tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19450438674120788992024-02-08T06:08:00.287-08:00Santa Cruz Community Safety WorkgroupA Working Group Focused on Local, Self-Reliant, Mutually Supportive Community SafetyWes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-44348172444720519593011-04-07T15:54:00.000-07:002011-04-12T15:09:05.510-07:00Welcome to the Santa Cruz Community Safety WorkgroupHere are some resources here that will help you get up to speed on what is happening here:<br />
<br />
<ul class="pagebar"><li><a href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/p/about.html">About</a> the Santa Cruz Community Safety Workgroup.<br />
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<li><a dir="ltr" href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/search/label/vision">Our vision</a> for a world of community safety.<br />
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<li><a href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/p/premises.html">Bottomline premises</a> of the workgroup.<br />
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<li><a dir="ltr" href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/search/label/values">Some of the shared values</a> expressed by the particpants.<br />
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<li><a dir="ltr" href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/search/label/Challenges">Challenges</a> we face.<br />
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<li><a dir="ltr" href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/search/label/open%20questions">Open questions</a> we have compiled. <br />
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<li><a href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/p/workgroups.html">Individual small groups</a> that make up the larger workgroup.<br />
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<li><a href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/p/get-involved.html">How to get involved!<br />
</a></li>
<li><a href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/">Recent news and notes.</a><br />
</li>
</ul>Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-74688420615208477532011-05-27T14:27:00.000-07:002011-05-27T14:27:21.752-07:00Workgroup: Food Security - Apr 14, 2011<b>Mission statement</b><br />
To facilitate local food production and distribution while reinforcing the values of the community safety workgroup including autonomy, self reliance, and DIY.<br />
<br />
How food security relates to Community safety<br />
<br />
-Food security is related to community health; mental and physical<br />
-Enabling people to meet their daily needs (food, space, community) makes them less likely to resort to crime (theft, blackmarket sales, solicitation) to meet those needs.<br />
-Wasted Food (from restaurants and stores) represents a squandered resource that is easily utilized with community connections <br />
-Poorly used land in cities and surrounding areas is a nuisance, while properly utilized land is a resource for the community<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
-Industrial and non local food production model increases the presence of highways - reducing transport of goods reduces the need for roads and therefore police and petroleum<br />
-Free trade agreements create displaced people at home and abroad, producing food locally battles these agreements see:<a href="http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=531">http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=531</a><br />
-Many people in america need food assistance weekly See:<a href="http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-studies/hunger-study-2010.aspx">http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-studies/hunger-study-2010.aspx</a><br />
-Political turmoil can cause food scarcity that leads to food riots (there has been an ongoing global food crisis since 2008 see:<a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2009/10/14/as_us_and_other_wealthy_nations">http://www.democracynow.org/2009/10/14/as_us_and_other_wealthy_nations</a><br />
<br />
<b>Related Agencies</b><br />
Existing Community Gardens<br />
- Lighthouse<br />
- Trescony<br />
- Beach Flats<br />
- Neary lagoon<br />
Homeless Garden Project<br />
Food not Lawns<br />
<br />
<b>Strategies</b><br />
Reduce inequity in the community<br />
Enable people to meet basic daily needs<br />
Expand community gardening and farming<br />
Start a local guerilla soup kitchen (possibly a Food Not Bombs)<br />
<br />
<b>obstacles</b><br />
Lack of existing spaces and facilities<br />
Lack of community connections<br />
<br />
<b>Actions and commitments</b><br />
Begin networking for a new Guerilla Soup KitchenWes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-22680258915718138622011-05-27T14:26:00.003-07:002011-05-27T14:26:47.061-07:00Workgroup: Crisis Response - Apr 14, 2011<div><u>SMALL GROUPS:</u></div><div><b>Crisis Response Team</b></div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><i>*talked about strategy/action examples from last week</i></div><div><i>*some discourse about whether or not we should have a mission statement</i></div><div><i>*questions about the extent of a transparent process whether that means we are disclosing our process to the police</i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><b><i>Mission statement:</i> </b>"We want to create a safe, confidential, trusted & non-hierarchical system for addressing local conflicts and issues without involving police or external authorities, excepting in medical emergencies."<br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>*...reads off a list of people trying to take care of other without police, all resulting in obstruction of justice charges.</div><div>*...discusses conducting research to circumvent drawing legal charges for making action without involving police.</div><div>*...suggest breaking the group into even smaller pieces to individually handle portions of this plan.</div><div>*...sharing of lawyer Ben Rice's contact for further research.</div><div>*...suggests going through an imaginary scenario, using it to figure out what infrastructure we don't have already.</div><div><b>*suggestion to start on time next time.</b></div>Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-90617892637147380362011-05-27T14:26:00.002-07:002011-05-27T14:26:43.635-07:00Workgroup: Crisis Response - Apr 28, 2011This is a recounting of the minutes of the Crisis Response Committee for <br />
the Community Safety Meeting conducted on 4/28/2011 at Subrosa.<br />
<br />
Three participants present for entire meeting. One listened and left before the group concluded. <br />
<br />
1. Review of notes of previous meetings, strategies: Legal ramifications of having a group such as this. U.S. Code 1503: Obstruction of justice was reviewed. Discussion was had regarding the charge of "Interfering with a police investigation," and the need to be careful in dealing with police, as well as examples of situations in which this statute was interpreted broadly, resulting in arrest and/or prosecution of witnesses attempting to observe and record police action with a video camera.<br />
<br />
2. What is the purpose of having such a group? Someone suggested: Linking people in your neighborhood, building community and neighborhood trust, to create the possibility of neighbors calling on each other rather than authorities. A variety of viewpoints were presented about the nature of a "Crisis Response Team."<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Two of those present saw the Team as being primarily non-confrontational, with an emphasis non non-violent communication, but the point was made by another about the unfortunate need to be prepared for a violent response, as, by definition, a "Crisis Response Team" will, in fact be called to respond to crises, some of which will involve violence, or at least violent intent. A discussion ensued regarding the limits of so-called "Protective violence," liability as it related to self defense, and potential liability problems which could arise from attempting to intervene in situations in which not all parties have agreed to mediation.<br />
<br />
3.Possibility was suggested that the group might benefit from pre-paid legal representation. Someone suggested contacting a attorney to clarify rights and obligations inherent in so-called "Good Samaritan Laws."<br />
<br />
4.The question was posed: Will the police likely to see the group as interfering with investigations? Or will they see the group as a helpful component of an interconnected community, to fill in the socio-economic gap where a group like neighborhood watch, composed of property owners, leaves off? Does the potential usefulness of our efforts to police make us a component of "gentrification?" The discussion was tabled.<br />
<br />
This is a recounting of the minutes of the Crisis Response Committee for the Community Safety Meeting conducted on 4/28/2011 at Subrosa.<br />
