>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--< THE VIEW FROM THE HILL - #3; September 29, 2005 A Monthly E-mail Update Highlander Research and Education Center www.highlandercenter.org >---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--< CONTENTS 1. Cultural Workers Workshop 2. Immigration Workshop 3. We Shall Overcome Fund Annual Meeting Held 4. Prisons, Pupils, and Priorities - A Community Strategic Research Training Program 5. Congratulations to the Koch Food Workers! >---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--< 1. CULTURAL WORKERS WORKSHOP "Singing in jail, in mass meetings, and on marches, I found that people had to walk through the sound of our singing before they could reach my body - singing extended the territory we had to move in …" Bernice Johnson Reagon After several months of preparation, the Second We Shall Overcome Cultural Workers Weekend began on September 2 and was attended by 27 cultural workers from across the south including artists, educators, ministers and activists. Participants shared stories of their cultural work in their home communities and how cultural work is helping to support and inspire local organizing and rejuvenate communities. This workshop is supported by Highlander in conjunction with the We Shall Overcome Fund Committee, which administers the royalties generated by commercial use of the song, "We Shall Overcome." The purpose of the Fund is to nurture grassroots efforts within African American communities to use art and activism against injustice (see article below). The week leading up to this workshop brought Hurricane Katrina. Highlander's cultural organizer Tufara Waller Muhammad had worked diligently to come up with a wonderful list of over 40 workshop participants from throughout the region and after Katrina, she began making calls to check on people with whom we work. We learned that several people from the affected areas could not be reached, and those we did reach were wary about traveling due to gas prices and concern about gas availability. Cartheda Konchellah-Mann, educator and member of the We Shall Overcome Fund Committee, lives in a Florida community that years later is still recuperating from a hurricane. During the workshop she facilitated a discussion on hurricanes and their impact on people's lives. It was a moving conversation where people shared their sadness and hopes, named the race and class issues of who was left behind, and shared ideas for what we can do. Members of the Fruit of Labor singing ensemble from North Carolina also live in an area affected by a previous hurricane and had brought a video about what happens to people and communities during rebuilding efforts. They and the video spoke of how culture was instrumental in giving people hope and inspiration. Highlander staff member Paulina Hernandez connected the abandoned people in New Orleans to immigrant communities. "It's easy to dehumanize people who cross the border and say no one cares if they die because they had no water for five days, and looking at New Orleans, THAT is what it looks like to be without water for five days." In other activities, participants broke down into small groups by state and discussed what is happening in their communities. In an exercise to learn about culture using culture, participants prepared presentations with text, movement, sound and silence to address questions of goals, obstacles, and action steps. The intentionality about bringing people together from youth to elders created another important conversation. Cross-generational dialogue and exchange explored real tensions and sought tools to help build understanding. Pictures from the workshop are available on our Web site: www.highlandercenter.org. >---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--< 2. IMMIGRATION WORKSHOP "This moment is historic, one of the first meetings of its kind to address anti-immigrant organizing." Catherine Tactaquin National Network of Immigrant and Refugee Rights Thirty-five people from 20 organizations gathered at Highlander at the end of August in an urgent gathering to develop strategies to counter the growing escalation of anti-immigrant organizing happening in the south and across the country. This emergency gathering was called by Highlander in cooperation with national, regional and local groups. Each group shared what is happening in terms of anti-immigrant organizing in their area, how that is directly impacting their community and constituency, and how their group is responding. Discussion then delved deeper into historical context, and paid particular attention to border issues, the national picture, and Black/Latino tensions and organizing opportunities. Small group discussions by region developed short, mid and long term plans of action. Eight committees were established across organizations to implement the plans of action for the next six months. Committees include: · Community Outreach and Alliance Building · Education · Intelligence/Research · Media and Communications · Legal Strategy · Fundraising · Rapid Response · Coordination >---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--< 3. WE SHALL OVERCOME FUND ANNUAL MEETING HELD The We Shall Overcome Fund Committee held their annual meeting on Friday, September 2nd, 2005. The We Shall Overcome Fund supports efforts to preserve and develop African-American culture, especially music, in the southern United States. Begun in 1966, the Fund provides small grants for projects that reflect a blend of culture and struggle, a mix embodied in the primary anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, "We Shall Overcome." Music festivals, workshops, conferences, and research media projects are among the efforts the Fund has supported over the years. A seven-person advisory committee that includes five representatives of the Civil Rights Movement, one representative of on-going southern cultural projects, and a representative of Highlander Research and Education Center (where the Fund is housed) administers the Fund. During this year's meeting, the committee addressed several issues, including new application deadlines. The new deadlines are January 15th and June 1st. Any person or group/organization working in the area of African- American southern culture may apply for a grant. Intergenerational cultural struggle projects and activities are especially welcome. To apply, download an application form at http://www.highlandercenter.org/wsofapplicationfinal.pdf. >---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--< 4. PRISONS, PUPILS, AND PRIORITIES - A COMMUNITY STRATEGIC RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM On October 21st-23rd, Highlander Center, the Data Center and Project South will hold a two-day workshop-training at Highlander for community organizers and community researchers working on issues of criminal justice, education, and youth. For more information, see our Web site: www.highlandercenter.org. >---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--< 5. CONGRATULATIONS TO KOCH FOOD WORKERS! Congratulations to the over 700 workers at the Koch Foods poultry-processing plant in Morristown, TN, for winning their union election on September 9th by an overwhelming margin, 465- 18. The workers, most of whom are Latino immigrants, will now be represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers. Highlander's Multilingual Capacity Building Program supported the Koch Foods organizing effort by providing translation and simultaneous interpretation at community meetings. For more on the organizing drive, see the East Tennessee Jobs with Justice Web site, www.jwjet.org. >---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>---<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--< To unsubscribe from this e-mail list, or to add someone new, send an e-mail to hrec@highlandercenter.org. Past issues of View from the Hill are available online at www.highlandercenter.org/n-view.asp. Highlander Research and Education Center 1959 Highlander Way New Market, TN 37820 Phone: (865)-933-3443 Fax: (865) 933-3424 www.highlandercenter.org