From cws at igc.org Mon Mar 1 13:59:02 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 11:59:02 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] Racism at Univ. of CA, San Diego Message-ID: <3D73C5D5-7803-4288-88C6-FEE8E2EE9E19@igc.org> Hi to all, Please check out this website: http://stopracismucsd.wordpress.com/ It is a powerful, horrifying, inspiring struggle of the ongoing battle against racism at the UC San Diego. Please take action. Check out the demands of the Black Student Union at UCSD. African American students are now 1-2% of the total student body since the demise of affirmative action in California. And, if you can stomach it, do read the entire 'invitation to the Compton Cookout,' if only to quote it to anyone who tries to tell you that we are in a post-racial or color blind society. "Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has and it never will." Frederick Douglas In Solidarity, sharon martinas -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "White People Stepping Up" group. To post to this group, send email to white-people-stepping-up at googlegroups.com . To unsubscribe from this group, send email to white-people-stepping-up+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com . For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/white-people-stepping-up?hl=en . From kamuhm at yahoo.com Fri Mar 5 10:49:13 2010 From: kamuhm at yahoo.com (Kathy) Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 08:49:13 -0800 (PST) Subject: [WAsummit] Robert Jensen's current "Yes" magazine article Message-ID: <315749.33645.qm@web110411.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> What White People Fear, by Robert Jensen http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~rjensen/freelance/whatwhitepeoplefear.htm Yes! magazine, Spring 2010, pp. 40-42. ? Hi folks, You will want to read this if you haven't yet. Kathy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From louschoen at gmail.com Sat Mar 6 17:12:03 2010 From: louschoen at gmail.com (Louis Schoen) Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 17:12:03 -0600 Subject: [WAsummit] Robert Jensen's current "Yes" magazine article In-Reply-To: <315749.33645.qm@web110411.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> References: <315749.33645.qm@web110411.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Much thanks for his referral, Kathy. He's right on! Lou On Fri, Mar 5, 2010 at 10:49 AM, Kathy wrote: > *What White People Fear*, by Robert Jensen > http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~rjensen/freelance/whatwhitepeoplefear.htm > *Yes!* magazine, Spring 2010, pp. 40-42. > > Hi folks, > You will want to read this if you haven't yet. > Kathy > > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cws at igc.org Tue Mar 9 12:51:09 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 10:51:09 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] A little bit of courage References: <9E772CDB-F4A4-4A97-93F6-BB0847C73160@sbcglobal.net> Message-ID: <01062983-34A3-4AC8-B612-75F479AF7D94@igc.org> Hi to all, please check out this short story about Howard Zinn and how he stood on his principles in spite of the risks. sharon > > > > a small piece of history. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: HowardZinnTenure.doc Type: application/msword Size: 39936 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From narvold at sfo.com Tue Mar 9 15:45:48 2010 From: narvold at sfo.com (Nancy) Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 13:45:48 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] A little bit of courage In-Reply-To: <01062983-34A3-4AC8-B612-75F479AF7D94@igc.org> References: <9E772CDB-F4A4-4A97-93F6-BB0847C73160@sbcglobal.net> <01062983-34A3-4AC8-B612-75F479AF7D94@igc.org> Message-ID: <6CD5191F78244A8BA377F1D3757713E0@OWNERPC> this sort of thing is a great short piece for our Saturday Dialogues -current and historical resistance ...thanks, dear cupid...n ----- Original Message ----- From: Sharon Martinas To: White Anti-racist Summit Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 10:51 AM Subject: [WAsummit] A little bit of courage Hi to all, please check out this short story about Howard Zinn and how he stood on his principles in spite of the risks. sharon a small piece of history. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hi to all, please check out this short story about Howard Zinn and how he stood on his principles in spite of the risks. sharon > > > > a small piece of history. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From louisaldavis at verizon.net Thu Mar 11 13:15:29 2010 From: louisaldavis at verizon.net (Louisa Davis) Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:15:29 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] Van Jones lands at CAP/and DPEEP request In-Reply-To: <6CD5191F78244A8BA377F1D3757713E0@OWNERPC> Message-ID: Still totally juiced by the Howard Zinn?s tenure without compromise (and act of God?) story.... And, this is old, but I don?t think anyone has celebrated Van Jones coming back from being pushed out of the White House last September by racist pissing match with Fox News. He is staying here in DC and has two new power podiums?Princeton and Center for American Progress! Totally meets my needs for coming through the fire, not giving up and leveraging powerful cultural capital for those who need it. SEE http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/23/AR2010022304 889.html And, most importantly, I want to tell you about and involve you (or your feedback) in the DIVERSE PEOPLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS SUMMIT: I?m a volunteer, coordinating the Outreach team, working with Iantha Gantt-Wright of the Kenian Group who is the paid organizer/consultant, and about 25-30 others from environmental groups all over the country. This is about making sure the green job and environmental movement really includes and responds to needs of workers, youth and communities of color AND has the political heft to stand up to the rapaciousness of corporate, develop-driven and media-hypnotized America. We need: 1) names of antiracist/environmental justice organizations to partner with regionally?still early in planning stages: DC/Midatlantic (May!?) , USSF/Detroit/Great Lakes in June? then Atlanta, Texas, Portland, and New England. 2) spread the word/outreach help and connections to folks to get to the tables of the one day regional roundtables that will happen/be scheduled the second half of this year. Website in the works. 3) We also need more white antiracist allies who are able to help bridge the gaps of understanding and skills for really including and listening (etc) between well-intentioned predominantly white progressive/liberal environmentalists and frustrated activists of color/low-income workers whose well-being has not been as treasured as much as that of the whales, horned owls and odd wilderness areas in Idaho. 4) leads on foundation and local monies/in-kind donations....you know the deal. Background: This is the third DPEP summit in 10 years, funded by the Green Group of major national environmental groups (with Hewlett Packard/Ford money in the past). They are intent on building partnership and I sense more and less genuinely interested/concerned about learning how to overcome barriers to inclusion and partnerships with civil rights, community organizing and workers, youth and health rights groups. It?s not always easy to slow them down for the kind of inclusion that really works...but we?re trying! For more info, contact me (louisaldavis at verizon.net) or other members of the Outreach/Inclusion team, Iantha, igwright at earthlink.net or Ron, Center for Health and Environmental Justice (davisbuildscommunity at gmail.com). Things are just coming together so please be patient...and persistent. Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., Ph.D. Everyone Matters, LLC-pending 11330 Dockside Circle Reston, VA 20191 H) 703/860-1203 C & O) 240/338-5156 ?Somewhere in the heart of experience there is an order and a coherence which we might surprise if we are attentive enough, loving enough or patient enough.? -- Lawrence Durrell from Marilyn Paul, Its Hard to Make a Difference When You Can?t Find Your Keys -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cls2001 at swbell.net Thu Mar 11 13:51:28 2010 From: cls2001 at swbell.net (Carrie Stewart) Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:51:28 -0600 Subject: [WAsummit] Van Jones lands at CAP/and DPEEP request In-Reply-To: References: <6CD5191F78244A8BA377F1D3757713E0@OWNERPC> Message-ID: <020601cac154$3d8e73c0$b8ab5b40$@net> PODER - People in Defense of Earth and her Resources - in Austin would be a good one ~ Carrie L. Stewart, M.C.I.S. Owner/Principal One World Consulting OneWorld at swbell.net 512-350-9030 (O/M) Gathering People ~ Finding Common Ground "Confidentiality Notice: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential, and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you not one of the name recipient(s) or otherwise have reason to believe that you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and destroy this message. Any other use, retention, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this email is strictly prohibited." From: wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org [mailto:wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org] On Behalf Of Louisa Davis Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 1:15 PM To: White Anti-racist Summit Cc: ron davis; Iantha Gantt-Wright Subject: [WAsummit] Van Jones lands at CAP/and DPEEP request Still totally juiced by the Howard Zinn's tenure without compromise (and act of God?) story.... And, this is old, but I don't think anyone has celebrated Van Jones coming back from being pushed out of the White House last September by racist pissing match with Fox News. He is staying here in DC and has two new power podiums-Princeton and Center for American Progress! Totally meets my needs for coming through the fire, not giving up and leveraging powerful cultural capital for those who need it. SEE http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/23/AR2010022304 889.html And, most importantly, I want to tell you about and involve you (or your feedback) in the DIVERSE PEOPLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS SUMMIT: I'm a volunteer, coordinating the Outreach team, working with Iantha Gantt-Wright of the Kenian Group who is the paid organizer/consultant, and about 25-30 others from environmental groups all over the country. This is about making sure the green job and environmental movement really includes and responds to needs of workers, youth and communities of color AND has the political heft to stand up to the rapaciousness of corporate, develop-driven and media-hypnotized America. We need: 1) names of antiracist/environmental justice organizations to partner with regionally-still early in planning stages: DC/Midatlantic (May!?) , USSF/Detroit/Great Lakes in June? then Atlanta, Texas, Portland, and New England. 