
On December 5 we facillitated our first Art of Prevention Convening, bringing together an incredible room full of partners to address sexual violence prevention in creative and accessible ways.
Nearly 100 participants and staff from over 10 adult day programs joined coalition partners in sexual violence prevention as we explored consent and bodily autonomy through song, dance, rhythm, movement, and poetry. Project Manager Nora Montañez, Executive Director Julie Guidry, and Artistic Director Matt Guidry led us in conversations and artistic activities on consent, and Teaching Artists led small group discussions.
It was both joyful and invigorating as we created a vocal orchestra of “yes,” “no,” and “I can change my mind,” practiced physicalizing balance and consent in our gestures, and noticed how yes and no felt in our bodies. We were reminded how the foundations of prevention happen in the small moments and daily interactions, and that consent is an ongoing practice.
One participant asked Nora with excitement, “When do we get to do this again?” The answer is March 25, when we will hold our second Art of Prevention Convening to deepen our work together.
Huge thanks to the Minnesota Department of Health Capacity Strengthening Grant for supporting this work.
A Poem from The Art of Prevention
My space is not wishy-wash
Guess what? You can’t squash my consent
Don’t let your burgundy burden me
I take my time
Move my body
Through rainy rest
Take [drip] my [drip] time
We find compromise like two balanced cats
Falling in and out of support
H
E
L
P
We can hang out if we want to
We can say no if we want to
Ahhh Reba helps me clear my head
Do I want to puzzle or lay in bed
Take a doze
But don’t bulldoze
Are you ready to hear no?
No! No no no NO NOOOOOOOOO
Talk to the hand – understand?
I can do what I want
I need to feel safe like wooooo
Wait! I need a minute
Check in with myself … I feel…
A pink horse roaring at a sleepy periwinkle alligator.
-Collaboratively written by Participants and Teaching Artists
at the Art of Prevention Convening 1

