CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS NOW ON-LINE! > www.ydsusa.org Howard Zinn's play, "Marx in Soho", to be performed at conference! Register by March 4th and get a $10 dollar discount!
More updates below...
(Even if you can't make it to the conference, we hope that you can help spread the word, put up flyers around your area, post the email below to your listservs, etc. Thanks for your help!)
The Young Democratic Socialists (YDS) are hosting a national conference in New York City from March 11-13. entitled "When Bush Comes to Shove: Youth Organizing Against Right-Wing and Corporate Power." It will bring together activists from across the country for workshops, trainings, great speakers, partying and more. This is a unique opportunity to meet YDS members and friends to discuss how best to challenge the Bush agenda and build a long-term movement for social justice.
WORKSHOPS, TRAININGS & ENTERTAINMENT Conference sessions will cover critical topics ranging from the theory and practice of democratic socialism, feminist politics, challenging right-wing rhetoric, Iraq and U.S. foreign policy, student-labor solidarity, anti-racist organizing, counter-military recruitment, understanding capitalism and the economy, linking struggles through multi-issues organizing, the global justice movement, left-wing media, inter-generational activist dialogue, anti-Bush strategies, the nuts and bolts of grassroots organizing, chapter building, the future of the left, and more. Workshops and panels will feature activists and trainers working in trade-unions, in the peace movement, in social justice student organizations, as noted progressive scholars, and other voices from the democratic left such as Frances Fox Piven (distinguished sociologist, author of The War at Home: The Domestic Costs of Bush's Militarism), Steve Max (former SDS leader, Director of Organizing and Training, Midwest Academy), Ian Williams (U.N. correspondent for The Nation magazine, author of Deserter: George Bush's War on Military Families, Veterans, and His Past) and many others. On Saturday evening, March 12th, there will be a live performance of Howard Zinn's acclaimed play, Marx in Soho,that is free to all conference-goers and open to the general public.
Those who attend "When Bush Comes to Shove" will come away with valuable skills and concrete resources for campus and community organizing, a deeper understanding of systems of oppression and exploitation, a vision of the better world we are struggling to create everyday, and strategies for beating the Bush agenda of corporate greed, endless war, intolerance and cutbacks in needed public programs.
SCHEDULE The conference opens with a plenary discussion on Friday at 7pm (March 11th), followed by a reception with snacks and refreshments. After registration and breakfast, Saturday sessions will begin promptly at 10am and go until the early evening performance ofMarx in Soho. There will be a free party open to all conference-goers Saturday night. On Sunday, there will be interactive skills trainings and a closing session in mid-afternoon. Registration tables will be open at 6pm on Friday and 9am on Saturday.
TRAVEL & HOUSING We're committed to ensuring that everyone who wants to come is able to attend. We'll be offering limited travel scholarships and housing assistance for those coming from out of town. Please consider fundraising or requesting funds from your Student Government Association to help cover costs. If you are coming from out of town and are in need of a ride, let us know and we can check to see if others planning to attend in your area can offer you one. If you live in New York City, or have friends/family that can house additional conference attendees from out of town, please notify us. If you are planning to attend or have any questions send us an email at: yds@dsausa.org. You can request or offer housing assistance and/or travel scholarships in the on-line registration forms.
COST A special conference pre-registration discount cost of $20 is available to all those who register before midnight, Friday, March 4th. For those who register after March 4th, the conference is $30. Registration costs include free breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, the reception after Friday evening's opening plenary, the Saturday early evening performance of Howard Zinn's play, Marx in Soho, and extensive resource materials provided to all conference participants. Please contact us if you have special financial circumstances.
LOCATION The Friday opening plenary and registration will be located at American Federation of Musicians - Local 802, 322 West 48th Street (between 8th & 9th Aves). Saturday and Sunday activities will be located at the Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities located at 351 West 18th Street (between 8th & 9th Aves).
SPRING BREAK? For many of you in school, March 11 marks the beginning of your spring semester vacation. Please keep this in mind when planning your trip to New York, as you will probably not need to rush back to campus once the YDS conference is over. The timing is perfect. "When Bush Comes To Shove" can be part of your alternative, socialist spring break! For those planning to stay in New York City beyond March 13th, we can let you know of other cultural and political events and sites of interest to young leftists around the city.
Check back at the YDS website periodically for additional conference updates: www.ydsusa.org.
Our "Life After Bush" conference last year brought over 300 people to NYC for a number of workshops, trainings and great speakers like Cornel West, Leslie Cagan, Doug Henwood and more. See the report from last year's national conference: http://www.ydsusa.org/confs/nyc_0204_report.html
Young Democratic Socialists c/o DSA 198 Broadway, Suite 700
New York, NY, 10038
office: (212) 727-8610
fax: (212) 608-6955
yds@dsausa.org www.ydsusa.org