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Grassroots bringing solutions and innovation to Social Forum Movement
ATLANTA, GA – As the nation grapples with issues of war, immigration, housing and more, thousands of community organizers, activists, youth, and community leaders representing hundreds of national, and international organizations will participate in the first ever U.S. Social Forum. Gathering under the banner “Another World is Possible; Another U.S. is necessary,” the U.S. Social Forum will be one of the largest working convenings of progressives in U.S. history.
“The U.S. Social Forum will have people from virtually all walks of life,” says National Planning Committee member Michael Guerrero. “From block club associations to local and national leaders from labor, immigration rights, health and more, the Forum will be a creative, engaging space for thousands of people committed to making change in this country.”
The week-long confab brings the World Social Forum process to the United States – a phenomenon that has grown from 15,000 to more than 150,000 people since the first meeting in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001. “An interesting thing happens with these social forums around the world,” says Alice Lovelace, USSF National Lead Organizer. “You can see it in South America, in Africa, in Asia. A wave of change and grassroots political engagement follows.”
Regional social forums have taken place in every region in the country leading up to the USSF, which will take place in Atlanta, Georgia from June 27 to July 1, 2007.
Atlanta was chosen as the site of the USSF because it continues to be the heart of the civil rights movement. “The South has seen lots of repression and lots of resistance,” says National Planning Committee member Jerome Scott. The forum will be anchored in the Atlanta Civic Center, but activities are also scheduled at numerous venues and nearby neighborhoods.
KEY EVENTS/ACTIVITIES
· Opening March & Rally – Wednesday, June 27 2PM Opening - Gathering: 1 pm, Step off: 2 pm - Begins at State Capital, weaving through the streets of Atlanta, passing historic civil rights locations, and highlighting local, national, and international issues.. Plenty of visuals, theater, and photo opportunities. Contact: Stephanie Guilloud, stephanie@projectsouth.org, 404.622.0602.
· Opening Ceremony –Wednesday, June 27 at Atlanta Civic Center, 6PM - 8:10PM - Includes speeches, cultural performances and storytelling. Contact: Alice Lovelace, (404) 819-7863.
· Evening Plenary Sessions – The U.S. Social Forum will shine the light on six key movement-building themes. The six areas of struggles are: Gulf Coast Reconstruction in the Post-Katrina Era; War, Militarism and the Prison Industrial Complex; Indigenous Voices: From the Heart of Mother Earth; Immigrant Rights; Liberating Gender and Sexuality: Integrating Gender and Sexual Justice Across Our Movements; and Workers' Rights in the Global Economy. Speakers will include Faleh Abood Umara from the Iraqi Federation of Oil Workers' Union, Tonya Gonnella-Frischner, UN North American Rep to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Contact Sarita Gupta of Job with Justice National, sarita@jwj.org, (202) 679-0180 for a full list of speakers.
· People’s Freedom Caravan (South by southwest route) June 22 – June 27, 2007 Each stop along the caravan has a media event planned. Press can still reserve spots on buses. There will be documentary crews, and press on the buses. Interviews, itinerary, bios and pictures upon request. Contact: Genaro Rendon 210.286.6271 (SWU) or Joann Bejar 505 247 8832 (SWOP).
· The People’s Family Reunion - An event to bring formerly incarcerated people, family and friends, to raise consciousness around sentencing reform, police brutality, the death penalty, drug policy, and human rights violations. The Reunion will include speakers, music, food, and a spark to build real strategies to combat what the groups call the Prison Industrial Complex. Contact Shareef Cousin at Fairness for Prisoners’ Families, GA – 404.552.1413 and Rev. Kenneth Glasgow of The Ordinary People’s Society, AL – 334.791.2433.
· Children’s Social Forum –The First Ever Social Forum for children. The Children’s Program is intended to be inclusive, dynamic (conveying energy and spirit) and will be linked in an age-appropriate way through play, performances and conversations to the overarching themes of the USSF. Contact Kate Shapiro – childrenssocialforum@gmail.com@gmail.com, 404.586.0460.
· Ida B Wells Media Justice Center – An innovative, revolutionary media center/pressroom with daily press briefings, community newsroom, spokesperson and media activism trainings and workshops, press pool, and media check in and information center. Contact: Gretchen at info@peoplesmediacenter.org, 415 506 1865.
· Unity Soccer Tournament – United for Jamaica, Women Watch Africa, and others will throw down on the soccer field. (there was that NY Times article on that Clarkston GA Refugee Soccer Team in Jan – we’re working on pulling them in – might be a hook there) – Contact Emery Wright – 404.622.0602, emery@projectsouth.org.
· Inspiring Delegations
· Olympia, WA-based professor is bringing entire class from The Evergreen State College to participate and volunteer: Dan Leahy leahyd@evergreen.edu.
· Women Watch Africa is sponsoring delegates from Nigeria, Togo, and Benin. Contact Glory Kilanko, gloryk_99@aol.com.
· Two local organizers of the 2007 World Social Forum in Nairobi will be attending and participating – Contact Emery Wright – 404.622.0602 for more details.
