US Social Forum Wiki - New pages [en]

February 19, 2015

2015-02-22T04:18:33Z

JeremyKS:

next PLOC meeting: Thursday, March 5 at 6pm, West Kensington Ministry

'''Notes from Feb 19, 2015'''
'''National outreach:'''
-National Alliance of HUD Tenants, Right to the City, Organize Ohio, Refuge in St Petersburg want to be added as partners
Aaron-reaching out to organizations in DC
Keith-working with a few others on outreach in New England
-there have been a lot of questions about transportation, housing
-anyone want to volunteer to help field questions sent to outreach@ussfphilly.org?
-possibly set up webinars geared toward different states/regions to share info about USSF Philly?
-we should organize local dialing days and street teams-lots of lists of organizations and people that need to be called
'''Movement School'''
-a day for core USSF organizers to get together and talk about the political elements of the Social Forum to help to develop a shared vision and shape programming (not just logistics)
-proposed for March 28 in Philly-people from national USSF would come and spend the day with us
-reply or send email to outreach@ussfphilly.org if you would like to participate or invite others to do so
-will check with Keith about whether AFSC could be available for this event
'''Work Groups'''
Youth-Youth United for Change has become an anchor organization locally, youth work group also taking a national lead in USSF planning
Food/Environmental Justice-next call: Monday, Mar. 2, 7pm EST
-talking about having a "climate strike" PMA
-a lot of interest, lots of people on last conference call
Faith & Justice-Rev Adan and Pastor Dave-two meetings coming up for faith community
-there will be a PMA on the roll of justice in faith community
-concrete project-figure out where low income people can sleep
Arts & Culture-had conversation on Saturday
-working on setting up venues, bringing in big name artists
-US Department of Arts&Culture (not actually related to the govt) getting involved
-Leeway Foundation-possible funding source
Resource Development-new PPEHRC intern Aaron interested in fund development
-finalizing the money amounts that will be asked for from endorsers, supporters, etc.
-hoping to work with various committees to put together fundable projects
-Bread&Roses-encouraged us to submit coalition proposal
-there are other organizations out there that would probably help with travel expenses
Grupo Defensores de Puerto Rican (contact-Ben Ramos)
-PMA on Puerto Rican independence, working on representation from Puerto Rican community, esp. youth + cultural events
Communications and Technology
-sent out "Save the Date" email blast
-registration is now live for individuals and organizations at http://ussocialforum.net
-people can also apply for workshops or PMAs-workshops require at least 2 organizational sponsors, PMAs require at least 4
-we had a conference call with national Comm/Tech to discuss how we can support interactivity between USSF sites
-will be testing video conferencing software developed by May First/People's Link
-expecting to have a few designated period of times for sharing between sites about what is happening at each location
-had meeting with PhillyCAM, who will be great resource for us locally in gaining access to media equipment and volunteers
-they may be willing to help us create promotional videos leading up to the Social Forum and provide video coverage during the Social Forum, including potentially broadcasting this footage as a pop-up TV station
'''Logistics'''
Venue Spaces
-$16,300 is the cost for Howard Gittis student center
-we have reserved it, just need to get them the money
-still trying to work some internal politics with people we know in Temple departments to get some help in paying for the space
-open questions: how many dorm rooms?-Cheri throws out 500 number, going to ask about cost
-also want to ask about food vending in student center
-Aaron and Jeremy created a map of American St in Kensington
-Aaron putting together language for negotiations for city permits
-somewhere in area between Lehigh and Diamond
-cultural events, workshops
-festival atmosphere like in other World Social Forums
-also need to work on logistics for large tents (anyone with connections to tent companies?)
-Keith will look into venue insurance
Website
-we would like people to send info (and an image/photo) about the PMAs which are being planned to commtech@ussfphilly.org, so that we can add this to the PMA section on our local website
-we are also adding new partners to the website
Housing Update
-developing a section on website to offer or request housing
-hoping to set up a similar system as Global Climate Convergence used in NYC
-Cheri going to follow up with Unite Here, who can help with hotel negotiations
-talking with clergy as well for use of religious spaces for housing
Tabling
-starting to receive requests (AK Press, PM Press)
-will charge for tables, depends somewhat on venues, number of tables available
-need point person to deal with tabling
Food
-local vendors along American St

January 5, 2015

2015-01-19T15:49:20Z

Anna Lee-Popham: /* Overview of Process (Shamako) */

Outreach Call January 5 2015
Jerome, Maria-Elena, David, Shamako, Dione, Kelly, Edgar, walda, Spence, Anna, Shawn, Delice Calcote, Jeff Lanman (Alaska Inter Tribal Council), Ibrahim

== Overview of Process ==

Currently, six-month out from the first USSF polycentric forum. Forum will be in Philly, Jackson, and San Jose with satellite sites in Mexico and Canada. We are currently developing PMAs and Movement Schools and other forms of outreach and connection. There is a National Planning Committee meeting coming up in Jackson (Jan 22-24) that will be followed by a PMA. The next stage of this process, after the social forum, will be an Assembly of Assemblies in 2016.

== Crowdfunding campaign ==

The crowdfunding campaign is one part of the broader fundraising campaign. These campaigns are 1-2 months in length with the goal of raising a specific target amount of money. Use videos and social media and other resources to encourage people to give. We are a few weeks into first crowdfunding campaign, which is focused on PMA and NPC gathering in Jackson. (Future crowdfunding campaigns will focus on other areas.) $10,500 goal will cover some of costs of Jackson meeting. $2000 right now. We need to ensure that the word is getting out there about the campaign. People who are coming to the site are tending to give generously. Currently creating memes (graphics for FB, Twitter). Goal is to do a couple of memes each week and ask people to share around to get the word out.
People who are interested in getting a meme done:
Delice Calcote aitc.dcalcote@gmail.com (Alaska Intertribal Council)
David Cobb (Move to Amend)

Spence will help put together email blast so that it’s well organized and well presented. Email blasts are being discussed in ACT and being regularized. Crowdsourcing blast will be put out
Crowdsourcing is one of a few funding strategies. Periodically, the fundraising committee will be sending along other strategies.
If people are on FB,– a few shares a week is really helpful.

Shamako and Marie-Elena will connect about the specific organizing that is happening in Texas and discuss possibility of including link in newsletter that discusses current state of police violence. Suggestion of a national town hall meeting to discuss police violence. Live streamed. To recognize the killing of unarmed Blacks, Latinos, poor whites. Currently PMA being organized about participatory defense/legal system restructuring in San Jose/Bay Area.

== Overview of Outreach/PMA Working Group ==

Outreach/PMA are two working groups. Outreach meets the first Monday of the month. PMA meets on the third Monday of the month. WG will start focusing on how to subdivide our time to support the three sites and determine who is going to be resource for local sites.
PMAs: specifically designed to be an introductory participatory process through which people examine:
• What is happening and why?
• What is world do we want?
• What are concrete processes to get to that point?

Movement school: is a more studious option for those who want to go more deep. Proposed agenda.

