Founded 1996, SOUL grew up in the midst of a vibrant California student & youth movement that galvanized many new activists in the Bay Area and throughout the state. Young people of color were coming together like they hadn’t in years, organizing to fight for educational equity and against criminalization. They organized at their schools, in their communities, and on the streets, determined to create change at the ballot box and beyond. Originally created as an institution dedicated to strengthening this local movement, SOUL has since developed into one of the premier movement-building & training centers for emerging young organizers in the US.

As we enter our 14th year we take time to reflect on the moment and on our work. We see the deepening economic crisis and know that its effects have hit people of color and low-income communities the hardest. But our organizations & communities are fighting back, and opportunities for solidarity are multiplying. We engage in our work with deep respect for the many heroic emerging organizing efforts to defend the rights of immigrants, workers, students,

SOUL School of Unity & Liberation :: 287 17th Street, Suite 225 :: Oakland, CA 94612510. 451. 5466 phone :: 510. 451. 5866 fax :: www.schoolofunityandliberation.org

and poor communities, and are committed to strengthening these movements in the days ahead. SOUL is honored to count the number of individuals we have trained so far in the thousands, with hundreds of organizations impacted by our work. In 2009, programs like Training for Trainers, Summer School, and Sunday Schools built the capacities of individual organizers and strengthened the work of organizations as well. Collaborations with alliances like the San Francisco May 1st Alliance and Grassroots Global Justice have provided essential training and curriculum support to grassroots movement-building efforts locally and nationally. And SOUL’s political education and organizing skills curricula continues to be requested by new individuals and organizations every week.

In 2010 SOUL looks forward to another year building skilled organizers, strong organizations, and vibrant movements. Helping to develop a new generation of organizers and leaders, we will support young people in youth organizing, and as they find their place in wider multi-generational racial and economic justice movements. In the Bay Area and nationally we will convene to build our skills, exchange ideas, and strategize to win justice for our communities.

building a school to build a movement

Building a School to Build a Movement On the eve of our 14th year Celebrating Our Traditions Reclaiming a Queer Liberation Movement legacy

Show Your Love We give thanks Education for Liberation Get your SOUL curricula here A New Generation of Organizers Summer field trip & alumnae updates Education from Below SOUL Sunday Schools are back!

In this Issue

Celebrating Our Traditions

reclaiming our legacies of struggle & gathering strength for the days ahead

turn fear into switchblades / speak safe fierce .. sisters then / family then / proud then / laugh out loud then / shout then / dance furious then / hum a house beat then / turn and twist and vogue then / shimmy and swing and swish then / love like brushfire then / always loud loud loud / all the way down the road

:: Malaya Arevalo, poet & activistSOUL Queer Rights Movement event

40 years after the Stonewall Riots, SOUL wanted to celebrate the solidarity & spirit of the queer rights movement that was sparked that night. Queer Libera-tion Movement veterans Tommi Avicolli Mecca, Merle Woo, and Paola Bachetta, contributors to a new anthology on the radical queer political tradition, joined young movement activists, organizers, and cultural workers at Galería de la Raza for an evening of culture and resis-

images in this newsletter :: front cover: Juan at his organizing internship site, SOUL Summer School, August 2009. Joy & James prepare for facilitation practice, SOUL Training for Trainers, March 2009 K page 2: Erica, Merle & Paola, and attendees, SOUL Queer Rights Movement event, July 2009 K page 3: Alessandra & Namdol volunteer at the door, SOUL Queer Rights Movement event, July 2009 K page 4: SOUL Youth Organizing for Community Power Manual cover image detail K page 5: Ariana, Namdol, and Tina, SOUL Summer School July 2009. Seng So, SOUL Training for Trainers, March 2009. Cynthia, at work organizing for immigrants rights, May 2009. K back cover: Nadeen presents, SOUL Sunday School, January 2009 K thanks to Arturo Tolenttino & Eric Adams for help with photo-documentation!

tance, honoring a proud moment in our movement history that continues to inspire. SOUL’s multi-generational event drew a standing room-only audience excited to explore a politi-cal legacy which actively promoted solidarity, and which centralized the struggles of women, people of color, and working-class communities. As Tommi writes, “We truly believed that a united front with all oppressed people would help us create a better world, one built on inclusion and an equal distribution of wealth and re-sources.” The event mixed beautiful & rebellious music, poetry, and drag performance with testimonies from social movements past and pres-ent. We started a conversation that continued out into the streets that night as people left Galería, one we are sure to return to again and again in the days ahead.

