Healthy and Free Tennessee is excited to announce that our 2nd annual statewide convening will take place October 5-6, 2018 in Nashville, TN at Tennessee State University, Avon Williams Campus, 330 10th Ave. N, Nashville, TN 37203. The theme of this year's convening is "Claiming Our Power: Autonomy, Dignity, & Health for All Bodies." The welcome reception on Oct 5th from 6-8pm will be in the Atrium on the 3rd floor.

Register HERE
Lodging and Meals
Panels and Speakers
List of Convening Sponsors

Our statewide convening is a gathering for progressives that centers reproductive health, rights, and justice and movement building in Tennessee. Last year, our first convening brought together over 130 people from different parts of the state and country, and we were honored to have Loretta Ross as our keynote speaker. 

This year's focus will center around our two primary campaigns that we are launching in 2018: Pregnancy Autonomy and Dignity (decriminalizing pregnancy outcomes) and Maternal Health. REGISTER TO ATTEND HERE. 

Our keynote speaker this year will be Dr. Willie Parker (pictured below), a Christian reproductive justice advocate, OB-GYN, abortion provider, one of the few doctors to provide abortion services to women in Mississippi and Alabama, and author of Life’s Work: A Moral Argument for Choice (2017, Atria Books). His work as an abortion provider at the last remaining abortion clinic in Mississippi was featured in the 2016 documentary "Jackson."

[Image description: Healthy and Free TN Logo—a “female” and “male” symbol linked together as a Venn diagram with three white stars on three shades of blue inside. Beside this reads “Healthy & Free Tennessee: working together for sexual health & reproductive freedom.” Below that is a box, blue on the left, white and gray on the right with details about the convening. A picture of Dr. Willie Parker, a black man with a bald head and closely shaved gray beard wearing a tux and purple bow ties, is on the right side. All of the writing is detailed above.]

Pre-Conference Workshop "Exploring Your Erotic Self"

We will also host a pre-conference workshop with Afrosexology. This pre-conference workshop will be followed by a pre-conference welcome reception with refreshments served from 6-8pm at TSU's Avon Williams campus in the Atrium on the 2nd floor, Room 287. You do not have to attend the conference to attend this workshop. This workshop is open to the public. Parking is free for this event. Permits will be distributed to registrants. Scholarships for this workship are available to those for whom the $10 admission fee presents a barrier to attendance. Please contact [email protected] for information about scholarships.

REGISTER FOR THE WORKSHOP HERE: https://exploring-your-erotic-self-with-afrosexology.eventbrite.com.

This event is for women and people of color.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:

Women’s sexual experiences and exploration has seemingly existed as a source of pleasure,
power, and consumption of men. As a result, there are many stereotypes about how women
should perform their sexuality which has also impacted feelings of body autonomy. Defining
the erotic self strengthens the sexual voice and challenges “the do’s and don’ts” of women’s
sexuality. From erotic literature to candlelit baths, explore what stimulates you and leads to
the discovery of your authentic and most erotic self.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Explore different forms of eroticism
• Discover ways to get in tune with their erotic self
• Create an Erotic Care Plan

Afrosexology was birthed out of a desire to experience a more sex-positive Black community. One that encourages self agency & promotes love in regards to bodies, relationships, and sexualities. One that liberates from the sexual shame & policing inherited from generations of sexual & body oppression. One that follows in the tradition of Black sexual politics by seeking to rediscover & reclaim sexuality. Their mission is to educate, explore, and reclaim Black sexuality. Their vision is to promote Black self empowerment through sexual liberation. Read more about them on their website www.afrosexology.com.

Schedule for Friday, October 5th

Tentative Schedule for Saturday October 6th