Student and Youth Summit on
US Global Engagement
NOTES
Ground Rules
• Pay Attention to
Gender Dynamics
• Speak from 1st
Person Perspective
• Allow for Conflict
• Listen to Understand
• Remember who is not
in the room
• Respect
•
•
•
•
No Cellphones
Honor Confidentiality
½ Finger Policy
Have fun, Stay
Positive
• Gauge Agreement
with Hand Signals
American Friends Service
Committee
•
Bolded indicates circled in agreement by another participant
• Recognize the human dignity in everyone
• Non-violence; peaceful means -> peaceful
ends
• Justice – freedom from oppression
– Economic justice (workers’ rights, immigrants
etc…)
– Social justice (LGBTQ, Racism etc…)
• Developing resources for education and
advocacy
Student Environmental Action
Committee
•
•
•
•
•
•
Environment = Social, political etc…
Environmental racism
Environment + Gender
Renewable Energy
Commitment to Anti-oppression
Democratic organizing structure
Foreign Policy in Focus
• What we do:
– Produce documents, research, policy papers
– training
• Multilateralism
– US inequality does not recognize its responsibility
– Strengthen int’l institutions
• Deepening analysis
– Policy -> action bridges through training
• Encouraging Dialogue
– Students + activists +analysis
Africa Action
• US has a special historic responsibility toward
Africa
• Believe racism has been & is a major
determinant of US policies towards Africa,
Africans ad US citizens of African descent
• value Africa and people of Africa and seek
partnership with Africans
• Believe in principles of:
– Consultation; Openness; accountability;
consensus
• Our dominant frame: global apartheid
USFT
• Founded by student recognizing energy around fair trade activism
– Collective demand, share experiences
• Promote fair trade principles
– Dialogue, transparency, equality
• Relate global issues to everyday life
• Making connections among trade orgs, fair trade groups, across
supply chain
• Interpersonal relationships
– Diversity – seeking allies everywhere
– Respect + responsibility to local areas + knowledge
– Context
• Celebration + hope
• Global economy that supports human beings
United Student Against
Sweatshops
• Founded based on economic justice
– Through apparel on campuses now, worker solidarity all over
• Cooperation + solidarity w/ workers providing support in
their work
• Anti-oppression organization
– Address racism, sexism, classism, etc.. In the work that we do
– Include oppression in analysis
• Work in coalition
• Democratic
– Often consensus based
– Issues decided
• Cooperative self-determination
Oxfam America
• Overview – hunger, poverty, injustice
• Relief/humanitarian aid, post-WWII
• Partnership based model
– Needs defined at local level
– Eg. Poverty relief, hunger, fair trade
• Make Trade Fair campaign
• Rights based framework
– Ie access to health care, food
– Ability for people to empower themselves –
dignity
– So we fight for justice and fairness
American Anti-Slavery Group
• 1993, first abolitionist group since civil war
• Founded by diverse group (multi-ethnic, multifaith)
• Be a voice for the voiceless
• Education -> eradication
• Empower former slaves etc… to tell stories
• Partnerships w/ many groups
• Truth-tellers
• Non-violence
• Simple message
Sierra Student Coalition
• Harmony among people around the world
• Clean air, water, land – human right
• Student empowerment
– Student leadership
• Public lands are our heritage
• Social and economic justice
– Fair trade
• People and planet over profit
• Environmental justice
– Disproportionate environmental degradation for poor
Global Justice
• Educate, train, mobilize students around
global justice issues
• Students are not just foot soldiers;
should be involved throughout
• Globalization not inherently bad, but
inequality + oppression are
• People should be empowered for
political participation
Student Campaign for Child
Survival
• 1)responsible policy means investing in
the FUTURE
• 2)Each child has a right to realize
potential: empowerment
• 3)responsibility – children die from
diseases we could treat
• 4)dignity of every child; caring for our
children should not end with our
families
Student Global AIDS Campaign
• Global AIDS is symptomatic of a global crisis
across geography, race etc…
• Seeking fairness
• Student led
• Solidarity
• US has responsibility as a matter of justice
• Poorer countries should have self-control