2) spread the word/outreach help and connections to folks to get to the tables of the one day regional roundtables that will happen/be scheduled the second half of this year. Website in the works. 3) We also need more white antiracist allies who are able to help bridge the gaps of understanding and skills for really including and listening (etc) between well-intentioned predominantly white progressive/liberal environmentalists and frustrated activists of color/low-income workers whose well-being has not been as treasured as much as that of the whales, horned owls and odd wilderness areas in Idaho. 4) leads on foundation and local monies/in-kind donations....you know the deal. Background: This is the third DPEP summit in 10 years, funded by the Green Group of major national environmental groups (with Hewlett Packard/Ford money in the past). They are intent on building partnership and I sense more and less genuinely interested/concerned about learning how to overcome barriers to inclusion and partnerships with civil rights, community organizing and workers, youth and health rights groups. It's not always easy to slow them down for the kind of inclusion that really works...but we're trying! For more info, contact me (louisaldavis at verizon.net) or other members of the Outreach/Inclusion team, Iantha, igwright at earthlink.net or Ron, Center for Health and Environmental Justice (davisbuildscommunity at gmail.com). Things are just coming together so please be patient...and persistent. Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., Ph.D. Everyone Matters, LLC-pending 11330 Dockside Circle Reston, VA 20191 H) 703/860-1203 C & O) 240/338-5156 "Somewhere in the heart of experience there is an order and a coherence which we might surprise if we are attentive enough, loving enough or patient enough." -- Lawrence Durrell from Marilyn Paul, Its Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cws at igc.org Thu Mar 11 14:09:36 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:09:36 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] Van Jones lands at CAP/and DPEEP request In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hey Louisa, Which grassroots environmental justice groups with deep roots in working class communities of color are involved in the leadership visioning and planning of this event from the get go? If they aren't yet at the leadership table; or are at the table but not in a position to exercise leadership (i.e., they are there as tokens) but get added as an 'outreach' item, I think that, despite your good intentions, your conference is not gonna be able to reach its admirable goals. And as for a call for 'white allies,' it's also admirable. But if these allies cant look to the leadership from environmental justice organizations of color because they are neither in the leadership, nor even at the table; with whom, then, are the anti-racist white allies supposed to 'ally'? Just some questions of concern. In solidarity, sharon martinas On Mar 11, 2010, at 11:15 AM, Louisa Davis wrote: > Still totally juiced by the Howard Zinn?s tenure without compromise > (and act of God?) story.... > > And, this is old, but I don?t think anyone has celebrated Van Jones > coming back from being pushed out of the White House last September > by racist pissing match with Fox News. He is staying here in DC and > has two new power podiums?Princeton and Center for American > Progress! Totally meets my needs for coming through the fire, not > giving up and leveraging powerful cultural capital for those who > need it. > > SEE http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/23/AR2010022304889.html > > And, most importantly, I want to tell you about and involve you (or > your feedback) in the DIVERSE PEOPLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC > PROGRESS SUMMIT: I?m a volunteer, coordinating the Outreach team, > working with Iantha Gantt-Wright of the Kenian Group who is the paid > organizer/consultant, and about 25-30 others from environmental > groups all over the country. > > This is about making sure the green job and environmental movement > really includes and responds to needs of workers, youth and > communities of color AND has the political heft to stand up to the > rapaciousness of corporate, develop-driven and media-hypnotized > America. > > We need: > 1) names of antiracist/environmental justice organizations to > partner with regionally?still early in planning stages: DC/ > Midatlantic (May!?) , USSF/Detroit/Great Lakes in June? then > Atlanta, Texas, Portland, and New England. > 2) spread the word/outreach help and connections to folks to get to > the tables of the one day regional roundtables that will happen/be > scheduled the second half of this year. Website in the works. > 3) We also need more white antiracist allies who are able to help > bridge the gaps of understanding and skills for really including and > listening (etc) between well-intentioned predominantly white > progressive/liberal environmentalists and frustrated activists of > color/low-income workers whose well-being has not been as treasured > as much as that of the whales, horned owls and odd wilderness areas > in Idaho. > 4) leads on foundation and local monies/in-kind donations....you > know the deal. > > Background: This is the third DPEP summit in 10 years, funded by > the Green Group of major national environmental groups (with Hewlett > Packard/Ford money in the past). They are intent on building > partnership and I sense more and less genuinely interested/concerned > about learning how to overcome barriers to inclusion and > partnerships with civil rights, community organizing and workers, > youth and health rights groups. It?s not always easy to slow them > down for the kind of inclusion that really works...but we?re trying! > > For more info, contact me (louisaldavis at verizon.net) or other > members of the Outreach/Inclusion team, Iantha, igwright at earthlink.net > or Ron, Center for Health and Environmental Justice (davisbuildscommunity at gmail.com > ). > > Things are just coming together so please be patient...and persistent. > > > > Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., Ph.D. > Everyone Matters, LLC-pending > 11330 Dockside Circle > Reston, VA 20191 > > H) 703/860-1203 > C & O) 240/338-5156 > > ?Somewhere in the heart of experience there is an order and a > coherence which we might surprise if we are attentive enough, loving > enough or patient enough.? -- Lawrence Durrell from Marilyn Paul, > Its Hard to Make a Difference When You Can?t Find Your Keys > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From narvold at sfo.com Thu Mar 11 15:24:27 2010 From: narvold at sfo.com (Nancy) Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:24:27 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] Van Jones lands at CAP/and DPEEP request In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hey dear - good to hear you remind up about this again. Can you point me to a good definition of allyship - or can you provide one. I can't find one easily, particularly that has the focus on - what do POC want from us that they would consider allyship? Regarding working class communities of color in grass roots environmental justice - I think that is Van's commitment, even if he struggles with it. As far as I know, that was what he was doing before Obama hired him - I've heard him talk about it to audiences of color, and he is pretty straight up about when is needed and available. I also heard him speak to an all-white org and he was very pointed about it with them as well..he stopped participating with them very quickly..Pachamama - no idea if you've heard of them - white do-gooders. One of their leadership understands how unconscious they are, but the rest.....tried to get into their org to do some training..love, nancy ----- Original Message ----- From: Sharon Martinas To: White Anti-racist Summit Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 12:09 PM Subject: Re: [WAsummit] Van Jones lands at CAP/and DPEEP request Hey Louisa, Which grassroots environmental justice groups with deep roots in working class communities of color are involved in the leadership visioning and planning of this event from the get go? If they aren't yet at the leadership table; or are at the table but not in a position to exercise leadership (i.e., they are there as tokens) but get added as an 'outreach' item, I think that, despite your good intentions, your conference is not gonna be able to reach its admirable goals. And as for a call for 'white allies,' it's also admirable. But if these allies cant look to the leadership from environmental justice organizations of color because they are neither in the leadership, nor even at the table; with whom, then, are the anti-racist white allies supposed to 'ally'? Just some questions of concern. In solidarity, sharon martinas On Mar 11, 2010, at 11:15 AM, Louisa Davis wrote: Still totally juiced by the Howard Zinn?s tenure without compromise (and act of God?) story.... And, this is old, but I don?t think anyone has celebrated Van Jones coming back from being pushed out of the White House last September by racist pissing match with Fox News. He is staying here in DC and has two new power podiums?Princeton and Center for American Progress! Totally meets my needs for coming through the fire, not giving up and leveraging powerful cultural capital for those who need it. SEE http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/23/AR2010022304889.html And, most importantly, I want to tell you about and involve you (or your feedback) in the DIVERSE PEOPLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS SUMMIT: I?m a volunteer, coordinating the Outreach team, working with Iantha Gantt-Wright of the Kenian Group who is the paid organizer/consultant, and about 25-30 others from environmental groups all over the country. This is about making sure the green job and environmental movement really includes and responds to needs of workers, youth and communities of color AND has the political heft to stand up to the rapaciousness of corporate, develop-driven and media-hypnotized America. We need: 1) names of antiracist/environmental justice organizations to partner with regionally?still early in planning stages: DC/Midatlantic (May!?) , USSF/Detroit/Great Lakes in June? then Atlanta, Texas, Portland, and New England. 