Thanks to everyone who attended the community conversation on October 3 in East Boston! It was rich dialogue and a great opportunity for community building and making connections.
A special thanks to the organizers who came out to talk specifically about what impact the elections could have on issues that affect us as people of color across groups, immigrants of color and African Americans alike. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, one understanding that was shared by everyone is that no matter the outcome of any election, we must continue organize, be vigilant and have strategies for solidarity building, especially when we are pitted against each other.
As promised at the dialogue, below are the questions from the participant fishbowl.
FISH BOWL QUESTIONS FROM PARTICIPANTS
Anybody with responses to these questions please send them via e-mail to [email protected]
General:
A special thanks to the organizers who came out to talk specifically about what impact the elections could have on issues that affect us as people of color across groups, immigrants of color and African Americans alike. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, one understanding that was shared by everyone is that no matter the outcome of any election, we must continue organize, be vigilant and have strategies for solidarity building, especially when we are pitted against each other.
As promised at the dialogue, below are the questions from the participant fishbowl.
FISH BOWL QUESTIONS FROM PARTICIPANTS
Anybody with responses to these questions please send them via e-mail to [email protected]
General:
- Have Obama’s policies helped people to move back into their homes?
- What is the alternative or choice if we don’t vote in this election?
- Are people working with churches in your communities to help fight some of the social issues? How do you do that? Is it helpful or not?
- For people without the status to vote or who have “lost” the right to vote. How do the elections impact them?
- About special education: How we can rally people around the special education policies for people of color? How can we apply pressure?
- What is the connection between suspensions and expulsions and prison?
- Which schools are you working with in Revere?
- How can we prevent our children from being placed in special education classes
- How do we make the schools work for our children? How do we help parents understand the system?
- You said is difficult to bring parents/students to meetings. Is it because of other distractions (like media/technology) or is it general apathy towards school related issues?
- What is NUBE doing to encourage minority residents of East Boston to vote?
- How do you outreach to the community so they get the information about your organization and did you charge for services to them?
- How you are working to unite the community around one issue?
- What organizing strategies is NUBE using to mobilize people to vote?
- What are the challenges people face in East Boston to vote?
- Are you working with (labor) unions? Some unions are desperate to work with the immigrant community but they don’t know how.
- How does MBTA work? Who is responsible for the fare increase?