Here's a compilation of articles about the United States Social Forum that I've been able to find so far. Hopefully more will come, because there was so much to refelct on, and I hope the discussion, the dialogue, keeps moving. We've got our work cut out for us, but I have more hope for the future than I did a month ago. By that I mean, the movment Heads Up seeks to help to build, that is, a multi racial revolutionary movment led by people of color and working class people, with strong leadership from other traditionally oppressed communities, such as queers and women...in Atlanta I saw that that movement is not only possible but that it *exists*. Which is thrillling.
For everyone going to the US Social Forum in Atlanta in a few days, below are the workshops included in our informal "Another Politics is Possible" track. The track is endorsed by the organizations below and will feature a special panel discussion on Friday, June 29th at 10:30am.
LA Garment Workers Center, INCITE!, Coalition of Immokalee workers, Student Farm worker Alliance, Sista II Sista, Center for Immigrant Families, Regeneracion Childcare, Pachamama Childcare Collective, Harm Free Zone, Kitchen Table Collective, Left Turn Magazine, Catalyst Project, Sisterfire, and Refugio.
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---------------------------------------------------------- “Another Politics is Possible: Living the Vision, from Below & to the Left” Friday (29th) 10:30am-12:30pm Georgia Ballroom East room at the Renaissance Atlanta Hotel Downtown ---------------------------------------------------------- ( Collapse )
Placing Palestine solidarity and solidarity with Arab and Muslim people internationally and in the US central in our anti-militarization, anti-war and anti-imperialist organizing.
Arab Movement of Women Arising for Justice (AMWAJ), the International Jewish Solidarity Network – USA, Left Turn Magazine, and the Palestinian Popular Conference Network have brought together organizations and activists from across the country to develop this crucial track that will explore connections between Palestine Solidarity and domestic struggles for justice; reframe the issue of Palestine as a liberation struggle; analyze the history of US imperialism leading up to the current situation in Palestine and the Middle East; and foster discussions on how to build our movement.
Please join us in using this opportunity to come together for important discussions that will help us move beyond our isolation and build a stronger movement for justice.
(tentative--check our tent near registration for updated schedules)
The “Nahr Al-Bared Palestine Tent” will offer a mix of cultural, political, and cross-movement activities going on all day, every day! Stop by for cultural events, film screenings, and presentations; attend gatherings for progressive Arab activists and anti-Zionist Jewish activists; join discussions about Palestine & Middle East solidarity work; pick up t-shirts, DVDs, books, fair trade Palestinian olive oil, and much more at the vendor tables; and check out our amazing “Picture Balata” and “Birthright Re-plugged” photograph exhibits. ( Collapse )
Towards Collective Liberation: The Catalyst Project Program for the US Social Forum, June 27th-July 1st
It is with tremendous joy that we send you our program. Our anticipation for the Social Forum is building and we look forward to joining with thousands of comrades working to build the movements we need. This program is not ours alone, we are collaborating with 23 wonderful organizations on the sessions that follow. We look forward to seeing many of you in Atlanta. Please send this out to your friends and networks. Any help you can provide with outreach is much appreciated.
Catalyst Project works from the assumptions that we need to build grassroots political power in working class communities and communities of color, that women's, transgender and gender variant leadership is central to building dynamic and powerful movements, and that there is a need to organize people who have race, class and gender privilege to participate in building movements led by oppressed communities for collective liberation. We are rooted in the belief that we need a praxis-oriented practice of drawing lessons from our work to advance our vision and understanding of the world. These are the assumptions that shape our program.
1. "You Can't Kill the Spirit": Solidarity Organizing in the Movement to Rebuild New Orleans
Thursday 1-3, Room 1402 at the Westin Hotel
A workshop by the Catalyst Project and People's Hurricane Relief Fund
Panelists: Akua Jackson, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, an organizer from New Orleans INCITE!: Women of Color Against Violence and the Women's Health and Justice Initiative, Ingrid Chapman, Catalyst Project and Kali Akuno from the People's Hurricane Relief Fund ( Collapse )
2. Throwing Down Against Empire: Military Veterans Speak-Out on Practical Strategies to End War
Saturday 3:30-5:30, Room 1202 at the Westin Hotel
Organizations: War Resisters League, Catalyst Project and Iraq Veterans Against the War
Participants: Greg Payton (Vietnam Veteran), Aimee Alison (Gulf War Veteran), Diedra Cobb (Iraq War Resister) IVAW rep TBA
Moderators: Steve Theberge and Clare Bayard
Can we build an anti-war movement that not only ends the occupation of Iraq, but also challenges the foundations of war? This panel will bring together Veterans of the Vietnam, first Gulf, and Iraq wars to share their experiences of resistance and organizing and discuss how you can support GI resistance, the Conscientious Objectors movement and counter-recruitment as core strategies for building a successful anti-war movement.
3. GI Resistance & Solidarity Movement Against War & Empire
Friday 1-3, Choir Room at Trinity United Methodist Church
Organizations: Courage To Resist, Iraq Vets Against the War and Catalyst Project
The G.I. resistance/solidarity movement is made up of organizations and people engaged in work, ranging from counseling to legal advocacy to political campaigns supporting public resisters and their families. Currently there is no umbrella, network, or clearinghouse where we can all come together to exchange information, coordinate and collaborate, and strategize together. At the Social Forum we aim to bring together the different elements of this movement to build more cohesion and strengthen our work and our movement.( Collapse )
4. "Battle for the Hearts and Minds": White Anti-Racist Organizing Visions and Strategies
Saturday 1-3, Room 1205 at the Westin Hotel
A Catalyst Project workshop with presentations from Mel Pilbin of the Heads Up Collective and Amy Dudley of the Rural Organizing Project. ( Collapse )
5. Another Politics is Possible: Living the Vision from Below and to the Left
Friday 10:30-12:30, Georgia Ballroom East Room at Renaissance Downtown Organizations: LA Garment Workers Center, Sista II Sista, INCITE!, Coalition of Immokalee workers/Student Farm worker Alliance, Center for Immigrant Families, Regeneracion Childcare, Pachamama Childcare collective, Harm Free Zone, Left Turn Magazine, Catalyst Project, and Refugio. What does it mean to "live the vision" for social justice—to actualize the transformative world we desire within the present-day life of our organizations and movements? ( Collapse )
6. Building in Context: Movements Across Generations
Friday 10:30-12:30, Mezzanine Left Room at Atlanta Civic Center
Organizations: Resistance in Brooklyn; Catalyst Project; Institute for Multiracial Justice, Southerners on New Ground
Panelists: Elizabeth Betita Martinez; Mandy Carter; Meg Starr; Clare Bayard; Moderated by Matt Meyer ( Collapse )
*If any radio journalists want to record any of the sessions please contact chris@collectiveliberation.org
