The Spotlight Campaign will raise funds to ensure lasting impact on the ground. The disbursement of funds will be determined by the needs of women in New Orleans and will be directed toward sustainable, long-term projects that will have maximum impact and fuel growth for women in businesses. We will be targeting projects that economically empower the women of New Orleans, focusing on self- sustaining businesses that are improving the economy of women as well as spreading, increasing and sustaining their wealth.
EVE’S BIOGRAPHY
Eve Ensler is a playwright, performer and activist. She is the award-winning author of The Vagina Monologues, which has been translated into 45 languages and performed in over 119 countries. Eve’s other plays include Necessary Targets, Conviction, Lemonade, The Depot, Floating Rhoda and the Glue Man, and Extraordinary Measures. Her play, The Good Body, which debuted at ACT in San Francisco followed by a run on Broadway and a national tour, was recently premiered in a three-person version at Pittsburgh’s City Theatre. Ms. Ensler’s newest play, The Treatment, premiered in September 2006 at the Culture Project in New York City. In October 2006, Ms. Ensler released her first book, Insecure At Last: Losing It in A Security Obsessed World, published by Random House. Eve is the founder/artistic director of V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls, which has raised over 49 million dollars in 9 years. She is the recipient of many awards including the Guggenheim Fellowship Award in Playwriting, and has received numerous Honorary degrees.
HOW TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH V-DAY
For more information about V-Day, the global movement to stop violence against women and girls, please visit the V-Day web site at www.vday.org. To stay informed about events, actions, and opportunities for participation, sign up for V-Mail, the movement’s online newsletter at www.vday.org/vmail.