Tek it to Dem & Rise Up Wi CommunityA Violence Against Women Project

Launch held May 13, 2009Sistren Theatre Collective & Partners

Funded by The UN Trust Fund To End Violence Against Women

Ms. Donna Harriott, MC welcomes audience of over 160 community residents, stakeholder agencies, partners, representatives from government agencies , academia, media to the launch of Tek it To Dem & Rise Up Wi Community on May 13, 2009 at the Knutsford Court Hotel

L-R 1st row: Mrs. Mary Clarke, Child Advocate, UWI Dept of Gender Studies, Mrs. Saundra Bailey, Chair Sistren; 2nd row Bryan Jacas & Jennifer Williams of Dispute Resolution Foundation, Mr. Minh Pham, UN Resident Representative

Section of the audience including residents of Rockfort and Hannah Town

Drummers heralding the vibes for the launch

Mrs. Saundra Bailey, Chairman of Board, Sistren Theatre Collective officially launches Tek it to Dem & Rise Up Wi Community

R-L Mrs. Faith Webster, Exec. Director Bureau of Women’s affairs, Ms. Roberta Clarke, Regional Director UNIFEM, Dr. Imani Tafari-Ama, Consultant on Baseline Research, Ms. Myrna McKenzie, Project Manager

Mrs. Faith Webster, Executive Director of the Bureau of Women’s Affairs (BWA) brings greetings on behalf of Minister Hon Olivia Grange, Minister with responsibility for Gender Affairs, and the BWA

Sistren Staff standing R-L Ricardo Nicholas, Joy Erskine, Neil McIntyre (CPTC), Marlon Moore, Patrick Williams, Danielle Toppin , and the rest of the audience listen attentively

Myrna McKenzie, Project Manager talks about the project concept and the national implications for Violence Against Women

Audience listens as Myrna McKenzie, Project Manager talks about the birth of the project and all the Sistren drama that went into its development

Among the audience 2nd row R-L Ms. Hermoine McKenzie, AWOJA, resident Rockfort , and Mrs. Angela Brown Burke, Councillor Rockfort Division. Standing Mrs Myrtle Rose, Keda Gaye-Duffus and Alwyn Allen of Sistren, and Mr. Orville Simmonds, Community Action Coordinator CSJP

Ms. Roberta Clarke, Regional Director UNIFEM delivers the Keynote Address in which she spoke about the research findings and challenges for Sistren

2nd from right Hon. Peter Bunting, Opposition Spokesperson on National Security among captive audience

Audience listens

Standing R-L Joy Erskine -Drumming Specialist (STC), Neil McIntyre, CPTC, Marlon Moore and Patrick Williams, Male Development Specialists, Danielle Toppin, Research Asst. among audience

Dr. Imani Tafari, Consultant discusses findings from the baseline study

Audience listens attentively to baseline findings

R-L Ms. Saundra Latibeaudiere, Social Worker and Ms. Naketa West, Psychology Student from UWI , members of the project team among audience

Kymani Sharpe resident of Rockfort speaks about what the project means to the communities

Section of the audience listening attentively

The Hannah Town & Parade Gardens Drama Groups trained by Sistren Theatre Collective

Section of audience

“Women & Gang Violence” a powerful presentation written and directed by Donna Harriott

Cindy Green of Hannah Town Cultural Group weeps at the loss of a loved one in the play “Women & Gang Violence” performed by the Hannah Town & Parade Gardens Drama Groups

Audience watches performance

Members of Hannah Town and Parade Gardens Drama Groups performing “Women & Gang Violence”

Hannah Town and Parade Gardens Drama Groups exit stage after a powerful performance depicting the role of women in gang violence and calling for an end to violence

“Start A New” Riley declares in his song against domestic violence

Section of the audience enjoying Tarrus Riley’s powerful rendition of “Start A New”

Tarrus Riley singing against domestic violence

Riley has the audience rocking

Tarrus Riley performs his megahit “She’s Royal” in celebration of women

Audience enjoying the performance

Camera phones capturing Riley as he performs

Riley woos the audience with his “She’s Royal” hit

Riley accepts token from Board Chair, Mrs. Saundra Bailey

Audience awaits the launch of the website

Myrna McKenzie, Project Manager hits the button to launch The Sistren Website

Sistren Theatre Collective Website goes live http://sistrentheatrecollective.com

Kevan Douglas Tekking it to the Audience

Let the Drums talk

Job Tekking it to the audience

Ms. Lana Finikin, Executive Director and Founding Member of Sistren delivering the Vote of Thanks

Lana Finikin, Executive Director beams with pride at the success of the launch

Section of audience

Audience mingling after the launch

After launch mingling