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The Time is Now!!!

Goals, Conference Calls, Agendas, Notes, and more

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March 2013 Convergence Committee Members

* David Cobb – (M2A) - david@duhc.org
* Jerome Scott – LRNA – jerome@ssbuilt.com
* Chris Wahmhoff – (IO) – occupy737@mail.com
* Jackie Smith – (SWB) – jgsmith@pitt.edu
* Alfredo Lopez – (MF/PL) - alfredo@mayfirst.org
* Jamie McClelland - (MF/PL) - Jamie@mayfirst.org
* Roger Drew (WESPAC) – Roger.n.drew1@gmail.com
* Lamont Badru (MXGM) – L.wale.Badru@gmail.com
* Jennifer Cox – (ATEP) - jenkwru@yahoo.com
* Derek Rankins – (PISAB) – d.rankins2@gmail.com
* Kimberley Richards – (PISAB) – kimberley@pisab.org
* Makani Themba – (PRAXIS Project) – mthemba@thepraxisproject.org
* Sylvia Orduno - (MWRO) – sylvia@ussf2010.org
* Edgar Franks – (Community to Community Outreach) - c2coutreach@qwestoffice.net]
* Monique Hardin <mharden@ehumanrights.org>,
* Norris Henderson <norris.henderson@gmail.com>,
* Vi Washington <Vwwro@aol.com>,
* Robert Goodman <akili.mtu@gmail.com>,
* Yvette Thierry <yvette_thierry@yahoo.com>
* Rashad Barber <rashadcbarber@gmail.com>
* Oya Amakisi (DLOC/DGCAC) – amakisi@gmail.com (Interim Chair)


Anchor Group

New Orleans - People's Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB)

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March 2013 Convergence Dates

March 8-10, 2013

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Background

Chicago Meeting


The NPC met in Chicago on November 10, 2012 at the Hull House at the University of Chicago. We separated into two groups to discuss the March 13, 2013 meeting and to bring a collective proposal to the larger group. Philadelphia (PPERC)/Cheri Honkala and New Orleans (NOLA/PISBA)/Kimberly/Derek, Atlanta (AR/Southern Coalitions)/Carlton Turner and San Antonio (PMA)/Ruben Solis were under consideration. The criteria for the meeting site was based on organizational capacity to host the meeting for one hundred to two hundred people, coalition building locally and regionally, housing capacity (arranging discount rates for hotels and solidarity housing) and setting up catering for the three day event. Oya Amakisi spoke with reps from all potential sites and gave a full report back to the NPC.


Philadelphia (PPERC)/Cheri Honkala

PPERC stated that they work with a coalition of groups from the poverty movement and disabled coalitions. They also linked their location to the political moment to work with organizations and coalitions throughout the East Coast who were impacted by Hurricane Sandy around issues of class, climate justice and poverty.


New Orleans (NOLA/PISAB)/Kimberly/Derek

PISAB stated that they work with a coalition of organizations throughout the South. They have a history of using PMA’s for movement building with social justice organizations in New Orleans and regionally. New Orleans is also a potential site for the next United States Social Forum 2014.


Atlanta (AR/Southern Coalitions)/Carlton Turner

Alternate Roots stated that they have the capacity to facilitate a meeting for 150 to 200 people. They are part of a regional coalition of groups including Project South. They held a regional South Eastern PMA. Stephanie has been the co-coordinator of the People’s Movement Assembly. Atlanta was the first site of the United States Social Forum.


San Antonio (PMA)/Ruben Solis

There was no response from Ruben Solis.


Conclusions

The small group chose two alternatives. The first alternative was for two city convergence using live video streaming and ICR as the medium to connect the sites. The second alternative was to host the event in New Orleans with the support of Alternate Roots and other Southern Coalitions. Goals and methodology were also proposed. We also discussed the capacity (people power and financial status) of the current NPC to support and facilitate this meeting with the host city. NPC members shared their capacity. There was not enough consensus for the first alternative.


The final decision was to hold the convergence in New Orleans with the support of coalitions locally and regionally. A core team was established to carry out the work. Oya Amakisi was named as the rep for the ACT. We will also ask that a representative from PIBSA join the ACT and Resource Development Committee. The event will be video streamed live onto the USSF website with IRC (in time commend side panel). Finally, the March meeting will begin the process of gaining commitment to choosing the host city for the next United States Social Forum. (See the methodology and goals below).

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March Convergence Preliminary Goals

  • A. Class, Race and Climate Change to frame the purpose of the meeting.
  • B. To convene movement leaders and elders on critical fronts of struggle
  • C. To assess the current political moment and create a space for discussion and debate
  • D. To launch renewed USSF Planning Committee that reflects grassroots movements
  • E. We should plan to get 3 or 4 cities to come to the meeting with strong proposals as to why they should host the next USSF and then set up a site selection committee.
  • F. Rebuild and expand the NPC (strengthening and deepening of the NPC)
  • G. To connect with and inform the upcoming WSF in Tunisia
  • H. To discuss how to facilitate and support regional/thematic PMAs

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Subcommittees

A. March 2013 Logistics subcommittee

  • a. Meeting location for all three days
    • i. space rental
    • ii. Food
    • iii. Onsite meeting btw anchor and coordination team
  • b. Housing
    • i. Hotel group rates
    • ii. Solidarity housing


B. March 2013 Outreach subcommittee

  • a. Vetting process
  • b. NPC Outreach
  • c. Invitation


C. March 2013 PMA subcommittee

  • a. Coordination
  • b. Base building locally
  • c. Facilitation Team


D. Communications and Technology Working Group

  • a. Historical record
  • b. Report Back to NPC
  • c. Wiki/email
  • d. Live Video Streaming/ICR
    • i. Logistical set up
      • 1. Equipment
      • 2. Bandwidth
      • 3. Techs
      • 4. Regional hubs


E. March 2013 Agenda/Facilitation Team


F. March 2013 Finance

  • a. Budget
  • b. Anchor Site
  • c. NPC/Resource Dev/Coordination


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Meetings

Next Meetings

  • TOMORROW -- Tuesday, January 3, 2013 at 4:30pm
  • 4:30 pm ET / 3:30 pm CT / 2:30 pm MT / 1:30 pm PT
  • Call NPC line (712) 432-0075 code 388105# (host 564471#)
  • Notes @ http://piratepad.net/ClH3MWsuMl

Special Note: Notetakers Needed.


Agenda

  • Check Ins
  • Subcommittees
Committee Report Backs
Deficiencies and Consolidation
  • Resource Dev. and New Orleans Meeting
  • Timelines
  • Follow Up Assignments
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Meeting Notes

Thursday, January 3, 2012 at 4:30pm

Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 4:00pm

Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 4:00pm

Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 4:30pm

Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 4:30pm EST

Immediate Tasks

• Solidify and Join Committees for the March 2013 Working Group meeting.

• Set up a timeline for the March 2013 Meeting WG.

• Resource Dev. WG and New Orleans Anchor Group meeting in December 16-17, 2012

• Decide which reps from Resource Dev. WG should meet with Anchor WG in New Orleans . .

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