API Movement Boston: Activist Training Institute

for Boston folks!

API Movement Boston: Activist Training Institute (ATI), Summer 2007

What is it?
The Activist Training Institute (ATI) is a TRAINING for ASIAN PACIFIC
AMERICAN (APA) youth and young adults to build LEADERSHIP and
ORGANIZING skills within a context of COMMUNITY work and building a
social movement. The training existed as the Weekend Activist
Intensive in the first year and it has developed into a four-weekend
summer institute in this second year.

The overall goal is to build a COHORT of young leaders in the APA
community who can support each other and grow into POSITIONS OF
LEADERSHIP in APA community-based agencies. This year, the training
will focus on the issue of IMMIGRATION.

We, the organizers of the training, believe that young leadership is
CRUCIAL to the sustainability of the APA community. Our vision is
that this training will bring together youth and young adults of like
mind who want to grow and develop IN COMMUNITY with others and help to
rebuild an APA movement.

Who should apply?
APA youth and young adults who
• Are between the ages of 18 and 26
• Live or work in Boston (though this isn't a strict requirement)
• Are 1st or 2nd generation immigrants
• Are committed to working within the APA community
• Want to be connected to others who share a desire for social change
and social justice

What can you get out of it?
SKILLS – leadership, organizing, critical analysis of issues
SPACE – intense teambuilding, opportunities for debate & discussion,
immersion in an APA community
SUPPORT – peer relationship building, mentoring from older activists
and organizers, connections built with community agencies

Dates of the sessions:
Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23
Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30
Friday, July 20 and Saturday, July 21
Friday, August 10 and Saturday, August 11
Fridays sessions would be from 6-9pm. Saturdays would be all day.

Cost: Suggested donation of $20 - $50 depending on your own financial
status. Please bring your donation to the first training day. Cash
or check will be accepted.

More information and details on the application attached.
Deadline for application is June 8th.

For questions and info, contact Movement Resource Center at ATI@aamovement.net.

Job: Community Organizer, Chinese Progressive Association

Hi,

We’re looking for a community organizer to work with the Chinese Progressive Association, a grassroots community organization working in Boston Chinatown. Please help us forward the posting widely!

Job Opening:

Community Organizer

Organizational Mission:

The Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) is a grassroots community organization which works for full equality and empowerment of the Chinese community in Greater Boston and beyond, to improve living and working standards, and to involve ordinary people in decision-making.

Job Description:

The Community Organizer will help Chinatown residents strengthen their voice in deciding the community's future by conducting community outreach, providing targeted services, supporting resident organizing, developing new leadership, helping community members learn about policy-making and strategy development, connecting Chinatown residents to other aspects of CPA's work, and coalition-building.

Duties:

-conduct community outreach and develop resident involvement

-develop the leadership role of new activists

-support the development of new resident/tenant groups

-educate community members about policy-making systems and strategy development

-develop coalitions within and outside of Chinatown

-provide targeted drop-in services

-organize educational workshops and activities

-support other organizational work/activities and connect Chinatown residents to these other areas

To Apply:

Please send resume and cover letter to:

Lydia Lowe

Director

Chinese Progressive Association

28 Ash Street

Boston, MA 02111

justice@cpaboston.org

If you have any questions, please call 617.357.4499.

Amy Leung

Chinese Progressive Association

28 Ash Street

Boston, MA 02111

617.357.4499

www.cpaboston.org

Job: Women Express, Inc.

*Job Description*

*Program Coordinator*

* *

Women Express, Inc., publisher of *Teen Voices, *is a non-profit
organization whose mission is to further social and economic justice by
empowering teenage and young adult women. The Program Coordinator'

s primary
responsibility is to ensure the smooth administrative functioning of *SHOUT!,
*our dynamic core journalism and mentoring program and *Girls LEAD*, our new
initiative to serve more teens girls in the Boston area that teaches
leadership, empowerment, activism and* *diversity*.* This position will
directly report to the Program Director. See website:
www.teenvoices.comfor more information.

*The Program Coordinator will:*

· Support the Program Director in all administrative aspects of the
teen programs.

· Coordinate special events for the teen programs, including award
ceremonies, poetry/spoken word events, workshops and small conferences.**

· Support the interviewing and orienting of interns including
editorial and art mentors.**

· Collect and compile teen program evaluation data.**

· Coordinate program paperwork and records through the database.**

· *Edit, write and/or graphically illustrate special reports,
program materials, curriculum, funding materials and letters for the
Executive Director or Development Department.*

