WORKSHOPS

Workshop I: Reflections on Power and Privilege
Part 1: Thursday Aug 12, 9.30am - 12.30pm
Part 2: Friday Aug 13, 9.30am - 12.30pm

This workshop will provide creative ways for us to reflect on power, privilege
and oppression and how they have affected our own lives. Using the "personal"
as a starting point, we will place our stories in broader contexts, in order to
understand the root causes of oppression and the role we play in perpetuating
it, and move towards a sense of shared experience and solidarity.

Workshop II: Systems of Oppression, Seeds of Change
Part 1: Saturday Aug 14, 9.30am - 12.30pm
Part 2: Sunday Aug 15, 9.30am - 12.30pm

In this workshop we examine the role of various institutions in perpetuating
different forms of oppression and exploitation. We continue with the discourse of different forms of oppression from the previous workshop, but shift the focus
to systems such as racism, patriarchy, heterosexism and economic oppression. We explore the role that different institutions such as the law and economy play
in perpetuating systemic inequalities. We also explore the need for resistance
and revolution, and strategies of popular struggles around the world.

Throughout the course of the program, we will continually explore and discuss
the importance of organizing, linking struggles, and building solidarity.

ORGANIZING SKILLS "BREAKOUT" SESSIONS


The Breakout Sessions, scheduled for two to three hours every afternoon, are
deisgned to provide participants an opportunity to train in specific organizing
skills and think through various elements of organizing. We are happy to
announce that, to administer these trainings, we will have experienced trainers and organizers who have done phenomenal work, independently as well as part of organizations such as CTWO (Center for Third World Organizing), Youth Media Council,  and Ruckus Society.

In addition, a key goal of these sessions is to provide an opportunity for
small-group interaction among participants. For the purposes of these Breakout Sessions, the participants will be divided into three groups organzing around three different issues. Each session will focus on one organizing element (such as Campaign  Strategy, Media Strategy, Direct Action), and participants will get an opportunity to apply the skills they learn in the context of the specific issue their breakout group is focusing on.

PANELS

Thursday Aug 12: 6pm - 8pm: "WATER, LAND and PEOPLE: Struggles for a Better World"
Saturday Aug 14: 6pm - 8pm: "Immigrant Organizing and Coalition Building Post 9/11"

Two out of the four evenings of OY Summer 2004 will be spent in panel  discussions, which will feature community resources and organizations in allied  movements. Being grounded in the stories and experiences of real-world activists and movements, these sessions will help us make the connection from the abstract to the practical, and understand better the interconnected-ness of issues and the necessity for interlinking struggles.

COMMUNITY MIXER

Friday Aug 13: 7pm - 10pm: "Showcasing South Asian Organizing, A community mixer"

An informal mixer with south asian community organizers. The participants will get a chance to interact with representatives from different progressive south asian groups over dinner, and discuss challenges and opportunities inherent in organizing in South Asian communities.