CHICAGO — A program geared toward empowering young women and girls of color through creative writing and spoken word just launched.
Three-time international performing poet, artist, activist and educator Jessica Disu — aka “FM Supreme” — on Monday announced her new project, The HerStory: My Sisters’ Keeper program. She’s the founder and executive director of Chicago International Youth Peace Movement (CIYPM).
Through the program, Disu will set out to inspire, educate and empower the young women with creative writing, spoken word, hip hop, theater, peace circles and peace talk workshops on the South Side.
“Our goal is to help young women develop and harness leadership skills and artistic talents to promote peace, nonviolence and storytelling,” she said in a news release.
This initiative will serve ages 17 to 27, helping the young women develop leadership skills by building sisterhood, writing and becoming involved in civic engagement.
My Sisters’ Keeper is advocating for resources and funding to focus on girls and women because investing in women benefits the whole community, Disu said.
Far too many programs focus on black boys, and not enough on black girls, she said.
“Black women, young and old, are the fabric holding households together,” she said. “Having dedicated programs that target women of color will also have an impact on the men in their communities.”
She also launched “Reimagining Peace,” a film/music documentary project as a second program to promote peace and nonviolence.
