• Help Out the North Quabbin Garlic Fest and Earn PBP Some Money!
    10/01/2011 (All day)

    The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival has presented The Prison Birth
    Project with a very exciting way to earn some money. The festival is in need of parking lot monitors on October 1st and 2nd; if we are able to fill two shifts with a minimum of four volunteers for each shift the organizers will make a donation to PBP for $250. If we are able to cover more shifts we can earn up to $500! Plus, we're helping out with an awesome festival.

    The shifts are 10-2, 11-3, and 1-5 on both Saturday and Sunday.
    Volunteers must be over 16 years old.
    The festival will provide water and snacks, but you should bring your own
    bottle.
    Volunteers will be given free admission for the weekend.

    In order to sign up for shifts go to:
    http://www.doodle.com/izrhw5xvdhy7u7ff
    Sign up for all shifts you are available for, even if there are already four
    people signed up for that slot in case we need are in need of backups.

    If you can give a ride to others or need a ride please make a comment on
    the doodle.

    If you have any other questions feel free to e-mail or call Avian Weiswerda at amw08@hampshire.edu and 765-586-2147

  • LIBERATION! A concert to benefit The Prison Birth Project
    04/23/2011 (All day)

    LIBERATION! A CONCERT TO BENEFIT THE PRISON BIRTH PROJECT
    April 23rd 7-9:15pm
    Northampton High School Auditorium

    CHARLES NEVILLE & ROGER SALLOOM
    Also Performing: V Haddad, Sugati & Chris Phillips, Rae & Devin Griffiths, Kennethia & Nancy Tolson, Ellen Clegg, Ann Sirignano, Fabiola Guiteau, Ricardo Frota, WT Funk

    This Spring we are presenting "Liberation!"a multi-cultural performance arts concert to benefit The Prison Birth Project. The show will explore the subject of “Liberation” through the music, dance, and poetry of an eclectic mix of world-class local artists. The performance will include spoken word poetry written by mothers currently or formerly incarcerated.

    TICKETS: $12-20 (sliding scale)
    To purchase advance tickets:
    tickets@theprisonbirthproject.org or www.theprisonbirthproject.org

    SPONSOR this event by advertising in our program booklet!
    If you are a business owner or knows someone who is and would like to buy ad space in our program, let us know!
    We have three levels of support we are asking your business to consider:
    Quarter page $25-$100 (business card sized)
    Half a page $100-$200
    Full page $200 and up

    To VOLUNTEER for this event:
    To make sure the night goes smoothly, we need volunteers! If you are at all interested, we need people to:
    *Flyer/promote the event, make baked good for our bake sale, help set up/clean up
    volunteer@theprisonbirthproject.org

  • The Prison Birth Project will be at the 2011 Reproductive Justice Conference.
    04/08/2011 (All day)

    THIS WEEKEND! April 8th-10th.

    The Prison Birth Project will be at the 2011 Reproductive Justice Conference. Come check out one of the workshops or visit us at our table!

    From Abortion Rights to Social Justice: Building the Movement for Reproductive Freedom, to be held April 8-10, is sponsored by the Civil Liberties and Public Policy and Population and Development programs. The conference is held at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.

    Workshops that The Prison Birth Project will be presenting at:

    Empowering Birth. This session will explore how women's control over our own birthing experiences has been part of the broader fight for sovereignty and against colonialism and oppression. Speakers will discuss Black women's birthing traditions and the role of Blackmothers, midwives and birthworkers in building community and movement toward liberation in the South, the history of medicalized birth, racism's role in moving birth out of the hands of midwives, and efforts to expand the doula and midwifery models of care. (Speakers: Katsi Cook*, Cara Page, Nechama Wildanah, Marianne Bullock). Saturday Workshops 2, April 9 - 3:15-4:45pm

    Organizing Against Reproductive Oppression in Prisons. Organizing Against Reproductive Oppression in Prisons will lay out some of the current issues impacting reproductive health and safety for women and trans people in prisons, as well as advocacy to draw attention to and combat these conditions. Presenters will also discuss innovate organizing models that ensure participation at the leadership level by incarcerated women, and alternatives to policing and incarceration that can better protect the health and safety of all members of the community. (Speakers: Amanda Allen, Jenny Vanyur, Cynthia Chandler*, Theresa Martinez, Prison Birth Project). Saturday Workshops 3, April 9 - 5:15-6:45pm
    Check out CLPP's website for more info about the conference.

  • Supporting Mothers Everywhere… one stitch at a time!
    02/05/2011 (All day)

    The Prison Birth Project is excited to announce this year’s Annual Knitathon! This year we will be inviting needle crafters from the area to knit for a good cause, browse our stash-yarn sale, and bring the kids for fun, easy fiber crafts!

    The Prison Birth Project is an organization focused on reproductive justice, working to provide support, education and advocacy to women and girls at the intersection of the criminal justice system and motherhood.

