Video from 2007 US Social Forum

Video about the Vermont Workers' Center delegation to the first US Social Forum, in Atlanta, GA, June 2007.

USSF Report: Project South's workshop, "Critical Classroom: Education for Liberation and Movement Building"

Rebecca Smith, BEA President and VWC USSF delegate

This was easily the highlight of my first day. First off, I have never seen a room occupancy fire code violated so badly – there were so many people in the room we were literally knee to knee on the floor with no more than a few square inches of carpet to be seen!

The facilitators used the popular education model to engage us all as active participants. This was really cool to turn to the people whose knees were touching mine and hear their reasons they chose to teach for social justice. The goals of this workshop were to “examine and reframe assumptions found in traditional scholarship and teaching, to discuss popular education as a pedagogical strategy for creating a climate of social justice, and to explore action steps in classroom and curriculum transformation.”

I learned a new, scary term: Professional Industrial Complex. The facilitators are all university professors, and consider themselves “scholar activists”. They specify these two aspects of their jobs because one cannot exist without the other. In order to teach independently of the corporate, industrial model of education, they need to act as scholar activists, encouraging their students to unlearn misconceptions and rethink what it means to be educated.

Why does popular education work? Here’s what the group shared:

* Popular education is directly connected to community organizing – it’s learning in action.
* is egalitarian, human, and fosters cooperative relationship building through the sharing of personal experiences
* allows us to temporarily live the microcosmic society we envision
* requires support, time, resources, integration of teachers and community
* integrates culture, theater, arts, music
* brings grassroots action to institutions
* teaches us to unlearn misconceptions

I’m now a proud member, and looking forward to participating in the planning sessions for the next World Education Forum.

VWC Summer Meeting Discusses USSF, Leadership Development, Campaigns

Newly elected Workers' Center Vice-President David Kreindler leads a workshop on leadership development at the Workers' Center summer meeting.

The VWC's summer steering committee meeting brought new excitement, energy and leadership to the organization. In addition to many long-time steering committee members and representatives from VWC coalition members such as CWA, UE, SLAP and the Washington-Orange Central Labor Council, there were new steering committee members from Iraq Veterans Against the War, COTS workers, media organizers and health-and-safety activists. In addition, a number of members of the VWC Coordinating Committee (or "CoCo," the VWC's executive committee, made up of officers and at-large representatives) recently stepped down, and five new members, all women, were elected. "It's great to have so many new people, especially young people, excited about the Workers' Center," commented VWC Organzier James Haslam. "And it's always good to have a meeting where so many different people get to talk about their campaigns and experiences, and everyone gets to participate."

The meeting led off with a report from four members of the VWC delegation to the US Social Forum in June. Delegates Angela DiGiulio, Julie Winn, Jessica Morley, and Jonathan Kissam shared their excitement at being part of this historic gathering, and reported on workshops on topics ranging from international labor solidarity to the death penalty to the ongoing effects of Hurricane Katrina. The VWC/USSF delegation is continuing to meet to discuss how to bring the movement-building work of the USSF back to Vermont (anyone who wants to be part of these ongoing meetings should contact VWC Organizer James Haslam at 802 272 0882 or james at workerscenter dot org).

VWC CoCo member and 2007 Solidarity School graduate David Kreindler then led the meeting in a leadership-development exercise to give steering committee members a flavor of the Solidarity School held by the Workers' Center in the winter of 2007. "Instead of reporting on the solidarity school, we're going to demonstrate it," he said, using the kinds of popular education tools featured in the school. Steering committee members broke up into small groups and everyone got to share one instance in which they had been helped to step up as a leader. The small groups analyzed the commonalities and then reported back to the larger group, report-backs which repeatedly stressed the importance of mentoring, of being asked to take a leadership role, and of a personal commitment to justice. The VWC will likely be holding a one-day Solidarity School for community leaders in the fall, as well as another 3-day Solidarity School for emerging union leaders in the winter of 2008.

Reports on campaigns and Coordinating Committee elections filled up the rest of the meeting. VWC Organizer James Haslam reported on the efforts of the Burlington Livable City Coalition to support the livable-wage campaign by school support staff represented by AFSCME and the Burlington Education Association, VWC CoCo member Peg Franzen reported on successful petitioning for single-payer outside the showings of Michael Moore's new movie SICKo, and Traven Leyshon, president of the Washington-Orange Central Labor Council (and VWC CoCo member) reported on the efforts of Vermont Labor Against the War to build an antiwar presence at the Labor Day parade and to encourage union members to participate in the Iraq Moratorium. CWA member Darlene Stone stop the sale of Verizon's land-lines to Fairpoint, ending her report by singing "They Tried to sell us off to Fairpoint" to the tune of Amy Winehouse's "They Tried to Send Me to Rehab," for which she received a round of applause.

