1. Highlander Workshops at the US Social Forum!
Join Highlander staff and Board members at the US Social Forum, June 27-July 1, in Atlanta, where they will be facilitating four workshops on Highlander's work and history.
- Why Don't They Play by the Rules - The Story Behind Immigration
June 28, 2007; 1:00pm - International E, Westin Peachtree Plaza
This is a popular education workshop for non-immigrants, to learn more about the difficulties that immigrants face in the U.S. . . . [read more]
- Hanging In There: Intergenerational Organizing
June 30, 2007; 10:30am - Atlanta Ballroom D, Westin Peachtree Plaza
Ever wanted to run screaming because of wack dynamics between people of different generations doing movement work? . . . Let's get together and strategize how to build sustainable, healthy intergenerational partnerships to strengthen our organizations and our movement. . . . [read more]
- Building an Immigrant Rights Movement in the South
June 30, 2007; 1:00pm - Atlanta Ballroom D, Westin Peachtree Plaza
This session will provide a space for immigrant and refugee organizers based in the South to share stories about their experiences organizing in their communities, identify the specific challenges and opportunities in organizing immigrant and refugee communities in the South, and discuss strategies for building a grassroots immigrant and refugee rights movement in the region. . . [read more]
- Unearthing Seeds of Fire: 75 Years of Social Change through the Story of the Highlander Center -
June 30, 2007 - 3:30pm - Atlanta Ballroom D, Westin Peachtree Plaza
Highlander celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. . . . This workshop explores how the history and continued work of this 75-year-old organization offer practical knowledge, hope and inspiration for the challenging work we all face today. . . . [read more]
For more information on all of these workshops, visit www.highlandercenter.org/n-hrec-ussf.asp. For a full schedule of events at the USSF, visit www.ussf2007.org.
2. Highlander Staff Member Elandria Williams at the Take Back America Conference
Last week, thousands of progressives came to the Take Back America Conference in Washington, DC, to network, strategize and share ideas. Highlander’s own Elandria Williams was at the conference, participating in a panel entitled "We've Got Issues: Issues That Face Young People."
Elandria spoke passionately about the problems facing young people in Appalachia and the South, about the history of organizing in the region, and about the strengths that have enabled its people to continue fighting for change. And she challenged conference participants to "flip the script and not let rich people, no matter what shade they are - but mostly white - control our agenda."
To see a video of Elandria's presentation, visit: www.highlandercenter.org/photo-gallery-take-back-america2007.asp. For information about the conference, visit http://tba2007.confabb.com/.
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3. Powerful Documentary on Immigration at the US Social Forum
"Morristown: In the Air and Sun" will screen at the U.S. Social Forum Film Festival on Friday, June 29 at 3:20 PM in the Atlanta Central Library auditorium.
Produced and directed by Anne Lewis, a longtime friend of Highlander, this 60-minute documentary is a working-class response to globalization. It looks at immigration from Mexico, U.S. factory job loss, and the organized demand for economic justice. Filmed in east Tennessee, on the U.S.- Mexico border, and in Guanajuato, subtitled in both Spanish and English. For more information, visit www.annelewis.org. |
4. Highlander Picketed by Children's Justice Camp
Highlander was picketed by its own Children’s Camp this month for using phosphates in the toilet-bowl cleaner. Children’s Camp participants aged 7–10 marched down the hill to the office carrying signs and chanting and singing, and met with Director Pam McMichael and other staff. They explained how phosphates are bad for the environment and how they form compounds that deprive fish of oxygen.
The marchers also met with Workshop Center staff and then tracked down the Farm Manager who was painting at the Round House to petition Highlander to stop using the kind of fertilizer that also contains phosphates. They expressed appreciation for Highlander’s recycling efforts, suggested ways we could do even better, and encouraged us to use different kinds of light bulbs.
Staff seriously promised to do better and are looking into alternative toilet-bowl cleaners. The children recommended citrus. Highlander is also exploring different light bulbs. The theme of Children’s Camp was "Making a Difference," and the camp participants felt like they had.
5. Register Online for Highlander's 75th Anniversary Celebration!
Don't miss Highlander's 75th Anniversary Celebration, August 31-September 2, 2007! The schedule includes:
- Friday, 8/31, 9am-5pm - Educational Institutes on Popular Education, Participatory Research, Cultural Organizing, Multilingual Capacity Building, Communications for Change
- Friday, 8/31, 7pm-10pm - Welcome Reception & Dance, Jubilee Arts Center; Knoxville
- Saturday, 9/1, 9am-6pm - Workshops & Plenary, featuring National Trainers/Speakers
- Saturday, 9/1, 8pm-11pm - Benefit Concert, featuring ANI DIFRANCO, with Bernice Johnson Reagon & Toshi Reagon, Baldemar Velasquez & the Aguila Negra Band, The SNCC Freedom Singers
- Sunday, 9/2, 11am-4pm - Anniversary Cultural Celebration
For more information, visit www.highlandercenter.org/anniversary. To register online, visit www.highlandercenter.org/anniversary/registration.asp.
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