This year, the Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause plans to deepen our intergenerational narrative shift work by co-creating peer learning exchanges to normalize the menopause experience of Black people in the UK, New York, Toronto, and Puerto Rico. We are also co-hosting intergenerational menopause storytelling events called "Orisii" ( "pairs" in Yoruba). The peer learning and the Orisii dinner are being offered in partnership with community-based women-led organizations. We identified each of these locations because of their strong Black diasporic communities, we have local partners on the ground, or we are seeking to connect with more partners on the ground. In addition to the events we co-host, BGG2SM is documenting our learning during our travels, introducing how each partnering organization works to normalize menopause for Black and Queer communities and sharing stories from participants about their experiences with their bodies, identities, and relationships. So.... our podcasts in Season 5 will sound a little different. Think if "This American Life" was centering on Black intergenerational menopausal stories.... LET'S GO!
This spring, we traveled to the UK to partner with Karen Arthur, fashion creative, model, menopause advocate, and creator of the UK-based podcast Menopause Whilst Black centering the menopause stories of Black women in the UK. We hosted two intergenerational gatherings, a peer learning dinner with other Black women, femmes, and gender-expansive people engaged in work in the UK focused on women's wellness, gender equity, mental health, menopause, and aging. We also co-hosted our first Orisii (Pairs) intergenerational dinner in St. Leonards-on-Sea (Sussex). Each guest attended a delicious dinner with a special "plus one" guest and was guided through conversations about bodily autonomy, body sovereignty, pleasure, identity, and mental health using the Say More deck.
In this episode, you will hear the beautiful soundscape of....
UK Peer Dinner Guests:
Fay Reid
Anita Powell
Dr. Nneka Nkwokolo
Marcia Jones
Kenya Fairly
Maureen Anderson
Eileen Bellot
Orisii Intergenerational Dinner Participants:
Teresa Adjorlolo
Dorcas Magbadelo
Claudine Eccleston
Kareem Arthur
Maheni Arthur
Our Community Partner:
Karen Arthur
BGG2SM Team Members:
Leigh Reid
Mariah Monsanto
Omisade Burney-Scott
Check out the video on Patreon!
Score Credits:
All music licensed by artlist.io
Ido Maimon - NYC - Instrumental Version
Sémø - Better - Instrumental Version
Yulee - Gotta Love - Instrumental Version
Big Thanks to our sponsors and collaborating partners who made this stop possible, The Honey Pot Company and Kindra!