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Student and Youth Summit on US Global Engagement

Student and Youth Summit on US Global Engagement. NOTES. Pay Attention to Gender Dynamics Speak from 1 st Person Perspective Allow for Conflict Listen to Understand Remember who is not in the room Respect. No Cellphones Honor Confidentiality ½ Finger Policy Have fun, Stay Positive

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Student and Youth Summit on US Global Engagement

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  1. Student and Youth Summit on US Global Engagement NOTES

  2. Pay Attention to Gender Dynamics Speak from 1st Person Perspective Allow for Conflict Listen to Understand Remember who is not in the room Respect No Cellphones Honor Confidentiality ½ Finger Policy Have fun, Stay Positive Gauge Agreement with Hand Signals Ground Rules

  3. American Friends Service Committee • Bolded indicates circled in agreement by another participant • Recognize the human dignity in everyone • Non-violence; peaceful means -> peaceful ends • Justice – freedom from oppression • Economic justice (workers’ rights, immigrants etc…) • Social justice (LGBTQ, Racism etc…) • Developing resources for education and advocacy

  4. Student Environmental Action Committee • Environment = Social, political etc… • Environmental racism • Environment + Gender • Renewable Energy • Commitment to Anti-oppression • Democratic organizing structure

  5. Foreign Policy in Focus • What we do: • Produce documents, research, policy papers • training • Multilateralism • US inequality does not recognize its responsibility • Strengthen int’l institutions • Deepening analysis • Policy -> action bridges through training • Encouraging Dialogue • Students + activists +analysis

  6. Africa Action • US has a special historic responsibility toward Africa • Believe racism has been & is a major determinant of US policies towards Africa, Africans ad US citizens of African descent • value Africa and people of Africa and seek partnership with Africans • Believe in principles of: • Consultation; Openness; accountability; consensus • Our dominant frame: global apartheid

  7. USFT • Founded by student recognizing energy around fair trade activism • Collective demand, share experiences • Promote fair trade principles • Dialogue, transparency, equality • Relate global issues to everyday life • Making connections among trade orgs, fair trade groups, across supply chain • Interpersonal relationships • Diversity – seeking allies everywhere • Respect + responsibility to local areas + knowledge • Context • Celebration + hope • Global economy that supports human beings

  8. United Student Against Sweatshops • Founded based on economic justice • Through apparel on campuses now, worker solidarity all over • Cooperation + solidarity w/ workers providing support in their work • Anti-oppression organization • Address racism, sexism, classism, etc.. In the work that we do • Include oppression in analysis • Work in coalition • Democratic • Often consensus based • Issues decided • Cooperative self-determination

  9. Oxfam America • Overview – hunger, poverty, injustice • Relief/humanitarian aid, post-WWII • Partnership based model • Needs defined at local level • Eg. Poverty relief, hunger, fair trade • Make Trade Fair campaign • Rights based framework • Ie access to health care, food • Ability for people to empower themselves – dignity • So we fight for justice and fairness

  10. American Anti-Slavery Group • 1993, first abolitionist group since civil war • Founded by diverse group (multi-ethnic, multi-faith) • Be a voice for the voiceless • Education -> eradication • Empower former slaves etc… to tell stories • Partnerships w/ many groups • Truth-tellers • Non-violence • Simple message

  11. Sierra Student Coalition • Harmony among people around the world • Clean air, water, land – human right • Student empowerment • Student leadership • Public lands are our heritage • Social and economic justice • Fair trade • People and planet over profit • Environmental justice • Disproportionate environmental degradation for poor

  12. Global Justice • Educate, train, mobilize students around global justice issues • Students are not just foot soldiers; should be involved throughout • Globalization not inherently bad, but inequality + oppression are • People should be empowered for political participation

  13. Student Campaign for Child Survival • 1)responsible policy means investing in the FUTURE • 2)Each child has a right to realize potential: empowerment • 3)responsibility – children die from diseases we could treat • 4)dignity of every child; caring for our children should not end with our families

