Momentum Grows for the US Social Forum
Submitted by mwsf on October 9, 2006 - 11:13am.
By Alice Lovelace
Lead National Staff Organizer
United States Social Forum, www.ussocialforum.org
Published in Yes! Magazine, Aug 20 2006
I just completed a report on the USSF process to date, and even I was impressed. After talking to all the working groups, local host committee working teams, and regional committees I was energized by the amazing depth and breadth of the work that is being done across this country. If you would like a copy of the USSF Update #1, send me an email at alovelace@mindspring.com.
The Grassroots Global Justice Alliance initiated the US Social Forum process, shepherding the organizing process through the formation of the initial National Planning Committee (NPC) in August of 2004. The NPC for the United States Social Forum (USSF) has been working to assure that those most affected by the ravages of neoliberal policies are at the center of the organizing process. Participation in the organizing process has grown steadily over the past two years with more than 200 organizations participating in the 8 Working Groups and 10 Regional Committees.
Spoken word performances by youth from across the midwest
Submitted by mwsf on September 25, 2006 - 9:51pm.
A mini-doc by the folks at On the Earth Productions about the youth-driven spoken word convergence at the MWSF 2006.
Building a democracy movement
Submitted by mwsf on July 24, 2006 - 3:25pm.Midwest Social Forum begins in Milwaukee
Photos from the MWSF are now available (contribute your own!).
White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Napsack, by Peggy McIntosh is the essay that presenters mentioned on Friday's plenary "Another World is possible: Building our multi-racial movement."
Final program available
Submitted by mwsf on June 28, 2006 - 1:05am.There will likely be a couple of changes in session locations and other details, so pay attention to announcement board at the registration area when you arrive, or check a revised version Monday July 3.
You can download a low resolution version for screen viewing (1.1 Mb PDF) or a high resolution version for printing (10 Mb PDF). You will also be given a copy upon arrival at the Forum. You can also browse through the schedule through the web.
Información en español
Submitted by mwsf on June 17, 2006 - 11:19pm.
Forma para RegistrarseTracks
- Anti-racism
- Democracy
- Los Dereches de los Inmigrantes (ES) / Immigrant Rights (EN)
- Media
- Health Care
- Popular education
- Reproductive Rights
Each track contains sessions, workshops, films and plenaries that can "stand alone", but the track has been designed as a coherent, chronological track so that participants will leave the forum equipped to organize around this issue.
It starts with the word
Submitted by mwsf on June 13, 2006 - 2:14pm.
Politics, youth, and art are usually all kept at a distance. The Midwest Social Forum hopes to bridge these divides by placing some of the most politically conscious, talented, and outspoken youth front and center throughout the weekend.
Many of the sessions, workshops, films and plenaries will be kicked off with poems by members of the Young Chicago Authors, Youth Speaks Wisconsin, and the Minnesota Spoken Word Association. They'll also be letting their lyrics loose at concerts each night in the Wisconsin Room. Don't miss it.
Join us in Milwaukee!
The Midwest Social Forum is an annual gathering of grassroots organizations, community activists, artists, workers, educators, students, and others committed to making a better, more just world possible. It provides an open space for exchanging experiences and information, strengthening alliances and networks, and developing effective strategies for progressive social, economic, and political change. This year it will be held in Milwaukee, July 7-9, 2006, at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Union.
Thursday, July 6 will be devoted to retreats and caucuses by communities or networks wishing to gather ahead of time in order to strengthen their collective vision and planning for long-term campaigns and projects, and enhance their capacity to participate in the Forum in a more organized and purposeful way. For example, a youth retreat is currently being organized by several Midwest-based youth organizations. If your organization would like to organize a retreat or caucus with other organizations in the region, whether on the basis of a specific community or around a particular issue focus, get in touch.
