Calendar

9896
Dec
6
Fri
Crimethinc Tour in Oakland: Benefit for Oakland IWOC @ Omni Commons
Dec 6 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
crimethinc.jpg Come out to hear from one of the longest running anarchist media collectives in existence.

The event will benefit the Oakland chapter of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (IWOC), who will be serving dinner at 6 PM – a delicious fusion of Puerto Rican and Filipino food.

Currently, CrimethInc. agents are traversing the West Coast of the US, distributing anarchist literature at three book fairs and offering three different presentations in at least ten different cities. This is a crucial moment, with clashes intensifying in various parts of the world; it’s a good time to strengthen our connections, sharpen our analyses, and strategize together for the next round. We’ll be revisiting our book about the last cycle of struggles, From Democracy to Freedom, as it relates to the questions confronting social movements today, and drawing on dialogue with participants in the movements unfolding right now. Come join us!

67467
Jan
6
Mon
Locksmithing Lab @ Omni Commons
Jan 6 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Homes Not Jails is hosting a Locksmithing Lab. Learn how to pick. Learn about locks.

Every 1st and 3rd Monday
Omni commons Basement

67568
Jan
7
Tue
Changing Climate: Aligning Tech, Policy, Activism, and Equity @ DX Labs
Jan 7 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Join the Sunrise Movement for a workshop with a diverse crowd of activists, futurists, technologists, scientists, and policymakers to examine emerging trends and map out visions of the future to help inform our actions today.

The invitation to the workshop explains,  “We are each called to work on this issue in many different ways and it is important that we align on a common direction and purpose for the changes we need.”

Panel

Danielle Plat, Political Lead Bay Area Sunrise Movement

Shayna H. Hirshfield-Gold, Oakland’s 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan Lead

Other Speakers: TBD

Facilitator:  Evan McEldowney, Sunrise Tech Lead

RSVP

67543
Jan
18
Sat
Intentional Activism @ East Bay Community Space
Jan 18 @ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Intentional Activism – What if we could – wait for it – have fun AND create the world we want to live in at the same time?

Intentional Activism - What if we could - wait for it - have fun AND create the world we want to live in at the same time?

Do you feel passionate about social justice, but don’t know where to get started?

Are you a seasoned activist experiencing burnout?

What if activism didn’t have to feel like you’re preparing for battle? What if we could – wait for it – have fun AND create the world we want to live in at the same time?

In activist circles it can often feel like a competition of who is the most “woke,” which prevents folks from getting involved in fear getting publicly shamed or rejected for not knowing enough right off the bat. For those who have been around the block, the competitive environment can be emotionally taxing, leading to burnout.

As activists our intention is to create positive change, but it’s important to acknowledge that intent does not always equal impact.

While it can be sexy to march in the streets and protest, protesting is only one small facet of activist work. Sustainable momentum towards social justice starts with planting seeds of change, which requires creating space for folks to learn and grow. This includes both, allies looking to get more involved, and folks whose beliefs are motivated by fear.

Come join the intentional activist community in a 4 hour workshop where you will:

  • Get started in activism in a safe space

  • Learn what subconscious beliefs are stagnating your activist efforts

  • Move past that sneaky little ego to create meaningful impact

  • Reduce burnout by practicing boundaries

You don’t have to be perfect or know all of the answers to start creating ripples in the pond. There is no “right” way to be an activist. We’re all learning as we go along. Why not learn together? Why not start now? If not now, when?

Accessibility:

Entrance and all gender bathrooms located on the 1st floor – no stairs or steps. Please arrive scent free to create an inclusive space for folks with chemical sensitivities. Learn more about why and how here.

RSVP online today for sliding scale

Pay more at the door.

