1959 Highlander Way · New Market, TN 37820 · phone: (865) 933-3443 · fax: (865) 933-3424
e-mail: hrec@highlandercenter.org

THREADS:
A Leadership and Organizing School

I know that I am not weaving my life's pattern alone. Only one end of the threads do I hold in my hands. The other ends go many ways linking my life with others. -- Septima Poinsette Clark

In the spirit of Highlander's 75 years of supporting communities and organizations working for social change in Appalachia and the South, we are pleased to announce THREADS: A Leadership and Organizing School focused on Economic, Environmental and Racial Justice.

Participants in the first THREADS workshop; May 2-4, 2008

THREADS promotes and supports the efforts of community leaders and their organizations through political education, leadership development, and grassroots organizing. Its goals include:

• Strengthening grassroots community-based organizing
• Building multi-racial and multi-issue relationships and analysis among participants
• Increasing capacity for intergenerational organizing and leadership tranisition
• Connecting groups to each other to build a stronger broad-based movement for collective liberation
• Supporting skills-building, collective leadership and democratic participation for long-term movement building

Thirty-five activists are participating in THREADS. They are Black (including African immigrants) Latino, Native American and white and range in age from 15-57. They work in grassroots organizations in eight states (AR, FL, LA, MS, NC, TN, VA, and WV), addressing a wide range of issues, including Katrina-related displacement and reconstruction, coastal erosion, mountaintop removal, immigrant and refugee rights, workers rights, education, and more.

THREADS held its first meeting in May 2008 and will last for 18 months. It will include a total of six weekend workshops -- three more at Highlander and two in local communities. Participants will also receive follow-up support from Highlander staff through phone calls, e-mail contact, and visits.

Highlander Staff

• Elandria Williams at (865)933-3443 x232 or elandria at highlandercenter.org
• Susan Williams at (865) 933-3443 x229 or swilliams at highlandercenter.org
• Mónica Hernández at (865) 933-3443 x228 or hernandez at highlandercenter.org

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