U.S. Social Forum
June 22-June 26, 2010, Detroit, MI Are you a local JwJ activist coming to the USSF? Let us know!
This June, 20,000+ grassroots activists from hundreds of community-based social justice and social action organizations will gather in Detroit to come up with the peoples’ solutions to the economic and ecological crisis. The 2010 U.S. Social Forum (USSF) will gather social & economic justice organizers, environmentalists, peace & justice activists, community-based organizations, Indigenous nations, unions, and students to address the key issues of our time. The U.S. Social Forum grew out of a worldwide movement - the World Social Forum – that was in part inspired by the 1999 demonstrations against the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Seattle. In 2007, more than 10,000 activists (including 350+ JwJ activists) gathered in Atlanta for the first U.S. Social Forum. The USSF is more than just a conference or event. It’s a way to build opposition to the corporate agenda, and create an alternative vision and direction for our country. Through workshops, presentations, marches, information tents, music and cultural events, people can tell their stories and hear about other struggles. One of the key issues that JwJ is working on is creation of good, sustainable jobs, and the USSF will provide the opportunity to take our jobs campaign to the next level. The USSF will provide space to build relationships with other activists and movement building organizations in the U.S., learn from each other’s experiences, share our analysis of the problems our communities face, and bring renewed insight and inspiration. It will help develop leadership and develop consciousness, vision, and strategy needed to realize another world. We must declare what we want our world to look like and begin planning the path to get there. Jobs with Justice nationally is helping to organize parts of the USSF; JwJ is on the national planning committee for the forum, we are helping facilitate a labor working group and organizing a labor tent, we are planning a series of workshops, SE Michigan JwJ is active in the local Detroit planning committee, and most importantly, we are organizing a JwJ delegation to “be there”. Get inspired: We hope that you will join us in Detroit this summer. If you’re interested in joining the JwJ delegation to the USSF, please contact your local Jobs with Justice coalition to learn more about local plans to travel to Detroit. Another world is possible! |
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