In my inbox, I discovered another youth development program.  This one is
not disability related but clearly more political than the disability
leadership program announced earlier.  I offer it as a resource for local
vicug's doing advocacy.

Kelly



From: "LC" <[log in to unmask]>


You've got drive, you've got vision and guts--But all college has done
is teach you to write essays and hold a protest. There's a movement
for social justice swelling across the country and you want to build
it. The STARC Alliance is ready to work with young activists who want
to learn how to organize.


Introducing.....The STARC Summer Institute

What is it? An intensive 8-week training school for young activists.
It is being offered for the first time in the summer of 2002. The
Summer Institute is designed to help youth & student activists become
successful, conscious organizers on our campuses, in our communities,
and for the broader student movement.

What's STARC? The STARC (Students Transforming and Resisting
Corporations) Alliance is a national network of youth and student
activists who are working for a just and sustainable society by
building power with the people most impacted by inequality.

As young activists, we?re committed to building our skills as
principled, effective organizers who will work in movements for
racial, economic and environmental justice over the long run. At the
Summer Institute, we'll learn organizing skills and develop our
political analysis through a combination of training and hands-on
community organizing experience. The Summer Institute has 4 major
components:

Internships: Students will be placed as interns with principled
community-based organizations. There, we'll witness community-based
organizing from the inside, and gain some concrete organizing
experience ourselves. We'll also have the opportunity to support
critical community struggles around a variety of issues.

Political Education: A core piece of the Summer Institute is a weekly
workshop that build our practical analysis of interlocking systems of
oppression-- white supremacy, capitalism, and patriarchy?and their
relationship to current struggles and movements. We'll combine guest
presentations, readings, discussion of liberation struggles of
oppressed communities, challenging privilege, and organizing
strategy.

Organizing Skills: A series of organizing trainings led by
professional organizers and trainers will ground us, as participants,
in basic direct action community organizing, power mapping, strategic
campaign design, media, direct action/civil disobedience, and other
important organizing skills.

Building STARC: Participants will take on collective projects related
to STARC, including helping plan our national gathering to be held at
the end of the summer. Not only will we learn and organize together,
we'll also work to build a stronger sense of community in STARC over
the next year. In building thoughtful relationships with each other,
we have the roots to create powerful alliances with other groups and
organizers. We are the next generation of social justice, and we must
work together!

The Summer Institute begins on June 8 with a 5-day orientation and
ends August 9. It will take place in the San Francisco Bay Area in
California. Participants will be provided housing and receive a stipend
to cover their living expenses.

The STARC Alliance is an affirmative action network, women, queers,
people of color are encouraged to apply!


The STARC Summer Institute Application

This application is due Feb. 15 2002


Name:                           Email:

School/Community:               Phone Number for Feb.-May 2002:

Address:


1. Please provide us with a resume of your community involvement
   and organizing thus far. 1 pg max, 10 pt font min.

2. Describe your experience organizing with the STARC Alliance.

3. What are you hoping to get out of the Summer Institute?

4. What role does challenging racism, sexism & gender, classism
   have in the work you do?


Application Process:

Jan. 14, 2002 Announcement and applications are available

Feb. 15, 2002 Applications due at [log in to unmask]

Feb. 25, 2002 During this week there will be phone interviews if
              necessary

Mar. 15, 2002 We'll notify you by this date as to whether you're in
              or not.

Questions?

Email: [log in to unmask]  or call (503) 247.5995 for STARC HQ


Laura Close, Field Organizer
The STARC Alliance
wk. (503) 247-5995  cell (510) 872-0793
www.starcalliance.org


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