Say Hello to the New Feminist Group in Town

Looking for a revolutionary supper club? How about a feminist DJ or a financial management class for domestic violence survivors?

Feminist Agenda PDX, a new Portland has you covered. Founders Katie Carter and Amber Rowland are former co-directors of In Other Words, the feminist bookstore, who found themselves out of a job after the bookstore restructured last year (we reported on the store's tough times in 2008) . The pair have spent the past few months starting up Feminist Agenda, a website that aims to connect Portlanders with feminist events, people, and groups with an extensive calendar and resource list.

"I think there are a lot of people who do want to get involved, but don't know how," says Carter. "Being an activist is a lot more than going to protests. It's helping keep organizations like SMYRC, Gay and Grey, and the Rock and Roll camp for Girls afloat."

Carter, originally from Chicago, says in her experience, many people in Portland identify as feminists, but that doesn't mean they actually get involved with groups that promote gender equity. "We have this critical mass of people who understand how feminism intersects with different forms of oppression, but one of the big things we see is lack of engagement. To each their own, but we hope this will give people a way to get engaged."

Feminist Agenda is hosting their launch party next Thursday with a screening of Missrepresentation, the documentary about women in media.

There's actually a surprising number of feminist events in Portland this month, including a NARAL chocolate-eating party on the same night as Feminist Agenda's launch, a discussion about abortion issues at Red and Black Cafe on January 28th, and the unveiling of a big historical exhibit about woman suffrage in Oregon. Things are heating up all of a sudden!