• Advocate for multilateral partnership (global
fund)
• AIDS is an issue of POLITICAL WILL – power
imbalance etc…
Student PUGWASH USA
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Focus: nuclear energy; genetics; environment
Education (speaking events)
Learn to think in a new way
Working across sectors and communities
Forum for sharing about social responsibility
Invite different sides of an issue
Promote knowledge
United States Student Association
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Education is a right across age, race, class etc…
Grassroots power of students to win power
Advance student interests
Promote diversity
Educational access and quality
Focus on people who are normally excluded
Democratic processes
– Caucuses
– Electoral system
• Policy platform
– Int’l students
– FTAA (privatization)
– Elections (access to politics)
Common Principles
• Responsibility – US
Responsibility to People they have
oppressed
•
•
•
•
•
•
Anti-oppression
Student Leadership
Story/Humanizing
Peace
Non-Violence
Grassroots – student and Local
communities
• Ownership
• Global Cooperative
Engagement
• Justice – Economic, Social
• Empowerment
• Education – promote different
viewpoints, deepening analysis
•
•
•
•
Democratic Process
Respecting Diversity
Coalition
Human Rights – Right to
Participation
• Political Participation
• Local Solidarity
How do you see US behavior living
up to, or falling short of, these
values?
• Claiming to support democracy and political
participation, but…
• US fails at home to live up to democratic
process
• Also fails in Int’l trade
• Anti-Oppression: US often the oppressor
• Corporate concentration of power
– Undermines grassroots
• Preach Non-Violence but go to war
US Behavior (cont’d)
• Problem: Lack of Analysis by Gov’t & By American People, who then
support the gov’t
• US uses “Freedom”
• Corporations good at working in coalition; using “free speech” to
fight electoral reform
• U.S. gov’t failed in multilateralism
• Doing “oppressor” work
• Self-interest or profit interest comes before values
• US believes in global capitalism
• Duplicity
• Slavery continues and government ignores
• Need a respect for student leadership and Youth participation
• Human Rights – Our country does not respect H.R. At home – hurts
us abroad
– Lead by example
US Behavior (cont’d)
•
Gaps in our youth involvement
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
•
•
•
After school etc..
Activist is a fringe thing
We do not create mechanisms for participation
Need to broaden movement
Lack a culture of involvement
Fragmentation and compartmentalization
Elitism in involvement - people with free time and money
Local Knowledge of global issues is strong but overlooked
Who do we really mean by students and youth?
Using local examples + connections in messaging
– Speak from people’s experience
•
•
•
Challenge – to reach people and move
Partisanship can be divisive
What are we willing to compromise? Taking our values to an organizational
level
US Behavior (cont’d)
•
•
•
•
Conflict: message vs. Actuality
We cede power to “experts” and officials
Should foster a close connection between local and global
U.S. – strong concentration of power + message
–
•
•
Local -> global community -> foreign policy
Uneven distribution of power
–
–
•
Who is making the decisions?
Make it hard for global people to gain access to power – even Americans
US Behavior – Patriot Act
–
–
–
•
•
•
•
We can respond by working w/ individual people
Speed of passing
Invasion of privacy, freedom
Some nations adopting spirit and language of act
Media monopoly/independent media/dissent
Conflict between how we identify…America, US, Gov’t, Policy
Often US-centric, a view that can be in conflict with global equality/justice
Conflict between Americans claiming “justice, freedom etc…” and our historic and
current actions (beliefs and actions)
US Behavior (cont’d)
• Dominant culture controlling though media, education, etc..
– Strengthen through messaging
• Patriotism
– Idealism
– Historical sense
•
•
•
•
Even among ourselves, we find patterns of elitism
Treaty evasion and denial/violation
Need to identify ourselves as US
Our self-interest is short-sighted
– need “enlightened self-interest”
• We need to understand our privilege and advantage
• Understanding relationships between patriotism and dissent
• Theme: How do we relate to U.S.?
