xQsi (Porque Si) Magazine, an online multimedia LGBTQ Latin@ publication, is issuing an open call for content submissions for its Winter 2011 launch. It will feature articles, news, editorials, podcasts, videos, and creative writing on a wide range of topics directly relevant to the lives and experiences of LGBTQ Latin@s and their allies.

February 2010 Theme: Transconnections
xQsi Magazine will analyze and deconstruct the diversity of LGBTQ Latin@ relationships on all platforms (e.g., our identity, our romantic relationships, our family, and our community).

How to submit
Finished work and query letters are both welcome. Please send all submissions and/or queries to xQsiSubmissions@gmail.com If sending only a query, please include a resume and/or writing samples.

Submission deadline for launch issue is October 1, 2010.
Entries received after the deadline may be considered for subsequent issues.

See posting at Lambda Literary.

[facebook event page]

Soul Friday First Anniversary Dance Party!
Getchyo dance thang on!

Friday, Sept. 3

On the decks:
Shannon Blowtorch
Lady L
With special guest DJ nationally renowned Pam the Funkstress spinning from midnight to 1 a.m.!!! Listen to some killer mixes from her on Bass Radio http://bassradio.podomatic.com

And there’s more!
This will be the kickoff party for Twin Cities Black Pride AND the B-Girl Be after party spot!

So come early!

Gorgeous patio
Drink specials
Von will be on the grill – just $5 a plate

Nomad World Pub, 501 Cedar Ave S., on the West Bank
9 p.m. to close
21+
$5 at the door

Join the Soul Friday Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/soulfriday

More on the location including good info on parking: http://www.nomadminneapolis.com

Spinning the best in old school, R&B, old and new hip-hop, house, and more.

Soul Friday is the Twin Cities most diverse dance party for queer women and friends.

[facebook event page]

Visit tcblackpride.org for the complete Twin Cities Black Pride Weekend schedule and details about all of the events.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2010:
Twin Cities Black Pride Opening Reception & Community Awards
Time: 6:00pm-12:00am
Location: Forum Ballroom, Millennium Hotel Minneapoiis,
Address: 1313 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403-2697

Ticket PRICES: Singles-$45
Couples-$80
Tables (10 seats per table)-$400
********************************************************************
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010:

Open & Affirming Gospel Musical: “Fierce Praize”
Time: 6:30pm-9:00pm
Location: Kwanzaa Community Church
2100 North Emerson Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55411-2512
*******************************************************************
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010:

Twin Cities Black Pride, Obsidian Arts and QSCC Present: “The Minne-Ball (RED)”

Commentator: Benny Ninja from the Legendary House of Ninja
Time: 7:00pm-12:00am
Location: Northstar Ballroom (University of MN)
Address: St. Paul Student Center 2017 Buford Ave St. Paul, MN 55108

Cover: $10 ($8 if wearing RED and $5 if you take an HIV test)
********************************************************************
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2010:

Park Festival and Health & Wellness Fair
Time: 12:00pm (noon)-6:00pm
Location: Boom Island Park 724 Sibley St. NE Minneapolis, MN 55413

Featuring Benny Ninja and Professional Storytellers from the National Association of Black Storytellers (NABS)
******************************************************************

No longer just a sideshow and so much more than a freak show, women in hip hop are THE soothsayers, the vandals, the beat contortionists, the ringleaders and the masters of ceremonies…. at B-Girl Be, we are the main event! On Saturday, September 4, 2010, Intermedia Arts invites you to a new spin on our annual event, the B-Girl Be CARNIVAL-where beauty, passion, mystery, movement, culture and creativity collide in a wild celebration of hip-hop and the feminine divine.

Building on four years of success, Intermedia Arts is proud to present our fifth installment of B-Girl Be: A Celebration of Women in Hip-Hop, the multimedia festival encompassing the four elements of hip-hop: MCing, DJing, breakdancing and graffiti. This beloved Minneapolis event brings women and girls together to make connections, build confidence, sharpen skills and gain access to the tools to create music, film, poetry, rap, aerosol art and dance.

Women in hip-hop have been marginalized, stereotyped, sexualized and pushed to the sidelines. But we refuse to stay there. We have persevered, knowing ourselves to be masterful artists, creators, and innovators. Our skill and imagination allows us to transform our perspectives, unleash our experiences and connect with our communities with intelligence, love, and inspiration.

The first of its kind worldwide, Intermedia Arts’ B-Girl Be festival influences and inspires leadership in changing the perceptions and roles of women in hip-hop for current and future generations.

The block party is from noon-10 on Saturday. There are spoken word and dance events Thursday through Saturday. Visit Intermedia Arts for the complete 2010 B-Girl Be schedule.

