VIRTUAL EVENTS

Past Events

The Unlearning Series: Rewriting the Fat Body Led by Vanessa Chica Ferreira

Sunday, September 10, 2023 at 2pm PT/3pm MT/4pm CT/5pm ET

Trigger warning: This series will include topics that some may find vulnerable, including exploring negative feelings (our own and others).

Description of the Event:

The "Unlearning Series” is a generative writing workshop, open to participants of all ages, sizes, and abilities. Participants will be led through writing prompts and activities to encourage inner and outer reflection on topics related to fat bodies. These sessions are not recorded, so you will need to be present to participate.

The Unlearning Series: Rewriting the Fat Body is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes.

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. If you will need ASL interpreting, please register at least 4 days in advance for us to arrange for ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL.

Speaker Bio:

Vanessa Chica Ferreira (she/her) is an NYC educator, poet, playwright, fat activist/model, co-editor, and producer for RoblesWritesProductions Inc., and founder of theWORDbox. She co-wrote and performed in a 3 woman play titled “Live Big Girl” which debuted at The National Black Theatre. Her work can be found in The BX Files "Contemporary Poetry from the Bronx" Anthology, “The Abuela Stories Project” The Acentos Review, and "Great Weather For Media" Anthology.

For more info visit vanessachica.com

FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB HOSTED BY BREE (@BREEISHELPFULAF)

Friday, July 28, 2023 at 5:30pm PT/6:30pm MT/7:30pm CT/8:30pm ET

JOIN US AT FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB! EVENT IS FREE!!

Presented by NAAFA and hosted by Bree (@BreeIsHelpfulAF).

The Fat Fridays Social Club is held via Zoom and is an affinity space only for folx who identify as fat. (Ages 16+)  Next gathering is 7/28/23, 5:30-7:30pm PT

Each month has a theme. The theme for May is #FatAstrology.  Here's what you can expect: 

1. Introductions - Name, pronouns, location (learn the First Peoples of your location at native-land.ca)

2. Themed discussion about #FatAstrology

3. Themed game (Winner will choose next month's theme!)

4. Open social time 

Themed dress is totally encouraged! (But not required.)

NAAFA’s SUmmer Brunch featuring Drag Story Hour

July 23, 2023 at 11am PT / 12pm MT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET

EVENT IS FREE!!

Description of Event: 

On Sunday July 23, 2023, join NAAFA for an interactive summer brunch-themed event filled with music, food, and fun! You bring your favorite brunch snacks and drinks. We’ll bring good times with a joyful hour of activities and performances hosted by TV personality Matthew Simko (@simkosays). We're thrilled to introduce our community to Drag Story Hour performers Emoji Nightmare (@emojinightmare) and Katniss Everqueer (@katnisseverqueer.vt), plus food blogger Danielle G (@Fashionably_Famished) is back again to share more brunch snack tips. Attire can be comfy and cozy or shiny and sparkly–you’ll be brunching from home so you decide!

NAAFA virtual events are for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. Our virtual events are offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of our community of NAAFA donors.

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bios:

Matthew Simko (he/him) is host and style expert appearing on television shows across the northeast for the last 10 years. He's been featured in the Guardian, Readers Digest, Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Boston Magazine. These days you can mostly find him on Instagram as SimkoSays posting photos, f'it check videos, and the occasional thirst trap. He believes that looking good and feeling good is for every body. Find Matt at mathew-simko.com or @simkosays.

Danielle G (she/her) of Fashionably Famished has been creating foodie and lifestyle content since 2018. Whether it is a blog post or video, she shares her honest opinion and provides insight on topics including casual style, food and restaurant reviews, and more recently, motherhood. Her content is meant to inspire and create community for fat folks to be seen dining and thriving.

Emoji Nightmare (she/her) and Katniss Everqueer (she/her), two of Vermont's favorite queer performing artists and readers with the Vermont chapter of Drag Story Hour, will be sure to delight and captivate audience members of all ages as they share stories focused on individuality, activism, gender, creativity, expression, and social responsibility. Emoji and Katniss are proud, fat, queer envelope pushers and advocates. They have produced both digital and in-person shows celebrating fat burlesque and drag performers, with two annual shows, My Chubby Valentine and Beached Whales. Follow them on Instagram: @dragstoryhour.vt @emojinightmare @katnisseverqueer.vt

NAAFA Webinar Series 2023:

Size, Song, and Celebrity featuring Mary Lambert

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 12:00pm PT/1:00pm MT/2:00pm CT/3:00pm ET

EVENT IS FREE!!

In this edition of the NAAFA Webinar Series, host Tigress Osborn (she/her) is joined by renowned singer Mary Lambert (she/her). Mary was a music student and local performer in Seattle when she received a call from Macklemore and Ryan Lewis to collaborate on their marriage equality anthem, “Same Love”. Today, she is a Grammy and MTV Music Award nominated artist known for her Top 20 Single “She Keeps Me Warm” and her single, “Secrets” which hit Number One on the Billboard Dance Chart. She is a composer, animated series co-star (I ♥️ Arlo and Arlo the Alligator Boy), podcast host, and creator of “Everybody is a Babe” workshops.

Join us to learn more about Mary’s origin story as a performer, how she discovered fat liberation, and her experience of fat representation in the music industry.

NAAFA virtual events are for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. Our virtual events are offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of our community of NAAFA donors. Register at naafa.org/virtualevents. 

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support.Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bio:

Mary Lambert (she/her) is not your typical multi-platinum artist. While studying Music Composition at Cornish College of the Arts, she found a home in the spoken word community of Seattle and began experimenting with infusing poetry into her music, performing frequently as a cellist, singer-songwriter, and poet. Lambert had never released music and was juggling multiple food service jobs when she received a call from Macklemore and Ryan Lewis to collaborate on their marriage equality anthem, “Same Love”. Writing and singing the hook to “Same Love” led to an MTV VMA win and two Grammy nominations: Song of The Year and Album of The Year, and culminated in the iconic 2014 Grammys performance, which featured a mass wedding officiated by Queen Latifah and Lambert’s unforgettable duet with Madonna. After the viral success of releasing a standalone version of the song, “She Keeps Me Warm” Lambert shortly signed to Capitol Records. She released Welcome to the Age of My Body, an EP with a re-release of the Top 20 hit “She Keeps Me Warm” and “Body Love”, a spoken-word piece about body image. Later that year, she debuted her first pop song: a tongue-in-cheek single, “Secrets,” that went RIAA Gold and shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Dance charts, which was followed by her debut full-length album, Heart on My Sleeve. Lambert received the Human Rights Campaign’s Visibility Award, The SAMHSA Special Recognition Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for her work on destigmatizing mental illness, and was invited to speak at the UN. She has performed on the Colbert Show, Ellen, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, and the American Music Awards.

Lambert is currently working on a new book and album about body image; co-starring in the Netflix animated musical and series, I ♥️ Arlo and Arlo the Alligator Boy; hosting The Manic Episodes, a queer and mental health podcast with her spouse, Dr. Wyatt Paige Hermansen; and facilitates a virtual workshop on fat liberation and body image called Everybody is a Babe. Lambert is also the film composer for 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture, a documentary about the mistranslation and concurrent weaponization of the word “homosexual” in the bible.1946 won the Audience Award at Doc NYC and broke records for the most viewed film in Doc NYC history. She lives between Seattle and Western Massachusetts with her spouse and her two dogs, Turnip and Georgie.

Follow her at @marylambertsing

NAAFA Celebrates LGBT2QIA+ Pride!

Friday, June 30, 2023 at 5:00pm PT/6:00pm MT/7:00pm CT/8:00pm ET

JOIN US To Celebrate PRiDE! EVENT IS FREE!!

Join NAAFA in celebrating LGBT2QIA+ Pride! We're having a virtual Pride party on Friday, June 30th at 5pm PT.

Enjoy the company of other fat LGBT2QIA+ folx*, play bingo and win a free tarot reading, and brazenly celebrate fat joy!

Our virtual events are offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of our community of NAAFA donors. Register at naafa.org/pride-party. 

This virtual event is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars and virtual events are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

*This is an affinity space for LGBT2QIA+ folx only.

Co-host Bios:

Bree (they/them) is an unapologetically fat, queer, and neurodivergent witch with a master’s degree in psychology and an eclectic background in helping people spanning 14 years. They offer sliding scale peer counseling, UNO tarot readings, and peer support spaces in which they center collaboration and empowerment through the lenses of community psychology, feminist therapy, and fat liberation. They also host NAAFA’s Fat Fridays Virtual Social Club and teach an UNO tarot class for the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Trans* Lounge. Learn more about Bree and their offerings at breeishelpfulaf.com and @breeishelpfulaf

Ratna (they/them) is a tamil, fat, queer activist based in Malaysia. They are the co-founder of @myfatsquad which is a fat positive community in Malaysia. They also spend their time by creating content entered around fat liberation. One of their work also includes plus size fashion and sustainability. They were a small business owner that focused on plus size fashion and that was their entry into body positivity that in later years have evolved into fat liberation work. They can be found on Instagram @sapphiresplendour

Tamra (she/her) is a NAAFA board member, certified life coach, writer, speaker, MC, and serial entrepreneur. She owns and operates Dozeland Creative and is co-founder of a fintech startup. Tamra’s coaching is dedicated to helping fat women transform the way they see themselves and love the body they are in. Tamra brings a passion for creating lasting change along with her marketing experience and love of service. Tamra has volunteered for various non-profits in service of children and people experiencing financial insecurity for more than 15 years. You can find her on Instagram @tamralamese

FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB HOSTED BY BREE (@BREEISHELPFULAF)

Friday, June 23, 2023 at 5:30pm PT/6:30pm MT/7:30pm CT/8:30pm ET

JOIN US AT FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB! EVENT IS FREE!!

