Sexual Assault Prevention & Survivors Month (April)
World Health Day (April 7)
Gay & Lesbian Pride Month (June)
Caribbean American Heritage Month (June)
Take Back The Night (March-June)
New Student Welcome Week & Orientation (September)
Campus Safe Sex (September)
International Self Awareness Month (September)
National Family Sexuality Education Month (October)
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October)
Coming Out Day (October 11)
Love Your Body Day (October 16)
National Bullying Prevention Month (October)
Rosa Parks Day (February 4 or December 1)
World AIDS Day (December 1)
Human Rights Day (December 10)
Martin Luther King Day of Service (January)
KEY TALKS include Single in Stilettos NYC, the Momentum
Conference on Sexuality, NYU Keynote Speech, hosting the African American Literary Awards, Visions & Visionaries Panel
in Toronto, Henry Street School of International Studies UN Anniversary Speech, Sex and the City Event at the New School for
Social Research, Barnes and Nobles, Hip Hop for Health Shades of Beauty, Casa Attabex Ache...
PLUS: Washington
State University, University of Northern Colorado, Howard University, Women in Cinema, Pratt University, VIDA Youth Center, University of New Hampshire, Sarah
Lawrence College, Niger-Delta Academy, RUSH Arts, The Cambridge School, Casa Atabex Aché, New Roc Funhouse, Diversity
Film Workshop, Rotunda Gallery, The Schomburg Center, Good for Her Toronto, National Black Theater Festival, Lavender Films,
The Bronx Academy of Letter, Henry Street School for International Studies, The Beacon Program, Queens Center Library &
more.
With Jamye Waxman & Candida Royalle at The New School.
I have given keynote addresses at New York University, Howard University and Washington State University; created and moderated
panels at the Museum of the City of New York and New
School for Social Research; curated a feminist film
festival for VDay and a sexuality exhibit for the Chashama Gallery; mentored girls and women for Hip Hop for Health and Casa
Attabex Ache; hosted the African American Literary Awards and presented workshops at the Museum of TV and Radio and University
of Northern Colorado.
NYC WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT
NYC SINGLE IN STILETTOS CONFERENCE
CURRENT COLLEGE TALKS & PROGRAMS
Don't see something to fit your needs or want a multimedia workshop? Just ask
and we'll customize a program for you.
The Mystical, Magical Power of Self Love
We hear it from the day we're born -- love, yourself, love yourself, love yourself -- but we don't know
what that means. The main reason we don't know what it means is that the people telling it to us don't know what it means
either. Our mothers and fathers can't teach us to love ourselves if they didn't know how to love themselves.
Loving ourselves truly and unconditionally has nothing to do with ego. Self love
is not about how amazing your job is, how you wear your hair, how many degrees or facebook friends you have, whether you have
the right bag or shoes; or how many times you can use the word fabulous to describe your life. Loving you is about knowing
deep in your soul that no matter what happens, you are enough. When you love you you're meticulous about the foods and substances
you put into your body and the people and distractions you allow into your life.
We get trapped by our stories. We secretly feel that we are our gender, our race, our social status,
our educational level when we are so much more. Our stories are noble and worthy, but we are not just victims and survivors.
The condition of your life circumstances are a mirror, showing
exactly what you think of yourself. If you think that you are unworthy, undeserving, unable, your life will reflect that.
The real truth is that you deserve more. You are worthy and more powerful than you can imagine. There is an incredible life
waiting for you.
Let's talk about rising up to meet it. Yeah!!
Sexual Assault Awareness
Month & Advocacy for Survivors
In
2011 the president proclaimed April to be National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This ground-breaking era was launched with
these words: "Our Nation must continue to confront rape and other forms of sexual violence as a deplorable crime. Too
many victims suffer unaided, and too many offenders elude justice. As we mark National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention
Month, we recommit to building a society where no woman, man, or child endures the fear of assault or the pain of an attack
on their physical well being and basic human dignity."
Here
are the facts: One out of six American women and one out of thirty-three men report that they've experienced an attempted
or completed rape in their lifetime. That stat does not include those who have been sexually assaulted or verbally harassed
on the street. Those numbers also don't include those who have been sexually harassed or stalked online.
A few years ago Abiola Abrams created the Until the Violence Stops Film Festival
in association with Eve Ensler's VDay. Ensler also included one of abiola's monologues about sexual assault in her anthology
"A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer" which also contains the activist writing of Maya Angelou and Jane Fonda.
