SIS TO SIS: creating safe spaces for women of colour

BY SELINA McCALLUM

Pyjamas and pumps was the dress code for this all-female networking event called Fall into Femininity that took place last Saturday afternoon in Brampton.

An organization called Sis to Sis founded by 23-year-old Teshyla Bailey, is a Toronto-based women’s organization that focuses on building solidarity and increasing social awareness among young women of colour.

 The organization is geared towards young women of colour, but predominantly focuses on black women.

Bailey graduated from the University of Windsor with a double degree in Women’s Studies and Sociology.

“Sis to Sis is a multi-faceted organization which means we have a few different branches of what we do,” said Bailey.

Not only does Sis to Sis host networking events, but also has an all-female online book club and workshops on topics such as shopping on a budget.

“The next workshop that we have coming up is on financial literacy. Anything we do we try to make it fun and appealing to young women. We’ll go over ways to shop on a budget or how to create a plan for the lifestyle that you want,” said Bailey.

The event allowed there to be space to hold conversations between women in attendance about their feminine experiences within the Greater Toronto Area.

Bailey plans and funds all of the events that Sis to Sis holds.

“Right now, we are not government-funded. It’s been primarily me funding each of the projects. Sis to Sis Fall into Femininity is the first time I’ve sold tickets online for an event, other than that it’s been me putting my money in to create spaces for the people meant to come together,” said Bailey.

Throughout her life, the founder of Sis to Sis has always appreciated and found herself in groups designed for women of colour.

“I always found that I liked being in women-cantered spaces and appreciated them. When I was in high school one of the black female teachers took it upon herself to make a woman’s group, so we would meet once a week after school. Sadly, she left after a few months, so we no longer had that space anymore,” said Bailey.

When Bailey went to the University of Windsor, she found another women’s group to join called STAND, which stands for Sisters Taking Action for a New Direction.

After graduating and moving back to Toronto, Bailey found herself feeling lost again and looking for a women’s group. “It’s one thing to have a women’s focused space, you can find that anywhere, but to have a women’s focused space that appeals to me was very hard,” said Bailey.

The idea and the name of Sis to Sis wasn’t always there at first.

“The inspiration behind it was finding solitude or comfort around and among other women. What I realized is that I wasn’t the only one,” said Bailey.

Jermeka Castello was in attendance at the event on Saturday.

“I decided to attend this event because it was an opportunity for me to meet some girls, expand my networking skills and I really wanted my family members to attend as well to learn how to start networking because they’re so young,” said Castello.

Castello said that the event made her feel safe and welcomed.

“Overall, it was such an empowering and uplifting event that not only enabled me to get a better perspective on how other women of colour see the world, but also be welcomed in a safe space where I felt so comfortable talking about my problems with no filter. I absolutely loved it!” Said Castello.

Bailey hopes to break the stigma that revolves around black women.

“I feel like there is a social stigma for black women to be strong, or very stern, or very emotionless and bold. There’s not a lot of wiggle room for us to be open or sensitive,” said Bailey. “I think it’s a standard that we also uphold with one another.”

The founder of Sis to Sis is excited to continue holding spaces for women of colour to feel powerful and heard.

“I read a quote the other day that said, ‘Shame dies when stories are told in safe spaces.’ For women that are coming to a space that is going to allow them to be vulnerable, without being judged or without being talked about, I think it’s a big opportunity for a lot of women to just express themselves,” said Bailey.