Contents
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.