The Peoples Movement Assembly plans to meet on Friday, July 31st at the Kentucky Social Forum in Berea, KY! We want to support the amazing efforts in Kentucky to bring the social forum process home, to build excitement and plans for Detroit (site for the 2010 US Social Forum), and to build the PMA team by working together and participating in the ongoing process. We propose that a second meeting would be held in Detroit (perhaps in conjunction with a work brigade in early 2010) to provide solidarity on the ground there and move the PMA process forward within the USSF planning process.
We have an opportunity to organize a powerful process in line with global calls for action from the US. Let’s build it and connect this work to our ongoing work! We all bring experiences and wisdom in facilitating large group processes towards strategic movement & decisions. Let’s put our heads together!
The July 31st face-to-face meeting will accomplish several key goals:
I. Discuss, develop and design the process of the PMA
Look at examples of current and historical assembly-based processes
How does it work? What makes it a PMA?
Designing participatory, decision-making processes for 60-600 people
II. Co-create a plan for Before, During & After the Forum
Opportunities and plans for Assemblies leading up to the Forum
What process are we proposing to happen during the Forum (Is it right before? Does it happen the last day?)
How does the PMA process provide avenues for exit strategies coming out of the Forum to build on the momentum of Detroit
III. Resources
What do we need to make it happen? Organizing spreadsheets, communication plan, hiring a coordinator
Create a PMA Organizing Kit for the web and for organizations and networks to use to hold PMAs in regions
Connecting to the National Planning Committee and local & regional anchors for the USSF
& Next Steps . . .
Please let us know if you know of other folks who may be interested, and we’ll add them to the list. Attica mentioned the Virginia Peoples Assembly, and there have been many convergences across the Gulf South, at the US/Mexico Border, the Queer Left Forum, etc. It’s an open process, and we’d love to be able to touch base with folks before the meeting.
EMAIL stephanie@projectsouth.org if you’re interested in attending this meeting. We will work on logistics based on the numbers. Folks would most likely fly or drive into Lexington and then travel to Berea College.
Take care, and stay in touch,
Steph Guilloud, Project South
Ruben Solis, Southwest Workers Union