Redefining Feminist Political Engagement: A Closer Look at Community Organizing Efforts

Feminist political engagement has historically taken many forms- from the polls to the streets – in the fight for social justice. Grassroots organizations and community organizers recognize the struggle for gender and racial justice often means working outside the bounds of existing institutions that perpetuate the marginalization of individuals, families, and their communities.

How do communities redefine political engagement and organize themselves to address the marginalization imposed by systems of power? What lessons can we learn from past and present autonomous organizing and social movements?

Our featured panelist, Edxie Betts, is a Black Blackfoot Filipina/Trans/Queer liberation artist and autonomous organizer. Their work is centered around advocating for non-white queer and trans communities.

Moderator, Roxanna (Rox) Curiel is a community organizer guided by reproductive justice values. Her work includes sexual and reproductive justice education, queer liberation, and supporting #chingalamigra efforts.

Edxie Betts

EDXIE BETTS is a Black Blackfoot Filipina/Trans/Queer liberation artist and autonomous organizer. Their work is centered around advocating for non-white queer and trans communities and bringing support and attention to political prisoners and restorative-mediation work. They emphasize art as cultural production for the sake of inspiring healing, political education, counter-narrative, oppositional alternatives, cultivating resistance through self-organizing and direct action.