Paradigm Shift: New York City’s Feminist Community

Use the “F” word.
Change NYC. Change the World.

Mission Statement: We foster a thriving, active, diverse, and expanding feminist community with the purpose of self-expression and coalition building, creating a shift in social, political, and economic consciousness.

Paradigm Shift is the New York City metro-area’s critically acclaimed and largest feminist community group and event series.  We host lectures, discussions, screenings, and performances featuring leaders in feminist thought, ranging from artists and academics to filmmakers and policy activists. TimeOut New York named Paradigm Shift “Critics’ Pick” on 12 occasions, an unprecedented honor among progressive organizations.

In June 2009, Paradigm Shift launched Paradigm Shift TV, the pioneering online feminist video channel, and a blog featuring editorials, personal essays, reviews, exclusive interviews and poetry. Paradigm Shift supports the community by providing a platform for political/personal/creative expression, marketing, project support, networking, and monetary donations to feminist non-profits.

Paradigm Shift is a 501(c)4 non-profit organization, has a membership of over 3,400 and has partnerships with over 95 progressive organizations and media outlets.

Paradigm Shift was founded in March 2007 by Meredith Villano, Activist & Interactive Media Executive & Lisa A. Snyder, Web Designer. Paradigm Shift has a dedicated and passionate volunteer staff.

Everyone’s connection to feminism is a very personal one. We’ll tell you our stories, and we want to hear yours.

“Paradigm Shift is situated to be at the center of feminist organizing for this new era of activism. It is now the place I go for information on all things feminist in New York City.”
- Michael Kimmel, PhD: Sociologist, Author, Paradigm Shift’s “Feminist Men: Increasing Visibility” panelist and “Guyland: The Perilous World Where Boys Become Men” featured lecturer

“I first worked with Paradigm Shift in 2009 for a screening of “I Had an Abortion”, a doc I made with Gillian Aldrich. The event was intimate, political, comfortable, and perfectly curated – from the venue, to the bookseller (Bluestockings), to the diverse feminist crowd. Now I can’t believe I lived 16 years in NYC without Paradigm Shift. I love the events, the community, and the mission!”
- Jennifer Baumgardner, Activist, Author & Filmmaker

“Paradigm Shift is on the cutting edge of our feminist community. Committed to inspired outreach, their programs are a gift to the common good and women everywhere.  Meredith Villano is an extraordinary and imaginative director who galvanizes discussion and activism.  I am grateful my play, Dangerous Territory, was produced by Paradigm Shift for a splendidly diverse audience, followed by a deep-reaching conversation led by Jamia Wilson.”
- Clare Coss, Playwright, Psychotherapist & Activist

“Vital and brilliant, generous and bold, Meredith Villano and her allies assure us all a feminist future — highlighted by justice, freedom, friendship and the best festivities!!!”
- Blanche Wiesen Cook, John Jay College & The Graduate Center, CUNY
Author, Eleanor Roosevelt vols I, II, III forthcoming

“An excellent way to be heard and meet other people interested in making a difference.”
- Christina Berkley, Paradigm Shift community member

“Good for the feminist soul.”
- Laura Joy, Paradigm Shift community member & featured musician turned staff volunteer

“Thank you so much for having this event. I found it intriguing, touching, and I thoroughly enjoyed being surrounded by such informed, knowledgeable, talented, and creative human beings. You where all amazing and beautiful……….unique, courageous.”
- Kris, attendee- Artist Showcase: Celebrating the Work of Feminist Artists 4/21/10

“Absolutely wonderful. The talent was so great and my hope is that their voices get heard by broader and broader audiences. Thanks for putting this together!!”
- Lauren, attendee- Artist Showcase: Celebrating the Work of Feminist Artists 4/21/10

“The energy in that room was amazing! Definitely an event I will remember.”
- Jennifer Ortiz, attendee- Artist Showcase: Celebrating the Work of Feminist Artists 4/21/10

“I had an awesome time… thanks again for having me! it felt amazing to be able to perform in such a warm atmosphere, and glad to have met some new friends ”
- Chantilly Waryck, Paradigm Shift featured musician- Artist Showcase: Celebrating the Work of Feminist Artists 4/21/10

“Outstanding meetup. I was really, really impressed by all the speakers.  I would say that the openness and compassion that ran through the views presented in this meetup were wholly feminist.”
-Ayres Terry, attendee- Sex Work & Human Rights: Feminist Advocacy Strategies 3/30/10

