Safe Spaces and Empowering Others

Did you know that the world accounting system values “women’s work” at zero productivity?  In fact, worldwide, women earn 63% less than men, yet they spend three times as many hours on unpaid labor.  This includes raising children, and our common love of fiber arts.  This is not meant to be a political statement, but more to raise awareness about the safe space that our quilt guild provides to empower and build up each other.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure to join the Portland Modern Quilt Guild’s virtual quilting retreat.  It was an amazing opportunity to share time and space with other ladies across the country who share the common love of quilting.  There were ladies of all shapes, sizes and shades – yet quilting and creativity became our bond.  We sat and chatted about all kinds of things from social justice to volcanos, all while working independently on our quilt projects.  And I realized that even with all our differences, it was a place of empowerment and a safe space to share.

One of the three tenets of ACQ is fellowship and friendship through quilting.  My hope for our guild is that we can continue to foster important conversations through creating a psychologically safe space to share and to encourage others to join us.  Whether it be in person through our drive-thrus and future events, or through our virtual time in charity sews, Friday Night Sewcials, or workshops I hope that we can strive to be inclusive and invite others to do the same.

Jen Dietz