Presented by NAAFA and hosted by Bree (@BreeIsHelpfulAF).

The Fat Fridays Social Club is held via Zoom and is an affinity space only for folx who identify as fat. (Ages 16+)  Next gathering is 6/23/23, 5:30-7:30pm PT

Each month has a theme. The theme for May is #FatGames.  Here's what you can expect: 

1. Introductions - Name, pronouns, location (learn the First Peoples of your location at native-land.ca)

2. Themed discussion about #FatGames

3. Themed game (Winner will choose next month's theme!)

4. Open social time 

Themed dress is totally encouraged! (But not required.)

FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB HOSTED BY BREE (@BREEISHELPFULAF)

Friday, May 26, 2023 at 5:30pm PT/6:30pm MT/7:30pm CT/8:30pm ET

JOIN US AT FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB! EVENT IS FREE!!

Presented by NAAFA and hosted by Bree (@BreeIsHelpfulAF).

The Fat Fridays Social Club is held via Zoom and is an affinity space only for folx who identify as fat. (Ages 16+)  Next gathering is 5/26/23, 5:30-7:30pm PT

Each month has a theme. The theme for May is #FatFamily.  Here's what you can expect: 

1. Introductions - Name, pronouns, location (learn the First Peoples of your location at native-land.ca)

2. Themed discussion about #FatFamily

3. Themed game - Family-themed Et Cetera! (Winner will choose next month's theme!)

4. Open social time 

Themed dress is totally encouraged! (But not required.)

The Unlearning Series: Rewriting the Fat Body Led by Vanessa Chica Ferreira

Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 2pm PT/3pm MT/4pm CT/5pm ET

Trigger warning: This series will include topics that some may find vulnerable, including exploring negative feelings (our own and others).

Description of the Event:

The "Unlearning Series” is a generative writing workshop, open to participants of all ages, sizes, and abilities. Participants will be led through writing prompts and activities to encourage inner and outer reflection on topics related to fat bodies. These sessions are not recorded, so you will need to be present to participate.

The Unlearning Series: Rewriting the Fat Body is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes.

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. If you will need ASL interpreting, please register no later than 5/15/23 for us to arrange for ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL.

Speaker Bio:

Vanessa Chica Ferreira (she/her) is an NYC educator, poet, playwright, fat activist/model, co-editor, and producer for RoblesWritesProductions Inc., and founder of theWORDbox. She co-wrote and performed in a 3 woman play titled “Live Big Girl” which debuted at The National Black Theatre. Her work can be found in The BX Files "Contemporary Poetry from the Bronx" Anthology, “The Abuela Stories Project” The Acentos Review, and "Great Weather For Media" Anthology.

For more info visit www.vanessachica.com

NAAFA’s Spring Brunch: A Virtual Celebration of the Season for Fat Community and Friends

May 7, 2023 at 11am PT / 12pm MT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET

Description of Event: 

On Sunday May 7, 2023, join NAAFA for an interactive spring brunch-themed event filled with music, food, and fun! You bring your favorite brunch snacks and drinks. We’ll bring good times with a joyful hour of activities and performances hosted by TV personality Matthew Simko (@simkosays). We're thrilled to introduce our community to the musical stylings of Ron Blakely (@ronblakely), plus food blogger Danielle G (@Fashionably_Famished) is back again to share more brunch snack tips. Attire can be comfy and cozy or shiny and sparkly–you’ll be brunching from home so you decide! 

NAAFA virtual events are for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. Our virtual events are offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of our community of NAAFA donors.

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bios:

Matthew Simko (he/him) is host and style expert appearing on television shows across the northeast for the last 10 years. He's been featured in the Guardian, Readers Digest, Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Boston Magazine. These days you can mostly find him on Instagram as SimkoSays posting photos, f'it check videos, and the occasional thirst trap. He believes that looking good and feeling good is for every body. Find Matt at mathew-simko.com or @simkosays.

Danielle G (she/her) of Fashionably Famished has been creating foodie and lifestyle content since 2018. Whether it is a blog post or video, she shares her honest opinion and provides insight on topics including casual style, food and restaurant reviews, and more recently, motherhood. Her content is meant to inspire and create community for fat folks to be seen dining and thriving.

Ron Blakely (they/them) is a Southern California-based singer, actor, and recording artist of Black and Filipino heritage. They started singing at a young age and went on to study voice and guitar in high school. Ron fell in love with theatre while pursuing their Bachelor of Arts at the University of Redlands and honed their vocal performance skills at summer programs at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Their music draws influence from soul, R&B, folk, musical theatre, and pop. As a person of several different intersections of marginalized identities within the performance community, Ron is an advocate for creating inclusive spaces that prioritize diversity. They aim to continue creating work that speaks to many walks of life.

FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB HOSTED BY BREE (@BREEISHELPFULAF)

Friday, April 28, 2023 at 5:30pm PT/6:30pm MT/7:30pm CT/8:30pm ET

JOIN US AT FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB! EVENT IS FREE!!

Presented by NAAFA and hosted by Bree (@BreeIsHelpfulAF).

The Fat Fridays Social Club is held via Zoom and is an affinity space only for folx who identify as fat. (Ages 16+)  Next gathering is 4/28/23, 5:30-7:30pm PT

Each month has a theme. The theme for April is #Space.  Here's what you can expect: 

1. Introductions - Name, pronouns, location (learn the First Peoples of your location at native-land.ca)

2. Themed discussion about #Space

3. Themed game - Space-themed Et Cetera! (Winner will choose next month's theme!)

4. Open social time 

Themed dress is totally encouraged! (But not required.)

Words & Wisdom from the Fat Poets’ Society

Sunday, April 23, 2023 at 11:00am PT/12:00pm MT/1:00pm CT/2:00pm ET

Description of Event:

The Fat Poets’ Society was created during a workshop at a NAAFA conference years ago. In this edition of the NAAFA Webinar Series, four original members reunite for a live discussion  about fat history, poetry, and using words to fight for fat liberation. The workshop will also include video reading and Q&A with Fat Poets’ Society Founder Frannie Zellman. Members will share poems from the Fat Poets’ Society books and lead writing exercises based on or inspired by writing activities done at their original workshops. 

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. Register FREE here. 

This 90-minute webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, with English auto-captions by Otter.ai, and with ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support.Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bios:

Kat Barron
Kat’s passion is doing what she can to create safe space for people, particularly women - both in their own minds and in society in general. She leads a monthly Meetup called The Self Love Journey for a group called Awkwardly Zen. She has several guided meditations on her website, holdyourselfsacred.com, leading people into more self-love, body gratitude, embodiment, and empowerment. Kat works as a permissionary, offering nurturing and support for women to explore, discover, and BE their full authentic selves, living their deepest dreams and desires. Kat is a nudist who has found nudism to be the most healing tool for her relationship with her body and is happy to guide women through their first nudist experiences. A massage therapist and energy healer for over 25 years, Kat’s life has been dedicated to helping women feel good in and about their bodies and lives.

Kat is on Instagram as @freekat2 and at facebook.com/connect2sacred. She blogs at holdyourselfsacred.com/blog/ and freekat2.wordpress.com/. Her author’s page is tinyurl.com/2w54btdn.

Corinna Makris
Corinna is a contributing writer for several publications specializing in cybersecurity and ransomware. She's particularly interested in the future of girls in STEM. Corinna suspects that Skynet has secretly launched and that the computers have already taken over. Corinna self-medicates her anxiety by killing monsters with magic on XBox and PC. You can find Corinna at twitter.com/corinnamakris.

Lesleigh Owen

Lesleigh began writing novel-length romances in junior high. She continued scribbling wild tales on her college-ruled notepads till those pesky college and career things got in the way. Finally, after earning her Ph.D. in Sociology, Lesleigh gave herself permission to get a life. She has since published four novels, one short story, and several poems. Now a boring academic and a not-entirely-boring political activist, she spends just about all her waking hours doing one or more of the following: teaching, writing, volunteering, and tending to the whims of her feline overlords.

Lesleigh also writes under the names Elle Hill and Holly Gray. Check out her books:

F/M urban fantasy

• Hunted by Elle Hill

• Hunted Past by Elle Hill

• Hunted Dreams by Elle Hill

• The Tithe by Elle Hill

F/F science fiction

• Becoming Human by Holly Gray

Eileen Rosensteel

Eileen is a bodacious disabled artist devoted to being present. She writes as part of the Fat Poets Society. She has a one woman show recreating the historical stories of the circus fat ladies. She is writing a memoir about her body journey to becoming a body love advocate. Her work has been performed and published in several anthologies including Fat Poets Society 2, Madison Magazine, and the We’Moon calendar.

Frannie Zellman

Frannie thinks of Fat Acceptance and Liberation as one of the key social justice issues of our time. Are fat people, especially but not only fat women of color, to be derogatorily judged by people whose view of inclusivity rests on whether one conforms to standards of appearance that found expression during the late Victorian era and then again from the mid-1900s up to today? Are we always to shake in our shoes when a doctor, especially but not only a white, privileged doctor, orders us to step on the scale or on the examining table? This is the core of the unequal social relationship Frannie has been fighting since she started to write Fat Acceptance and Liberation poetry more than twenty five years ago.

At the NAAFA Convention in 2006, in the Boston area, Mary Ray Worley formed the Fat Poets' Society at a workshop on Writing Fat Poetry that Frannie gave. Wherever they have gone, whatever they have written, they continue to write their fat selves into poetry that opens the door to their fat proud selves.

FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB HOSTED BY BREE (@BREEISHELPFULAF)

Friday, March 24, 2023 at 5:30pm PT/6:30pm MT/7:30pm CT/8:30pm ET

JOIN US AT FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB! EVENT IS FREE!!

Presented by NAAFA and hosted by Bree (@BreeIsHelpfulAF).

The Fat Fridays Social Club is held via Zoom and is an affinity space only for folx who identify as fat. (Ages 16+)  Next gathering is 3/24/23, 5:30-7:30pm PT

Each month has a theme. The theme for March is #FatFoliage.  Here's what you can expect: 

1. Introductions - Name, pronouns, location (learn the First Peoples of your location at native-land.ca)

2. Themed discussion about #FatFoliage

3. Themed game - Fat Foliage-themed Et Cetera! (Winner will choose next month's theme!)

4. Open social time 

Themed dress is totally encouraged! (But not required.)

The Unlearning Series: Rewriting the Fat Body “I am mine” Led by Vanessa Chica Ferreira & Rachel Estapa

Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 2pm PT/3pm MT/4pm CT/5pm ET

Trigger warning: This series will include topics that some may find vulnerable, including exploring negative feelings (our own and others).

Description of Event:

The "Unlearning Series” is a generative writing workshop, open to participants of all ages, sizes, and abilities. Participants will be led through writing prompts and activities to encourage inner and outer reflection on topics related to fat bodies. This session is entitled, “I Am Mine”. These sessions are not recorded, so you will need to be present to participate.

The Unlearning Series: Rewriting the Fat Body is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. 

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. If you will need ASL interpreting, please register no later than 3/6/23 for us to arrange for ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL.  

Speaker bio:

Vanessa Chica Ferreira (she/her) is an NYC educator, poet, playwright, fat activist/model, co-editor, and producer for RoblesWritesProductions Inc., and founder of theWORDbox. She co-wrote and performed in a 3 woman play titled “Live Big Girl” which debuted at The National Black Theatre. Her work can be found in The BX Files "Contemporary Poetry from the Bronx" Anthology, “The Abuela Stories Project” The Acentos Review, and "Great Weather For Media" Anthology. 

For more info visit www.vanessachica.com

FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB HOSTED BY BREE (@BREEISHELPFULAF)

Friday, February 24, 2023 at 5:30pm PT/6:30pm MT/7:30pm CT/8:30pm ET

JOIN US AT FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB! EVENT IS FREE!!

Presented by NAAFA and hosted by Bree (@BreeIsHelpfulAF).

The Fat Fridays Social Club is held via Zoom and is an affinity space only for folx who identify as fat. (Ages 16+)  Next gathering is 2/24/23, 5:30 - 7:30 PDT

Each month has a theme. The theme for February is #FatLove.  Here's what you can expect: 

1. Introductions - Name, pronouns, location (learn the First Peoples of your location at native-land.ca)

2. Themed discussion about #FatLove

3. Themed game - Fat Love-themed Et Cetera! (Winner will choose next month's theme!)

4. Open social time 

Themed dress is totally encouraged! (But not required.)

The Unlearning Series: Rewriting the Fat Body Led by Vanessa Chica Ferreira

Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 2pm PT/3pm MT/4pm CT/5pm ET

Trigger warning: This series will include topics that some may find vulnerable, including exploring negative feelings (our own and others).

Description of Event:

The "Unlearning Series” is a generative writing workshop, open to participants of all ages, sizes, and abilities. Participants will be led through writing prompts and activities to encourage inner and outer reflection on topics related to fat bodies. December’s topic will be “A Fat Body Gets Dressed”. These sessions are not recorded, so you will need to be present to participate.

The Unlearning Series: Rewriting the Fat Body is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. 

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. If you will need ASL interpreting, please register no later than 2/6/23 for us to arrange for ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL.

Speaker bio:

Vanessa Chica Ferreira (she/her) is an NYC educator, poet, playwright, fat activist/model, co-editor, and producer for RoblesWritesProductions Inc., and founder of theWORDbox. She co-wrote and performed in a 3 woman play titled “Live Big Girl” which debuted at The National Black Theatre. Her work can be found in The BX Files "Contemporary Poetry from the Bronx" Anthology, “The Abuela Stories Project” The Acentos Review, and "Great Weather For Media" Anthology. 

For more info visit www.vanessachica.com

 Masculinity, Body Image, and Fat with Aaron Flores and Andrew Walen

Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 3pm PT/4pm MT/5pm CT/6pm ET

Description of Event:

In this episode of the NAAFA Webinar Series, registered dietician Aaron Flores, RDN (he/him) and eating disorders expert Andrew Walen, LCSW (he/him) discuss how anti-fatness impacts men and masc people when it comes to body image, eating disorders, mental health, and more. Hosted by Tigress Osborn (she/her).

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes.

This one hour webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, with English auto-captions by Otter.ai, and withASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support.Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bios:

Aaron Flores, RDN (he/him) is a registered dietitian nutritionist and Certified Body Trust® provider. With over 10 years of experience, Aaron has worked with eating disorders in a variety of settings over his career including the VA Healthcare System and Center for Discovery. He currently has a private practice in Calabasas, CA. Aaron uses Intuitive Eating, Health at Every Size®, and Body Trust® as the framework to help individuals develop a more compassionate, non-judgmental approach to food and their body. His work has been featured on the 10% Happier Podcast, in the New York Times, Huffington Post and Buzzfeed. Aaron is also a frequent speaker, presenting at national and international eating disorder conferences. In addition to his individual work with clients, he is also a podcaster. His two shows are Men Unscripted and Dietitians Unplugged.

Andrew Walen, LCSW, LCSW-C, LICSW, CEDS-S (he/him) is the founder of DUDE Mental Health, psychotherapist, and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist with a specific focus on males with eating disorders. He was the founder of The Body Image Therapy Center and Vice President of Eating Disorders Treatment for Refresh Mental Health.

Andrew is the immediate past-President of the National Association for Males with Eating Disorders (NAMED), which merged with the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) in November 2019. He currently serves as NEDA’s Senior Advisor on Males with Eating Disorders. He is also a past founding board member of the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA). He has appeared on The Today Show, was featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Men’s Health, and many other national and local media outlets as an expert in the field of eating disorders and body image. In addition, he has authored numerous articles and presented workshops at national and international eating disorder conferences. His book Man Up to Eating Disorders, which is a memoir and self-help book directed at males with eating disorders, was published May 2014.

Andrew is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Social Work in Nashville. He also graduated from the Berklee College of Music and is a published singer/songwriter/ multi-instrumentalist who continues to write, record, and perform in the metro Baltimore and DC areas.

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB HOSTED BY BREE (@BREEISHELPFULAF)

Friday, January 27, 2023 at 5:30pm PT/6:30pm MT/7:30pm CT/8:30pm ET

JOIN US AT FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB! EVENT IS FREE!!

Presented by NAAFA and hosted by Bree (@BreeIsHelpfulAF).

The Fat Fridays Social Club is held via Zoom and is an affinity space only for folx who identify as fat. (Ages 16+)  Next gathering is 1/27/23, 5:30 - 7:30 PDT

Each month has a theme. The theme for January is  #FatAnimals.  Here's what you can expect: 

1. Introductions - Name, pronouns, location (learn the First Peoples of your location at native-land.ca)

2. Themed discussion about #FatAnimals

3. Themed game - Fat Animal-themed Et Cetera! (Winner will choose next month's theme!)

4. Open social time 

Themed dress is totally encouraged! (But not required.)

The Unlearning Series: Rewriting the Fat Body Led by Vanessa Chica Ferreira

Sunday, January 8, 2023 at 2pm PT/3pm MT/4pm CT/5pm ET

Trigger warning: This series will include topics that some may find vulnerable, including exploring negative feelings (our own and others).

Description of Event:

The "Unlearning Series” is a generative writing workshop, open to participants of all ages, sizes, and abilities. Participants will be led through writing prompts and activities to encourage inner and outer reflection on topics related to fat bodies. December’s topic will be “A Fat Body Has Sex”. These sessions are not recorded, so you will need to be present to participate.

The Unlearning Series: Rewriting the Fat Body is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. 

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. If you will need ASL interpreting, please register no later than 1/2/23  for us to arrange for ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL.  

Speaker bio:

Vanessa Chica Ferreira (she/her) is an NYC educator, poet, playwright, fat activist/model, co-editor, and producer for RoblesWritesProductions Inc., and founder of theWORDbox. She co-wrote and performed in a 3 woman play titled “Live Big Girl” which debuted at The National Black Theatre. Her work can be found in The BX Files "Contemporary Poetry from the Bronx" Anthology, “The Abuela Stories Project” The Acentos Review, and "Great Weather For Media" Anthology. 

Where to find Vanessa:

Website: vanessachica.com/ 

IG: @vanessachicawrites

FB: @Vlovely

Tiktok: @vanessachicapoet

FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB HOSTED BY BREE (@BREEISHELPFULAF)

Friday, December 23, 2022 at 5:30pm PT/6:30pm MT/7:30pm CT/8:30pm ET

JOIN US AT FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB! EVENT IS FREE!!

Presented by NAAFA and hosted by Bree (@BreeIsHelpfulAF).

The Fat Fridays Social Club is held via Zoom and is an affinity space only for folx who identify as fat. (Ages 16+)  Next gathering is 12/23, 5:30 - 7:30 PDT

Each month has a theme. The theme for December is  #TheMoon.  Here's what you can expect: 

1. Introductions - Name, pronouns, location (learn the First Peoples of your location at native-land.ca)

2. Themed discussion about #TheMoon

3. Themed game - Moon-themed trivia! (Winner will choose next month's theme!)

4. Open social time 

Themed dress is totally encouraged! (But not required.)