“This talk was awesome! Great job!”
- Lisa Fabrega, attendee- ‘The Purity Myth: How America’s Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women’ a Discussion with Jessica Valenti, Author & Feministing.com Founder/Editor 2/23/10

“This event was excellent! Kudos to Paradigm Shift and Jessica”
- David Benzaquen, attendee- ‘The Purity Myth: How America’s Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women’ a Discussion with Jessica Valenti, Author & Feministing.com Founder/Editor 2/23/10

“A thought provoking and vulnerable film followed by a panel of powerhouses. A great experience.”
- Christina Berkley, attendee- Sex. Consent. Power. Pleasure.  ”The Line” film screening & panel 12/1/09

“Met some really nice people…had some, INTERESTING conversations!”
- Colleen O’Leary, attendee- Progressive Single Mingle: A Cocktail Party for the Left-Leaning 11/19/09

“It was a great panel and an awesome way to be in the company of like-minded people. It can be hard to meet up with others for the sake of discussing feminism, let alone feminist men, and this was really great. I look forward to the next event.”
- Aviva Jaye Mitchell, attendee- Feminist Men: Increasing Visibility 8/19/09

“Fantastic!”
- Sally, attendee- “The Sari Soldiers” Documentary Screening & Discussion with Filmmaker Julie Bridgham 7/22/09

“This was a wonderful event- a nice discussion and respectful atmosphere.”
- Erin Byrnes, Paradigm Shift community member turned volunteer staffer after attending Roe vs. Wade Anniversary “I Had An Abortion” Documentary Screening & Discussion with Filmmakers Jennifer Baumgardner, Gillian Aldrich 1/21/09

“Really an inspiring/inspired evening – I’m very glad I found this group ”
- K Peaceweaver, attendee- Feminist Entrepreneurship: No Glass Ceiling to Smash and Open Mic 1/25/08

* EVENT LIST BELOW *

Contact:

Community Event Postings & Blog submissions:
blog@paradigmshiftnyc.com
Partnerships:
jweis@paradigmshiftnyc.com
Sponsorships & Event Speaker Booking:
meredith@paradigmshiftnyc.com
General Membership inquiries & Artist Showcase Sign Up:
ljoy@paradigmshiftnyc.com

Volunteer Staff:

Meredith Villano, Co-Founder and Director
meredith@paradigmshiftnyc.com

Meredith Villano is Co-Founder and Director of Paradigm Shift: NYC’s Feminist Community and has been a passionate feminist activist and organizer for over 15 years. Currently, she promulgates the feminist perspective through media and events.

She has worked for several production/media companies including Michael Moore’s production company, New York Times Television, and ABC. Meredith served as Director of Business Development at Magnet Media Inc. for over four years, establishing and developing new revenue streams, business and strategic relationships with clients such as Sundance Film Festival, National Association of Broadcasters, Apple, Adobe, Microsoft, HP, and Goodby Silverstein & Partners. She also worked in theater as a director, playwright, actor, and stage manager. Meredith was President of the Rutgers University Chapter of National Organization for Women, coordinated a NJ state-wide conference for International Women’s Day, wrote and edited a feminist column as Women’s Issues Editor for a Rutgers University/ Douglass College newspaper, and defended an abortion clinic for several years. Meredith was selected from thousands as one of Douglass College’s “Women of Strength” for her activist work, academics and leadership. She earned a BA, graduating with high honors, in Communication from Douglass College, Rutgers University minoring in Women’s Studies and Cinema Studies.

Meredith was selected by The Feminist Press as an honoree, “40 Under 40: The Future of Feminism”, September 2010. Meetup.com invited her to speak on the success and mission of Paradigm Shift at the Personal Democracy Conference, the world’s largest conference on the intersection of technology and politics in New York City, June 2009.  The National Association of Professional Women, an organization with over 200,000 members, honored her as “VIP Woman of The Year 2009/2010” in the non-profit category.  Prior to launching Paradigm Shift, Meredith was honored with a Congressional Award for Community Service for her leadership and dedication to the empowerment of women and girls.

Lastly, Meredith is a woman who loves and truly appreciates tangential stories, loud laughter, PBS, the sound of crickets, and a great eggplant parm.