2009 MembersSOUL Board of Directors

Alicia Garza Adam GoldStacy KonoCinthya MuñozDanielle MahonesGenevieve Negrón-GonzálesMaría PobletSergio Robledo-MaderazoAyoka Turner

SOUL Staff

Angelique GonzálesExecutive Director

Eric ShihAdvanced Leadership Program Director

Erik SchnabelDevelopment Director

Amy LittleBookkeeper

SOUL Program Consultants

Mei-ying Williams2009 Training for Trainers Coordinator

Tina Bartolome2009 Summer School Coordinator

ACLU Northern California K Ada Chan K Adam Gold K Adele Carpenter K Akonadi Foundation K Alessandra Ortiz K Alex Tom K Alexandra Fischer K Alexandra Safron K Alicia Garza K Amanda Seaton K Amy Kilgard K Ana Maria Eder K Andrea Lee K Andrea Salinas K Angelica Cabande K Ann Schwartz K Annie Danger K Ariadne del Rosario K Ariana Gil K Arizmendi Worker-Owned Cooperative (Emeryville) K Arizmendi Worker-Owned Cooperative (Oakland) K Arkipelago Books K Arnel Magat K Arturo Tolenttino K Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice K Asian Pacific Environmental Network K Aspen Branch-Moore K Bank of America Foundation K Barbara Leon K Bayanihan Community Center K Beatriz Herrera K Bill Kong K Bree Carlson K Brooke Anderson K Carl Bloice K Carlos Carmona K Carren Stewart K Charlie Sciammas K Chuy Hernandez K Cinthya Munoz K Claire Tran K Clare Bayard K Claudia Gomez K Claudia Peña K Claudia Reyes K Colin the Great K Cory Brodnax K Dani Montgomery K Danielle Mahones K David Benbassat K Dawn Phillips K Diane Middleton Foundation K DJ Rosa La Rumorosa K Dolores Garay K Dolphin Foundation K Energy 92.7 K Eric Adams K Erica Benton K Erik Schnabel K Evan Bissell K Fernando Martí K Filipino Community Center K Frederick Hom K Galería de la Raza K Gen Magat K Gianna Guasconi K girls just want to have funD/Horizons Foundation K Google K Helena Wong K Hill-Snowdon Foundation K Ingrid Chapman K J. Howard Miller K Jacquelynne Suguitan K James Tracy K Jason Negron-Gonzales K Jennifer Stoney K Jesús Barraza K Jerri Safron K Jessica Jaramillo K Jessica Riley K Jia-Ching Chen K Jo Hirschman K K Joel Weber K John Dick K Jon Rodney K Josué Revolorio K Juan Gervacio K Juana Flores K Jude Thilman K Judy Hom K Just Cause Oakland K Karen Lovaas K Khanh Pham K Kiilu Nyasha K Kimberly Kono K Kiwi K Kristal Brister K Laura Misumi K Liberation Ink K Liberty Hill Foundation/Queer Youth Fund K Lil Miss Hot Mess K Linda Salinas K Lisa Martin K Luís Herrera K Mai-Stella Khamtouche K Malachi Garza K Malaya Arevalo K Mama Art Café K Mari Rose Tuarac K Maria Jimenez K Mariana Viturro K Mariane Stimba K Mario de Mira K Marisol Arriola K Mark Meinster K Mary & Henry Gonzáles K Mateo Nube K Max Elbaum K Megan Shaughnessy-Mogill K Mei-ying Williams K Melanie Cervantes K Melanie Levine Bush K Merle Woo K Michel Shehadeh K Michelle Foy K Modern Times Bookstore K Molly McClure K Mujeres Unidas y Activas K Myriam Zamora K Nadeen Elshorafa K Mitchell Kapor Foundation K Nancy Dalwin K National Radio Project K Nicole DeNuccio K Nicole Orton K Pam Tau Lee K Paola Bacchetta K Patricia Hom K Peet’s Coffee (Downtown Oakland) K PODER K POWER K Felix Kury K Raquel Namuche K Rockefeller Brothers Foundation K Sagnicthe Salazar K Samantha Lautman K Sharon Martinas K Shaw San Liu K South of Market Community Action Network K St. Peter’s Housing Committee K Steve Schnapp K Steve Williams K Steven Hiatt K Su Shu Kwan Chan K Surdna Foundation K Susan Shimanoff K Tenzin Namdol K Teresita Dionida K Terrence Valen K Terry Luna K Theresa Ramos K Thisway/Thatway K Tiffany Martinez K Tina Bartolome K Tomas Perlas K Tommi Avicolli Mecca K Tully’s Coffee (Downtown Oakland) K Vatee Pattaropong K Vicky Hernandez K Vincent Garcia K Women of Color Resource Center K Yeni Solís K Yeshimabeit Milner K Zeyda Garcia

Show Your Love for SOUL !!

Donate online at : www.schoolofunityandliberation.org or via the enclosed envelope ::

:: Contact us at info@schoolofunityandliberation.org

to volunteer

SOUL thanks our community!!! Our deep appreciation goes to the many donors and volunteers whose generous solidarity & support made this year’s work possible!!!!

