VVJ: BLACK LIVES MATTER
Racism, Anti-Blackness, homophobia, transphobia and sexism are an ongoing battles that are being experienced in America, Canada and the rest of the world. We all have a lot of work to do in the ongoing fight for equality and will compile a list of resources to help you support, donate, educate and take action to help you wherever you may be in your continued unlearning/relearning process.
As an organization that is founded by non Black and Latinx people we acknowledge our ongoing need to question and reflect on how we navigate practicing our ballroom scene here in Vancouver, BC. We know we do not have all the answers and are always looking to be better. We are always seeking and open to how we can better support the Queer/Trans Black and Brown folks that founded the culture we love and share through VVJ.
In the meantime please look at:
Resources for non-Black folks to support the Black community in Canada
How you can support
Please feel free to email us with more links.
Join us at 8:00pm PDT on ZOOM LIVE for a special discussion with guest speaker Felix Rodriguez about the current climate of unrest with the racism that is happening in the world.
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/7144226687
Meeting ID: 714-422-6687
Subscribe to our newsletter or send us an email to access Zoom meeting’s password.
All donations for the month of June will be donated to Black Lives Organizations. Donations can be sent through e-transfer or PayPal to info@vanvoguejam.com or through our DONATE button on the website.
Questions?
Email info@vanvoguejam.com, we are here to help.
About Felix:
Felix Rodriguez, an artist trained in several disciplines including dramatic writing, directing, and producing, has over 25 years of video production experience. He received his Masters of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and has worked as a camera operator, editor, producer, and director for non-profit organizations and with networks such as f/X, WNET, Bravo, NBC and ABC.
His award-winning and critically acclaimed docu-drama One Moment In Time starring Hector Xtravaganza has been featured in film and video festivals worldwide. It was screened at Cornell University’s “Queer Latinidad” course as part of its curriculum. The short film was raved about in the Village Voice, and analyzed in Alisa Lebow and Marcos Becquer’s article published in The Ethnic Eye/Latino Media Arts edited by Chon Noriega and Ana Lopez.
Other projects include: La Bruja: A Witch from the Bronx (Director) premiered at the NY International Latino Film Festival, Dreams Deferred: The Sakia Gunn Film Project (Editor) premiered at the NewFest film festival, Pandoras (Editor) a multi-media theater presentation on Theater Row and Status is Everything (Director/Editor) a campaign that promoted getting tested for HIV by Newark, New Jersey’s African American Office of Gay Concerns.