    In the spirit of last year’s Knitathon, knitters and crochet-ers are encouraged to sign up their friends and family to pledge their financial support, at the rate of one penny per stitch! The knitter who knits the most stitches during the Knitathon will win a fantastic prize. All knitted pieces will be attached together at the end and hung up publicly in the community as a symbol of the celebration of all mothers everywhere. Each participant and contributor’s name will be listed next to the final project. At the event, there will also be a yarn sale and crafts for kids. Businesses and individuals are encouraged to sponsor an individual knitter, or the whole event!

    For more information, go to http://knitformothers.blogspot.com. Download the pledge sheet above!

  • Soup & Games night at the Hope & Olive in Greenfield 5-8pm
    01/03/2011 (All day)

    Mark your calendars! January 3, 2011 5pm-8pm, The Prison Birth Project is hosting a FREE soup & games night at the Hope & Olive in Greenfield. Who wants to cook after a weekend of ringing in the new year? Come welcome the first work week of 2011 with PBP, dinner is on us! Bring the family and play some good old fashioned board games, have a few drinks to support the amazing work that we do and enjoy local artist Toussaint, who will be performing live!

    Check him out here: http://www.toussaintliberator.com/fr_home.cfm

    We hope you can make it and that you have a great new year!

    If you would like to volunteer the night of please contact marianne@theprisonbirthproject.org

  • 2 hours of sun salutations on Wed Dec 22 at 5 pm to benefit the Prison Birth Project
    12/22/2010 (All day)

    Join Karen Miscall-Bannon at the Yoga Center Amherst for a solstice celebration to benefit the Prison Birth Project on Wed Dec 22, 2010.

    We will practice 2 hours of sun salutations, beginning at 5pm; ending at 7pm. We will do variations of classical sun salutations, and people are invited to participate in as many or few as they like. The doors will be open and people come and go as their schedules allow. There will be snacks available also!

    Come celebrate the return of the sun and help a wonderful organization in our community at the same time!

  • Journal Making For Incarcerated Mothers
    10/23/2010 - 3:00pm

    The Materials Committee is putting on a journal making workshop!

    On October 23rd from 3-6pm the materials committee will be putting on a journal
    making workshop at the Peace Development Fund. We will be providing materials
    for journals, light fare, and childcare. Every skill level is welcome to this
    low key event.

    RSVP is nice but not necessary--Materials@theprisonbirthproject.org
    Please let us know if childcare is necessary--Childcare@theprisonbirthproject.org

    Hope to see you there,
    Materials Committee

  • Open House
    09/30/2010 - 6:30pm
    Come To Our Open House Thursday, September 30th 6:30 – 8:30 pm The PDF Center for Peace and Social Justice 44 N. Prospect St., Amherst, MA Parking on the street or Amherst Town Parking Lots Light fare and drinks presented with a short program featuring our collaborative work Your Hosts Lois Barber, EarthAction Lisa Andrews and Marianne Bullock The Prison Birth Project Rob Okun, Voice Male Tony Rominske, Peace Development Fund RSVP by September 23rd Sept30@peacefund.org or 413-256-8306 ext 112 Childcare available RSVP by September 23rd to childcare@theprisonbirthproject.org
  • Mothers Day Concert To Benefit The Prison Birth Project
    05/08/2010 - 7:30pm

    A Multigenerational Feast of Song
    Music written and performed by Women Celebrating the Beauty and Magic of Women’s Creativity

    SATURDAY MAY 8th
    7:30pm
    Edwards Church
    297 Main Street Northampton

    Suggested donation: $12- 20 Kids under 6 FREE
    Win raffle prizes donated by local businesses

    For more information visit: www.wingschorus.org
    Call: 413-584-3843 or 413-422-1010

    FEATURING
    Wings! Chorus. Women Inspired by the Never Ending Gift of Song.
    Morning Star Chenven, Director
    Jill Brunelle, Accompanist

    Ellen Clegg and the Offbeat Womyn’s Drumming Ensemble
    Afro-Brazilian Drumming

    The Smithereens. Smith College A Cappella Group

    GUEST ARTISTS
    Rae and Devin
    Griffiths
    Moonlight Davis
    Lyra A Cappella Ensemble

  • KEEP UR HEAD UP!
    05/01/2010 - 9:00pm

    KEEP UR HEAD UP! is an about to be legendary queer dance party and fundraiser for the prison birth project (suggested donation $10, no one turned away for lack of funds).

    After the Northampton Pride Parade, and after those [hopefully] delicious post-pride parade bbq's etc.:

    DJ'd graciously by none other than the awesomeness of DJ Marimacha, Rayla Shawanda, Stallion, and special guest!

    Don't miss it!

    WHAT: KEEP UR HEAD UP!
    WHEN: Saturday May 1st, 9pm-1am
    WHERE: the old-old dynamite records spot in the basement of thornes (150 Main St) - accessible via the parking lot behind herrell's, thornes, and CVS.
    WHY (more like why not?!): 'cause we need a totally rockin' queer dance party and because the prison birth project (PBP) is awesome and needs funds.