Calendar
We’re hosting a F*ck Your Budget Assembly to respond to the Oakland City Council’s failure to listen to the demands of thousands of people and 100 community, faith, labor organizations, and small businesses who all agree that we need to Defund the Police and Defend Black Lives.
Guest Speakers:
– James Burch of Anti Police-Terror Project’s #DefundOPD Committee
– Sharena Diamond Thomas of PEOPLE’S COMMUNITY MEDICS (Each One, Teach One)
– Jesse Wiltey of the Melanated Social Work Podcast
– Patricia Moran, Children’s Librarian, Oakland
– Sandra Rodriguez, restorative justice practitioner and trainer
You’re invited to participate in a fishbowl conversation on Zoom about how the city can better spend the $300million that we now spend on the police department.
What does a police free world look like? How can we better spend that money? How much of the city budget should go to housing? To violence prevention? To youth programs? To parks? To libraries?
Agenda:
– Introduction to “Participatory Budgeting” and Guest Speakers
– Fishbowl Conversation with Guest Speakers
– Breakout Rooms: Fill out budget survey (https://cooperative4thecommunity.com/oakland-peoples-budget-survey). A CDP Facilitator will be in each breakout room to answer questions about each city departments and to provide tech support if there are any questions about how to use the survey.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMtfuuvqjMuE9NC61mDBlF7vn06Mcu-SV5P
For every victim and every death at the hands of police, there is a mother. Join the Mothers of the Movement as we discuss how to cope with grief, take care of mental health, and turn pain into purpose.
The Town Hall will happen on Zoom: https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/97524099924
Panelists to be announced.
We’ll also stream to Facebook Live. We’ll take audience questions off Zoom and Facebook.
***>> EMAIL STRIKE.DEBT.BAY.AREA@GMAIL.COM FOR ZOOM INFO A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE MEETING. <<***
Strike Debt Bay Area hosts a non-technical book group discussion monthly on new and radical economic thinking. Previous readings have included Doughnut Economics, Limits, Banking on the People, Capital and Its Discontents, and How to Be an Anti-Capitalist in the 21st Century.
For our July, August and September discussions we will be reading ‘The Deficit Myth: Modern Monetary Theory and the Birth of the People’s Economy’ by Stephanie Kelton. (Find it at your local bookstore or through this site.)
For July, we will have read the first two chapters.
For August, we will have read chapters 3, 4, 5 and 6,
For September, chapters 7 and 8.
The book is easy reading, and it would be easy to catch up. Join us – all are welcome!
Stephanie Kelton’s brilliant exploration of modern monetary theory (MMT) dramatically changes our understanding of how we can best deal with crucial issues ranging from poverty and inequality to creating jobs, expanding health care coverage, climate change, and building resilient infrastructure. Any ambitious proposal, however, inevitably runs into the buzz saw of how to find the money to pay for it, rooted in myths about deficits that are hobbling us as a country.
Kelton was chief economist on the U.S. Senate Budget Committee (minority staff) and an advisor to the Bernie2016 presidential campaign. Kelton is a regular commentator on national radio and television and speaks across the world at large gatherings of people interested in global finance, political economy and public policy. She has superb connections in all areas of print and broadcast national media. Her op-eds have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times and Bloomberg.
For July, we will also have read two shorter pieces, following up on themes we have taken up in previous readings:
- The Neoliberal Era is Ending – What Comes Next? by Rutger Bregman
- From Banks and Tanks to Cooperation and Caring.
We are asking OUR HOUSED neighbors to contribute hygiene supplies, canned food, bottled water, rain gear, tarps, garbage bags, $$ et al on July 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 & 12 to be redistributed on July 19 to encampments in North Oakland dealing with the COVID 19. We will sanitize and package your donations add a hot packaged meal and fresh fruit to the care kits to be distributed to North Oakland Encampments and surrounding encampments.
