In December, The Kore attended a performance night hosted by The Feminist Uprising, a nonprofit based in Long Beach that is dedicated to uplifting queer and feminist rights.

Cofounders Jenn Cohen and Ashlie Brady first crossed paths at a Planned Parenthood rally advocating for reproductive freedom two years ago. Their shared passion for equal rights and concerns about the future of our country ignited the idea of collaborating on a nonprofit to shed light on important issues. Together, they embarked on organizing rallies, initiatives, and marches, which not only brought their community together but also nurtured their own friendship. Their collective goal with their platform is to champion intersectional feminism, social equity, and inclusivity.

When we asked them about how they got their start this is what Ashlie had to say:

“I think I've always had a passion for activism and speaking out, and throughout my life I have found something to get involved in, here and there. But I feel like the moment that sparked me into the here now was, obviously, the overturn of Roe v Wade. I can honestly say that I have never really, truly had a panic attack, anxiety until that moment. I've never known what that felt like. I understand that it's there. I understand the complexities behind it. But really, truly, hearing that news… it was like just the windows of my whole entire world just shattered… for every woman in this country, every single person in this country, I felt all of it. And it felt like I couldn't breathe. It was a full down panic attack, anxiety. I felt crippled for a couple days and then I was pissed. Then I met Jenn a week later, and Jenn and I have been glued to the hips ever since and the rest is history!”

As a team, they are highly active on social media, with a primary focus on virtual education. For instance, every Wednesday, the duo hosts "Pillow Talk," a live stream on Instagram where they delve into current events and significant issues. They encourage the audience to grab a glass of their favorite refreshment and join the conversation from the comfort of their own home. Recently, across their social media platforms, they have been sharing informative biographies of noteworthy feminists from history as part of Women’s History Month.

Beyond their online presence, the duo prioritizes in-person advocacy by actively participating in events, marches, and protests fighting for various causes encompassed by feminist and queer rights. For example, a few weeks ago, they set up a booth at an event organized by a multitude of organizations, including The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach, APLA Health, Bienestar Human Services, and LB Health and Human Services to celebrate and highlight Trans Day of Visibility. The evening included free HIV and STI testing/free vaccinations, public speakers, drag performances, and tons of resources.

For the past several months, they have also been attending protests and marches to express solidarity with Palestine. Furthermore, their nonprofit joined a call for a permanent ceasefire initiated by the Palestinian Feminist Collective and The Feminist Front to halt the ongoing genocide. As of this moment, over a hundred other nonprofits have endorsed this call, highlighting the unity and determination of these organizations to make this permanent ceasefire a reality. When asked about the importance of advocacy for this cause, Jenn and Ashlie stated:

When The Feminist Uprising isn't collaborating with other nonprofits, they are dedicated to their own projects. One of their most significant endeavors is Project Sentinel, inspired by Miss Alice Paul and the Silent Sentinels who walked out of their headquarters on January 10th, 1917, and stood outside the White House for six hours a day for over a year and a half. This inspiring story has motivated their goal to raise sufficient funds to deploy Sentinels to the White House, standing at the fence for 12 hours a day (in 6-hour shifts), urging President Biden to sign the Equal Rights Amendment. The 28th Amendment would ensure equality regardless of sex in the Constitution, compelling judges to apply the strictest scrutiny in cases involving sex discrimination. 

To make this project possible, Jenn and Ashlie need to raise sufficient funds. One strategy they are adopting is hosting local events, which not only raise awareness for the cause but also highlight creatives within the area. The December event we attended, called Art 4 Equality, was held at a Long Beach coffee shop named Viento y Agua. This night was part of a three-day festival that consisted of an opening reception, an event featuring artist and author Zoe Nicholson, and a closing night, which is the one we attended. The coffee shop was an excellent choice because the venue features a stage and piano on-site, as well as ample wall space for a gallery. Throughout the evening, a barista was present, serving coffee and hot chocolate, ensuring all guests stayed warm and cozy.

At the start of the event, as people entered the space and throughout the evening, they were in awe of the fine art showcased. We appreciated the diverse styles, techniques, colors, and themes utilized by the various artists to express what feminism means to them. After all, feminism is a broad term and is incorporated into one's life in a multitude of unique ways. The wide range of artwork allowed each guest to find at least one piece they could personally connect with, while also using the rest to learn about different perspectives and possibly experience some kind of epiphany.

Eventually, the guests gathered around the stage and comfortably took their seats, whether at a table, on a couch, or in a standalone chair. Attendees arrived either with friends and family or alone; those who came solo quickly befriended others at the event, making it a great opportunity to meet acquaintances and network. By the end of the night, it seemed like everyone had interacted with each other at least once, solidifying a sense of community and mutual acceptance.

Before any performances took place, John Kwesi Broadway, of Artivists United, thanked the audience for attending the event. His nonprofit was one of the collaborators of the showcase; their organization focuses on uplifting artists with a goal of completing activist-based projects by providing them with resources and a platform. Through this, they hope to abolish oppressive systems while supporting diverse representation within the community.