The newly elected members of the Coordinating Committee are Kit Andrews (Secretary), Angela DiGiulio (Student Labor Action Project rep), Jen Henry (Justice for Healthcare Workers rep), Darlene Stone (at-large), and Emily Casey (at-large). In addition, several current CoCo members took on new officer positions: Dawn Stanger took over the position of President, David Kreindler was elected Vice-President, and Peg Franzen became Treasurer. At-large members Traven Leyshon and Jonathan Kissam will continue in their duties.

Upcoming USSF Report-backs from VWC delegates

At the end of the month, VWC supporters will have two great opportunities to learn about Vermonters' experiences at this exciting and important event. Most of the VWC members who went to the US Social Forum will be presenting a report at the VWC's summer meeting on Saturday, July 28 (see calendar section for details), and catch delegates Julie Winn and Isaac Grimm on the Vermont Workers' Center's TV show, live at 5:25pm on Friday, July 27 on Burlington's Channel 17.

USSF report from VWC delegate Julie Winn

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi

I've recently been inclined to exert myself in every way possible to advocate for social justice and to continue to wage a fight for people who are oppressed in my own community, throughout the state of Vermont, throughout the lands of the United States and around the World. I often times am overwhelmed by the countless struggles and issues worldwide that often time seem unrealistic to overcome. However, I was recently humbled when I encountered thousands of like-minded individuals who gathered in Atlanta, Georgia to share their experiences of struggle, to provide testimonials and information, and to collaborate and ponder ways to achieve the issues at hand. In this light I would like to share with you my experience at the first ever US Social Forum.

I arrived off the plane in Atlanta not knowing what to expect, but knowing that at some level this conference would have an immense impact on my life. I traveled down there representing the Vermont Workers Center, which I recently got involved with after the organization greatly helped in the unionization efforts at my own workplace. I traveled down south with a group of 7 other people who I either never met or had not known very well. By the end of the trip I felt like I had seven new friends. This conference could not have been so enjoyable if I had not spent it with the company of such inspirational, intellectual and kind-hearted people.

One of the most memorable experiences of my trip was when I went I met with a group of advocates for people experiencing homelessness. In the group there were homeless individuals from Atlanta and Nashville. They talked about their experiences of being homeless and specifically the criminalization they face in their particular communities. Many cities have no day shelters for the homeless to utilize. It is illegal for a homeless person to spend more then fifteen minutes on a park bench (in various communities) which I witnessed first hand as police encountered a person resting in the park. They have no place to go and the resources needed to help them are scarce. The Section 8 waiting list in Atlanta and New York (which is a much desired housing subsidy voucher for people in poverty) averages ten to fifteen years. One woman in the group was put on the waiting list when her baby was first born. Her baby has just graduated high school and the woman is still on the waiting list for a voucher.

The most emotional part of this conference was when I attended a workshop on the broken criminal justice system, specifically on the death penalty and wrongful persecutions. I was fortunate enough to be part of a discussion where a Chicago based death row inmate, Victor Safforld (Cortez Brown) spoke to us on speaker phone from prison about his experience. He states that he was wrongly convicted of murder. With out a doubt, I personally believe there was absolutely not enough evidence to convict him. In fact the only evidence was a signed document that he was physically tortured into signing after he was picked up on a traffic violation. The corrupt Chicago detective, John Burge and his team who are accused of these brutal crimes are now being exposed not only by Victor Safforld, but many other inmates who have had similar experiences. Chicago journalists and lawyers are taking interest in all these cases that appear to be wrongful persecutions of human souls.

I had to leave the room in tears when Victor, a very well spoken and enlightened individual, read his poem titled "There is a fire in my soul." This was the moment where I knew I was in that room for a reason and I had to continue to fight the good fight for all the people out there who have to suffer at the cost of our nations numerous flaws and imperfections.

Another incredible moment in Atlanta was when I had the opportunity to leave the downtown area of the city and eat the best Lebanese food I have ever had. Fifteen of us went out for great food and conversation(with interpreters-Adrienne and the owner of Cedars). We met up with two of the speakers of the US Social Forum plenary: US Imperialism, War, Militarism, and Prisons. One of the speakers was Faleh Abood Umara who is part of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Workers Union. The other speaker who we met was the first ever woman President of the Iraqi Electrical Utility Workers Union, Hashmeya Muhsin Hussein. They showed us pictures of their children, told us about their lives in Iraq, and they seemed heartened and encouraged by the fact that our group and many people throughout our country oppose the occupation of Iraq, as well as our efforts to make some change in this world.