<br />
Three participants present for entire meeting. One listened and left before the group concluded. <br />
<br />
1. Review of notes of previous meetings, strategies: Legal ramifications of having a group such as this. U.S. Code 1503: Obstruction of justice was reviewed. Discussion was had regarding the charge of "Interfering with a police investigation," and the need to be careful in dealing with police, as well as examples of situations in which this statute was interpreted broadly, resulting in arrest and/or prosecution of witnesses attempting to observe and record police action with a video camera.<br />
<br />
2. What is the purpose of having such a group? Someone suggested: Linking people in your neighborhood, building community and neighborhood trust, to create the possibility of neighbors calling on each other rather than authorities. A variety of viewpoints were presented about the nature of a "Crisis Response Team."<br />
<br />
Two of those present saw the Team as being primarily non-confrontational, with an emphasis non non-violent communication, but the point was made by another about the unfortunate need to be prepared for a violent response, as, by definition, a "Crisis Response Team" will, in fact be called to respond to crises, some of which will involve violence, or at least violent intent. A discussion ensued regarding the limits of so-called "Protective violence," liability as it related to self defense, and potential liability problems which could arise from attempting to intervene in situations in which not all parties have agreed to mediation.<br />
<br />
3.Possibility was suggested that the group might benefit from pre-paid legal representation. Someone suggested contacting a attorney to clarify rights and obligations inherent in so-called "Good Samaritan Laws."<br />
<br />
4.The question was posed: Will the police likely to see the group as interfering with investigations? Or will they see the group as a helpful component of an interconnected community, to fill in the socio-economic gap where a group like neighborhood watch, composed of property owners, leaves off? Does the potential usefulness of our efforts to police make us a component of "gentrification?" The discussion was tabled.<br />
<br />
5.The point was made that it is a vital component of the credibility of the group, as well as the safety of its members to always intend to de-escalate situations, analyzing appropriate responses intelligently. The point of the Team is to de-escalate confrontations and encourage dialogue, not to hurt anyone, it was suggested. The observation was made that assertive politeness is a good default persona when dealing with sketchy situations, and the presence of people with this attitude tends to make a neighborhood safer at night.<br />
<br />
6.Someone suggested a review of the effectiveness of similar programs in other areas.<br />
<br />
7. It was suggested that it would be wise to monitor police radio frequencies to avoid unwanted contact with authorities, if, for example, someone presented a false or mistaken report to police regarding activities of the group, characterizing a constitutionally protected free-assembly as illegal activity of one sort or another, i.e.:"Loitering" or "Failure to disperse."<br />
<br />
8. The question was posed: What should our response be if we are ordered to leave the scene of police misconduct? <br />
<br />
The subcommittee meeting was then concluded.<br />
<br />
<br />
5.The point was made that it is a vital component of the credibility of the group, as well as the safety of its members to always intend to de-escalate situations, analyzing appropriate responses intelligently. The point of the Team is to de-escalate confrontations and encourage dialogue, not to hurt anyone, it was suggested. The observation was made that assertive politeness is a good default persona when dealing with sketchy situations, and the presence of people with this attitude tends to make a neighborhood safer at night.<br />
<br />
6.Someone suggested a review of the effectiveness of similar programs in other areas.<br />
<br />
7. It was suggested that it would be wise to monitor police radio frequencies to avoid unwanted contact with authorities, if, for example, someone presented a false or mistaken report to police regarding activities of the group, characterizing a constitutionally protected free-assembly as illegal activity of one sort or another, i.e.:"Loitering" or "Failure to disperse."<br />
<br />
8. The question was posed: What should our response be if we are ordered to leave the scene of police misconduct? <br />
<br />
The subcommittee meeting was then concluded.Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-68268113940896808602011-05-27T14:26:00.001-07:002011-05-27T14:26:07.966-07:00Workgroup: Community Connectedness - Apr 28, 2011<b>AGENDA</b><br />
* Review of action items<br />
* Strategies<br />
* Actions<br />
<br />
<b>STRATEGIES</b><br />
How do we connect with other communities?<br />
- Through shared needs, shared resources, and/or shared threats.<br />
Interestingly, we realized this is also how we connect with individuals within our community as well.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
There are contested, threatened spaces all around us.<br />
Some of the problems people bring to the sketchy places in our neighborhoods:<br />
* drugs<br />
* yelling<br />
* trash<br />
* police<br />
* theft<br />
* violence<br />
<br />
Then we got to thinking, as anarchists, activists, and poor people in our communities, what do we do when we are perceived as the threat?<br />
* Listen to concerns (w generosity)<br />
* Ask/answer questions<br />
* Make yourself available<br />
<br />
We discussed how to approach people in our community.<br />
Common concerns?<br />
Unite around shared needs, resources, or threats?<br />
<br />
<b>ACTIONS</b><br />
Here are the actions we committed to in our own communities:<br />
<br />
* Create a phone tree/list<br />
* Organize a potluck/BBQ<br />
* Organize housewarmings for new people in community<br />
* Create community bulletin boards to share info/events<br />
* Dialogue with neighborhood<br />
* Talking to everyone within one blockWes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-83245131840047761682011-05-27T14:26:00.000-07:002011-05-27T14:26:00.164-07:00Workgroup: Community Connectedness - Apr 14, 2011<b>AGENDA</b><br />
* Mission Statement<br />
* Review Past Actions<br />
* Strategies<br />
* Actions<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>MISSION</b><br />
<br />
How can communities connect with each other and to communities outside?<br />
Why interested in this?<br />
* we are societelly alienated<br />
* connectedness = safety<br />
* we want to find and build trust <br />
* we want reliability<br />
* confidentiality is important<br />
* take anarchism to its logical conclusion: how link together<br />
* local decentralized non-hierarchical<br />
* work together<br />
<br />
Mission Statement<br />
<blockquote>"We desire to meaningfully connect with others within our communities and have our communities connected with other communities. We want to be welcoming, inclusive, and willing to grow."<br />
<a name='more'></a></blockquote>We wanted to check-in with others previously in this group.<br />
Later one of those group members suggested the addition of "meaningfully"<br />
<br />
<b>STRATEGIES</b><br />
We wanted to brainstorm strategies that we not only wanted to see happen, but were willing to put energy into. We will try out our ideas in our communities and report back.<br />
<br />
* phone list for neighbors<br />
* host neighborhood event<br />
- with help from neighbors<br />
* neighborhood project<br />
* community meetings - productive ones<br />
- with potluck (or desert potluck yum!)Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-15774276458099072952011-05-27T14:24:00.000-07:002011-05-27T14:24:51.438-07:00Workgroup: Public Spaces - Apr 28, 2011<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-western">Public Spaces small group notes 4 - 28<br />
<br />
<b> - Components -</b><br />
Protecting existing spaces<br />
<br />
Creating new public spaces<br />
<br />
<br />
<b> - Thoughts -</b><br />
Current and new space Dynamics<br />
<br />
Community space strengthens communities by creating a place for people to come together<br />
<br />
people need space to assemble publicly: eat, sleep, store possessions, make music, socialize<br />
<br />
There is insufficient space for people to publicly assemble<br />
<br />
There are many regulations governing what people can do in public spaces<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
In public places, sometimes individuals need to be confronted and/or removed to maintain peace<br />
- How do we protect community space without calling the police?<br />
<br />
Signs can help to regulate people's actions and also may provide an advantage in legal situations<br />
