Anti-racism committee meeting minutes
11/2/11, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
(also posted in this google doc:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_cIhPchWv5YMYArbloP8mlMLfjuFL2kigytPybM6fXM/edit)

Present:
Jerome Scott (Project South)
Donna
Angelo
Aimi
Rachel
Dave Joyner (Moveon.org)

Introductions

Discussion:
Jerome, Aimi, and Rachel discussed the purpose of the committee. Donna, Angelo, and Dave joined us after about 10 minutes.
Dave: introduced perspective of MoveOn about working within the system and how this committee is piggybacking on the civil rights movements of the 1960′s and 70′s.
Donna: asked, where do we go from here? Should focus on developing a mission statement. Emphasizes that things change so quickly in this movement and so much has happened. We need to be more active and ensure we are on the same page.
Dave: asked about access, suggested teleconference so that others who were not present like Democrats and MoveOn could join. Left the meeting.
Aimi: We are working on improving access through livestreaming and other internet forums. We should focus on getting access to people who are marginalized by the Occupy space, not on getting teleconferences for Democrats or MoveOn.
Rachel: We need to reach out to existing black organizations and movements in Atlanta.
Jerome: Will be on a phone call with 50 black organizations tomorrow to figure out their relationship to occupy. Need to reach out to make people feel welcome.

Committee report backs:
-HIstory/education: Moki and Donna are working on it. Jerome signs up to join sub-committee.
-Public education: have created flier for soliciting anti-racist graphics. Started Tumblr. Helped with language on Occupy Atlanta fliers.
-Access: working on wifi access so we can livestream
-NEED reports from other committees

Proposals:
1. Pick a regular time and place to meet every week. Meet twice a week. We can’t keep up with the movement if we only meet once a week or once every two weeks (Donna and Aimi)
-Concerns: Finding inside space that is accessible to people – even those who can’t afford to ride MARTA. Where will headquarters space be after the occupation starts up again November 5?
-Committee AGREES to find time to meet twice a week, preferably far apart in the week and once over the weekend. Suggestions: Sunday/Wednesday, Monday/Thursday. Weekend GA’s might be moved to afternoons so we could meet in the committee time after those so that people have a place to come talk to us.
2. Create a sign up list to get at least one member of the committee at the General Assembly each night. They should send out an email with stuff that happened in the GA that is relevant to the committee. If they can’t make it, they are responsible for checking the GA minutes or watching the livestream.
-Important for getting info to whole committee
-Important for increasing presence and visibility of the anti-racism committee to the GA and getting more folks who are active in OA to participate in the committee.
-Concerns: it is too hard for folks to go to the GA every night. This is why we should break it up and still ensure we have a presence.
-Committee AGREES
3. The members of the GA ought to participate in anti-racism and white supremacy/privilege trainings. We need to have more trainings on a regular basis.
-Jerome is especially interested in helping with this. We need more people to do occasional trainings (every few days). We need to bring people from trainings into the committee and bring back what we hear at these trainings to help us formulate committee strategy and action points.
-Committee AGREES

Donna took these action points to report to the GA