Hello fellow activists and organizers!<div><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><br></span></div><div><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">It's very, very rare that <a href="http://www.sojust.org" target="_blank">Socializing for Justice</a> finds an opportunity to co-sponsor events </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">because we purposely don't align ourselves with single issue groups. So it </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">is with great pleasure that I share that Socializing for Justice has once again </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">partnered with <a href="http://neworganizing.com" target="_blank">New Organizing Institute</a> (NOI) to host RootsCamp</span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"> MA in early 2013. Just over two years ago, we gathered almost 100 local activists to discuss the successes and challenges facing social change organizations, and to help create a diverse, powerful and inclusive gathering of passionate activists. We heard each others organizing challenges and left with solutions to make our individual and collective efforts stronger and better. </span></div>
<div><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><b><br></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><b><font color="#ff0000">We're ready to do this again, but we need your help. </font></b></span><span style="font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><b><font color="#ff0000">We're looking for a few more people to join the RootsCamp Organizing Committee.</font></b><font color="#222222"> Our first planning meeting is on Monday, January 28th in downtown Boston. Email <a href="mailto:robbie@robbiesamuels.com" target="_blank">robbie@robbiesamuels.com</a> to get the details. </font></span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">We're doing this as volunteers and could very much use your help to make </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">this happen and strengthen Massachusetts' cross-issue progressive community, </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">network and movement (see it's right in line with SoJust's v</span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">ision!). We also need organizations to sign up as a RootsCamp MA partner and commit to spreading the word to their community.</span><br style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">
<br style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><b>What's RootsCamp?</b></span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><b> </b>It's a friendly environment where you'll have time to </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">make real connections with people working on and interested in lots of </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">different issues. (Sound familiar?) Over one weekend in Boston, RootsCamp MA </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">will bring together a broad spectrum of organizers to discuss and </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">collaborate, share lessons learned, and drive the conversation about best </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">practices in social justice organizing. We'll discuss the successes and challenges </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">facing activists and organizers. With your help we'll bring together diverse voices and </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">perspectives from across the state and create a powerful, inclusive, and </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">productive event. Join us, and help drive the progressive movement forward.</span><br style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">
<br style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><b>How's it organized? </b>It's an "unconference" - meaning YOU get to present </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">a session without having to submit a proposal ahead of time. The whole point of this RootsCamp </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">unconference is for local organizers to own and drive the </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">conversation. It's the only conference this year where you are guaranteed to </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">have a chance to talk about what YOU want to talk about. It's part </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">reflection: a candid environment to share what's working and what isn't. </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">It's also a chance to get to know each other better and plan the year ahead. Here's a quick video explaining the unconference concept: </span><a href="http://youtu.be/wM6htb8Hifg" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/wM6htb8Hifg</a>.<br style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">
<br style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><b>Who should attend RootsCamp MA?</b> Change agents and progressives of all stripes, from across </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">Massachusetts, who have lessons to share, more to learn, or campaigns and </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">projects to move forward. Whether you consider yourself a "progressive" or </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">simply work on an issue or matter that moves our country forward, add your </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">voice and perspective -- help shape and take ownership over RootsCamp</span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">.</span><br style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif">
<br style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-size:13px;font-family:arial,sans-serif"><b>*When is it? Where is it?* </b>This will be determined by the Organizing Committee. Get involved now and help us create this welcoming space for passionate activists. Email <a href="mailto:robbie@robbiesamuels.com" target="_blank">robbie@robbiesamuels.com</a> to RSVP for the first planning meeting on Monday, January 28th in downtown Boston.</span></div>
<div><br></div><div>For Justice,</div><div>Robbie</div><div><b><font color="#ff6600"><span style="font-size:xx-large">____________________</span></font></b><br> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/robbiesamuels" target="_blank">@RobbieSamuels</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/robbiesamuels" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://facebook.com/ArtoftheSchmooze" target="_blank">Fan Page</a> | <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/robbiesamuels" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a><br>
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