<br />
How can new and existing public spaces become the most empowering for people?<br />
<br />
How can we create public spaces for people without permanent residences?<br />
<br />
The automobile and car culture prohibit critical mass<br />
- Use lots of space for roads<br />
- Leads to urban/suburban sprawl and unsustainable development patterns<br />
- Roads divide communities and can isolate neighborhoods<br />
<br />
<b> - Strategies -</b><br />
rethink space dynamics<br />
<br />
grow a social movement through small actions<br />
<br />
Reclaiming land<br />
- roads and parking lots<br />
- open space<br />
- private property<br />
<br />
control the flow of information<br />
<br />
direct actions<br />
<br />
create a hierarchy for community safety<br />
<br />
<b> - Actions and commitments -</b><br />
Look at other models<br />
<br />
Attend court hearings for peace camp<br />
<br />
survey unused and underused land</div>Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-16646756526016607552011-05-27T13:57:00.000-07:002011-05-27T13:57:32.564-07:00Workgroup: Community Connectedness May 12, 2011[brief notes from small group]<br />
<br />
community connectedness: Vibe at Subrosa, how to integrate anarchist community and "street people" community<br />
<br />
Themes: need for check-ins, what defines a community, communication, need for a shared community, desire not to other, find commonalities, need for a drop-in center, desire to see houseless folks self-organize to resist oppressionWes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-69149593286767210152011-05-27T13:46:00.000-07:002011-06-01T14:33:45.928-07:00New Workgroup Notes May 12th<b>Intro</b><br />
action oriented this week<br />
<br />
<b>Check-ins</b><br />
interests: successes, recent jail-visit, show people that we can do this, crisis response, connection to action, follow-through, excited about the group premises<br />
<br />
<b>Accords</b><br />
that people feel safe, transparency of this group, and balance between these two. <br />
<br />
<b>Quick review</b><br />
premises: solutions outside institutional solutions; step-back, step--up<br />
brief review of previous meetings<br />
<br />
<b>Introducing "phase zero"</b><br />
get it out there, do something (especially when daunted by phase 1 of a plan)<br />
<br />
phase zero check-ins (what have people already done to get these projects out there): "barely anything,"<br />
resisted contacted the police, <br />
contacted non-violent communication teacher, <br />
contacted neighbors, <br />
got involved in cop-watch, <br />
figure out what our communities need, <br />
communicated the processes and work of this group to others, <br />
collectively brainstormed ways to avoid police intervention through communication,<br />
tried to connect with neighbors, <br />
collectively acknowledging difficulties of some of these projects, <br />
assessing what the challenges are that we face,<br />
research on legal challenges of some of these projects,<br />
getting together with community/neighbors,<br />
sent out email to rally people, <br />
building framework to connect communities,<br />
connecting and being present in the neighborhood in a genuine way.<br />
<br />
facilitator- there are going to be barriers, but think about them as open-questions that can be returned to.<br />
<br />
<b>A Phase Zero brainstorm</b><br />
For some of our small groups, what would Phase Zero look like?<br />
<br />
<b>Crisis response</b> (crisis can be simple or extreme, non-medical): a phone list to share with friends, list of resources, a number on the website to call, scheduled NVC training, find resources for crisis handlin', KYR training, <br />
<br />
<b>Community Conectedness:</b> Saying "Hi", introduce, door to door, "Here's my number!, What do you need?"<br />
<br />
<b>Police:</b> Share stories/successes/failures (e.g cop and jail experiences), know ur rights, cop watch (grassroots style), do follow-ups with those involved in a police interaction, find documentation on this topic, take photos<br />
<br />
<b>New Accountability:</b> teach restorative justice, don't ignore it, ask questions, get info, talk to people, examine all possibilities, tell your story, let intentions of accountability be known, research other efforts<br />
<br />
benefits of phase zero? great, but let's stay connected!Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-77988443408482955672011-05-27T12:59:00.000-07:002011-05-27T12:59:20.816-07:00Workgroup: Community Connectedness May 26, 2011[A focus on SubRosa as a community, with lots of levels of participation]<br />
<br />
In the small group, members of the SR collective and non-members talked about community connectedness in this community. We started by brainstorming our understanding of what's going on. On a general level, some people don't like how it feels at the space. We cited the drug dealing [on the nearby street], the reputation of the space that is connected with this, and feeling [overwhelmed] in the space as concerns. This lead to questions of what is going on the flip side, i.e. what is good and welcoming at the space? We deepening the conversation with open questions of what is anarchism, SR, and whether being a place to hang out is a part of being radical or not. We agreed that SR is very open to interpretation, which is positive, but that being so open may let behavior happen that creates hostility. <br />
<br />
This led to action suggestions. In the vein of connectedness, we thought having conversations and direct questions of the patrons might be a place to start. More than this having forums to collaborate and describe SR, a la demystifying anarchism, would be insightful. Also, thinking about the Spruce street milieu and possible ways to transform that space were discussed. Two members committed to systematically engaging, observing and interacting with as many people as possible in order to understand the issue at a deeper level. A third member committed to addending the open letter from SR to the community <br />
<br />
We ended with questions of do we underestimate SR? Do people value it more than we think? And asking about behavior in the space, what makes us happy, angry, scared, and/or sad? Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-55100305342145503852011-05-27T12:53:00.000-07:002011-06-01T14:35:25.175-07:00Workgroup: Small Groups May 12, 2011<div><b>POLICE WORKGROUP-</b></div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div><i><u>First Thoughts:</u></i></div><div><ul><li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">potluck or get together to talk about cops as a problem.</span></i></li>
<li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">letting people know that there are other ways to handle problems in lieu of calling the cops.</span></i></li>
<li> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">convincing neighbors that cops are problematic.</span></i></li>
<li><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">within household, education about the harm that police bring.</span></i></li>
<li>idea for testimonial zine of peoples' experiences with cops and jail.</li>
</ul> ---><b>PROJECT! <i>callout for stories about cops to later be disseminated.</i></b></div><div><ul><li>set of guidelines for cop interactions and reasons not to interact with cops.</li>
</ul> ---><b>PROJECT! </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">one or two publications: reasons why cops are harmful and how to deal with situations without cops.</i><br />
<ul><li>posting fucked up experiences with police up to a space over the internet.</li>
<li>trying to understand how police violence is going over in our community/ gauging where people are at in their feelings about cops.</li>
<li>worry posed that this small group's discussion is repeating work other groups are focused on; desire to hone in on very specific anti-cop projects (i.e. literally getting cops out of santa cruz)</li>
</ul><div><b>SUGGESTION! </b><i><b>everyone bring in 3 ideas to put on an anti-cop flyer to be posted everywhere around town.</b></i></div></div><div><ul><li>list of things to do when faced with cop contact.</li>
<li>questions cops about where they're taking people, etc.</li>
<li>create a culture of resistance: stand up to police, let them know they aren't welcome nor appreciated.</li>
<li>interjecting in police interactions</li>
<li>helping other people find strength to speak with courage to police.</li>
<li>holding cops accountable: making cop profiles.</li>
</ul> ---><b>PROJECT! <i>flyers with cops' faces, badge numbers; listing complaints and experiences with them.</i></b></div><div><i><b> </b>---></i><b>PROJECT! </b><i><b>some sort of database online that logs cops and what they've been up to. </b>(worry about it not being visible enough)</i></div><div><ul><li>lot of worry about legal repercussions.</li>