Julia K. Weis, Community Outreach Coordinator
jweis@paradigmshiftnyc.com

Julia Weis is the Community Outreach Coordinator for Paradigm Shift: NYC’s Feminist Community and has been passionate about feminism ever since her fifth grade boyfriend dumped her the week before the school dance. During her college years at New York University, studying English literature, Creative Writing and Gender & Sexuality, she served as the Editorial Assistant at Magnet Media, where she met Meredith (co-founder of Paradigm Shift) and eventually joined the PShift team.

For a time Julia worked as a Features Reporter for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, covering topics as diverse as the 2008 election, community supported agriculture, development work in Kenya, prominent Brooklyn-based photographers and authors, as well as issues affecting the religious community. She currently earns her keep as a travel journalist and admits that life ain’t that bad.

Erin Byrnes, Community Expansion Coordinator
ebyrnes@paradigmshiftnyc.com

Erin is the Community Expansion Coordinator for Paradigm Shift, reaching out to people of all ages and backgrounds to ignite a passion for Feminism!
In 2007, Erin graduated from the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women’s and Gender Studies.  Her time spent mentoring young women in Detroit and working with women in prison inspired her to become a New York City Teaching Fellow, and in 2008, she moved to Brooklyn to pursue a Master’s degree and a career as a special education teacher.  French fries, all things vintage, discussions about gender politics, reading, writing and traveling are among Erin’s top interests.  She is thrilled to be a part of Paradigm Shift, and looks forward to increasing the visibility of NYC Feminists!

Shetal Shah, Digital Media Supervisor
sshah@paradigmshiftnyc.com

Shetal spent many years behind the camera as a filmmaker before becoming a performer. A Maggie Flanigan Studios graduate, Shetal Shah is an actor, performance poet, filmmaker, educator and human rights activist. Shetal is the 2005 South Asian Media Awards Best Actress recipient for her role in Arya and is the host and co-producer of the hip TV show, INScene. Shetal’s favorite theatre credits: Raeda Wazzan, Truth Be Told (Ensemble Studio Theatre), Priya, Caitlin and the Swan (The Management), Barsha (credited as originating the role), Barsha Badal (Spork Festival), Angelo, The Comedy of Errors (Capital Classics Theatre) Favorite Film credits: Loins of Punjab Presents, Arya and Butterfly Screams (Lincoln Center).Favorite TV credits: The Daily Show and VH1 Denmark. Shetal is a native New Yorker and first generation Indian. She performs her poetry throughout New York City, most recently at Lincoln Center and the Bowery Poetry Club.

Rebecca Marcus, Digital Media Specialist
rmarcus@paradigmshiftnyc.com

Becca is the Digital Media Specialist for Paradigm Shift TV. In 2008, she graduated from Vassar College with a major in Media Studies and a correlate in Women’s Studies. Becca did her senior thesis on “Gender in the Media” where she remixed the 1992 film Pretty Woman into a horror film trailer. She spent a year teaching classes at an Apple store and is now a freelance video editor. Becca is Program Coordinator at The Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership, a non profit that provides professional development for women. She is passionate about media literacy, female empowerment, and building forts.

Caitlin Grant, Staff Blogger
Caitlin is a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her major is Spanish and her minor is African American Studies. Caitlin has served as the communications chair for the University of Virginia’s Feminism is for Everyone group, written for and helped produced two Virginia feminist ‘zines, volunteered for and participated in Take Back the Night, and collaborated with the University of Virginia’s Minority Rights Coalition by giving seminars on feminism to fraternities and sororities. She’s a big fan of bell hooks and her favorite feminist topics include reproductive justice, masculinity, and eradication of rape culture. She is very excited to work with Paradigm Shift.

Rosalind Kichler, Staff Blogger
Rosalind Kichler is a first-year student at New College of Florida in Sarasota. She is hoping to concentrate in Literature with a minor in Gender Studies. Her feminist career began at age 5 when she told the cashier at her local supermarket that he couldn’t give her a pink balloon just because she was a girl; he had to ask her what color she wanted. Rosalind hopes to become a full-time journalist in the future.

Allyn Gaestel, Staff Blogger
Allyn Gaestel brings her experience with international feminist movements to her current role as staff writer for Paradigm Shift. She has worked in clinical maternal and reproductive health in Democratic Republic of Congo and Senegal; social empowerment for sex workers in Senegal; rural poverty alleviation for women in Mali; sexual violence in Democratic Republic of Congo; harm reduction for women in the United States and she is a trained doula. She also is a United Nations correspondent and the women’s news liaison for MediaGlobal, a development news agency, and a freelance writer.