Current PMAs
• Appalachia PMA processs (Spring 2015) have had one gathering and going to do another for entire Appalachia region.
• King County – still working on doing PMA/open house in July. Multimedia center working with people who would like to do Youth PMA. (Dione)
• Community 2 Community have 4 PMAs planned out for year. (Edgar)
o March 14: Farm worker and food sovereignty.
o June: Climate Justice.
o October: Elections
o December: Solidarity Economy (going to be hosting Domestic Fair Trade Organization in Bellingham).
Edgar will send Spence images about PMAs. Movement school is also being planned for June.
• Envisioning a New Constitution (Jan 31): Move to Amend
• What the Bleep Happened to Hip Hop
• Movement school in Houston, TX (Marie-Elena)
• Health Care PMA, San Jose, CA (Low Income Self Help Center)
• Militarization PMA, San Jose, CA (San Jose Peace and Justice Center)
• Mass Incarceration PMA, San Jose, CA (San Jose Peace and Justice Center)
• Louisville, KY Local PMAP: date to be determined
• May First Brooklyn PMA on technology (May First/People Link)

==Other Working Groups ==

Gender Justice: Rose Brewer (brewe001@umn.edu)
Poverty: Evelyn Dortch (evelyn@wvdawg.org)
Resource Development: Dione Johnson Tyson (multimedia206@gmail.com)
Communications/Technology: Alfredo Lopez (alfredo@mayfirst.org)
Arts and Culture: Shamako Noble (shamakonoblemusic@gmail.com)
Road to USSF: Walda KatzFishman (wkatzfishman@igc.org)
International Committee: Jen Cox (jenkwru@yahoo.com) and Rob Robinson (rob_robinson423@yahoo.com)

Currently in formation
Indigenous Peoples
Youth
Language Justice

Proposal for new working group focused on police/state violence as well as national PMA held online to connect organizers in New York, Houston, San Jose. Marie-Elena and Shamako will talk about online PMA and come back with a proposal. Marie-Elena highlighted the large rally in Houston, TX, in response to the death of Jordan Baker. Jerome and walda will send article about related organizing. Jerome and Walda will discuss new WG on ACT call coming up.

== Other ideas ==

• Add New Business/ New Ideas section to agenda
• Check on status of PMA training/videos posted in lead up to 2010 USSF.

== NPC meeting ==

Dates are Jan 22-24. Please arrive on 21. Combining movement school and NPC meeting. Meeting at Lumumba Center for Human Rights. Will be having political framing discussions and in-depth conversation and next steps re: key planning items.
Cooperation Jackson will be hosting PMA focused on economic agenda. Solidarity housing is being looked into.

Coming to Jackson: Jerome, Marie-Elena, walda, David, Spence, Shamako, Anna,

NPC is body that ensures that three-year plan is being implemented. This is middle year of 3 year plan.

== PMA and USSF websites ==

Plan is for there to be one PMA website, with sections dedicated to PMAs, movement schools. Web developer working at Project South will be creating new website. Spence is waiting to hear back from Jovan re: when he is ready to share that website.
This site will be connected to all PMAs that are we know of: those connected with USSF, with Southern Assembly Process, and not connected to either.
USSF website: people can review the site and go online before Jan 15 and give feedback. Two sites will be linked.

January 8, 2015

2015-01-13T02:45:22Z

JeremyKS:

'''PLOC Meeting Minutes, January 8th, 2015'''

Introduction/Check In
Outreach Report- Local

(Cheri)- New Work Group formed around Puerto Rican Independence (Ben Ramos-former State Representative and Angel Ortiz-former City Council),
PPEHRC is making calls from the Data Base to Local and Regional organizations. They are trying to recruit working groups.

Rafael (Youth United for Change) planning People’s Movement Assemblies
PPEHRC is organizing two Working Groups for People’s Movement Assemblies on Housing and Poverty.

Artist Phill (Jekon) is organizing Arts and Culture Working Groups

Jeremy-all contact people for Working Groups are listed on the Website.

German-USSF is working with Black Lives Matter with POWER on MLK Day, January 19th. Fabricio formerly of ROC is Co-Chairing

Muhammad-will get USSF table for MLK Day March. Larry will get Banner from Kinkos.
Keith-sent names to Rachel about Arts people in Boston (Boston had a Social Forum in 2005), Providence, R. I. Wister, MA.

Jeremy-people sent e-mails asking about Workshops. Cheri and Rachel are responding to the e-mails.

Larry-May Day Committee will pick a Site for May 1st on January 14th. Larry will also work at CCP to outreach for USSF,

Aaron O’Neil- (UHURU) will make phone calls
Rich Gardner will work on getting ADS in Local papers. Rachel has a list of Community Newspapers (Minority Newspapers)

'''Regional'''

Cheri, Rachel, Galen, Sondra calling Social Justice Organizations on East Coast;Larry-attending 15 dollar/HR wage Summit at Church
Committee Reports

Gender Justice-Cheri will send update of report from Belinda

Youth- Youth United for Change will have National Planning Committee meeting in Mississippi. They are planning 9 People’s Movement Assemblies

Jeremy is planning a Teach-In on importance of technology for organizing, movement-building

Cheri- PhillyCam will help the USSF by giving us skills in making videos (Alfredo Ramos)

Food Justice/Environment-Tamika Drew is the contact

Faith and Justice-(Dave) will call Rev Adan to kickstart Faith and Justice Committee to get Housing for USSF, Muhammad will coordinate

Art and Culture-Meeting next week, listed on Calendar, at Sculpture Gym on Frankford Ave in Fishtown

'''Resource Development-'''

Budget Update-Keith-outreach to 15 Foundations, National budget will fund Local, but most funding will come Locally. Registration will be $25/per person, Fiscal Sponsor is Reconstruction Inc., Bank Account has been opened, Fidelity Bank, Keith is Treasurer, Larry-CoTreasurer, can sign checks. Larry will meet with Keith on Friday, Jan 16th to finalize papers at Fidelity Bank on 1800 W Tioga St..

Cheri-we need to make calls to large organizations for sponsorships.
-Funder’s Briefing Update (German) -on February 8th, Open House, (Casey, Sara is intern) Jackie Patterson from the NAACP may organize Fundraising.
MOU-Keith updated

Venue Space Update-(Cheri)- Temple University, Barbara from the African American Studies Department will attempt to get the Student Activity Center for USSF
(German)-Permit for American Street, will meet with Rita Cutler of Transportation and Utilities on Wednesday, January 28th.

'''Philly Website Update'''-

National Webstie-Cheri is contact; Local Website-Jeremy, Rachel and Rich are the contacts.
Muhammad will work on consumer review of Website

Host Housing Update-Jeremy, Rich, and Rachel will create section for hosting Housing.
German-we need to create a Spanish Flyer

'''Next Meeting-''' Thursday, January 22nd at West Kensington Ministry

Philadelphia Local Organizing Committee

2015-01-13T01:41:33Z

JeremyKS:

[[Category: Philadelphia]]
===PLOC Meeting Minutes===
* [[January 8, 2015]]
* [[February 19, 2015]]

November 3, 2014

2014-11-04T00:32:35Z

Anna Lee-Popham: Created page with " == Introductions and Check-ins == Jerome, David, walda, Rachel Mazzaro (PPEHRC), Alan Haber (Ann Arbor), Anna == Quick history and context for new folks on the call == When..."

== Introductions and Check-ins ==
Jerome, David, walda, Rachel Mazzaro (PPEHRC), Alan Haber (Ann Arbor), Anna

== Quick history and context for new folks on the call ==

When we began process moving towards third USSF, there was a lot of discussion about what to organize outreach around and how to combine outreach with political education and make connections to communities and part of country USSF not well represented in. It was decided that the best vehicle would be the PMA process and the concentration has been on having as many PMAs around the country as possible. There have been a lot of PMAs around the country over the past next year and many more moving forward. PMAs are really good for introduction to political education and set the basis for deeper discussion. Movement schools can follow PMAs to go a little deeper into understanding of current conditions. First Monday of each month are Outreach calls and third Monday of the month are PMA calls.
To attach info re: movement schools and PMA process – 4 page piece with notes.

== Reports regarding specific fronts of struggle / working groups ==
'''Indigenous Peoples'''

This working group is continuing to move slowly with contacts in US through Indigenous orgs and Idle No More Chapters.

'''Youth'''
Priya from Philly will be relocating to Atlanta and she put Outreach folks in contact with person who will be taking her place. We will follow up with her once she gets settled in Atlanta. Rachel – PPHERG will be meeting with person in Philly who will be taking Priya’s place to move forward.

'''Culture'''
This working group has been meeting. David – Move to Amend and Hip Hop Congress did a What the Bleep Happened to Hip Hop? event in Denver that was based on PMA process and are building towards some kind of movement school.