<li>response that every time we talk about "anti-cop" stuff, we're obviously putting ourselves in trouble, so...</li>
<li>weekly newsletter or report.</li>
<li>mentioning of sharing a particular bad cop experience on the radio.</li>
<li>addressing younger people... going to schools and programs in which cops are doing "we're heroes" presentations, and doing counter-talks about why cops are dangerous and need to be opposed.</li>
</ul></div>Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-59405262268402051352011-04-15T09:54:00.000-07:002011-04-28T13:09:42.775-07:00New Workgroup Notes Apr 14th<b>Community Safety Workgroup</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">-APRIL FOURTEENTH-</span><br />
<br />
<b>AGENDA:</b><br />
*Go around/ talk about vision<br />
*"Feeling For The Edge"<br />
*Facilitation/ notes<br />
*Small groups<br />
*Report back<br />
<br />
One of the facilitators speaks about the<a href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/p/premises.html"> premises of the workgroup</a>:<br />
*focused on definitive actions<br />
*autonomous- not based on petitioning the legal structure<br />
*collective process<br />
*leaving space for each other <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>GO AROUND:</b><br />
In the check-in/go around, participants were asked to give in one sentence a vision of a world in which communities provide for their own safety:<br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
*...mentions a desire for community where everyone knows & watches out for everyone.<br />
*...desires community where everyone knows each other, with groups of individually known professionals to respond to crises.<br />
*...looking to live somewhere where authoritarian power is abolished.<br />
*...wants to see the cops become irrelevant through well-organized community response. (funny scenario given)<br />
*...talks about their neighbors not feeling like there are alternatives to police and wants to be able to present those kind of solutions.<br />
*...imagines a smaller kind of functioning community where the people in it have made the specific decision to share their lives.<br />
*...is excited to learn more about dealing with group and individual conflict without having to rely on external authority.<br />
*...has visions of "working on a team that has momentum" and is interested in bringing up challenging questions about what a community without cops would look like and coming up with answers to them.<br />
*...wants to focus on mental health issues.<br />
*...doesn't want to see police harassing and arresting people of color anymore.<br />
*...wants a community that provides people with the essentials.<br />
<br />
<b>"FEELING FOR THE EDGE" READING:</b><br />
The piece we read is called <a href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/2011/04/feeling-for-edge-of-your-imagination.html">Feeling for the Edge of your Imagination: finding ways not to call the police</a>. After breaking into pairs and reading the piece, we responded to some questions at the ends. When we reconvened, we spoke about things we discussed. <br />
<br />
*...realized they regret calling the police.<br />
*...hadn't thought so specifically about situations in which it seems necessary to call the cops.<br />
*...noticed how calling the ambulance necessarily entails contacting the police as well, and wondering if it's possible to call for a medical emergency separately.<br />
*...said it was interesting for them to verbalize that "no, I wouldn't call the cops in this situation." it was liberating to discuss those kind of possibilities.<br />
*...wondered how one would be able to get insurance money for a stolen car without having to file a report with the police.<br />
*...thinks about the idea of cops rushing in to save a situation, and how that doesn't really happen. maybe hard to imagine a situation in which they would call the police. also suggests going on police ride-alongs.<br />
*...interested in having a group one can call in emergencies.<br />
*...echoes going on ride-alongs to "de-scarify" police.<br />
<br />
<b>SMALL GROUP WORK</b><br />
There were three small groups in this session.<br />
<ul><li>Crisis Response Team</li>
<li>Community Connectedness (formerly Isolation)</li>
<li>Food Security</li>
</ul>We were asked to focus on 1) choosing a facilitator and note-taker for the small group, 2) creating a one sentence mission statement for each group, 3) review action items from previous session, 4) come up with strategies to accomplish mission, 5) commit to bottomline action.<br />
<br />
These groups kept separate notes also posted on this site.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>CHECKOUTS:</b><br />
After the small groups came together we shared thoughts and ideas we were excited about, or ideas for improvements:<b> </b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
*...apologized for juggling responsibilities during the workshop.<br />
*...expressed appreciation for everyone. liked their group, community connectedness. excited to have real tasks they'll go out and do.<br />
*...realized they actually don't have community.<br />
*...said it was a "breath of fresh air". feels hopeful, wants to critique their idea of community and building it up.<br />
*..."felt anxious towards the end" as there was not enough time, especially for small groups. mentioned how we want to split our small group even further. rephrased some stuff we already talked about in our small group. said it "feels invigorating".<br />
*there is a rebuttal about needing more small group time, as they liked the big group discussion. maybe further on we can hone in more.<br />
*...felt good about talking in specific scenarios, feels real, tangible.Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-85350040576518222852011-04-12T15:39:00.000-07:002011-04-12T15:41:35.721-07:00Feeling for the Edge of your Imagination: finding ways not to call the police<h2 class="title"></h2>(from <a href="http://imaginealternatives.tumblr.com/" target=_new>Imagine Alternatives</a>)<br />
<br />
Dear friends, family, acquaintances and people with whom I share house party dance floors and supermarket lines,<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago, an acquaintance of mine attended a police lineup, pointed at someone, and sent them to jail or prison. Last night, a friend’s roommate called the cops about something happening outside, and the effect of that action was a young man getting tasered.<br />
<br />
So I’ve decided to write you a letter. All of you, but <i>especially</i> those of you who, like myself and the two people mentioned above, are white and/or grew up middle class and/or didn’t grow up in NYC. I’m writing to you, also, if you’ve smiled your way out of a speeding ticket, if you’ve been most afraid of cops at mass protests, or if you generally feel safer when you see police around. <br />
<a name='more'></a>If these things are true for you, it’s possible that you are more distanced from the real impact of policing on low-income communities of color. But whether people in your life experience those impacts regularly or not, whether you’ve spent a night in jail, done work to support political prisoners, or haven’t thought much about police brutality since Sean Bell… if you hold a commitment to making the world a better place, I’m writing to you, because there’s work to be done.<br />
<br />
I, and many people I know, want to see a world without prisons, we want the whole industry of keeping people in cages (the Prison Industrial Complex) abolished, we want no more police.<b>*</b> We want a world where responses to harm are community-based, transformative and actually create safety. Where that safety comes from strengthening relations of community, where interpersonal violence dissolves along with the structural violence that facilitates it.<br />
<br />
Many of us don’t believe in calling the police. Right now, right here, even before we’ve sufficiently built all the alternative structures for responding to harm. Both in an attempt to create the world we want to live in, and/but also because the impact of prisons and policing is brutal, oppressive, racist, traumatic. We see almost no good coming of it, certainly no transformation, no making things better. We don’t trust police, we don’t think of them as the “good guys,” and we don’t think calling them is going to change anything.<br />
<br />
After the above-mentioned acquaintance pointed out the person in the lineup, my partner and I took a long walk. Neither of us could imagine sending someone to jail or prison, and certainly not for the act in question (a mugging). We were shaken, appalled, angry. How could he do that? How could he send someone into a cage, especially when no one’s safety was being threatened in that moment – when he (the finger-pointer) wasn’t backed into a corner by the situation? It felt crystal clear to us how little positive impact this will have on our world, on the person who is now going to be in jail, on the woman who was mugged. It won’t fix anything, and for the person going to jail things are probably just going to get a lot worse. Prison causes harm: people locked up are subjected to abuse, assault, humiliation and torture. Thinking through the possible consequences, we wondered if the man who our acquaintance had pointed to had immigration papers. What will happen to the people who might rely on him for support or resources? Whose heart is being broken right now?<br />