Cristina Dominquez, Staff Blogger
Cristina Dominguez received her BA in Criminal Justice from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is currently a second year graduate student and teaching associate in the Women’s Studies Program at San Diego State University.

During her undergraduate career, Cristina began her feminist and LGBTQ activism through her participation and leadership roles in various organizations including the Gender Excellence Learning Community, Feminist Union and OUTspoken, an LGBTQ speaker series. Her graduate career thus far has led her to be involved with SDSU’s Safe Zones program, research with Dr. Cayleff on Hoover high school’s Young Women’s Studies club, as well as co-authoring a book review with second year and first year students. Currently her research interest involves examining the use of poetry in the queer social movement in South Africa and the ways in which this medium propels the journey of the movement, the activists involved, and the poets. After graduating with her MA in 2011, Cristina plans to pursue a career as a feminist and queer activist, writer, and poet while working for a feminist non-profit or non-government organization.

Carly Dashiell, Blog Supervisor

Carly is a student in the CUNY Baccalaureate Program for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies, where she is concentrating in Power and Social Stratification in the U.S. (focusing largely on divisions of gender, sexuality, and race).  She is passionate about gender and queer politics, feminist outreach, and good books.

Michelle Gonzalez, Blog Supervisor
Michelle is a junior at Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. She is double majoring in gender studies and cross-cultural studies. She is the president of the women’s center at Simon’s Rock, has interned at the Feminist Women’s Health Center in Atlanta, and has her own blog which focuses on reproductive justice issues. Michelle has also spent time traveling throughout Europe doing an independent research project on pro-choice activism and barriers to abortion access in Poland, Germany, and the Netherlands. She loves traveling, reading Judith Butler, watching movies in bed, and eating frozen yogurt.

Laura Joy, Membership Coordinator
ljoy@paradigmshiftnyc.com

Charlotte Longworth, Outreach Coordinator
clongworth@paradigmshiftnyc.com

Daniel Todercan, Volunteer Video Editor
Daniel is an international student from Chisinau, Moldova; graduated in Alaska BA in Soc. Sciences; studying for Master’s of Arts in International Affairs at the New School University here in New York City. He is passionate about current affairs, photography and video editing.

Liza Lopez, Event Caterer
President and Chef of Tastee Vegan
llopez@paradigmshiftnyc.com

Sarah Friend, Event Volunteer

Volunteers 2007-2009:

Lisa A. Snyder, Co-Founder
Lisa A. Snyder is co-founder of Paradigm Shift: NYC’s Feminist Community and was part of the volunteer staff as Art Director of Paradigm Shift from March 2007 – April 2009. She has been passionate about computers, art, and music her entire life. She is the daughter of CBS Television’s 1988 Emmy Award winner Michael J. Snyder, who was accredited as engineering such shows as the Evening News with Dan Rather & Connie Chung, US Open, and NFL Today, among others. In 1992, her father introduced her to the web on the computer they shared and four years later began building websites. She is a Cum Laude graduate of Syracuse University’s School of Visual and Performing Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Computer Graphics. She is now one of the top web designers in the New York City and Philadelphia. With over 13 years of experience, she has headed the re-design, coordination and maintenance process of over 75 websites and 250 e-mail marketing campaigns (including Constant Contact, Intellicontact and Mail Chimp). With her creative designs and marketing guidance, she has brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars in new business opportunities in addition to greater online exposure for her clients.

Stephanie Allred, Membership Coordinator
Stephanie graduated from the (all-women) College of Notre Dame of Maryland in Baltimore in 2006 with a double major in English and Spanish, and spent a gap year traveling in Europe, Asia, and the subcontinent before earning a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in 2008, with an emphasis on postcolonialism and globalization. She is an avid Couch surfer, loves to cook, dance, and subvert gender norms. She now works in non-profit development.

Shae Smith, Web & Print Designer
Shae has helped to launch Paradigm Shift TV and manages Paradigm Shift’s Blog. She graduated from Smith College in 2008 with a B.A. in computer science. Out of college, she worked for Conde Nast Publications on their Online Marketing team as a Technology Analyst. She now works for Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions on their Data Analytics team. Shae was raised in Brooklyn. She lives in Bed Stuy and on her free time she works on building her web design portfolio.