'''Language Justice'''
We have got to start moving on this working group. David - Richard Hobb, San Jose, on that site work, is very fluent but uncertain if he is interested has capacity, he formally reps Human Agenda on NPC. Community to Community and dot green did language translation for PNW social forum. David will follow up with Edgar or Rosalinda (at Community to Community). Jerome will reach out to Richard Hobbs.

== Gulf Coast PMA ==

The organizers are involved in follow up calls. Those involved are of involved in frontline advocacy, legal justice, racial and environmemtal justice from Alabama, Louisiana, Texas. Have invited a group of us the first weekend of December in Dulac, Louisiana to Safe the Swamp Day with Houma Nation. If given recognition, the Houma Nation would be largest nation in colonial US. Jerome and walda will be participating. They are connected to Southern Movement Assembly. Colette Pichon is contact person. It’s very exciting.

== Movement Schools Update ==

David - ACT is proposing the third weekend of Jan – thurs, fri, sat, sun - which will work for folks in Jackson. It will be a movement school for NPC followed by NPC meeting. If Jackson is not confirmed as a site by then, going to hold that date and shift that movement school for NPC to San Jose CA.

Have curriculum and suggested readings. There are multiple different types of movement schools happening – not all social forum related, trying to track as best as possible as movement forces. If anyone interested in organizing movement school over next months, get in touch with Jerome, David, walda, to help with idea development. Alan is interested re: 50th anniversary of end of Vietnam War. Jerome and Alan will follow up offline.

== Southern Movement Assembly Update ==

Jerome got email from Ruben Solis (University without Borders) asking how to get application for membership to NPC. They are going to apply for membership in NPC and also responding from other Southern movement assembly people who want to figure out what is going on with USSF and how to get involved. Ruben explained that they would definitely be mobilizing around Jackson as place they would be going to.
Walda – if there is regular time that SMA has call, two of us might get on that call to give updates. Walda can be involved and someone from deep south should be involved.
There have been quite a few new orgs that have applied to NPC that need to get welcome letters. Organize an info call for new NPC members.

Importance of connecting with Ferguson organizing - Shamako was in Ferguson for national demo and so might have made some connections.

== Website Content ==

Jerome will be meeting with Project South this week. Then will be figuring out next steps for moving ahead with content. He will talk with them about a rep from Project South be involved in PMA calls. Trying to get website alive and going before next call in December. Jerome will also talk with Project South about USSF involvement in
Southern Movement Assembly calls.

== Article for the Newsletter ==

Looking for articles for newsletter either PMAs having or have had or outreach we need to do.
1. Alan could write one about 50th anniversary of Vietnam War.
2. David will be responsible for report from What the Bleep Happened to Hip Hop.
3. Gulf Coast PMA and info about Houma Nation visit in December – Jerome will take responsibility for ensuring article on that.
4. PNW SF needs an article – local organizers have call tomorrow.
5. Article announcing the website. Anna will do that.

September 15, 2014

2014-11-01T16:22:54Z

Anna Lee-Popham: Created page with "== Introductions and Check-ins == David, Walda, Jerome, Edgar, Ashley, Collette, Anna == Report back from People's Social Forum == Short report back sent out. Jerome, walda..."

== Introductions and Check-ins ==

David, Walda, Jerome, Edgar, Ashley, Collette, Anna

== Report back from People's Social Forum ==

Short report back sent out. Jerome, walda, Anna, Spence all attended. Had preliminary contact with Clayton Thomas-Muller, Heather Milton-Lightening (involved with PSF). Three sessions involved in: World Social Forum (people were very excited about USSF); workshop on USSF (shared update on USSF, people were anxious re: deep crises in US); PMA on USSF (established connection with folks interested in organizing in Canada in connection with USSF, wanting to connect with polycentric for 2015 at satellite sites in BC and Montreal, and WSF in MTL in 2016, people were very exciting about hemispheric unity); further conversation with Clayton and connecting with him in NYC at Peoples Climate March. We were really glad to be there.

Need to have someone who is responsible to follow up with people in anchor places in BC and MTL.

Edgar connected with Shanee – will be going to Vancouver BC to get to know each other and see where to connect. She seems very excited about connecting with process. Get Alfredo and people from MayFirst People Link connected in.

Anna will connect with people in Montreal

USSF have nailed MX as satellite location.

Get written report from PSF up on website.

== Upcoming May First Movement School ==

This was first US Social Forum sponsored movement school. Really good mix of people –first day: 17; second day: 15 – young people, connection with satellite in MX was there. Second day: trying to get everyone on point re: reform, movement building, developing movement; MayFirst and relationship to social forum, Great feedback re: weekend and outcomes.
Other movement schools will likely develop in NYC.

What does it take to get movement school set up? Is there a curriculum being followed?

Let us know (David, walda, Jerome, Rose). Curriculum has been developed and sent around. It will be sent around with these minutes. Wiki page with final questions and readings for MayFirst school. Is opportunity to do one-on-one with anchor organization.

== Justice begins with C ==

Friday, Community 2 Community – host workshop from Solidarity and Allyship to Action GMO and food sovereignty conference – presented re: food sovereignty 0 how to build grassroots farmworkers movement. Also took time to talk about PNWSF– 15-20 people at workshop, were able to inform people about SF. Explained participatory democracy; someone there from Right to Survive. Many participants were local were able to take information home. People were receptive and interested in finding out more. A lot of momentum. Putting together caravans to go up to PNWSF. Also about to connect with people at detention center – also willing to send representatives to SF to participate. Outreach for social forum has been going well.

== PNWSF ==

(see list of PMAs at http://pnwsf.org/content/pnwsf-agenda-announced

9 or 10 PMAs
Community 2 Community – has been doing an amazing job building momentum – Portland movement forces –
Mass incarceration and imperialism – PIC here to what is going on in Gaza.
Anchor orgs holding down each one. Get written plan coming out of PMAs. Translation and interpreters have been arranged. Connection to overall SF process is really strong – Community2Communtiy, HopHop Congress, Right to a Dream Right 2 Survive, Move to Amend
Alyssa Macy, Shamacko have been hired to do outreach; Dionl, George Friday to do overall facilitation
Bellingham and area Montana and Indian Peoples Action; Seattle is coming north; Eureka CA is coming north
3-400 people are anticipated. 75 formally registered, 250 on FB page.
Community to Community – will take ~20 from Bellingham and meet with people as going south – trying to find housing has been some of concerns.

Portland based will be videoing and livestreaming. Goal is to come out with written document. Folks from PSF will be working on livestream with them.
Right to Dream Right to Survive has offered to help people arrange camping.
Fairly inexpensive hotels within walking distance on website.

== Website ==
Need to do final touches on site and then can launch it
Project South wants to rejuvenate – want to have link to peoplesmovementassembly.org as southern site
Will keep domain for that website

pmanational.org
ampnationel.org

== Upcoming PMAs ==

'''Gulf South Ecological Justice PMA in Gulf Port, Mississippi on October 10-12.'''
Coletter – six regional orgs anchoring
NPC , Golf Center for Law and Ppoloicy
Gulf Future
RoundTable
Engaging POC and frontline communities
Climate change and climate justice, eco justice: what is happening in our streets, with our water?
150-200 people in Gulfport

Would be great if we could from NPC or ACT come to that to make connection to national process and invite people to become a part of national process – absolutely invited
We are lacking on connection to folks around nation, genuine invitation to join us.
South is so hard for people to get info – easier to move on without us.
Invite to come with us – will have some rooms - to cut cost, solidarity housing, welcome as partners – to engage grassroots, invite regular people into space.
Community facilitated agenda – few minutes on mic will be fine
Collette will share info through email – Edgar will be able to share with Community 2 Community network.

