The Black Church and Domestic Violence Institute

 
 "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray: Gender Based Violence, Stress-Related Health Complications and our Sacred Paths."
Feburary 18-20, 2011


The 2011 Institute - "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray:  Gender Based Violence, Stress-Related Health Complications and Our Sacred Paths",  marks the thirteenth year of offering culturally specific training, stimulating dialogue and organizational development for faith based advocates and others concerned about the lack of response of faith communities.  "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray" provides innovative, interactive training! 

This annual institute is committed to an appropriate response to violence against women of faith within their denominations, congregations and wider community. In our second decade as a national educational ministry, BCDVI affirms survivors' experiences, authentic voices and reality as an essential aspect of defining response strategies. 

Our work, in both the sacred and secular arena, is characterized by:  
  • Training faith based leaders in capacity building to develop an appropriate response
  • Encouraging partnership with compatible community initiatives
  • Collaborating with varied anti-oppression efforts to promote well being and human dignity

Past participants have identified the following "take-aways" from this gathering:

       1) Renewed sacred confidence to flourish within their ministries, mission and justice work

       2) Restored respect for others who work and collaborate to address violence against women

       3) A national base of supportive contacts for culturally-specific and gender-sensitive social action strategies



Session I  "Stepping Out On Faith" Institute 2011
Ideal for those who are planting (or founding) a new church start, or advocacy organization.  Designed to unleash the entrepreneurial spirit of transformation. These sessions will provide technical assistance and training to support a local, regional, national and multi-national vision for a community of faith. Some attention will be given to practical steps in organizational development and denominational structure, as well as sense of call. 


Session II  "Order My Steps" 
Institute 2011

Culturally competent Best Practices  for  sexual and domestic violence ministries. These sessions will prepare participants to integrate skills  which enhance the development of culturally competent coordinated community response teams, by including the faith community. Collective strategies for disarming challenging situations and resistance to women's organizing, while engaging multidisciplinary alliances.


Session III  "Never Would Have Made It" 
Institute 2011
Strategies for sustaining congregational efforts to address sexual and domestic violence.  These session will offer insights, lessons learned and "tried-and-true" courses of action from experienced leaders within faith communities and the secular movement to end violence against women.  This time will include opportunities to explore the dynamic of "alone-ness" (the wilderness experience) on the journey to inspire and engage the congregation.   


Session IV "Oh Happy Day" Institute 2011
The workshop brings together two very important education and advocacy texts; "Girl We Need to Talk" and "Why Won't She Leave?" for the first time. This session offers instruction on the use of these theatrical and dialogue tools to highlight the importance of black women's social and spiritual networks in the prevention of domestic violence (DV).


Session V "The Inherent Blessing" Institute 2011
This session is designed to lead participants through a series of creative and experiential exercises to release the burden and impact of boundary violations.


Plenary
Plenary sessions are both presentational and arts-based, experiential. Additionally, training topics will assist participants in accessing systems of accountability, in addition to communities of faith, and developing effective alliances in ending violence against women.


Topics addressed within the three tracks were chosen and derived from the following:
  • Gender-Based Violence: 101 
  • Surviving Child Sexual Abuse
  • Sexual Assault
  • "Looks-ism"
  • Anti-Racism
  • Economic Oppression
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Issues in Later Life
  • Women in Ministry, "The Glass Ceiling" 
Be a blessing
To donate a scholarship and support the attendance of individual participant(s), contact BCDVI for a confidential Paypal link.  Contact us.

Continuing Education
CEU’s are available through the National Association of Social Workers.


The Black Church and Domestic Violence Institute
3645 Marketplace Boulevard, Suite 130-375
East Point, Georgia 30344
(770) 909-0715 ph
(770) 907-4069 fax
bcdvorg@aol.com