VOTE – Common Principles for US
Global Engagement
• Responsibility – US
Responsibility to People they have
oppressed 8
•
•
•
•
•
•
Anti-oppression 6
Student Leadership
Story/Humanizing
Peace 1
Non-Violence 1
Grassroots – student and Local
communities 1
• Ownership
• Global Cooperative
Engagement 5
• Justice – Economic, Social 16
• Empowerment
• Education – promote different
viewpoints, deepening analysis 4
• Democratic Process 4
• Respecting Diversity 3
• Coalition
• Human Rights – Right to
Participation 13
• Political Participation 2
• Local Solidarity
• Fairness 3
Evaluation
• Smiley Faces:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Respect for each other
Concentric circles
Food
Good number for
discussion/tension
Distribution of speakers
Self + professional facilitation
Kept on track
Groundwork
RBF + Frameworks
Int’l
• Frowny Faces:
– Structure of principles
• Org vs. US
– Structured Method of Getting
more voices
– Make sure we can stay in
touch
– Want to hear more specifics
– Objectives and ground rules
• A-HA! Moments:
–
–
–
–
After being a student
Reasoning of different groups
Impossible -> inevitable
Patriotism
Where are we now?
From Yesterday
• Began building relationships
• Gained Knowledge on framing, joint
visioning & lessons from int’l youth
activists
• Understanding of group backgrounds
• Better idea of shared (and conflicting)
– Group values/processes
– Principles for US global engagement
Where are we going today?
• Presentation on joint messaging for student
global issues
• Opportunity to reflect from yesterday
• Defining nature of coalitions
• Group presentations – your work
– How could other support you + vice versa
• Identify overlap + develop proposal drafts
• Refine proposals/action plans
• Presentations and feedback…
– Lead in to tomorrow
Reflections on Coalition
• Earth Rights -> Find how values translate across issues
• Be careful…e.g. the group of farmers vs. the group out to get an
international perspective: No recognition for the former
• Coalition w/ funders is difficult. “Branding” can present challenges
• When other groups in coalition dominate the coalition, because they
lack campaigns + grassroots work
• Honest about expectations + roles
• Mutual self-interest – be open (not just philosophical)
• Success when focus on other org’s, not individuals
• We should know we are embarking on coalition – be deliberate
• “Think outside the square”
– Diverse constituencies, unlikely allies
– Eg. Farmers + aboriginal rights
• Issue-based works because objectives are clear and can because it
can negative when we cross into other issues
Coalitions (cont’d)
• Lack of clear set of demands:
– Expectations of work
– Personal relationships
– Focus on strengths of partners
• Don’t use coalitions to diversify your work
• Legislative/Lobbying Coalitions
– Share work, amplify voice
• Long-term coalitions
– Need trust-building/relationships
• Issue coalitions can lead to long term coalitions
– Build trust through actions (press briefings, env. Coalitions)
• Amnesty-Sierra (H.R. + Environment)
– Gain New Perspective
– Focus environmental defenders who were persecuted
– See interconnection
SCCS
• Doing:
– Campaigns
• partner w/ broader foreign aid campaigns
• children’s health (USAID and other NGOs)
– Advocacy for humanitarian aid
– Increase foreign policy budget
– Encouraging chapter partnerships w/ groups abroad
• Others could contribute to us
– Relationships/contacts
– Advice for diversifying
– Knowledge of internal power dynamics
• We could benefit others
– Contacts + knowledge of how to do lobby work
American Anti-slavery Group
•
Doing
– Direct service; education; media; advocacy; organizing
– Issue cooperation possibilities
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fair trade; transition from slavery
Debt relief; connections to oppression
HIV/AIDS; sex slavery, rape, chattle slavery