<br />
As we paced in the cold night, we moved through our questions, anger and frustration. We thought about how everyone we know—even in a community that mostly wants a world without prisons—has had different experiences with harm and violence, different experiences with police, and, most likely, has a different “threshold” at which they can imagine <i>not</i> calling the police.<br />
<br />
I believe in a world without prisons. I’ve spent some time and effort working to address harm through non-state responses that are meant to create real change (for example, addressing partner abuse through facilitating a community-based accountability circle). However, as the conversation my partner and I were having turned to ourselves, our safety, and our worst nightmares, I wondered, in what situation might I find myself calling the police? I acknowledged that there would be situations in which I might call the cops because I haven’t yet imagined an alternative. I half-suggested we go down that road: finding those worst-case scenarios, and then starting to envision alternative responses. We didn’t have it in us that night, but something about it seemed smart—like knowing how to stop-drop-and-roll in a fire.<br />
<br />
We live in a world that’s deeply damaged by policing, in which immediate and effective community-based responses don’t necessarily exist, or we don’t know how to find/create them. Our imaginations have atrophied, our resourcefulness has withered. There are moments when immediate intervention will save someone’s life, and it needs to be fast, and the readily available structure for that immediate intervention is the police.<br />
<br />
We live in a world in which we can feel deeply powerless or afraid. It feels terrible when we, or the people we care about, get hurt or experience harm. When I think of the moments in which I could possibly imagine calling the police, I think of people I love, and of things I hope they never experience. Why do we feel afraid? Sometimes we feel afraid because we have experienced harm, because we have experienced trauma. Sometimes we also feel afraid because we have bought into aspects of racism, classism, and media-perpetuated images of danger. Sometimes it’s the complex combination of all these things—imagination, memory, and prejudice. For women, our experiences with physical safety are complex and painful—women in my life have understandably chosen and sought police intervention when it has seemed like the only available safety measure in situations of interpersonal or sexual abuse. So given these complicated realities, how can we assure that if police are called it’s an active, intentional and reluctant choice, not a knee-jerk reaction? What can we do to push ourselves further, to take another step towards a world without prisons, without police, and without the racism and brutality they reproduce?<br />
<br />
I started to think about the choking posters in restaurants. I’ve never done the Heimlich maneuver, and it’s not something I can practice on someone unless they’re actually choking. I can’t know how it feels to do it, or if it will really work, or if I’ll have the confidence to pull it off. But I’ve taken first aid classes, and I can feel under my rib cage for my diaphragm, and I stare absentmindedly at those restaurant posters all the time. I started to think about practice and preparation, about pre-thinking our possible responses. Theoretically, if someone beside me in a restaurant starts choking, I’ll feel brave, my mind will be clear, and I’ll remember what I’ve thought through. Hopefully my response will be helpful, instead of causing additional harm.<br />
<br />
So, when that roommate of my friend called the police and a young person got tasered, I wondered if she’d ever thought about <i>not calling</i> them before. In a moment of fear or confusion, we default to what we’ve practiced. Did she have practice <i>not</i> calling the police? Probably not. What would it take for her to do something different next time? Most likely, she thought someone was in danger and that she was helping. Maybe whatever was happening outside her window was loud and it was scaring her and the only thing her sleepy brain could think to do was dial 911. Maybe she doesn’t know her neighbors. Maybe the only alternative she could imagine was running outside in her nightgown, which didn’t feel safe or useful. Maybe her experiences with police have felt orderly and professional, and her first association is one of trust, not of violence and abuse. Whether these things are understandable or not, when you call the cops, you participate in a regime of violence against poor and working class people of color in this city. It’s part of gentrification, it’s part of racism and it’s part of genocide. If we’re calling the police, we’re voting for that system—instead of putting time and effort into creating real and new responses to harm and engaging with the people around us in that process. Next time, how can you do differently? I believe we can teach ourselves skills, do some unlearning, and find ways to <i>not call</i> the police next time. This letter isn’t about someday-visions, this letter is about what you’re going to do tomorrow.<br />
<br />
So whether this is all pretty new for you, or you’ve heard this one before, or you think of yourself as a prison abolitionist, I have a suggestion: I think we all need to <i>think through</i> not calling the cops. We need to explore our own personal thresholds, we need to create the Heimlich Maneuver posters that will inspire us to be brave, avoid knee-jerk dialing 911, and take the steps to create the alternative responses we wish were more common, more available.<br />
<br />
In this spirit, there are some questions and activities below. Please do them soon—this weekend, tomorrow, tonight. Make a little window of time. Don’t wait for some magical day when there’s nothing left to read or clean or check off your “to do” list. Think about it this way: you could save a life.<br />
<br />
With love and respect,<br />
Caroline<br />
<br />
<b>Suggested Activities</b><br />
<br />
<b>1. Read a poem, article or story you haven’t read before about prison/prison abolition, policing/police brutality, or alternative responses to harm. Then share the article with a friend. (Some resources and articles are listed at the end of this essay).</b><br />
<br />
<b>2. </b><b>Find someone you can talk with about heavy stuff, or grab a pen and paper.<br />
Ask yourself:</b><br />
<br />
<b>></b> Have you ever called the police?<br />
<ul><li>Why? </li>
<li>What did you gain from calling the police? </li>
<li>Do you know what the result of your call was for the other people in the situation?</li>
</ul><b>></b> Have you ever chosen not to call the police when it seemed like an option?<br />
<ul><li>Why didn’t you call them? </li>
<li>Did you find an alternative response?</li>
<li>What did you gain from that response? </li>
<li>Do you know what the effect of that response was for the other people in the situation?</li>
</ul><br />
<b>></b> Feel for the edge of your own police-calling “threshold”:<br />
<ul><li>In what situations can you not even imagine calling the police? What is it that seems obvious to you to do instead?</li>
<li>Are there any situations in which you feel like it’s necessary to call the police?</li>
<li>Name the situation (or type of situation) in which you think you would call the police, where that response is the only thing you can imagine doing, or would be automatic.</li>
<li>Sit with that threshold for a minute. Imagine the creative response that would allow you to move that threshold back a bit and generate a more creative, community-based response. What would you need? Who would be involved? How can you start to build that possibility?</li>
</ul><br />
<b>></b> Are there situations where you and your friend disagree on whether or not you would call the police? What can you learn from your friend? What can you push them on?<br />
<br />
<b>></b> Would you call the cops on an institution (like a loud business, a safety violation at a school, etc)? Do you think this is different? How? What might alternative responses look like for you?<br />
<br />