  14. Student Global AIDS Campaign • Global AIDS is symptomatic of a global crisis across geography, race etc… • Seeking fairness • Student led • Solidarity • US has responsibility as a matter of justice • Poorer countries should have self-control • Advocate for multilateral partnership (global fund) • AIDS is an issue of POLITICAL WILL – power imbalance etc…

  15. Student PUGWASH USA • Focus: nuclear energy; genetics; environment • Education (speaking events) • Learn to think in a new way • Working across sectors and communities • Forum for sharing about social responsibility • Invite different sides of an issue • Promote knowledge

  16. United States Student Association • Education is a right across age, race, class etc… • Grassroots power of students to win power • Advance student interests • Promote diversity • Educational access and quality • Focus on people who are normally excluded • Democratic processes • Caucuses • Electoral system • Policy platform • Int’l students • FTAA (privatization) • Elections (access to politics)

  17. Responsibility – US Responsibility to People they have oppressed Anti-oppression Student Leadership Story/Humanizing Peace Non-Violence Grassroots – student and Local communities Ownership Global Cooperative Engagement Justice – Economic, Social Empowerment Education – promote different viewpoints, deepening analysis Democratic Process Respecting Diversity Coalition Human Rights – Right to Participation Political Participation Local Solidarity Common Principles

  18. How do you see US behavior living up to, or falling short of, these values? • Claiming to support democracy and political participation, but… • US fails at home to live up to democratic process • Also fails in Int’l trade • Anti-Oppression: US often the oppressor • Corporate concentration of power • Undermines grassroots • Preach Non-Violence but go to war

  19. US Behavior (cont’d) • Problem: Lack of Analysis by Gov’t & By American People, who then support the gov’t • US uses “Freedom” • Corporations good at working in coalition; using “free speech” to fight electoral reform • U.S. gov’t failed in multilateralism • Doing “oppressor” work • Self-interest or profit interest comes before values • US believes in global capitalism • Duplicity • Slavery continues and government ignores • Need a respect for student leadership and Youth participation • Human Rights – Our country does not respect H.R. At home – hurts us abroad • Lead by example

  20. US Behavior (cont’d) • Gaps in our youth involvement • After school etc.. • Activist is a fringe thing • We do not create mechanisms for participation • Need to broaden movement • Lack a culture of involvement • Fragmentation and compartmentalization • Elitism in involvement - people with free time and money • Local Knowledge of global issues is strong but overlooked • Who do we really mean by students and youth? • Using local examples + connections in messaging • Speak from people’s experience • Challenge – to reach people and move • Partisanship can be divisive • What are we willing to compromise? Taking our values to an organizational level

  21. US Behavior (cont’d) • Conflict: message vs. Actuality • We cede power to “experts” and officials • Should foster a close connection between local and global • U.S. – strong concentration of power + message • We can respond by working w/ individual people • Local -> global community -> foreign policy • Uneven distribution of power • Who is making the decisions? • Make it hard for global people to gain access to power – even Americans • US Behavior – Patriot Act • Speed of passing • Invasion of privacy, freedom • Some nations adopting spirit and language of act • Media monopoly/independent media/dissent • Conflict between how we identify…America, US, Gov’t, Policy • Often US-centric, a view that can be in conflict with global equality/justice • Conflict between Americans claiming “justice, freedom etc…” and our historic and current actions (beliefs and actions)

  22. US Behavior (cont’d) • Dominant culture controlling though media, education, etc.. • Strengthen through messaging • Patriotism • Idealism • Historical sense • Even among ourselves, we find patterns of elitism • Treaty evasion and denial/violation • Need to identify ourselves as US • Our self-interest is short-sighted • need “enlightened self-interest” • We need to understand our privilege and advantage • Understanding relationships between patriotism and dissent • Theme: How do we relate to U.S.?