NAAFA’s Winter Jazz Brunch: A Virtual Celebration of the Season for Fat Community and Friends

December 18, 2022 at 11amPT/12pmMT/1pmCT/2pmET

Description of Event:

On December 18, join NAAFA for an interactive winter brunch-themed event filled with music, food, and fun! You bring your favorite brunch snacks and drinks. We’ll bring good times with a joyful hour of activities and performances hosted by TV personality Matthew Simko. The incomparable Alotta Boutté and NAAFA’s own TamraLamese will grace us with their musical stylings, plus tips by food blogger Danielle G of @Fashionably_Famished on how to jazz up your brunch snacks charcuterie style. Attire can be be comfy and cozy or shiny and sparkly–you’ll be brunching from home so you decide! 

NAAFA virtual events are for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. Our virtual events are offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of our community of NAAFA donors. Register at naafa.org/virtualevents. 

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bio(s):

Alotta Boutté (she/her) is an international and life long performer. She performed for nearly 2 years in Paris as a part of the Mugler Follies, then returned to San Francisco as part of  the cast of the world’s longest running musical revue, Beach Blanket Babylon. She also tantalized audiences as a part of the award winning, all-Black burlesque troupe, Harlem Shake Burlesque and served as a board member for BurlyCon. She is eager to share 30+year of stage experience with you! Follow her @alottaboutte on your favorite social media. 

Danielle G (she/her) of Fashionably Famished has been creating foodie and lifestyle content since 2018. Whether it is a blog post or video, she shares her honest opinion and provides insight on topics including casual style, food and restaurant reviews, and more recently, motherhood. Her content is meant to inspire and create community for fat folks to be seen dining and thriving.

Tamra Lamese (she/her), aka NAAFA’s Director of Social Media, is coming out of retirement to grace us with a song for this event.  A professional singer for many years, Tamra is now a certified life coach, writer, speaker, MC, and serial entrepreneur. She owns and operates Dozeland Creative and is co-founder of a fintech startup. Tamra’s coaching is dedicated to helping fat women transform the way they see themselves and love the body they are in. Tamra brings a passion for creating lasting change along with her marketing experience and love of service. Tamra has volunteered for various non-profits in service of children and people experiencing financial insecurity for more than 15 years. She joined the NAAFA Board in January 2022. 

Matthew Simko (he/him) is a style & lifestyle expert and experienced host based in Boston, Massachusetts. Regarded as the go-to for laid back, unpretentious "every guy" style, he is a notable figure on Boston's social scene sharing his experiences on social media under the handles @SimkoSays.

Matthew hosts a bi-monthly segment on MassAppeal on NBC 22 and is a regular contributor on The Rhode Show and CT Style. Along with hosting, Matthew has been featured in The Boston Globe, Boston Herald, and The Improper Bostonian. A writer focusing on men's style, travel, and notable Boston events, Matthew always adds in a healthy dose of personal opinion regardless of the topic. Find Matt at mathew-simko.com or @simkosays.

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

THE UNLEARNING SERIES: REWRITING THE FAT BODY LED BY VANESSA CHICA FERREIRA

Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 2pm PT/3pm MT/4pm CT/5pm ET

Trigger warning: This series will include topics that some may find vulnerable, including exploring negative feelings (our own and others).

Description of Event:

The "Unlearning Series” is a generative writing workshop, open to participants of all ages, sizes, and abilities. Participants will be led through writing prompts and activities to encourage inner and outer reflection on topics related to fat bodies. November’s topic will be “A Fat Body Goes to the Doctor”.

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. Register by midnight 12/10/22 to receive the webinar link. 

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. If you will need ASL interpreting, please register no later than 12/7/22 for us to arrange for ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bio:

Vanessa Chica Ferreira (she/her) is an NYC educator, poet, playwright, fat activist/model, co-editor, and producer for RoblesWritesProductions Inc., and founder of theWORDbox. She co-wrote and performed in a 3 woman play titled “Live Big Girl” which debuted at The National Black Theatre. Her work can be found in The BX Files "Contemporary Poetry from the Bronx" Anthology, “The Abuela Stories Project” The Acentos Review, and "Great Weather For Media" Anthology. For more info visit vanessachica.com

Where to find Vanessa:

Website: vanessachica.com/ 

IG: @vanessachicawrites

FB: @Vlovely

Tiktok: @vanessachicapoet

NAAFA Webinar Series:  Fat Accessibility Apps & Databases featuring the creators of AllGo, National Plus Guide, and FriendlyLikeMe

Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at 5pm PT/6pm MT/7pm CT/8pm ET

Description of Event: 

Fat and disabled people deserve the same access to businesses and public accommodations that everyone else enjoys, but finding out in advance if places accommodate fat bodies can be difficult. In this edition of the NAAFA Webinar Series, host Tigress Osborn is joined by entrepreneurs Rebecca Alexander (AllGo), Nyemade Boiwu (National Plus Guide), and Elysia Everett Burns (Friendly Like Me) to discuss their projects. Participants will be introduced to each project, followed by discussion with the creators about the successes and challenges of creating databases and apps, as well as how fat community and allies can support accessibility for all bodies.

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. Register at naafa.org/webinars. 

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Guest Bios:

Rebecca Alexander (she/her) is the Co-Founder & CEO of AllGo, the first review platform designed with fat people’s needs in mind. She founded AllGo because, as a fat woman, she has spent countless hours scouring the internet to reduce her anxiety about going to new places. A lifelong Oregonian, Rebecca was born and raised in Southern Oregon, lived in Salem while attending college at Willamette University and moved to Portland in 2011. 

Rebecca is also the author of A Kids Book About Body Image, which debuted in 2020 and is now in its second printing.  Find her on Instagram & Twitter at @portlandrebecca.

Nyemade Boiwu (she/her) is the owner of National Plus Guide. Launched with co-founder Janet Conroy-Quirk, NPG is a database of plus-friendly and plus-owned businesses that helps to identify safe, comfortable spaces for larger bodies. Nyemade is an award-winning writer, speaker, and digital content strategist passionate about using her talent for communication to encourage people to see things from the perspective of others. Nyemade uses her Instagram Lives, YouTube series and podcasts to raise awareness about important issues and entertain others. She currently has a fellowship with the National Alliance on Mental Illness Delaware as their Diversity and Equity Fellow. In addition to being passionate about the topic of Mental Health Nyemade frequently speaks about the top of self love and self acceptance. Follow Nymade on your favorite social media @nationalplusguide and @thatafricanbutterfly.

Elysia Everett Burns (she/her) is the founder and CEO of Friendly Like Me. Elysia’s passion for accessibility for disabled and higher weight people led her to create Friendly Like Me, which helps users identify accessible businesses without having to do hours of reconnaissance just to know whether places are safe, comfortable, welcoming, and accessible to us. Elysia is a curious, insightful, impact-driven leader, and change agent. She enjoys bringing people, teams, and ideas together to solve complex problems. Follow Elysia and Friendly Like Me on your favorite social media @friendlylikeme. 

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

NAAFA 2022 Webinar Series: Fat Death Planning: Insights from a Fat and Fat-Positive Funeral Director featuring Adrianne Briere

Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 11am PT/12pm MT/1pm CT/2pm ET (1 hour)

Content warning: Candid discussion of death planning specific to fat people.

NOW AVAILABLE! A recording of Fat Death Planning: Insights from a Fat and Fat-Positive Funeral Director featuring Adrianne Briere is now available on NAAFA’s YouTube Channel. ⁠

In this episode of the NAAFA webinar series, host Tigress Osborn is joined by Funeral Director Adrianne Briere, a fat and fat-positive licensed funeral director. Adrianne will answer common questions, as well as address myths and misinformation about what happens to fat bodies after we die.

Be sure to also check out NAAFA’s new Fat Death Planning Resources Hub, a collection of resources intended to support  fat people and our loved ones in making arrangements for larger bodies at the end of life and after death. The site currently includes information about caring for remains after death, and it will eventually include information and life insurance, end-of-life care, and more.

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our events are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bio:

Adrianne Briere (she/her) is a graduate of the Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning (aka Humber College) in Toronto. She was licensed as a funeral director in 2009. She has 13 years of experience helping families of all races, religions, belief systems, and sizes through the most emotional and vulnerable time in their lives.

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB HOSTED BY BREE (@BREEISHELPFULAF)

Friday, November 25, 2022 at 5:30pm PT/6:30pm MT/7:30pm CT/8:30pm ET

JOIN US AT FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB! EVENT IS FREE!!

Presented by NAAFA and hosted by Bree (@BreeIsHelpfulAF).

The Fat Fridays Social Club is held via Zoom and is an affinity space only for folx who identify as fat. (Ages 16+)  Next gathering is 11/25, 5:30 - 7:30 PDT

Each month has a theme. The theme for September is  #TheOcean.  Here's what you can expect: 

1. Introductions - Name, pronouns, location (learn the First Peoples of your location at native-land.ca)

2. Themed discussion about #TheOcean

3. Themed game - Ocean-themed Taboo! (Winner will choose next month's theme!)

4. Open social time 

Themed dress is totally encouraged! (But not required.)

The Unlearning Series: Rewriting the Fat Body Led by Vanessa Chica Ferreira

Sunday, November 13, 2022 at 2pm PT/3pm MT/4pm CT/5pm ET

Trigger warning: This series will include topics that some may find vulnerable, including exploring negative feelings (our own and others).

Description of Event:

The "Unlearning Series” is a generative writing workshop, open to participants of all ages, sizes, and abilities. Participants will be led through writing prompts and activities to encourage inner and outer reflection on topics related to fat bodies. November’s topic will be “A Fat Body Sits At The Dinner Table”.

