Network News

Mini Relationships Skills Class – Social Networking

Facebook…Twitter…LinkedIn…oh my! Online social networking sites are here to stay, and new ones are popping up everyday. How can you use these sites to build, maintain, and strengthen relationships in your life, be they with intimate partners, friends, or flings? And what kinds of strategies can you keep in mind to stay safe and sane in this ever more interconnected world? Join us to hear our ideas and to share your own!

When: Wednesdays, May 16 and May 23, 6-8 pm
Where: Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway, exact room TBD (the building is accessible)
Who: LGBTQ people and their friends and loved ones, regardless of relationship status or history

Suggested donation of $20, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Scholarships and Trades available. For more information, accessibility questions, or to register, contact DeAnn at 206-568-7777 or . Or register online by visiting www.nwnetwork.org/news-and-events and scrolling down to the calendar.
Interpreters are available, please register by Wednesday, May 2.

Relationship Skills Class Curriculum now available for purchase!

This curriculum provides folks with what they need to start and run a relationship skills class. The class content has been years in the making and originated from the experiences and knowledge of a survivor support group. We are humbled and happy to be able to offer the Curriculum to our communities.

A couple of quotes from past participants in the Relationship Skills Class:

“I know that the Relationship Skills Class has given me tools to create the kind of relationships that I have always wanted and never knew existed.”—Participant, Spring 2009

“It is such an important, preventative measure to give the gift of healthy relationship skills to our community; the modeling of this class is truly transformative.”—Participant, Winter 2009

The RSC Curriculum, including full color background material, facilitator instructions, handouts, and PowerPoints, as well as a Resource CD, is only $250 +$10 shipping and handling! Contact DeAnn at deann@nwnetwork.org or 206-568-7777 for more info on how to get your hands on the hottest curriculum around!

Spring Webinar Update

The Northwest Network is excited to launch our new webinar series, ReThink Tank: Classic Questions, Reimagined.

ReThink Tank, Series 1:  Sexism & Domestic Violence

Does sexism still matter?  Does ‘same-sex’ domestic violence throw a monkey wrench into feminist anti-violence analysis?  Reactions to these questions run the gamut.  Some view increased awareness of same-sex IPV as an opportunity to eliminate gender oppression from domestic violence analysis.  Others minimize or ignore abuse in LGBT relationships because of its perceived inconvenience to prevailing feminist anti-violence analysis.  We hear, “If women can batter and be batter by other women, can sexism really play a role?” or   “Since ‘men’s violence against women’ is the over-arching issue, isn’t men’s violence against men, or women’s violence against women just distractions?”

But, do not be dismayed or discouraged!  At the NW Network, we know that women batter women and men, men batter women and men, survivors often use violence to survive abuse, AND sexism plays the starring role in setting the stage for intimate partner violence.  In our first ReThink Tank series, we will present a robust gender analysis of domestic violence and a fresh take on why sexism matters.

Upcoming ReThink Tank: Sexism & Domestic Violence include:

Binary Systems of Sex & Gender with Jake Fawcett of the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Self-determination & Objectification with Connie Burk, Northwest Network

What’s All This Then?  DV Interventions, Survivors Use of Violence, & Services for Men with Connie Burk, Northwest Network.

Spring Webinar Calendar:

Check out the calendar at the bottom of this page for more details and to register for these exciting upcoming sessions:

Assessing Patterns of Coercive Control in Abusive Relationships, Part 3: Practice and Program Implementation

Tuesday,  April 3^rd from 12:00 – 1:30 pm PST

ReThink Tank: Sexism & Domestic Violence –  Binary Systems of Sex & Gender

Tuesday, April 10^th from 12:00 – 1:30 pm PST

Advocacy Strategies: Strengthening Safety and Support Planning with LGBTQ Survivors of Abuse

Tuesday, May 8^th from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm PST

ReThink Tank: Sexism & Domestic Violence – Self-Determination and Objectification

Tuesday, May 22^nd from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm PST

+Love Plus+ Youth Poster Project

Attention all Gay-Straight Alliances in Seattle Metro area high schools! We have a great opportunity for GSA members to develop posters that promote loving and positive relationships and prevent abuse.

The winning GSA will receive $400 for their group and the winning poster will be printed. Two runners-up will receive $200 for their group. All eligible entries will be included on a prevention poster Facebook page here.

I’d like to come to your high school and talk with your GSA group before the deadline of April 11. Please call me at 206-568-7777 or email to set-up a time to meet or with questions.

 Love PLUS Submission Details (questions to consider, deadlines, poster sizes)

Questions to consider: how does violence affect LGBTQ community? what are some strategies to heal from violence? how can individuals/society support LGBTQ folks to have healthy and loving relationships?

Deadline: mail submissions postmarked by Wednesday, April 11th, 2012 or

email submissions to by 5pm, Friday, April 13th, 2012

Northwest Network c/o Vijou

P.O. Box 18436

Seattle, WA 98118

Please include your name, school, contact phone # and/or email and a few sentences about your poster

SIZES: 8.5×11 or 11×17

Upcoming Events