The mission of streets.mn is to expand and enhance the conversation about transportation and land use through research and informed commentary. There are many ways to think about “expanding” and “enhancing,” from a wide-variety of blog posts to events to podcasts to the people who write the posts. streets.mn wants writers with different backgrounds, interests, and experiences so that our conversation reflects the places and communities in which we live. We want to be a welcoming place where people feel their voices are valued.
Are you a woman/trans/femme (WTF) identified person who reads streets.mn and has an idea for a post, but need a nudge to get it out there? Do you read the comments and feel like you could turn your last one into a post? Do you write often and have experience to share? Need some time or space to write? Want someone to look over a potential post and give you feedback? Please join us for the first WTF Writers Gathering!
Details
Friday, June 2, 2017 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Event Brite registration
This is a casual event at my house in Saint Paul. Children welcome. I have kids and our trampoline will keep them busy. We’ll have tacos (vegetarian and gluten-free options), followed by time to write, ask questions, get feedback on posts. Bring your laptop if you plan on writing. The event is free. Feel free to bring a beverage or dessert to share or donate to streets.mn to help cover the cost of the tacos, but you are welcome if you don’t.
You could be sitting on this porch, writing a streets.mn post.
good lord is this really necessary?
Is your comment really necessary?
IMO Yes. No.
That’s a great question! I think a lot of people wonder why spaces for particular groups of people are necessary – like WTFs or people of color. We had a WTF writer ask for this type of event and figured others might like it.
As I said in the post, streets.mn is intentionally working on increasing the diversity of voices on the site. The vast majority of our posts and comments are by men. There are a ton of great posts and comments and we certainly don’t want to discourage those. However, by just hearing voices from (typically) white men who live in the city we are missing out on important experiences and knowledge. We want more suburban stories and rural stories. More stories from people of color. And – as this post is about, more stories from WTFs.
WTFs experience transit, land use, and planning differently than men. We are catcalled, harassed, and assaulted in public spaces much more often than men. This changes perceptions of safe public transit, or a good street, or a great bikeway. WTFs tend to bear more responsibility for daily care of children and that also changes the way we interact with the environment – is a space welcoming to children, can I find a day care near a bus line, etc. Those are just two examples, but there are lots of ways WTFs bring a different perspective and raise questions driven by experiences common to WTFs.
We also know that WTFs tend to experience doxing and other online harassment more often than men. I have been threatened and targeted offline by posters on this site. I keep writing, but definitely see how WTFs who have experienced that elsewhere might be reluctant to post here. We want to recognize those experiences and support potential WTF writers.
Anyway, look forward to some great posts by WTFs as we’re already getting a ton of RSVPs.
BTW – wondering what a WTF is? Here is a great definition from our pals over at Grease Rag and Wrench. http://greaserag.org/user_blogs/lowrah/wtf-is-wtf/
Great description, Dana! We value ALL of our contributors, but true to our mission to “expand the conversation” we’re excited to hear from some less represented folks!
Yes