* *

*Program Coordinator Responsibilities:*

- Overall support of *SHOUT!, *our exciting journalism and mentoring
program serving 85 Boston area teens per year and pilot *Girls
LEAD*program, including:
- Updating and maintaining all paperwork, electronic, and
database records for program including teen applications, acceptance
packets, attendance records, exit and evaluation forms, and completion
certificates.
- Collecting and compiling demographic information and
evaluation data about teen participants, including preparing any
materials
requested for program evaluation or funding reports.
- Coordinating special events including internet and phone
research to obtain resources, contacting speakers, ordering food and
supplies, and creating marketing materials.
- Arranging opportunities and coordinating logistics for
external workshops and field trips.
- Assisting the Program Director with preparation of orientation
and program materials.
- Assisting with the implementation and facilitation of
workshops for teen participants, including Pens of Power workshops.
- Developing and maintaining relationships with primary support
people of each teen in the program, including the coordination of a
parent/family orientation night.
- Overseeing and assisting with the program as requested by the
Program Director.
- Developing collaborations with allied organizations for
information-sharing, workshops, field trips, resource exchanges, etc.
- Attending and supervising offsite workshops and field trips.
- Interviewing, hiring and supervising program intern(s). **
- Ensuring effective use of and maintaining program space.
- Assisting in the creation of professional workshop materials and
curriculum for the organization.
- Oversee and coordinate payment for teen participants and workshop
presenters.
- Other administrative duties as assigned.
- Maintaining snack program and food for workshops.
- Overseeing technology training.
- Researching resources for book clubs and other activities.
- Building interpersonal relationships with program participants.
- Serving as a liaison between mentors and program staff.
- Representing *Teen Voices* at community events.
- Representing the teen program in place of the Program Director as
needed.

* *

*Qualifications*

Strong organizational and administrative skills necessary. Computer skills,
including Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook required. Desktop publishing
skills a plus. Attention to detail and adherence to deadlines are
essential. Commitment to social and economic justice essential. Bachelor's
Degree preferred. Must have experience interacting with youth of color and
relate well to culturally and economically diverse community. Women of color
are strongly encouraged to apply.

* *

* *

*Application Instructions*

Please send cover letter and resume via e-mail to Search@TeenVoices.com, fax
617-426-5577 or regular mail Search Committee, Women Express/*Teen Voices*,
80 Summer Street – Suite 300, Boston, MA 02110. No phone calls and no
electronic inquiries please.

Job: APEN Lead Organizer

The Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN)/ Laotian
Organizing Project(LOP)is looking for a dynamic Lead Organizer.

APEN believes that all people have a right to live, work, learn, play and thrive in a clean, healthy environment. Towards this vision, APEN brings together a collective voice to develop an alternative agenda for environmental, social and economic justice. APEN's strategies include: building grassroots power, strengthening organizing capacity in API communities, forging strategic alliances, and waging campaigns to advance systemic change. LOP is a membership-based, intergenerational organizing project based in the Laotian Community in West Contra Costa County. LOP has worked to develop innovative models for organizing in API refugee communities, and has engaged in environmental justice campaigns including campaigns for a multi-lingual warning system for refinery accidents, school guidance programs, tenant rights and affordable housing.

POSITION SUMMARY
The primary goal of the Lead Organizer is to build an effective base-building program to organize and develop the leadership or community members in West Contra Costa, CA to make positive changes in the community through issue and electoral campaigns
The Lead Organizer will also participate in APEN's work to support organizing capacity building in API communities in the state and beyond. The Lead Organizer will report to the Program Director and will supervise a team of 1-2 organizing staff based out of Richmond, CA.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Leads the creation and implementation of local organizing goals, strategies and campaigns:
*Recruitment program to expand our grassroots membership base;
*Strong and vibrant leadership development program for grassroots leaders and members;
*Issue and electoral campaigns aligned with the organization's long term change goals;
*Fundraising activities involving grassroots leaders and members;
*Local alliance building work to shift the long-term power equation in West County;
*Help create success indicators and systems to track and document progress;
*Maintain a working knowledge on West County political landscape and API immigrant and refugee issues.

2. Supervise, manage and develop LOP staff and manage the operations of the LOP office. Staff evaluation, training and development; monitoring personnel policies; and creating a learning environment that supports staff in doing their best work. Oversee and coordinate the maintenance of our Richmond office with support from our Oakland central office.

3. Organizational Development. Help develop and monitor annual budgets for the LOP and participate in overall APEN fundraising strategies. Support APEN's overall organizational development and ability to respond to opportunities and challenges.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
1. Deep commitment to APEN's mission, environmental, social, and economic justice;
2. Familiarity with the Laotian community and/or Southeast Asian community;
3. Successful track record of at least 3 years in: community or labor organizing (particularly in low income and/or immigrant and refugee communities). Strong experience with facilitation, supervision, campaigns, and program management;
4. Self-confidence and the capacity to create and independently move forward a complex agenda;
5. Ability to identify and set priorities in line with our goals and strategic direction;
6. Leadership and communication skills (both written and verbal) with ability to connect across multiple audiences;
7. Strong teamwork skills, ability to develop a team-oriented environment, and commitment to democratic participation;
8. Good sense of humor and grace under pressure;
9. Language capacity in Laotian languages, such as Khmu, Mien, Hmong, and
Lao, is preferred but not required.