Morgan Otto-Berglund, Summer Intern 2009
Morgan Otto-Berglund is a student at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts.  Morgan’s major at Smith is the Study of Women and Gender with an emphasis in Queer Studies.  She has also studied women’s involvement in history, literature, and current social issues, as well as having an academic interest in studies of peace and conflict.  She will be completing her B.A. in May of 2010.  Morgan began her women’s studies career at Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, but her passion for feminism and equality is deeply rooted in her relationship with her mother, who instilled in Morgan feminist values and concepts at an early age.  Her feminist consciousness also developed, in part, as a reaction to her upbringing in conservative, rural Nebraska, where she spent the first 18 years of her life.

Sarah Carter, Business Manager
scarter@paradigmshiftnyc.com

Winnie Yung, Volunteer/ Feminist Under 18

EVENT LIST

•  8/3/11- SHAMELESS KARAOKE with The New Agenda, Soapbox Inc, Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership, Women’s Media Center, The Feminist Press, Manhattan Young Democrats, National Organization for Women NYC, NARAL Pro-Choice New York, Women’s eNews

•  7/6/11- NOT DEAD YET film screening and discussion featuring Susan Hess Logeais, Writer/ Producer/ Star, and Yana Walton, Media Activist & VP of Communications, Women’s Media Center.  TimeOut NY’s Critics Pick (our 12^th honor).

•  6/16/11- YOU’RE NOT ALONE: STRENGTHENING LGBTQ COMMUNITY & ALLIES Free interactive webinar commissioned by Berkeley College featuring Yana Walton, Women’s Media Center & Former GLAAD Southern Media Field Strategist.

•  5/19/11- DANGEROUS TERRITORY a one-women play about Mary White Ovington, Co-Founder NAACP dramatic reading by playwright Clare Coss with a discussion moderated by Jamia Wilson, VP of Programs at the Women’s Media Center.   TimeOut NY’s Critics Pick.

•  4/20/11- MARRIAGE:  PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE a lecture and discussion featuring Elizabeth Abbott, bestselling author “A History of Marriage” moderated by Cathy Marino-Thomas, Board President, Marriage Equality New York.  TimeOut NY’s Critics Pick.

•  3/17/11- FROM VIOLENCE TO EMPOWERMENT: COMBATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. Free interactive webinar commissioned by Berkeley College featuring Quentin Walcott, Director CONNECT Training Institute & Community Empowerment Programs.

•  1/5/11- LOWER EAST SIDE FEMINIST TAKEOVER POST-HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR with Soapbox Inc. Speakers Who Speak Out and Feministing.

•  12/9/10- “F-WORD: FEMINISM, FUNNY & FEARLESS!  A FUNDRAISER FOR PARADIGM SHIFT” an evening of comedy and performance hosted by the infamous Abbi Crutchfield, (MTV, NBC Stand-Up For Diversity Finalist) & Jen Dziura (Williamsburg Spelling Bee, McSweeney’s) Co-founders of New York’s all-female Ladybits Comedy! Featuring Performances by Jessica Delfino, comedian (Publicly denounced by the US Catholic League);  Leah King, writer-performer “Hey, You. Can I Get A Smile?”, her one-woman show about street harassment fuses music, dance, and spoken word; and Hadiyah Robinson, comedian, finalist in the NBC Stand-Up For Diversity, performances on BET’s “Comic View” and “One Mic Stand”.  TimeOut NY’s Critics’ Pick- our 9th honor.  Over 56 attended.

•  10/2/10- “CREATING INTRA- AND INTERPERSONAL PARADIGM SHIFTS” a workshop presented at “Performing the World 2010: Can Performance Change the World?” 9/30-10/3/10 by Meredith Villano, PS Co-Founder/Director; Shetal Shah, PS Digital Media Supervisor; Laura Joy, PS Membership Coordinator.

•  8/18/10- BODY TYPED Short Films on Perfection 
Screening & Discussion with Jesse Epstein, Sundance Award-Winning Filmmaker. Over 89 attended. TimeOut NY Critics’ Pick- our 8^th honor.