During the six days in Atlanta we met so many organization and individuals from all over the world. It was truly a spectacular event. I met one woman on a subway who worked at Ground Zero doing search and rescue of possible survivors after the 9/11 tragedy. She had so many intense stories I could not even fathom experiencing myself. I didn't even catch the woman's name, although we talked for nearly thirty minutes about the suffering and pain she was dealt with on those days. The man who was blind on the same subway ride also chimed in with his own stories and knew the neighborhood that the woman from New York lived in. There happened to be a conferene for the blind in Atlanta at the same time. That was just one of many experiences I had.

I was surrounded by diversity and people from all walks of life, people who smiled when you passed them by and in depth it is discovered that they all have a story to tell. They all have experienced struggles, or simply have the compassion to help combat those struggles.

I actually got a miniscule taste of what hunger is like when I lost my debit card in Atlanta. I went two days without eating. My fellow crew was generous to help out but I was hopeful to fix my own problems myself. Our group was also so busy running around the city to various workshops that it made it difficult to meet up with anyone to eat…..so I didn't for two days. That plus the fact that US Airlines sucks and lost my baggage, made me wait and stand on a "mini" turbulent airplane while they served the customers soda and snacks, the fact they had no portable water on the airplane (yes- no washing hands, no coffee or tea, nothing) , and the fact that we sat in a hot plane idling in the runway for an hour and a half only to miss our connecting flight in Philly and having to spend the night in Camden, NJ and return home nearly 24 hours after we were suppose to and miss work…….well it wasn't that bad of a trip.

The last night we were in Atlanta we went to support our fellow VWC delegate Adrienne who is part of Iraqi Veterans Against the War. They had a party that we went to that raised nearly $4800. After the party we traveled in the IVAW bus that is pimped out in comfort and a peaceful easy setting. They are doing a national tour trying to gain awareness to the fact that there are many veterans who are opposed to our military operations in Iraq. "The voice of protest, of warning, of appeal is never more needed than when the clamor of fife and drum, echoed by the press and too often by the pulpit, is bidding all men fall in and keep step and obey in silence the tyrannous word of command. Then, more than ever, it is the duty of the good citizen not to be silent." – Charles Eliot Norton

My overall experience at the first US Social Forum was clearly mind changing. I learned so many things that I was oblivious to. I met so many people from different cultures and different parts of the world. I found issues that touched me so much that I will use my skills and abilities to try and make some change. I was assured of the numerous struggles and issues surrounding people of oppression. I learned that although it might appear to be unrealistic for one person to change the world that it is realistic for people to collectively do their part to change the larger picture. It starts in the community. It starts on the road in which you live on, the neighborhood that surrounds you, the faces of your community, the people all around who contribute to each others well being. If you can make positive change in your community it sets an example for other communities and the change becomes somewhat replicated. Change can effectively evolve at a local level and spread around the world.

I hope whoever reads this realizes the power a person can have in this life. Any individual can make a positive difference, but it takes time and energy in doing so. "Every man must decide whether he will walk in the creative light of altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. This is the judgment. Life's persistent and most urgent question is 'What are you doing for others?" -Martin Luther King, Jr.

That was just a quick blurb of my experience. I intend to write more about it later. I have yet to catch up on my sleep from that trip. Hope that wasn't too intense.

Peace,

Julie

[ See Julie's slideshow of USSF pictures ]

Reports, photos and video of US Social Forum

Stay tuned for more reflections on the US Social Forum from the Vermont Workers' Center members who went, but for now, here's a collection of articles written by other people, as well as some videos and photos:

ARTICLES:
US Social Forum Forges Common Ground, by Matthew Cardinale (Common Dreams)
AFL-CIO blog posts about the USSF

VIDEO:
VWC USSF delegates Julie Winn and Isaac Grimm interviewed on Vermont Workers' Center TV
YouTube video in which the VWC delegation makes a brief appearance

PHOTOS:
Slide show put together by VWC delegate Julie Winn
USSF photos from VWC photo album
USSF photos from flickr

Workers' Rights Plenary Closes US Social Forum

On Saturday night, the final plenary of the US Social Forum 2007 was a plenary on workers' rights in the global economy. Stewart Acuff, AFL-CIO Director of Organizing (who spoke at the Burlington Labor Day parade last year), eloquently detailed the class war being waged against workers by corporations and the wealthy, and suggested that "we give them some class war in return." The panel also featured speakers from SEIU, the National Day Labor Organizing Network, and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Stealing the show was Ai-jen Poo of Domestic Workers United in New York City, who described the struggles of domestic workers in New York and DWU's successes in organizing these "unorganizable" workers. She recalled a little-known strike by African-American domestic workers in Atlanta in the 1880s, which shut down the city as the wealthy found themselves unable to keep their households going without this labor, and announced at, at the USSF, DWU and other groups had formed a new national domestic workers' association, the first such national organization in several decades. Asked what her vision of the labor movement was, she said that her vision of the labor movement was one where "when we call a strike of domestic workers, we will be calling a strike not just for the rights of domestic workers, but for the rights of all workers, for an end to the war in Iraq, for an end to oppression, and for the interests of the whole working class."