Env. Sustainability; New free communities
Women + children; disproportionate slavery
Sweatshops; slave labor
Others could contribute
– Let us speak to groups, spread message
– Training help on organizing
– Vote training together
•
We can benefit others
– Can educate around the issue
– East coast strength
– Advocating what is taught on campuses (collaborate)
AFSC (Peacebuilding Unit)
• Doing
– Voter education for 2004
– Beats for Peace – Boston, DC, Philly, Miami
• Arts, Hip-Hop, communicating w/youth who are vanguard traditionally
– FTAA
– Coalition work around Peace (WSF, NYSPC, W.W.W)
– Counter-recruitment/Anti-Nukes
• Developing materials to be used by schools + community groups
• Links among antimilitarism groups
• Others could contribute
– Developing curriculum
– Need to connect at grassroots
• Benefit other groups
– Resources (educating on issues)
– Breadth of offices
FPIF
• Doing
– Conference for Oil Politics, energy policy and organizing
alternatives
– War on terror
– US Africa policy
• Others could contribute to us
– Turnout/planning for conference
– Opportunities/connections to meet up w/ constituencies
• We can benefit others
– Ghetto film school: alternative communications
– Strong speakers bureau
• Targeting swing states
Oxfam
• Doing
– CHANGE initiative – issue based mobilizing, not chapters; tools for
global citizenship; other forms of recruitment, training
• Hunger
• Trade
• Fair Trade coffee
– Oct 24-27 student trade conference
• Others could contribute
– People, involvement for trade conference
– Plug students into network for cooperation
– Experience from national coalitions
• Can Offer
– Activism/education guides
• FTAA, fair trade, lobbying
– CHANGE curriculum
USFT
• Doing
– Fair trade coffee – campus campaigns
– Create cross-campus campaigns
• Pressure companies together
– Developing website to connect students
• Other groups could contribute
– H.S. campaigns, knowledge
– How we relate to member org’s
– Build relationships w/ ethnic org’s; how to struggle against white
bias
• We could benefit others
– Contacts + company database
– Connect to mainstream, positive messaging
– Inroads to fair trade
Sierra Student Coalition
•
Doing
– 400 groups, 40 state coordinators
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
–
–
–
–
•
Trade campaign; totally legislative – defeat FTAA
Focus on state and local levels
Messaging: our communities at risk; identify threatened areas locally
Global south partnerships
Miami organizing
Oct 31 mobilization – halloween, scary, FTAA
Electoral trainings with USSA, AFL-CIO
Globalization work
Electoral
Environmental Justice; support local efforts
World Banks campus bonds
Others can contribute
– Partner on campaigns, actions
•
Offer to others
– Trainers bureau
SGAC
•
Doing
– Donate the dollars, drop the debt, treat the people
– Policy: congress and the president
• Keep the Pledge, O4 Stop AIDS
• Comprehensive platform – debt, gender, race etc..
– Debt – week of action (IMF, WTO, Secretary etc..)
– FTAA intellectual property
– Multinational corporations -> coke
• Corporate responsibility
•
Others could contribute
– How to work
– Local-global coalitions
– Support on ’04 Stop AIDS
•
What do we offer?
–
–
–
–
Rights for sex workers + drug users
Victories
Advice on AIDS related involvement
Skills for advocacy
USSA
•
Doing
–
–
Appropriations in higher Education
Immigrant rights in education
•
•
–
Elections
•
•
•
•
•
Voter education, identification, mobilization
Voter training
Non-partisan voter guide
Strategic placements
Others could contribute to us
–
–
–
•
Freedom rides with USAS – legislation
Local campus work SEVIS, DREAM
Appropriations knowledge/constituencies
How to plug-in, define role in int’l
Build members in MA, IL, TX, NY
We could benefit others
–
–
–
–
–
Grassroots + electoral training; even around issues like FTAA
Democratic structure
Knowledge in a student-friendly way
Materials
Understanding organizing on identity
