Imagine thousands of people meeting, mingling, and marching peacefully
through your city streets for nearly a week. Last month, a racially,
ethnically and geographically diverse crowd of more than 15,000 people
vitalized the epic, but destitute, city of Detroit–the epicenter of the
Great Recession in the US.
The second US Social Forum (USSF) – the first was in Atlanta in June
2007 — was inspired by the 2001 World Social Forum in Brazil. The 2001
gathering was an international attempt to pose and discuss alternative
economic models and rules to those discussed at the corporate-dominated
World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
Four
UFE staff members, as well as several board members, volunteers, and
supporters, led popular economics education workshops, participated in
planning meetings, marched
in demonstration, attended plenaries, networked, and enjoyed
cultural activities. Our message about the scope of economic inequality
and our method of engaging people in dialogue about its consequences
and what to do about it, were very well-received. New relationships were
forged, old ones strengthened, and a great deal of enthusiasm for
collaboration was generated.
But, the significance of the Forum goes way beyond these specific
outcomes for UFE. What we witnessed (and participated in) was a key step
forward in building a powerful social and economic justice movement
that will realize the USSF theme: "Another World is Possible, Another US
is Necessary."
Labor & racial justice activist Bill
Fletcher provided his take, “...[the USSF] was the antithesis of
the Tea Party movement. Instead of the fear, ignorance
and hatred that emanates from the Tea Partiers, here there was a
sense of optimism.” The provides a vibrant and safe space for exchanges
of ideologies and strategies. While we still struggle to construct a
common narrative that explains how we got here and a common vision of
where we want to go, the willingness to engage open-mindedly in the hard
work to build such consciousness, was on display throughout the Forum.
“For five days in Detroit, an incredibly diverse group of progressives
became a community,” said Steve Schnapp, UFE's senior education
coordinator. “We are making the road as we walk. But, more importantly,
we do so in ways that draw upon our unique perspectives and celebrate
our unique gifts. This feeling of solidarity inspires us to continue our
important work. A world where power and wealth are not concentrated in
the hands of a few is indeed possible!”
July 9, 2010
These spring months have been particularly hectic for UFE's Education
Team. So, with great pleasure, I get to write this.
gpuac.org