United States Social Forum Update #2 October 2006
To sign up for monthly updates, go to http://ussf2007.org/mailman/listinfo/host_ussf2007.org.
Please distribute this information to all your contacts and peers. Check
the U.S.-SF website monthly for updates www.ussocialforum.org
Every month from now until the US SOCIAL FORUM we will send out an update.
We are excited to gather our struggles in order to build stronger
partnerships, collective vision, and coordinated efforts in the USA &
Globally. We need your voices and experiences represented at this
important gathering to build a movement for racial & economic justice.
When you log onto the social forum website the address in your browser
will read www.ussf2007.org <http://www.ussf2007.org> because the
www.ussocialforum.org <http://www.ussocialforum.org> site is hosted on
the ussf2007 server. You can reach the site from either address.
The U.S.-SF will happen in Atlanta, GA. Major sites include The Atlanta
Civic Center, the Task Force for the Homeless, and surrounding
communities.
REGISTRATION http://www.ussf2007.org/se_reg_com.html
v Register! Organizations at $125-$300 sliding scale) & Individuals at
$15-$100 sliding scale. Register online and/or send in the Form. Add your
name to the list and each month we will follow the count on our way to
20,000. You can register on-line with a credit card, or download the from
in Word, complete, and mail along with your check or money order made
payable to Project South/U.S.-SF then mail to: U.S.-SF, 9 Gammon Avenue
SW, Atlanta GA 30315
. List of funding organizations. Our newest funders include: New
World Foundation and United Support of Artists for Africa, the Azania
Heritage International Center, SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive
Health Collective, and The Praxis Project. A full list of supporters will
be posted on the web site.
. Fundraising Working Group launches an Organizational Sponsorship
Campaign sending invitations to over 300 organizations to support the
U.S.-SF. We must demonstrate our commitment to this process but helping to
bring it into existence. The only movement we can own, is the one we build
for ourselves. If you would like to receive the organizational support
letter or endorsement form send an email to info@ussocialforum.org.
v Participate in the national planning process by becoming
Organizational Sponsors = Participate at 3 different levels: Movement
Builders (participate, raise money, and mobilize members), Movement
Mobilizers (bring a delegation), or Supporters (contribute financial
resources). Organizations that wish to make a donation smaller than $1,000
can sign the U.S.-SF endorsement form as a Movement Sponsor with a
donation of as little as $100 and up based on their ability to give.
Movement Builders, Mobilizers, and Sponsors growing. Add your organization
to the list of those committed to build the U.S.-SF process or to mobilize
their constituents to attend the U.S.-SF. Want an endorsement form; just
send a request to info@ussocialforum.org.
. National Planning Committee met in Juarez following the Border
Social Forum.
On October 15-17 nearly 40 members of the National Planning Committee and
the Organizing Committee met in Juarez to create strategy designed to
expand regional and sector mobilization for the U.S.-SF. The agenda
included everything from fundraising, to U.S.-SF staffing, and the design
of U.S.-SF plenary. The entire NPC made major commitments of time and
resources. The next NPC meeting will be in Atlanta in late November or
December.
. Border Social Forum was a resounding success with a focus on how to
build connections between Latinos, Mexicans, Native Americans, African
Americans and Progressive Whites in the South-east and west. The Forum
took place at the Autonomous University of Juarez Cultural Center
(Hermanos Escobar). Over 800 people registered for the Border Social
Forum, which began October 12 @ 9am with a March against NAFTA: starting
at Borunda Park, Avenida 16 de Septiembre (16 de Septiembre Avenue). On
October 14 @ 5pm the March to Tear Down the Wall of Death: started at the
Parque Aduana to the International Santa Fe Bridge. Activities included
lots of workshops, panels, speakers, and cultural programming. Check out
the website for report backs http://www.forosocialfronterizo.com/.