SEAC
•
Doing
–
–
–
–
–
Movement magazine (threshold)– communicate to member groups
Speakers bureau and regional list serves
Skills building (training institute)
Regional conferences
Campaigns start locally
• tampon action
• Militarism campaign
• Renewable energy, climate justice
•
Others could contribute to us
– Trainings more efficiently
• Trainings regionally/youth organizing
– Expanding outreach capacity
– Knowledge to build grassroots funding
•
What we can contribute to others
– Alumni network – how-to
• Reunion…serve as partners w/ alumni
– Organizing guides – H.S., environment
SPUSA
• Doing
– Chapter system, plan own events
– Involve, empower student leadership
– 6 issues: security; environment; sustainable development;
genetics; diversity in science; society and technology (civil
liberties)
• Others could contribute
– Experts/activists/students in the field
– Our national conferences
• Can offer to others
–
–
–
–
Conferences
Partnerships
Curricular advocacy
electoral
USAS
•
Doing
–
–
–
–
–
160 affiliates, strong on coasts, fairly spread out
Labor solidarity and Economic justice
IMF, WTO, WTAA
Immigration reform
Leadership development
• Anti-racist/oppression training
– NYSPC – civic participation work
– Women’s colleges, Historically black colleges
•
Others could contribute
– Resource development
– Alumni work
– Electoral
•
Benefit others
–
–
–
–
Work w/labor movement
Tools for mobilizing
Corporate campaign
“bad cop”
Africa Action
•
Doing
–
–
Campaigns around “global apartheid”
Africa’s Right to Health campaign
•
•
•
•
•
–
MOST WANTED – Pres. Bush accountability
•
–
–
•
Expose broken promises
Strength – grassroots movement: DC, NY, Atlanta, Houston, Bay Area, African immigrants,
PLWHA’s
World AIDS Day of action
Others could contribute
–
•
Access for all
Debt cancellation
End to stigma and discrimination
Dialogue on reparations
IMF/WB colonialism
Need more people + allies for campaigns and days of action
Can Offer
–
–
–
Connections between global and domestic crisis
Policy analysis on issues
Can generate further analysis
Global Justice
• Doing
– Bring groups together
– Seeking new campaigns
• Trade, micro-credit
– Bridge issues – debt and Haiti
– International partnerships (ie Zambia)
• Others can contribute
–
–
–
–
–
Help us get involved in new issues
Broaden base to public universities, HBC’s, community colleges
Alumni network
Grassroots fundraising
Collaborate domestically
• Offer to others
– Can mobilize quickly
– Open to cooperation
– Issue education/advocacy
Thematic/Campaign Proposals,
Votes, Group Leaders
• HIV/AIDS – 3 – Sean Barry
– Day of Action, Debt
• Electoral/Vote – 7 –Becky Wasserman
– 04 Stop AIDS, Swing States, Key Issues, Broaden Global
Agenda
• Global Economic Justice – 9- Michelle Dixon
– FTAA education, electoral, advocacy, trade conference
• Corporate Accountability/Responsibility – 0
• Media Control/Regulation – 0
• US Responsibility/Energy, Environment, Sustainability –
7 – Jessica Leight
– Int’ Issues, Multilateralism
Organizational Concerns
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Trainings
Alumni
Curriculum Advocacy
Film
Fundraising
Unify Across Issues
Media
Tactics (Hip-Hop)
Appropriations/Lobbying
Vote Working Group
• Problems:
– International issues and
elections
– We have no/little capacity
– Focus
– Relations to existing
coalitions?
• Solutions/Ideas:
– Issue specific info: fliers,
vote guide(s)?
– Samples: vote guides?,
fliers
– **Booklet
– Guide book – 6 issues
– **Voter Guide - Send to
candidates?
– **Candidate Profiles
• Past votes
• Grades
• Each org says what they
feel about candidates
– NYSPC
– Issue based vote materials
– Speaking tours
Vote Working Group, cont’d
• Vote Guide
Bush
Gore
Guns: Y
Guns: N
• Sample Booklet
Organization
Name
Sample
Flier
•Andre plan
•+additional background
info (grades, votes
•Orgs Here
•MECha
•NAACP
•SAF
•TransAfrica
•Voter reg.
