'Making Spaces Safer' Book Discussions Across Vermont
Big Heavy World is collaborating with the Vermont Department of Libraries and community partners to make it possible for libraries to host public discussion events centered on topics in Shawna Potter’s book, Making Spaces Safer.
UPDATE 2/18/2020: Hear Shawna Potter interviewed on Vermont Public Radio’s Vermont Edition program
Shawna Potter, singer for the Baltimore punk band War On Women, has tackled sexism and harassment in lyrics and on stage for years, training night clubs and community spaces in how to create safer environments for marginalized people. She included decades of experience in her book, ‘Making Spaces Safer,’ a concise guide for public spaces of all sorts—from art galleries to bagel shops to concert halls—that want to shut down harassers wherever they show up and help build a healthier more inclusive culture. Big Heavy World is collaborating with community partners to bring 30 copies of ‘Making Spaces Safer’ to Vermont libraries where everyone can access the knowledge and practices Potter shares.
The Vermont Department of Libraries is making book sets of Making Spaces Safer available to libraries throughout the state interested in hosting discussion events. Copies of the book are also available through Inter Library Loan from the Department of Libraries and the Fletcher Free Library. Making Spaces Safer is also available for purchase at Phoenix Books locations in Rutland and Burlington and directly from publisher AK Press. Everybody is encouraged to read Making Spaces Safer and to host a discussion at your local library or community space!
Three community discussion events have been scheduled so far in different regions of the state. The Fletcher Free Library, Rutland Free Library, and the Bennington Free Library are hubs, collaborating with local cultural community builders to promote the project. In Chittenden County, the volunteers of Big Heavy World are reaching out with the Fletcher Free Library to cultural and civic leaders, high school students, and nightlife industry to invite participation. In southern Vermont, Bennington Free Library and Vermont Arts Exchange, the North Bennington “creative oasis” guided by Matthew Perry, will reach out to welcome readers to discuss the book. In central Vermont, A Sound Space, home to the ‘Women Sing’ group, will promote the reading and discussion with the Rutland Free Library.
Public discussion events schedule so far
February 18, 7-9pm at Fletcher Free Library, 235 College Street, Burlington. Info, fletcherfree.org.
April 23, 7pm at Bennington Free Library, 101 Silver Street, Bennington. Info, benningtonfreelibrary.org.
June 30, 6-8pm at the Rutland Free Library, 10 Court Street, Rutland. Info, rutlandfree.org.
Libraries champion lifelong learning, in part by offering a welcoming space for people to meet and discuss and address important issues. By working collaboratively with each other and community partners, Vermont libraries are highlighting their important role in community engagement and betterment. Karson Kiesinger, Reference and Adult Services Librarian at Bennington Free Library, says, "As a community gathering place, Bennington Free Library is pleased to host a Making Spaces Safer discussion to encourage dialogue and learning and support everyone."
Shawna Potter, photo by Josh Sisk.
In ‘Making Spaces Safer,’ Potter outlines steps that push back harassment that are realistic, practical, and actionable. With the addition of personal stories, case studies, sample policies, and advice like “How to Flirt without Being a Creep,” she shows why safer spaces are important, while making it easier to achieve them.
"Every time someone wants me to prove sexism in the scene exists I am not going to tell them about having beer spat in my face while I’m singing or about men screaming 'shut up' while I’m talking between songs. I’m gonna hand them this book and say 'No more horror stories, here are some solutions.'" — Kathleen Hanna, Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, and The Julie Ruin
Where to borrow or buy a copy of Making Spaces Safer
Copies of the book are currently available for loan at the Fletcher Free Library. The books will be available at any local library through Vermont’s interlibrary loan system and it’s easy to borrow from 25 libraries in Northwestern Vermont with the Home Card program, available at the Brownell Library (Essex Junction); Burnham Memorial Library (Colchester); Carpenter-Carse Library (Hinesburg); Charlotte Public Library; Deborah Rawson Memorial Library (Jericho); Dorothy Alling Memorial Library (Williston); Essex Free Library; Fairfax Community Library; Georgia Public Library; Grand Isle Free Library; Huntington Public Library; Ilsley Public Library (Middlebury); Jericho Town Library; Lawrence Memorial Library (Bristol); Milton Public Library; New Haven Community Library; Pierson Library (Shelburne); Richmond Free Library; Russell Memorial Library (Monkton); South Burlington Community Library; South Hero Community Library; Varnum Memorial Library (Jeffersonville); Westford Public Library; and Winooski Public Library. ‘Making Spaces Safer’ will be on loan in the Chittenden County area through the February 18 book discussion, then many will relocate to southern, then central, libraries to continue to help Vermonters make their communities safer and more inclusive.