<b>></b> What about times when you’re a bystander to police activity? What do you do when you see a cop stop someone on your block? Think through an action plan for spontaneous cop-watching and for ways you can support people who are being detained by the police. For more information about cop-watching, check out: <a href="http://mxgm.org/web/people-s-self-defense-campaign-psdc/mxgm-copwatch-video.html" target=_new>http://mxgm.org/web/people-s-self-defense-campaign-psdc/mxgm-copwatch-video.html</a> and <a href="http://www.berkeleycopwatch.org/" target=_new>http://www.berkeleycopwatch.org/</a><b> </b><b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>3. Collaborate and Share:</b> Pass this letter along. Bring it up over dinner. Ask these questions to your family, friends and roommates. If you have a story of a community-based, non-state response to harm, consider sharing it with the Story Telling Organizing Project: <u><a href="http://www.stopviolenceeveryday.org/have-a-story/" target=_new>http://www.stopviolenceeveryday.org/have-a-story/</a></u> .<br />
<br />
<b>4. Keep learning</b> about privileges you may have and the ways they manifest, keep listening and working to be a better ally to the people around you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>*</b> If this is a new idea for you, it might seem outrageous. You might be thinking, “Sure, too many people go to jail for nonviolent offenses, but… no prisons at all? What about murderers/rapists/child abusers?” It’s a good question, and one that is worth exploring. When I imagine a world without prisons, I see lots of transformation: transformation in the way we prevent harm and build healthy communities, transformation in the way we respond to harm and create safety for each other, and a commitment to supporting the transformation of individuals who have caused harm. There are lots of people who have been thinking hard about this, and there are resources listed at the end of this letter—check them out.Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-69430260355412068012011-04-06T14:06:00.000-07:002011-04-28T13:10:10.671-07:00Workgroup: Crisis Response Team - Mar 31st, 2011<div class="MsoNormal"><b>Scope</b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Facilitator reviewed the scope list that had been generated for this group at class one;</div><ul><li>Alternative to 911</li>
<li>Phone tree</li>
<li>Triage skills – connections and resources</li>
<li>Emergency Health was decided to NOT be within the scope of CRT</li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Participants offered additions to scope:<br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><ul><li>CRT has local scope: Santa Cruz </li>
<li>Pre-Crisis Support (NVC, Mental Health)</li>
<li>Protect people not stuff</li>
<li>Acknowledge some incidents may be beyond scope of CRT: “If I’m in an accident and break my back, please call 911.”</li>
<li>Offer new approaches/strategies to deal with domestic violence</li>
<li>CRT will not be patrol-based, rather On-Call system</li>
<li>DIY: CRT people don’t “handle a situation” but help people handle it themselves</li>
<li>CRT to offer pre-crisis help to minimize potential conflicts </li>
</ul>The following scope additions came out of the strategy discussion: <br />
<ul><li>Willing to use "protective force" </li>
<li>CRT will never call police</li>
<li>Quickly acknowledge when a situation is beyond our scope</li>
</ul></div><div class="MsoNormal">Comment: It’s helpful and possible to intervene in a violent situation as a citizen within certain situations but when observer saw a man beating a woman in a car downtown, observer was grateful that cops showed up with guns drawn to take action (others thought that even here there may have been other options than police and guns)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><b>Goals</b><br />
Here are the goals that were contributed by group members:<br />
<ul><li>What resources do we need?</li>
<li>What resources do we have?</li>
<li>What has been done before and elsewhere RE ccommunity response? </li>
<li>What infrastructure do we need?</li>
<li>What skills do we need?</li>
<li>How many folks would be needed to make this happen?</li>
<li>Trustworthy: Guarantee a response and be reliable</li>
<li>Accessible: Known to those who need it</li>
<li>Confidentiality/safe</li>
<li>Transparency, well-documented</li>
<li>Redundancy</li>
<li>Provide resources, not just handle crisis</li>
<li>NVC (Nonviolent Communication) Helicopter – bring skills in quick</li>
<li>Know how to deal with police </li>
<li>Know how to deal non-violently with a variety of situations</li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Strategy Brainstorm</b><br />
Generated from a discussion of CRT</div><ul><li>Research phone/voicemail system </li>
<li>Skill Learning: develop confidence and skills in protective use of force</li>
<li>Dealing with disasters: response to looting / limit reactivity (addressed by scope issue of "people not property")</li>
<li>How to deal with cops if they arrive where CRT has responded</li>
<li>Create list of mental health resources (for CRT to distribute/use)</li>
<li>Create Phone System for CRT</li>
<li>Phone System shall be centralized and routed out to CRT neighborhoods/areas</li>
<li>Create a personal “business” card with contact info. to distribute in neighborhood: Help!</li>
<li>Learn techniques of protective use of force</li>
<li>Create crisis response kit</li>
<li>Create team that can respond to early conflict with empathy: NVC</li>
<li>“Illegal” people have reluctance to call 911 = reflects need for CRTs</li>
<li>Make CRT accessible to Spanish-speakers (translators)</li>
<li>Likewise, enslaved people have special need for CRT</li>
<li>CRT must be confidential and safe: don’t disclose people whom CRT contacts</li>
<li>Assume that local police will not support CRT: how shall we deal with this?</li>
<li>Police Liaison from CRT</li>
<li>Public Relations for CRT</li>
<li>CRT members will never call police AND will acknowledge when a situation is “out of our league” like discovering a dead body…</li>
<li>Research legal realms of different scenarios for CRT</li>
<li>Transparency of CRT discussion/action is highly valued; open source model</li>
<li>Provide further resources to people whom CRT contacts; like Defensa de Mujeres, etc…</li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"><b>ACTION LIST (Next Steps)</b><br />
<ul><li>Participant will investigate other experiments with CRT elsewhere</li>
<li>Participant will draft a list of resources, mental health, physical health, etc</li>
<li>Participant will explore phone possibilities and voice system technology</li>
<li>Many participants offered to explore/bottomline various strategies as we move into future discussions/actions</li>
</ul>It was a productive discussion that most of the participants felt excited about being part of. </div>Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-67550410561425662462011-04-06T13:11:00.000-07:002011-06-01T14:34:01.509-07:00New Workgroup Notes Mar 31st<b>Community Safety Workgroup – Free Skool Class</b><br />
Notes from Thursday, March 31, SubRosa, 5-7PM<br />
Notes by JM<br />
About 10 participants<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Facilitators Editorial</b><br />
Last week's workgroup was great though under-attended. Start thinking now who you'd like to invite to next Thursday's Community Safety Workgroup. There is a lot to do to make our communities safer from police, from violence (internal and external), and from the gaping needs so often left unmet. And we can't do it alone. It will take a lot of help. Please come and please bring two friends.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>Check in by participants:</b><br />
We’re over-policed & under-policed. Want to know community better / serve each other<br />
Want to offer a nonviolent response and show children better response to conflict<br />
Self-organizing responses to conflict and violence – small scale<br />
Government is a tool and is evolving toward transparency<br />
Human beings are not capable of full trust because of the fear of showing our differences<br />
It’s the poor that tend to help each other and have empathy.<br />
Witnessing a police killing was inspiration to work to reform policing <br />
Strategy ideas: Contact the police less and self-organize community safety<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Reviews of class premises:</b><br />
Transparency<br />
Community safety is possible and desirable<br />
We will work outside of institutions<br />
Safety is a shared value<br />
<br />
Participants added other values: collectivity, health, individuality, community, freedom and authenticity. A discussion followed about the paradox of apparent opposites appearing on the list like “individuality” and “collectivity.”<br />
<br />
<b>Small Group Discussions</b><br />
We acknowledged that the goal of the larger workgroup is almost overwhelming in its scope, and agreed that if we broke it into smaller pieces we could make serious inroads on having safer communities. We created a list in the last meeting of small groups that we thought were needed, the list of "big pieces" that need working groups: <br />
<ul><li>New Accountability</li>
