Rave reviews about our Action Conference:
“Great variety of programs and the opportunity to meet new people!”
“It gave me inspiration and hope.”
“Surrounded by the energy of like minded people, rare in Spokane!”
“Open discussions, amazing positive energy, and equality.”
“I met amazing people and the mingle times were so productive and interesting. The energy at this conference and the reception was amazing. Wow! It is hard to feel hopeless about America’s current state when getting together to make a change like this.”
“Idealistic but practical. Motivating, energizing.”
We want YOU to join in this year!
Registration Rates:
- $45 General Public
- $35 members of PJALS and co-sponsoring groups
- $20 Living Lightly (self-identified low-income, students, seniors, etc)
- Limited “workshare volunteer scholarships” are available—please contact Shar at [email protected] for info. Two-hour workshare shifts include set-up, registration table, resource table, clean-up, etc.
Location: Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane, 4340 W. Ft. Wright Drive
Friday, March 15: Opening Reception
6:00 -8:30 Join us for tasty nosh, wine & more, and performances from local musical & spoken word artists.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Join us for a full day with three workshop sessions, a fantastic keynote speaker, breakfast, lunch, and lots of opportunities to connect with like-minded folks who are putting their values into action!
8:00-9:00 Registration and “Meet & Eat” Breakfast
8:45-9:00 Opening Performance
9:00-9:30 Welcome, Conference Opening, and Dedication
9:30-9:45 mixer break
9:45-11:15 Workshop Session 1 (90 min)
- “Why Military Aid to Israel Matters to Us” — Marianne Torres, M.S.W. Activist and Myrta Ladich, teacher,activist (Sanger Room)
- “When the Law is on Their Side: How Communities are Leading the New Civil Rights Movement Against Corporate Domination” — Kai Huschke and Brad Read, Envision Spokane (Alcott Room)
- “Finding and Using Your Own Edge: Process Oriented Psychology and Activism” — Ed Byrnes, Ph.D. Eastern Washington University and Gene Hanson, Ph.D. Psychologist and Process Work Diplomate (Young Room)
- “How Organized Labor and Economic Equality and Intertwined”— Austin DePaolo, UFCW 1439 (Thoreau Room)
- “Interrupting Oppressive Statements” — Alyssa Henderson and Mark Hamlin, Peace & Justice Action League, (Cummings Room)
- “Know Your Rights with the Police” — Breean Beggs, Civil Rights Attorney (Chapel)
- “Calling a Circle: Exploring Restorative Justice Circles” — Elaine Tyrie and Jan Treecraft, (Potter Room)
- “Creating and Inclusive Community” — Marilyn Delgado, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Choir)
11:15-11:30 mixer break
11:30-1:00 Workshop Session 2 (90 min)
- “The ‘War on Terror,’ Imperial Feminism, and the ‘Muslim Other'” — Sean Chabot and Majid Sharifi, Eastern Washington University (Sanger Room)
- “Changing Lives, Lowering Costs, Creating Safer Communities: Smart Justice in Spokane” — Ron Anderson, National Alliance on Mental Illness; Marcus Ransom, MSW, ex-felon; Mary Logan, Presiding Judge, City of Spokane Municipal Court (Alcott Room)
- “Corporate Personhood and Money in Politics: Barriers to a New Economy” — Walt Kloefkorn and Ted Hensold, Spokane Moves to Amend the Constitution (Young Room)
- “Leading With Race: How to Advocate for Racial and Economic Equity” — Rachael DeCruz and Tia Griffen, Washington CAN! (Thoreau Room)
- “Empowering Our City’s Youth” — Audrey Connor, Community-Minded Enterprises (Cummings Room)
- “How to Persuade and Influence Others” — Bart Haggin (Chapel)
- “Community Economic Development” — Joel Williamson and Deb Conklin, The Oak Tree (Potter Room)
- “Motivating People to Act: 4 Key Ingredients” — Liz Moore, Peace and Justice Action League (Choir)
1:00-2:00 Lunch
2:00-2:45 Keynote Speaker: Allison Cook, Story of Stuff Project
The latest release from the award-winning Story of Stuff is the online video “The Story of Change: Why Citizens (Not Shoppers) Hold the Key to a Better World.” Faced with daunting environmental and social problems, many people think the best they can do to influence change is to buy green or fair trade products. The Story of Change says if we really want to create a more sustainable and just future, we have to move beyond voting with our dollars and come together as citizens to demand rules that work. It’s time to put down the credit cards and pick up a picket sign!