•  7/14/10- “GUYLAND: THE PERILOUS WORLD WHERE BOYS BECOME MEN” 
Lecture and Discussion featuring 
Dr. Michael Kimmel, PhD, Author & Sociologist, among the leading researchers and writers on men and masculinity in the world today. Moderated by Shelby Knox, nationally known feminist organizer & subject of the Sundance award-winning film, “The Education of Shelby Knox”. TimeOut NY Critics Pick. Over 145 attended.

•  6/9/10- PARADIGM SHIFT, FEMINISTING, and SOAPBOX INC. 
Proudly Present 
A LOWER EAST SIDE FEMINIST TAKEOVER - Celebrate as the Lower East Side officially becomes The Feminist District! Happy Hour at Gallery Bar. Over 75 attended.

•  4/21/10- ARTIST SHOWCASE: CELEBRATING THE WORK OF FEMINIST ARTISTS hosted by Laura Joy, Acoustic Folk Pop & Membership Coordinator, Paradigm Shift. Featuring, Bastet “Belly Dance For Change”,Experimental belly dance troupe; Barnacle Bill, Folk / Soul / Reggae; Chantilly, Singer-Songwriter; Jennifer Ortiz, Spoken Word Poet; Julia Weldon, Folk Indie Rock; Katina Douveas, Spoken Word Poet; Ms.India.M, R&B, Soul / Jazz / Alternative; Twilight of The Idle, Queer Cabaret Wordrock; Amy Mitten Photography. Sold out house.

•  3/30/10- SEX WORK & HUMAN RIGHTS: FEMINIST ADVOCACY STRATEGIES Panel Discussion and Screening featuring: Sienna Baskin, Esq., Staff Attorney, Sex Workers Project at the Urban Justice Center; Christina Cicchelli, Columnist, $pread magazine; Maryse Mitchell-Brody, Co-Founder, Sex Workers Action New York (SWANK); Audacia Ray, International Women’s Health Coalition & co-founder of Sex Work Awareness; Will Rockwell, Editor, $pread magazine; Screening of “Sangram: Sex Worker Organizing In India”a collaboration between the International Women’s Health Coalition and SANGRAM; moderated by Melissa Gira Grant,External Relations Officer, Third Wave Foundation & freelance writer. Portion of the proceeds donated to Sex Workers Project. TimeOut NY Critics’ Pick.  Over 53 attended.

•  2/23/10- “THE PURITY MYTH: HOW AMERICA’S OBSESSION WITH VIRGINITY IS HURTING YOUNG WOMEN” A Discussion with Jessica Valenti, Author & Feministing.com Founder and Editor. Portion of proceeds donated to Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. TimeOut NY Criticsʼ Pick. Over 110 attended- sold out.

• 12/1/09- SEX. CONSENT. POWER. PLEASURE. “The Line” Documentary Screening & Panel discussion.  Featuring: Nancy Schwartzman, Filmmaker, Erin Burrows, Students Active For Ending Rape, Joseph Samalin, Men Can Stop Rape, Campus Strength Coordinator, Ignacio Rivera, Sex educator, Organizer & Performance Artist. Portion of the proceeds donated to The Line Campaign and SAFER. TimeOutNY Critics’ Pick.  Over 85 attended.

• 11/19/09- PROGRESSIVE SINGLE MINGLE: A COCKTAIL PARTY FOR THE LEFT-LEANING. Raffle Sponsors include: Rubin Museum, Jivamukti Yoga school, Brooklyn Museum, Bluestockings,Tastee Vegan. Supported by the Planned Parenthood of New York CityActivistCouncil, NARAL Pro-Choice NY, NOW NYS Young Feminist Task Force, The Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership.  TimeOutNY Critics’ Pick.  Over 30 attended.

• 11/2/09- NARAL’s Pro-Choice Election Phone Banks- Co-sponsored by Paradigm Shift

• 10/29/09- “AMELIA” Film Screening & Discussion

• 10/11/09- NATIONAL EQUALITY MARCH for LGBTQ rights in Washington, DC.  Paradigm Shift was a part of the NYC National Equality March Mobilization Coalition.

• 9/23/09- “FIGHT FOR YOUR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS: HOW YOU CAN HELP PASS THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACT” co-sponsored by NYCLU, featuring Corinne Carey, Interim director, Reproductive Rights Project, New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), Rev. Matthew Westfox, National Coordinator for Field Services at Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice & Associate, Pastor at All Souls Bethlehem Church, Dr. Carol Roye, EdD, RN, CPNP, researcher in reproductive health, Jenn Proulx, Filmmaker of “Another New Yorker for the Reproductive Health Act”.  Over 25 attended.