<li>Crisis Response Team</li>
<li>Education</li>
<li>Defense of Communities</li>
<li>Health – physical, mental, spiritual</li>
<li>Isolation/Connection</li>
<li>Police</li>
<li>Alternatives to Violence</li>
<li>Spaces – Public and Private </li>
</ul><br />
Facilitator asked the participants to use the following framework for small group discussion:<br />
<ol><li>Establish scope of small working group</li>
<li>Define goals of the group</li>
<li>Brainstorm strategies for accomplishing goals</li>
<li>Prioritize strategies</li>
<li>Decide on action items, deadlines, and next steps</li>
</ol>Participants got into two small groups focusing on different topics - <i>New Accountability</i> and <i>Crisis Response Team</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Return to Single Large Group</b><br />
The two small groups shared highlights from their discussions and discovered a common analogy of helicopter parachutist / immediate response. Then strategies were discussed and participants held up our hands to indicate which ones we’d enjoy doing. This poll was not recorded.<br />
<br />
Facilitator recommended that participants check out the Community Safety blog and invited submissions of report-backs in the form of narrative-style writings that can be posted on the blog, particularly success stories.Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-41654585780137392842011-03-29T14:13:00.000-07:002011-04-28T13:10:43.347-07:00Workgroup: Crisis Response Team<b>Goals</b><br />
One vision- team of ppl who can respond to crisises small and large. not necessarily responsible for dealing w/it, more with helping you get the resources you need to solve your own problems.<br />
<br />
Alternative to 911! when ya need something like that, but don't want the cops to come too. More like a starting point to get the support ppl need.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
A phone tree of sorts, to get ppl help they need when they just need ppl too. someone to talk to, if needed. someone to intercede. A lot of potential issues.<br />
<br />
person who has connections and resources, on call.<br />
<br />
especially info about accountability, how to get emergency health care, triage!<br />
<br />
Importance of someone being on call, and having a phone tree whenever possible. Triage, with someone able to direct the ppl to the needed resources<br />
<br />
<b>Roadblocks</b><br />
Fires, earthquakes, etc?<br />
<br />
people flippin? Are they all the same with different scale?<br />
<br />
concern about hierarchy of technology? Potential for radio communication rather than relying on phone infrastructure. not point-topoint like phone, therefore more flexible. <br />
<br />
Defining scope of crises- murder? road service?<br />
<br />
Defining access- is this everyone? Just our friends?<br />
<br />
also- Immediate needs or more longterm?<br />
<br />
Knowledge! How does one handle someone who is suicidal? Resources! How does one pay for that taxi rather than ambulance? How do we keep the phoneline alive?<br />
<br />
concern about the idea of having to have an operator- having to have someone there all the time--<br />
<br />
<b>Strategy</b><br />
idea: other communities with similar framework already in place? How can we pass this along to other communities? (develop toolset to share with others)<br />
<br />
Getting knowledge from other more specialized groups, then making it more accessible as we learn it (making zines, making a handbook)<br />
<br />
Also, secure database of ppl involved in the project, and what they can deal with/have knowledge about.<br />
<br />
distributed automated phone system (a 'customer service' type system to direct calls more specifically, rather than have a permanent operator to do the directing. <br />
<br />
Maybe emergency response ideas- central meeting place in case of disaster, provide enough structure to help other coalesce their own supprtWes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-72733530929340928422011-03-19T12:46:00.000-07:002011-05-27T14:14:38.021-07:00Workgroup: Community Connectedness Mar 17, 2011Notes from the isolation small group on Mar 17. 2011<b><br />
</b><br />
<br />
<b>Larger Goals</b><br />
-organize a neighborhood meeting to address the concerns?<br />
-block parties?<br />
-block parent-houses (known/advertised safe houses in the neighborhood)?<br />
-phone-tree to help with crisis prevention/response (instead of la policia)<br />
Roadblocks:<br />
-limitation of language (none of us speak Spanish)<br />
-difficult to have a meaningful/engaged conversation with strangers<br />
-how to phrase intentions (flyers?/clipboard with pen?/freshly baked cookies?...)<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<b>Strategy</b><br />
-we're going to make a more conscious effort to greet the folks in the neighborhood<br />
-talk to two neighbors per day in our respective neighborhoods<br />
-G will start a phone-tree of folks living nearby<br />
-engage in conversations with neighbors and compile a list of concerns<br />
-no clipboard!<br />
-different strategies for different neighborhoods (approaching people on the street vs. door to door)<br />
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<b>Next Steps</b><br />
-start saying hi and introducing ourselves to neighbors immediately <br />
-G growing a phone-tree<br />
-connect interested parties to a community garden project in the Beach Flats neighborhood<br />
-B will check out and possibly start volunteering at the Beach Flats community center<br />
-connect and check-in in about a week or so<br />
<br />
That's what we have, simple and beautiful. Let us know if you need anymore info.Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-53898653249353388102011-03-18T16:31:00.000-07:002011-04-28T13:11:00.646-07:00Announcing the Community Safety Workgroup<b>Community Safety Workgroup</b><br />
Every Other Thursday starting Thu Mar 17th 5pm to 7pm<br />
SubRosa, 703 Pacific Ave<br />
<br />
"Without police, wouldn't there be chaos?" "What about the bad people?" As anarchists we get asked these legit questions all the time. It's time we began to wrestle with some possible answers. Don't be fooled by the bland title, this is a project that has the potential to change the world.<br />
<br />
This is a structured workshop to plan ways to keep our communities safe at all levels. Here are the challenges we'll tackle<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<ul><li>new accountability process,</li>
<li>community crisis response,</li>
<li>cops and alternatives,</li>
<li>education and public perception,</li>
<li>mutual support and solidarity,</li>
<li>defense of communities, and</li>
<li>making the police obsolete</li>
</ul><br />
With this class we jumpstart an ongoing Community Safety Workgroup that will grow beyond this humble series of free skool workshops.<br />
<br />
<b>Requirements:</b> Basic familiarity and comfort with the philosophy of anarchism will serve you well here. Be down with basic premises: We want to work collaboratively. We are looking for solutions outside of institutional ones. We are committed. We are here to act. What we are wanting is possible and desirable.<br />
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<b>Every other Thu: Mar 17th, 31st, Apr 14th, 28th, May 12th, 26th – 5-7pm</b>Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-12828689459174737972011-03-18T16:11:00.000-07:002011-03-18T23:46:45.085-07:00Workgroup Notes: Community Safety Workgroup 17 March 2011<b> Check-in from participants</b><br />
<br />
Alternatives to police, good ideas, integrating with community better, want safety like TBSC (with different tactics), Appreciation for this class, has seen changes over the years and fear of TBSC vigilantes, interest in practical ideas to replace police, anarchism through making redundant the organs of the state. Woo!<br />
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<b>Facilitator's Intro</b><br />
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Facilitator wants to stay nimble, be open to new ways of talking about these things.<br />
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Motivation: Hears, what would we do w/o police? Wouldn't thugs rule? But they already do, with their badges. What to do w/o cops, realistically? And how do we provide the good stuff w/o the bad? (avoid the phrase "community policing")<br />
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<b>Facilitator's Bottomline</b><br />
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These are the shared premises of the class. See <a href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/2011/03/premises.html">Premises </a>here.<br />
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<b>Our Vision for a World of Community Safety</b><br />
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Brainstorm about a world w/o police, where people provide for each others' safety. See <a href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/2011/03/vision.html">Vision</a> here.<br />