'''Austerity, Precarity and the Changing Landscape of Higher'''
Education" PMA Co-organized by International Network of Scholar
Activists and George Mason University Public Sociology Student
Association (Friday October 17, 2014 4:00-8:00 PM) Arlington, VA
(Washington DC area).

Walda: Jackie repping for one session there. Walda will also go. And there will be report backs.

'''Vision" PMA in San Jose, CA. Lead organization Human Agenda (October 5,2014)'''

What is our vision – thinking about San Jose as site
Richard Hop and Shamacko
David will be participating as well and Jessica Munger

'''Appalachia PMA'''
Lead organization Direct Action Welfare Group
Hold the date, not sure it will go forward.

'''Immigrant Rights PMA'''
San Jose, CA.
Lead organization Human Agenda (November 30, 2014)

'''Health Care PMA'''
San Jose,CA.
Lead organization Low-Income SelfHelp Center (date to be determined)

'''Envisioning a New Constitution'''
San Jose, CA
Lead organization Move To Amend (Jan 31, 2015)

'''Militirization PMA'''
San Jose,CA. Lead organization San Jose Peace & Justice Center (date to be determined)

'''Mass Incarceration PMA'''
San Jose,CA. Lead organization San Jose Peace & Justice Center (date to be determined)

'''Gentrification PMA'''
New York City (date to be determined)
Pam – Occupy Theory and Rob will be organizing
Walda will reach out to people involved and loop in David

'''Louisville, KY Local PMAP'''
(date to be determined)
on staff with Ali Institute – now energized - David and Jerome will follow up with him
Kalilah – ED of Women in Tradition = connected with organized labor

'''Poverty Working Group PMAs/World Courts of Women Against Poverty,'''
Midwest region and Southern region (follow-up from Western and
Northeast region) (date to be determined)

'''May First Brooklyn PMA on technology'''
Lead organization May First/
People Link (date to be determined)

'''PMA at Climate Justice Rally'''
Saturday September 20
walda will send schedule for Climate Convergence.

== Timing for calls ==

Walda - not good Tuesday; Thursday from noon to 6pm
[Monday, Wednesday, Friday are good]
Jerome – current time works (or later); Tuesday and Thursday not good
Edgar – current time or a bit later on Mondays
Collette – Mondays and Fridays are good and flexible (can’t do Monday morning); not available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – in central
Ashley – whenever
David – can do later on Monday; have to be done 6:30 [eastern];

Anna will connect with Rose to find good time.

August 18, 2014

2014-11-01T16:13:10Z

Anna Lee-Popham: /* Upcoming PMAs thru Oct */

== Check-in ==

Colette, David, Jerome, Walda, Spence, Anna

== Big picture update on PMA ==

2015 Social Forum – Philly, Jackson, San Jose CA, possibility of satellites in MX and CAN

The SF is seen as a process not event – talked about yet organized in different way. Natl’ planning committee is recognizing PMAs and movement schools as principal outreach
Leading up to 2015 and 2016, series of movement schools looking at issues we face in deeper way.
2015 - determining anchor sites
2016 - year of assembly or assemblies

PMA as mobilization, organizing and political education that can be deepened through movement schools, which take same concepts as PMAs but looked at issues in deeper way

Gulf South – Katrina 10th anniversary being organized for August 29 2015 in three different states in New Orleans. Working with many community groups to put this together

== Philly Debrief ==

Anchor groups- Move to Amend, PPERHG, American Friends, Disability in Action

75 people at event. Less than 10 had ever been to one of social forums. 25 signed up for local organizing work. Intergenerational, multi-racial, multi-class. Some people from NY and DC – corridor is where most folks who will attend Philly will be coming from.

Critiques
- big mistake to not have full facilitators meeting night before
- didn’t give nearly enough time for report back to come up with coherent movement demands out of the process

Good basis for social forum process in Philly

== Upcoming PMAs thru Oct ==

1. Southern Movement Assembly (Aug 22-23 in Atlanta)
Collette: governance council for Southern Movement Alliance, 2 day session, political ed sessions, regional mapping, PMA and agenda setting process from different frontlines
Climate justice 101 – in communities of color and frontline communities in climate change conversation (political and legal and climate justice), prisoner justice, and situation in Ferguson (how to honor blood shed).
SMA very involved in Trayvon verdict in FL. 150 people registered and more joining.

2. People's Social Forum (Aug 21-24 in Ottawa)
Walda – move towards hemispheric process – meeting with USSF folks on Friday or Saturday. Filming of PMA and interviews to put together that introduces idea of PMA and what it can do and second video for crowdfunding campaign

Satellite in BC – come to Porltand – cross border
- Edgar – will be making connections with Canadian based organizers

Left Forum – filmed Rose and Jerome, David, Sherry – get footage to Spence
- Seth -one of organizers of left Forum – Jerome will get in contact

3. PNWSF (Sept 26-28 in Portland, OR)
Things are in hand
Friday – art and culture event – Hip Hop Congress and others
Saturday – plenary – each of movement forces will be discussing involvement
3.5 hour PMA process – street roots and radio station / transit and climate justice – bus riders union Opal / houselessness and homelessness – Ibrahim and Monica / democracy and constitution – Move to Amend / labor and economy – 15 now Portland - red green alliance - / hip hop PMA – Shamako, Dione, Mike Crinsay / Intnl Indian Treaty Council – Treaty Rights
concerns – language justice and getting registration numbers up

4. Austerity & Higher Education (Oct 17 in DC)
Walda – PMA organized by Internal Scholar Activists

Process – and email from WG be sent to ACT and NPC know include contacts of David, Jerome, Spence, Anna – if you are planning a PMA and haven’t been in touch, please be in touch
- as moving PMAs over the old to new site – format adopted with Project South – have not updated that format
- Anna and Spence will retrieve format that Walda sent around and populate with examples

5. Appalachian Regional (Oct 25 in WV)
- reached out to folks at DAWG –

6. Gulf Coast - Ecological justice PMAs for several years – this year in Gulf Port, next year in New Orleans, last year in Mobile – communities of color – vitemnamese amer, native, african – impending climate crisis – October 10-12 in Gulfport – working with several local groups – working with people on ground – do regional STEP coaliation NAACP, gulf coalition –
12 – youth assembly - other

== Movement Schools ==

May First (September 13-14)

NPC (2014 in Jackson)

Other PMAs kicking off
- several PMAs in NW
- once have PMA in region spawns other PMAs
- encouraging others to do other PMAs and movement schools

== Website update ==

Southern Movement Assembly process needs to be highlighted, as inspiration that it is.

== Fronts of struggle ==

Will be graphical representation on website – will be very helpful to talk with people.

October 20, 2014

2014-11-01T15:56:32Z

Anna Lee-Popham: /* Website - Project South */

== Introductions and Check-ins ==

Jerome, walda, David, Spence Anna
[[File:2) Report on past PMAs]]

- Golf Port, MI
Very good experience. There were 50-60 people. While they were expecting more, the content of the delegation that were there was Huma Nation in Louisiana, Vietnamese delegation (fisher folk) in Louisiana, Louisiana, MI, Mobile, Alabama – great representation. There was an obvious connection with US Social Forum. Jerome gave short presentation on USSF. USSF was invited to be a part of regular mtgs of Gulf Coast Rising on Thursday mornings. They are very excited about USSF in Jackson. There wasn’t an explicit focus on visioning. Overall it was a very good experience. A lot of leadership of PMA was at USSF 2007. There is much organizing around 10th anniversary of Katrina. Was incredible opportunity to reconnect. Great expression of what social forum could look like. Important conection with Southern Movement Assembly. We were invited to be part of Save the Swamp – Dulak Louisiana by chief of Huma Nation (December 8).

