The newest version of the Movement Education Program can be found HERE. Please enroll in this free, self-paced, online program! For affiliates, non-Move to Amend groups, Advocates, and individuals.
Archive: MEP 3.0
Welcome to the Move to Amend Movement Education Program 3.0!
This Movement Education Program is a process designed to help Move to Amend leaders become more effective organizers.
At the end, we should be better equipped to build authentic and trusting relationships with people from groups hardest-hit by structural oppression, and with organizers on the frontlines of the struggle against injustice and corporate rule.
Specifically, at the end of the program your affiliate group will have all the tools to build two documents:
- An Internal Democracy Agreement, where you’ll apply the intersectional feminist analysis and processes you learn about during these sessions.
- A Solidarity Outreach Plan which will inform your work as a group operating in solidarity with other fronts of struggle in your community.
Some of you have gone through an earlier iteration of the Movement Education Program, and we think you’ll find this manifestation to be more thorough, efficient, and there are new materials to help you refine the Solidarity Organizing Plans you made last time. For some of you, this is a new journey! Welcome all.
Completing this Movement Education Program is required of all Move to Amend affiliate groups.
While Move to Amend does not expect volunteers to take on educating the general public about oppression and racism as a primary role, it is still critical to understand the close relationship between structural oppression based on race, class, gender, etc. and the current dire state of our democracy. We must be skillful at building solidarity and trust across differences in order to grow a mass movement strong enough to win against corporate rule.
Here is a snapshot of the program. It works best if all -- or nearly all -- affiliate volunteers participate. Affiliates who have completed the process will also need to identify how to bring new members through this Movement Education Program as part of their orientation and deepening involvement.
This process should take your group about 5-7 months and should begin within 2-3 months of affiliating.
Session One: create a foundation of understanding of corporate constitutional rights and understand why Move to Amend comes at movement building through an anti-oppression lens and has a commitment to solidarity organizing.
Sessions Two & Three: grow our knowledge and awareness of the realities of oppression and racism within our institutions and groups.
Pause and Reflect: check-in to make sure the group is ready to move into planning phase. Also a chance to check in with new members who have joined since the group started and make sure they are up to speed, and pull in less involved affiliate people at this point.
Sessions Four & Five: self-assessment and planning discussion to culminate in a written “Solidarity Outreach Plan” to serve as a companion to the affiliate’s “Action Plan”, laying out local efforts toward the national ten year strategy and to decide on a set of “Internal Democracy Processes and Protocols.”
|
Topic |
Session |
Length |
Affiliate Participation |
National Team Participation |
|
Introduction |
90 min |
In person if possible. By video chat or phone is also ok. |
National Team member(s) facilitate by phone and take notes for the group. |
|
|
|
90 min |
In person if possible. By video chat or phone is also ok. |
Send notes to [email protected] |
|
|
|
90 min |
In person if possible. By video chat or phone is also ok. |
Send notes to [email protected] |
|
|
|
60 - 90 min |
In person if possible. By video chat or phone is also ok. |
Send notes to [email protected] |
|
|
Planning |
2 hrs |
In person. |
National Team member(s) facilitate by phone and take notes for the group. |
|
|
|
3 hrs |
In person. |
National Team member(s) participate IN PERSON if at all possible, otherwise by phone, and take notes by phone.
|
|
|
Building |
Develop Your Plan! |
As needed |
Use the templates from Session 4-5 to write your plan. Refer to Session 4-5 notes and this planning guide. Can schedule a separate meeting or fold into one or more regular affiliate meetings |
Send final written plan to [email protected]. |
SESSION I: Introduction
Objective: Define oppression and solidarity and intersectionality, learn how corporate rule benefits from oppression, and learn how oppression damages democracy and our chances of winning this fight against corporate rule, and why we need an intersectional approach to understanding different people’s experiences.
Format: Conference Call with all affiliate members + 2-3 members of National Team. National will assign note-taker.
