In August of 2019, the West Side Indigenous Womxn and Womxn of Color Table (IWWOC) began discussing whether to change our Table’s name. These conversations have been ongoing and rooted in a commitment to dismantling anti-Blackness and racism in our communities.
In order to holistically advance our work in actively demolishing the dominant narrative and replacing it with our lived truths and realities, we stand firm in rejecting any disregard of or devaluing the experiences within the Black community.
It is for all of these reasons that we have decided to officially change our name to The West Side Black, Indigenous and Womxn of Color Table (BIWOC). With this decision we also want to be clear that deep conversation and learning doesn’t end with the name change. We’re committed to ongoing race and class work both within our Table and WSCO as a whole.
For those who wish to further understand our reasoning for this change, we invite you to check out the following resources.
Through generations, Black, Indigenous and Womxn of color have been the backbone of our families and neighborhoods. WSCO held its first Indigenous Women & Women of Color (IWWOC) gathering in February, 2018 to create a sacred, resilient space of ritual that aims for systemic advancement of IWWOC.
Going forward the purpose of the West Side BIWOC Table remains; to create a space where BIWOC can come together to build leadership, collective and personal power, healing justice, and thriving lives on the West Side and the region through training, education, and diving deeper into self. It is also a space where we actively demolish the dominant narrative and replace it with our lived truths and realities of West Side BIWOC.
BIWOC Calendar and Leadership Opportunities
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In September 2019, we hosted our Indigenous Womxn and Womxn of Color Dinner with Candidates. Our goal was to create a welcoming, intergenerational space for IWWOC across St. Paul to engage with IWWOC Candidates running for School Board and City Council, share values, and develop pathways to better supporting one another. |
Do you identify as BIWOC? Are you interested in joining our next dinner? It's typically every 3rd Thursday of the month at 5:30PM at the Baker Center. Please email arielm@wsco.org to confirm meeting dates or for more information.
Click here to join our Facebook Group!
BIWOC Events:
BIWOC Monthly Potluck Dinner