- INOSA PMA
(walda) 3 hour PMA with student and activist in George mason and Jacquie and grad students organized it. Important to have conversations focused on faculty labor. Thirty-five people who will prepare report and will send this way. There will be follow up. There were people from around the east coast. There was a connection to US Social Forum, although not explicit. Part of Public Sociology conference that George Mason does – many PMAs that are part of bigger conference. Idea was to build on it.

== Update on Jackson site ==

Political atmosphere in Jackson is changing – the current mayor is facing indictments. USSF can push political involvement and mobilize towards next election - looking favorable for Jackson site. Project South entering back into picture. Real connection with Southern PMA process. Jackson coming back at critical moment. Proposal to do NPC meeting/Workers School/PMA on January 22 weekend (thurs-sun). This will help consolidate. Try to set up meeting with Project South and Gulf Coast Alliance to create links with Jackson. It will be important to make sure meetings happen between Cooperation Jackson and MXGM, Project South, and Gulf Coast Alliance. Kali is in charge of making meeting happen with Gulf Coast Alliance and Jerome will connect with Project South. ACT call on Thursday proposal with schedule for meeting:
- Thursday and Friday: NPC and movement school orientation
- Friday evening and Saturday: and PMA
- Sunday: convening of NPC/USSF folk and those connected with PMA.
ACT will approve and then take to NPC. There is clarity that there is no money for this besides $5000 that is earmarked from Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.
Upcoming ACT call: need to put out to NPC that dates are going to happen and that some of available funding go to this meeting.
There is a call with all the sites on Oct 26.
Opening up Cooperation Jackson office, which is where event could happen. Kali is connecting with Noelle from Jackson State or Brandon from MXMG as other contacts for Jackson.

== Upcoming PMAs and Movement schools ==

Oct 25-26: Move to Amend and Hip Hop Congress in Denver – what the Bleep happened to Hip Hop. Comes out of SF conversations but there has also be conversation about what is movement school and what is PMA. Do we think of this as PMA?
PMA is determined by looking at content of agenda, including general content current situation, vision of future, strategies and tactics.
This PMA will be looking at role of culture in social movements historically, what is history of hip hop, what has been specific impacts of legislation and policy, role of corporatization of state, what does this mean for movements that are trying to express themselves through mediums of arts, visual arts, etc.
The more we can integrate anything looking deeply at popular culture and connection to movement. PMAs do take different form, what is intentionality of leadership. Let’s try to think of it as PMA-like process. Call it part of the PMA process.
Sat 25 - educational forum – 20-30 people digging in deep, historic readings, and show bring in dance, graphical, visual topoliticize crowd.
Sun 26 – come together to examine what’s next in this process to build connection between movement forces of Move to Amend and Hip Hop Congress.
November 8 and 9 - Oakland - Jessica Munger and Shamako will be leading those
November 15 and 16 – San Jose – Ramen Jamal, Shamako, David
December – Florida possibility
January 31 – San Jose – what would constitution look like?

Other PMAs that San Jose crew are capturing
Poverty PMA: spring 2015 in Central Appalachia

San Jose – has many PMAs going – see list from last meeting.

This WG needs to synthesize notes from past PMAs. Spence and Anna can plug into doing that work.
Pacific NW Social Forum – David did a go around to collect and write up overall narratives. There will be a call tomorrow to collect written reports – David will send written report on that.

Write ups
Vision PMA in San Jose, part of Preparatory work of Human Agenda that bottomlined (October 5)
Gulf Port – Colette will be getting together report within a week.
Peoples Climate March – Jerome and walda will do report.
Peoples Social Forum – can be used as PMA report.
Left Forum – notes to be written.
Jackson Rising - notes to be written.
Philadelphia PMA – Move to Amend and Philly group tried to capture

== Website ==
We will reserve the following domain names:

pmanational.org

ampnacional.org

== Date and time for regular PMA calls ==
Possibilities:
Friday -
Sundays – 3rd week – 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm
Monday 3rd weeks at 8pm

Outreach – 4pm 1rst Monday
Check in with Rose

December 16, 2013

2014-11-01T15:45:38Z

Anna Lee-Popham:

== Introductions and check-ins ==
David Cobb, Walda, Spencer, Anna, Steph, Rose, Edgar, Roshan, Jerome

== Explaining PMA process ==

Rose: The next social forum = polycentric. Narrowing in on a location. PMAs are the political building blocks. Political frame, political cohesion, coming together. Working to enhance the connectivity between PMAs – strong synthesis

Walda: How do we gather what is coming out of PMAs as they are unfolding on the road? What kind of debriefing process can we have?

David: The Polycentric aspect: Social forum of a new type in 2015. Chicago is a possible site. Mentioned Michael Bunsen –treasurer

Steph: The goal is that different PMAs around the country will be forces in the US social forum, as far as generating issues. They influence the political alignment, direction, goals and demands of the larger social movement. On a local scale, PMAs used as a form of community governance.

== Discussion of PMA processes that are ongoing ==

The Southern Movement Assembly – explained by Steph - Very politically developed and coherent. Over the last 2 years, building ties with 30-40 participating organizations. Helped organize 3 large PMA since 2012. A group that operates as a governance process is meeting weekly to make decisions. 18 months of campaigns and heavy work. 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer. Organizing trainings, working with the University Sin Fronteras. Ongoing political synthesis to help shape each PMA as they come up. Developing some organizing kits that can be helpful to go on the South to South website. In Boaz Alabama – a student group is doing work on the National Student Bill of Rights.

Appalachia 2014

Foreign policy in DC

== Anchoring of PMA process ==

National PMA processes should try to find an anchor somewhere to look to, and can gather some inspiration from Project South regarding the facilitator role they’ve done in the past. Finding a Facilitator anchoring organization to anchor the national PMA process

Social forum organizing. We need a supported staff within an organization to get more accomplished.

Walda did an interview with someone from SOA (?). Story will be in the Social Movement (Paper or sorts?). Walda also brought up that the websites need to be interlinked: the South to South website can to be attached to the PMA website, etc.

Envisioning that the social forum helps to facilitate an ONGOING social movement process.

David – Move to Amend can be the anchor if they can get funding for it. This is not yet a formal proposal, but it can serve that role, and is gearing up for that. Rose: how did Move to Amend emerge? Project South made sense in the past for the facilitator. We want to make sure Move to Amend has the right stuff, given the complexities of this national process. Move to Amend – developed organically. 2013 – Several different regional convergences. There are no affirmative human rights in the Constitution. This is an example of what Move to Amend is working on. Move to Amend has a nation-wide presence.

George, Jerome and David have good personal experience, history, and background to do this work. Jerome – adding to David’s explanation: desire to participate on the development of a social movement. Also, no one else is stepping up. Social forum is the tool.

Steph’s response, knowing history of Project South. SMA has taken 10 years to develop.

What should the character of the national anchor be? Goal, direction, and purpose of it. Needs a bottom up process.

Consensus: Let’s continue this on the next call, approaching an official proposal from Move to Amend

== World Social Forum and US Social Forum. Northwest social forum, PMAs. Meetings ==

January 11 David is going to Bellingham WA for a mini PMA. Community to Community is meeting about strategy tomorrow. -Edgar - Last Saturday of January, heading to Portland in order to continue some conversations. We have a venue and location for Pacific Northwest Regional Social Forum. Portland. Perhaps at the First Unitarian Church.

Participants:
Eber King- right to dream, right to survive
David – Move to Amend
Monica – accountability and coordination team
Edgar – Community to community
Dustin

Tear down the walls PMA
Rose: how does this connect to the overall direction of the process?
David: well positioned. Dedicated to political education

Appalachia – how do we better integrate the PMA structure into this working group?
Walda: these calls may not be the best method. Maybe having a 2 person team in order to reach out to Evelyn would be better to close the gap.
Steph: willing to be on the 2 person team.
Walda: also on the team.
Jerome: what is the relation of Appalachia to the poverty work group?
Steph’s response: November 15th. Open assembly. Focus in on a city-wide assembly by March.