During his introduction, Broadway made sure to thank The Feminist Uprising team for organizing the event, including the event operations coordinator Tyler Stevenson. He also took a moment to complete a land acknowledgment, paying respect to the indigenous land on which the event was taking place. Artivists United has provided an example of this acknowledgment on their website, which states:

“Artivist United honors and acknowledges that the land on which we reside is the traditional territory of the Tongva People. We also recognize the 80 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up what is now called the state of California. We honor Elders past, present, and future, and those who have stewarded this land throughout generations. We also recognize that government, academic and cultural institutions were founded upon and continue to enact exclusions and erasures of Indigenous Peoples. May this acknowledgement demonstrate a commitment to working to dismantle ongoing legacies of oppression and inequities and recognize the current and future contributions of Indigenous communities in Los Angeles and beyond.”

The intro was followed by an evening filled with poetry, music, and collaboration. Each artist presented their unique talent in a rich way, and everyone stood out from the crowd. For example, here are three performers who were featured that night:

Helena Donato-Sapp

Helena, at just fourteen years old, is a remarkable advocate and poet. Her insightful commentary on topics such as the black community, queer identity, feminism, capitalism, climate change, and more has earned her both national and global acclaim, as well as numerous awards. Among her notable accomplishments, she has served as a keynote speaker for the National Education Association, received the 2023-2024 Heumann-Armstrong Award from The Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy, and Innovation at Loyola Law School, and been appointed as a member of the inaugural Commission for Women and Girls. Additionally, Helena has collaborated with media companies such as Disney Channel during Black History Month and Discovery Education to discuss the topic of empathy.

At the event, she performed a beautiful piece regarding the rights of the younger generation and the power of speech. The whole room was moved by her poem; I remember looking back at Ashlie and seeing her wiping away tears. Sometimes, we think world issues don’t affect children and young adults as much as they do the rest of society, but that's simply not the case. Helena’s goal is to advocate for more opportunities to be given to her peers and for them to be included in conversations.

When asked about the importance of this piece and supporting young activist Helena stated:

“I think that people should leave here tonight thinking that you don't need to be protected all the time. And that they should be prepared for the world. And that you can do anything as long as you support them. I think that youth should be more accepted and not looked down upon just because of their age. So I think that's really important that they're lifted up and not looked down upon. Because sometimes that happened and it has happened to me. So I think just uplifting youth and supporting them and loving them and caring for them is really important.”

To learn more about Helena follow her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/helenadonatosapp/

Marianina

Marianina is a singer-songwriter born and raised in Mexico, who utilizes her craft to address important issues. Discovering her passion for the arts in her hometown of Colima back in the 90s, she spent a lot of time honing her craft and teaching herself about music. To pursue her dream, she decided to move to Los Angeles, where she currently resides.

For her set, Marianina sang accompanied by Nicole Coda Trella on the acoustic guitar. She performed a variety of original songs as well as classics like "La Llorona." The crowd was highly engaged, listening to her passionate singing and appreciating her seamless transitions between a multitude of styles. They also connected with her banter between tracks, where she discussed her own journey and expressed support for The Feminist Uprising. Marianina has the ability to illuminate any space, no matter how big or small, with her funky style and raw talent.

To learn more about her music follow her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/supermarianina/

Hamoon, The Human

To describe himself, Hamoon, The Human, uses the terms cultural diplomat, sound alchemist, and artivist. Born into the Afshari and Gilaki tribes in Iran and raised in Tehran, Hamoon now resides in California. He leverages his newfound Western privileges to uplift and shed light on the cultures of the East. His goal is to unite people through his performances, instrumentation, and composing experiences.

At the event, Hamoon, The Human, along with another performer named Hunter, facilitated a collaborative effort with the audience to create a drum circle. They provided a variety of beat-driven instruments to choose from, and about ten people joined in together to make music. Many attendees came expecting to simply enjoy the artwork, but being given the opportunity to participate allowed them to truly feel part of a collective and express themselves. It was a touching moment to see young toddlers joining in and having their curiosity piqued.

To learn more about Hamoon, The Human follow him on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/hamunthehuman?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

In addition to those three acts, the night included performances by singer-songwriter Harper Dhadde, DJ Deuce, singer Laura Cerna, guitarist Gustavo, cellist Hector, musicians Linden & Leela, artist Nouvacore, spoken word artist Kane Durham, and poet Zoe Nicholson. Ashlie of The Feminist Uprising also performed with a song/spoken word piece during the night as well accompanied by Harper on the guitar. They are all incredibly talented, and we highly encourage our readers to check out the work of each creative and support them at future events and endeavors.

Find performance photos below:

After all of the performers were done, a mindful group meditation was led focusing on connecting with oneself and harnessing power from nature. It allowed for the audience to end the evening feeling centered and peaceful, allowing all of us to get a good night's sleep when we got home.

We truly hope that Jenn and Ashlie continue to host more events like this because they did a beautiful job showcasing the diverse art from across California. One of the most crucial aspects of activism is community, and that's precisely what this showcase represented. It is community and allyship that will bring Project Sentinel to fruition, and we are excited to see it happen soon!

Find the full event gallery below:

To keep up do date about The Feminist Uprising check out their website and social media:

Website|Instagram

To directly donate to Project Sentinel click here: https://www.thefeministuprising.com/blank-2

They are also  currently looking for passionate people to be part of their team in the following roles:

If you want to contribute by being part of their organization and directly working on projects either visit thefeministuprising.com or DM them on Instagram to connect.