Outreach: Difference between revisions

General information

Outreach engages with local community organizations, labor unions, faith leaders, immigration groups and health justice workers, and others to address broader needs in the Boston area.

What does tha tmean in practice? It means we spend a lot of time going to meetings, meeting new people, starting conversations, and figuring out where Occupy Boston falls in the wider social justice landscape in Boston.

If you work with an organization or group and are trying to figure out how OB might fit in -- or if you're new to Occupy Boston and want help connecting with the right working group -- we're probably a good place to start!

Sign up for our mailing list

Outreach Committee meets Mondays at 6 p.m. at SEIU 615 (23 West Street, 2nd floor) and Fridays at 6 p.m. at E5 (33 Harrison Ave)

Labor Outreach Committee meets Mondays at 4:30pm at SEIU 615 (23 West Street, 2nd floor)

Community Organizations / Movement buildingmeets Mondays at 6 p.m. at SEIU 615 (23 West Street, 2nd floor)

Street Teamsmeetings TBD

DOCUMENTATION (WHAT WE DO)

Read the Minutes and Agendas of Past Meetings.

Announcements

November 12

Foreclosure canvassing in Malden with City Life / Vida Urbana Meet at the info tent at 9:30 to get on the orange line to meet CLVU at Malden Center

October 31, 2011

Info Tent Volunteer Training
Info needs your help! We are short on volunteers at the moment and need to trainneeds your help! people asap to help staff the tent. Training will be at 7 p.m. at the info tent (costumes encouraged)

October 29, 2011

Outreach needs canvassers!
Help us spread the word! Canvassing kits are available at the info table -- please take them to your school, your neighborhood, your favorite coffee shop, and help us get the word out about what's happening in Dewey Square.

October 26, 2011

From 3pm-5pm, join UNITE HERE for an organizing training on telling your story. At 5pm, march in solidarity with Verizon workers!

October 16, 2011

Check out this beautiful poster from South End Textiles!
Outreach kits are on their way. In the meantime, this came in through the wires today -- print out copies and put them up everywhere!
http://southendtextiles.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/occupy_poster.pdf

October 15,2011

Labor Organization Unite Here local #26 Joins The Fight
On Wed. 10/19/2011 members of Unite Here will be conducting classes on Boycotts as an effective tool in our diversity of tactics.
Unite Here conducted a successful boycott against employers in the range of $20,000,000.
Class will be held 1-3pm @ Dewey Square

We are seeking 100 supporters to join eviction blockade with City LIfe / Vida Urbana this Monday.
On Monday at noon, there will be an eviction blockade and rally at a home that is being foreclosed on in Malden. If you are interested in participating in this action, please coordinate with Katie (katie.gradowski@gmail.com) or check in with Nicole at the direct action tent to see how you can help.

Outreach Archives and Minutes from the Outreach Teach-in With Cynthia Peters

Pending Proposals

Boston City Council Resolution

Get Involved!

There are lots of ways to participate. Every conversation you have about Occupy is Outreach! Here are some suggestions; please add your own.

Pick up some fliers at the Outreach tent or the info desk, and paper the world: train cars, community bulletin boards, friendly businesses, etc. (The Neighborhoods working group can help!)
Make your 99% status visible: carry a sign, make yourself a tee shirt or pin.
Look for opportunities to bring up Occupy. Don't be afraid to tell people what you really did over the weekend!

When someone asks you about Occupy, here are some phrases that we've had success with in conversations:

I can't speak for the movement as a whole, but here's why I am involved...
If you've ever worried about money or politics, you're one of us.
Come by and visit us. We're a lot of fun! (Mention something that's gotten you excited, like a marching band or the library tent or a recent General Assembly or...)
It's true that we don't have a set list of goals. We do know that the system is broken, and we want as many voices as we can to contribute so we can fix it together. What do you think will help?

On-Site Volunteering

The best way to help with on-site volunteering is to just SHOW UP. People AT the camp ARE the occupation. Look for people who are working and ask how to help. Ask a camper if you can help with anything. Camping is the hardest part of this occupation. For campers to stay, they need to be comfortable. Check in at the WELCOME CENTER. There is a list of volunteer needs. Remember to dress for the weather. Being outside generally requires warm clothes and comfortable shoes, because of the gravel path.

1. Help staff the info tent

We need people to sit at INFO TENT and answer questions, help direct people, and provide a friendly face to new visitors. We need at least one person at all hours. So please sign up, if you can come onsite for a couple hours at a time. [to sign up, email infotent@occupyboston.org)

Volunteer Near Home

1. Spread a friendly word

Learn about Occupy through this wiki and www.occupy.org. Basic information that might be helpful in understanding and explaining Occupy Boston is available at Occupy 101.

2. Poster Your Town

Print out 50 flyers from the website. Find them at: http://occupyboston.com/flyers-print-and-post/

Hand them out downtown, at the grocery store, at the big discount store. Post them at coffee shops, bus stations, anywhere that seems appropriate. Be considerate of local cultural preferences relative to posting on telephone poles. While there are laws allowing and preventing, there’s often a local preference that may be worth respecting.

3. Set Up and/or Staff a Table in Your Town

Get a card table and set it up downtown somewhere. Or at a busy bus or train station. Wherever there’s a lot of foot traffic. Print out a bunch of flyers from http://occupyboston.com/flyers-print-and-post/ And just go sit at the table and answer questions. The first time will be hard because you’ll be learning at the same time you’re answering questions. But it’ll get easier. Print out the FAQ from the website and bring them with you. Make sure to check the FAQ sometimes, because there are updates as we figure out other stuff people want to know.

Remote Volunteering

1. Work on Policy Development

If you're a constitutional lawyer, citizen activist, fiscal policy analyst, or an interested citizen, and you want to join in the "online discussion" about our demands as "the 99%", please go here! There are many interesting things going on. The Strategies, Policies, and Proposals group is focusing on "fiscal" and "social policies", as well as "demands" that we want from our government. The Facilitation working group is focusing on practices to make a better democracy. If you'd like "virtual training" for how to post and join in the discussion, please let us know. Write to occupybostonvol@gmail.com

2. Blogging

Search for blogs and newspaper/media that have articles. Or go to themain website and OB facebook page and look for posts of media. Go to those sites, read the article and the comments. Post replies “in support”. Use the “messages” at the main website to help you write things in support of the movement. Here’s a good place to find those messages:http://occupyboston.com/faq/general-faq/

3. Tweeting

Follow the Occupy Boston Twitter (@Occupy_Boston) stream and the news about Occupy Boston. Then tell the world about it! The more people who know about us the better.

Outreach Sub-Pages

See also the [Street Theater] Direct Action Working Groups for lists of ideas for group action.

Protest Chaplains: http://protestchaplains.blogspot.com/p/about-us.html

Contact Us

oboutreach@occupyboston.org

Based on: Outreach at wikispaces