The Story of Change is the last of the The Story of Stuff Project’s Season Two movies, which tell the stories behind The Story of Stuff—what makes our economic system tick, who pays, who benefits and how can we turn it around. The season’s previous movies—The Story of Broke (November 2011) and The Story of Citizens United v. FEC (March 2011)—have been viewed more than 750,000 times.
Allison is Director of Community Engagement with the Story of Stuff Project and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome her as our keynote speaker.
2:45-3:00 mixer break
3:00-4:30 Workshop Session 3 (90 min)
- “United We Dream: The Dream Act and The Roadmap to Citizenship for New Americans who Aspire to be Citizens” — Francisco Navarro, MEChA (Sanger Room)
- “Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees: Fundraising 101″ — Kendel Huff, Development Director, Center for Justice (Alcott Room)
- “Ending the Death Penalty in Washington” — Brynn Smith, Safe and Just Alternatives (Young Room)
- “Volunteers on Steroids: How to Cultivate and Support the Leaders We Need to Achieve Systemic Change” — Mariah McKay and Amanda Hunt, Washington CAN! (Thoreau Room)
- “No Action Without Healing: Unpacking the Race-Constructed World” — Victoria Redstarr, People Institute for Survival and Beyond (Cummings Room)
- “The Story of Change: What Kind of Change-Maker Are You?” — Allison Cook, Story of Stuff Project (Chapel)
- “Marketing Your Organization in the Digital Age” — Tracy Simmons, Spokane Faith & Values (Potter Room)
4:30-5:00 Closing Plenary: Going Forward Together!
Evaluations
Door Prizes!
Co-sponsoring organizations’ members can attend at the PJALS member rate. If you’d like to co-sponsor, just fill out this quick form and return it to us, or email [email protected]. Underwriting sponsors make this event a wonderful success–and we appreciate you! If your network is bigger than your budget, your group might be able to give sponsorship support through in-kind publicity! Contact us to talk about it!
Co-Sponsors:
- ACLU of Washington
- Amnesty International USA
- Bart Haggin
- Center for Justice
- CME
- Coalition Builders
- Destinations
- Eastern Washington Voters
- EWU Eagle Pride
- Faith Action Network
- Greater Spokane Progress
- Helena Service for Peace and Justice (SERPAJ)
- KYRS
- Liberty Park United Methodist Church
- MEChA
- Notable Healing
- Odyssey Youth Center
- Palouse Peace Coalition
- PFLAG
- Pride Foundation
- Professional Musicians-AFM Local 105
- Progressive Democrats of America, Spokane
- Safe and Just Alternatives
- Scary Feminists of EWU
- Senior Legislative Coalition
- SMAC
- Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund
- Social Justice Fund NW
- Spokane Faith and Values
- Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO
- Sun People Dry Goods
- Sustainable Structures
- The Oak Tree
- UFCW 1439
- Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane
- Veterans for Peace, Spokane
- Washington CAN!
- Washington Public Campaign
- Yak Research
Why this conference? We want participants to leave with…
- Analysis: deeper understanding of patterns of unequal power relations, locally and globally, and the interconnections of our work for change in this moment in history.
- Skills: greater confidence and sharper skills to take creative and strategic action to shift the balance of power toward economic justice, human rights, and peace.
- Relationships: strengthened relationships and networks as building blocks to creating change in our communities, with an emphasis on young activists and regional participation.
- Action: increased commitment to ACT!