The Anne Braden Antiracist Organizer Training Program includes several public panels. This year’s panels were extremely timely and we share them with you here so you can hear from powerful movement leaders.
Panel 1: Visionary Organizers Fighting Colonization: From Turtle Island to Palestine to the Philippines
Indigenous people are leading and winning fights to protect people, the planet and what is sacred. Listen to, learn from, and be inspired by visionaries who have been organizing at the forefront of movements from the Philippines, to Turtle Island, to Palestine.
MOHAMMED EL-KURD is an internationally-touring and award-winning writer from Jerusalem, occupied Palestine. His work has been featured in numerous international outlets and he is currently the Palestine Correspondent for The Nation. RIFQA, his debut collection of poetry, was published by Haymarket Books.
BIG WIND is a Two Spirit member of the Northern Arapaho tribe from the Wind River Reservation. At a young age, Big Wind recognized many injustices and degrees of oppression within their community. They became involved in youth & climate leadership at the age of 13 when they learned of environmental racism happening near their home. Since then, they have worked on numerous campaigns throughout “Indian Country” including Standing Rock & for the last 3 years in Northern Minnesota in the fight to #StopLine3.
ANGELICA ARAGONS LIM is the daughter of Filipino immigrants, Mario and Lillian, and also the daughter of the Philippine islands. She serves as the International Relations Officer Of Gabriela USA and is a secretariat member of the International Women’s Alliance (IWA). She resides on Cowlitz and Multnomah Territory, also known as Portland, Oregon. She is a mother, a comrade and community organizer. She fights for national democracy in the Philippines, and for all oppressed people all over the world.
Panel 2: Visionary Organizers Fighting for Black Liberation
The momentum, heart, and brilliance of Black liberation movements has been a catalyzing force for social justice here and internationally for centuries. In the last five years, the Movement for Black Lives has inspired an entire generation of activists to fight for a world where everyone has safety, dignity, power, and sustenance. Hear from Black movement leaders about their work and how to support projects building Black Liberation in our lifetimes: Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson (Executive Director of the Highlander Center), Lenisha Gibson (Political Director of the Dream Defenders) and Nana Gyamfi (Executive Director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration).
Panel 3: Antiracist Organizing for Transformation
Social movements are advancing transformative visions for a world beyond the crises of our time. How can we respond to the impacts of climate catastrophe, pandemic, capitalism, and white supremacy, while also shaping the wins that will be possible in the future?
Hear from three incredible movement leaders about what strategies our movements need now to build the world we long for.
Dominique Walker with Moms 4 Housing, Darakshan Raja with Muslims for Just Future, and Ravyn Wngz with Black Lives Matter Canada speak on Transformative Organizing Strategies. What are the visions of the world we are fighting for, and what are the strategies that can get us there?
RAVYN WNGZ (she/her): “The Black Widow of Burlesque” is a Tanzanian, Bermudian, Mohawk, 2Spirit, Queer and Transcendent empowerment storyteller. Ravyn is an abolitionist and co-founder of ILL NANA/DiverseCity Dance Company. She is a co-founder of Black Lives Matter Canada, a co-founder of the Wildseed Centre for Arts & Activism, a Canadian Best Selling Author, and Top 25 Women of Influence in Canada recipient of 2021. Ravyn is committed to eradicating all forms of anti-Black racism, settler colonialism, and systems of oppression while nurturing Black and Indigenous healing in communities.
DOMINIQUE WALKER (she/her) is co-founder of Moms4Housing, a collective of homeless and marginally housed mothers coming together with the ultimate goal of reclaiming housing for the community from speculators and profiteers. Dominique also serves on the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board.
DARAKSHAN RAJA (she/her) serves as the founding Executive Director of Muslims for Just Futures (MJF), a grassroots organization that builds power in Muslim communities through collective care, organizing, advocacy, and movement-building.