Cover
HIV/AIDS Working Group
• Sept -> Global Justice
• AFSC -> Peace and Justice
Tour
• October
– 6-12 -> SGAC -> Debt Week
of Action
• November
– SGAC - >Trade Campaign
Week of Action
– Africa Action -> Most Wanted
Campaign
• December
– World AIDS Day Week of
Action/Student Day of Silence
– AFSC ‘Beats’ for Peace - >2nd
or 3rd Sunday ->Suggest an
AIDS Focus
• Platform:
– US Should Do Its Fair Share
• Action:
– Multicoalition Event
– Reordering Gov’ts Priorities
Evaluation
•
Smiley Faces:
–
–
–
–
–
•
Frowny Faces:
–
–
–
–
–
–
•
Small Group Activities
Interest Across Issues
See linkages develop
Excited About Specifics
Didn’t let schedule dictate (flexibility)
Use Sticky Dots as a voting tool
Gap in “goodbye” with funders (how do we stay in touch?)
Int’l – not just over meals
Voting –criteria of importance; a way of thinking about the decisions being made
Clarifying “we”
Day was long
A-Ha! Moments:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Patriotism moment
Frameworks ->media as episodic
Move On presentation
Talking about positives, looseness, comedy
Landmines -> winning more than liking
Uniting the movement discussions
2004 elections -> encouraging
More help in organizing -> go to funders
Expectations for Tomorrow
• Fleshing out action plans
– Comment + involve in
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Who “We” are…clarification
Who’s not here…who to bring in…how?
Sustaining relationships
Process/Alumni, etc… issues
Pitching to our organizations
Resource sharing
Defining our continuing strategy
Update From Yesterday …
• Learned more about Joint messaging
and Coalitions
• Shared Group Interests
• Developed Concrete Action Plans
• Learned more from Internet and
International partners
FOR TODAY
• Reflection to get us ready for today
• Concrete Capacity Building Collaboration;
TIG, GJ Conference, Alumni, Etc…
• Re-visit Action Plans
• Who are we & How to move forward
• Evaluation and Commitments
What do you want to come out of today ?
• Concrete plans for
continued
communications
• A world wide movement,
new resources, synergy,
new activist, more
energy, new friends
• Plan/vision to move
towards a “trade justice”
in the US and
internationally 
• Leave space in the plans
to be visionary and
creative
• Create a more concrete plan
for the Global Economic
Justice <- yeah, this
• Make concrete plans to work
on organizational concerns
together
• A concrete plan for sharing our
strength
• Solid working relationships
between participants
• Discuss org. resources and
have them continue beyond
today
What Can You Do To Make It Happen?
• Elevate the discourse
from coalition to talk
about a movement, work
with others to shake
donors/people up, go
back to my org. + convey
the vision of this
conference, stay in touch
• Coordinate a student
trade justice/make trade
fair-conference w/
participation by groups
here and others
• Provide (offer) space for
groups
• (ie trade etc..) to meet
• Follow-up
• Schedule future lunch
meetings
• Help on specifics projects
coming out of this
conference
Concern: International Partnerships
•
Needs:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
•
USFT – partnerships w/ students in producer nations
SGAC – connect with youth AIDS activists abroad
SCCS – Partnerships w/ youth orgs working on children’s issues
SEAC – needs forum for communication with int’l groups
SSC – needs access to students activists in the global south to build “sister communities” relationships
SPUSA – Though part of an international network, would like to be connected to int’l students specifically
working on our issues
AFSC – (Same as above)
AASG – To work w/ people on the ground to spread awareness, provide help+ info about slaves, pressure
media to report about slavery, and gov’t and civil society to do something about slavery
Resources:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
SEAC - History of Int’l component w/ newsletter + other resources
People and Planet – Specific campaigns on trade, HIV/AIDS, climate change
AFSC – Huge Int’l network
IYP – network of youth activists in 150 countries. IYP 2004
USAS – int’l intern program sends US students to 7 countries; experience & network in Latin America and
Asia
Oxfam – Network of community/org. partnerships
AASG – nat’l conference bringing 8 civil society activists from Africa to discuss goals and collective action
Concern: International Partnerships
(cont’d)
• Partnerships:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
USFT would like to partner with Youth Parliament
SEAC/P&P – Climate Change
SGAC/P&P – re: AIDS/trade, IYP – adopt a project
IYP/SGAC
IYP + CONGO
AFSC + IYP + P&P
USAS would like to work w/ P&P
GJ – IYP, P&P, CONGO
Concern: Alumni + H.S.