· Delegations from Hawai’i: 5 indigenous Hawai’ians working with groups from New Orleans, Albuquerque talking about land, cultural commons, and community building Contact: Stephanie Gullioud, stephanie@projectsouth.org, 404.622.0602
· Indigenous Women’s Network: Contact: Heather Milton-Lightening, heather@ussf2007.org
ATLANTA, GA – As the nation grapples with issues of war, immigration, housing and more, thousands of community organizers, activists, youth, and community leaders representing hundreds of national, and international organizations will participate in the first ever U.S. Social Forum. Gathering under the banner “Another World is Possible; Another U.S. is necessary,” the U.S. Social Forum will be one of the largest working convenings of progressives in U.S. history.
“The U.S. Social Forum will have people from virtually all walks of life,” says National Planning Committee member Michael Guerrero. “From block club associations to local and national leaders from labor, immigration rights, health and more, the Forum will be a creative, engaging space for thousands of people committed to making change in this country.”
The week-long confab brings the World Social Forum process to the United States – a phenomenon that has grown from 15,000 to more than 150,000 people since the first meeting in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2001. “An interesting thing happens with these social forums around the world,” says Alice Lovelace, USSF National Lead Organizer. “You can see it in South America, in Africa, in Asia. A wave of change and grassroots political engagement follows.”
Regional social forums have taken place in every region in the country leading up to the USSF, which will take place in Atlanta, Georgia from June 27 to July 1, 2007.
Atlanta was chosen as the site of the USSF because it continues to be the heart of the civil rights movement. “The South has seen lots of repression and lots of resistance,” says National Planning Committee member Jerome Scott. The forum will be anchored in the Atlanta Civic Center, but activities are also scheduled at numerous venues and nearby neighborhoods.
KEY EVENTS/ACTIVITIES
· Opening March & Rally – Wednesday, June 27 2PM Opening - Gathering: 1 pm, Step off: 2 pm - Begins at State Capital, weaving through the streets of Atlanta, passing historic civil rights locations, and highlighting local, national, and international issues.. Plenty of visuals, theater, and photo opportunities. Contact: Stephanie Guilloud, stephanie@projectsouth.org, 404.622.0602.
· Opening Ceremony –Wednesday, June 27 at Atlanta Civic Center, 6PM - 8:10PM - Includes speeches, cultural performances and storytelling. Contact: Alice Lovelace, (404) 819-7863.
· Evening Plenary Sessions – The U.S. Social Forum will shine the light on six key movement-building themes. The six areas of struggles are: Gulf Coast Reconstruction in the Post-Katrina Era; War, Militarism and the Prison Industrial Complex; Indigenous Voices: From the Heart of Mother Earth; Immigrant Rights; Liberating Gender and Sexuality: Integrating Gender and Sexual Justice Across Our Movements; and Workers' Rights in the Global Economy. Speakers will include Faleh Abood Umara from the Iraqi Federation of Oil Workers' Union, Tonya Gonnella-Frischner, UN North American Rep to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Contact Sarita Gupta of Job with Justice National, sarita@jwj.org, (202) 679-0180 for a full list of speakers.
· People’s Freedom Caravan (South by southwest route) June 22 – June 27, 2007 Each stop along the caravan has a media event planned. Press can still reserve spots on buses. There will be documentary crews, and press on the buses. Interviews, itinerary, bios and pictures upon request. Contact: Genaro Rendon 210.286.6271 (SWU) or Joann Bejar 505 247 8832 (SWOP).
· The People’s Family Reunion - An event to bring formerly incarcerated people, family and friends, to raise consciousness around sentencing reform, police brutality, the death penalty, drug policy, and human rights violations. The Reunion will include speakers, music, food, and a spark to build real strategies to combat what the groups call the Prison Industrial Complex. Contact Shareef Cousin at Fairness for Prisoners’ Families, GA – 404.552.1413 and Rev. Kenneth Glasgow of The Ordinary People’s Society, AL – 334.791.2433.
· Children’s Social Forum –The First Ever Social Forum for children. The Children’s Program is intended to be inclusive, dynamic (conveying energy and spirit) and will be linked in an age-appropriate way through play, performances and conversations to the overarching themes of the USSF. Contact Kate Shapiro – childrenssocialforum@gmail.com@gmail.com, 404.586.0460.
· Ida B Wells Media Justice Center – An innovative, revolutionary media center/pressroom with daily press briefings, community newsroom, spokesperson and media activism trainings and workshops, press pool, and media check in and information center. Contact: Gretchen at info@peoplesmediacenter.org, 415 506 1865.
· Unity Soccer Tournament – United for Jamaica, Women Watch Africa, and others will throw down on the soccer field. (there was that NY Times article on that Clarkston GA Refugee Soccer Team in Jan – we’re working on pulling them in – might be a hook there) – Contact Emery Wright – 404.622.0602, emery@projectsouth.org.
· Inspiring Delegations
· Olympia, WA-based professor is bringing entire class from The Evergreen State College to participate and volunteer: Dan Leahy leahyd@evergreen.edu.
· Women Watch Africa is sponsoring delegates from Nigeria, Togo, and Benin. Contact Glory Kilanko, gloryk_99@aol.com.
· Two local organizers of the 2007 World Social Forum in Nairobi will be attending and participating – Contact Emery Wright – 404.622.0602 for more details.
· Delegations from Hawai’i: 5 indigenous Hawai’ians working with groups from New Orleans, Albuquerque talking about land, cultural commons, and community building Contact: Stephanie Gullioud, stephanie@projectsouth.org, 404.622.0602
· Indigenous Women’s Network: Contact: Heather Milton-Lightening, heather@ussf2007.org
