Peri/Menopause Poetry Readings
Wednesday 18th August 2021, 6:30pm – 8pm
Zoom Event
Perimenopause and Menopause are not usual open topics to discuss at the dinner table. Furthermore, in South Asian communities, there are limited safe spaces in cultural and diverse languages where women can get information about it or talk about it. As something that nearly all women will be likely to experience at some point in their lives, we would like to create space to acknowledge the challenges, tell the stories and connect in solidarity, too.
This is the follow on event from the Poetry Workshop on Wed 11th August, where those going through the Menopause joined in solidarity to write about their experiences.
This poetry reading will be about the participants sharing their poems (anonymously) with an audience and together we raise awareness of a topic which may affect nearly all women at some point in their lives. This event will be hosted by Rahila Hussain and Masira Hans (Women’s Health Network). This event is open to all.
The Women’s Health Network are a well-established collective of people living and working in Bradford with a shared interest in the health and well-being of women and their families – with a particular focus on under-represented communities. They have previously set up ‘Menopause Cafe’s’ across Bradford to make awareness of the topic in an unstructured and open space to enable safe discussions, with those who experience it, their friends, families and colleagues, too.
MASIRA HANS:
Masira is current chair of the Women’s Health Network, has a background in community engagement and development. She is passionate about reducing inequalities, destigmatising attitudes and ensuring equity across services, all whilst providing a platform for the voices of under-represented communities to be heard!
RAHILA HUSSAIN:
Rahila is a teacher, winner of ITV1 food glorious food and co ordinator of Careleavers Christmas Dinner Bradford as well as being a writer. She loves to encourage people to tell tender tales which bring light onto difficult and taboo subjects. Rahila believes sharing and exchanging words in a safe space allows women to explore feelings, changes to their bodies and lives which gives voice to verse.
SHARENA LEE SATTI:
Sharena Lee Satti is a published poet and spoken word performer. A talented artist whose work touches people from all walks of life, Sharena has collaborated with numerous artists and organisations and was nominated for the British Indian Awards, 2020. She recently co-founded ‘Spoke’ a poetry organisation that facilitates workshops and events in and around the city. Her inspiring words have been inscribed on park benches in Bradford to uplift local residents on their lockdown walks. Nominated for the British Indian Awards in 2020 and as one of the ’21 of 2021′ creatives most likely to impact Bradford’s cultural scene, Sharena is a familiar voice on local and national radio. Her poetry collection She was published by Verve poetry press in 2020. Her work focuses on social and environmental issues.
https://www.sharenaleesatti.com/
For more information about Bradford South Asian Heritage Month:
Find all BradfordSAHM 2021 online & in person events here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/bradford-south-asian-heritage-month-30785009084
See this link for a flavour of BradfordSAHM 2021: https://asianstandard.co.uk/bradford-south-asian-heritage-month-kicks-off-this-saturday-with-both-live-and-virtual-events/
Find all radio programmes for BradfordSAHM 2020/2021 here: https://www.bcbradio.co.uk/projects/south-asian-heritage-month-2020/
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