Below is report from SWU website:
. The Border Social Forum served as an open space to converge social
justice organizations from both sides of the border to discuss how to
improve the region on both sides. Hosted in Ciudad Juarez, this border
city of many millions is a modern day neoliberal experiment, plagued by
extreme violence and poverty. Far away from both DC and DF (Mexico City),
the border and its communities face increasing attacks, militarization and
is the newest front on the 'war against terror.' To counteract these
trends, grassroots leaders came to discuss themes like migration, women,
worker justice and indigenous rights. From Latin America to the US South
to New York, representatives flocked to Juarez. Throughout the forum there
were 100s of workshops, panels and films organized and attended by over 90
organizations and 750 delegates. SWU and its members organized workshops
of Living Wage, Migrant Rights, Black-Brown Alliance Building and Climate
Justice. SWU's own member's band, Time of the Month, performed live. The
forum was funded and coordinated by volunteers and organizers from both
sides of the border from food to transportation to programs. We made it
possible and endless thanks go out to all the supporters of the event.
. La Marcha--The energy of the forum was carried to the streets on
Saturday evening. Occupying the streets of downtown, hundreds marched to
drum beats demanding to 'tear down the border walls.' SWU marched in style
with our red shirts carrying the same message. Arriving at the
International Bridge that once passed over the flowing Rio Grande River we
took it over to give statements and demands for a just and dignified
border.
. Shout Outs--Many thanks to SWOP for transporting us, Cipri for
letting us take over her house and office, Carlos & Blanca for their
endless support, Lara for all her energy and patience, Antonio at UACJ for
his late nights and dedication, Gero & Lalas for the website coordination,
all the translators, and everyone who volunteered to pull this event
together.
. Media--The forum also showed that another media is possible. Radio
Bemba, Radio Bilingue, Pacifica Radio and Indymedia all produced live
broadcasts and provided constant feeds about the forum. Media from Telesur
(Venezuela), Sweden and across the US documented the event. Local
residents established a pirate radio station so all the Juarez could
listen to the happenings and constantly updated the website. Search online
for links to both Indy and mainstream media coverage...
. Indy-Radio Bemba, Radio Bilingue, Houston IndyMedia, No Racism.net,
Narco News, Cirandam, SWOPblogger, Pacfica Radio
. News Articles
. Cimac Noticias
. Corrientes Noticias
. El Diario (Juarez)
. El Diario CoLatino
. El Manana de Matamoros
. El Provenir
. El Sol de Mexico
. Granma
. International Herald Tribune
. La Opcion de Chihuahua:
. La Prensa Latina
. People's Daily Online (China)
. Por Esto
. Pulsar
. Tiempo
. Universal
. Univision
. Women's Caucus has been invited to become a U.S.-SF Working Group
and have representation on the Organizing Committee. Under the leadership
of Loretta Ross, Executive Director of SisterSong, the caucus has reached
out to over 135 women's organizations and organizers to create a place at
the forum to involve al participants to consider the situation of women
and girls in the USA and in the global context.
a** what is the Women's Working Group?
The Women's Working Group is a national working group of the U.S.-SF
consisting of voices from the peace, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, economic
justice, reproductive rights and other movements. Coordinated by
SisterSong, Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective, the goal of the
Women's Working Group is to ensure that gender, transgender justice, and
LGBTQ issues are well integrated into the planning, implementation and
program of the U.S.-SF. As a national working group, the Women's Working
Group has a representative on the U.S.-SF Coordinating Committee.
a** Why is the Women's Working Group/US Social Forum important to
reproductive health/rights/justice issues?
With more than 20,000 people expected to participate, the U.S.-SF presents
a critical opportunity for activists to build bridges between reproductive
health, rights and justice issues and other movements. The Women's
Working Group is working actively to center those issues at all levels of
the U.S.-SF and within a broader, global, social justice movement.
Finally, the U.S.-SF is an opportunity to share strategies and resources
with colleagues from around the country and build solidarity.
a** How can I get involved in the Women's Working Group or other areas
of the US Social Forum?
. Join the Women's Working Group, by contacting Loretta Ross,
Loretta@sistersong.net
. Subscribe to the Women's Working Group list serve,
ussfwomenscaucus@yahoogroups.com
. Program Working Group releases the Call for Proposals for U.S.-SF
programs and Call for Film/Video Submissions for the U.S.-SF Film
Festival. Both will be posted on the website following the site redesign.
The Call for Proposals is available in Spanish. Soon we hope to have all
the materials available in Spanish. You will be able to complete the call
on line and submit or download and complete them mail. Collaborations
between organizations are strongly encouraged. Remember, you have to be a
U.S.-SF registered organization in order to submit a proposal for
programs. Proposals will be reviewed as submitted. At this time, they
are working on speakers and other invited guest. Want to share your
suggestions? Email them to info@ussocialforum.org.
