US Social Forum - connecting the local to the global

Greetings from the 7th World Social Forum in Nairobi Kenya! Hundreds of Americans are here to demonstrate our solidarity with the people of the African continent. Many of us here are also working on the first United States Social Forum--Connecting the local to the global! (For additional YES! magazine reports before and at the Social Forum, see the YES! USSF.)

The Call for Program Proposals is now on the website! Click the call on the opening page then you can complete it online or download and complete to submit later. Don’t forget to register before you submit you proposal.

Meet the latest member of the National Planning Committee --The Independent Progressive Politics Network brings together organizations and individuals working to achieve a national, non-sectarian, independent progressive political party, or an alliance of such parties. IPPN’s representative to the NPC is Ms. George Friday, National Coordinator.

Come to the DC Metro Social Forum / Build the Grassroots Movement for Social Change
March 3, 2007 at Catholic University, Washington, DC

Why a DC Metro Social Forum? Here in the shadow of the White House and the Pentagon we suffer the local consequences of a world built on greed and oppression. While empire is being built, our schools are being devastated, our neighborhoods are being gentrified, and our rights to adequate healthcare and affordable transportation are being taken away piece by piece. While many imagine DC to be a city of great wealth, we speak to another metro DC – the metro DC that is majority African American and Latino and that stands on the corner looking for work each dawn; the metro DC that changes the bed pans, and makes the beds; that cuts grass, hair, or nails; that builds homes, bridges and museums. Together we say – Enough! A thousand small organizations, a million living room conversations, and a billion acts of resistance every day? it is not enough! We call for a DC Metro Social Forum to build a movement to imagine and create another metro DC.

HOW: Some ways that you can get involved include: organizing your own workshop, mobilizing your organization or community to participate, volunteering to help with program, fundraising, logistics, and more! To submit a workshop and to register please use the attached forms, or visit the website at www.ussf2007.org/dcmetrosf

To join with us or for more information, please call 202-234-8840; email justlikeatree@hotmail.com; write us at DC Metro Social Forum c/o Community Coalition, 1525 Newton St. NW Washington, DC 20010 or visit us at www.ussf2007.org/dcmetrosf

Some USSF FAQ

::Where will the USSF take place?
We will be headquartered in downtown Atlanta at the Atlanta Civic Center, the Westin Hotel, and the Downtown Marriott. We will also utilize space at the Auburn Ave. African-American Research Library, CARE, the APEX Museum, and Amnesty International to name a few. Community and Cultural events are also being planned for Hammonds House African American Gallery, 7 Stages Theatre, Horizons Theatre, and Eyedrum. This information will be posted on the website in February.

::What does the National Planning Committee do?
Organizations on the NPC are expected to give at least 50% of their time to the USSF process, and to tap someone else within their organizations to give at least 25% of their time. They are expected to donate money and resources to their fullest ability, and they are expected to hold down the regional committees and working groups. As we approach the USSF they are expect to give 100% of their time or 100% of the time of some else in their organization. No members of the NPC are paid for their work by the USSF.

::How can my organization support the USSF?
Organizations that can't throw down with cash can go to the website and sign on as a USSF Movement Mobilizer--tell us how many people your organization commits to get registered for the USSF.
-Organizations that already have a staff person working on an USSF working group or regional committee should go to the website and sign on as a USSF Movement Builder.

::What does my organization get if we make a tax-deductible contribution to the USSF process?
Organizations can go to the website and donate as little as a $150.00 to the mobilizing process then sign on as a USSF Movement Supporter.
-Organizations willing to commit to multi-year support of the social forum process are asked to come on board as:
USSF Resisters donate $1,000
USSF Protectors donate $2,000
USSF Designers donate $5,000
USSF Believers donate $8,000+

In exchange for this commitment organizations receive a 5-person registration package to the US Social Forum, as well as public acknowledgement for your commitment.

In February we will launch a new section of the website to acknowledge all our Organizational Sponsors, Honorary Delegates, Supports, Mobilizers and Movement Builders!

::I understand only organizations can present programs and events at the USSF, but what is the minimum organization registration you can pay?
The lowest posted organizational rate is $125 for 3 people. Any organization that finds even that rate a hardship can write and request a solidarity discount.

::How do I get my ideas for a USSF program on the schedule?
Your organization can register for the USSF on-line then access the Call for Proposals, also on the website. You can submit as many proposals as your organization can support.

::Then what happens?

The Program Working group along with help from other working groups will review the proposals and group them according to the themes and purpose. June 28—programs that seek to educate us and raise our consciousness; June 29 programs that call us for us to create a vision for the near future; and on June 30 programs that help us shape strategies for change.

::My group is thinking about having a tent at the USSF—what should we do?

You must contact the logistics working group ASAP. Tents have to be permitted 90 days before the event. We also have limited area for tents so size restrictions will be imposed. Contact Alice at alovelace@ussocialforum.org or 404-586-0460 ext. 32.

IT'S BUILDING TIME
More information to come very soon !
www.ussf2007.org