Today, July 29, 2010, a law takes effect that targets undocumented people living in Arizona's communities, SB1070.
Yesterday, we won a significant victory when the courts struck down the most egregious parts of the law. The peoples' voices always rise before the court's decisions, so with this sign of progress we will continue fighting the remainder of this unjust law.
ROP and HDGs have a long history of letting values of human dignity and democracy be our guide through the seas of cultural change. As we celebrate this small victory for basic human decency & prepare ourselves to continue the work of diffusing the wedge of hate in our own communities, let's take a minute to realign with what we know to be true.
Human Dignity Groups are invited to host a stop on the No Soy El Army 2010 Tour in Oregon to open a dialogue between the traditional peace community and Spanish-speaking and Latino communities about war, military recruitment, race and cross-community organizing.
No Soy El Army will present bilingual (English/Spanish) military veterans and community leaders from across the US speaking about their personal experiences and facilitating a dialogue about the experiences of those in the room, then offering concrete information about the military and alternatives for youth.
Complete this form to request to host a stop on the No Soy El Army Peace Tour, August 25-30, 2010.
Completion of this form does not guarantee you a spot on the Tour, but instead, indicates your interest. Tour organizers will compile all available information and schedule the stops of the tour based on geography, time and local Host's plan for cross-cultural community collaboration in the project.
All hosts must commit to:
All hosts will provide housing for the presenters and organizers (may include up to three people, community housing is fine), food for the event, thoughtful community and media outreach, and to create an outreach plan that attempts to get at least 25 attendees to the event.
We are encouraging hosts to coordinate with schools to encourage youth to participate in the event. Ideally the stops will be organized by or in conjunction with a local Latino organization for each community.
In addition, stops will be encouraged to host pre-Tour events to build relationships between peace and Latino communities before the Tour arrives in town. (For example, a showing of the movie Papers or Frozen Dreams).
Fundraising. The Tour is a FREE offer from ROP for our member groups; however, we encourage all groups to use this event to fundraise through a 'pass the hat' or donation at the door to help support the costs of the Tour.
We will let you know when the Tour schedule has been established!
Two nights ago, I tasted hope. It's sweetness came not from the homemade strawberry shortcake at our living room conversation on thorny immigration issues, nor from the soon-to-be flourishing produce in Newberg's newly completed community garden. Rather, that delicious sense of possibility came from Keyla, a young Latina organizer, who enthusiastically shared her vision of the garden as a space where young children and people with disabilities and immigrant newcomers will all work side-by-side, tending their plots and taking breaks at picnic tables under the large oak tree. And it came from the dozen folks gathered in Marni's living room, representing five different generations and multiple cultures, who demonstrated patience and compassion as we struggled to unpack the hate and fear that has become so embedded in our nation's discourse around immigration these days.
This jaunt to Yamhill County was my last official trip on the road as an organizer with the Rural Organizing Project. In several weeks I will leave ROP, and move to New York City for a nine-month stint at Columbia University, earning a master's degree in Oral History.
July's Kitchen Table Activity is to set up your Human Dignity Group's website. And yes, it is possible for a volunteer-run group to get this done in one month or less! ROP has created a simple, customizable, economical and user-friendly template using googlesites technology that will allow ROP member groups to get a site up and running in no time! (And if your group's already got a website, make sure that we link to it on the ROP website by sending the address to kari@rop.org today!)
Greetings from the US Social Forum! Here in the heart of downtown Detroit, there is a sense that a new movement is brewing. Organizations and leaders, volunteers and activists, folks who care about their communities and care about our country have come together to declare "Another World is Possible, Another U.S. is Necessary."
ROPers in Detroit have connected with other rural groups around the country- from Kentuckians for the Common Wealth to rural Vermont leaders- sharing strategies, getting ideas and learning more about how other states organize and respond in their rural communities...
On June 15th ROP joined CAUSA and SEIU Local 503 in the streets to protest Immigration & Custom Enforcement's relationship with local law enforcement and call for an end to deportations. Immigrants, allies and friends rallied and marched through the streets in front of one of the largest ICE facilities in the Northwest.
CAUSA continues to lead the call in Oregon for "reform, not deportation!" (one of our rallying calls at the rally & march). ROPers and local leaders around the state have added their voices to the call for justice, fairness and a humane immigration system. Folks from Central Oregon traveled in for this event to add their fire to the march with drumming and chanting. ROP Board Chair, Kathy Paterno added in her voice for the media on behalf of the ROP community (see the story below).
"We want to see the hardworking Latino members of our rural communities acknowledged and appreciated, not harassed, exploited and deported. Local law enforcement requires good relationships and trust in order to keep everyone safe - but ICE's involvement in our local communities is jeopardizing that trust. What we need is a fundamental overhaul of our nation's broken immigration system to prevent further erosion of our communities."
- Kathy Paterno, Rural Organizing Project Board President, Crook County, OR
Join ROP & our friends at CAUSA for a march and rally - June 15th in Portland!
Marcy Westerling: A kickass community organizer dedicated to the notion that small town Americana is filled with justice seeking souls that deserve support as well as have the power to bridge the false cultural divides of our times. Proud founder of Rural Organizing Project in 1992. Derailed by Stage IV Cancer in Spring of 2010. I trust others to continue moving rural inclusive progressive organizing forwards.
Dear Ropnetters,
It seems a good time for Marcy to Update you about Marcy ; ) – June 10th, 2010
As organizers and activists, we have an important vocation, and we take it seriously. Sometimes this means that we have to put our heads down and get caught in a flurry of meetings, actions, and activity. But it is also important to take time to celebrate the cycle of organizing – to celebrate our victories, reinvigorate ourselves, and feed our organizing spirits.
There are a few opportunities – 3 to be exact – for this organizing “food” coming up that we wanted to share with all you ROPers. These are great opportunities to network, meet new folks and learn new skills from some of the best. Please contact amanda@rop.org or call 503-543-8417 to let us know if you’d like to attend any of the marvelous events below!
Greetings from the US Social Forum! Here in the heart of downtown Detroit, there is a sense that a new movement is brewing. Organizations and leaders, volunteers and activists, folks who care about their communities and care about our country have come together to declare "Another World is Possible, Another U.S. is Necessary." 
On June 15th ROP joined CAUSA and SEIU Local 503 in the streets to protest Immigration & Custom Enforcement's relationship with local law enforcement and call for an end to deportations. Immigrants, allies and friends rallied and marched through the streets in front of one of the largest ICE facilities in the Northwest.