U.S. Popular Palestinian Community Network invites you to participate in planning the 2nd US Social Forum in June 2010 in Detroit, Michigan
The US Palestinian Community Network is pleased to announce its participation in the envisioning and organizing of the Second U.S. Social Forum (USSF) as a member of its National Planning Committee (NPC). The USSF is the US-based counterpart to the World Social Forum and is therefore the locus of social justice organizing in the US. It is “more than a conference, more than a networking bonanza, more than a reaction to war and repression. The USSF will provide space to build relationships, 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.”
The NPC is comprised of social justice organizations, each representative of a broad swath of social justice advocacy in the U.S. The USPCN is honored to be a part of this body. The USPCN’s participation in the Forum’s NPC signifies a momentous shift for both the Left-movement in the U.S. as well as for Palestinian human rights activism. While the USSF is primarily concerned with base-building intended to improve living conditions and human rights for US-based residents, the US’s foreign policy agenda directly reflects and impacts its domestic one. The ability to synthesize an otherwise bifurcated agenda allows the US-Left movement to integrate the Palestinian struggle for self-determination into its analysis and work. Conversely, it allows Palestinian human rights advocates as well as Palestinian-Americans who struggle for their labor, housing, immigrant, racial, and criminal justice rights, to align themselves more firmly within the Left to build another world together.
The 2nd USSF is scheduled to take place in Detroit, Michigan on June 22-27, 2010 and there is much work to be done in the next six months. The USPCN sees many roles that the Palestinian/Arab community could and should play at the USSF, including but limited to:
- Asserting the Palestinian narrative in discussions of Palestine Liberation and its connection to the overall social justice movement;
- Building alongside and in solidarity with other social justice movements in the US; and
- Cultivating Arab/Palestinian leadership and participation in various pursuits for social justice in the U.S.
The USPCN along with its allies and supporters seek to build a coalition to achieve the following at the Social Forum:
- Organize a Palestine Justice Track (25+ workshops);
- Host a Palestine Tent that features dance performances, workshops, film screenings, and goods for sale;
- Choose a keynote speaker for a plenary session; and
- Mobilize our communities to attend and participate in the Social Forum.
We are calling on you to join us by developing a workshop for the Palestine Track and/or developing a USPCN-USSF local organizing committee. If you are interested in organizing, leading a workshop, or have additional questions please email [email protected] When you submit a workshop application to the USSF here (://www.ussf2010.org/) please email [email protected]. For examples of previous workshops organized at the USPCN Popular Conference and the First US Social Forum, see below—note that this list is not exhaustive but meant to inspire you to think of your own workshop.
Sincerely,
Mezna Qato, Rama Kased, Noura Erakat
on behalf of the US Palestinian Community Network
Palestine Track Workshops at the First US Social Forum and the Palestinian Popular Conference (Examples):
Oral History: Transforming Narrative and memories into action
Public Art and Culture of Resistance: Handala and Naji Al-Ali
Engaging elected officials: The Presidential Campaign 2008 & Beyond
Inserting Palestine into high school curricula in the US & empowering students to challenge dominant narratives
Towards Institutionalizing Youth and Student activism: The General Union of Palestinian Students and the Palestinian Youth Network
Between the Block and the Bled: Youth Space for Sharing Experiences and Strategies for fighting Systems of Oppression
Breaking the Walls of Fear: The imperative of building community-based networks to support targeted activists and academics
Hip-Hop and spoken word: The relevance of culture and counter-culture to our movement
Break the Siege on Gaza
Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions, and Mainstream Churches in the U.S
Dabkeh 101: Learning and performing our folkloric dance
Nakba and Palestinian Refugees: Empowering the refugees to resist the marginalization of their rights
Self-Organizing and Community Politics: Uniting our community and facing our challenges
Solidarity Workshop-Building Solidarity with the Palestinian Movement for Self-Determination and Return: How to be in solidarity with the Palestinian movement for self-determination responsibly
Past, Present and Future of Palestinian Activism in the U.S.
Palestinians in 1948-Occupied Palestine
Palestinian Women and Palestinian Self-Determination: Discussion on the role of women in the movement and in society
One-State Solution to the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
Arabic-speaking Workshop: Evaluating our efforts and finding new ways of collaboration to move forward (Arabic)
Children’s Workshop: Mapping out Palestine. Interactive game designed to reinforce children’s connection to their roots and history
Children’s workshop: Arab-Black-Indigenous relations
The Hydropolitics of Palestine & Israel, a slide show
Palestine Solidarity Review: Building Anti-Apartheid and Middle East Solidarity Rooted in Anti-Racism and Democracy From Below
Political Prisoners: From Guantanamo to Abu Ghraib to Palestine
Forced Displacement and the Right to Return: Palestine, New Orleans, and Urban America
BDS 101: From South Africa to Palestine
Slingshot Hip Hop: Colonization and Resistance from Brooklyn to Palestine
Reproductive Justice in Palestine/Israel: Controlling the Palestinian Population
The Role of Anti-Zionist Jewish Activist in Palestine Solidarity: A vision of accountability and transformation
Facts on the Ground in Palestine: Approaching Apartheid
From Palestine to Juarez: Your Border Crossed our Land
A Basis for Resolving the Conflict Between the Israeli and Palestinian Peoples
Digital Resistance: Palestinian Youth Media
The Palestinian Struggle for Freedom and the Media Blockade
United Labor: US and Palestinian Movements for Worker’s Rights
History of US Imperialism and Resistance in the Middle East/West Asia
Building A Stronger Movement: Multi-racial organizing for Justice in the Middle East and at Home
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