Facilitator: 

Quinn Williams (he / him) is a queer, polyamorous, genderless liberation coach. He’s passionate about the collective liberation of the human race. As a compassion activist he awakens consciousness through living with boundless, unconditional love and radical authenticity. As a certified ACCC ontological coach, he works 1:1 with folks to liberate themselves from internalized systems of oppression so they experience the world with uninhibited joy and wonder. He also hosts LGBTQIA inclusivity trainings and workshops that move folks past the ego and social conditioning so they can heal.

67524
Jan
19
Sun
CRCAA 5 Methods Workshop
Jan 19 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

CRC Allies & Accomplices (CRCAA) is calling on white folks to join us to talk about how to effectively fight against the persistent re-establishment of white supremacy by incorporating the 5 methods in your life, work, and organizing. This event is part of APTP’s #96Hours of action to #ReclaimMLKOak.

We know that white supremacy is the status quo, and that if we do not actively combat it, white supremacy will persistently re-establish itself – no matter where we are. We believe that to effectively combat white supremacy, white people must divest of our power and weaponize our privilege. We have identified 5 methods by which to do just this, and we want to share them with you!

WHO IS CRCAA?
CRCAA is the white solidarity arm of Community Ready Corps, a Black grassroots organization that combats white supremacy and actively builds and supports self determination. CRCAA organizes white people to effectively contribute to anti-racist struggles, and we do so in direct & disciplined relationship with Black leadership.

Image may contain: 1 person, text

67591
Alternatives to Policing: How Not to Call the Cops Ever @ first Congregational Church of Oakland
Jan 19 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

This month we will learn from a community of people who have practiced not calling the police for more than 20 years while living through their own collective traumas, colonization, gentrification, family violence, eviction, incarceration, displacement, betrayal and attempted takedown.

Here is a description from POOR Magazine/Homefulness:

“This workshop will include teaching on poor and traumatized peoples accountability, how to REdefine a western wite supremacist notion of security, and how to hold each other through trauma and into a true definition of interdependent safety.

Walking this walk among a poor and indigneous peoples-led movement means facing our demons ALL THE TIME because we all come out of collective trauma experiences of racism, wite supremacy, ablism, family violence, false borders, eviction, houselessness, criminalization, elder/child abuse, sexual violence, rape, incarceration, poLICE violence genderism, hate crimes and so much more.”

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

POOR Magazine is a poor people led/indigenous people led, grassroots non-profit,arts organization dedicated to providing revolutionary media access, art, education and advocacy to silenced youth, adults and elders in poverty across the globe.

HOMEFULNESS is a poor people led/indigenous people led revolution: a sweat equity, permanent co-housing, education, arts and social change project for houseless and formerly houseless families and individuals in deep East Oakland/Huichin

ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP SERIES

A growing coalition of organizations in the Bay Area is coming together to explore alternatives to calling the police to our campuses and into our neighborhoods. Over the coming year, we will be offering a series of workshops to explore alternatives to calling the police. Some of these workshops will provide deepening analysis and a grounding in alternative ways of thinking about community safety. Others will provide practical skills. All of them will lift up a transformative justice framework and emphasize the importance of self and community care.

The Coalition includes First Congregational Church of Oakland, Kehilla Community Synagogue, Qal’bu Maryam, Jewish Voice for Peace, Skyline Community Church, Oakland Peace Center, Oakland LBGTQ Community Center, SURJ-Bay Area, and the Omni Collective. We are eager to partner with additional organizations so please contact us if you are interested!

* If you have other questions or access needs, please contact us at alternatives-to-policing@googlegroups.com.

67593
Jan
20
Mon
Locksmithing Lab @ Omni Commons
Jan 20 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Homes Not Jails is hosting a Locksmithing Lab. Learn how to pick. Learn about locks.

Every 1st and 3rd Monday
Omni commons Basement

67568
Jan
29
Wed
The Organizer’s Toolbox: How to give a great political speech @ Niebyl Proctor Library
Jan 29 @ 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

In this training for DSA organizers, we will explore our personal stories together, and discover how they inform and support our political movement. Personal stories are important because they allow us to identify with each others experiences, motivate us to fight for common aims and ultimately build solidarity.

