Outreach
General Information
Outreach engages with individuals, community members, labor organizers and local businesses to communicate the message of our movement in a way that helps to build relationships and attract them to our cause. In practice this means that we make lots of introductions and spend a lot of time figuring out who it is that we should be talking to. At the moment we're actively organizing with local community organizations, labor unions, faith leaders, immigration groups and health justice workers to address broader needs in the Boston area.
Read our Statement of Purpose, Organization, Initiatives: Outreach - SOP, Organization, Initiatives (it's a little out of date, but gets to the gist of some of what we've been working on)
MEETING TIMES AND LOCATIONS
Outreach Committee meets every Friday at 6 p.m. at the Gandhi statue.
The Labor Outreach Committee meets Mondays at 4:30pm at SEIU 615 to accommodate the labor organization members who wish to actively participate in our group process.
The Community Organizations Outreach Committee meets Mondays at 6 p.m. at SEIU 615 (with a large community group meeting which follows).
- Note: Outreach is currently sharing a tent with the Community Organizations working group. It is located on the east side of camp near the plaza
Read the Minutes and Agendas of Past Meetings.
Announcements
Occupy Boston Globe - Outreach Events
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
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. Media Reception Desk Staff
We need people to sit at the media group's RECEPTION DESK and answer basic questions from the public as well as help internal staff and the media. 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. [there's a link on the media group's page, which I can't find] Or write tooccupybostonvol@gmail.com
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
Contact Us
Based on: Outreach at wikispaces