2) spread the word/outreach help and connections to folks to get to the tables of the one day regional roundtables that will happen/be scheduled the second half of this year. Website in the works. 3) We also need more white antiracist allies who are able to help bridge the gaps of understanding and skills for really including and listening (etc) between well-intentioned predominantly white progressive/liberal environmentalists and frustrated activists of color/low-income workers whose well-being has not been as treasured as much as that of the whales, horned owls and odd wilderness areas in Idaho. 4) leads on foundation and local monies/in-kind donations....you know the deal. Background: This is the third DPEP summit in 10 years, funded by the Green Group of major national environmental groups (with Hewlett Packard/Ford money in the past). They are intent on building partnership and I sense more and less genuinely interested/concerned about learning how to overcome barriers to inclusion and partnerships with civil rights, community organizing and workers, youth and health rights groups. It?s not always easy to slow them down for the kind of inclusion that really works...but we?re trying! For more info, contact me (louisaldavis at verizon.net) or other members of the Outreach/Inclusion team, Iantha, igwright at earthlink.net or Ron, Center for Health and Environmental Justice (davisbuildscommunity at gmail.com). Things are just coming together so please be patient...and persistent. Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., Ph.D. Everyone Matters, LLC-pending 11330 Dockside Circle Reston, VA 20191 H) 703/860-1203 C & O) 240/338-5156 ?Somewhere in the heart of experience there is an order and a coherence which we might surprise if we are attentive enough, loving enough or patient enough.? -- Lawrence Durrell from Marilyn Paul, Its Hard to Make a Difference When You Can?t Find Your Keys _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ WAsummit mailing list WAsummit at lists.wacan.org http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From louisaldavis at verizon.net Thu Mar 11 18:49:19 2010 From: louisaldavis at verizon.net (Louisa Davis) Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:49:19 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] DPEEP, accountability and the role of allies In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Sharon, You are such an inspiring and strong voice for reality and accountability, I?m really appreciating this opportunity for learning and companionship in the way of honest feedback and respectful engagement. So toward ?being progressively less stupid?-- as Marshall Rosenberg coaches, I?m wondering if you and others on this list might hang in with me as I explain what I think I am holding/dealing with? And share your best insights, hopes and practices? I think we are on the same page... both Iantha and Ron, who are my main two partners/teachers on the DPEEP outreach team are black activists and the primary facilitators of the whole process (including I believe a few other members of this list)?Iantha, the paid consultant/facilitator, more through a long history with mainline environmental groups starting with the Forest Service, and Ron of CHE, from the EJ side is a former program director /organizer at the Highlander Center and with Southern Empowerment Project, now up here near me in DC area. Like many white activist types, I am tremendously privileged to be able to ?volunteer? more time, that is, to be able to spend much less of my time working to meet my immediate needs for sustainability unlike Iantha and Ron and the other 95% of the world. Although by many eyes, we are all more or less ?middle class? --me, duh, a lot more securely (clinically?) middle class. Since I have taken something of an indefinite ?sabbatical? to develop our local gwair.org interfaith antiracism alliance /a karma thing for me as the descendent of slaveowners?and I have a few fancy titles (formerly Rev. and Dr) that help me network with more confidence, credibility and breadth (and internalized superiority) than the average bear, I find myself doing three things as an ally to support this effort (slowly developing since end of October as a group of mostly professional environmental staff that is about two-thirds white, and about 50-50 identified with environmental justice(EJ) versus ?environmental movement?/EM (a racial mix on this front.) What I try to do as an ally in this setting... 1) I try to do or be open to do more than ?my share? of the LEGWORK (arranging calls, connecting emails, rough drafts) but without going over 1) the line of joyful giving and i2) into patronizing/sacrificial ?look at how much I do for you? codependence/colonialism. I do this with a fair amount of self-interest?for learning, for my love of the earth and for my longing for glimpses of the solidarity and world I want to live in. 2) I try to take the antiracism ?heat? by expressing my concerns/NAMING PRIVILEGED ASSUMPTIONS that I don?t think fit or hear the realities/needs of underserved/adversely impacted communities. I have chosen to speak up again and again to remind/re-emphasize inclusion ?early and often? to counter the typical rush to be powerful and professional but that push is strong, and not terrible?just hard to slow down enough to get new voices in early. 3) Knowing WHEN TO BE SILENT and when to speak up is the hardest part of this work for me, and frankly, growing up in the South with three brothers, I know I err on speaking up. So I am constantly trying to hold back, monitoring who is being heard and directly/explicitly asking for/building on what our more silent partners of color are thinking or saying. I hope as much as possible, when I speak up, it is to support leaders of color but sometimes it?s to try to ?speaking the unspoken? ... Like wondering outl oud if this ?will fly? among white working class folk, etc. 4) The trickiest thing before us now is noticing and QUESTIONING THE FLOW OF MONEY AND DECISION-MAKING which is not very transparent or, I?m hoping, well-established yet, except by past precedent. The Nature Conservancy, a very white privileged/land= ?environment? based movement, ?lends? strong white-identified staff, including their development person to fundraising. This is where I sense there are conflicts of interest, between the mainline environmental/EM groups and the EJ partners in the past, but also between the leaders of color who would like to be rewarded However, toward something like fairness or nonviolent communication, I don?t want to say that the EM people who are mostly white are wrong or bad...they are meeting the same needs for effectiveness, contribution, sustainability, and hope for the future that many of us long for. They don?t meet my needs/longing for a sense of mutuality, interdependence and compassion for those who suffer disproportionately...but I want them to feel respected/met at the table as well. So I?m in this work, trying to be led by God (the divine energy of life mattering) in partnership with those most adversely affected by racism and capitalism and colonial exploitation of the environment but also trying to stay focused on what will serve life the best and meet the most possible needs-- which may well be the needs of the most vulnerable and with you, I throw my lot with the oppressed humans...thanks for helping me into naming that. Hope this is a contribution, and not taken as if I know for sure what I?m doing...just that I?m trying to be aware/proactive...and at least ?make new mistakes? not the same old ones. For courage in the struggle, Louisa On 3/11/10 3:09 PM, "Sharon Martinas" wrote: > Hey Louisa, > > Which grassroots environmental justice groups with deep roots in working class > communities of color are involved in the leadership visioning and planning of > this event from the get go? > > If they aren't yet at the leadership table; or are at the table but not in > a position to exercise leadership (i.e., they are there as tokens) but get > added as an 'outreach' item, I think that, despite your good intentions, your > conference is not gonna be able to reach its admirable goals. > > And as for a call for 'white allies,' it's also admirable. But if these > allies cant look to the leadership from environmental justice organizations of > color because they are neither in the leadership, nor even at the table; > with whom, then, are the anti-racist white allies supposed to 'ally'? > > Just some questions of concern. > > In solidarity, > sharon martinas > > On Mar 11, 2010, at 11:15 AM, Louisa Davis wrote: > >> Still totally juiced by the Howard Zinn?s tenure without compromise (and act >> of