Adapted from Marshall Ganz’s “Public Narrative,” this training will challenge you to put aside the logical reasons why we need to win a better world and rather consider the emotional & personal reasons. We’ll talk about what makes a story compelling and how stories can be important organizing tools that bring others into our movement. Then, we’ll each develop and practice our own political speeches together.

Note: While all are welcome, this event is geared towards individuals who are already actively organizing with the Democratic Socialists of America or allied groups.

Suggested reading (it’s quick!): Public Narrative Participant Guide

 

67619
Jan
30
Thu
East Oakland SuSu Lending Circle Program Orientation @ East Oakland Collective
Jan 30 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Do you have a goal to clear debt, start a business, and/or enhance your quality of life? Do you face barriers to loans from traditional financial institutions? Want to improve your credit score? Ever heard of a lending circle? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the East Oakland SuSu Lending Circle Program is just for you!

Join us for an orientation to learn exactly how East Oakland SuSu Lending Circle Program works.

*Light refreshments provided.
*Ages 18+ welcome.

*Facilities are wheelchair accessible.

RSVP>>.

ABOUT

The East Oakland SuSu Lending Circle Program is a self-help tool connecting East Oakland residents of color, particularly Black low and middle income individuals who fall between 30-80% of the area AMI and small business owners to collectively pool monetary resources for personal and group economic advancement. The program offers individuals a 0% interest savings loan combined with free monthly financial empowerment workshops and resources to expand participant financial awareness in personal budgeting, debt management, first time home ownership, and small business incubation. Typical monthly payments range between $50-$200 over 6-12 months. We encourage participants to save within our three savings tracks: business development, debt management, and a better quality of life. Using culturally relevant and traditional practices stemming from West Africa and the Caribbean, the SuSu program is also designed to establish a culturally safe and fun way to build trust in group economics.

WHAT IS SUSU?

Su – Su /‘soōsoō/ – is an informal means of collecting and saving money through a savings club or partnership. This means of saving money is a cultural tradition that is widely used in the Caribbeans, West and East African territories, to name a few.

Thu Feb 20th 6:30pm – 8:00pm MEETING

The East Oakland SuSu Lending Circle Program connects East Oakland residents of color, particularly Black low and middle income individuals who fall between 30-80% of the area medium income (AMI) and small business owners, to collectively pool monetary resources for personal and group economic advancement.

Join the 2020 cohort of the East Oakland SuSu Lending Circle Program to socially lend with your community! In partnership with Esusu, the lending circles are FDIC insured and help boost your credit score.

Next Steps
  1. Complete the participant questionnaire by February 13, 2020.
  2. Download the Esusu application.
  3. Attend the orientation on February 20, 2020, 6:30 PM at EOC’s office @ 7800 MacArthur Blvd.
  4. Lending starts February 22!
  5. Attend the monthly workshops– as little or many as you can.

Learn more at eastoaklandcollective.com/econempowerment

67605
Feb
9
Sun
Beating Back White Supremacy at the Ballot Box and Beyond @ Oakstop
Feb 9 @ 9:00 am – 5:30 pm

Join Catalyst for a day-long workshop on understanding race and the 2020 elections – what’s at stake and what we can do about it.

* Are you struggling to figure out how to engage in the 2020 elections?
* Are you wanting to understand the importance of the 2020 election, rooted in longer-term racial justice movements?
* Are you looking to connect with local organizations and other people doing electoral work with a long-term vision?
* Do you want to feel inspired to go out and beat white supremacy at the ballot box and beyond?