  23. Responsibility – US Responsibility to People they have oppressed 8 Anti-oppression 6 Student Leadership Story/Humanizing Peace 1 Non-Violence 1 Grassroots – student and Local communities 1 Ownership Global Cooperative Engagement 5 Justice – Economic, Social 16 Empowerment Education – promote different viewpoints, deepening analysis 4 Democratic Process 4 Respecting Diversity 3 Coalition Human Rights – Right to Participation 13 Political Participation 2 Local Solidarity Fairness 3 VOTE – Common Principles for US Global Engagement

  24. Smiley Faces: Respect for each other Concentric circles Food Good number for discussion/tension Distribution of speakers Self + professional facilitation Kept on track Groundwork RBF + Frameworks Int’l Frowny Faces: Structure of principles Org vs. US Structured Method of Getting more voices Make sure we can stay in touch Want to hear more specifics Objectives and ground rules A-HA! Moments: After being a student Reasoning of different groups Impossible -> inevitable Patriotism Evaluation

  25. Where are we now?From Yesterday • Began building relationships • Gained Knowledge on framing, joint visioning & lessons from int’l youth activists • Understanding of group backgrounds • Better idea of shared (and conflicting) • Group values/processes • Principles for US global engagement

  26. Where are we going today? • Presentation on joint messaging for student global issues • Opportunity to reflect from yesterday • Defining nature of coalitions • Group presentations – your work • How could other support you + vice versa • Identify overlap + develop proposal drafts • Refine proposals/action plans • Presentations and feedback… • Lead in to tomorrow

  27. Reflections on Coalition • Earth Rights -> Find how values translate across issues • Be careful…e.g. the group of farmers vs. the group out to get an international perspective: No recognition for the former • Coalition w/ funders is difficult. “Branding” can present challenges • When other groups in coalition dominate the coalition, because they lack campaigns + grassroots work • Honest about expectations + roles • Mutual self-interest – be open (not just philosophical) • Success when focus on other org’s, not individuals • We should know we are embarking on coalition – be deliberate • “Think outside the square” • Diverse constituencies, unlikely allies • Eg. Farmers + aboriginal rights • Issue-based works because objectives are clear and can because it can negative when we cross into other issues

  28. Coalitions (cont’d) • Lack of clear set of demands: • Expectations of work • Personal relationships • Focus on strengths of partners • Don’t use coalitions to diversify your work • Legislative/Lobbying Coalitions • Share work, amplify voice • Long-term coalitions • Need trust-building/relationships • Issue coalitions can lead to long term coalitions • Build trust through actions (press briefings, env. Coalitions) • Amnesty-Sierra (H.R. + Environment) • Gain New Perspective • Focus environmental defenders who were persecuted • See interconnection

  29. SCCS • Doing: • Campaigns • partner w/ broader foreign aid campaigns • children’s health (USAID and other NGOs) • Advocacy for humanitarian aid • Increase foreign policy budget • Encouraging chapter partnerships w/ groups abroad • Others could contribute to us • Relationships/contacts • Advice for diversifying • Knowledge of internal power dynamics • We could benefit others • Contacts + knowledge of how to do lobby work

  30. American Anti-slavery Group • Doing • Direct service; education; media; advocacy; organizing • Issue cooperation possibilities • Fair trade; transition from slavery • Debt relief; connections to oppression • HIV/AIDS; sex slavery, rape, chattle slavery • Env. Sustainability; New free communities • Women + children; disproportionate slavery • Sweatshops; slave labor • Others could contribute • Let us speak to groups, spread message • Training help on organizing • Vote training together • We can benefit others • Can educate around the issue • East coast strength • Advocating what is taught on campuses (collaborate)

  31. AFSC (Peacebuilding Unit) • Doing • Voter education for 2004 • Beats for Peace – Boston, DC, Philly, Miami • Arts, Hip-Hop, communicating w/youth who are vanguard traditionally • FTAA • Coalition work around Peace (WSF, NYSPC, W.W.W) • Counter-recruitment/Anti-Nukes • Developing materials to be used by schools + community groups • Links among antimilitarism groups • Others could contribute • Developing curriculum • Need to connect at grassroots • Benefit other groups • Resources (educating on issues) • Breadth of offices