•
Need
–
–
–
–
–
–
•
Resources
–
–
–
–
•
GJ – training – we need to start an alumni program; we need ideas and tactics
SGAC – ideas + examples for alumni network
SPUSA – Locating Alumni; time to devote to program; future publication to provide to alumni
SEAC – ideas for maintaining a H.S. network
AASG – working access to orgs to inform more young people about slavery + ways to stay
involved
USFT – maintaining contact w/ alumni, making contact w/ high schools + making curriculum
SSC – works extensively w/ high school students
SEAC – We have on alum network + can share info on how it was created
SPUSA – Currently launching 2 alumni groups (Boston, DC)
USAS has H.S. organizing manual + alumni council
Partnerships:
–
GJ -> SEAC -> USAS -> SPUSA
Concern: Training
• Needs:
– SGAC – campus organizing; electoral; designing campaign
– SCCS – campus organizing; media
– SPUSA – Outreach to new schools; sustaining chapters; networking
members
– FPIF – media training advice; electoral
– Anti-oppression trainings
– AASG - general grassroots/leadership development, media, managing
chapter finances, election, outreach + coalition building
– Oxfam – grassroots student media, lobbying, organizing, campus
chapter/campaign building, issue based trainings
– Make Trade Fair Conference: Anything you can offer to build students
skills and knowledge to advocate around trade and the FTAA
– AFSC – curriculum development, materials, youth/student organizing
– USFT – campus outreach training
– AA – Actions, Global-Local
- SEAC needs regional grassroots organizers
Concern: Training (cont’d)
-
Resources
-
-
AFSC – Hugeness + lotsa folks
SEAC – grassroots organizing training institute and rally
SSC – models for lobbying, media, campaign planning, facilitation, running campus groups, running a mtg
etc… trainings and a developed triners bureau nationwide
FPIF – media training professional
GJ – organizing, media, advocacy
Oxfam – CHANGE curriculum (200 pg binder of media, lobbying, organizing and issue based trainings
around trade, coffee and hunger). FTAA teach-in, FTAA
student action and resource guide, FTAA lobbying teach-in. Hunger Banquets.
AA – Staff training experience (media org.)
USAS/USSA –labor GRassrootsOganizingWorkshop (GROW)
Partnerships
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SSC – USSA Election trainings
Trade Conference – Oxfam, GJ, AFSC, SGAC
Oxfam-SGAC-USSA – electoral organizing
SGAC-SSC – exchange materials; get some members to attend SSC training;
SGAC-FPIF – media training
USSA electoral trainings – GJ, SGAC, AFSC, SSC, Oxfam, AA,
SEAC – would like to partner with other student orgs. For an anti-oppression training conference, USAS
would be interested
Concern: Fundraising Thru
Grassroots
• Needs:
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SEAC – needs to hire a development director, advice on dues structure
GJ – helpful tips; we need to start up a program
SGAC – tips + lessons learned
Beats 4 peace – specific staff
USAS – advice on effective dues structure
AASG – Advice w/ new chapter system
USFT – advice
SPUSA – unique travel funding ideas
AA - $ for local activist groups
• Resources:
– AASG – Can provide example of our Bearing Witness + Subsequent
resources as models including our Freedom Action Network and
Telemarketing
– SEAC – can provide info on sliding scale dues
Concern: Broadening our
Constituency
• Needs:
– SEAC – to learn about building coalitions with diverse
groups (in terms of race, class, sexual orientation)
without co-opting those movements
– SSC – building diversity (race, class, sexual
orientation, geographic, ideological)
– SCCS – expanding geographically into S, MW;
diversifying to public schools, community colleges,
historically black colleges etc…
• Resources:
– SEAC – caucus structure
Concern: Tactics (Film & Hip-Hop)
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Needs:
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Resources:
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FPIF – groups that want to create these films together
SSC – interested in developing creative street theater/visibility tactics around FTAA & “beat
Bush” themes
USFT – Buzzmobile National summer tour
SGAC – more fun outreach
SCCS – connections w/ children’s arts groups
AASG – Use film +Art to increase awareness
FPIF – Ghetto Film School
AFSC – Beats for Peace
SSC – we have connections to theater of the oppressed folks
FPIF – hip-hop tour (Dead Prez)
AASG – Connections w/ Entertainment Industries Council, Touched by an Angel and Others
Partnerships:
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USAS, AA, GJ, FPIF, AFSC – would like to participate in these
