The eighth annual Women of Color Conference begins at 3 p.m. today on the EMU’s East Lawn. The goal of the conference, which is organized by the Women’s Center, is to expose University students to issues affecting women of color.
“It’s really our event to educate people on issues that women of color face daily,” conference coordinator and University junior Andrea Old Coyote said.
The conference, which continues through Sunday, focuses on personal strength and development for minority women with workshops ranging from parenting to time management, interracial relationships to self-defense. This year’s theme is “Self-care and Empowerment,” with 19 workshops and forums scheduled for the three-day event.
Among other highlights are presentations by Dona Irene Alvarez, a Mexican medicine woman from Oaxaca, who will lead a number of workshops concerning inner healing and wellness. Accompanying Alvarez is Eugene midwife Anita Rojas, also originally from Mexico, who will act as a translator.
Alvarez’s presentations include a “Traditional Healing Methods” workshop that touches on personal healing practices and the “Remedios Caseros” (Home Remedy) workshop, which focuses on natural ways to build the immune system and stay healthy. A complete schedule of events can be found in the Women’s Center.
“The reminder here for this conference is that we are powerful working people in a working whole,” conference volunteer and event organizer Darlene Dadras said. “We start at home so that we may support and recognize the struggles we experience.”
Dadras, a senior, will be facilitating the “Privileged Language” workshop, which deals with how different privileges work in the oppression of women of color.
She said the conference was not just for women or just people of color. There is also a men’s forum from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. today in the EMU’s Metrolius Room to discuss how men can contribute to the self-care and empowerment of women. Dadras said everyone is welcome at the conference.
“Students, professors, midwives, day caregivers — they are in the home space, too,” Dadras said. “This conference reminds us of the relationships with one another.”
Freshman Kalesha Wiley said she is interested in going to the conference to learn about the issues.
“There are some issues that I think black students face that others don’t,” she said.
The conference is free and will end on Sunday with dinner and keynote speeches from Alvarez and Susan Masten, the former president of the National Congress of Native Americans. More than 400 students attended the conference last year, and increased participation is encouraged.
“This year’s conference may remind us to take part — we are always busy — but empowerment of one’s own health and healing is a community effort,” said Dadras.