In order to properly sanitize and maintain social distancing we are collecting the materials a week prior to when we distribute 500 hot meals and care kits. Overflow resources will be distributed by sister orgs throughout Oakland.
Monthly interfaith prayer meeting, held on second Sundays, dedicated to healing.
The Bahá’í community of Oakland is organizing this gathering for the community to connect, share prayers, writings and poems from all spiritual traditions, reflect and recharge and build coalitions interested in healing.
“Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.” ~ Bahá’u’lláh
“Remember the saying: ‘Of all pilgrimages the greatest is to relieve the sorrow-laden heart.'” ~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Topic: Interfaith Devotions for Healing and Protection
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
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July Meeting Zoom Facebook Event
June meeting Zoom URL: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/92725611668, Facebook event.
May meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/92725611668
Meeting ID: 927 2561 1668
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Meeting ID: 927 2561 1668
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Green Sunday: Political Courage and Racial Justice
A conversation between Aidan Hill and Cheryl Davila, who are both running for political office in the Nov. 3rd, 2020 election. Both candidates have expressed a deep renewal of political affairs in the covid-19 world. They will discuss ways to combat climate change and military industrialism in cities as well as ending racism and xenophobia and other related intolerances in the Bay Area. Join us for this discussion regarding what it means to run for office, the impacts and the struggles of doing so, and how to create lasting change.
Speakers:
Berkeley Councilmember Cheryl Davila (She/Her) never imagined being an elected official. She simply stepped up to be ”part of the change you want to see made,” answering the call for regular, ethical people to run for office. Cheryl gained national and international attention while serving on the Human Welfare and Community Action Commission, when she called for Berkeley to divest from investments that benefited from Israel’s apartheid state and its oppression of Palestinians. Since being elected to represent District 2, she has remained a staunch defender of progressive issues on the city council.
Aidan Hill (They/Them) moved to Berkeley in 2016, pursuing a bachelor’s degree
at UC Berkeley and joined the California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) to reduce single-use plastics in California. Currently, Aidan serves as the Vice-Chair of the City of Berkeley Homeless Commission, authoring resolutions to prioritize clean drinking water, housing assistance, sanitation, and regular waste removal in the city of Berkeley. Aidan is actively fighting to protect People’s Park, the 2.8 acres of green space created during the 1960’s Free Speech Movement in Berkeley, from development, and working with neighbors, small businesses, and student leaders to develop emergency preparedness plans across the city of Berkeley.
Via Zoom: please see access info below
Green Sundays are a series of free public programs & discussions on topics “du jour” sponsored by the Green Party of Alameda County and held on the 2nd Sunday of each month. The monthly business meeting of the County Council of the Green Party follows, at 6:30 pm. Council meetings are open to anyone who is interested.
(Followed by County Council business meeting at 6:30. All are welcome to attend)
Time: Jul 12, 2020, 5:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 833 3769 8664
Password: 2020
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Meeting ID: 833 3769 8664
EBDSA members have the opportunity to help pass the largest tax increase in history on California’s wealthiest commercial property owners, raising $10-12 billion per year for public education and social services. With the Movement for Black Lives uprising deepening into the call for defunding the police, it will be necessary to expand revenues required to build alternative, sustainable public services, and practices. Progressive taxation—especially taxing the rich—is an essential path to accomplish that goal. “Schools and Communities First” (SCF), on the November 3 ballot, is backed by labor and opposed by the most reactionary sectors of capital.
A three-part education series will provide background for EBDSA participation in the campaign. Part I reviews the story of austerity politics and increasing inequality in California with Prop 13—which SCF proposes to reform—from 1978 to the present. Part II looks at the history of public-sector unionism and how a left-wing labor-community coalition won Prop 30, a ‘tax the rich’ ballot measure, in 2012. Part III will supply an overview of the SCF campaign, and explore how EBDSA members can plug in effectively. Biweekly on ZOOM, beginning Monday, June 29, presented by labor historian Fred Glass for EBDSA Labor Committee.