Theme in Louisville: what does.... look like
3 Dates: August 2014 in Tucson, AZ; September 2014 in Oakland, CA. Will cover human rights; November 2014 in (hopefully) Boston, (fall back: Salt Lake City, UT); Budget of $15,000 for each one of those

Next call: Monday January 20th. 1pm pacific, 2 pm mountain, 3pm central, 4 pm eastern
Facilitator: David
Note taker: Anna

November 4, 2013

2014-11-01T15:36:13Z

Anna Lee-Popham: Created page with " == USSF Outreach Committee Meeting Notes – November 4th, 2013 == Edgar - Facilitating Spencer – Taking notes On the call: Edgar, David Cobb, Louis Gordon, Jerome Scot..."

== USSF Outreach Committee Meeting Notes – November 4th, 2013 ==

Edgar - Facilitating
Spencer – Taking notes

On the call:
Edgar, David Cobb, Louis Gordon, Jerome Scott, Spencer Mann, Anna Lee-Popham, Walda Katz-Fishman

== Brief report on ongoing outreach efforts ==

• Jerome - working with Occupy Homes in Atlanta and they have been briefed and brought up to speed on outreach and social forum process and they have been invited to be on the National Planning Committee or at least on the Outreach Committee. They are going through their internal process to decide how they will get involved.
• Edgar – Pacific Northwest Social Forum, one of the members from Community to Community have moved into Seattle and they are going to start doing outreach. With their help we can start building a base in multiple areas in the Northwest. Got Green, Entre Hermanos, and El Comite Pro-Reforma Migratoria Y Justicia Social are 3 main groups that are being focused on to invite to come onto the National Planning Committee or get involved in some other role.
• Edgar – New groups from the Portland area, Jericho Project and a Media Justice group as well – both groups are interested in getting involved in outreach.

== PMA ==

• What we have agreed to do is keep outreach and PMA calls connected so that they will alternate calls every 2 weeks. First Monday of the month will be Outreach and the 3rd Monday of the month will be PMA at 4pm EST.

Tear Down the Walls

• Move to amend did a workshop on the last day and that was followed by a 2 part assembly on what is a PMA, what is the social forum, and how to get involved. Learned a lot about how to use a small amount of time to get the most out of a PMA.
• Alliance for Global Justice has been invited to join the National Planning Committee and the indication was that they are going to do that.
• SOA Watch, there will be a PMA at the SOA Watch at the end of the November.
• 2 people from the Pacific Northwest who are interested in getting involved in the Pacific Northwest Social Forum - Heather Wolford and Tim – new to Portland and does media justice work. David is getting these folks in touch with Edgar and the Pacific Northwest Social Forum team.
• Tom from the Sustainable Tucson and Tucson Peace and Justice Center contacted David after the event and was really interested in organizing a PMA in Tucson. David is encouraging Tom to get involved in the PMA phone calls. Several people may join the PMA calls from this effort in addition to Tom.
• Pacific Northwest Social forum process is pulling together a series of planning meetings in 2014 – beginning with a first meeting in January
• Portland folks and folks from Seattle will be having a meeting in early January to figure out how they can use PMA in local work.
• Maybe having someone come in to work with their group on the ground to model the process be able to answer questions, etc…
• Monica from the PNWSF process has worked out a draft for a possible PMA

== Seventh Generation Fund Conference: ==

• Respecting the Rights of Mother Earth had the goal of bringing many people together to look at examples of from all around the world of legislative models and how that could be applied in the US.
• 80 people attended and 50 on the live stream – average viewing time was just under 1 hour, many viewers from US, some from Canada, and one person from India. Overall the event was successful in terms of raising awareness about rights of mother earth. One theme was in cross-sectoral organizing - there are some old wounds between tribal people and enviro people that can cause some roadblocks. Saw some good forward steps around people working around those barriers. Louise will share a video link when it is ready.
• Honour Tax – from Wiyot territory in Humboldt Bay, voluntary taxation or donation system – for individuals, groups, businesses, etc… who wish to acknowledge that they are on lands that have never been ceded.
• Event happening at the end of this week at the UC Davis law school – commemorating the Lyng vs Northwestern decision which was a landmark decision against native religious freedoms. The decision set a negative precedent in relation to legal protections of native religions.

== New members check-in: ==

• National Lawyers Guild Housing Committee – with the idea that we can try to help create community land trust – put up money towards community land trusts for billeting while people are visiting in town.
• Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign – people doing foreclosure defense but also take-overs as well.
• Peaceful Uprising – trying to find out if Henia Delalia will still be involved in the work or if we should get someone new from the climate justice struggle involved.
• Suggest that we identify fronts of struggle on the next call such as indigenous struggle, climate justice struggles, anti-incarceration struggles, etc… With the idea of assigning specific people to work on outreach to these specific fronts.

== Facilitator and Note Taker for next meeting: ==

• Next call would be first Monday in December
• Jerome Facilitator, Anna Note-Taker
• Next outreach meeting will be opened by a political discussion on Henia’s piece on “professional activism” and the meeting after will be a reading from Louis.

January 6, 2014

2014-11-01T15:35:21Z

Anna Lee-Popham: Created page with "== USSF Outreach Working Group Meeting – January 6th, 2014 == Facilitator: Walda Note Taker: Spence On the call: Walda, David, Rose, Jerome, and Spence == Discussion o..."

== USSF Outreach Working Group Meeting – January 6th, 2014 ==

Facilitator: Walda
Note Taker: Spence
On the call: Walda, David, Rose, Jerome, and Spence

== Discussion of Goals for upcoming Face to Face NPC Meeting: ==

• Number one thing come out of face to face meeting is first of all people getting to know each other politically. Lots of new folks who have not worked together and do not know each other yet, so this is really important.

• The meeting could discuss how we reach out to the communities that we know that we need to bring into the social forum process, how do we use the PMA process to bring them into the USSF process.

• The document that David has been working on regarding the structure and process of the NPC. It would be good to get people clear on this.

• It would be good to ask folks who are coming to review the political framing document. Also encourage us to think about any other short readings. As a way to get people engaged before the meeting.

• Talking about the whole working group situation, the fundraising part, connections among the working groups, etc…

• We should discuss what we mean by a polycentric social forum and a new type of USSF? As well as how funding works in relation to this new model and in relation to past funding that the social forum has received.

== Call to the Movement:==

• This document is really important and Samako got a first draft going.

• First draft still needs a fair amount of work though.

• Feedback should be provided to Samako about the draft so it can be strengthened.

== Outreach Working Group Work Plan Ideas: ==

• Since 2014 is the PMA year we need to make sure that we are clear on the politically grounded nature of this year and this USSF

• Maximize the PMAs as the outreach and educational tools for the USSF.

• Movement schools don’t really have a home in the structure yet, but are an important aspect of the outreach work as well, we need to discuss this more. For now being discussed / planned from road working group and outreach/pma working group.

• We could have a more systematic approach to listing key fronts of struggle in the US. In an ongoing way we could compare these fronts of struggle to the representation within the USSF process in order to identify key groups to reach out to. What constituencies are represented, what fronts of struggle, what is represented and what is not.

• Already identified youth, indigenous, immigrant / migrant work, as key groups to reach out to now.

== Outreach Updates ==

• Jeff Ordwor – from an organization in Missouri who wanted to know what was happening with the social forum process. Missouri is Organizing for Reform and Empowerment. Someone needs to follow-up

• SOA Watch – follow-up from PMA that was held there last fall. Notes are being typed up, Walda is in touch with them.

• David met with the political director of the Chicago Teacher’s Union, and will be meeting with them again. He is wondering about approaching them to be an anchor organization for the polycentric USSF process. There was a suggestion that we should have a more collective conversation about whether or not we should approach them about being an anchor organization. Possibly we could explore some intermediary steps of political engagement such as maybe them joining on the NPC or taking some other steps of involvement before becoming an anchor.