‘Making Spaces Safer’ is also available for purchase locally in Rutland and Burlington at Phoenix Books locations; at the Bennington Bookshop; and directly from AK Press as a paperback or ebook. All Vermonters are welcome and encouraged to borrow the book from their library whether they choose to attend (or create and host!) discussion events!
A message from Thaya Zalewski, the Burlington event co-host
“Potter's guidelines to making spaces safer gives artists and audience members of all identities real practical steps to take. As an artist, I feel empowered to create safer environments at my gigs. As a non-binary person, I feel doubly affirmed that we're working to take down harassment and create more inclusive communities. Potter illuminates the dialectic that's been on my mind for years: no one should have to deal with this stuff, and yet we need to have strategies in place to deal with it. Here's how to leverage the power of the crowd, the staff, and the performers for a safer, more inclusive, and diverse scene. Read this book, let's talk.” — Thaya Zalewski (they/them), jazz saxophonist and clarinet, Juicebox, Bella and the Notables, The Thaya Zalewski Dreamtet, Brass Balagan
More about the Author, Shawna Potter
“What I really hope people get out of the book is someone being kind to them and laying it all out there for them so they don’t have to go through not knowing what it’s like for other people — so they don’t have to ask someone who is a part of a marginalized community and burden them with educating them. That’s my goal of this book — to do that heavy lifting of educating people on behalf of anyone who experiences harassment. I want to make it easier for people to do better, and I want to make it clear that it doesn’t have to be really, really difficult hard work – it’s just work. It just should be done.” — Shawna Potter, interviewed by Victoria Wasylak for Vanyaland.com.
About the regional program coordinators
Big Heavy World is an independent nonprofit music development office working to archive and promote the original music of Vermont. With a crew of volunteers it publishes information about Vermont’s music industry, archives thousands of Vermont-made recordings, photographs and artifacts, and operates 105.9FM, a radio station highlighting the region’s creative community. Contact James Lockridge, jim@bigheavyworld.com, bigheavyworld.com
The Vermont Arts Exchange is an energetic force that contributes to the commercial, social and cultural life of the village of North Bennington, engaging community through creating. With both 'campus model’ studio and performance programming and a traveling Art Bus, VAE brings art to the people. Contact Matthew Perry, matthewvae@comcast.net, vtartxchange.org.
A Sound Space is Rutland's rehearsal and D.I.Y. recording studio. Co-located with Rutland's music store, Be Music, the space is designed and managed by musicians. It's a place where musicians can work on their craft, honing their sound through practice on a stage-like set-up. There is also basic recording gear if people want to record their practices, scratch tracks or something to share with others. Sound space is also a community of musicians dedicated to making great music and having fun. Info: georgesbackpocket.com/asoundspace/ or facebook.com/asoundspace/
Women Sing is a developing group that seeks to offer women musicians the opportunity to play with other women in a safe space, while creating mentorship and networking opportunities. The group currently meets monthly at A Sound Space in Rutland.
MADE POSSIBLE WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT
The discussion series is made possible by generous community supporters including the Fletcher Free Library, Northfield Savings Bank, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Advance Music, The Path, and the Willard Street Inn. Thank you also to the many GoFundMe supporters who made Shawna’s trip to Burlington for the February 18 event possible!
Special thanks
Big Heavy World sends a special thanks to Jon Berg of The Path for recommending Making Spaces Safer. He and his band set an example for building a stronger, healthier community — lifting everyone up with an authentic commitment to living values out loud. Thanks Jon, and thank you to everyone who tries hard to be good, treats others with compassion and justice, and shares wisdom and experience that makes others better.