  32. FPIF • Doing • Conference for Oil Politics, energy policy and organizing alternatives • War on terror • US Africa policy • Others could contribute to us • Turnout/planning for conference • Opportunities/connections to meet up w/ constituencies • We can benefit others • Ghetto film school: alternative communications • Strong speakers bureau • Targeting swing states

  33. Oxfam • Doing • CHANGE initiative – issue based mobilizing, not chapters; tools for global citizenship; other forms of recruitment, training • Hunger • Trade • Fair Trade coffee • Oct 24-27 student trade conference • Others could contribute • People, involvement for trade conference • Plug students into network for cooperation • Experience from national coalitions • Can Offer • Activism/education guides • FTAA, fair trade, lobbying • CHANGE curriculum

  34. USFT • Doing • Fair trade coffee – campus campaigns • Create cross-campus campaigns • Pressure companies together • Developing website to connect students • Other groups could contribute • H.S. campaigns, knowledge • How we relate to member org’s • Build relationships w/ ethnic org’s; how to struggle against white bias • We could benefit others • Contacts + company database • Connect to mainstream, positive messaging • Inroads to fair trade

  35. Sierra Student Coalition • Doing • 400 groups, 40 state coordinators • Trade campaign; totally legislative – defeat FTAA • Focus on state and local levels • Messaging: our communities at risk; identify threatened areas locally • Global south partnerships • Miami organizing • Oct 31 mobilization – halloween, scary, FTAA • Electoral trainings with USSA, AFL-CIO • Globalization work • Electoral • Environmental Justice; support local efforts • World Banks campus bonds • Others can contribute • Partner on campaigns, actions • Offer to others • Trainers bureau

  36. SGAC • Doing • Donate the dollars, drop the debt, treat the people • Policy: congress and the president • Keep the Pledge, O4 Stop AIDS • Comprehensive platform – debt, gender, race etc.. • Debt – week of action (IMF, WTO, Secretary etc..) • FTAA intellectual property • Multinational corporations -> coke • Corporate responsibility • Others could contribute • How to work • Local-global coalitions • Support on ’04 Stop AIDS • What do we offer? • Rights for sex workers + drug users • Victories • Advice on AIDS related involvement • Skills for advocacy

  37. USSA • Doing • Appropriations in higher Education • Immigrant rights in education • Freedom rides with USAS – legislation • Local campus work SEVIS, DREAM • Elections • Voter education, identification, mobilization • Voter training • Non-partisan voter guide • Strategic placements • Others could contribute to us • Appropriations knowledge/constituencies • How to plug-in, define role in int’l • Build members in MA, IL, TX, NY • We could benefit others • Grassroots + electoral training; even around issues like FTAA • Democratic structure • Knowledge in a student-friendly way • Materials • Understanding organizing on identity

  38. SEAC • Doing • Movement magazine (threshold)– communicate to member groups • Speakers bureau and regional list serves • Skills building (training institute) • Regional conferences • Campaigns start locally • tampon action • Militarism campaign • Renewable energy, climate justice • Others could contribute to us • Trainings more efficiently • Trainings regionally/youth organizing • Expanding outreach capacity • Knowledge to build grassroots funding • What we can contribute to others • Alumni network – how-to • Reunion…serve as partners w/ alumni • Organizing guides – H.S., environment

  39. SPUSA • Doing • Chapter system, plan own events • Involve, empower student leadership • 6 issues: security; environment; sustainable development; genetics; diversity in science; society and technology (civil liberties) • Others could contribute • Experts/activists/students in the field • Our national conferences • Can offer to others • Conferences • Partnerships • Curricular advocacy • electoral

  40. USAS • Doing • 160 affiliates, strong on coasts, fairly spread out • Labor solidarity and Economic justice • IMF, WTO, WTAA • Immigration reform • Leadership development • Anti-racist/oppression training • NYSPC – civic participation work • Women’s colleges, Historically black colleges • Others could contribute • Resource development • Alumni work • Electoral • Benefit others • Work w/labor movement • Tools for mobilizing • Corporate campaign • “bad cop”