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. Register at naafa.org/webinars by midnight 11/12/22 to receive the webinar link. 

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. If you will need ASL interpreting, please register no later than 11/9/22 for us to arrange for ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bio:

Vanessa Chica Ferreira (she/her) is an NYC educator, poet, playwright, fat activist/model, co-editor, and producer for RoblesWritesProductions Inc., and founder of theWORDbox. She co-wrote and performed in a 3 woman play titled “Live Big Girl” which debuted at The National Black Theatre. Her work can be found in The BX Files "Contemporary Poetry from the Bronx" Anthology, “The Abuela Stories Project” The Acentos Review, and "Great Weather For Media" Anthology. For more info visit vanessachica.com

Where to find Vanessa:

Website: vanessachica.com/ 

IG: @vanessachicawrites

FB: @Vlovely

Tiktok: @vanessachicapoet

FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB HOSTED BY BREE (@breeishelpfulaf)

Saturday, October 28, 2022 at 5:30pm PT/6:30pm MT/7:30pm CT/8:30pm ET

JOIN US AT FAT FRIDAYS VIRTUAL SOCIAL CLUB! EVENT IS FREE!!

Presented by NAAFA and hosted by Bree (@BreeIsHelpfulAF).

The Fat Fridays Social Club is held via Zoom and is an affinity space only for folx who identify as fat. (Ages 16+)  Next gathering is 10/28, 5:30 - 7:30 PST

Each month has a theme. The theme for September is #Halloween.  Here's what you can expect: 

1. Introductions - Name, pronouns, location (learn the First Peoples of your location at native-land.ca)

2. Themed discussion about Halloween

3. Themed game - Halloween-themed Et Cetera! (Winner will choose next month's theme!)

4. Open social time 

Themed dress is totally encouraged! (But not required.)

The Unlearning Series: Rewriting the Fat Body Led by Vanessa Chica Ferreira

Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 2pm PT/3pm MT/4pm CT/5pm ET

Trigger warning: This series will include topics that some may find vulnerable, including exploring negative feelings (our own and others).

Description of Event:

The "Unlearning Series” is a generative writing workshop, open to participants of all ages, sizes, and abilities. Participants will be led through writing prompts and activities to encourage inner and outer reflection on topics related to fat bodies. 

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. Register at naafa.org/webinars by midnight 10/8/22 to receive the webinar link. 

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. If you will need ASL interpreting, please register no later than 10/6/22 for us to arrange for ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bio:

Vanessa Chica Ferreira (she/her) is an NYC educator, poet, playwright, fat activist/model, co-editor, and producer for RoblesWritesProductions Inc., and founder of theWORDbox. She co-wrote and performed in a 3 woman play titled “Live Big Girl” which debuted at The National Black Theatre. Her work can be found in The BX Files "Contemporary Poetry from the Bronx" Anthology, “The Abuela Stories Project” The Acentos Review, and "Great Weather For Media" Anthology. For more info visit vanessachica.com

Where to find Vanessa:

Website: vanessachica.com

IG: @vanessachicawrites

FB: @Vlovely

Tiktok: @vanessachicapoet

Ahead of the Curve: Fat WOC in Mainstream Fashion Media with Fashion and Culture Writer/Editor Mayra Mejia

Thursday, October 6, 2022 at 3pm PT/4pm MT/5pm CT/6pm ET

Description of Event:

In this episode of Ahead of The Curve, host Marcy Cruz is joined by Mayra Mejia, a Latinx writer/editor who pushes for more representation and accessibility for all within the fashion industry via the media. We’ll chat about the importance of having fat fashion/style journalists in mainstream media, as well as her experiences as a fat woman of color in that space, which is predominantly led by white, straight-sized to smaller fat individuals.  

We’ll also talk about how she has used her writing as a form of activism, especially in the fashion sector, where those above a size 22 are often left out of the conversation and not even acknowledged.

The Ahead of the Curve Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. Register by midnight 10/5/22 to receive the webinar link. 

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with English auto-captions by Otter.ai. ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bio:

Mayra Mejia (She/Her) is a Salvadoran-American freelance fashion and culture writer and editor. 

During her time as managing editor at The Curvy Fashionista, she led an all-woman team of writers and editors and helped to create content exclusively for, and about fat people. 

Passionate about fostering inclusive spaces, she founded PLUSH DMV, a Washington DC-based fat-positive community, in 2019. 

Honored by Teen Vogue as one of the fashion trailblazers advocating for a size-inclusive future within the fashion industry, Mayra Meija is a leader in the community, using the media as a way to be an activist pushing for more accessibility and representation for all in fashion.

Where to find Mayra:

Website: https://mayraymejia.com/

IG: @mayramejia

FB: @simplymayraaa

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

FLM 2022 Virtual Mocktail Mixer - A Toast to Fat Liberation Month

August 31, 2022 at 5pm PDT/6pm MDT/7pm CDT/8pm EDT (1 hour)

Description of Event: 

In this special virtual celebration, NAAFA’s Social Media Director Tamra Dozier-Garland (@TamraLamese) hosts a fun hour of music, mocktails, and more as we toast the end of #FatLiberationMonth! You’ll have a chance to e-mingle with other fat-positive folx for a few fun breakout room icebreakers, and we’ll have DJ Kurt Jo (@djkurtjo) on your screen and in your speakers providing dance tunes between activities. Longtime NAAFA Board Member and retired professional bartender Peggy Howell (@fatacceptancewarrior) will share cocktail/mocktail mixing tips. And popular spoken word artist Kelsey O. Daniels (@andsheshere_) will grace us with a performance and lead us in a toast to energize us as we wrap up Fat Liberation Month and take big fat energy into the rest of the year!

The NAAFA Fat Liberation Month Celebration is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes.

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Presenter Bios:

Tamra Dozier-Garland (@TamraLamese) is a certified life coach, writer, speaker, MC, and serial entrepreneur. She owns and operates Dozeland Creative and is co-founder of a fintech startup. Tamra’s coaching is dedicated to helping fat women transform the way they see themselves and love the body they are in. Tamra brings a passion for creating lasting change along with her marketing experience and love of service. Tamra has volunteered for various non-profits in service of children and people experiencing financial insecurity for more than 15 years. Tamra joined the NAAFA Board in 2022, and she now serves as NAAFA’s Social Media Director. 

Kelsey O. Daniels (@andsheshere_) is an artist organizer baddie scholar from Southeast San Diego that knows that telling her story and curating space for others to do the same is freedom work. She shows up in her creative practice as a poet, singer, comedian, speaker, curator and more. As a fat Black queer disabled femme, she honors her ancestors and descendants by revoking consent from the failed experiment of white supremacy and dreaming up worlds that are affirming and lit.

Kelsey has organized with several collectives committed to the collective liberation of those intentionally marginalized by systems of power such as Black Lives Matter San Diego, We All We Got San Diego, and March For Black Womxn San Diego. She is an internationally ranked poet (Stonewall International Poetry Slam, Black Arts Matter and Womxn of the World) and most recently was the opening act for rupi kaur. She founded and hosts Check, Please: an open mic experiment, a venue that aims to imagine what creative community that prioritized connection over perfection could look like. She is also curating a creative universe called Black Dream Experiment that explores Black dreaming as a collective ancestral, wellness, and liberation practice.

When Kelsey is not moving in her public roles she enjoys going to the beach, cackling until her sides hurt, and listening to her comfort playlists.

Peggy Howell has been active in fat community for almost thirty years. She joined the NAAFA Board of Directors in 2005. She served for many years as NAAFA’s Public Relations Director and Newsletter Content Editor. In addition to helping organize several NAAFA conventions, Peggy traveled the US extensively visiting BBW parties and fat community events all over the country. Peggy is known as @FatAcceptanceWarrior on Instagram, where she uses her social media presence to create more fat visibility and disprove common misconceptions about the longevity of fat people. 

DJ Kurt Jo (@djkurtjo) got his start by pretending to be a DJ in his bedroom as a child. He followed his dream of becoming a DJ to eventually landing an internship at KPMW/Wild 105.5 FM on Maui. A DJ since 1999, he moved from Maui to NYC to Boston, always giving fans a taste of island style while mixing today’s hottest beats. 

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

Keep scrolling to learn more about other webinars available for viewing!

NAAFA 2022 Webinar Series: FLM Edition - Political Cartoons for Fat Liberation featuring Barry Deutsch

Description of Event:

In this Fat Liberation Month edition of the #NAAFAWebinarSeries, cartoonist  Barry Deutsch joins host Tigress Osborn to discuss his widely celebrated political cartoons about fat activism and other social justice topics. Barry will also discuss his popular comic book series, Hereville. 

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with ASL interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bio:

Barry Deutsch lives in Portland, Oregon, in a bright blue house with pink trim and varying numbers of housepets, housemates, and nieces. Best known in fat liberation communities for his political cartoons exploring medical weight bias and other challenges faced by fat people, Barry is also widely known for his popular comics, Hereville (about yet another troll-fighting 11-year-old Orthodox Jewish Girl) and SuperButch with Becky Hawkins (about a 1940s lesbian superhero protecting the bar scene from corrupt cops).

Where to find Barry:

IG: @barry.deutsch

FB: @barrybarry

Twitter: @barrydeutsch

https://www.patreon.com/barry

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

Keep scrolling to learn more about other webinars available for viewing!

Fat Liberation Month 2022 Webinar Edition: Fat People and America’s True Crime Obsession featuring Brittany Ransom

Description of Event: 

Content note: May include discussion of violent crime details.

