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Open Dialogue IXSan Jose, California
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Get Off The Bus
Convener: John Paul Batiste
Recorder: Jenjoy Roybal
Participants:
Betty Switzer, Doreen Mitchum, Alice Valdez, Abel Lopez, Anthony Radich, Daniel Bustamante, Dianne Green, Lucera Arrellano, Keryl McCord, Sylvia Lowe, Sheila Austin, Victoria Bomberry, Lori Robishaw, Pamela Holt, Gayle Waden
Summary of actions identified in this session:
- Partner with civil rights organization to take action
- Be a watchdog for people of color for regional organizations
- Create an absence that can be felt
- Non-participation for a year
- Don't apply
- Get someone else elected
- TAAC organize an Association of Associations of service/organizations/networks/advocacy organizations and civil rights org
- People of color lobby on our own behalf
- Hit the infrastructure-ask people not to serve for a year
- Make a cultural policy statement. Make recommendation for a specific outcome
- Investigate action mobilizing. Models: Move-on, WA State Art Alliance. (Potentially partner-up)
- Burn the application books
- Go to the Saturday Session at 9:30-11:30am in the Sacramento Room. Get organized. Move agenda forward
- Make a statement to media after this conference
- Demand organization and commitment from within TAAC
General Notes from Session:
- This is the time to leverage what happens next.
- It is a critical time.
- No Ad Hoc. Must be organized.
- TAAC organization should partner with other civil rights organizations to take action.
- TAAC should be the watchdog for people of color for regional organization.
- Action in an environment that ignores process and participation.
- Don't apply for funding, as a message to the Arts establishment.
- Non-participation for one year.
- What would be the final impact?
- A Dark day in activity.
- Create absences that can be felt.
- No one would participate.
- Would it be missed?
- Need to link to media: local, state, and national representatives.
- They do need you (AKA the arts).
- Get someone else elected.
- People of color—lobby on our own behalf. (To who, what, when and where?)
- Power of one.
- Shakespeare initiative. Take action.
- Identify the environment allowing the shift to occur nationally and locally.
- Value of the NEA?
- Clarity with the outcome.
- The process is not allowing for input towards the outcome.
- Mdarts.com using technology to move our cause forward.
- Revision of making some deals.
- Burn the application book.
- Dynamic methods to get the job done.
- They hate bad publicity.
- Political pressure.
- Call it Racist (marketing)
- Lawsuit! They have to respond.
- There needs to be a downside to a representative not supporting the arts.
- Public policy—our greatest leverage is government funding at national, state, and local levels.
- Action models worth investigating.
- "Move On" WA. State Art Alliance.
- How can you mobilize your cell?
- Show up at the office to express your concerns and issues.
- E-mail—a Lot!
- Political action = 1 meeting.
- Strategies that will help us be perceived in a different light.
- Attach a task force to a representative.
- Representatives need to question the action?
- If funding sources are talking about and taking action that affects the arts, they should be required to have us at the tables.
- Be specific about keeping the action going—Boycott the Shakespeare Initiative.
- Don't apply for funding.
- We are not getting a fair share of our tax dollars.
- Hit the infrastructure.
- Ask people not to serve for a year.
- Hell - No! We - Won't - Go!
- Action = Tactics and Strategy.
- Impact public policy.
- Need the passion, push and commitment.
- Need to identify the issue and take action, 1 or 2 strategies.
- Take the individual responsibility to take action.