The photo at the top of this post is by Ruby Sinreich

US Social Forum, days 2 and 3

The last two days have been a whirlwind of excitement for the VWC delegation. Delegation members have attended workshops on international labor solidarity; creating deep and lasting coalitions to defend, expand and improve the public sector; building the Student Labor Action Project; fighting for democratic schools; urban issues of housing and land use; ending the war and bringing the troops home; and many, many more.

VWC members are also presenting at workshops. VWC Director James Haslam reported on the Workers' Center's "non-majority unionism" work over the years with the Alliance @ IBM, the Montpelier Downtown Workers' Union and the United Staff at UVM in a workshop on non-majority unionism that also included security guards from Philadelphia and UE members from North Carolina. Rebecca Smith, president of the Burlington Education Association, and Jessica Morley, Chief Steward at UE Local 203 at City Market, reported about their experiences at the VWC Solidarity School this past winter in a workshop organized by the national Jobs with Justice about leadership development and education.

We're also making valuable connections. Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) member and VA workers Adrienne Kinne is not only getting to spend time with other IVAW members from around the country, but she's also connecting with other VA workers and members of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) to talk about organizing and mobilizing for adequate funding for the Veteran's Administration. We've made connections with grassroots community organizations in New York City like Community Voices Heard, and discussed bringing some of our members down to NYC to learn about their work with low-income working people.

Tonight some of us will be participating in an "anti-free-trade-agreement" signing ceremony: today, President Bush is holding a formal signing ceremony with the president of South Korea for the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KorUs FTA); meanwhile, labor, farmer and community groups from the U.S. will holding a ceremony signing a pledge of solidarity to fight against the FTA and for workers' rights and sustainable agriculture with Korean social movement activists at the USSF.

Look for more updates and report-backs as we return...

Meeting with Iraqi trade unionists at USSF

After an inspirational opening march with over 10,000 working people, the VWC delegation had dinner with two Iraqi trade unionists, including the first women elected president of a union in Iraq. Delegate Adrienne Kinne, from Iraq Veterans Against the War, got a chance to speak Arabic with them. We're all looking forward to the plenaries and workshops beginning this morning. More details and more photos to come...

VWC heads to the first-ever US Social Forum

This week, a delegation from the Vermont Workers' Center will travel to Atlanta for the first-ever U.S. Social Forum (USSF), where trade unions and other social movements, ranging from environmentalists to women's organizations, from urban youth movements to indigenous peoples fighting for land rights, will come together to share experiences, build relationships, and return to our local struggles with renewed insight and inspiration. It will help develop leadership and develop consciousness, vision, and strategy needed to realize a world where the needs of working people are not subjected to the profit drive of massive corporations.

The first World Social Forum, held in January of 2001 in Brazil, popularized the slogan "Another world is possible," and was the first major space where movements fighting against corporate globalization could begin to define the alternatives that we are for, instead of just being "anti-globalization." Since then, seven successful World Social Forums have been held (three of which, in 2002, 2006 and 2007 were attended by Workers' Center members), and regional, national, and local social forums have been held throughout the world, including a highly successful Southeast Social Forum which brought 700 working people from throughout the Southeast U.S. together in June of 2006.

The Social Forums are designed to be both a "space" to promote the integration of different movements, rather than a decision-making body, and a "process" that allows different movements to work together and build trust and shared understanding of the challenges we face. They consist of a wide mix of speakers, conferences, seminars, workshops, and cultural performances, with no one event dominating, and with no pressure to come to exact agreement; there are no behind-the-scenes deals on the exact wording of resolutions. In practice, this makes them excellent spaces for informal networking, the kind of spaces where the "labor/community alliances" and the "movement vision" that labor activists regularly proclaim the need for are actually built and strengthened.

The VWC delegation includes union members, students, and members of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW). Delegation members are excited about the possibility of sharing experiences with and learning from a wide variety of social movements, and developing an understanding of how our various struggles are connected. Jessica Morley, chief steward of UE Local 203 at City Market in Burlington, is "looking forward to being able to compare my methods with those of others, allowing me to learn and grow from this experience and bring some more useful tools home. We are all in this together."

For more information on the U.S. Social Forum, visit www.ussf2007.org. And during the USSF, check out the Vermont Workers' Center blog for regular updates from the forum!

Why U.S. Trade Unionists Should Attend the U.S. Social Forum

An article by Workers' Center Coordinating Committee member and UE leader Jonathan Kissam in MRZine:

http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/kissam100407.html