In this Fat Liberation Month edition of the #NAAFAWebinarSeries, true crime podcast star Brittany Ransom joins us to talk about how fat victims, fat criminals, and fat crime experts factor into our cultural fascination with real and fictional murder and violence. Brittany, the co-host of When Killers Get Caught will also discuss how being a fat Black woman has shaped her opportunities as a content creator and television commentator. Hosted by Tigress Osborn.

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bio:

Brittany Ransom is the fairy-haired co-host of When Killers Get Caught: A True Crime Podcast. She stands at the crossroad of entertainment and education, firmly devoted to exposing not just killers but the injustices of the world around us. When Killers Get Caught reaches 200,000 + weekly listeners and delivers true crime content to over 800,000 TikTok followers (@caughtpodcast) several times a week. 

For Brittany, true crime is a hobby but also a calling. As the child of attorneys, it was normal to hear about crime growing up. She’s been deeply invested in true crime ever since she was 12 years and picked up a dusty copy of Helter Skelter from a local library. 

Brittany is a fat woman of color navigating an industry that defers to thin white talent, but somehow she’s making space for her brand of conscious storytelling that focuses on victims and removes the mystique of the killers. In addition to the content she creates, Brittany has been featured as an expert on ABC’s 20/20 and the Tubi original documentary Sins of the Father.

Where to find Brittany:

whenkillersgetcaught.com

youtube.com/channel/UCHzVt_gqf5gTDCmV-aGjkdw

tiktok.com/@caughtpodcast/

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

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Fat Liberation Month 2022 Webinar Edition: Self Care for Fat Bodies (From Practical to Pampering) with Anna Chapman 

Description of Event:

In this #FatLiberationMonth edition of the #NAAFAWebinarSeries, influencer and fat self-care advocate Anna Chapman (she/they)  joins us to talk about how individuals and community can support fat people in meeting the needs of our fat bodies without embarrassment or shame. We’ll discuss tips and products for everything from practical needs to treating yourself (yes, including how to take care of those hard-to-reach places). Hosted by Tigress Osborn (she/her).

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bio:

Anna Chapman (she/they) is a fat self-care icon, joyful movement instructor, size inclusion specialist, meditation facilitator, and fat activist. Having worked in the wellness space for over 10 years both in her own practice and supporting clients, community members, and other facilitators. Anna’s work is care-centered and rooted in body liberation. Find out more about Anna’s work @iamannachapman on Instagram or visit iamannachapman.com

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

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Fat Liberation Month 2022 Event: NAAFA presents Seyoncé’s Spooky Saturday the 13th

Event Description:

Who says spooky is only for October? In this special #FatLiberationMonth virtual event, NAAFA has teamed up with Seyoncé Knows, aka “Toronto’s small time, extra-large medium” and drag queen extraordinaire, to bring a little creepy-campy fun into the middle of your August. The event includes interactive games, virtual hangout time, and of course, performances from Seyoncé. Join us for a fat-friendly, frighteningly good time! Costumes/dress-up encouraged but not required. 

Note: This event is for ages 18+. This virtual event includes interactive elements that may be recorded. Guests can avoid being recorded by keeping cameras off during the Zoom session. By registering for the event, you consent to having any on-camera participation recorded and posted to NAAFA’s Youtube channel, website, and/or other social media. 

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. Register by midnight 8/12 to receive the webinar link. Check out the rest of our Fat Liberation Month programming at naafa.org/flm-events. 

This event is presented via Zoom, in English, and with ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bio:

Seyoncé Knows is Toronto's small time, extra-large medium.  A queen for every season, she makes everything! Seyonce is known for serving you eclectic, eccentric, and ectoplasmic entertainment. Follow her on Instagram @SeyonceKnows for spooky, campy fun to be had by all! 

Keep scrolling to learn more about other webinars available for viewing!

Fat Liberation Month 2022 Webinar Edition: Lipedema Advocacy and Visibility featuring BrenaJean

Description of webinar: 

In this Fat Liberation Month edition of the NAAFA webinar series, influencer/writer and Lipedema advocate Brena Jean (she/her) joins us to educate our audience about Lipedema and Lymphedema, medical weight bias, and how anti-fatness and anti-Blackness shaped have shaped her life with lipedema and her life as a social media star. Hosted by Tigress Osborn (she/her).

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, with ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bio:

Brena Jean (she/her) is a North Carolina-based writer, speaker, and Lipedema advocate. Raised in Oakland by Southern-born parents, Brena is a high school dropout who supported her family by teaching Montessori, driving buses, and more before pursuing a tech career via programming bootcamp. After a lifetime of peer bullying and medical gaslighting, Brena was finally diagnosed with Lipedema and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in 2018. Brena shared her Lipedema journey on her blog, Instagram and TikTok, eventually going viral and being seen by millions.

Where to find Brena Jean:

IG, Twitter and TikTok  @thebrenajean

YouTube Channel

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

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Fat Liberation Month 2022 Edition: Fat Activism with Dr. Charlotte Cooper

Description of webinar:

In this episode of the NAAFA webinar series,  Dr. Charlotte Cooper, author of Fat Activism: A Radical Social Movement, joins host Tigress Osborn to discuss her decades of activism and scholarship. 

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, with ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Charlotte Cooper is a fat activist, scholar and author who lives and works in East London in the UK. She has a special interest in queering fat, fat feminism and fat culture, and her theorising of the Social Model of Disability has been influential. Her most popular work is Fat Activism: A Radical Social Movement. Charlotte is also a radical and Accredited psychotherapist. She has a creative practice with roots in DIY culture and she performs as Homosexual Death Drive. Charlotte is queer, working class and neurodivergent. You can find out more at charlottecooper.net.

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes.

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

Keep scrolling to learn more about other webinars available for viewing!

Fat Liberation Month 2022 Event: Fat Community Magick and Tarot with Bree

Description of event:

In this special #FatLiberationMonth event, Bree (they/them) of Bree is Helpful AF gathered fatties and friends to generate community candle magick for the month. They also offered mini tarot readings using Uno cards!

Note: The community candle magick was recorded for the NAAFA Official YouTube, but tarot readings were not recorded.

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our events are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Presenter bio: 

Bree (they/them) is an unapologetically fat, queer, and neurodivergent witch with a master’s in psychology and an eclectic background in helping people. An enthusiastic NAAFA member, they host the free monthly event for fat folx, Fat Fridays Virtual Social Club. Learn more about Bree’s sliding scale peer counseling, personal consultation, and tarot services at BreeIsHelpfulAF.com, on Instagram @breeishelpfulaf, and on YouTube at Bree is Helpful AF.

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

Keep scrolling to learn more about other webinars available for viewing!

July 22, 2022 Ahead of the Curve featuring Plus Model Katie Brown

Webinar Description:

In the latest edition of Ahead of the Curve, Marcy Cruz is joined by size 26/28 model Katie Brown in discussing the fashion industry and how she has navigated her career in a space where agency-signed models her size are rare, despite some major brands looking to agencies for models above a size 22. Marcy also chats with her about what it means to be signed to an agency versus being a freelance model, the importance of brands showing more body representation, why aspiring models (print and fit) should pitch to agencies right now and more.

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes.

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bio:

From a very young age, Katie Brown has loved fashion and yearned to be a part of the fashion industry. This love and her passion to push for inclusivity within the industry led her to obtain a degree in fashion merchandising. This is when she began to take on some modeling gigs and gained the attention of Natural Models LA, a major agency in the US. Last year, the agency signed her to their roster and since then, she has worked with plus size brands such as Torrid, Universal Standard, Alpine Butterfly Swim and Poppy Row. As a size 26/28 model, she is breaking barriers within an industry that is still not fully size inclusive and in need of more body/size representation. She is proof that models above a size 22 can be successful as well as showing the importance of brands featuring models of different shapes and sizes in order to help customers gauge how the clothing will fit on an array of bodies.

You can follow Katie at:

@a_katiebrown

View her online portfolio at http://www.naturalmodelsla.com/divisions/plus/portfolios/katie-brown

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

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June 25, 2022 Intersections of Fat Identity & the Gender Spectrum

Description of webinar:

In this Webinar, we explore how our experiences as fat folx have impacted our gender identities and vice versa. 

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, with ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Panelist Bios:

Andy Duran (he/him) is a queer and trans Blaxican Bear from Oakland, California. He is the Education Director for Good Vibrations, and the Founder of Chub Rollz in the Bay Area. As a trainer for nearly 20 years, Andy has been providing education and resources to better serve his communities in need. In his off time, Andy can be found singing George Michael, blushing, and skateboarding around town. Find him on Instagram @baybearcat.

Bree (they/them) is an unapologetically fat, queer, and neurodivergent witch with an eclectic background in helping people. An enthusiastic NAAFA member, they host the free monthly event for fat folx, Fat Fridays Virtual Social Club. They find joy in playing drums, thrifting, and listening to records with their partner and cat. Find more about Bree’s sliding scale peer counseling and tarot services at BreeIsHelpfulAF.com, on Instagram @breeishelpfulaf, and on YouTube at Bree is Helpful AF.

Kae Gabrielle (she/they) is a writer, interdisciplinary artist, and model. Her art centers the stories of Trans and gender expansive folks, Black folks, fat folks, and envisions freedom for them and their communities. Kae is a New Jersey native who moved to Atlanta to further her education and build community in QTPOC spaces. Find her on Instagram @goodegawd.

Lenore (all pronouns) is a proud Angeleno and leader within the local queer community. As a motorcycle enthusiast, they’re a staple of Los Angeles’ queer biker community. In their free time, they enjoy working on cars and bikes, and eating sushi.

