Dear Friends,
The Rouge Forum web page is updated with initial reports, including
great video, from our "Their Wars Left Behind: Education for Action"
conference last week in lovely downtown Detroit (where, on Tuesday,
Comerica Bank, official name of what was once Tiger Stadium,
announced the company was leaving the city). Here is a link to some
wonderful work from presenters and participants, including song and
dance:
http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/~rgibson/rouge_forum/EducationActionPostConference.htm
At least three things came from the conference.
1. People made lasting friendships, built close personal
ties within a community that demonstrated its solidarity in unusual
conference fashion---nearly everyone ate together, enjoyed some
great films, and made it beyond a Detroit blizzard. Real friendship
is radical activity in the USA today.
2. The presentations and keynoters were outstanding,
offering new ways to understand and transform the world in schools
and out, as you can see from the videos and papers now online.
3. We initiated a transformation of our organization so
that new people will be able to come into the Rouge Forum, quickly
see where they might best exhibit their talents, and help press
forward the project toward equality, democracy, and justice. The
minutes from the Sunday organizational meeting will be up this
coming week, available for comment on the Rouge Forum discussion
list linked at: http://groups.google.com/group/Rouge-Forum-Discussion
In brief, we underlined that justice does indeed demand
organization. No other education based group in the US has done what
the Rouge Forum has done, or could do with your help.
Thanks to all those who gave generously of time and money...
So, the struggle continues.
All the best, r