A collective of local artists and activists is encouraging unity among South Florida’s women through an event called LadyFest.
“As women, we are fragmented,” says Charo Valero, one of the event’s organizers. “The mothers, the straight women, women of faith, women of color, immigrants, women that only speak Spanish, we exist as fragmented pieces.”
LadyFest is a two-day event that will run Friday through Saturday in Wynwood. It will include workshops, performances and discussions surrounding women’s issues in Miami-Dade County.
Among the topics that will be discussed are reproductive justice, female sexuality, environmental problems and feminism.
Valero says LadyFest is about discovery and education. She says she hopes attendees will network and form bonds outside the two-day event.
To encourage these conversations, LadyFest will host “Speed Friending" moments. Similar to speed dating, attendees will have conversations with strangers before a buzzer goes off for them to move on to the next person.
The event will also include a clothes swap for people to either donate or pick out gently used clothes.
Charo says LadyFest will empower women to not only support one another, but to also become actively involved in key issues that affect women around South Florida.
“The idea of LadyFest was to create a space where we can all share our stories and not just have separate conversations,” she says.
The event kicks off Friday, with a mixer at the Light Box at Goldman Warehouse, 404 NW 26th St.
On Saturday, The LAB Miami, 400 NW 26th St., and Wynwood Café , 450 NW 27th St., will host workshops, panel discussions and performances.
For more information visit LadyFestMiami.com or email info@ladyfestmiami.org
LadyFest Miami from bonnelly films on Vimeo.