Where: Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81851574731?pwd=Y1RITkRZQjZPSFRvQmxoMENXeXpGUT09
– What needs to be refunded by community
– What alternative response models look like
– Who should be on the transition team and how they should be appointed
Virtual Screening and Discussion of Documentary, ‘Capturing the Flag’
Register here: https://www.capturingtheflag.com/register-7-16
Join the Feminist Majority Foundation, Girls Learn International, The Civics Center,
and Ms. Magazine for a special, virtual screening of ‘Capturing the Flag’, a documentary
that shares the story of three activists who worked to combat voter suppression in
Cumberland County, N.C. in 2016, and post-film town hall with voting rights experts.
ABOUT: ‘Capturing the Flag’
In the fall of 2016, a tight-knit group of friends travel to Cumberland County, North Carolina – named a “posterchild” for voter suppression – intent on proving that the big idea of American democracy can be defended by small acts of individual citizens. What they find at the polls serves as both a warning and a call to action for anyone interested in protecting the “One Person, One Vote” fundamental of our democracy.
‘Capturing The Flag’ is an urgent cautionary tale that documents what’s in store for the fast approaching election of 2020, and a close-up look of American democracy at its most vulnerable point. Through the intimate experiences of the film’s citizen volunteers we are inspired to vote, to help someone else to vote, and to get involved in the growing non-partisan efforts to protect our fragile democracy.
Join Katie Valenzuela, Policy and Political Director at the California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) and Destiny Rodriguez, Community Relations Manager at The Climate Center, for a conversation about climate justice with moderator, CEO Ellie Cohen. After brief presentations, you can participate in an interactive conversation about how climate justice is racial justice, and what you can do. Advanced registration required. Register here
Our special guests will present on the health, economic and other consequences of our fossil fuel economy on lower-income communities and people of color, current legislative efforts, including AB 345, to reduce the disproportionate impacts on these frontline communities, and what actions we can take to secure an equitable, healthy and vibrant Climate-Safe California
WHERE
Your computer — Register here
Been to a “Heading for Extinction” Talk or seen us in the media? Want to get more involved? Attend a Zoom (video) Orientation Call! Note that this call is phone friendly! If you want to call in by phone, you can call in using the zoom meeting number (disclosed once you sign up).
Sign up here:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIkcuuhqzMoG9Gkaji1tKcqCT_J6bDAEEqc
We are asking OUR HOUSED neighbors to contribute hygiene supplies, canned food, bottled water, rain gear, tarps, garbage bags, $$ et al on July 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 & 12 to be redistributed on July 19 to encampments in North Oakland dealing with the COVID 19. We will sanitize and package your donations add a hot packaged meal and fresh fruit to the care kits to be distributed to North Oakland Encampments and surrounding encampments.
In order to properly sanitize and maintain social distancing we are collecting the materials a week prior to when we distribute 500 hot meals and care kits. Overflow resources will be distributed by sister orgs throughout Oakland.
https://www.facebook.com/events/302544934127369/
The California Environmental Justice Coalition invites you to “Meet Us Live” to hear from grassroots environmental justice organizers in frontline communities throughout California:
Valley Improvement Projects (VIP)
Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice
The LEAP Institute (Latino Environmental Advancement Project)
Fresnans Against Fracking
Tri-Valley CAREs
Sunflower Alliance
Bayview Hunters Point Mothers and Fathers Committee
El Pueblo Para el Aire y Agua Limpia de Kettleman City
Fresh Air Vallejo
Breakthrough Communities
We are asking OUR HOUSED neighbors to contribute hygiene supplies, canned food, bottled water, rain gear, tarps, garbage bags, $$ et al on July 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 & 12 to be redistributed on July 19 to encampments in North Oakland dealing with the COVID 19. We will sanitize and package your donations add a hot packaged meal and fresh fruit to the care kits to be distributed to North Oakland Encampments and surrounding encampments.
