Rural Organizing Project

ROP is thrilled to announce that Stephanie Guilloud from Project South in Atlanta will be the keynote speaker at ROP's Rural Caucus and Strategy Session in Albany on April 10th.  

Stephanie grew up in Texas before spending nearly a decade in the Northwest where she was a leader in shutting down the WTO in Seattle in 1999.  In her time at Project South, Stephanie has worked with local community groups in the South and across the country to build stronger movements that are owned and led by grassroots leaders.  In 2007, Stephanie and Project South organized as the anchor group of the first ever US Social Forum. 

We are so excited to welcome Stephanie to rural Oregon and share movement strategies with one of the most exciting organizations in the US today.  But, we've got to get her here!  If you've got frequent flyer miles that we can put towards Stephanie's ticket from Atlanta, please let ROP know! 

“A hometown newspaper feels the pulse of the community. A [hometown paper’s] success lies in the community keeping the lines of communication open with the newspaper.” Lake Placid News

March’s Kitchen Table Activism asks you to sign up for ROP’s Rural Media Center (RMC) -- let's reclaim local media in rural & small town Oregon for use in the movement for democracy, immigration justice and welcoming communities in rural Oregon. 

At a time when we could really use opportunities to connect across divisions, our local papers can be powerful organizing tools to share our message of human dignity and democracy.  In John Day, the response to the Aryan Nation moving to town has been lead by the local paper and supported by hundreds of local community members.  That is a power that the RMC wants harness in each of our small towns!

This week Grant County residents learned that the Aryan Nations is looking to relocate to their community.  Idaho Aryan Nations leader Paul Mullet is trying to purchase local real estate for a training center in John Day, Oregon.  Immediately, community members rose up and responded.  Over 60 people attended a rally on the streets of John Day.  Letters went into the paper.  No Hate signs are appearing all over town. The local paper has committed to keeping residents updated via their website and have put together community meetings.  Next step plans are being made.

Today John Day Mayor Bob Quinton spoke out on OPB against the hate group coming to town: http://news.opb.org/article/6797-aryan-nations-leader-still-interested-moving-john-day/

Human dignity leaders from across the state have been contacting ROP and Grant County leaders to find out what they can do to help.  Let's grow the momentum and number of voices speaking out against this hate group.  Former white supremacists have said that hate groups "test" a community by taking action and then seeing if anyone in the community responds.  If they don't, they set up shop. Let us know back at cara@rop.org what action you take.

Is this what YOU see when you look at our movement in rural Oregon? 

·    Scores of people mapped the change that they wanted to see onto Obama’s call for change.  Those people have not gone away.  They are still there, along with their longing for change, but our movement has not yet been able to become the container that can engage them.  What can we do to build this container?  Is the human dignity group still a viable way to structure and hold local movement centers in rural Oregon? 

ROP is bringing Suzanne Pharr to Oregon in February to facilitate a series of small group conversations with ROP leaders and membership.  Each conversation with Suzanne will address some variation on an overarching theme: Given our current moment in time, how do we move forward to survive these hard times and organize for our next phase? What has changed over the last few years? How do the global economic and climate crises shift what we do and how we do it?

Here's the quick rundown of the Conversations. Just being in the room with Suzanne is inspiring, invigorating and intellectually stimulating so consider if you would like be a part of one of these conversations:

    Thursday 2/11 3:30-5:30pm, Woodburn: Civic Engagement
    Friday 2/12 1-3pm, Portland: Democratic Economy
    Saturday 2/13 10am-12pm, Newberg: Cross Race/ Latino Organizing
    Saturday 2/13 2-4pm, McMinnville: Survival Economics/ Service & Organizing
    Sunday 2/14 11am-1pm, Scappoose: ROP Vision with Current & Longtime Leadership

We would love to have you join us.  Please RSVP to cara@rop.org or 503-543-8417.  Space is limited so once we reach capacity we will have to turn people away. A confirmation message will be sent to you with locations and directions upon RSVP.

For more information about Suzanne and each conversation, read on.

ROP’s Rural Caucus & Strategy Session: Saturday, April 10th in Albany

WHAT IS THE ACTIVITY? On Saturday, April 10th rural and small town leadership from across the state will be gathering for a day of strategizing, networking, and organizing.  ROP’s annual Rural Caucus and Strategy Session will be from 8:30am- 5pm in Albany.  This month's Kitchen Table Activism is to decide who will represent your group and community at this year's Caucus.

This year’s Caucus will focus on Hometown Strategies for a Democratic Economy. We’ll look at strategies that work in rural and small town Oregon that not only address the current needs of our communities, but build a long-term movement for an economy that is people-centered and sustainable. Join your peers from around the state for conversations on topics such as: moving our money, local banking and creating an Oregon state bank; what’s ahead for immigration reform; organizing secure food systems to feed our communities and promote local sustainability; LGBTQ organizing for safer communities; and much more.

Wow, the work that ROPers have done to pass Measures 66 & 67 is more than you can shake a stick at.  You, ROP, and the rest of our human dignity leaders have:

• Hand-distributed ROP's county-specific STAND voter guides in 20 counties!
• Knocked on 1520 doors and called 3225 voters to encourage voters to vote YES!
• Made calls to all 36 counties to encourage a YES vote!
• As part of the Rural Media Center, sent in over 50 letters to the editors of local papers, and had 11 articles and editorials printed!
• Recruited small business owners in 16 counties to come out as a public face in support of 66 & 67!
• Mailed to 12,496 rural voters with ROP's STAND Voter Guide explaining how the ballot measures will affect their community and urging them to vote YES!