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

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June 18, 2022 Drag Queen Story Hour with Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker

Description of webinar:

Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) is just what it sounds like—drag queens reading stories to kids! DQSH captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. In this very special Pride event co-sponsored by NAAFA and Drag Queen Story Hour, we're also going to give kids and kids-at-heart a chance to experience fat glamour and fat fierceness with the first-ever Fat and Proud Drag Story Hour starring Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker! Miss Terra Cotta will introduce us to some Pride history, lead us in some body love exercises, and of course, read us some fabulous stories, all while serving lewks and curves!

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and with ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. Content is appropriate for all ages. 

Speaker Bio:

Miss Terra Cotta Sugarbaker is the Queen of the South. Mother of the House of Sugarbaker, she enjoys volunteer work and making the world a better place.  Since 2017, she has served as the Executive Director of the Atlanta Chapter of Drag Queen Story Hour, part of an international movement seeking to share a love of reading through a lens of diversity and inclusion.  Her work has received global acclaim, and she has been featured on NPR, Logo, Newsweek, and many other news outlets.  She has performed at the High Museum of Art, the Atlanta Children's Museum, the Atlanta Pride Festival, and was hosted by the Mayor of Atlanta at Atlanta City Hall.  She has partnered extensively with the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, and presented on this partnership at the Georgia Libraries Conference.  In 2020, she was recognized as one of Out Georgia's Most Influential LGBTQ+ Georgians.  When not in pursuit of world peace, she is interested in world domination. She enjoys reading to children because READING IS FUNDAMENTAL. Her motto is "Reading Books & Serving Looks!" 

Find Miss Terra Cotta on Social Media:

@missterracotta

facebook.com/missterracottasugarbaker

facebook.com/DQSHATL/

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

About our event co-sponsors:

Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) started out as drag queens reading stories to children in libraries and grew into a global phenomenon! DQSH now offers literary and creative programming for kids and teens of all ages led by drag queens, kings, and creatures all over the world. DQSH envisions a world where kids can learn from LGBTQ+ herstories and experiences to love themselves, celebrate the fabulous diversity in their communities, and stand up for what they believe in and each other. For more info, visit dragqueenstoryhour.org or follow @dragqueenstoryhour on your favorite social media. 

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

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June 16, 2022 Abundant Brilliance: A Fat Intellectual Dialogue with Athia Choudhury and Sonalee Rashatwar

This edition of the #NAAFA Webinar Series features scholars Athia Choudhury (she/her) and Sonalee Rashatwar (they/he) in a freeform discussion, talking about their work in fat studies, fat sexuality, fat visibility and more. Hosted by NAAFA Chair Tigress Osborn (she/her).

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes.

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, with ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/give.

Speaker Bios:

Athia N. Choudhury (she/her) is a doctoral candidate in American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California. She is a recipient of the Wallis Annenberg Endowed Fellowship (2014-2019) and has earned a graduate certificate in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Athia specializes in Asian American/ Transnational Feminisms and Postcolonial Theory with emphasis on 20th century body politics and militarized food cultures. She has taught courses on race, gender, sexuality, and the body at both the University of Southern California and Pomona College as well as facilitated public workshops on race, identity, and belonging at various institutions. In Fall of 2022, Athia will join Duke University as the Postdoctoral Associate in Asian American and Diaspora Studies.

Her current project, “Gut Cultures: Fat Matter(s) in Genealogies of Health, Nation, and Empire” engages a diverse array of cultural and visual texts, postcolonial literatures, and multiethnic soundscapes to thicken the relationship between nation, desire, and the science of health from a decolonial fat studies and disability studies lens.  “Gut Cultures” traces appetites—as viscera, practice, compulsion, genre— across cultural histories of powdered/skim milk,  representations of the gut and women’s eating, and the productive power of metabolic personhood in American empire.

Athia’s writing is published or forthcoming in The Journal of Transnational American Studies, Disability Studies Quarterly, The Routledge International Handbook on Fat Studies, and the German anthology Fat Studies: Doing, Becoming, and Being Fat.

Sonalee Rashatwar (they/he) LCSW MED is an award-winning clinical social worker, sex therapist, adjunct lecturer, and grassroots organizer. Based in Philly (licensed in NJ and PA), they are a superfat queer bisexual non-binary therapist and co-owner of Radical Therapy Center, specialized in treating sexual trauma, diet trauma, racial or immigrant trauma, and South Asian family abuse, while offering fat positive sexual healthcare.

Popularly known as TheFatSexTherapist on Instagram, their notoriety first peaked when they were featured on Breitbart in March 2018 for naming thinness as a white supremacist beauty ideal. And they continue to draw the ire of white supremacists everywhere with controversial statements on intersectional fat liberation since then. Sonalee is a sought-after speaker who travels internationally to curate custom visual workshops that whisper to our change-making spirit and nourish our vision for a more just future.

Sonalee is not paid for their labor as a community organizer, where they have fundraised and facilitated a free five-day political action summer camp for LGBT+ South Asian and Indo Caribbean youth. Sonalee received their Master of Social Work and Master of Education in Human Sexuality from Widener University in 2016 and have been working in the field of anti-violence for 10+ years.

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

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May 24, 2022 NAAFA 2022 Ahead of the Curve: Interview with Marina Hayes of Peridot Robes

Description of webinar:

If you weren’t available to attend the live session with Marina Hayes, you will definitely want to watch this recording. Ahead of the Curve series host Marcy Cruz and Marina Hayes of Peridot Robes discussed designing for larger sizes - is it really as hard as brands say? Do larger sized folks not shop? They discussed why clothing should be accessible and the misuse of the term size inclusive. Marina talked about business and why she refuses to sell sizes under 14 as well as how her robes sell out quickly, even the larger sizes.

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes.

This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English, and ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501(c)3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/donate.

Speaker Bio:

Marina Hayes lives in Los Angeles where she’s created Peridot Robes, an exclusive line of luxury robes for sizes 14-40. She is passionate about cannabis, culinary delights, shameless relaxation, and pursuing deep joy and comfort while living with chronic pain.

You can follow Marina at:

• peridotrobes.com

• facebook.com/marinathegreat

• facebook.com/peridotrobes

• @peridot_robes

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

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May 16, 2022 Locus of Control: Body Diversity and AAPI Representation in the Arts featuring Jason Bayani

Description of webinar:

In this episode of the #NAAFAWebinarSeries, arts organizer and spoken word artist Jason Bayani joins host Tigress Osborn to discuss his experiences as a Filipino poet and professional. 

Jason talked about his books, his life in the world of spoken word, and his work at Kearny Street Workshop, the oldest Asian and Pacific American arts organization in the US. They also discuss body image and body politics, and how being a chubby guy has influenced Jason’s life and career. 

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. Accessibility notes: This webinar is presented in English with captions. ASL translation is provided by Pro Brono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501c3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/donate. 

Speaker Bio:

Jason Bayani is the author of Locus (Omnidawn Publishing 2019, Norcal Book Award finalist) and Amulet (Write Bloody Publishing 2013). He's an MFA graduate from Saint Mary's College, a Kundiman fellow, and is the co-director of Kearny Street Workshop, the oldest multi-disciplinary Asian Pacific American arts organization in the country. His publishing credits include World Literature Today, Lantern Review, and other publications. Jason is the recipient of the 2021 California Arts Council Established artist fellowship and is a featured artist for the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists Festival in 2022. He performs regularly around the country and debuted his solo theater show "Locus of Control" in 2016 with theatrical runs in San Francisco, New York, and Austin.

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

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May 10, 2022 Belly of the Beast: Anti-fatness as Anti-Blackness with Da'Shaun L. Harrison

Description of webinar:  

In this edition of the NAAFA Webinar Series, author and community organizer Da’Shaun L. Harrison (they/them) joins host Tigress Osborn (she/her) to talk about their acclaimed book Belly ot the Beast: the Politics of AntiFatness as AntiBlackness. The book has been called a “modern classic” (Kiese Laymon) that is “gift and a groundbreaker” (Sharonda J. Brown). 

The NAAFA Webinar Series is for fat people and fat-positive folx of all sizes. Accessibility notes: This webinar is presented via Zoom, in English. ASL Interpreting by Pro Bono ASL. 

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance in a 501c3 charitable organization with a mission to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support. Our webinars are offered to the community free of charge thanks to the generosity of those who give to NAAFA. To support this and other NAAFA programming, visit naafa.org/donate. 

Speaker Bio:

Da’Shaun Harrison is a Black, fat, queer and trans theorist and abolitionist in Atlanta, GA. Harrison is the author of Belly of the Beast: The Politics of AntiFatness as Anti-Blackness, and is a public speaker who often gives talks and leads workshops on Blackness, queerness, gender, fatness, disabilities, and their intersections. Harrison currently serves as the Editor-at-Large for Scalawag Magazine and is the co-host of the podcast “Unsolicited: Fatties Talk Back”. 

Harrison’s tenure as a community organizer in Atlanta began in 2014 during their first year at Morehouse College. Along with several other student organizers, Harrison helped build a student-led organizing body named “AUCShutItDown.” The group’s work was centered around police violence in Metro Atlanta, gentrification, campus-based sexual violence, and queer/trans-antagonistic school policies. In 2015, that work expanded to the creation of Atlanta Black Students United—a collective of Black student organizers from colleges and universities across Metro Atlanta dedicated to restructuring the policies and cultures of their respective campuses. In 2016, following the uprisings birthed by the murders of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, Harrison and four other Black queer and trans organizers created #ATLisReady. AiR, as it was called, sought to consolidate already-existing work moving across the city, and to make it easier for community organizers to network with one another. Between the years 2019 and 2021, Harrison served as Associate Editor — and later as Managing Editor — of Wear Your Voice Magazine.  