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<b>The Values We Share</b><br />
<br />
Brainstorm about our values, (some shared and some unique) to find our shared views. We start from here rather than assuming anything. See <a href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/2011/03/values.html">Values </a>here.<br />
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<b>The Challenges We Face (What are the big pieces of this?)</b><br />
<br />
<b></b><br />
A brainstorm about the large challenges we face. The numbers is parenthesis represent the results of a straw poll: "Which of these things do you consider a priority to work on, something you are willing to put energy into, and potentially has attainable results?" See <a href="http://sccommunitysafety.blogspot.com/2011/03/challenges.html">Challenges </a>here.<br />
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<b>Small Group Work</b><br />
<br />
We gathered into small groups based on the challenges we saw were important and achievable. We were tasked to look at the following aspects of the big piece that we grabbed:<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Goals</li>
<li>Roadblocks</li>
<li>Strategy</li>
<li>Deadlines & next steps</li>
</ol>Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-13566510944592910372011-03-18T16:10:00.000-07:002011-04-15T10:04:39.350-07:00Challenges<b>The Challenges We Face (What are the big pieces of this?)</b><br />
<br />
A brainstorm about the large challenges we face. The numbers is parenthesis represent the results of a straw poll: "Which of these things do you consider a priority to work on, something you are willing to put energy into, and potentially has attainable results?"<br />
<ul><li>accountability (14)</li>
<li>education (13)</li>
<li>crisis response (13) </li>
<li>Hierarchy (12)</li>
<li>Police (11) </li>
<li>community defense/defense of communities (11)</li>
<li>violence (specifically domestic and/or sexual) (11) </li>
<li>a sense of isolation (9)</li>
<li>need to heal (9) </li>
<li>environmental justice (8)</li>
<li>spaces (places to do the things you do) (8) </li>
<li>larger sense of trust (7) </li>
<li>unequal dist. of wealth (6)</li>
<li>mental health (6) </li>
<li>personal identity (who we identify with, on what level, how that holds us back) (6)</li>
<li>lack of constancy of commitment (6)</li>
<li>Culture of violence (media, television, worship of aggressive competition) (5)</li>
<li>Physical health (3)</li>
<li>whether we share common values, or even language (3) </li>
</ul>Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-38177639375218927062011-03-18T16:04:00.000-07:002011-03-18T16:27:37.805-07:00Values<b>The Values We Share</b><br />
<br />
Brainstorm about our values, (some shared and some unique) to find our shared views. We start from here rather than assuming anything.<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Autonomy</li>
<li>self reliant</li>
<li>Honesty</li>
<li>free-expression/protection and respect for it</li>
<li>trust</li>
<li>Genuine</li>
<li>Transparency</li>
<li>accountability</li>
<li>DIY</li>
<li>spontaneity</li>
<li>mutual support (the support you offer your fellows)</li>
<li>Solidarity (support for those people over there)</li>
<li>Courage</li>
<li>empathy</li>
<li>creativity</li>
<li>SAFETY</li>
</ul><b><br />
</b>Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-31347199861198656702011-03-18T16:01:00.000-07:002011-03-18T16:27:53.826-07:00Vision<b>Our Vision for a World of Community Safety</b><br />
<br />
Brainstorm about a world w/o police, where people provide for each others' safety<br />
<br />
<ul><li>More community involvement and personal investment in community</li>
<li>Having phone trees/knowledge about neighbors</li>
<li>more confidence in our ability to care for each other</li>
<li>Hapiness, friendliness</li>
<li>Safety for everyone - not just the wealthy or housed</li>
<li>taking responsibility whenever anything wrong is going on- no matter who it is</li>
<li>an understanding in the general public not just of the benefits of police but also the risks- juducial process, lack of control</li>
<li>Fluidity and communication between classes</li>
<li>Skillsets for non-coercive compassionate conflict resolution</li>
<li>knowing you can rely on the ppl around you to help you in case of emergency</li>
<li>accountability for our own actions</li>
<li>safety vs security- a sense of stability and security so there's no need for desperate choices</li>
<li>Autonomy</li>
<li>Mutual support, solidarity</li>
<li>Home to mean more than house- desire for feeling of community in neighborhood</li>
<li>community resiliency- friendship for strong communities, more gatherings</li>
<li>common medical knowledge/health knowledge (mental, physical, environmental)</li>
<li>knowing that my wolrd won't be poisoned</li>
<li>healing and workshops w herbs and spirit- first responder skills, accessible knowledge.</li>
<li>Change in the rigidity of laws- more case-to-case decision making</li>
<li>Knowing that the members of my comm. have similar interests and goals</li>
<li>sharing health knowledge</li>
<li>elimination of the specialization of the cop role- more generalized participation from everyone rather than a select few holding all the power</li>
<li>need separation between different sets of knowledge- EMTs, firefighters, cops, Red Cross,</li>
<li>no sexism, more honor for crones and older women</li>
</ul>Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-68368822843711150942011-03-18T15:57:00.000-07:002011-04-15T10:26:05.120-07:00PremisesThese are the shared premises of the class:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Everyone desires safety and security (even if we disagree about strategy and threats)</li>
<li>We want to work collaboratively. We are here to find solutions together. </li>
<li>We are looking for solutions outside of institutional ones. We solve problems ourselves. That is, we won't spend time discussing the merits of going to city council to ask them to reprioritize their budget. </li>
<li>We are not a service or an institution; we enable people and communities to provide for their own safety. </li>
<li>We believe in transparency. We document everything we do. We want people to be able to learn from our process and replicate our work as needed in every town that desires a world without cops. <br />
</li>
<li>We are here to listen to each other. We give each other space for people to talk and participate. Step up, step back. </li>
<li>We are committed. </li>
<li>We are here to act. </li>
<li>What we are wanting is possible and desirable. </li>
</ul>Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-4860049441277077142011-03-18T15:43:00.000-07:002011-03-18T16:26:52.516-07:00Open QuestionsHere is an ongoing list of open questions that have no simple answers. We keep track of them so we don't lose sight of them in the complexity of our task:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>What do we mean by community? <br />
</li>
<li>What do we mean by safety? <br />
</li>
<li>What problems do we face?<br />
</li>
<li>What infrastructure do we need?<br />
</li>
<li>How do we divide this up?<br />
</li>
<li>How do we maintain momentum?<br />
</li>
<li>What about those laws?<br />
</li>
<li>Do we have the commitment?</li>
</ul><br />
RE Community: let's define it ourselves. Your house? Sure. Watershed? Sure. Let's work w/ what we have and stay open about it.Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1945043867412078899.post-76573045667561722782011-03-17T17:41:00.000-07:002011-03-19T12:51:19.498-07:00Workgroup: Mental Health Mar 17, 2011<div class="moz-text-html" lang="x-western"><div>Notes from the mental health small group work on Mar 17. 2011<b><br />
</b><br />
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<b>Goals </b></div><div></div><div>- not judging, what people need to express.</div><div></div><div>- open forum for discussion, processing</div><div></div><div>-approaching everyone without preconceptions of human relationships</div><div></div><div>-need to heal, and spaces to provide that.</div><div></div><div>-being gentle towards people that are going toward some kind of awakening.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Strategy</b></div><div><br />
</div><div>1) Manual for methods of integration. To create a valid space, for anyone who feels isolated for what they ever they are going through.</div><div><br />
</div><div>2) Journal in a public space, where people could share alternative mental experiences, stories, and tools. (A glass of water, and deep breaths, social skills, critical thinking skills about how to look at things in a different perspective ((eliminating static views of self))</div><div><br />
</div><div>3) some kind of mental health medic</div></div>Wes Modeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13936508359690388713noreply@blogger.com0