• 8/19/09- “FEMINIST MEN: INCREASING VISIBILITY”. Featuring Dr. Michael Kimmel, one of the leading researchers and writers on men and masculinity, Vinnie Angel, purveyor of social justice consumer products, Robert Brannon, Co- Founder NOMAS, Jerin Alam, NOW NYS YFTF,Ben Siegel, former VP Hunter Women’s Rights Coalition.  TimeOut NY Critics’ Pick. Over 80 attended.

• 7/22/09- “THE SARI SOLDIERS” documentary screening & discussion with Julie Bridgham, Filmmaker.  Portion of proceeds to Sari Soldiers Outreach Fund

• 6/17/09- PARADIGM SHIFT TV & BLOG LAUNCH & LGBTQ PRIDE PARTY featuring Rickie Gal, Jennifer Friedman, Inky Glass, and Phoenix

• 4/1/09- WOMEN & RELIGIOUS EQUALITY with Leora Tanenbaum, Author “Taking Back God: American Women Rising Up for Religious Equality”- lecture and discussion. Portion of proceeds to Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual.  22 attended.

• 3/7/09- MICHFEST HALF-WAY SOIREE, a benefit for Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival featuring local and internationally renown talent such as singer/songwriter Pamela Means, Amber Darland, and Juliana Marx.

• 1/21/09- ROE VS. WADE ANNIVERSARY DOCUMENTARY SCREENING OF “I HAD AN ABORTION” AND DISCUSSION with JENNIFER BAUMGARDNER, Activist, Author, Filmmaker, GILLIAN ALDRICH, Filmmaker, and women featured in the film. Portion of proceeds to NY Abortion Access Fund.  74 attended.

• 1/14/09- ARE YOU FINANCIALLY SECURE: WOMEN & FINANCES WORKSHOP by Tanya Osborne, Independent Financial Services Professional at Primerica Financial Services

• 11/19/08- FEMINISM & MOTHERHOOD WITH AMY RICHARDS, Activist & Author “Opting In: Having a Child Without Losing Yourself”, lecture and discussion. Portion of proceeds to New Space for Women’s Health.  Over 25 attended

• 9/23/08- OPEN MIC with Special Guest Pauline Delage, French Feminist Scholar

• 8/1/08- “FEMINAZI” Off-Broadway One Women Comedy by Suzanne Willett & Panel discussion featuring S. Willett, Alexandra Zimmermann and Nichole Casamento of Younger Women’s Task Force- NYC Chapter, & Paradigm Shift Co-Founder, Meredith Villano

• 5/29/08- THE REAL SEX IN THE CITY: SEXUALITY WORKSHOP by Ducky Doolittle, Author & Sexual Health Advocate

• 5/8/08- ECOFEMINISM WITH MARTI KHEEL Ph.D., Author & Scholar “Nature Ethics: An Ecofeminist Perspective”- lecture and discussion

• 3/28/08- FROM VIOLENCE TO EMPOWERMENT featuring NYC’s Radical Cheerleaders

• 3/1/08- MICHFEST HALF-WAY SOIREE, a benefit for Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival.Featuring local and internationally renown talent such as singer/songwriter Nedra Johnson, poet Staceyann Chin, Filthy, and Laura Joy.  TimeOutNY’s Critics’ Pick. 110 attended.

• 1/25/08- FEMINIST ENTREPRENEURSHIP: NO GLASS CEILING TO SMASH featuring Annmarie Agosta, MSW specializing in Holistic Psychotherapy and LGBT issues.

• 12/7/07- ABORTION SPEAK OUT AND OPEN MIC

• 6/07- BUSHWICK ARTIST OPEN STUDIOS- ROOFTOP OPEN MIC

• 3/07- PARADIGM SHIFT LAUNCH EVENT- Body Image/ Self-Love- Open Mic

ParadigmShiftNYC.com content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.  Work can be copied or distributed with author’s credit and a link to the post.  The opinions expressed by Paradigm Shift bloggers do not reflect the opinions of Paradigm Shift: NYC’s Feminist Community as a whole or as an organization, however some of us may passionately agree.