Time: 90 minutes
Videos & Readings
- TED Talk by Kimberlé Crenshaw: The Urgency of Intersectionality (19 min video)
- ABC’s of Intersectionality (3 min video)
- Organizing to End Corporate Rule and Get Money Out of Politics (90 min video)
- Historical perspective: The Abolitionists, Part 3, Chapter 1 | PBS (12 min video)
- Activists Guide to Intersectionality and Inclusivity in the Amendment Movement - Free Speech for People (webpage with varity of resources)
Revisit from your pre-affiliation orientation
- Move to Amend Background and Founding (4 page online article)
- Why Move to Amend Centralizes the Work of Dismantling Racism and Other Oppressions (4 page pdf)
- Why We Need a Democracy Movement (10 page online article)
- Solidarity and Anti-Oppression Principles and Practice (2 page online article)
- What is Solidarity Organizing? (2 page online article)
- Move to Amend Strategic Plan (10 page online article)
Discussion Questions
- What were your general reactions, thoughts and feelings, about these materials? Were you familiar with the concept of intersectionality before these readings?
- We all feel the effects of unchecked corporate power. Discuss why some people feel the effects of corporate power more than others.
- Why is addressing oppression related to ending corporate personhood and money as speech? How is it related to democracy?
- If you like, share an experience when you were aware of privilege you carry. Did that experience inform your analysis or worldview?
- How might we practice solidarity organizing on a local level? What would it look like to stand in solidarity with other organizations or groups who are organizing for social justice, without an agenda of recruiting people to Move to Amend?
Session 1 Facilitation Resources
SESSION 2: Developing a Framework for Intersectional Solidarity Organizing and Anti-Oppression
Objective: Study how white supremacy and other oppressions show up in human relationships and explore how we can build our Move to Amend groups so that all people can participate fully, making it possible for us to win our fight against corporate rule.
Format: Affiliate meeting in-person.
Session Time: 90 minutes to 2 hours, depending on number of participants. Affiliate member(s) take notes
Videos and Readings
- Chapter 1 of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria (8 page pdf)
- Movement Building Definitions (3 page pdf)
- Unmasking 'Racial Micro Aggressions' and The MicroAggressions Blog
- Example: How the gender binary works in practice: a look at heteronormativity (3 page online article
- White Supremacy Culture (6 page online article)
- Why is work by women systematically devalued? (2 page online article)
- Historical perspective: Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC): A Short Documentary (3 min video)
- Historical perspective: SNCC's Legacy: A Civil Rights History (6 min video)
Discussion Questions
- What emotional response did you have to these readings/excerpts?
- Can you recall an instance in which the denial of ageism / sexism / racism / classism / homophobia / ableism was accepted, or even mandated? Looking back, how could you have participated in that situation in a more productive way? For example, your boss made a racist joke and interrupting the situation felt unsafe?
- Have you ever been in a situation in an activism or organizing space where you noticed microaggressions occurring? Did the group address it? What did the group do?
- If and when a microaggression or abuse of power occurs within our affiliate group, what are some qualities that would help us handle it (ie compassion, active listening, etc.)
- Sometimes in activist groups leaders emerge for various reasons, however, as we strive to truly be a people’s movement with room for everyone, we have to be intentional about generating a people-driven movement. What strategies did SNCC implement to generate a people-driven Civil Rights movement into the culture rather than a leader-driven movement? What are the advantages?
- How can we intentionally craft the culture and dynamics of our Move to Amend affiliates so that those who are part of populations which have been historically oppressed, feel safe, welcomed, and that there is a place for them to participate fully? How can we build trust with communities who are not represented in our meetings?
Session 2 Facilitation Resources
SESSION 3: Building a Culture of Trust
Objective: Learn about tools, culture, and processes that can help to make space for people with different life experiences, intersecting identities, and needs. Make a historical connection between the Women’s Suffrage Movement and gender justice today.
Format: Affiliate in-person meeting . 90 minutes. Please assign note taker from within the group.
Readings & Videos
- Six ways to make room for mistakes, and still hold each other accountable (8 page online article)
- Six unexpected ways I’ve healed from gaslighting abuse (7 page online article)
- Structure and Justice (online article)
- Key concepts: Glossary of Terms & Gender Unicorn (both 3 page online articles)
- When White Women Cry : How White Women’s Tears Oppress Women of Color (8 page pdf)
- Historical perspective: 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1 page online article)
- Historical perspective: Alice Stokes Paul: the Women's Suffrage Movement (5 min video)
Discussion Questions
- What were your emotional reactions to these readings? Did you have any thoughts about how oppressive behaviors might show up in your affiliate group or other places?
- How might the language we use in our activist spaces affect how safe people feel joining us?