In order to properly sanitize and maintain social distancing we are collecting the materials a week prior to when we distribute 500 hot meals and care kits. Overflow resources will be distributed by sister orgs throughout Oakland.
Register to attend here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvdOGhpz4uG9X4aoyOS3UAPQPLiQqSId3b
Join us to talk about the relevance of this topic in the era of #45 and the upcoming elections. We will have a couple of presentations, and then open the floor for discussion.
Among the readings we will refer to are:
– Leon Trotsky’s “FASCISM: What It Is and How To Fight It”
https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/works/1944/1944-fas.htm
– Alan Merson, Communist Resistance in Nazi Germany:
https://www.scribd.com/doc/299197148/Communist-Resistance-in-Nazi-Germany-Allan-Merson-1985
– Leslie Feinberg, Lavender and Red:
https://www.workers.org/book/lavender-red/
– “Pirate” gangs:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edelweiss_Pirates
– Sweezy on the Rise of Fascism – A synopsis by Fabian Van Onzen, including Paul Sweezy, Georgi Dimitrov, and Samir Amin
https://portside.org/2019-02-23/sweezy-rise-fascism
– George Jackson
Readings not required to attend.
Register to attend here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvdOGhpz4uG9X4aoyOS3UAPQPLiQqSId3b
Register here
Hear founders of the Just Transition Alliance, which brings together people of color in fenceline communities, Indigenous Peoples, workers, and unions in polluting industries in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. to address environmental and economic justice issues together.
This is the third webinar in the Just Transition Listening Project, hosted by the Labor Network for Sustainability.
SPEAKERS:
Les Leopold, Author of “The Man Who Hated Work and Loved Labor: The Life and Times of Tony Mazzochi,” and Director of the Labor Institute and the Public Health Institute.
José Bravo, Executive Director, Just Transition Alliance and long-time leader on just transition, climate justice and chemicals issues as they relate to environmental justice communities and labor.
Jenice View, Associate Professor at George Mason University and former Executive Director and Education and Training Director for the Just Transition Alliance from 2000-2007.
Dave Campbell, Oil worker, Secretary-Treasurer, United Steelworkers Local 675 and founding member of the Just Transition Alliance.
Casey Camp-Horinek, Environmental Ambassador, Elder and Hereditary Drumkeeper of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma and founding member of the Just Transition Alliance.
Democratic Socialist politicians like Bernie Sanders, Rashida Tlaib, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are raising the expectations of millions of people across the United States and bringing them into a political awakening. The membership of DSA, the largest socialist organization in the United States, is rapidly growing by the thousands. Millions of everyday people are calling for Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, universal rent control, and more.
But what is democratic socialism? What does it mean to be a member of DSA?
Let’s talk about it.
This event will be held on zoom! Click here to join the zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83183193191?pwd=bmxjNkZORUtUQjcxNWJUYlZjWXNJdz09
Join us to discuss what our political moment calls for, make new friends, and get plugged into our fight for democratic control of the things that we need for all of us to live a dignified life.
Been to a “Heading for Extinction” Talk or seen us in the media? Want to get more involved? Attend a Zoom (video) Orientation Call! Note that this call is phone friendly! If you want to call in by phone, you can call in using the zoom meeting number (disclosed once you sign up).
Sign up here:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIkcuuhqzMoG9Gkaji1tKcqCT_J6bDAEEqc
Join Berkeley Copwatch!
Register today for our new Berkeley Copwatch Volunteer Training 2020!
If you’ve been looking for a way to plug into the movement that is happening NOW, this could be what you’re looking for.
Topics Include:
1. Know Your Rights
2. How to Film Police
3. Shift Procedures
4. Overview of Berkeley Municipal Codes
5. De-Escalation Techniques
and much more!
Think globally, ACT LOCALLY!
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcuceysrj0uGNaFx1Bb7m9SXbOVALR6vFrl
DONATE NOW!