God?) story.... >> >> And, this is old, but I don?t think anyone has celebrated Van Jones coming >> back from being pushed out of the White House last September by racist >> pissing match with Fox News. He is staying here in DC and has two new power >> podiums?Princeton and Center for American Progress! Totally meets my needs >> for coming through the fire, not giving up and leveraging powerful cultural >> capital for those who need it. >> >> SEE >> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/23/AR20100223048 >> 89.html >> >> And, most importantly, I want to tell you about and involve you (or your >> feedback) in the DIVERSE PEOPLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS >> SUMMIT: I?m a volunteer, coordinating the Outreach team, working with Iantha >> Gantt-Wright of the Kenian Group who is the paid organizer/consultant, and >> about 25-30 others from environmental groups all over the country. >> >> This is about making sure the green job and environmental movement really >> includes and responds to needs of workers, youth and communities of color AND >> has the political heft to stand up to the rapaciousness of corporate, >> develop-driven and media-hypnotized America. >> >> We need: >> 1) names of antiracist/environmental justice organizations to partner with >> regionally?still early in planning stages: DC/Midatlantic (May!?) , >> USSF/Detroit/Great Lakes in June? then Atlanta, Texas, Portland, and New >> England. >> 2) spread the word/outreach help and connections to folks to get to the >> tables of the one day regional roundtables that will happen/be scheduled the >> second half of this year. Website in the works. >> 3) We also need more white antiracist allies who are able to help bridge >> the gaps of understanding and skills for really including and listening (etc) >> between well-intentioned predominantly white progressive/liberal >> environmentalists and frustrated activists of color/low-income workers whose >> well-being has not been as treasured as much as that of the whales, horned >> owls and odd wilderness areas in Idaho. >> 4) leads on foundation and local monies/in-kind donations....you know the >> deal. >> >> Background: This is the third DPEP summit in 10 years, funded by the Green >> Group of major national environmental groups (with Hewlett Packard/Ford money >> in the past). They are intent on building partnership and I sense more and >> less genuinely interested/concerned about learning how to overcome barriers >> to inclusion and partnerships with civil rights, community organizing and >> workers, youth and health rights groups. It?s not always easy to slow them >> down for the kind of inclusion that really works...but we?re trying! >> >> For more info, contact me (louisaldavis at verizon.net) or other members of the >> Outreach/Inclusion team, Iantha, igwright at earthlink.net or Ron, Center for >> Health and Environmental Justice (davisbuildscommunity at gmail.com). >> >> Things are just coming together so please be patient...and persistent. >> >> >> >> Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., Ph.D. >> Everyone Matters, LLC-pending >> 11330 Dockside Circle >> Reston, VA 20191 >> >> H) 703/860-1203 >> C & O) 240/338-5156 >> >> ?Somewhere in the heart of experience there is an order and a coherence >> which we might surprise if we are attentive enough, loving enough or patient >> enough.? -- Lawrence Durrell from Marilyn Paul, Its Hard to Make a >> Difference When You Can?t Find Your Keys >> >> _______________________________________________ >> WAsummit mailing list >> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > > > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -- Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., Ph.D. Everyone Matters, LLC-pending 11330 Dockside Circle Reston, VA 20191 H) 703/860-1203 C & O) 240/338-5156 ?Somewhere in the heart of experience there is an order and a coherence which we might surprise if we are attentive enough, loving enough or patient enough.? -- Lawrence Durrell from Marilyn Paul, Its Hard to Make a Difference When You Can?t Find Your Keys -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cws at igc.org Fri Mar 12 15:17:23 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:17:23 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] DPEEP, accountability and the role of allies In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <92122BAB-046A-47D0-9617-D452494CFC99@igc.org> Dear Louisa, I guess I was a little confused about what you were asking for re feedback from folx on this list. The questions I asked came from my perspective that an anti-racist volunteer in any enterprise needs to understand, as clearly as she might, the actual power relations, and political goals of the organization, conference or event for which she is volunteering. I respect the attitude of self-examination from which you are engaging in this work as a white volunteer. But my questions were addressed to the actual planning process of the conference by the decision makers, which I personally think I would want to know if I were volunteering to do 'outreach' for any event. much respect, sharon On Mar 11, 2010, at 4:49 PM, Louisa Davis wrote: > Sharon, You are such an inspiring and strong voice for reality and > accountability, I?m really appreciating this opportunity for > learning and companionship in the way of honest feedback and > respectful engagement. > > So toward ?being progressively less stupid?-- as Marshall Rosenberg > coaches, I?m wondering if you and others on this list might hang in > with me as I explain what I think I am holding/dealing with? And > share your best insights, hopes and practices? I think we are on > the same page... both Iantha and Ron, who are my main two partners/ > teachers on the DPEEP outreach team are black activists and the > primary facilitators of the whole process (including I believe a few > other members of this list)?Iantha, the paid consultant/facilitator, > more through a long history with mainline environmental groups > starting with the Forest Service, and Ron of CHE, from the EJ side > is a former program director /organizer at the Highlander Center > and with Southern Empowerment Project, now up here near me in DC > area. > > Like many white activist types, I am tremendously privileged to be > able to ?volunteer? more time, that is, to be able to spend much > less of my time working to meet my immediate needs for > sustainability unlike Iantha and Ron and the other 95% of the world. > Although by many eyes, we are all more or less ?middle class? --me, > duh, a lot more securely (clinically?) middle class. > > Since I have taken something of an indefinite ?sabbatical? to > develop our local gwair.org interfaith antiracism alliance /a karma > thing for me as the descendent of slaveowners?and I have a few fancy > titles (formerly Rev. and Dr) that help me network with more > confidence, credibility and breadth (and internalized superiority) > than the average bear, I find myself doing three things as an ally > to support this effort (slowly developing since end of October as > a group of mostly professional environmental staff that is about two- > thirds white, and about 50-50 identified with environmental > justice(EJ) versus ?environmental movement?/EM (a racial mix on this > front.) > > What I try to do as an ally in this setting... > > 1) I try to do or be open to do more than ?my share? of the LEGWORK > (arranging calls, connecting emails, rough drafts) but without going > over 1) the line of joyful giving and i2) into patronizing/ > sacrificial ?look at how much I do for you? codependence/ > colonialism. I do this with a fair amount of self-interest?for > learning, for my love of the earth and for my longing for glimpses > of the solidarity and world I want to live in. > > 2) I try to take the antiracism ?heat? by expressing my concerns/ > NAMING PRIVILEGED ASSUMPTIONS that I don?t think fit or hear the > realities/needs of underserved/adversely impacted communities. I > have chosen to speak up again and again to remind/re-emphasize > inclusion ?early and often? to counter the typical rush to be > powerful and professional but that push is strong, and not terrible? > just hard to slow down enough to get new voices in early. > > 3) Knowing WHEN TO BE SILENT and when to speak up is the hardest > part of this work for me, and frankly, growing up in the South with > three brothers, I know I err on speaking up. So I am constantly > trying to hold back, monitoring who is being heard and directly/ > explicitly asking for/building on what our more silent partners of > color are thinking or saying. I hope as much as possible, when I > speak up, it is to support leaders of color but sometimes it?s to > try to ?speaking the unspoken? ... Like wondering outl oud if this > ?will fly? among white working class folk, etc. > > 4) The trickiest thing before us now is noticing and QUESTIONING > THE FLOW OF MONEY AND DECISION-MAKING which is not very transparent > or, I?m hoping, well-established yet, except by past precedent. The > Nature Conservancy, a very white privileged/land= ?environment? > based movement, ?lends? strong white-identified staff, including > their development person to fundraising. This is where I sense there > are conflicts of interest, between the mainline environmental/EM > groups and the EJ partners in the past, but also between the > leaders of color who would like to be rewarded > > However, toward something like fairness or nonviolent communication, > I don?t want to say that the EM people who are mostly white are > wrong or bad...they are meeting the same needs for effectiveness, > contribution, sustainability, and hope for the future that many of > us long for. They don?t meet my needs/longing for a sense of > mutuality, interdependence and compassion for those who suffer > disproportionately...but I want them to feel respected/met at the > table as well. > > So I?m in this work, trying to be led by God (the divine energy of > life mattering) in partnership with those most adversely affected