  41. Africa Action • Doing • Campaigns around “global apartheid” • Africa’s Right to Health campaign • Access for all • Debt cancellation • End to stigma and discrimination • Dialogue on reparations • IMF/WB colonialism • MOST WANTED – Pres. Bush accountability • Expose broken promises • Strength – grassroots movement: DC, NY, Atlanta, Houston, Bay Area, African immigrants, PLWHA’s • World AIDS Day of action • Others could contribute • Need more people + allies for campaigns and days of action • Can Offer • Connections between global and domestic crisis • Policy analysis on issues • Can generate further analysis

  42. Global Justice • Doing • Bring groups together • Seeking new campaigns • Trade, micro-credit • Bridge issues – debt and Haiti • International partnerships (ie Zambia) • Others can contribute • Help us get involved in new issues • Broaden base to public universities, HBC’s, community colleges • Alumni network • Grassroots fundraising • Collaborate domestically • Offer to others • Can mobilize quickly • Open to cooperation • Issue education/advocacy

  43. Thematic/Campaign Proposals, Votes, Group Leaders • HIV/AIDS – 3 – Sean Barry • Day of Action, Debt • Electoral/Vote – 7 –Becky Wasserman • 04 Stop AIDS, Swing States, Key Issues, Broaden Global Agenda • Global Economic Justice – 9- Michelle Dixon • FTAA education, electoral, advocacy, trade conference • Corporate Accountability/Responsibility – 0 • Media Control/Regulation – 0 • US Responsibility/Energy, Environment, Sustainability – 7 – Jessica Leight • Int’ Issues, Multilateralism

  44. Organizational Concerns • Trainings • Alumni • Curriculum Advocacy • Film • Fundraising • Unify Across Issues • Media • Tactics (Hip-Hop) • Appropriations/Lobbying

  45. Problems: International issues and elections We have no/little capacity Focus Relations to existing coalitions? Solutions/Ideas: Issue specific info: fliers, vote guide(s)? Samples: vote guides?, fliers **Booklet Guide book – 6 issues **Voter Guide - Send to candidates? **Candidate Profiles Past votes Grades Each org says what they feel about candidates NYSPC Issue based vote materials Speaking tours Vote Working Group

  46. Vote Guide Sample Booklet Vote Working Group, cont’d Organization Name Sample Flier Bush Guns: Y Gore Guns: N • Andre plan • +additional background • info (grades, votes • Orgs Here • MECha • NAACP • SAF • TransAfrica • Voter reg. Cover

  47. Sept -> Global Justice AFSC -> Peace and Justice Tour October 6-12 -> SGAC -> Debt Week of Action November SGAC - >Trade Campaign Week of Action Africa Action -> Most Wanted Campaign December World AIDS Day Week of Action/Student Day of Silence AFSC ‘Beats’ for Peace - >2nd or 3rd Sunday ->Suggest an AIDS Focus Platform: US Should Do Its Fair Share Action: Multicoalition Event Reordering Gov’ts Priorities HIV/AIDS Working Group

  48. Evaluation • Smiley Faces: • Small Group Activities • Interest Across Issues • See linkages develop • Excited About Specifics • Didn’t let schedule dictate (flexibility) • Frowny Faces: • Use Sticky Dots as a voting tool • Gap in “goodbye” with funders (how do we stay in touch?) • Int’l – not just over meals • Voting –criteria of importance; a way of thinking about the decisions being made • Clarifying “we” • Day was long • A-Ha! Moments: • Patriotism moment • Frameworks ->media as episodic • Move On presentation • Talking about positives, looseness, comedy • Landmines -> winning more than liking • Uniting the movement discussions • 2004 elections -> encouraging • More help in organizing -> go to funders

  49. Expectations for Tomorrow • Fleshing out action plans • Comment + involve in • Who “We” are…clarification • Who’s not here…who to bring in…how? • Sustaining relationships • Process/Alumni, etc… issues • Pitching to our organizations • Resource sharing • Defining our continuing strategy

  50. Update From Yesterday … • Learned more about Joint messaging and Coalitions • Shared Group Interests • Developed Concrete Action Plans • Learned more from Internet and International partners

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