Harrison penned their first published piece in the summer of 2017 while navigating heightened poverty and homelessness. This would become the genesis of their writing career. Harrison writes not only as a means of survival, but with the belief that if the marginalized wish for a future where their history is depicted accurately and their stories are told correctly then they must document them. Writing, for Da’Shaun, is not solely a passion or talent, but it is the foundation on which their home—their love, their survival, their creativity—is built. It is their expression of self; their contribution to the documentation of the histories of oppressed/colonized peoples. 

Harrison’s writing has appeared in PhiladelphiaPrint, Medium, THEM, Black Youth Project, BET, and other online publications. They have also been featured in/interviewed by The Fader, Everyday Feminism, Buzzfeed, Teen Vogue, the New York Times, and other local and national publications.

You can follow Da’Shaun at:

Website:  https://dashaunharrison.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/DaShaunLH/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dagodlyshaun

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaShaunLH

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

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February 24, 2022 AHEAD OF THE CURVE: BLACK AND POC LEADERSHIP IN PLUS FASHION

Featuring Chenese Lewis, hosted by Marcy Cruz

In this edition of Ahead of the Curve, Chenese and Marcy will discuss how Black Women/Women of Color paved the way in the fashion industry for plus size bodies to be in the forefront and continue to push for size inclusivity.

Speaker Bio:

Chenese Lewis is a Louisiana-based media correspondent, speaker, model and the voice behind the successful podcast The Chenese Lewis show, the first podcast for the plus-size community that launched in 2008.

Considered an icon and trailblazer within the plus size industry, Chenese has over 20 years of experience, which began with her being crowned the first Miss Plus America in 2003. This led her to work with different plus-size brands such as Torrid and Ashley Stewart as a model and spokesperson at a size 22, during a time when the standard plus-size model was between a size 8 and 14. 

Chenese used her platform to push for body positivity and more diversity in fashion. She served as President of the National Organization for Women Hollywood Chapter (Hollywood NOW) for two years and produced Hollywood NOW’s “Love Your Body Day” event from 2006 – 2011, an annual event to promote positive body image which was sponsored by the City of West Hollywood. In these events, she pushed to cast a wide range of models, including models over a size 22.

In 2010, Chenese posed nude with America’s Next Top Model cycle 10 winner Whitney Thompson in the promotional campaign for the event, which went viral and magnified Chenese’s role as a leading positive body image advocate. 

Since then, she has hosted large-scale fashion events during New York Fashion Week, Los Angeles Fashion Week, and abroad in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She also graced the cover of VICE Magazine UK’s 10th anniversary issue and posed for the popular celebrity-driven NOH8 Campaign. 

In 2020, Forbes Magazine called Chenese “one of the original plus-size influencers”. She continues to be a sought-after speaker and expert on topics focused on positive body image and her message has not waivered. She believes that you can be beautiful and confident regardless of your size. Considered a pioneer within the plus size industry who paved the way for those who came on the scene after her, she continues to push for inclusivity, acceptance and equality for all.

You can follow Chenese at:

Website: cheneselewis.com

Instagram: @cheneselewis

Twitter: @CheneseLewis

Facebook: @cheneselewis

Accessibility notes: This webinar is presented in English and ASL translation was provided by Pro Bono ASL. Closed captioning editing is in progress.

To stay up to date about other NAAFA events, join our mailing list at naafa.org/signupform

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

Keep scrolling to learn more about other webinars available for viewing!

January 27, 2022 Ally Week: Ahead of the Curve: Spotlight on Sarah Chiwaya

In this special Ally Week edition of Ahead of the Curve, series host Marcy Cruz is joined by Sarah Chiwaya of Curvily Fashion. Sarah and Marcy discuss the ways smaller plus size fashion influencers can leverage their access, privilege, and followers to pressure the industry to create truly inclusive plus size fashion.

SPEAKER BIO:

Sarah Chiwaya (she/her) is a body-positive style blogger based in NYC.  She started Curvily on Tumblr over eight years ago when she realized how powerful seeing other stylish plus size babes living their lives happily could be. She is also the founder @newyorkcityplus for IRL community events (which will be happening again as soon as it is safe!) Sarah created the #plussizeplease movement in 2014 as a way for plus shoppers to directly express the demand for more and better options to brands, and she works behind the scenes as a consultant to help brands who want to expand their size range best serve plus size customers.

The 2022 NAAFA Ally Week Series is free to fat community and allies of all sizes.

Accessibility notes: This webinar is presented in English with ASL translation provided by Pro Bono ASL. Closed captioning editing is in progress.

To stay up to date about this and other NAAFA events, join our mailing list at naafa.org/signupform

Keep scrolling to learn more about other webinars available for viewing!

January 25, 2022 Webinar: Supporting Fat Businesses, Supporting Fat Customers

In this special webinar for Ally Week, NAAFA Chair Tigress Osborn welcomed Dalia Kinsey, Laura Burns and Lindley Ashline panelists as they discuss how you can be an ally to fat businesses and how business can be allies to fat customers.

SPEAKER BIOS:
Lindley Ashline (she/her) creates photographs that celebrate the unique beauty of bodies that fall outside conventional "beauty" standards. She fights weight stigma by giving fat people a safe place to explore how their bodies look on camera and by increasing the representation of fat bodies in photography, advertising, fine art and the world at large.

Lindley is also the creator of Body Liberation Stock and the Body Love Shop, a curated resource for body-friendly products and artwork. Find Lindley's work and get her free weekly Body Liberation Guide at http://bit.ly/bodyliberationguide

Dalia Kinsey (Nonbinary|No Pronouns) is a queer, small fat, Black Registered Dietitian, the creator of the Body Liberation for All podcast, and author of Decolonizing Wellness: A QTBIPOC-Centered Guide to Escape the Diet Trap, Heal Your Self-Image, and Achieve Body Liberation. Dalia rejects diet culture and teaches people to use nutrition as a self-care and personal empowerment tool to counter the damage of systemic oppression. Dalia’s work can be found at https://www.daliakinsey.com/

Laura Burns (she/her) is a Body Liberation Guide, yoga teacher, author, and activist. She supports folks on their journey to embodiment and healing with yoga classes, workshops, and retreats around the world. Her passion is helping people heal from the damaging effects of body-shame, oppression, and capitalism so they can live the life they deserve. You can find more information about Laura and her work at radicalbodylove.com.

The 2022 NAAFA Webinar Series is free to fat community and allies of all sizes.

Accessibility notes: This webinar is presented in English, ASL translation is provided by Pro Bono ASL. A transcript of the webinar will be made available at a later date.

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

Keep scrolling to learn more about other webinars available for viewing!

January 25, 2022 WEBINAR: All-In: Partnering for Fat Representation in Google Marketing

Google’s Inclusive Marketing project, known as All-In, is the tech leader’s effort to recognize that marketing professionals have “the power to shape how we see ourselves and each other – and make a positive contribution to the media landscape.” 

In this Ally Week edition of the NAAFA Webinar Series, NAAFA Chair Tigress Osborn was joined by Google team members Melu Lopez and Maria Giannopolous to discuss Google’s addition of Plus Size Marketing Guidelines to All-in and their partnership with NAAFA in ensuring that fat activist perspectives were incorporated into the guidelines. 

SPEAKER BIOS:

Maria Giannopoulos is a bubbly, digital savvy Wisconsinite with a deep love for fashion, digital and politics. Currently, Maria lives in our nation’s capital and leads marketing efforts with key political stakeholders for Google. On top of that, she has also strived for more body inclusivity in Google Marketing and beyond. She is thrilled to be working with NAAFA and talking about this important work at Ally Week.

Melu López is a Product & Inclusion Manager at Google, working to make our Products and Marketing inclusive of all our users, currently working in São Paulo, Brazil. She has 8+ years of experience in Marketing in Tech with the Latin American market. Prior to that, she co-founded an adult literacy NGO in Argentina. Melu has been selected as a mentee by the Vital Voices mentorship program for future women leaders, and received multiple awards at Google for her work with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (including work with the trans and Afrobrazilian communities). She's also the creator of Listen Louder, Google Cloud's podcast about DEI in Brazil.

Seen by her team as the most Brazilian Argentinean you'll ever meet, she takes stilt walking lessons to dance at carnival with a feminist collective (when she's not living through a global pandemic!).

You can follow Melu on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

The 2022 NAAFA Webinar Series is free to fat community and allies of all sizes.

Accessibility notes: This webinar is presented in English, ASL translation is provided by Pro Bono ASL. A transcript of the webinar will be made available at a later date.

The recording is now available on NAAFA's YouTube Channel.

To see past webinars, subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/naafaofficial.

Keep scrolling to learn more about other webinars available for viewing!

January 24, 2022 Introduction to Allyship: Learning the Basics with Tigress Osborn, NAAFA Chair

Monday 1/24/22 at 5pm PT/6pm MT/7pm CT/8pm ET

Tigress Osborn, NAAFA Chair, will open Ally Week by taking us through Allyship 101. What does allyship mean? Why is it important to be an ally to other marginalized communities?

The 2022 NAAFA Ally Week Series is free to fat community and allies of all sizes.

Accessibility notes: This webinar is presented in English with closed captioning by Otter.ai and ASL translation is provided by Pro Bono ASL.

SPEAKER BIO:

Tigress Osborn (she/her) is the NAAFA Board Chair. Tigress joined the NAAFA Board of Directors in 2015 and became Director of Community Outreach in 2017. She is the founder of Full Figure Entertainment in Oakland, CA and co-founder, with activist/blogger Nicholet Deschine Parkhurst of Redstreak Girl, of PHX Fat Force in Phoenix, AZ. Her professional background as a youth advocate, diversity educator, and equity and inclusion consultant informs the fat liberation activism she has engaged in since 2008.