Co-hosted by Bay Resistance, San Francisco Rising Action Fund, and The Center for Political Education

67687
Feb
20
Thu
East Oakland SuSu Lending Circle Program Orientation @ East Oakland Collective
Feb 20 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Do you have a goal to clear debt, start a business, and/or enhance your quality of life? Do you face barriers to loans from traditional financial institutions? Want to improve your credit score? Ever heard of a lending circle? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the East Oakland SuSu Lending Circle Program is just for you!

Join us for an orientation to learn exactly how East Oakland SuSu Lending Circle Program works.

*Light refreshments provided.
*Ages 18+ welcome.

*Facilities are wheelchair accessible.

RSVP>>.

ABOUT

The East Oakland SuSu Lending Circle Program is a self-help tool connecting East Oakland residents of color, particularly Black low and middle income individuals who fall between 30-80% of the area AMI and small business owners to collectively pool monetary resources for personal and group economic advancement. The program offers individuals a 0% interest savings loan combined with free monthly financial empowerment workshops and resources to expand participant financial awareness in personal budgeting, debt management, first time home ownership, and small business incubation. Typical monthly payments range between $50-$200 over 6-12 months. We encourage participants to save within our three savings tracks: business development, debt management, and a better quality of life. Using culturally relevant and traditional practices stemming from West Africa and the Caribbean, the SuSu program is also designed to establish a culturally safe and fun way to build trust in group economics.

WHAT IS SUSU?

Su – Su /‘soōsoō/ – is an informal means of collecting and saving money through a savings club or partnership. This means of saving money is a cultural tradition that is widely used in the Caribbeans, West and East African territories, to name a few.

Thu Feb 20th 6:30pm – 8:00pm MEETING

The East Oakland SuSu Lending Circle Program connects East Oakland residents of color, particularly Black low and middle income individuals who fall between 30-80% of the area medium income (AMI) and small business owners, to collectively pool monetary resources for personal and group economic advancement.

Join the 2020 cohort of the East Oakland SuSu Lending Circle Program to socially lend with your community! In partnership with Esusu, the lending circles are FDIC insured and help boost your credit score.

Next Steps
  1. Complete the participant questionnaire by February 13, 2020.
  2. Download the Esusu application.
  3. Attend the orientation on February 20, 2020, 6:30 PM at EOC’s office @ 7800 MacArthur Blvd.
  4. Lending starts February 22!
  5. Attend the monthly workshops– as little or many as you can.

Learn more at eastoaklandcollective.com/econempowerment

67605
Mar
15
Sun
Alternatives to Policing: Deep Culture @ First Congregational Church of Oakland
Mar 15 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

This workshop is part of a series of workshops in which we are developing the skills to reduce reliance on policing that is often harmful to our community members.

In this workshop, we’ll work together to identify elements of white supremacy culture and police and law enforcement culture. Then we’ll engage with just transition culture. Finally, we’ll examine the cultures of our own organizations and map them toward a just transition, imagining together some steps in that journey.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Patricia St. Onge is the founder and a Partner at Seven Generations Consulting and Coaching, where all of the work is culturally based. Deeply rooted in the concept of Seven Generations, we honor the generations who have come before us, are mindful of those yet to come, and recognize that the impact of the decisions we’re making now will last for seven generations.

Patricia has worked to support progressive social justice movements for all of her adult life. She’s worked as Executive and Interim Director of more than a dozen non-profits and a contributor to many publications on cultural competence and social change. She is a Board member at the Highlander Research and Education Center.

Of Haudenosaunee (Mohawk) and Quebecoise descent, Patricia is a member of Idle No More and The Peoples’ Nonviolent Response Coalition. Between them, she and her life partner Wilson Riles, have nine grown children and six grandchildren. She is part of a growing community called Nafsi ya Jamii (The Soul Community), an urban farm and retreat center in East Oakland, CA.

ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP SERIES

A growing coalition of organizations in the Bay Area is coming together to explore alternatives to calling the police to our campuses and into our neighborhoods. Over the coming year, we will be offering a series of workshops to explore alternatives to calling the police. Some of these workshops will provide deepening analysis and a grounding in alternative ways of thinking about community safety. Others will provide practical skills. All of them will lift up a transformative justice framework and emphasize the importance of self and community care.