SOUL Manuals :: Order Form

SOUL brings its curricula & educational tools to organizations & individuals in communities across the US and beyond. Sales of SOUL manuals, available on a sliding scale, help to sustain this work. To place an order please fill out this form or visit the SOUL Store online at: www.schoolofunityandliberation.org

★ Building Power, Sharpening Minds :: A collection of SOUL’s most well-tested and widely-used introductory Political Education workshops & training materials :: Includes And the Rich Get Richer +

Sisters and Sexism + Attacks on Communities of Color + Our Histories of Struggle + more... (366 pages)

★ Youth Organizing for Community Power :: The 2nd Edition of SOUL’s Youth Organizing Skills training manual, developed by experienced organizers from movement-building & organizer training centers across the US :: Includes Campaign Development + Power Analysis + Moving the Message + Building Strong Organizations + more... (466 pages)

★ Global Justice Training Manual :: SOUL’s curriculum on global inequality & global justice issues, designed to help participants draw on their own experiences, build critical thinking skills, & deepen

analysis :: Includes The Global Hustle + Oil & Power + The War at Home + Truth, the First Casualty; From the Bay to the Philippines + more... (380 pages)

★ Training For Trainers Manual :: The complete curriculum from SOUL’s popular Training for Trainers program, which builds the skills of many organizers & educators each year, training them on popular education theory & practice, curriculum development, and facilitation skills (166 pages)

★ Support And Accountability :: SOUL’s Organizational Development & Supervision manual for building strong organizations and developing new organizational leadership (79 pages)

Education for Liberation

manual quantityBuilding Power, Sharpening MindsYouth Organizing for Community PowerGlobal Justice Training ManualTraining For Trainers ManualSupport And Accountability

Please mail this completed form & payment to: SOUL Manuals / 287 17th Street, Suite 225 / Oakland, CA 94612. Questions? Email us at info@schoolofunityandliberation.org

name:organization:address:phone: email:payment method: check payable to “SOUL” credit card v mccard # : expiration date (mm/yy): security code: name on card: signature:

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individual price $50+

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✂

A New Generation of Organizers

:: I first came to St. Peter’s Housing Committee as a Summer intern through SOUL Summer School in 2007. SOUL was central to my devel-

opment as an organizer and has continued to support me in my work building the fight for systemic social change.::

Cinthya Muñoz came into the movement as a high school student, organizing in her school towards the historic immigrant rights strikes & walkouts of May 1st 2006. After her Summer School internship, she was offered a position at St. Peter’s Housing Committee, where she currently works as an immigrant rights organizer and tenant counselor. A regular participant at SOUL Sunday Schools and this year’s Training for Trainers, she continues to seek out opportunities to develop her skills and analy-sis, and is the newest member of SOUL’s Board of Directors.

Lear

ning

Our

Les

sons

We’re constantly told as young people that this is a phase we’re going through, that our beliefs need to be given up at some point. But Kiilu was like, no, this is real, we’re organizers and we have to represent our community…She has so much fire!

:: Tenzin Namdol, SOUL Summer School Class of 2009

The SOUL Summer School Class of 2009 uncovered movement history on their summer field trip this year, explor-ing the history of the Black Panther Party, their Survival Programs, and community organizing work. We saw the West Oak-land church building that housed the first free breakfast program and stood at the sites of many historic rallies and demon-strations. Kiilu Nyasha, an ex-Panther elder, opened her home to us, answering

this is real, we’re organizers and we have to represent our community

questions about her movement work as an organizer, journalist, and activist, illus-trating links between past, current, and emerging movements for self determi-nation and against oppression. Reflect-ing on the field trip Tenzin Namdol says that for her, “the tour definitely sparked something. After, I started doing research and reading about Panther issues, espe-cially from a radical feminist perspective. I’ve also learned that black organizers radicalized Asian Americans in the 1960s and that was really meaningful to me.” Ariana Nafarrate-Gil appreciates the ex-perience as collective one “Standing on the steps of the Alameda County Court-house, where members of the party pro-tested Huey’s incarceration, or outside the home Bobby Hutton was murdered in, was powerful. I had driven by these plac-es before, but it was really special to do it with a group of people who I knew were experiencing the same feelings as me.”

Seng So arrived at SOUL with Summer School Class of 2008. Now a site organizer for Youth Together in Oakland, he spends his days organiz-ing high school students of color to fight the root causes of educational inequity. He returned to SOUL this year to sharpen his popular educa-tion skills at Training for Trainers, which he sees as essential to his work developing other young people as leaders in their schools and communi-ties.

:: Being a SOUL summer intern was an experience that deeply shaped the path and progress of my life. I was given the foundations to pursue

the work of transforming individuals and communities... Training for Trainers rejuvenated my spirit, grounded me in the continued work of

building movements and furthered my skills in organizing. It is with much debt and gratitude that I owe SOUL for my development

as a person. ::

Seng So

Organizer,Youth TogetherOakland

CinthyaMuñoz

Organizer, St. Peter’s Housing Committee, San FranciscoSh

arpe

ning

Our

Ski

lls

School of Unity and Liberation287 17th Street, Suite 225Oakland, CA 94612

NON-PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE PAIDOAKLAND CAPERMIT 465

Educ

atio

n fr

om B

elow SOUL Sunday Schools are back! These

bi-monthly educational forums are a unique opportunity for organizers & activists from diverse communities to come together and study past & current social movements, learning directly from participants in those movements. This year’s Sunday Schools looked to current events and social movements in Latin America & the Middle East, as well as local and national fights for racial & economic justice in the US.

To learn about SOUL events email us at: info@schoolofunityandliberation.org

building alliances & studying movements