Dear Community Partner,

I apologize if this is the first time I’ve reached out to you. I worked in an interim capacity at Twin Cities Pride last fall/winter and was hired as executive director in mid-May. One of my priorities is to create a strategic direction for Pride. Either because I know you, or because someone suggested you would have some great feedback for me, I am sending this email request.

Twin Cities Pride is embarking on a Strategic Planning process evaluating our mission and vision and would like to invite you to be part of a focus group on current Community Perception and future direction for our organization.

We will host one session
EITHER
Wednesday, September 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
OR
Friday, September 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Appetizers or lunch will be provided, depending on the date selected by the majority of responders. (We may have both, depending on response.) The meeting will be held at our office, 2021 East Hennepin, Suite 460 in Minneapolis. The building is on a bus line and has ample free parking.

A consultant from MAP for Nonprofits has been retained to moderate this focus group and our other planning sessions.

The goal of this session is to provide a picture of how TC Pride is currently seen in the Community at large and where our Community sees us going. We would also like some feedback on the Pride Festival itself and how well it serves your organization’s needs.

The information gathered at this session will be used in aggregate for Pride’s strategic planning. Individuals are encouraged to come and bring their honest feedback about the Pride organization as a whole. (I will be the only Pride staff or board member in attendance.)

Please use this link to RSVP for the session(s) you would be able to attend:
http://www.doodle.com/m4wyavwicitz5fvg

If you are unable to attend either session, but would like to share your thoughts, please contact me directly.

Thank you in advance!

In Pride,
Dot Belstler
Executive Director
Twin Cities Pride
2021 East Hennepin, Suite 460
Minneapolis, MN 55413
612-305-6990
dot.belstler@tcpride.org

to encourage and empower women/ trans/ femme (WTF) cyclists in a collaborative and fun learning environment through rides, discussions, shop nights and educational seminars in a safer space

Grease Rag is holding an organizing meeting Saturday, Sep 11, 10 am, in Seward. Interested participants should email greaseragmpls@gmail.com for the address.

Grease Rag is run by volunteers. We rely on each other to organize and make events happen. Join us to discuss the nitty gritty and get involved!

If you can’t make it to the meeting, consider joining the Grease Rag Google Group.

Grease Rag also hosts regular get togethers for group rides and shop time, educational workshops, and participates in all the cool biking events around town like Bicycle Film Festival and the Babes in Bikeland alleycat race.

Thursday, September 16
Complimentary Wine And Cheese sampling
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Film Starts 7:30 p.m.

Heights Theatre
3951 Central Avenue Northeast
Columbia Heights, MN 55421

Tickets: $10 ($15 at the door)

Tickets purchased online will be available at the box office the night of the event.
Proceeds from this event will be generously donated to HRC. Thank you for your support!

Complimentary gift bags & Prize drawings

If you’d like to attend this event you can purchase tickets online.

Are you interested in a different approach to working with weight? Something livelier and more nourishing than deprivation diets and unrealistic exercise regimes?

Sign-up for our new Healthy Weight Group
Starting Tuesday September 21st, 6:00-8:00 pm

At Shine, we believe that a healthy weight starts with a healthy body. No need for counting, measuring, or yo-yo dieting. Just create health and the need for dieting disappears.

Visit Shine Health Counseling for more information. Complete details are in the flyer.

Thank you,
Mili

Overview Project Coordinator and Project Administrator
Startup position as a community organizer/project coordinator to organize/mobilize/LGBTA community of the Allina’s Backyard project (“Out in the backyard”) with the goal of connecting people to resources within the community to build a healthy queer community. This position will work in a team with a Project administrator. The future goal of this Project is to develop a state of the art interactive queer resource website for the backyard. This is a contract position paid at an hourly rate.

This position work closely with the existing LGBT CHAT members and PPC wellness center to collaborate in carrying out duties. This job runs Sep to Dec 2011 with hope to extend for another year.

Key Responsibilities:
- Community organizing
- Oversee the whole project in collaboration with the CHAT group
- Budget management
- Work with the CHAT group members to develop start up policies and procedures for this new project
- Develop strategies to promote the project to the citizens from the backyard
- Develop strategies to identify community members and community needs in the backyard
- Organize and plan events to identify queer community and needs from the backyard
- Recruit volunteers
- Develop job description for interns
- Responsible developing and organizing and promoting the key kick off event
- Develop a communication system to work collaboratively
- Develop future proposal
- Write articles for community newspapers

Specific Job Skills:
- Community organizing skill- able to empower people and build community
- Good listening skill
- Collaborative leadership skill
- Highly organized
- Self starter
- Good written and oral communication skill
- Minimally familiar with Microsoft work and excel.
- Event and meeting planning
- Volunteer organizing
- Develop Project Policies in collaboration with the CHAT group

Preferences:
a. Candidate is queer friendly
b. Candidate is from the Backyard or nearby
c. Candidate is involved in the Backyard project

Please submit your resume to:

Cultural Wellness Center
Attn: LGBT hiring committee,
1527 East Lake Street Minneapolis, MN 55407

Alternatively, email to: culturalwellness@yahoo.com, Subject: Resume LGBT CHAT

This post was submitted by Mili Dutta.

