[Antiracism] PROGRAM PROPOSAL!

[zanSS at hampshire.edu]

Please see and comment on our Program Proposal below.

Thank you,

Zawadi Nyong'o



PROGRAM PROPOSAL

8:30-9:00 Check-in and continental breakfast

9-10am CONNECTION/REFLECTION (big group)
This session is meant to bring folks together first thing in the morning, help 
everyone to wake up and contemplate who’s present and what we’ve gathered for.

1.	Welcoming comments acknowledging the guiding principles of the 
network/summit
2.	Performance by local artist(s) 
3.	Role-call of organizations and projects that are represented at the 
summit (delivered by a spoken-word artist; perhaps Maurice Taylor)
4.	An aspect of reflection/contemplation led by Phyllis and _________

10:15-11:45 EXPLORATION (small groups)
In this session, participants will meet in groups of roughly 20, with a pair 
of facilitators, to explore an issue/challenge related to anti-racist 
organizing.  

This session is connected to the ACTION session in the afternoon; participants 
will come back together with this same group later in the day.

This session will include a range of formats:
o	Panels
o	Q & A
o	Partner discussions
o	Round-table discussions
o	Hands-on/art
o	Facilitated discussion

The following themes will be covered by one of the above formats (to be 
determined as we find appropriate facilitators for each):
·	Intersections: racism as it interacts with other oppressions and 
identities
·	Organizing beyond the binary: the multiracial experience
·	Internalized racism and internalized white supremacy in organizing
·	Movement-building: how to frame a movement
·	Collective memory for college campus movement-building
·	Road blocks and challenges for high school organizers
·	Accountability in anti-racist organizing
·	Sustainability 
·	Relationships (or lack there-of) between higher ed and community 
initiatives 


12-1:00 LUNCH and SILENT AUCTION (Big Group)
After participants eat lunch, they will be encouraged to bid on goods and 
services offered by other participants or donors.  The auction will continue 
for the rest of the day.
1:00-1:45 INSPIRATION (Big Group)
This session is meant to refocus the summit after lunch, lifting up the group 
through

·	Spoken word, Art, Edutainment and/or
·	Project 2050 Playback Theater and/or
·	Storytelling – visuals, audio and/or
·	Large group game 

2:00-4:00 ACTION (Small Groups)

In this session, groups will move from exploration towards ACTION.  These 
sessions will also follow a variety of formats.  The same groups that met in 
the morning will re-gather during this session.  Facilitators will help the 
groups to turn the morning’s discussion into some action steps, including the 
following goals:

·	Begin to articulate a movement and network
·	Develop leadership and leadership skills (especially for youth)
·	Perhaps devise a process to form a committee/elders council/people’s 
council (cross-generation)
·	Learn about successful models:
o	Nejan
o	Haymarket
o	Affinity groups
o	Historic groups that worked in our area
o	Successful campus-community partnerships

4:15-5:30 FORUM (Big Group)
In this session, the large group will gather to share ideas generated in the 
summit and topics that haven’t been covered, related to building a network of 
anti-racist organizers.

A moderator will pose questions for the audience, such as 
·	What’s next?
·	What do you need, as an organizer, from the other folks in this room?
·	How do we avoid activist burn-out?  What do you do to take care of 
yourself?

6-7:00 NICE DINNER (Big Group)
Dinner won’t be your standard conference buffet: it will be an elegant thank-
you gift for the hard work of social justice organizing, including
o	Candle light
o	Table cloths
o	Volunteers to facilitate the buffet and seating

7:00 CELEBRATION (Big Group)
·	There should be a party committee
·	If it’s at Hampshire, is it in the RCC?  Red Barn? Big tent?
·	Music, dancing, inspiration