- How does the 19th amendment struggle relate to the way women are organizing and struggling still today? How can we learn from the history of feminism and women’s struggles for liberation and apply lessons to the current moment?
- Some of the terms and ideas you read about in this session may have been new to you. How can we integrate new ideas and information into our group culture?
Session 3 Facilitation Resources
PAUSE & REFLECT
Now that you have completed the first three sessions of the Move to Amend Movement Education Program, it’s time to take stock and assess whether you are ready to proceed into the planning your Internal Democracy Agreement and Solidarity Outreach Plan.
Objective: Collect and review notes from previous sessions, look at the templates you’ll be building within the following sessions, assess your affiliate’s current group culture, and assess readiness to move forward.
Format: You can schedule a separate meeting to accomplish this self-assessment, or fold these topics into one or more regular affiliate meetings. These can be done by phone, but in-person is better.
It is ideal for this "pause and reflect" conversation to happen with all affiliate volunteers together, even those who may not (yet) have participated in the Movement Education Program. Plan for 60-90 minutes, depending on size of group and facilitation style.
Don’t forget to send notes/results to National Team at [email protected].
Pause & Reflect Discussion Guide
* Please note the readings for session 4 below.
Session 4: Organizing for Liberation: Democratic Practice within the Affiliate
Objective: Preparing to grow our own internal diversity and inclusiveness across all groups and identities, as well as our internal democratic practice.
Format: All affiliate members in person + 1 or 2 members of National Team by phone or video conference. Have National Team facilitate if possible. See the Agenda & Facilitation Guide for more details.
Session Time: 2 - 2 ½ hours
Logistics: Affiliate volunteers ideally meet in-person for both sessions 4 and 5 . Ideally, remote participants join by video-conference (Google Hangouts & Skype are free) or each on a separate phone line. This
Facilitation: Two or more National Team members will ideally co-facilitate sessions 4 and 5. This allows all affiliate volunteers to participate directly, rather than putting one or two in a neutral role as facilitator(s). The National Team session participants should be the same for both Session 4 and 5 .
Note-taking: There must be a note-taker for this session. Ideally it should be a co-facilitator from the National Team, so all affiliate members can participate fully. The notes will need to be shared out promptly so they can be used as part of Session 5.
Readings
- Continuum on Becoming a Dismantling Oppression Group (1 page pdf)
- How Culture is Like an Iceberg (1 page pdf)
- What is Feminist process? (3 page online article)
- Consensus Decision Making (1 page online article)
- How to make your social movement more inclusive of neurodiversity (2 page online article)
- Ten ways we can make leadership accessible to sick folks in activism (3 page online article)
- Internal Democracy Agreement/Group Culture Template
Preparation
Review the notes from the "Pause & Reflect" session.
Agenda & Facilitation Guide
Session 5: Developing a Local Plan for Solidarity Organizing and Movement Building
Objective: Lay the foundation of a plan to engage in solidarity with a variety of community groups whose work relates to our mission of building a vibrant, inclusive, and accountable democracy.
Format: All affiliate members in person. 1 National Team (board) in person as facilitator if possible. Other 1-2 members of National Team by phone or video conference.
See Agenda & Facilitation Guide for more details
Session Time: 2 - 2 ½ hours
Logistics. Affiliate volunteers should all meet in-person for session 5. Remote participants (National Team or other) join by video-conference (Google Hangouts & Skype are free) or each on a separate phone line.
Facilitation: We strongly recommend that a National Team member be asked to facilitate session 5. This allows all affiliate volunteers to participate directly in planning, rather than excusing one or two play neutral role as facilitator(s). If at all possible, the National Team will send a geographically-close Board member to facilitate in person.
Note-taking: There must be a note-taker for this session. Ideally it should be a co-facilitator from the National Team. Please be sure the National Team has the notes from all of you sessions. This will help us understand how to provide better support.
Preparation
(1) Everyone should review these key readings as a refresher and have them at hand for meeting:
- Solidarity and Anti-Oppression Practices and Principles (2 page Google doc - from MEP I)
- What is Solidarity Organizing? (2 page Google doc - from MEP I)
- Solidarity Outreach Plan Template
(2) Review the notes from the "Pause & Reflect" session and Session 4.
(3) Skim the reflection and action questions in the Agenda & Facilitation Guide below. This will prepare you for the bulk of the discussion.
