Come to a workshop to breathe, reflect and envision together where we want to be and how to get there (or “how to be the change we want to see” as someone once said.)

Together, we will create a space where people can listen to one another and share ideas for “another world which is possible” Sponsored by the Anti-Oppression, Women’s Caucus and Nonviolence Working groups (and more).

Saturday, January 14th
11:45 AM – 3 PM
Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury Street, Boston (Arlington T Stop)

COME A FEW MINUTES EARLY BECAUSE THE WORKSHOP WILL BEGIN AT 12:00. ONCE THE PROCESS IS UNDERWAY, THERE WON’T BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LATE COMERS.

The initial energy which brought OB into being generated a living community at Dewey Square with many alternative, creative institutions, a solidarity statement with OWS on the sources of inequality and violence in the culture, actions, proposals, working groups and support for grassroots and community organizations. Since the end of the encampment, actions, proposals, working groups and community-building activities have continued to be generated. With a lot of energy devoted to keeping all these activities going, there hasn’t been much time or a format to pause, assess where we want to go, and name the positive vision(s) of the world we want to create. This workshop will give people a chance to envision together what is possible in the long term and short-term, talk about how to get there and notice what we are already doing which is building our communities and our movements.

Linda will also stay from 3:15-4:45 for a “train the trainers’ session to share ideas about strategy, movement-building, etc. For people coming to this, try to download the visioning guide from. http://www.powerupnetworks.org./occupy-the-present-change-the-future.html.

Please let us know if you plan to attend either/both.
RSVP to Cathy Hoffman “catherinebhoffman”@gmail.com

Linda Stout who is a long time activist, having founded one of the first multi-racial, poor people’s organizations in North Carolina, has been building “PowerUp” networks for social change and doing visioning work. She has been asked by several Occupies to do some visioning work with them. For more information about Linda and the visioning idea, you can go to www.powerupnetworks.org

In the interest of transparency for Occupy Boston, the Occupy Boston Media Working Group would like to acknowledge that another proposal, Sexual Assault Awareness also known as the Safety Proposal regarding Level 3 Sex Offenders, was blocked last night — and hence tabled by the General Assembly — immediately prior to the passage of the proposal, New Resolution Against Sexual Misconduct, that passed.

The walkout consisted of approximately at least 25 people in protest, including members of the Women’s Caucus and of the Media Working Group, the notetaker, 3 livetweeters and others to express solidarity from the GA, which had 93 people at the GA and 87 people voting as reported by FWG of Occupy Boston, before the walk out. Therefore, more than a quarter of the GA participants walked out in protest.

General Assembly continued, including the participation of other members of the Media working group and Women’s caucus who did not walk out, with some people voicing solidarity with those who left and others voicing their concerns with the walkout. Two working groups that were scheduled to propose asked that the GA first consider an individual proposal regarding sexual misconduct (New Resolution Against Sexual Misconduct). This was the only the proposal that passed on January 8, 2012.
Full notes for the GA up to and including the walkout are available here http://www.scribd.com/doc/77606108/OccupyBoston-GA-Minutes-1-8-2011

The notes from the second half of the GA can be found here and there have been questioned raised by some about the objectivity of the second note-taker and in addition to the notes, a “Storify” of Tweets from the post-walkout GA and responses to the GA tweets is being compiled.

It has come to the attention of many individuals within Occupy Boston that the individual who blocked the Sexual Assault Awareness Proposal had not declared his representation of a group that he founded, called Reform Sex Offender Laws — this action that may be considered a breach of the Occupy Boston Statement of Autonomy and of an ad-hoc agreement in emails with the Facilitation Working Group.

As with all tabled proposals, proposals can be brought back in front of the GA and there is discussion that a proposal addressing the concerns related to Sexual Assault Awareness and another Safety Proposal regarding Level 3 Sex Offenders may be brought to the GA in the future.

Edited 1/10/2012 in order to clarify and add new information

Edited 1/11/2012 in order to clarify and notes from 2nd note-taker

Addition: This original post and the edits was written as requested from members of Occupy Boston to the media working group from information provided by several members of different working groups within Occupy Boston that were present at the GA. The blog poster of this post is not the sole author of the information.