Empowerment and Education, 11/25/2011

Action items:

1)      Alejandro, do you know the next foreclosure event meeting time and place?

2)      Occupy DOE meeting, Sunday (2pm planning, 4pm general) 60 Wall

Proposals

1)      Read-ins are sponsored by E&E (reached consensus)

Agenda:

1)      Report Backs

2)      Action working group?

3)      New School occupation

4)      Discussion about future/space

1)      Report Backs:

-          Occupy Student Debt Campaign launched campaign on 11/21. Help spread word: http://occupystudentdebtcampaign.org

-          Forum on Commons – putting together call for papers

-          Open Forum :

1. restructure to connect with direct action/student debt campaign
2. provide more OFs and teach-ins with direct actions
3. foreclosure event December XX – how can we help them?
4. next OF meeting uncertain, probably Tues 8:30, 60 Wall
5. group is getting very small, what is its future?

2)      Babak on possible action working group

-          now that park situation has changed, how do we stay visible?

-          Suggestions:

• focus on big days (MLK day)
• connect with other movements (040)
• more open forums/discussions
• fixed locations and regular schedules
• potential spaces:
  • Brooklyn Bridge, near City Hall
  • Times Square
  • Rockefeller Center
  • Court houses, foreclosed buildings

-          how do we feel about not have a fixed space (moved to agenda item)

-          how to link up with other working groups?

-          should we create an action working group/subcommittee? Would focus on getting media attention, making/getting space for movement, creative action

3)      New School Occupation

-          both spaces are closed, Kellan gallery trashed? uncertain future for Kellan gallery

-          moved to non-consensus model, questions about whether they are part of Occupy movement

4)      Discussion about potential actions/park situation changing/future of E&E

-          Long discussion about foreclosure event, December 6 (date uncertain)

• actions @ courthouses, reclaiming foreclosed spaces
• many phases of action, they are checking out these spaces, seeing if they are livable or occupyable
• questions of legality/squatting rights, report from legal that squatters have rights in NYC (or US?) if it is reoccupation of a foreclosed space (as of now only a rumor, any confirmation here?)
• what is E&E’s role here, teach-in about foreclosure? walking tour of foreclosed or re-occupied spaces?
• Alejandro will be attending next meeting, many in the group interested in joining

-          Long discussion on Spokes Council

• Report back from Chris, Spokes Council was very messy on Wednesday, racial issues very blatant, suggests we develop a workshop on race for the movement
• E&E as providing space for interactions, creating spaces for learning, discussion, developing strategies
• Are we reproducing the division of labor we see in the capitalist world?
• Babak on Spokes Council: meetings are being sabotaged, facilitators are very frustrated
  • E&E could reach out to facilitators and ask how we can help
• Spokes Council is in crisis, questioning its own legitimacy. Are we stuck in meta-meetings and identity politics throughout the movement? Or democracy is exactly dealing with these issues, having patience through this kind of conflict?
• Sometimes Spokes Council does function, depends on day

-          Discussion about spreading movement beyond NYC area

• we should avoid missionary style politics, other occupations are autonomous
• there is a national network/conference call, other WGs working on national unity
• how to make internal communication smoother (other WGs working on this)

-          Discussion about staying visible as movement/E&E’s role

• walking tours of spaces and industries
• standard signage/well defined visual identity, to make clear it is OWS when in other spaces
• work with other institutions and groups already working on educational issues
• El Barrio event on December 4, group is not in Occupy movement, we are in solidarity but will not directly support
• develop read-ins as regular action, body-stunt, work in conjunction with Think Tank, mobile?
• develop film screenings of Inside Job, etc. reach out/work with local cinemas??
• vision of E&E:
  • develop both long term and immediate project/actions
  • plug into other actions, build spaces for discussion/changing social relations
  • keep some kind of presence in Zuccotti