by > racism and capitalism and colonial exploitation of the environment > but also trying to stay focused on what will serve life the best and > meet the most possible needs-- which may well be the needs of the > most vulnerable and with you, I throw my lot with the oppressed > humans...thanks for helping me into naming that. > > Hope this is a contribution, and not taken as if I know for sure > what I?m doing...just that I?m trying to be aware/proactive...and at > least ?make new mistakes? not the same old ones. > > For courage in the struggle, Louisa > > On 3/11/10 3:09 PM, "Sharon Martinas" wrote: > >> Hey Louisa, >> >> Which grassroots environmental justice groups with deep roots in >> working class communities of color are involved in the leadership >> visioning and planning of this event from the get go? >> >> If they aren't yet at the leadership table; or are at the table >> but not in a position to exercise leadership (i.e., they are there >> as tokens) but get added as an 'outreach' item, I think that, >> despite your good intentions, your conference is not gonna be able >> to reach its admirable goals. >> >> And as for a call for 'white allies,' it's also admirable. But if >> these allies cant look to the leadership from environmental justice >> organizations of color because they are neither in the leadership, >> nor even at the table; with whom, then, are the anti-racist white >> allies supposed to 'ally'? >> >> Just some questions of concern. >> >> In solidarity, >> sharon martinas >> >> On Mar 11, 2010, at 11:15 AM, Louisa Davis wrote: >> >>> Still totally juiced by the Howard Zinn?s tenure without >>> compromise (and act of God?) story.... >>> >>> And, this is old, but I don?t think anyone has celebrated Van >>> Jones coming back from being pushed out of the White House last >>> September by racist pissing match with Fox News. He is staying >>> here in DC and has two new power podiums?Princeton and Center for >>> American Progress! Totally meets my needs for coming through the >>> fire, not giving up and leveraging powerful cultural capital for >>> those who need it. >>> >>> SEE http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/23/AR2010022304889.html >>> >>> And, most importantly, I want to tell you about and involve you >>> (or your feedback) in the DIVERSE PEOPLE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND >>> ECONOMIC PROGRESS SUMMIT: I?m a volunteer, coordinating the >>> Outreach team, working with Iantha Gantt-Wright of the Kenian >>> Group who is the paid organizer/consultant, and about 25-30 others >>> from environmental groups all over the country. >>> >>> This is about making sure the green job and environmental movement >>> really includes and responds to needs of workers, youth and >>> communities of color AND has the political heft to stand up to the >>> rapaciousness of corporate, develop-driven and media-hypnotized >>> America. >>> >>> We need: >>> 1) names of antiracist/environmental justice organizations to >>> partner with regionally?still early in planning stages: DC/ >>> Midatlantic (May!?) , USSF/Detroit/Great Lakes in June? then >>> Atlanta, Texas, Portland, and New England. >>> 2) spread the word/outreach help and connections to folks to get >>> to the tables of the one day regional roundtables that will happen/ >>> be scheduled the second half of this year. Website in the works. >>> 3) We also need more white antiracist allies who are able to >>> help bridge the gaps of understanding and skills for really >>> including and listening (etc) between well-intentioned >>> predominantly white progressive/liberal environmentalists and >>> frustrated activists of color/low-income workers whose well-being >>> has not been as treasured as much as that of the whales, horned >>> owls and odd wilderness areas in Idaho. >>> 4) leads on foundation and local monies/in-kind donations....you >>> know the deal. >>> >>> Background: This is the third DPEP summit in 10 years, funded by >>> the Green Group of major national environmental groups (with >>> Hewlett Packard/Ford money in the past). They are intent on >>> building partnership and I sense more and less genuinely >>> interested/concerned about learning how to overcome barriers to >>> inclusion and partnerships with civil rights, community organizing >>> and workers, youth and health rights groups. It?s not always easy >>> to slow them down for the kind of inclusion that really >>> works...but we?re trying! >>> >>> For more info, contact me (louisaldavis at verizon.net) or other >>> members of the Outreach/Inclusion team, Iantha, igwright at earthlink.net >>> or Ron, Center for Health and Environmental Justice (davisbuildscommunity at gmail.com >>> ). >>> >>> Things are just coming together so please be patient...and >>> persistent. >>> >>> >>> >>> Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., Ph.D. >>> Everyone Matters, LLC-pending >>> 11330 Dockside Circle >>> Reston, VA 20191 >>> >>> H) 703/860-1203 >>> C & O) 240/338-5156 >>> >>> ?Somewhere in the heart of experience there is an order and a >>> coherence which we might surprise if we are attentive enough, >>> loving enough or patient enough.? -- Lawrence Durrell from >>> Marilyn Paul, Its Hard to Make a Difference When You Can?t Find >>> Your Keys >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> WAsummit mailing list >>> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >>> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> WAsummit mailing list >> WAsummit at lists.wacan.org >> http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit > > -- > Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., Ph.D. > Everyone Matters, LLC-pending > 11330 Dockside Circle > Reston, VA 20191 > > H) 703/860-1203 > C & O) 240/338-5156 > > ?Somewhere in the heart of experience there is an order and a > coherence which we might surprise if we are attentive enough, loving > enough or patient enough.? -- Lawrence Durrell from Marilyn Paul, > Its Hard to Make a Difference When You Can?t Find Your Keys > _______________________________________________ > WAsummit mailing list > WAsummit at lists.wacan.org > http://lists.wacan.org/listinfo/wasummit -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cws at igc.org Sat Mar 13 14:33:01 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:33:01 -0800 Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: Please Forward : Open Letter to Movement Men References: <884061.64411.qm@web53506.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <92C6CF93-5024-49D5-BA84-C68BEE738A0A@igc.org> Hi to all, An amazing white anti-racist organizer I have the privilege to know named Ari has been visiting and in correspondence with anti-racist, anti-imperialist political prisoner named David Gilbert. David sent this message to Ari, in honor of Int'l Women's month, and Ari has asked me to forward it to my anti-racist networks, so I am doing this in honor of Ari and all of you who are committed to nurturing the next generation of freedom fighters. Please pass it on to your networks, especially to the male and male identified comrades. In solidarity, sharon Begin forwarded message: > From: Ari*el > Date: March 13, 2010 10:17:17 AM PST > To: sharon martines > Subject: Please Forward : Open Letter to Movement Men > > David Gilbert (SDS, Weather Underground) did extensive childcare, as > part of his Men Against Sexism group, in the days before he went > underground. > > February 17, 2010 > An Open Letter to Movement Men > > To My Brothers in the Movement, > This open letter is a call, made both passionately and > emphatically, for movement men to get fully involved in childcare. > Childcare is one of the most demanding and most rewarding jobs in > the world and is essential to advancing the struggle. I?ve been > surprised to learn that in this day and age that responsibility > still falls overwhelmingly on women. Men?s failure in this regard is > not only unfair but also hurts our movement since it is a major > impediment to women?s participation, to the full range of > contribution they can make. But even more, if truth be told, this > aloofness damages men the most because we cut ourselves off from the > regular interactions that can enrich our lives in many ways. > Children ask the questions that make us think more deeply about > everything, exude the energy that buoys our spirits, embody the > potential that gives us hope for the future. > It?s for the children that we fight to make a better > world. Brothers, it is way past due to get fully involved in > childcare. > > David Gilbert > (anti-imperialist political prisoner) > ______________________________________________________________________ > To get involved with childcare check out: > Bay Area: www.bayareachildcarecollective.net > NYC: http://childcarenyc.mayfirst.org/ > Montreal: http://www.childcarecollective.blogspot.com/ > Philly: http://phillychildcarecollective.org/ > DC: http://dcchildcarecollective.org/ > If you aren't in any of these locations check in with your local > racial & economic justice organizations to see what their childcare > needs are. > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: David Gilbert Open Letter.doc Type: application/msword Size: 21504 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From holmze1 at yahoo.com Thu Mar 18 12:16:43 2010 From: holmze1 at yahoo.com (joshua busch) Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:16:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [WAsummit] Healthcare Overhaul PSA Message-ID: <647810.16544.qm@web51901.