. Outreach Working Group New Regional Representatives:
Mountain/Plains - Ricardo Martinez from Padres Unidos in Denver is the
regional representative. This region includes Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming. You can reach Ricardo
at info@padresunidos.org <mailto:info@padresunidos.org> . In the Pacific -
Michael Leon Guerrero, Grassroots Global Justice michael@ggjalliance.org
has had calls with folks from Guam. In the Caribbean, Alta Mota
milly0724@yahoo.com has agreed to serve as contact. Lian Cheun from CTWO
is working with people in Hawaii; reach her at lian@ctwo.org. If you are
in the Northwest - Washington, Oregon, and Idaho contact Yalonda Sinde at
the Community Coalition for Environmental Justice at justice@ccej.org.
Sung E Bai from CAAAV serves as interim co-chair for the Northeast Region,
jbai@caaav.org along with Suren Moodliar from North American Alliance for
Fair Employment suren@fairjobs.org. In the Southwest, your representatives
are from Southwest Workers Union: Ruben Solis grulla@igc.org and Genaro
Lopez Rendon genaro@igc.org. Those in the southeast should contact Project
south at infor@projectsuth.org, or Rev. Kenneth Glasgow at The Ordinary
People's Society topssociety@yahoo.com.
. Communication Working Group has a new chair, Josue Guillen from May
First and The Praxis Project is leading a team to create an open and
transparent system and welcomes all those interested in working around
communication for the U.S.-SF. The immediate work includes a new website
to take U.S.-SF process to a next level-the site will include registration
on line and pay by credit card; you will be able to complete your call for
proposals online and submit; or visit the message board; and find contact
emails for representatives, working group contacts, and team leaders. The
new site will make updating information easier and help us keep you
involved and informed as we enter the final countdown to the U.S.-SF.
. Call for Vendors: Food, Merchandise and Information Tables. The
vendor application is available from info@ussocialforum.org soon it will
be ready for download from the U.S.-SF website. Vendors pay for space
only and must provide everything they need for their space. Food Vendors
pay $400 for vending rights and take care of all other arrangements,
including making sure they conform to the health department requirements
in Fulton County. Food vendors cannot operate with a Fulton Health
Department Certificate. Vegetarian vendors are encouraged to apply.
Merchandise Vendors can sign up for $300. No counterfeit merchandise can
be sold. Green vendors are encouraged. Organizations wishing to set up
an information distribution only table can do so for a fee of $50.
. Logistics Working Group has been expanded to a national working
group and needs new members to help with the daunting task of implementing
all plans for the U.S.-SF. We are looking for individuals from
organizations who can volunteer 10 hours per month on a major logistics
task starting now, and who can move to Atlanta (with the support of their
organization) to work fulltime on the logistics for U.S.-SF during the
month of June 2007. Send a note listing your area of interest,
qualifications, and organizational support to info@ussocialforum.org.
. Healing, Health and Environmental Justice Team has big plans for
the U.S.-SF. They include a health fair, spirit and rejuvenation area,
and water stations throughout the U.S.-SF staging area. If your
organization would like to get involved contact ritav@mindspring.com.
. Carolyn Morris chairs U.S.-SF Culture Working Group, Executive
Director of the Atlanta based SE regional arts service organization
Alternate ROOTS and co-chaired by Melanie Joseph, Artistic director of the
Foundry Theatre in New York. They can be reached at
carolyn@alternateroots.org or mjoseph@thefoundrytheatre.org
Culture W/G Objectives Include:
**Grow our ranks nationally with organizations (resources and people) that
are wiling to support this work
**Create an online roster of cultural workers and artists that presenters
at the U.S.-SF can draw from to help with accessible facilitation styles
**Ensure that every presentation at the U.S.-SF has an artist or cultural
worker as one of the presenters
**Get local Atlanta Arts community involved and supporting the U.S.-SF
culture programming
**Create a Call for Proposals to solicit creative work for the U.S.-SF
**Set up a VA committee to work on visual arts exhibits, criteria for
exhibits, local resources in Atlanta for shows, and work on application to
Warhol Foundation.
