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Contents
Using wiki
The technology tool is really about people and it is not just a tool it is a culture. It is a very easy way to publish and communicate on the internet - but it grows in complexity as the community needs it. What questions do you have? Best, MarkDilley
Another way of learning is possible!
If you were asked to re-design our universities, what would you propose? The World Social Forums are about re-designing our social and political institutions so they better serve people's basic needs.
The aim of the 'people's university of the USSF' is to create a space for us to imagine alternatives to the institutions of higher learning that have helped perpetuate if not reinforce economic inequality and racial/gender/and other forms of exclusion.
Let's rebuild our learning institutions so we can make another world possible!
Posted by:Jackie Smith, Sociologists without Borders
That's way the bestest asnewr so far!
Social Forums and Social Movements
Tony Zaragoza and I, as faculty at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, organized a spring quarter program in 2007 entitled, "Social Forums and Social Movements." We did this in the context of the upcoming US Social Forum being planned for Atlanta in June, 2007. Our fifty students researched each organization of the NPC and each delegate and then through various strategy games we "played" the social forum several times during the quarter using actual planning documents for background and context. Attached is the to our program and its reading materials and resources. --Dan Leahy
Wow! Great thikinng! JK
Mini-courses, college credit and the USSF
In response to Sylvia's post,
I am leading a research team to Detroit, and we will be doing surveys and structured observation of workshops. Students could gain research experience on this team by working with professors on their campuses prior to the summer (I can provide a list of readings and resources for this preparation), attending a training we will hold near Cobo hall prior to the USSF opening march, and attending a debriefing meeting following the USSF.
I could use a little help, though, in setting this up.
For starters, people could send ideas of readings and materials for a bibliography for students preparing to come to the USSF. But also, as someone doing the research, it is hard to also manage the logistical work of communications and coordination, so any volunteers are welcome. (jsmith1037@gmail.com)
Paying for it
For the People's University idea to go beyond USSF10, we'll have to address funding. If we look at the experience of Antioch College and how they've managed to revive it, the main issue has been money (not that there haven't been significant other struggles). I don't have any brilliant (or even mundane) ideas, but it might be something to discuss at the workshop (besides the more interesting questions of what the People's University would *look* like).
--MikeG 00:06, 21 June 2010 (UTC)
New mailing list for People's University
We've created a mailing list for everybody interested in working on the People's University of the USSF. To sign on, go here: [1]
--Mike Gasser 19:08, 26 August 2010 (UTC)
People's University organizing conference call, Aug. 25, 2010
Participants
Marc Becker (Truman State University), Amy Braun (University of Notre Dame), Mike Gasser (Indiana University-Bloomington), Jackie Smith (University of Notre Dame; minute-taker), John Trimble (Howard University)
Meeting summary
The purpose of the call was to identify possible next steps that would realistically allow us to move forward towards achieving some of the aims of a "People's University of the US Social Forum."
Details
- We identified several particular tasks that a People's University could assist with. (This is a basic list that could be expanded with time, if the capacity of the group allows.)
- Facilitate networking among scholar-activists from multiple disciplines with the explicit purpose of working to support the World Social Forum process;
- Serve as an organizational representative on the National Planning Committee of the USSF of scholar-activists. This would help bring in the resources and skills of scholar-activists to support the Social Forums more effectively;
- To help create and support more public spaces for learning about global issues and themes discussed at the various Social Forums;
- To engage in work aimed at advancing goals of Social Forum activists in specific areas such as technology, water rights; health, etc. This may be largely through facilitating connections between researchers and activist groups.
- Assist with the documentation and evaluation of Social Forums
- We proposed an action that would not overextend our capacity and that could help expand the network of participants in the People's University project. This is to organize actions in our local communities during the World Social Forum in Dakar, February 6 - 11, 2011. Activities could include:
- Community events aimed at informing residents about the WSF and its issues-ideally linking the WSF process with concerns of local communities.
- Community meetings where WSF events may be viewed and discussed through the "Dakar Expanded" process-which provides webcasts and possibilities of direct skype and video conference links to workshops in Dakar. The People's University network could help scholar-activists keep informed about the WSF and the Detroit to Dakar activities and could help prepare materials to facilitate community meetings, including lists of resources and discussion questions. For more information: Detroit to Dakar and Transafrica Forum.
Next steps and needs for volunteers
- Need a liaison with Detroit to Dakar group-provide periodic updates on preparations for Dakar and issues that might link to community discussions
- Need volunteer to explore possible "Dakar expanded" activities. Someone with links to people who will be organizing workshops in Dakar can be particularly helpful.
- Need volunteer to coordinate preparation of materials or "organizing kit" for WSF 2011 activities.
- Need creative person with ideas about how to name and frame this project!
- NETWORKING: Help from everyone to spread this call to action and to help build the People's University organizing network
--Mike Gasser 21:33, 4 September 2010 (UTC)