Contents
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