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Dear Fellow White Anti-Racists, This week could be a big one for our country!? Out of consideration of the historical healthcare vote that may soon take place, I felt compelled to make the following short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=S9auEGgAhF0 Please take a moment to watch it!? And feel share to with others. :) Thanks, Josh AWARE-LA -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From louisaldavis at verizon.net Mon Mar 22 13:57:49 2010 From: louisaldavis at verizon.net (Louisa Davis) Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:57:49 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] Wasummit: Petition to Newt Gingrich/Republican Party? In-Reply-To: <92C6CF93-5024-49D5-BA84-C68BEE738A0A@igc.org> Message-ID: Can anyone confirm that this is true and recent, as quoted by Paul Krugman in NYTimes today: ?Here?s what Newt Gingrich, the Republican former speaker of the House ? a man celebrated by many in his party as an intellectual leader ? had to say: If Democrats pass health reform, ?They will have destroyed their party much as Lyndon Johnson shattered the Democratic Party for 40 years? by passing civil rights legislation.? If it is, I think this is the makings of an important national white allies petition to the GOP themselves. This may be the most outrageously racist statement I?ve heard (among many) since Jesse Helms retired ten years ago?and with the Tea Party?s racist statements (Michael Steele called them ?idiots? instead of racists), is this another whole God-given opportunity to ?make whiteness visible?...with some positive energy toward acknowledging the gift of the civil rights movement to us all? I have a little time...but not until after Easter....to put into this, might anyone else take the lead sooner than later? Might any of you connect this with WPC (which I will miss/can?t afford) and ARC/Racewire in the meanwhile? Speaking of action, are you all following/supporting WHITE PRIVILEGE WEEK (Facebook Page) started by Dedrick Muhammed, the economic inequality scholar Institute for Policy Studies, to start the week after the assassination of MLK, coincidentally (?) the same week this year as the WPC11? I?m helping him get some local DC programs together?so far it is mostly on college campuses I gather. We missed our Van Jones opportunity...is this another chance? - March 22, 2010 Op-Ed Columnist Fear Strikes Out By PAUL KRUGMAN The day before Sunday?s health care vote, President Obama gave an unscripted talk to House Democrats. Near the end, he spoke about why his party should pass reform: ?Every once in a while a moment comes where you have a chance to vindicate all those best hopes that you had about yourself, about this country, where you have a chance to make good on those promises that you made ... And this is the time to make true on that promise. We are not bound to win, but we are bound to be true. We are not bound to succeed, but we are bound to let whatever light we have shine.? And on the other side, here?s what Newt Gingrich, the Republican former speaker of the House ? a man celebrated by many in his party as an intellectual leader ? had to say: If Democrats pass health reform, ?They will have destroyed their party much as Lyndon Johnson shattered the Democratic Party for 40 years? by passing civil rights legislation. I?d argue that Mr. Gingrich is wrong about that: proposals to guarantee health insurance are often controversial before they go into effect ? Ronald Reagan famously argued that Medicare would mean the end of American freedom ? but always popular once enacted. But that?s not the point I want to make today. Instead, I want you to consider the contrast: on one side, the closing argument was an appeal to our better angels, urging politicians to do what is right, even if it hurts their careers; on the other side, callous cynicism. Think about what it means to condemn health reform by comparing it to the Civil Rights Act. Who in modern America would say that L.B.J. did the wrong thing by pushing for racial equality? (Actually, we know who: the people at the Tea Party protest who hurled racial epithets at Democratic members of Congress on the eve of the vote.) And that cynicism has been the hallmark of the whole campaign against reform. Yes, a few conservative policy intellectuals, after making a show of thinking hard about the issues, claimed to be disturbed by reform?s fiscal implications (but were strangely unmoved by the clean bill of fiscal health from the Congressional Budget Office) or to want stronger action on costs (even though this reform does more to tackle health care costs than any previous legislation). For the most part, however, opponents of reform didn?t even pretend to engage with the reality either of the existing health care system or of the moderate, centrist plan ? very close in outline to the reform Mitt Romney introduced in Massachusetts ? that Democrats were proposing. Instead, the emotional core of opposition to reform was blatant fear-mongering, unconstrained either by the facts or by any sense of decency. It wasn?t just the death panel smear. It was racial hate-mongering, like a piece in Investor?s Business Daily declaring that health reform is ?affirmative action on steroids, deciding everything from who becomes a doctor to who gets treatment on the basis of skin color.? It was wild claims about abortion funding. It was the insistence that there is something tyrannical about giving young working Americans the assurance that health care will be available when they need it, an assurance that older Americans have enjoyed ever since Lyndon Johnson ? whom Mr. Gingrich considers a failed president ? pushed Medicare through over the howls of conservatives. And let?s be clear: the campaign of fear hasn?t been carried out by a radical fringe, unconnected to the Republican establishment. On the contrary, that establishment has been involved and approving all the way. Politicians like Sarah Palin ? who was, let us remember, the G.O.P.?s vice-presidential candidate ? eagerly spread the death panel lie, and supposedly reasonable, moderate politicians like Senator Chuck Grassley refused to say that it was untrue. On the eve of the big vote, Republican members of Congress warned that ?freedom dies a little bit today? and accused Democrats of ?totalitarian tactics,? which I believe means the process known as ?voting.? Without question, the campaign of fear was effective: health reform went from being highly popular to wide disapproval, although the numbers have been improving lately. But the question was, would it actually be enough to block reform? And the answer is no. The Democrats have done it. The House has passed the Senate version of health reform, and an improved version will be achieved through reconciliation. This is, of course, a political victory for President Obama, and a triumph for Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker. But it is also a victory for America?s soul. In the end, a vicious, unprincipled fear offensive failed to block reform. This time, fear struck out. Copyright 2010 The New York Times Company ------ End of Forwarded Message Louisa L. Davis, M.Div., Ph.D. Everyone Matters, LLC-pending 11330 Dockside Circle Reston, VA 20191 H) 703/860-1203 C & O) 240/338-5156 ?Somewhere in the heart of experience there is an order and a coherence which we might surprise if we are attentive enough, loving enough or patient enough.? -- Lawrence Durrell from Marilyn Paul, Its Hard to Make a Difference When You Can?t Find Your Keys -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From louisaldavis at verizon.net Mon Mar 22 15:31:55 2010 From: louisaldavis at verizon.net (Louisa Davis) Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:31:55 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] FW: Reston Police report regarding suspicious person on RA trails In-Reply-To: <004001cac7db$683fd720$38bf8560$@net> Message-ID: I am overwhelmed and heart-broken by this recent local public safety announcement that perpetuates racist stereotyping, and very likely more racial prejudice based on...what!?...walking while black and male near a woman. The Reston, VA police report below of a so-called ?suspicious person? identifies a black male who ?allegedly walked in close proximity? to two women (we can only guess what color they were) but did absolutely nothing else criminal. And this is an email sent to probably 50,000+ predominantly white-identified folks (acc. to the census) who may well freak or at least be further inclined to feel somehow less safe (and maybe even holier than) the next ?suspicious person? they meet, esp. if that human being is a male person of a darker skin color (and they are lucky to have not yet been inducted into our criminal justice system.) It will probably be explained that the announcement is just responding to hysteria around a recent Washington Post article about an east coast serial rapist. Or is it playing on and perpetuating that hysteria? Might it have emphasized instead that NOTHING CRIMINAL took place? Might other more specific and helpful identifiers (clothing) be noted? And how can we respond to such well-intentioned reports when the primary identifier is ?race?--which Michael Steele might call ?idiotic? but I can only call racist? How do we begin to face all the ways that those of us who are Euroamerican or white-identified (regardless of our ethnicity) benefit everyday from the cheap labor that is a direct result of just this sort of habitual lack of consideration for the impact of our institutional actions on other people of color? Racial comments/actions like this, which you might notice also manage to keep whiteness not- mentioned and invisible, are a big part of what keeps the dignity and value of lives so disrespected--and this labor so cheap. Just like so many recent comments about maintaining ?our? way of life in America which so often exclude or deny acknowledging the poor, immigrants and people of color whose ways of life are the same as those of us who have lighter skins but instead, by luck of the low melatonin, so often much better addresses, and therefore, educations, jobs, health care, and access to media and powerful civic associations. What really builds instead the safety and beauty and community and joy in life that we all want? It seems to me that being aware of how our personal and institutional ?innocent? [not knowing] actions impact whole communities of color and follow, complicitly, in this country five hundred years of economic and political exploitation of people of color--native, African and Latino?and tragically perpetuate more of the same division and domination. Let?s get a dialogue going about more inclusive ways to build a safer Reston. See Greater Washington Allies in Reconciliation (www.gwair.org) for more alternatives or if not a personal of faith, don?t forget the NAACP was never just for African-Americans, but for all of us ?colored people.? ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Kathleen McKee (RA Director) To: Kathleen Driscoll Mckee Sent: Tue, March 16, 2010 5:22:29 PM Subject: Fwd: Police report regarding suspicious person on RA trails over weekend The Fairfax County Police have issued the following statement regarding two reports by citizens of encountering what the police call a ?suspicious person? on Reston Association trails over the weekend. According to the police report, there is no apparent connection between this incident and a Washington Post article on the search for a serial rapist. Please share this with your distribution list. They are welcome to post as is on their Web sites. Amelia Townsend Director of Communications Reston Association 1930 Isaac Newton Square, Reston, VA 20190 703-435-6579 phone 703-474-4574 mobile 703-435-9481 fax www.reston.org _____________________________ Kathleen Driscoll McKee Vice President Reston Association Board of Directors Director, South Lakes District 703.476.9181 kathleen.driscoll.mckee at gmail.com Fairfax County Police Department Public Information Office 4100 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Va. 22030 703-246-2253. TTY 703-204-2264. Fax 703-246-4253 FCPD-PIO at fairfaxcounty.gov www.fairfaxcounty.gov News Release: 10/072/0068 (5)(kcf) March 16, 2010 Suspicious Person Reported on Reston Trails The Reston District Station would like to make you aware of a suspicious person reported on the Reston Association trails. On Saturday, March 13 between 7a.m. and 9 a.m. two separate incidents of a suspicious person were reported. The incidents occurred on the Reston Association trails along Glade Drive between Soapstone Drive and Twin Branches Road. The suspicious person was allegedly walking in close proximity to the complainants for a short period of time. No physical contact was made and no criminal activity was reported. The suspicious person was described as a black male, in his 20s, wearing a dark hooded sweat shirt with the hood up and dark pants. Officers from the Reston District Station will be patrolling the Reston Association trails, especially the area described in these incidents to attempt to identify the suspicious person. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text ?TIP187? plus yourmessage to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131. ### ------ End of Forwarded Message -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From cws at igc.org Tue Mar 23 00:32:02 2010 From: cws at igc.org (Sharon Martinas) Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 23:32:02 -0700 Subject: [WAsummit] Fwd: Traces of the Trade: Virtual Learning Opportunity for Students and Teachers References: Message-ID: Begin forwarded message: > From: Holly Fulton > Date: March 22, 2010 7:56:33 PM PDT > To: Roxanne_Rhodes at dpsk12.org, Regina Wagner > , Cheryl Clamp , > Roanne Ross , Jaime Polson >, Pam at challengeday.org, Margaret Baldwin > , Jenan_Hijazi at dpsk12.org, Rex Osborn >, Milton Reynolds , Lauren Kucera >, Phil Campbell , Kent Alexander >, Rhonda Soto , Kristen Golden >, Roberto Almanzan , Victor at diversitycoach.org > , Nancy Arvold , Notinourtown at yahoogroups.com, cws2010 at googlegroups.com > , Kathleen Aubert , Jane Alexander >, Michele Sweeney , Amy Everitt >, Laura Biddle , Paul Marcus >, Kammy Young , Joan Pittman >, Jane Merrit , Kevin Cashman >, "Yvonne St. John-Dutra" , Ken Clauser >, Gwen Rosemond , Brooke Coleman >, Nancy Bragard , Kate Sparrow > , Harriet Dwyer , Mara > McClure , Bruce Cook > , Bruce Barnes , > Vicky Curtiss , Ann Daniel , > Mark Delgado , Anna Dioguardi >, Sharon Eghigian , Michael Elzay >, Amber Espar Espar , Alvino Fantini >, Gretchen Ferrazza , Tee Ford >, Linda Fountain , Pat Gabridge >, Rachel Szyman , Elizabeth Gibson >, Elizabeth Shackelford , Cyntha Gonzalez >, Kate Goodspeed , Lisa Graustein >, Julia Gross , Phyllis Henderson >, Spence Hobbs , Gary Hoeber > , Lynn Huber , Teegrey > Iannuzzi , Kaolin > , phyllislabanowski at comcast.net, Lenore > Lavelle , Betsy Leondar-Wright >, Ann West , Jacqueline Dyer >, Mike Little , Luz Longus >, Lucy Loomis , Kathy Low , > Caridad Martinez > Subject: Traces of the Trade: Virtual Learning Opportunity for > Students and Teachers > Reply-To: cws2010 at googlegroups.com > > Hello all, > If you know any history teachers or ANY other teachers who may be > interested in this, please pass it along to them. Thank you for > taking a minute to read this. Perhaps you'll want to watch as > well. It's a very exciting project for all of us to learn more. > best to you all these early Spring days, > Holly > > >> >> >> >> >> Dear Educators, >> >> We are pleased to announce this educational opportunity for you and >> your class to engage with students from around the world, "Traces >> of the Trade," and AMISTAD to mark the United Nation's >> International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the >> Transatlantic Slave Trade. >> >> Cheers, >> Kristin L. Gallas >> Director of Education & Public History >> >> >> >> Students and Teachers! >> Friday March 26 >> 9:00am-12:00pm EDT >> >> Students from around the world will be brought together though >> videoconferencing to participate in a live educational event to >> mark the United Nation's International Day of Remembrance of the >> Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. American >> students assembled at UN Headquarters in New York City, including >> students and teachers from Hall School in Bridgeport, CT, will have >> the opportunity to interact with peers around the world who have >> been studying the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Students from the >> following locations will be participating in the videoconference: >> >> ? Banjul, Gambia >> ? Accra, Ghana >> ? Havana, Cuba >> ? Kingston, Jamaica >> ? St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago >> ? Chippenham, Wiltshire, United Kingdom >> ? New York, New York, United States >> >> The Tracing Center, www.tracingcenter.org, will be a part of the >> video broadcast; live from the deck of AMISTAD in Havana, Cuba. >> AMISTAD is a re-creation of the coastal schooner La Amistad on >> which the famous 1839 slave revolt took place. AMISTAD America >> promotes improved relationships between races and cultures by >> drawing on the lessons of freedom, justice, perseverance, >> cooperation and leadership arising from the historic incident. The >> ship is visiting numerous islands at part of their 2010 Caribbean >> Heritage Tour and we are coordinating with local leaders to >> organize screenings of Traces of the Trade, panels, community >> dialogues and school programs. >> >> The video conference goes from 9:00am-12:00pm on Friday, March 26. >> If you are interested in watching this engaging educational >> broadcast, you can find more information at The UN's CyberSchoolbus. >> "Powerful is an inadequate word to describe the impact of Katrina >> Browne's Traces of the Trade...[her] clear-headed film represents >> an intense and searing call for national dialogue." >> - Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter >> >> "This is more than one family's painful reckoning. This is the >> nation's story - one that strips away the North's heroic mantle..." >> - Cecelia Goodnow, Seattle Post-Intelligencer >> >> >> In Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North, first-time >> filmmaker Katrina Browne makes a troubling discovery - her New >> England ancestors were the largest slave-trading family in U.S. >> history. She and nine fellow descendants set out to retrace the >> Triangle Trade: from their old hometown in Rhode Island to slave >> forts in Ghana, and sugar plantation ruins in Cuba. Step by step, >> they uncover the vast extent of Northern complicity in slavery >> while also stumbling through the minefield of contemporary race >> relations. In this bicentennial year of the U.S. abolition of the >> slave trade, Traces of the Trade offers powerful new perspectives >> on the black/white divide. >> >> For more information about the Traces of the Trade national >> community engagement campaign contact Marga Varea, Events >> Coordinator at mvarea at tracesofthetrade.org, or visit >> tracesofthetrade.org. >> >> This email was sent to hfulton at tracesofthetrade.org by cgibson at tracesofthetrade.org >> . >> Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe? | Privacy Policy. >> Email Marketing by >> >> Traces of the Trade / Ebb Pod Productions | PO Box 380302 | >> Cambridge | MA | 02238 >> > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > cws2010+unsubscribegooglegroups.com or reply to this email with the > words "REMOVE ME" as the subject. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From OppEd at toad.net Tue Mar 23 00:36:36 2010 From: OppEd at toad.net (Lucy Oppenheim) Date: Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:36:36 -0500 Subject: [WAsummit] Right to Ride reexamines the earliest struggles against Jim Crow Message-ID: <4BA86174.8040304@toad.net> More here: Right to Ride Streetcar Boycotts and African American Citizenship in the Era of Plessy v. Ferguson By Blair L. M. Kelley Through a reexamination of the earliest struggles against Jim Crow, Blair Kelley exposes the fullness of African American efforts to resist the passage of segregation laws dividing trains and streetcars by race in the early Jim Crow era. Right to Ride chronicles the litigation and local organizing against segregated rails that led to the Plessy v. Ferguson decision in 1896 and the streetcar boycott movement waged in twenty-five southern cities from 1900 to 1907. Kelley tells the stories of the brave but little-known men and women who faced down the violence of lynching and urban race riots to contest segregation. Focusing on three key cities--New Orleans, Richmond, and Savannah--Kelley explores the community organizations that bound protestors together and the divisions of class, gender, and ambition that sometimes drove them apart. The book forces a reassessment of the timelines of the black freedom struggle, revealing that a period once dismissed as the age of accommodation should in fact be characterized as part of a history of protest and resistance. About the Author Blair L. M. Kelley is associate professor of history at North Carolina State University. From narvold at sfo.com Sun Mar 28 21:42:33 2010 From: narvold at sfo.com (Nancy) Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2010 20:42:33 -0700 Subject: [WAsummit] Civil Rights vets Message-ID: Hi all - I didn't know about this website and thought others of you may not be either. This website is a treasure www.crmvet.org nancy arvold -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lcabbil at rosaparks.org Mon Mar 29 16:55:38 2010 From: lcabbil at rosaparks.org (L Cabbil) Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:55:38 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [WAsummit] WP Conference Message-ID: <960576.4526.qm@web503.biz.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I am checking in to inquire about attendees re possible housing options for the WP Conference in LaCrosse next week.? Please contact me asap. Thanks, Lila -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Eddie.MooreJr at bush.edu Mon Mar 29 17:03:59 2010 From: Eddie.MooreJr at bush.edu (Eddie Moore, Jr.) Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:03:59 -0700 Subject: [WAsummit] WP Conference In-Reply-To: <960576.4526.qm@web503.biz.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <960576.4526.qm@web503.biz.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1CC45C83B3AB784D868A23C0AAE744460114C4E585FA@s-mail.bush.edu> I'm not sure I understand your message? Are you asking about yourself? E Eddie Moore, Jr. Director of Diversity The Bush School www.bush.edu www.uccs.edu/~wpc/ *Alert* students may enroll in a variety of courses offered for undergraduate or graduate level credit offered at the White Privilege Conference (April 7-10, 2010). Credits are available in Sociology, Womens and Ethnic Studies, or Curriculum and Instruction (and can then be transferred). From: wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org [mailto:wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org] On Behalf Of L Cabbil Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 3:56 PM To: wasummit at wacan.org Subject: [WAsummit] WP Conference I am checking in to inquire about attendees re possible housing options for the WP Conference in LaCrosse next week. Please contact me asap. Thanks, Lila _________________________________________________ Scanned on 29 Mar 2010 22:55:52 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Eddie.MooreJr at bush.edu Mon Mar 29 17:03:59 2010 From: Eddie.MooreJr at bush.edu (Eddie Moore, Jr.) Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:03:59 -0700 Subject: [WAsummit] WP Conference In-Reply-To: <960576.4526.qm@web503.biz.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <960576.4526.qm@web503.biz.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1CC45C83B3AB784D868A23C0AAE744460114C4E585FA@s-mail.bush.edu> I'm not sure I understand your message? Are you asking about yourself? E Eddie Moore, Jr. Director of Diversity The Bush School www.bush.edu www.uccs.edu/~wpc/ *Alert* students may enroll in a variety of courses offered for undergraduate or graduate level credit offered at the White Privilege Conference (April 7-10, 2010). Credits are available in Sociology, Womens and Ethnic Studies, or Curriculum and Instruction (and can then be transferred). From: wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org [mailto:wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org] On Behalf Of L Cabbil Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 3:56 PM To: wasummit at wacan.org Subject: [WAsummit] WP Conference I am checking in to inquire about attendees re possible housing options for the WP Conference in LaCrosse next week. Please contact me asap. Thanks, Lila _________________________________________________ Scanned on 29 Mar 2010 22:55:52 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Laura.White at montgomerycollege.edu Tue Mar 30 07:47:19 2010 From: Laura.White at montgomerycollege.edu (White, Laura M. (CPOD)) Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 09:47:19 -0400 Subject: [WAsummit] WP Conference In-Reply-To: <960576.4526.qm@web503.biz.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <960576.4526.qm@web503.biz.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <600ED4E81843114C848E67646D6C14BA97C0CDFA97@TPMAILCLUS1.mcnte.mc.cc.md.us> Lila: I didn't see your email address, so apologize to everyone else for broadcasting. I'm looking for a place too. My colleagues from D.C. area had already made arrangements by the time I inquired. Want to share a hotel room? I looked on-line, but didn't settle on anything yet. The College isn't picking up the expense, so keeping it to $55-75/night is preferred, if possible. Also, I fly in 4/6 and depart early on 4/12, so may be staying longer than you. Whadja think? Laura White, Multicultural Training Specialist MONTGOMERY COLLEGE OHR-Center for Prof & Org Development 40 West Gude Drive, Suite 250 Rockville, MD 20850 240-567-4297 (ph) 240-567-4282 (fax) laura.white at montgomerycollege.edu From: wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org [mailto:wasummit-bounces at lists.wacan.org] On Behalf Of L Cabbil Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 6:56 PM To: wasummit at wacan.org Subject: [WAsummit] WP Conference I am checking in to inquire about attendees re possible housing options for the WP Conference in LaCrosse next week. Please contact me asap. Thanks, Lila -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lcabbil at rosaparks.org Tue Mar 30 09:08:22 2010 From: lcabbil at rosaparks.org (L Cabbil) Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:08:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [WAsummit] WPC Housing Message-ID: <288164.91214.qm@web504.biz.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Thank you networkers.? I am covered. ? Those attending please try to connect during the conference I want to share a work in progress on anti racist accountability from WCAN's publishing arm. It would be good to do a follow up of what were learning/growing "take aways" from the conference and in particular what is your action agenda. I think this would be an additional (perspective) support for Eddie in his leadership and commitment to the conference. Thanks again, As Ron Chisholm from the People's Institute would say, we have a net that works. lila -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From narvold at sfo.com Tue Mar 30 19:12:32 2010 From: narvold at sfo.com (Nancy) Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:12:32 -0700 Subject: [WAsummit] Fw: Online Petition Against Injunctions Message-ID: ----- Original Message ----- From: a pluss To: CWS_WARO Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 5:01 PM Subject: Fwd: Online Petition Against Injunctions Hey all, If you have a second, please sign this online petition against the gang injunction in North Oakland and further injunctions in Oakland (link below). Also, for more info/resources on the injunction and resistance against it, check out www.stoptheinjunction.wordpress.com (website courtesy of Lisa!) -Zaylia ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: United Organizers Date: Tue, Mar 30, 2010 at 4:29 PM Subject: Online Petition Against Injunctions To: manuel at prisonerswithchildren.org, cgomez at burnsinstitute.org, apluss8 at gmail.com, leahfess at gmail.com, mollie.royer at gmail.com, bri.skellie at gmail.com, zzoehot04 at gmail.com, lisa.nowlain at gmail.com, danonymous at gmail.com, thaplum at att.net, sfsapo at msn.com, omar at mxgm.org, jdogg79 at hotmail.com, beatricex19 at yahoo.com, xicanoserg at yahoo.com, linda at prisonerswithchildren.org, sal.leon at gmail.com, nicole at urbanpeacemovement.org, tcoleman96 at mac.com, ana at lrcl.org, renee at lrcl.org, gustavolopez66 at yahoo.com, ssalazar at youthtogether.net, vrios at soc.ucsb.edu, dlacy99 at yahoo.com, mrdaveyd at aol.com, kazu at peacefund.org, tbarrows at burnsinstitute.org, nane at barriosunidos.net, melanie at akonadi.org, Dereca Blackmon , vic duarte , James Bell , Lisa CR , Alexis Mazon , fatimalee , Jose Malvido , blockreportradio at gmail.com, Carmen Perez , Caty Bautista , Freddy Gutierrez , iserighteous at yahoo.com, jesus barraza , jidan koon , Joel Tena , Miguel Bustos , Millard Murphy , nicole at ellabakercenter.org, Omar Sandoval , Paul Flores , PENINA TAESALI , sparkywest at sbcglobal.net, Ruben Lizardo , 1down2togo at comcast.net, Taj James , Tony D , Warriors Blood , hardknock at kpfa.org, Wilson Riles , `penina , anita de , Anita Johnson , gspiral69 at yahoo.com, Xiomara , crystallee at ellabakercenter.org, nwamaka at ellabakercenter.org, saferoakland at lists.criticalresistance.org, Dorsey Nunn , Hamdiyah Cooks , fhernan600rr at gmail.com, verbalmixx at yahoo.com, omarself at hotmail.com, bigdansyard at hotmail.com, Savannah , saskia at riseup.net, jess , vylmao at yahoo.com, jacky at youthuprising.org, dtate at aclunc.org, siqbal at youthuprising.org, jsteele at aclunc.org, Elliott Vander Kolk , denise at youthradio.org, kelly , mika at platformlondon.org, lourdes at ellabakercenter.org, sgelender at aclunc.org, eraguso at gmail.com, Marshall Trammell , deandre323 at yahoo.com, ynotrevolt at gmail.com Please encourage folks to sign online, and add the link to the website! http://www.petitiononline.com/OakInjun/petition.html -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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