SALARY RANGE:High thirties to mid forties, depending on experience. Full benefits package includes health, dental, paid vacations and sick leave.

APPLICATIONS: Please submit resume with cover letter and references, by mail, fax, or email:
LOP Lead Organizer
Attn:Timmy Lu, Operations Coordinator
310 8th Street Suite 309, Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: (510 834-8920 x301 / Fax: (510) 834-8926
Email: timmy@apen4ej.org
Web: www.apen4ej.org

Position open until filled. Start date: immediate

APEN is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, gay, lesbian, and trans-gendered persons encouraged to apply.

CSL overreaches on Source ruling

The Tufts Daily reports:

The Committee on Student Life (CSL) today released a decision finding The Primary Source, Tufts' conservative journal, guilty of harassment and creating a hostile environment.

As a result of the verdict, all pieces in the Source must now be attributed to specific authors. The CSL, which is comprised of students and faculty members, also recommended that "student governance consider the behavior of student groups in future decisions concerning funding and recognition," according to a copy of the decision that was sent to the Daily. [read more]

I think that this is horrible. Don't get me wrong-- I was a member of the TPAN cabal to punish The Source over their repeated incidents of hate, but as an Editor of Radix, we often published sensitive and risky material that was not attributed to an author and I would have fought to protect our right to do that. The CSL verdict does not make any sense. Making the publication attribute its hateful prose to particular people might be a structural disincentive for individual writers, but it does nothing to punish thier actions and opens the door to similar, politically motivated sanctions against any publication. The CSL was right to rule against The Source, but did not consider the far-reaching consequences that its ruling could have.

And I haven't even touched the second ruling, that: "student governance consider the behavior of student groups in future decisions concerning funding and recognition."

What?!

This decision is much too broad and could be used against political activists of all stripes. Meanwhile, the budget of The Source remains uneffected & their ability to publish the same hate speech remains unharmed. This ruling does not punish hate speech; It punishes political speech. The Source is right to appeal this decision to protect free speech at Tufts.

It is unfortunate that the CSL came to this outcome. Now that it has, what needs to happen is:

1) The decision must be overturned to protect free political speech at Tufts and

2) Proper, material punishment needs to be found against The Source.

Hunger Strike @ Harvard over low wages

Students at Harvard are on the 9th day of a hunger strike to protest against the comparatively low wages that security guards who work at the university receive. Two protesters have been hospitalized as a result of the hunger strike. University officials refuse to meet with the students and state that they are in no position to intervene in labor contracts between workers and Allied, the sub-contracted company who employs the security guards.

Some of you are or have been involved in similar labor struggles at Tufts (also see this) between OneSource and the janitorial staff. This story is depressingly familiar.

What you can do:

1) Get Informed

2) Sign the Petition

Protect Marriage Equality in Mass

The date of the next Constitutional Convention has been set for June 14, 2007 - which means that in the next 5 weeks, we have a lot of work to do!
The legislature opened the Constitutional Convention today at 1pm and, as expected, recessed a few minutes later until June 14th. In the next 5 weeks, we need your help as we all work together to protect marriage equality in Massachusetts. Here are some ways you can get involved:

1) Contact your legislators: Let them know you think it is wrong to vote on rights and ask them to work to defeat this discriminatory amendment.

2) Talk to your friends and family: Use our new interactive map to see which of your friends and family live in target districts, and then ask them to contact their legislator.

3) Write a letter to your local paper : Use our easy LTE tool to draft your letter and email it directly to your local paper. May 17th is the third anniversary of marriage equality in Massachusetts, which is a wonderful thing to celebrate in your letter!

We've got just 5 weeks left to defeat the discriminatory, anti-gay amendment before it reaches the ballot. The time to get involved is now. If you would like to volunteer or want to learn more about how you can get involved, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Cari Bohm, at (617) 878-2366 or CariBohm@MassEquality.org.

Sincerely,
Marc Solomon
Campaign Director
massequality.org

Save Small and Independent Publishers

Postal regulators have accepted a proposal from media giant Time Warner that would stifle small and independent publishers in America. The plan unfairly burdens smaller publishers with higher postage rates while locking in special privileges for bigger media companies.

In establishing the U.S. postal system, the nation's founders wanted to ensure that a diversity of viewpoints were available to "the whole mass of the people." Time Warner's rate increase reverses this egalitarian ideal and threatens the marketplace of ideas on which our democracy depends.

It's time stand up for independent media. Demand that Congress step in to stop the unfair rate hikes. Sign the letter below to alert Congress and put the Postal Board of Governors on notice.

Take Action!