The Coalition includes First Congregational Church of Oakland, Kehilla Community Synagogue, Qal’bu Maryam, Jewish Voice for Peace, Skyline Community Church, Oakland Peace Center, Oakland LBGTQ Community Center, SURJ-Bay Area, the Omni Collective, Berkeley Free Clinic, and PLACE (People Linking Art, Community, and Ecology). We are eager to partner with additional organizations so please contact us if you are interested!

67803
Apr
12
Sun
Non-Violent Direct Action Training @ Omni Commons
Apr 12 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

This training will take participants through many of the strategies, tools and considerations of non-violent direct action, including power and privilege, de-escalation, blockades, legal, direct action organizing models, and the opportunity to form affinity groups. This training will be an important place to get plugged into for upcoming actions in late April and beyond.

WHO: Diablo Rising Tide. diablorisingtide@riseup.net
RSVP: https://actionnetwork.org/events/rsvp-non-violent-direct-action-training-on-april-18/

67783
Apr
18
Sat
Non-Violent Direct Action Training @ Omni Commons
Apr 18 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

This training will take participants through many of the strategies, tools and considerations of non-violent direct action, including power and privilege, de-escalation, blockades, legal, direct action organizing models, and the opportunity to form affinity groups. This training will be an important place to get plugged into for upcoming actions in late April and beyond.

WHO: Diablo Rising Tide. diablorisingtide@riseup.net
RSVP: https://actionnetwork.org/events/rsvp-non-violent-direct-action-training-on-april-18/

67783
May
19
Tue
Know Your Rights! Training – Berkeley Copwatch @ ONLINE, VIA 'ZOOM'
May 19 @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

*Specifically for outreach workers and anyone dealing with police and trying to safe on the streets*

Topic: Copwatch Know Your Rights Training

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83950626113?pwd=VlBrY1JjVmNpZ0NGc2Z6S005VmY3UT09

Meeting ID: 839 5062 6113
Password: 804253
One tap mobile
+16699009128,,83950626113#,,1#,804253# US (San Jose)
+13462487799,,83950626113#,,1#,804253# US (Houston)

Dial by your location
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
Meeting ID: 839 5062 6113
Password: 804253
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kb6gPWnvkA

67902
Jun
20
Sat
Defund the Sheriff – Alameda County Budget Workshop @ online
Jun 20 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

67980
CRCAA 5 Methods Webinar @ ONLINE, VIA 'ZOOM'
Jun 20 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Jun
29
Mon
Tax the Rich to Fund Schools and Services: Three Parts @ ONLINE, VIA 'ZOOM'
Jun 29 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Zoom connection link

 

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

67984
Jul
1
Wed
Eviction Moratoriums Survey @ ONLINE, VIA 'ZOOM'
Jul 1 @ 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Join the Gray Panthers.
Alex Werth from East Bay Housing Organizations will discuss “Eviction Moratoriums 101” – a presentation on the status of renter protections in Alameda County, Berkeley, and Oakland.  Slides available with q and a.

If you knew Margy Wilkinson, who died Saturday night, we will take a little time to remember her.

As time permits, we will conclude with member concerns, and action opportunities, including Berkeley Tenants Convention Online candidates forum July 5

To join Gray Panthers Zoom Meeting
Time: July 1, Wednesday 1:30 — This is a recurring meeting most Wednesday’s
For Zoom online:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5108426224
Meeting ID: 510 842 6224
One tap mobile +16699006833,,5108426224# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location (long distance charges may apply)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 510 842 6224

Other announcements and updates will follow as time permits.

Memory of Margy Wilkinson of Friends of Adeline

68011
Jul
9
Thu
Defund OPD Teach-In @ Online
Jul 9 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

 

68016