The 2nd Annual "Red Thread Movement"

Last Friday, Bed-Stuy Patch had the pleasure of attending the Spirit of a Woman (S.O.W.) Leadership Development Institute’s 2nd Annual Red Thread Movement event at Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

Now in its 9th year, S.O.W. is a Brooklyn-based organization dedicated to providing opportunities for young women (as well as workshops for young men) to become productive members of society through a series of coordinated and progressive of rituals and experiences that include discussion groups on issues affecting today’s youth, spiritual/leadership development, community activism, academic enrichment, literacy skills enhancement and conflict resolution.

S.O.W. was found by longtime friends and community organizers Monica C. Dennis and Shawnee Benton-Gibson and has two locations in Bed-Stuy.

21 young women currently participate in the group’s 2-year, rites of passage program.

“Growing up in the 80’s there was a crack epidemic and my family and community were devastated by that,” said Gibson, a licensed social work practitioner who grew up in St. Albans, Queens. Gibson has worked as an advocate on child welfare issues for almost two decades now.

“By the time I got older, in my 20’s, I recognized that young girls like myself didn’t have a forum or an institution that showed them how to navigate through some of the challenges that I faced once I reached adolescence,” said Gibson.

“So I realized that I needed to do something to help transform things rather than get lost in the story of my past.”

A diverse and an enthusiastic audience of approximately 50 people came out and attended last week’s event, which kicked off with a procession of African dance by several S.O.W. members.

Other performances included a solo by songstress Akua Taylor, a spoken-word piece by local Brooklyn native and author Andrea Cleveland and a moving guitar offering by Rob McMahon.

The evening’s most compelling presentations were a “Step In The Circle” exercise in which audience members formed a large circle by the front of the church and shared experiences as well as vulnerabilities with each other.

This was followed by a powerful expression of the “Psychodrama and Playback Theater”, which saw an audience member sharing a story of personal struggle and re-enacting it on stage.

“I was so pleased with the crowd participation, the community was really engaged,” said Dennis, a training consultant and professional life coach, who along with Gibson made several stirring sermons during the event. “I was really moved and inspired by the openness of the group as people shared very poignant and intimate details about their lives.”

Another event to celebrate the 2nd Annual Red Thread Movement will be held this Friday night at 6:30pm inside the Siloam Presbyterian Church at 260 Jefferson Avenue. Both events will serve as a fundraiser, with proceeds going toward the local Youth In Action (Y.I.A.) Playback Theater Troupe.

Dennis hopes that more people can come out on Friday and inspire and motivate their peers through storytelling.

“People can look forward to building a connection with others that may not have an opportunity to build relationships with," said Dennis.

"For people of color, in particular, we need to continue telling our stories and not be ashamed of the stories so that we can share, grow and connect, because those stories make us who we are."