Finding Our Voice
When did you find your voice? What was the lead-up, the catalyst, the moment you decided to identify as an activist and speak up for change? As the girl who spent most of her youth bright red every time she spoke in front of a group, I had to work to find mine. When I talk about “voice,” I specifically mean my young voice, my ability to speak my mind, raise my hand in class, challenge my friends, and present in public. This formed the foundation of my adult voice as a leader and community builder unafraid of authenticity. As you get to know me, you will come to realize that I always have something to say. However, the act of letting other people hear what I’m thinking used to be terrifying. The gendered conditioning of my body and mind is a concept that I can comprehend now. Speaking my truth has become an act of resistance that works to uproot the patriarchy. My voice carries on the work of early suffragists, civil rights activists, multiple waves of feminists, and, as the t-shirt says, “the ancestors of the witches you couldn’t burn.”
A significant shift for me was the moment I decided to perform. There was an audition request at a bus stop for The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler. It was during this time that I came to understand the importance of self-identifying as a survivor. Despite how difficult it was for me to audition and willingly take to the stage, joining a group of women and gender-nonconforming folks to inhabit narratives of historically silenced women became a collective journey of reclaiming power, including my own. From then on, it was easier to use my voice. I share this pivotal moment in my history to encourage you to get involved, whether you’re finding your own voice or want to help others reclaim theirs. One way to participate with the JRPC is to join us as we restart First Fridays. On Friday, September 3rd, we will be back to hosting artists, musicians, and neighbors—honoring the counterculture of our origin, the subversive artists and activists who were adamant as they repainted a radio tower with the emblem of peace. In the decades since, the meanings of peace, nonviolence, and direct action have shifted. Please join us as we explore the nuance and creative response to what those concepts mean now in our community. Save the date, and please reach out if you are interested in getting involved! We look forward to supporting a stage where more of our voices can be heard.
Author: Jacqueline Flewellen | Peace Center Director