12th Annual “Be Good To Women Day” in LA

Exciting plans are underway for the 12th annual Be Good To Women Day. Held in March, during Women’s History Month, its mission is to eliminate damaging words, images and behaviors toward women and girls; and to promote a culture of equality, respect and love through education and advocacy for the benefit of all.

This year’s BGTWD events begin Saturday, March 21 in Los Angeles with a community forum featuring two powerful sessions. The first session, Changing the Dialogue: Challenging How We Speak to and About Women, starts at Noon. This three-part workshop is focused on engaging youth and young adults in the tough work of examining the language
and culture concerning women from historical, textual and current cultural perspectives. Part 1 will engage our panelists and allow them to share personal experiences and expertise with attendees. Moderated by Min. Kirkpatrick Tyler, itinerant deacon, Second AME Church, the panel includes Jasai Madden, a writer, Yogi (a practitioner of Yoga) and mindfulness coach and Rev. Dorothy Ruby Pollard, an itinerant elder in the Southern California Conference of the African Methodist Church. In Part 2, attendees will join small discussion groups to dissect and tackle one of three perspectives (History, Text and Current Culture). Part 3 concludes the session as the three workgroups reconvene and share their insights.
The second session focuses on how the lives of adult women have been impacted by sexual abuse during childhood. A panel discussion will focus on the topic, “Can We Just Talk About It?”. The panel will be moderated by Alvin Abston, a California-certified treatment provider for convicted sex offenders, with presentations by Dr. Verda Bradley, president and CEO, Bradley Glenn Behavioral Health Associates; Dr. Chanté DeLoach, Psy.D., licensed psychologist and facilitator, Emotional Emancipation Circles; and Mrs. Stephanie Jones, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, will share her experience, strength and hope. lf sexual abuse isn’t part of your story, trust that it is the story of someone you know.

Our guest speaker, contributing via video from Atlanta, will be Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes, theologian, psychologist and author of Too Heavy a Yoke: Black Women and the Burden of Strength. This discussion starts at 2:00 p.m. Both sessions will be held at the Emmanuel H.M. Turner AMEC, 5202 Compton Avenue.

The two-day event concludes with a prayer vigil on Tuesday, March 24. Distinguished guest speakers include Rev. Dr. Monica A. Coleman, associate professor of constructive theology and African-American religions and co-director of the Center for Process Studies at the Claremont School of Theology along with Rev. Joyce Reece Kitchen, pastor of Emmanuel-H.M. Turner African Methodist Episcopal Church. The vigil will take place at 7:00 p.m. at Bryant Temple AME Church. 2525 West Vernon Avenue (at the corner of 4th and Vernon).
The idea for Be Good To Women Day came out of Brad Sanders’ nationally syndicated radio program, On The Phone With Ti-Rone. For over twenty years, “Ti-Rone” received thousands of phone calls, letters and e-mails from women with emotional stress as a result of their relationships with men. “The pain expressed by these women was so heartrending, it
brought me to a realization that we are trampling God’s precious gift under our indifference and disrespect. It finally occurred to me that we men are too often completely clueless about what women go through and what they need from us. Deya Smith, my co-host at the time, said ‘So what are you going to do about it?’ That’s how Be Good To Women Day began.” Sanders hastens to add that Be Good To Women Day is not about bashing men. “It’s about motivating men to take their rightful place beside women. It’s about us inspiring each other and helping each other to be all that God intended. Together we will make it or not at all.”

All events are free and open to the public. To get involved and to obtain more information, call Bryant Temple AME Church at 323-293-6201. Note to media: To arrange an interview with Brad Sanders, please call 323-240-8202.

Receive updates and connect with like-minded individuals by visiting the “Be Good To Women Day web site at begoodtowomenday.com or its Facebook page, http://tinyurl.com/BeGoodtoWomenDay2015.