Events:

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

Emergency Action Team Event: Poster the City, Stop a Sexual Predator

February 16, 2013

As many of you are aware, there have been four recent attacks on women in North Seattle. Police are unsure if they are related or not, but three of the victim's descriptions of the suspects are similar. We have been putting up Warning Fliers which include a police sketch of one of the descriptions, a map where each of the attacks occurred, AND safety tips given by the Seattle Police Department. 

The Rain City Superhero Movement has put up/passed out roughly a 1000 fliers and we would like to get a few more thousand out there this weekend. Come meet us at Greenlake this Saturday at 1pm. We will be in the clearing across from Starbucks. Look for purple and gold balloons. Bring tape or a staple gun, warm clothes, and energy to poster the city! We'll have fliers for you to take and put up in your own neighborhood and to give to family and friends. 

We can keep our loved ones safer by making them aware of the attacks and offering safety tips. And most importantly, hopefully someone will recognize the sketch and notify the police. The Purple Reign Campaign, The Action Team, & The Rain City Superhero Movement are taking a stand against sexual predators, help us send a message that our entire city is on the lookout.

**If you do happen to see someone you suspect matches the description, call 911 and DO NOT intervene yourself. As much as we despise sexual predators, we will never act outside the law in our pursuit against them. We are not vigilantes, we choose to work with the police and within the confines of the law during all of our patrols and outreach events.

Click here to RSVP on Facebook Event Page

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PAST EVENTS:

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University of Washington Women's Center

WOMEN of COURAGE:

Braving New Horizons

On Saturday November 3, 2012 I had the honor of being recognized by the University of Washington Women's Center 3rd annual gala, Women of Courage: Braving New Horizons.  This extravagant event took place at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle.  Ten other women were also honored for their dedication to social or political issues and for making a positive difference in these areas.  

The expansive criteria for the award included:

• Women who are braving a new horizon, either through younger generations or by inspiring new ways of thinking.
• Women who are pushing the envelope creating new, non-traditional or unconventional ways to approach or solve social or political issues.
• Women who are bettering society beyond their personal self.
• Women who have found alternative ways to advancing the "cause".
• Women who are changing political or social landscape with respect to gender, human rights, discrimination, injustice, socially accepted norms and customs, and personal liberty.
• Women who are demonstrating significant courage or bravery.

The gala began with a sponsor/honoree reception where we mingled with the other women being recognized along with the generous sponsors of the Women's Center.  Everyone was quite stunning in their cocktail attire while Phoenix Jones (my husband) and I attended in our superhero suits at the University's request.  I felt a little out of place at first... but everyone so warm and genuinely interested in why I use the symbol of a superhero in my activism.  Many people approached me to offer congratulations, give thanks for my work, and asked to take pictures with us in our suits. I immediately began to feel at ease.  

During dinner (priced at $150 per plate!), the lovely Lori Matsukawa from King 5 News emceed and Lee Rhodes, founder of GlassyBaby, was the honored speaker of the evening.  The generous people in attendance pledged close to $144,000 towards the Women's Center!  These funds will be used to support programs such as Making Connections, NEW Leadership Puget Sound, Re-Entry, Lifelong Learning, Human Trafficking Research and Policy Development, and Gender Equity and Violence Prevention. 

The presentation concluded with each of us honorees being invited on stage to be recognized for our achievements   Josephine Howell provided live musical entertainment and joined us on stage to sing Whitney Houston's "I'm Every Woman," which of course, got everyone in the mood for dancing the rest of the evening!

Here is an excerpt from my introduction at the event, including some areas of my work that I was recognized for:

In comic books, tragic events shape the rise of heroes. In the case of real life superhero Purple Reign, the abuse she overcame transformed her from victim, to survivor, to hero as she now dedicates her life to stopping domestic violence.  

Purple and her husband, Phoenix Jones, are co-founders of the Rain City Superhero Movement, a team active in stopping violent street crime in Seattle, WA. The symbol of the superhero in their community activism separates them from the criminals, gives hope, and draws attention to causes that tend to be ignored.  As a survivor of violence, Purple took her community activism from the streets to a personal, domestic level.

She founded a nonprofit, The Purple Reign Campaign, to raise funds and give resources to abuse victims. The PRC also engages the community through contests, art, silent auctions, and music concerts.  Purple has shared her message on TV shows such as New Day NW and Dr. Drew, was a guest speaker at GeekGirlCon, plus she’s brought in the help and support of celebrity Rainn Wilson.  Local shelters and safe-houses are the recipients of the donations. Purple also speaks about bullying at schools to reach children at a young age about standing up for others and the value of human life - all in an effort to stop the cycle of violence.

In Purple’s eyes, it’s a matter of life or death that people are educated in speaking out against abuse. She says, "When people stay silent, victims die. Abuse is not a private family matter. I was silent for too long and almost died. My neighbors heard my cries for help, yet they didn't call the police or come to my rescue.  It is our responsibility as human beings to speak up and help victims.  It’s time to STOP minding our own business and be someone’s hero. There are villains and heroes in the imaginary world of comics just as there are in the real world.  Lives are being lost and the world needs more heroes." 

I was humbled and proud to stand on stage with these inspirational and hard working women. Each one has a remarkable story and impact that she's made in our world. I encourage you to look them up. The other honorees (in order of introduction at the event): 

• Justice Bobbe J. Bridge, ret.
• Lisa Brodoff
• Colleen B. Brown
• Pepper Fewel
• Debbie Hugo
• Taryn Kama
• Senator Jeanne Kohl Welles
• Julie Pham, PhD
• Purple Reign
• Gaby Rodriguez
• Tracey Thompson

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TIME TO PARTY! 

Phoenix Jones Birthday at The AFK

Mario Kart Championship Contest

Costume Contest

AFK Tavern

Special Offer

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GeekGirlCon 2012

**8/8/12 UPDATE** Please scroll to the bottom to see an update about the GeekGirlCon schedule and dates/times I will be presenting and available to meet with guests. I'm looking forward to meeting and connecting with all the GGC guests! ~ Purple

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I am honored to announce that I have been asked to be a guest at GeekGirlCon 2012.  I will be speaking about the impact of domestic violence in our society and what 'Everyday Heroes' can do to help bring an end to this silent and vicious crime. 

'GeekGirlCon is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting awareness of and celebrating the contribution and involvement of women in all aspects of the sciences, science fiction, comics, gaming and related Geek culture through conventions and events that emphasize both historic and ongoing contribution and influence of women in this culture.' 

GeekGirlCon has announced their first set of guests on their website www.geekgirlcon.com and in their press release. It is an honor to be featured as a guest along side talented women such as Jane Espenson, Gail Simone, and more.

For those of you who are not familiar with this wonderful organization, please visit their website: http://www.geekgirlcon.com/ and to buy tickets in advance, please click here. GeekGirlCon ‘12 will be happening at The Conference Center in downtown Seattle, August 11-12, 2012. 

UPDATE:  

Media Signing Schedule: I will be available on Sunday August 12th at 10:45am to meet with guests one-one, answer questions, and sign autographs. For the full schedule and to see when other panelists will be available please check the Media Signing Schedule: http://www.geekgirlcon.com/media-signing-schedule-2012/

Programming Schedule: My panel will be on Sunday August 12th at 1:30pm in RM303. For the full schedule please visit http://www.geekgirlcon.com/con/sunday-programming-2012/

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