Jump In: SpringBoard

Five years ago, PWN presented an International Women’s Day event that didn’t go as planned, yet everyone who attended loved it. Computers weren’t working properly, an internet connection couldn’t be found, a DVD skipped and skipped and skipped… people were talking. Actually, the talking was great. It ranged from microbicides to HIV treatment, and covered co-infection with Hep C, and sexual health for all women. We called the event SpringBoard because we wanted it to be just that: a jumping off point for new ideas and new connections. 

 It unfolded gloriously (despite the technological hiccups, which we resolved).  By the end it, everyone said how great it was to have a space to really talk about what’s vital for women (which is how PWN got started in the first place). There were  afternoon sessions, a keynote speaker and dinner.

SpringBoard continues to be a day to connect, learn, and plan. The people who come are a mixed group: women with HIV, nurses, doctors, social workers, financial assistance workers, administrators, front line workers, students in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and other health disciplines. No one is identified by their HIV status (unless they choose to talk about it), but HIV is the topic that brings us all together.

Our sponsor for the event, Abbott,  was so pleased with our SpringBoard that they suggested other women’s organizations do the same thing. Last year there were SpringBoards in Montreal and Toronto in addition to our West Coast, and it will be a three city feature again in 2009. 

This year SpringBoard is on Thursday March 5. Our theme is “space for health” and we’ll look at workplace burnout, forum theatre as social activism, pos women activists, and housing’s influence on health. We’ll also be exhibiting Giving Women Power Over AIDS, an international photo exhibit on microbicides. The event is open, free of charge, and full of food. Contact us to RSVP or if you want more information. Hope to see you there. We’ll talk.

-Janet

This was posted on Friday, February 20th, 2009 at 6:34 am and is filed under Education & Resources, HIV Prevention, Networking, Special Events . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.

• Name

  Email

  Website

  Cancel reply