…

Thank you for your support of my art in the past and I look forward to sharing my new work and hearing from you in the future!
sincerely,
chamindika

Erica says: Sign up for her email list at chamindika.com.

1hr sessions to support health and vitality for the Natural Body.

Please pick one of the eleven options below to explore. All sessions can include a comfortable mixture of hands-on or off techniques, embodiment activities, as well as movement and art therapy.

• Breath: This includes diaphragm releases, embodiment of respiratory system, cranio-sacral techniques, and cellular breathing.
• Fluids: Our bodies are more than half fluid and imbalances affect us deeply. Work with cell, intercellular, interstitial, cerebral spinal, lymph, synovial fluids, blood rhythms and more.
• Organs: Fascia can restrict organs causing postural and energy imbalances. Organs house emotion and their
• Bones: Bones can bring much order, structure and lineage to our lives. Postural analysis included.
• Muscles: Muscles are what help us bring ‘our work’ into the world. It is also where where we hold much stress. Deep tissue, trigger, sports, and
• Reiki/ Vibrational Aspects: Many dis-eases begin on an energetic level and within our emotional and mental bodies. Cleansing, weaving, and balancing of chakras for optimal flow.
• Reflexes: Awakening our reflexes, righting reactions, and equilibrium responses can help with efficient movement and balancing our nervous system.
• Movement Therapy: Protocols based on movement patterns of in-utero development and of vertebrate movement patterns.
• Fascia and ligaments: Myofascial technique, fascial glides, ligament approximations…
• Moving Perceptions: Working with the senses of movement, sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch.
• Nervous System: Nerve release and Emotional Options Method.

Also available: Thai Yoga Massage and integrative GSP sessions (1.25 to 1.5 hrs) –$40

Book your session now. Limited sessions available.
612.293.6691 (Free 15 minute phone consultations.)
grassrootsnonviolence@gmail.com, subject ImaginaXion special. Please leave your:
1) general day,
2) time preferences, and
3) your preferred area of focus (ie. Breath, Fluids, Organs, etc.).

Sessions are offered weekdays, evenings and weekends at 4143 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis 55406.
Also available are sessions for couples, children, and groups.

———————
Alejandra C. Tobar-Alatriz of ImaginAxion is a Global Somatics Practitioner and Teaching Apprentice. Certified Bodyworker, Pilates and Personal Trainer, Movement Therapist (certification pending), and Reiki Master.

These classes will be focusing on basic steps and turn patterns. Participants will be at mixed skill levels (e.g. beginners and experienced folks). The series is 4 weeks and costs $32 per person or $60 per couple. You can pay by cash or check on the first day of classes. Please send me a reply back if interested so I can get a good head count for the class. We are located next to Loring Park, alley entrance between Joe’s Garage and Café Lurcat http://www.4seasonsdance.com. Email me at cuchisco@comcast.net and if you have questions just call me at 612 250 4315.

Latin Dance Sample: Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha, Argentine Tango

Merengue

Salsa (Mambo)

Salsa In A Group (Rueda)

Cha Cha

Bachata

Don DeBoer
Four Seasons Dance Studio

It’s time to learn about the GLBT Host Home Program and explore the possibility of sharing your home with a GLBT youth who is homeless or precariously housed.

For more information about hosting a youth or supporting the GLBT Host Home Program, please join us at one of the following informational meetings:

Tuesday, August 17, 6-8pm
@ Midtown YWCA
2121 East Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55407

Thursday, August 19, 6-8pm
@ Common Roots Cafe
2558 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55405

In solidarity,
Rocki

Raquel (Rocki) Simões, MSW, LISW
Program Manager
GLBT Host Home Program, Avenues for Homeless Youth
1708 Oak Park Avenue N.
Minneapolis, MN 55411
(612) 522-1690

www.avenuesforyouth.org

See the Freedom Song flyer.

A LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER IS LOOKING FOR LGBT PARENTS WHO ARE “EMPTY NESTERS”

Back in 2006 Dona Schwartz created a portrait project called On the Nest in which she photographed couples expecting their first child. Her project inlcuded several wonderful photographs of same-sex couples. One of them in particular has been exhibited in a number of venues in the US and in Germany and is currently included in the exhibition, “The Art of Caring” which has traveled from the New Orleans Museum of Art to the Cincinnati Museum Center (through September 19). Dona is reaching out again in search of LGBT couples for her next portrait project.

CALL FOR PARENTS: ARTIST’S PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT PROJECT
My name is Dona Schwartz and I am doing a project in which I am photographing couples and individuals who have recently become empty nesters. I am interested in this moment in time because I think it’s a significant transitional period in people’s lives. I photograph parents in the vacated bedrooms their kids have left behind. Sometimes the bedrooms have been left as is, and sometimes parents repossess the space–both scenarios say a lot about the nature of the transition to life without children at home and the different ways parents approach it. On a personal level, I am interested in this topic because after raising 6 children/step-children I will be an empty nester soon, myself, and I am beginning to understand, firsthand, the changes that await me. The photographs I am making are exhibited in museums and galleries, published in photographic and art journals. Eventually I will publish a photographic book. All participants receive a complimentary 8×10 photograph as a thank you for participating.

If you would like to learn more about the project and how to participate please contact me at dona@umn.edu. I am looking forward to hearing from you!

In case you’re voting in the August 10 primary. Find all the info you need about who’s in the primary, where to vote, etc., from the League of Women Voters.

This post was submitted by Danielle.

Quiet, upper, two bedroom duplex unit for ONLY $1000 per month and $1000 deposit in a nice quaint & quiet area of Longfellow area a few blocks from the Mississippi River. The duplex has hardwood floors, lots of windows, and a large deck overlooking the fenced in backyard. Off street parking is available as well as lots of storage space in the basement. It has a nice yard with lots of space for gardening. It is walking distance to Riverview Theater and Riverview Cafe. It’s close to the Mississippi River, Minnehaha park, the U of M and downtown.

Longfellow area is near Marshall Street bridge and near St Paul’s Merriam Park. The house is six blocks away from runners and walker’s path. There is a shopping area a few blocks away with popular Longfellow Grill. It is also connected to a 24 hour bus line with major destinations to Downtown Minneapolis, Uptown and downtown St Paul. It is also is not far from University of Minneapolis, University of St Thomas, St Kate’s and other universities.

Owner pays for the water and the sewage.

Please call 763-458-8661

Tickets may also be purchased at http://pillsburyhousetheatre.org/
Click the “Purchase Tickets” button and Click the appropriate day you would like to see the play.

About the play:
FIERCE LOVE is a play that was written, directed and performed in the early 90s by a troupe of 3 black gay men (Brian Freeman, Djola Branner, and Eric Gupton) who collectively called themselves the POMO AFRO HOMOS (Postmodern African-American Homosexuals).

During the early 90s the POMO AFRO HOMOS toured the country with FIERCE LOVE to enlighten the masses of the complexities and diversity that exist with in black gay community.

With all of the notoriety FIERCE LOVE received in the theatre world because it was one of the first black and gay theatre pieces of its kind, it also received much reproach from the greater black and performing arts community for the very same reason.

But for that brief moment in the 90s the POMO AFRO HOMOS were around, our stories were told authentically, unequivocally and unapologetically.

For two nights only FIERCE LOVE comes to the TWIN CITIES with a FIERCE vengeance as local director Harry Waters Jr. takes on the courageous task of reviving and adapting the forgotten piece with various gay men from the Twin Cities. The legacy lives ON!

“Black gay men are a marginalized, often overlooked, intentionally underrepresented community, silenced at most points to the voices of many of our straight counterparts. There is seldom room at the table for more than one fetishized and tokenized appearance of black gay men due to the fact that we must always be aware of the voices around us… BUT what does OUR voices sound like and are we able to hear it amongst the throng and cacophony of needs?”

Join Us Monday Night As We Celebrate The Life Of Daniel Boyer

Quorum mourns the loss of one of our greatest champions on June 15th. Daniel Boyer was an unwavering supporter of Quorum. He served a term on our Board of Directors and he was an engaged member of the Quorum Cornerstone. He was a trusted business leader in our community and we are very proud that he was the very first recipient of the Quorum Business of the Year award.

Please join us Monday July 12th, 6:00 PM

Nicollet Island Pavillion (The southern end of Nicollet Island)
40 Power Street
Minneapolis, MN

In the middle of the river he loved, and in the middle of the city he loved, we are gathering to celebrate the life of Daniel Boyer. The gathering will begin at 6:00pm and the Celebration will commence at 7:00pm. Come as you are. Appetizers and refreshments will be served, and some attendees will be headed over to St. Anthony Main for dinner after the event.