**Form cultural policy group to follow up on proposal to Nathan Cummings
Foundation and FORD
**Create a budget and a plan for accomplishing the work
Another world is not only possible, it is necessary!
US Social Forum
Atlanta, GA
June 27-July 1, 2007
www.ussocialforum.org <http://www.ussocialforum.org>
Question? Need more information?
info@ussocialforum.org
PARTICIPATE IN THE PLANNING PROCESS
Bring your skills & Share your resources = If you have specialized skills
(including medical, media, technological, translation, documentation,
volunteer coordination, training, etc.) participate in the Working Groups.
Dedicate organizational staff or intern time to work on this monumental
event. Call or email Alice Lovelace, USSF National Lead Organizer at
404.586.0460 ext.32 or alovelace@mindspring.com
<mailto:alovelace@mindspring.com> .
Join a Working Group:
Working Group Responsibilities Contact Person - National
Program to develop themes, content, and flow for the Forum
Colin Rajah, National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights:
crajah@nnirr.org
Culture to work closely with the program group and organize cultural
workers to participate
Carolyn Morris, Alternate ROOTS Carolyn@alternateroots.org
<mailto:Carolyn@alternateroots.org>
Melanie Joseph, Foundry Theatre mjoseph@thefoundrytheatre.org
Fundraising to organize resources for the functioning of the USSF
Michael Leon Guerrero, Grassroots Global Justice: michael@ggjalliance.org
Outreach to engage organizations and plug them in to the process
Tammy Bang Luu, Labor, Labor Community Strategy Center:
tammyluu@mindspring.com
Communication to develop media and communication strategies
Josue Guillen, The Praxis Project, josue@thepraxisproject.org
Youth to ensure youth participation at all planning levels and to
develop youth recruitment
Monica Cordova, SouthWest Organizing Project: monica@swop.net
Logistics to work with the Local Host Committee to address logistical
questions
Alice Lovelace, USSF Staff Organizer alovelace@mindspring.com or
404.586.0460 ext.32
Atlanta Local Host Committee to develop local plans around
fundraising, logistics, actions, & outreach to labor communities,
faith-based groups, and youth
Alice Lovelace, USSF Staff Organizer alovelace@mindspring.com or
404.586.0460 ext.32
Women's Caucus: Loretta Ross, Sister Song: Loretta@sistersong.net
* = Acting chair until permanent representatives are selected from the
complete Working Group
Join a Regional Organizing Committee:
Region States & Territories Contact
Organization
Alaska Alaska * Tom
Goldtooth, ien@igc.org & Genaro Lopez Rendon, genaro@igc.org
Caribbean Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands * Genaro Lopez
Rendon, genaro@igc.org Alba Mota, USAS milly0724@ahoo.com
Midwest/Great Lakes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio,
Wisconsin *Tom Goldtooth Indigenous Environmental Network, ien@igc.org
Northeast CT, Delaware, Maine, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, Rhode Island, VT,
& DC Suren Moodliar, North American Alliance for Fair Employment,
suren@fairjobs.org
Northwest Washington, Oregon, Idaho Yalonda Sinde, Community Coalition
for Environmental Justice, justice@ccej.org
Pacific Islands American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii *Michael Leon Guerrero,
Grassroots Global Justice michael@ggjalliance.org
Rocky Mountains/Plains Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Montana, Wyoming Ricardo Morales, Padres Unidos,
info@padresunidos.org
Southeast/Appalachia AL, Arkansas, FL, GA, LA, KY, Mississippi,
Missouri, NC, SC, TN, Virginia, West Virginia Project South,
general-info@projectsouth.org Rev. Kenneth Glasgow, The Ordinary Peoples
Society, topssociety@yahoo.com
Southwest Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas Genaro Lopez Rendon,
Southwest Workers Union, genaro@igc.org
West California, Nevada, Utah *Teresa Almaguer, PODER
tere_la_changa@yahoo.com
* = Agreed to be initial contact until permanent contacts can be
identified
In Person:
USSF/AFSC
92 Piedmont Avenue
2nd Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
By Mail:
USSF/Project South
9 Gammon Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA 30315
United States Social Forum
www.ussocialforum.org
Atlanta, GA
June 27-July 1, 2007