== Next meeting will be the 3rd of February ==

• Spence will send out the reminder.

September 22, 2014 Meeting Notes

2014-10-27T04:06:44Z

JeremyKS:

[[Philly Communications & Technology]]

'''Social media training'''
(if you want more info or want to get involved with helping to manage the Social Forum social media, get in touch with Angela, angelamarievogel@gmail.com)

'''EdgeRank overview''' - "EdgeRank is an algorithm developed by Facebook to govern what is displayed--and how high--on the news feed."

-takes into account affinity (people's interactions with page's posts/"edges"), weight (values of types of these interactions, e.g. sharing>commenting>liking>clicking on link) and time decay (how long ago edge was created)

-national USSF FB page has a lot of likes but not currently showing very good indicators for reach, engagement

-takes a very long time to build up a like base and is harder now than a few years ago, so probably makes sense to focus on further developing and improving national USSF social media presence rather than devoting much time to new USSF Philly-specific FB, Twitter page (given our limited time resources)

''Best practices for social media:''

-upload photo with caption, which may include links

-do not directly share content from other FB users, instead repost content, while giving credit in caption if needed (this way, if content is re-shared, then our page name and caption continue to be shared with the post)

-admin engagement-admins should be liking and sharing content posted to USSF social media pages

-3-5 posts per day as target

'''USSF Proposed Social Media Process'''

-work in progress, still more things to decide upon as group, like what constitutes "breaking news" and therefore would not be expected to go through usual approval process

'''Website Review and Suggestions for Improvement''' (www.ussfphilly.org)

-move community calendar to "Resources" page

-change "Blog" page name to "News" - less expectation for frequent posts

-expecting to use News page to post announcements about special events, press releases, etc.

-increase contrast and size of text in page body and menu links

-try to make text on home landing page stand out a bit more from background

-Jeremy will check in with ResDev, PLOC about status with Reconstrunction Inc (our fiscal sponsor) and what needs to be done to set up donate link

'''Future Meetings'''

-Rachel going to check with Galen about what might be a good day of the week for both of them to be able to attend

-how are Wednesday evenings for everyone??

-next steps: meet some day in about two weeks (TBD), schedule and plan for skill shares

-highest priorities for skill shares right now: Drupal content management, listserv management, graphic design, social media (less urgent, several local people have already received EdgeRank training)...others???

-Jeremy can lead skill share on Drupal, but first needs to set up user roles and get a little more comfortable with updating content on our site

-perhaps could be a good strategy to target skill shares when possible to a broader audience by saying, come learn this skill, and then see how it can be applied to organizing the Social Forum, and then we could try to recruit people who seem interested in getting further involved

October 14, 2014 Meeting Notes

2014-10-27T03:56:35Z

JeremyKS:

[[Philly Communications & Technology]]

'''Tasks for Volunteers'''

-Compile a list of newspapers and newsletters for us to send out a general call for volunteers

-Research organizations to reach out to for Comm/Tech volunteers

-Help lead a skill share workshop (more info below)

-Design a flyer for regional (non-local) outreach

-data entry (contact Rich)

'''What is the role of Comm/Tech in the coming months?'''

-we have already set up email, website, and social media infrastructures and processes (though there is still certainly room for improvement/development), and designed a few flyers

-support other work groups

-Jeremy will send out email to work group point people to ask if they could use any Comm/Tech support (e.g. set up listservs, add content to website, design outreach material, etc.)

-Rachel involved with hopefully getting Art & Culture and Youth work groups more active

-skill shares as part of movement-building process

-once donation collection policies approved by national organizers, set up Donations page

-in collaboration with national task forces, help develop registration system and mass communications content

-once venue secured and donation/registration processes approved and set up, will be time to think about mass press releases
'''
Closer to time of forum:'''

-video conferencing infrastructure

-translation tools

-communications strategy for publicizing announcements during forum

'''Organizations to reach out to for Comm/Tech volunteers:'''

-Girl Develop It

-Black Girls Code

-Code for Philly

-everyone try to think of and research others and bring your ideas to the next meeting

-try to have Comm/Tech meetings at more regular time and place
Tuesdays @ 7pm?
Jeremy will check with Keith to see if we can schedule a room (maybe even a computer lab??) at the Friends Center on a biweekly basis

'''Social Forum Skill Share Series-potential topics'''

1) graphic design (using free GIMP software)
2) Excel/spreadsheets
3) media advisory & press release (Angela)
4) listservs
5) wiki
6) Drupal (repeat if others interested)
7) social media (repeat if others interested)

We're thinking about starting with the graphic design workshop, sometime in November, and from then on having each biweekly meeting be a 45 min-ish skill share which we publicize as a general opportunity for anyone to come and learn new comm/tech-related skills, but then follow the workshop with a brief meeting for Comm/Tech organizers to discuss any pressing work group topics. This way, the workshops could both improve our local skill base and serve as a recruiting tool. During the first workshop, we're thinking we could present a few of the other topics, and have the people who show up vote for what they would be most interested in, or suggest other topics.

October 6, 2014

2014-10-11T21:43:04Z

Anna Lee-Popham: /* Introductions and Check-ins */

== Introductions and Check-ins ==

Rose, Edgar, Jerome, walda, Anna, Spence
(David, Colette)

== Reports regarding specific fronts of struggle / working groups ==

'''Indigenous Peoples'''
Key relationships are being developed with Idle No More, IEN, International Indian Treaty Council, 7th Generation Fund, and there is increasing understanding of the landscape and different relationship.
The focus is on building long term relationships that will extend past social forum process.
There are INM chapters on the west coast, east coast (Philly). We will be focusing on building direct relationship with people who are close to sites where Social Forum will be located.
Clayton is interested in being involved and will connect folks to INM groups closest to the three sites and build things out from there. This will take a while to build up contacts and relationships with these groups.

'''Youth'''
Jerome is in contact with Tia, one of the organizers of the Youth WG out of Philly. This WG is in motion and having calls.

'''Culture'''
Working group email report came out a couple of days ago. This WG is in formation, mainly organized by some of Hip Hop Groups. They are trying to have meeting in next week or so.

'''Language Justice'''
Possible connections: Bryan Parras @ Tejas; Danielle Mahone @ Center for Third World Organizing; Roberto

== Outreach efforts over the last month ==

'''"Canadian" organizers'''
Edgar connected with Shanee Prassad, from the Peoples Social Forum in Canada, who lives in Vancouver BC. They talked about the possibility of a satellite site. Shanee is really excited and there is a BC Social Forum during same time as US Social Forum. Edgar will figure out the dates and how to move forward.
A contingent from the food sovereignty PMA@ the Pacific NW Social Forum will attend the 2016 Assembly of Assemblies. People are particularly interested in 2016 because it is an election year and that is when a farm bill will come out. It would be important to frame this as how to get ready for 2016? There will be a focus on farm workers at the San Hose SF site. Part of 2016 process is expanding involvement in 2015.
US Social Forum Dates
- June 25-28
- June 24-27 in San Hose

'''Pacific NW Social Forum (Edgar)'''
Over 200 people were there, people came from Washington, including a group of teenagers. For many people it was their first time at a social forum.
Saturday included the opening panel (alternatives to capitalism and how do we get there) and was the main day of PMAs (democracy, hip hop, food sovereignty, indigenous treaties, labor, media, from Gaza to the Americas -deportation, militarization). The PMAs were well attended. The groups then all got together and discussed the current political moment, the world we want to see, the actions people were going to commit to.
Good experience, many good connections were made and it was helpful in regards to what we are trying to do. There is an upcoming debrief.
(Rose) Groups struggled with making connection between vision and current moment; different political views re: what is behind Palestine and state violence locally and globally. It is important to have an experienced person in mix to help things along. People were enthusiastic about the opening plenaries. The SF had more strengths than weaknesses.
Movement schools are the next step to deepen political organizational work. Movement schools help people raise political consciousness beyond electoral politics, especially for folks doing work on the ground, and give them extra tools re: outreach in the community.
Edgar had asked about movement school in Pacific NW, the next step is to find out who leadership core is that wants to go deeper in holding political process. Edgar will discuss with others re: timing of movement school (before end of year, beginning of year?) Edgar will connect with Jerome, walda, Rose, or David re: movement schools.

