9:15                 Introductions & Overview of Action Plan, Convergence Discussions and Continuations Committee

9:30                 Overview of Occupy Pittsburgh Movement and Current Econ-Social & International Issues organizing in the Region

10 – 11 am      Small Group Discussions on Social Justice Movement in Region, Occupy, and the role of Action Plan
      Discussion Questions:

(1)   What Opportunities and Challenges face the Social Justice Movement in the short and longer term (5 years plus)

(2)   Identify core organizing campaigns and capacity building needs of Social Justice Movement in next 1-5 years

(3)   How can the Action Plan contribute to, support, strengthen the Social Justice Movement in the region over the long run

11 – 11:45       Report Backs on Discussions

11:45 – Noon   Next Steps for Action Plan Continuations Committee, other initiatives

Forr more information, please contact:
Anne Lynch, TRCF,             412-243-9250      ; email – trcf@trcfwpa.org

Craig Stevens, TRCF Building Social Change Committee:             412-760-6478      ; email – craig_stevens@verizon.net

That evening, more than 150 people from community organizers in Pittsburgh and a Sociology class from Pitt to a Religious Studies class from Indiana University gathered to hear words of wisdom, hope, and inspiration from our keynote speaker, Native American and environmental activist Winona LaDuke.  Over the entire weekend  I heard conversations about so many diverse issues – women and families dealing with the traumas of war, best strategies for getting your message out to the world, supportive suggestions to express who you are and how to find your community.

Friday night we had more than 100 people clapping and singing for (and dancing to) an eclectic line-up of performance artists that motivated us through their passion and experience.  They performed with the backdrop of a galvanic display of artwork that was contributed from a dedicated group of artists seeking to raise community awareness on issues of equality and creating a more well society. Meanwhile, around the city, lots of enthusiastic filmgoers were attending the Convergence’s Building Change Film Festival  and enjoying a wide variety of short and feature-length documentary films, dealing with important social, environmental, economic, and political issues, in five separate theaters.

We have heard many positive comments over the past three days and we’d love to hear what your experiences were and how they could be improved.   Please download our evaluation below and mail, fax, or e-mail this form back to us.

Thanks for your work to make this event a resounding success. It would not have happened without your dedication to positive social change.

Yours in Change,

Convergence Evaluation

Your input is valuable, please return this survey to:

Fax: 412-243-0504
E-mail: trcf@trcfwpa.org
Mail:
Three Rivers Community Foundation
100 N. Braddock, Suite 302
Pittsburgh, PA 15208

Please also leave a comment below or on our Facebook page.

October 13-15, 2011

Senator John Heinz Regional History Center

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

What is it all about?

The first-ever gathering of people and organizations from across Southwestern Pennsylvania – community members and leaders, human services providers and small business owners, union members, grantmakers, filmmakers, artists, entertainers, media representatives, people from all backgrounds and interests – who share a common goal of advancing social justice and change in our region and world. A three-day, open attendance conference on social justice and change for the 10-county Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Events include workshops, training sessions, plenary sessions, a Keynote Address by renowned economist and environmentalist Winona LaDuke, panel discussions, the Building Change Film Festival, a Social Justice Arts Show, an Internship Fair, entertainment, Youth Leading Change event, and more.

Keynote Address by renowned economist and environmentalist Winona LaDuke

Thursday, October 13th at 6:00 PM

See below for the full schedule of events!

Purposes of the Convergence:

Overarching Goal:  To advance the social change and justice movement in the Southwestern Pennsylvania region.

Enabling Objectives:

1. To provide a forum for identifying and discussing urgent social, economic, and environmental issues in the rural and urban communities comprising the 10-county Southwestern Pennsylvania region.

2. To convene hundreds of grassroots organizations, groups, and individuals in this region to engage in productive debate and dialogue on problems of inequity and injustice and to seek unified, strategic and non-duplicative solutions to these problems.

3. To develop a five-year Action Plan for Building Social Justice in Southwestern Pennsylvania that will be shaped by Convergence participants. A Continuations Committee will be drawn from participants to guide implementation of this first-ever plan to build the capacity of the social change movement in the region.

4. To foster greater collaboration and partnerships between and among grantmakers and progressive organizations throughout the region.

5. To draw media attention to issues of social justice in the region.

Anticipated Attendance:

1,500-1,700 people

To ensure that the Convergence is open to all, the event planners are keeping admission rates low (click “Register” for prices) and offering forty need-based scholarships per day.  Find out more about this by clicking here.

This event is fully accessible for people with disabilities.  Please note how we can better accommodate your needs on your registration.

Updates:  

• The Screening of Gerrymandering has been cancelled due to a conflict in screenings.  Please watch the film at Chatham on Tuesday night at 7:00pm
• Green Wave’s showtime has been moved to 7:00 PM at the Point Park GRW Theater, still showing on Thursday evening, October 13th.
• Make it an evening and visit the Andy Warhol after the show to see Kaz Rahman’s film Deccani Soul showing at 8:30 pm.

We look forward to seeing you at the event!