Kitchen Table ActivismBackground: Kitchen Table Activism (KTA) is a monthly project of the Rural Organizing Project. Often building on quarterly themes, short actions are described in each KTA. The theory is that basic steps and tasks can lead to powerful collective results as small groups of people gather to complete the same action throughout the state of Oregon. ROP works to keep the basic tasks easily achievable so that groups with other projects or groups with limited immediate energy can still manage to complete the KTA each month.
Rural Organizing Project (503) 543-8417 Fax: (503) 543-8419
Kitchen Table ActivismBackground: Kitchen Table Activism (KTA) is a monthly project of the Rural Organizing Project. Often building on quarterly themes, short actions are described in each KTA. The theory is that basic steps and tasks can lead to powerful collective results as small groups of people gather to complete the same action throughout the state of Oregon. ROP works to keep the basic tasks easily achievable so that groups with other projects or groups with limited immediate energy can still manage to complete the KTA each month.
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June 2006 ActivityYouth Activists on the Move in Small Town Oregon!
WHAT IS THE ACTIVITY? Last year ROP put out a call to youth in small town Oregon asking if they wanted to participate in intergenerational dialogues on the topic of organizing for social change. A casual ropnet post yielded over 50 applications (some even from other rural states.) The word about this opportunity spread like wild fire. The volume of applicants told us that small town progressive youth are hungry for an opportunity to gain more skills and support for their activism. (To read more about the Intergenerational Dialogues, visit: http://www.rop.org/docs/Intergen) Youth are already stepping up in exciting ways to challenge the unacceptable status quo of imperialism abroad and no services at home: from creating high school youth groups to coordinating local rallies. But we have realized how few of us more seasoned organizers know what they are doing, let alone ways that we might work together. The five youth active in the intergenerational dialogues became known as the ROP “pod.” As the dialogues themselves came to a close, the youth and ROP leaders decided that we want continue to work together- the youth conceived of a project that would identify and support other small town progressive youth by Mapping Youth Activity in the state of Oregon. And they have a way for you to step up and help out. . This youth group “mapping” project will seek out and identify progressive youth groups, youth leaders and their adult allies in each school district across the state (there are 300 school districts in Oregon.) After identifying and meeting other youth leaders in small town Oregon, we will then develop a youth-led communication system that connects rural and small town progressive youth. WHY THIS ACTIVITY? The small town progressive youth group mapping is a first step in building more relationships with progressive youth and supporting them as they choose to step forward in their communities and offer leadership in social justice organizing. We all know that being outwardly progressive in small town Oregon can be challenging and isolating, let’s all further ROP’s mission to break isolation and build local progressive infrastructure by working with small town youth to support their local work. CLICK HERE to read letter from ROP Youth. STEPS TO COMPLETE THE ACTIVITY:
Local Youth Groups: _________________________________________________________________________ Contact Information: _________________________________________________________________________
Local Youth Activists: ________________________________________________________________________ Contact Information: _________________________________________________________________________
Local Youth Allies (teachers, etc): ______________________________________________________________ Contact Information: _________________________________________________________________________
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