Hone your organizing skills through our Leadership Development Program! | Bulletin

Friend — 

DSA is an organization of nearly 100,000 people across the country, and more than 1,000 here in Philly. That’s a lot of people power. To build a true mass organization, we need to develop the leadership and organizing skills of our many members.

That’s why we’re launching our Leadership Development Program. 

This program will cover topics including one-to-one conversations, base-building, campaign strategy, and facilitating accessible meetings – all concepts and skills central to effective organizing. We'll meet four times (July 9, July 23, August 6, and August 20), including some in-person meetings. 

Interested? You can:

• Apply to participate in the training.
• Help plan the program or facilitate sessions! You can indicate interest on the form. 
• RECRUIT! While we're mostly inviting DSA members, this program is open to non-members, too. Invite people you think would benefit from building relationships and gaining confidence in their organizing. And think outside the box – are there people in your workplace or neighborhood interested in socialist politics? Make sure they fill out the application. 

We hope to see you there! Please email Duncan at [email protected] if you have any questions. 

On the calendar
Unless otherwise specified, all events are held via Zoom. 

Rent Control Canvass, June 11 in Mifflin Square Park at 1pm 
Join DSA and the Philadelphia Rent Control Coalition for an afternoon of knocking doors and talking to Philadelphians about Good Cause Legislation and Rent Control!

Labor Branch Meeting, June 12 at 12pm 
Hear about ongoing efforts to support workplace organizing in the city.

Structure Organizing Training, June 14 at 7pm
Our Housing Committee is hosting a five week training on organizing techniques, including leadership identification, one-on-one conversations, and campaign escalation. Sign up here!

Racial Justice Committee Meeting, June 15 at 6pm
Hear general updates from our campaigns and working groups. Join us for ways to plug into the work!

Electoral Campaign Debrief, June 15 at 6pm
Debrief our campaigns on behalf of Paul Prescod, Rick Krajewski, and Elizabeth Fiedler. We'll talk about what went well, what went poorly, and what's next.

June New Member Meeting, June 26 at 3pm
Join the Member Engagement Committee for our first in-person New Member Meeting of the year! You’ll learn more about our campaigns and meet some of our members.

View the full calendar

Updates from the branches

Delco DSA June General Meeting, June 15 at 7pm
Join to continue our discussion of campaigns and chapter business. All are welcome!

BuxMont General Meeting, June 21 at 7pm
Hear reports from working groups and committees, discuss and debate upcoming actions, and vote on resolutions proposed by the membership.

View all BuxMont events or all Delco events

This week in unions

• Philly DSA is supporting unionizing Starbucks workers! As of now, 4 local stores have unionized and are preparing to fight for contracts, 1 store is currently voting on unionizing, and 1 store is waiting for a union election date. 
  • To help workers build their movement, we need volunteers flyering outside stores, coordinating solidarity actions, designing graphics, and more! Sign up to support Starbucks workers in Philly: www.phillydsa.com/sbwu

• Last week, we stood with Teamsters and security officers at Penn who are fighting for a new contract – one that gets rid of a two-tier pay scale. Their contract expires on June 30, so stay tuned for other ways to support them. Read more here.
• On the same day, we also stood with library and rec center workers in their fight for more funding. It’s unacceptable that our facilities are closed due to short staffing, especially during this awful surge of gun violence. Check out coverage from their rally here.
• Workers at the Philadelphia Museum of Art have been fighting for their first contract for 22 months. That’s way too long to wait! Here are a couple of ways to support them:
  • AFL-CIO rally: Join AFL-CIO convention delegates at the Art Museum this Tuesday, June 14 at 6pm, with guests including AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and AFSCME President Lee Saunders. Find the details here.
  • Strike fund: The PMA Union's Local has voted to establish a strike fund. The Local's two bargaining units are both in protracted fights for their first contracts, so they've been unable to collect dues. They’re up against two deep-pocketed anti-union employers: UPenn and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Please donate to their strike fund if you can.
• Don’t miss our next Labor Branch meeting this Sunday, June 12 at noon. 

To get involved: If you’re interested in supporting workers who want to organize, organizing your workplace, supporting workers and unions taking collective action, or in building relationships with rank and file union members and leaders, email [email protected].

On the bulletin

• Join us on Slack: If you’re a Philly DSA member and you’d like to join our Slack workspace, please fill out this form. Our Slack hosts nearly 400 members who share updates from their DSA projects, get to know other members, and organize between meetings. 
• Harassment and Grievance Process: Read about the process to file a grievance here.

In solidarity,

Philly DSA
http://www.phillydsa.org/

“It is a beautiful thing to be on fire for justice…there is no greater joy than inspiring and empowering others –– especially the least of these, the precious and priceless wretched of the earth!” - Cornel West