'''Peoples Climate Action Week'''
(walda) Jerome, walda, Anna, and Spence attended the opening plenary - book launch with Naomi Klein, Clayton, Michael G. (CJA). There were workshops on Saturday as part of climate convergence that were put together by green party, radical elements. There was a day-long big march on Sunday, followed by climate efforts on Monday (wall street).
People seem to be understanding that the system is the problem but not what to do about it. There was much critique re: funding of march (very much effort to supporting democratic party).
Work is happening on the ground. How should USSF weave into that and take advantage of this moment as part of a movement building process. How much did the march impact communities of color? Leadership of POC and poor peoples was in the demonstration and march, wasn’t in the decisions or ensured long-term, ongoing distribution of that money. Disconnect between forces and those making decisions.
Did a Social Forum workshop, but it was out of the way and hard for people to find.
Budget ~ $4-5 M.

'''Gulf Coast PMA'''
This weekend, Oct 10, in Gulfport, MI organized in part by Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy, who are also preparing for bigger Katrina 10-year anniversary convergence next year. Walda and Jerome will go to Gulfport. This PMA and Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy are part of Southern Movement Assembly – and Colette (director at Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy) is part of Outreach and PMA WGs.
10-year anniversary of Katrina will need to be part of USSF 3-year plan.

== Project South email about the pma website ==

Jerome has been having conversation with Project South re: PMA website. Project South has decided to re-energize the peoplesmovementassembly.org website – and do that in coordination with the Outreach WG and specifically folks who have been working on developing a new PMA site.
It is exciting to be moving forward together. We will continue to move ahead with the PMA site that is being developed and figure out how the sites can work together and become one.
Spence brought up one concern: as much integration of the sites (PMA and broader USSF) as possible is ideal. It would be ideal to not have two websites related to the PMA as this might add another element of confusion for people looking for information. If it’s feasible to integrate the sites in the long term, that would help avoid confusion people would experience.
Jerome, Spence, and Anna will get together with Project South to discuss information they need, timeline, and other details re: the site(s).

== How to support groups before and after they organize a PMA and how to get report backs from them. ==

There is ongoing need for analysis of the current moment. So that, along with action steps and movement demands, there is developing movement strategy. The current PMA guide needs tweaking. We need to be gather report backs from who have organized PMAs - develop written form, process of having conversations with people - to ensure PMA information is getting collected. The PMA site as vehicle for communicating the reports.
A follow-up person needs to be assigned to each PMA that happens, so that someone can connect with them and get report.
This will be further discussed at next PMA call.
Spence will be working on a video to explain the PMA process.

September 8, 2014 Meeting Notes

2014-09-11T04:04:23Z

JeremyKS:

[[Philly Communications & Technology]]

'''Website Review'''
-calendar-would like to be able to have color-coded events
-debated whether to color-code by type of event and/or by work group
-don't want to have too many different categories
-Jeremy will follow up with our PhillyDevCamp developer team
-could be good to have two calendars?
-one specifically for USSF events and other for demonstrations/talks/other events that are aligned with the USSF movement?
-Partners/Endorsers
-Res/Dev work group will be working on generating requirements/expectations for being a "partner" or "endorser"
-maybe becoming "Partner" could be prerequisite for getting events listed on the events calendar
-once fiscal sponsor ready, Donate link should be in main menu
-would like to change color of banner at top of pages
-maybe could be replaced by some art by a graphic designer?
-Alesia-want it to be catchy, but not too messy
-logo-in the works at national level

'''Flyers'''
-discussion about fist on flyer that Jeremy made
-Alesia-symbol of empowerment
-Paul-symbol could maybe be alienating for some people, associated with violence
-Alesia-violence seems more associated with forward-pointing fist
-all agree that would be better to show people with fists in air (like on website homepage) rather than just lone-standing fist
-Larry-flyer doesn't currently explain enough of what social forum is about
-Larry suggests image of demonstrations/protests and offers to help develop new ideas, though someone w/ more graphic design experience may need to help put it together
-Jeremy-for general flyer, probably don't want to associate it too much with any specific issue, though we can have different flyers for different audiences as we had worked on before, also don't want to overload flyers with text
-Rachel-maybe could have just a sentence about what USSF is about
-Rachel-could use an image from previous Social Forum (broad, not issue-specific)
-USSF flickr account-everyone look for photos you like, send to Jeremy and Rachel, who will work on new flyer ideas
https://secure.flickr.com/photos/ussocialforum/
-Rachel-top priorities: flyer, website; these will help with other major needs like recruitment, improving coordination between work groups, pulling in a more diverse group of people to get involved with Comm/Tech, outreach for the Art & Culture Meet & Greet on Oct. 10
-Alesia-know a lot of artists, will help distribute flyers

Next meeting will tentatively be Sept. 22 (Monday). Jeremy will check about Friends Center availability.

August 18, 2014 Meeting Notes

2014-09-01T22:37:22Z

JeremyKS:

[[Philly Communications & Technology]]

'''Website Update: '''

-in construction in Drupal by three students from PhillyDevCamp

-they are asking us to send them photos, videos, other resources and assets to include in site

-we have photos from the 2010 Detroit Social Forum and the 8/9/14 Philly PMA

2010 Flickr: https://secure.flickr.com/photos/ussocialforum/

-if you see or have any specific photos which you think should be included on the website, contact Jeremy

-national USSF 2015 logo design in process

-John: ANSWER Coalition may be interested in becoming an anchor organization for USSF Philly

-Larry: would be a good idea to do another big meet-and-greet type meeting with people from all of the work groups in September or October to kick things into a higher gear coming out of the summer

-by then, website should be live

-Website mockup from a couple months ago:
http://tue85426.wix.com/socialforum3

-would be good to decide on color scheme as soon as possible

-depending on how quickly the website comes together, we may try to do a conference call sometime before 9/8 to review it

-----------------------------------------------

'''Web Layout Plan'''

-Home

-About
-Mission Statement/Call for Participation
-History
-Anchor Organizations, Partners, and Endorsements
-People's Movement Assemblies (link to national PMA website)
-What To Expect
-Frequently Asked Questions
-Get Involved
-Calendar (with work group meetings, PMAs, fundraising events, etc.)
-Work Groups (with brief descriptions and contact info)
-Newsletter subscription
-Link to Registration page (once ready)
-Link to Donate page (once ready)
-Resources
-PMA Guide
-Outreach materials
-Other organizing resources
-Blog (news, announcements, press)

-----------------------------------------------

'''US Social Forum Wiki:'''

-not currently being well utilized - lots of information, but not well
organized, and not getting updated with Philly meeting notes

-Jeremy will look into whether he can create accounts for people to be
able to edit the wiki

-John and Rich volunteered to learn how to use Wiki and post work
groups' meeting minutes and other documents/resources

-at next PLOC meeting (this Thursday), Galen will ask other work groups
to send meeting notes to John so John can post them to Wiki

Communications & Technology

2014-08-31T00:07:54Z

JeremyKS:

[[Category: Philadelphia]]
==Philly Comm/Tech==
Contact: commtech@ussfphilly.org

===Meeting Minutes:===
* [[October 14, 2014 Meeting Notes]]
* [[September 22, 2014 Meeting Notes]]
* [[September 8, 2014 Meeting Notes]]
* [[August 18, 2014 Meeting Notes]]
* [[March 20, 2014 Meeting Notes]]
* [[March 6, 2014 Meeting Notes]]