As common as the cars its citizens used to produce, Detroit is now home to a slew of obituary writers who would rather write about city's death than work to change it. Despite that occasionally-overwhelming stench of mass media, people are coming up with their own solutions to the common problems of Detroit and other neglected American cities. Far away from magazine covers and newspaper's front pages, a wide range of young people are attacking awkward social issues and difficult farming fields with a contagious enthusiasm that escaped the previous generation.
Several members of the RYSE Center and Youth Movement Records descended on Detroit for the U.S. Social Forum 2010 with open hearts and minds. Over the course of four days, from June 22-26, their love and respect for the history of cities like Detroit, Richmond and Oakland shone just as brightly as their cry for "another world." They spoke often of social movements from years past, while laying the groundwork for new movements. From the outside looking in, it might have looked like four more days worth of dirt to throw on the grave of a once-proud city. However, from the perspective of those inside the Social Forum, looking out, it looks like a whole new world of possibility.
Since my community activism began it seems as if pieces of my life puzzle are finally coming together. As a youth involved with the RYSE Center and YMR (Youth Movement Records) I have been lucky enough to meet phenomenal individuals and be part of a youth movement in the East Bay. This year they gave me the opportunity to attend the US Social Forum in Detroit, Michigan. I will attend a series of workshops throughout my time in Detroit. Ranging from spirituality, social justice, to environment justice and so on. I hope to gain a dept of knowledge across many boards. Listen to stories of people fighting against oppression in their communities. Learn from elders and youth alike who are active and organizing.
I am looking forward to being inspired and having a re-energizing spirit by the end of it all. It’s hard sometimes to keep faith when you feel the negativity from your own people. So I definitely look forward to being surrounded by positive and hopeful thoughts of change. Something I hope to achieve during my stay in Detroit is to connect struggles and enhance my spirituality. I know some people attending the forum hopefully I come across them during my visit. I am very grateful to have come with three beautiful people and look forward to the conversations that will spark. This trip is hands down the most exciting experience thus far and I am going to take advantage of the opportunity and keep an open mind and a open ear at all times.
— Attending the US Social Forum this past week in Detroit, Michigan was a truly inspirational experience – one that I am sure to carry with me for years to come.
First off, I unexpectedly reconnected with a number of individuals from around the country that I have worked with in the past. I guess I’ve never really stopped to think about how long I’ve been working on social justice issues and how many wonderful people I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with during that time. Seeing all those people again really brought back a lot of positive memories and has renewed my commitment to forge new relationships with others in the future.
Secondly, my experience in Detroit reinforced personal ideologies that have guided my work in the past and will continue to guide it in the future ... Lastly, I left Detroit with a renewed understanding that there is much work to be done to map out the landscape of social justice issues. Many of us need to focus on building a cross-platform foundation for what we generally consider the social justice movement. We need to continue to find points of contact between groups working many “different” issues and causes. If we can find those points of contact and strengthen the relationships between different elements of the larger social justice movement, we will all be more effective in building the better world that we envision.
— Living in a capitalist country can be very stressful and fast paced. Two major forces to this system is time and money. People are constantly running around trying to accomplish something that will enable them to get some money. The phrase "time is money" has become an over used statement because of the truth it holds. Throughout the day it becomes a little bit harder to sit down and reflect. But what a difference it makes, and attending the US Social Forum allowed me to step back and reflect.
After a long day of workshops, presentations, marches and work days I was able to sit back and reflect on all the great knowledge shared by others. My first workshop could not have been better, it set the mood. The workshop was led by elders who learned lessons the hard way and wanted to share. They went through a similar situation as I did, and listening to their stories confirmed my beliefs. When I first started my activism I was filled with hate, anger, resentment and a very extremist perspective.
It was like I was out to get someone that did not have a face or name. I called them "they", and I missed to say "we". With time to reflect I realized its love and the belief that we are all one. Regardless of our diffirences only we can make a change, together. Even when things are hectic and it seems the world may collasp its crucical and essential to contemplate. No one can run forever without stopping. Through my reflection I learned and realized many valuable things. I definitely want to be a spiritual activist who enagages people in nature, singing and art. But most importantly live the life I preach to others. I believe people should live in peace which means not over stressing myself and oppresing my own mind.
With much love and respect :)
— There were plenty of video blogs taken from the US Social Forum. Click here to access all of them.
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RYSE Rocks!!