Sexual violence can be committed by an intimate partner, a friend or acquaintance,
a family member, a person in position of power or trust, or a stranger. Sexual violence in the form of street harassment or
cyber bullying can intersect with our lives on a daily basis.
Abiola
will talk about what sexual assault is and the power of bystanders. She will also discuss cyber assault such as taping and
broadcasting a roommate or friend or seemingly harmless harassment with facebook photos. Many victims feel as though they
don't have access to services so we'll discuss options as well as the boys will be boys attitude.Abiola also talks to would
be assaulter, harassers and rapists with this speech about a zero tolerance zone.
This is not a woman's problem this is a people problem, Let's talk about it, educate ourselves and get
empowered. The talk is interactive as Abiola makes the audience Q&A an important part of the event. Questions can be asked
during the speech, in advance anonymously or via text anonymously during the talk.
Adult Sex Ed 101
Let's talk about sex, baby. Abiola Abrams starts at the beginning. Even if you think you know
all there is to know about sex, you don't. This is a fun, informative and empowering multimedia talk. Topics include safe
sex, good sex, female orgasm, better interpersonal relationships, GLBTQ facts and even dating advice.
Why is pleasure such a forbidden topic? Let's go... there! Toys and orgasms and
anatomy, oh my! For Abiola safe sex means sex that is safe mentally as well as physically. We discuss HIV and STD prevention
and we also talk about self esteem. This inclusive talk is appropriate for every gender and sexual orientation. Abiola is
expanding her "Cover Your Bone Zone" safe sex pledge to be more inclusive. So far, the only person who has refused
to take her safe sex pledge was the rapper-actor Ludicris! He said that he wanted his lawyer to look at it first.
Ask Abiola anything. We don't even allow embarrassment to enter the room! The
talk is interactive as Abiola makes the audience Q&A an important part of the event. Questions can be asked during the
speech, in advance anonymously or via text anonymously during the talk.
Occupy Everything! Why It's Your World Right Now; How to
Claim Your Power, Rock Your Life and Truly Make A Difference
You could go up to any person in the world and say, "Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry about what
you're going through" and they would say, "Who told you?" The past few years have been challenging for all
of us but one could say that this is just part of being an adult. None of us will make it out alive. Nonetheless, we have
reasons to celebration. There has been a great deal of discussion about 2012 being the end of the world but Abiola says no,
this is just the beginning.
It is a lie and a gross misjudgement
to assume that because there is a black family in the White House that America is post-racial. But no matter your race, cultural
background or gender, there are specific tools to employ that will allow you not only to overcome and survive, but to achieve
and thrive.
Daughter of Guyanese immigrants, Abiola will present
a fun motivational talk filled with concrete advice and inspiring historical references on how to break through barriers and
smash glass ceilings. Never mind the odds and statistics. Odds mean nothing when you have nothing to lose but everything.
This is the moment where it would be more painful to remain closed tight in a bud than it would be to grow.
Last year we saw the overthrow of supposedly immovable powers worldwide. This
year there is an American presidential election. It is more important than ever that you stand up and be counted. You may
look at Big Media and feel powerless but you have more power than you can imagine. This is the time to Occupy Everything,
and Abiola will tell you how.
FUN, INSPIRATION & EMPOWERMENT
"dream bigger, love yourself, make your mess your message!"
PREPARE
YOUR AUDIENCE for a life-changing event! Abiola's informative and motivational talks include an interactive
blend of comedy, activism, talk show and inspirational storytelling. Audiences of all ages, cultures and
genders have been moved to tears, laughter and ACTION all the way.
ABIOLA'S SHORT FILMS & DOCS, daring and politically incorrect, yet socially
conscious include: KNIVES IN MY THROAT, about overcoming depression, OPHELIA'S OPERA, a
relationship violence revenge tale, STRANDED, a romantic comedy about gender and cultural
miscommunication, TABOO, about unmasking racial interactions,ALICIA IN WONDERLAND
& AFRODITE SUPERSTAR, about sexual empowermentand THE BLACK COUNT, about the questionable
comforts of victimhood.
All
content copyright Abiola Abrams, 2011. Plagiarism is considered intellectual property theft and will be prosecuted to the
fullest extent of the law.