Schedule

Note: the following draft schedule is subject to change.
The Convergence will be held at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Richmond, CA (google map).
Friday, September 18th

8:00-10:00 Registration / Breakfast
10:00-11:00 Welcome: The Road to Copenhagen
Dr. Henry Clarke (West County Toxics Coalition), Ananda Tan (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives), Sandy Saeteurn (Asian Pacific Environmental Network)
11:00-1:00 Workshops Session 1:

  • Climate Justice 101: Jason Negron (Movement Generation), Ellen Choy (Mobilization for Climate Justice)
  • Chevron 101 – what Chevron is doing locally, nationally, and internationally and how we can counter them: Antonia Juhasz (Chevron Program Director, Global Exchange), Jessica Tovar (Communities for a Better Environment)
  • Building a local energy industry that lifts all boats (includes solar cooking demo):Michele McGeoy (Executive Director, Solar Richmond), Alexander Cotton (Rising Sun Energy Center), Catalin Kasser
  • The Power of Arts Activism to Uplift our Communities and Heal our Planet: Ashel Eldridge (Art in Action, Alliance for Climate Education), Alli Starr (Art in Action, Green for All)
  • Misleading media messages around climate: Gopal Dayaneni (Movement Generation)
1:00-2:00 Lunch
2:00-2:30 Free time / Rejuvenator
2:30-4:00 Workshops Session 2:

  • Corporations vs. the climate – what corporations are up to between now and the Copenhagen climate talks and what we can do to counter them: Antonia Juhasz (Chevron Program Director, Global Exchange)
  • Media 101
  • Tropical Deforestation & Climate Change: Rainforest Action Network
  • Anti-oppression / Alliance-building (continues through Workshop Session 3)
  • Urban gardening (continues through Workshop Session 3) Off-site workshop at Eco-Village Farm
4:00-5:30 Workshop Session 3:

  • Power analysis – a concrete tool for assessing how to leverage power in a campaign: Miho Kim (Data Center)
  • Media 101
  • Climate Justice and Coal: Rainforest Action Network
  • Anti-oppression / Alliance-building (continued from Workshop Session 2)
  • Urban gardening (continued from Workshop Session 2) Off-site workshop at Eco-Village Farm
5:30-6:30 Dinner
6:30-8:00 Evening Plenary: The Richmond community’s struggle for Environmental and Climate Justice
Dr. Henry Clarke (West County Toxics Coalition), Whitney Dotson (North Richmond Shoreline Alliance), Jovanka Beckles (Richmond Progressive Alliance, Richmond Planning Commission)

Saturday, September 19th

8:00-9:30 Registration / Breakfast
9:30-11:00 Plenary: Climate Justice 101
Gopal Dayaneni (Movement Generation), Victor Menotti (International Forum on Globalization)
11:00-1:00 Workshops Session 1:

  • Organizing 101– understanding how to use community organizing to shift power balances, brainstorming of existing organizing opportunities : Carla Perez (Movement Generation)
  • Introduction to non-violent direct action: Celeste Faison (Ruckus Society)
  • Surviving the Coming Cataclysm – Planning for disaster: Lynn Stone (Ruckus Society, Rising Tide)
  • Campaigning against tar sands
  • Climate justice participatory theater for social action: Rosa Gonzalez (Headrush), Levana Saxon (Youth in Focus)
1:00-2:00 Lunch
2:00-2:30 Free time / Rejuvenator
2:30-5:00 Workshops Session 2:

  • Planning the Climate Convergence action: David Solnit (Direct Action to Stop the War)
  • Permaculture: Cezar Gonzalez, Eric Adams (Indigenous Permaculture Program)
  • Participatory action research: Tony Robinson and Aaron Nakai (Youth in Focus)
  • Creating your own media – Online organizing, and political art Stanley Jones (Diligent Creative)
  • A True Green Economy (not Green Capitalism): Michelle Mascarenhas-Swan (Movement Generation)
5:00-6:00 Dinner
6:00-9:00 Party! Featuring:
  • Climate Justice theater piece
  • Hip-hop performances from Grind for the Green, Art in Action, local emcees, and more!
  • Live hip-hop / funk / soul DJ
  • Climate Justice art gallery

Sunday, September 20th

8:00-9:30 Registration / Breakfast
9:30-11:00 Plenary: Connecting stories of struggles and victories for climate justice
Ana Orozco (Communities for a Better Environment), Bradley Angel (Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice), Elouise Brown (Dooda Desert Rock campaign)
11:00-1:00 Workshops Session 1:

  • Direct action strategic planning: Scott Parkin (Rainforest Action Network)
  • The Labor Movement and the fight for Climate Justice: Mike Parker (Labor Notes, Richmond Progressive Alliance, UAW 1700)
  • The Road to Copenhagen – what’s happening in December in Copenhagen and why it’s important: Claire Greensfelder (International Forum on Globalization), Jamie Henn (350.org)
  • Local Climate Initiatives – campaigning for local climate action plans : Dave Room (Bay Localize, Local Energy Action Coalition), Emily Kirsh (Ella Baker Center, Oakland Climate Action Coalition)
  • Art build – create art for the Convergence action: David Solnit (Direct Action to Stop the War)
1:00-2:00 Lunch
2:00-2:30 Free time / Rejuvenator
2:30-4:00 Workshops Session 2:

  • Climate Education – how to talk about climate justice to broad audiences: Levana Saxon (Youth in Focus)
  • Connecting local issues to climate justice
  • Open space dialogues – sign up for a conversation or workshop you want to give
  • Art build for convergence action (continues through Workshop Session 3): David Solnit (Direct Action to Stop the War)
  • Organizing 201 (continues through Workshop Session 3)
4:00-5:30 Workshop Session 3:

  • Big Oil expansion plans across the continent
  • Strategic planning for October 24th and November 30th actions
  • Open space dialogues – sign up for a conversation or workshop you want to give
  • Art build for convergence action (continued from Workshop Session 2): David Solnit (Direct Action to Stop the War)
  • Organizing 201 (continued from Workshop Session 2)
5:30-6:00 Closing Ceremony / Visual demonstration showcasing art build during convergence
6:00-7:00 Dinner

Monday, September 21st

8:00-9:30 Registration / breakfast
9:30-1:00 Non-violent direct action – details TBD