Michiana Call to Action: January 19 - 26
December 26, 2007
A Week of Activities
The Michiana Social Forum invites area residents to participate in a Michiana Call to Action during the week of January 19-26, 2008. The week's activities are planned to coincide with the World Social Forum's call for a global week of action (www.wsf2008.net). Throughout the week, Michiana groups speaking out for labor rights, peace and justice, and sustainability will lead us in actions supporting specific initiatives. Working together we aim to build new relationships across different organizations and constituencies. The week's activities will culminate on Saturday during an event at the St. Joseph County Public Library where people can learn more about the World and U.S. Social Forums, reflect on the week's activities, become familiar with local groups and initiatives, and join in discussions about launching a local social forum process in Michiana.
Brief History
Since the first World Social Forum in 2001, millions of people from over 130 countries believing that "Another World is Possible" have participated in local, national, and regional "Social Forums" where they seek to build new alliances and explore new strategies for addressing persistent problems of social and economic injustice, violence, and environmental destruction.
Event Culmination
Events will be held throughout the Michiana area during the week. On Saturday, January 26 the community is invited to the downtown branch of the St. Joseph County Public Library (at Main and Wayne Streets in South Bend) to learn more about the World Social Forums and about the campaigns that have been part of the Michiana Call to Action. The event will bring together diverse community groups working on issues such as peace, civil and immigrant rights, worker rights, human rights, and environmental sustainability. A key goal of the discussion is to identify lessons from each others' experiences that can strengthen social change efforts, and seek new ways to work together to address common problems.
Open Participation
Participation in the Michiana Call to Action is open to all individuals, groups, or organizations interested in learning about connections between global forces and local problems and in furthering a sustainable and people-centered economy, fighting exploitation and discrimination, and advancing human rights.
- Saturday, Jan 19: Earth Friendly Eating - Living Green
11:00 AM St. Joseph County Public Library, South Bend downtown branch at Main and Wayne, Dickinson Room. Learn about how our food choices affect the world's water supply, global warming, and our health...how our living green choices make a better world possible. - Sunday, Jan 20: Cool Cities Initiative
The Progressive Town Hall will host this informational meeting at 4:00 PM at Fiddlers Hearth Public House, downtown South Bend at Colfax and Main streets. Christine Fiordalis from the Sierra Club and Kathleen Petitjean from the St. Joe Valley Greens will discuss this national effort to respond to the global climate crisis at the municipal level. - Sunday, Jan 20: Womens Action for New Direction (WAND)
Invites you to attend its Northern Indiana chapter open house -- 3:00 PM at the former Art Matters, next to Rachel's Bread & Farmers Market, West Washington, Goshen, Indiana. Learn more about WANDS's work for peace and justice and plans for 2008. Contact Karen Jacob, jacob@wandni.org, 825-4654. - Monday, Jan 21: Marting Luther King Day
Join Michiana Peace and Justice Coalition's call to end funding for the war in Iraq. Commemorate King's anti-war legacy and meet at Congressman Joe Donnelly's office on Colfax, next to SB Tribune building at 4:00 PM t0 4:45 PM, then proceed down Main St. toward the Federal building, stopping at Sen. Bayh's office. The vigil continues at the Federal building at Jefferson and Main from 5-6:00 PM. - Monday, Jan 21: South Bend Equality
Will discuss the details of the effort to pass a human rights ordinance to protect workers in South Bend from discrimination. 6:30 PM at the First Unitarian Church at the corner of Michigan St. and North Shore, South Bend. - Wednesday, Jan 23: Jobs with Justice action for workers
rights
Support JWJ and the Teamsters Union to help local workers achieve the international human right to decide whether to join a union. Gather from 5:00-6:00 PM at the South Bend Housing Authority, 501 Alonzo Watson Drive, off Western Av., near Covaleski Stadium. For further information, contact Joe Carbone at 574-292-8137. - Thursday, Jan 24: Blue-Green Alliance Press Conference
10:00 AM, South Bend UAW Hall, 1426 S. Main. http://www.bluegreenalliance.org/ - Saturday, Jan 26: Michiana and the World Social Forums
Meet from 12 noon to 4:30 PM at the St. Joseph County Public Library, at Main and Wayne Streets downtown South Bend, to learn more about the World Social Forums and the U.S. Social Forum. Learn about local groups, and hear from the organizations and campaigns that have been part of the Michiana Call to Action. Present ideas for organizing a larger social forum process in Michiana.
For more information about scheduled activities or to get involved, visit the Michiana Social Forum website: www.michianasocialforum.org.
St. Joe Valley Greens, South Bend, IN