SGAC wants to participate w/ AFSC (Beats); FPIF (documentary):
Concern: Media
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Needs:
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AASG - More consistent slavery coverage – less episodic
AA - Concrete ways to bring local voices to National/Int’l media
Echoed by AFSC; Also, connections w/ alt. media/advertising/artist networks
SGAC – help with materials
FPIF – info on cheap means to get flashy materials
SPUSA – How to get medias attention
SCCS – brochures, flier, poster development
AA Help with messaging , events
Resources:
– AASG – Can provide help w/ messaging + Media Outreach Ideas (op-ed writing,
etc…)
– AFSC Communications dept. -> USSA, NYSPC model
– SSC – has developed a student media training that can serve as a model
– SPUSA – link to great, cheap printer
– FPIF – film (tactic) as new messaging!
– SGAC – comp. media guide
How do we incorporate values into
our own organizations’ processes?
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Anti-oppression thru caucuses
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Anti-oppression training
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How can we be allies to caucus
Caucus retreats
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Ben will recommend
Anti-racism trainings
Challenging white supremacy
People’s institute…
We need language to talk about these things
Ally meetings
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Womens caucus, people of color caucus, working class caucus etc…
Tool for accountability, process, representation (to larger group), communication w/in
caucuses
Caucuses w/ representation on board (USSA)
Changing how people talk about OR changing membership and leadership
How we analyze and talk about our issues? Ie racism and sexism
It is the same people running the show domestically and internationally
When we change analysis…we attract different leaders and member base
Helping people OR solidarity against oppression
Campaigns, Partnerships,
Coalitions
• Actions -> Shared resources -> larger process, larger
movement
• Focus on larger movement piece from this weekend:
– Are we necessarily student and youth…what does this mean for
who we are? Groups with some student work or student/youth
led groups
– How do we treat students within our groups?
– Should groups like AFSC join youth + student organizations
– Only national student groups? Regional? Local? Int’l?
• How much work can we do before true inclusion of other
groups to allow true ownership and leaders from those
groups?
What would make people excited about this
process? Who do we need to get involved? Who
is not here?
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What does it mean to do “Global
Justice” work?
Environmental justice groups
Immigrant communities
Latino + Asian communities
National women’s groups
Indigenous groups
NAACP
Int’l participation
Ethnic student groups
Black student unions (regional
network)
Non-student youth
Groups representing black people
– NAACP, TransAfrica, Black
fraternity + sorority
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Faith based networks
– Unitarian universalists
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World federation of democratic
students
Int’l union of students
MECha
New voices or common mission or
mutual gain?
Roots and Shoots
Global humanitarian org’s (still
have adult-student conflict)
Moslem student associations
Using your relationships to bring
on new partners
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How to go back to org’s?
Challenge about working harder/smarter. Are we working smarter?
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Trade campaign as possible example
Beats fro Peace, FTAA, voter
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More work, but helps with outreach, expedites
Success where groups were working already
Not as much success with new ideas/projects (multilateralism)
How do we look toward new coordination?
Used to campaigns?
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Hard to incorporate across issues, principle to work together
Outcomes
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Partnerships/tasks agreed to
Relationships and connections
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People’s movements
For NEXT TIME, new coalitions
Afraid of groups dissipating
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Smoother on things to do anyway
But one thing that was cool was that groups did improve self-> concrete smarter working
relationships
Great balance structure