Equality Network » Educational events

Still room for Camp Courage, Santa Barbara!

Jordan — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:59:06 +0000

Inspired by the “Camp Obama” trainings that powered neighbor-to-neighbor organizing across America in 2008, Camp Courage is an intensive two-day training designed to teach the principles and skills of community organizing to activists working to restore marriage equality to California.

Camp Courage is designed primarily for new activists or those who have never engaged with the broader community about marriage equality as well as veteran LGBT activists and allies. A background in community organizing or an organizational affiliation is not a requirement to attend Camp Courage. The only requirements are energy, commitment, and a desire to broaden your leadership abilities.

Drawing on techniques honed for decades by progressive social movements, Camp Courage teaches basic community and political organizing skills, including:

Finding your voice by telling your “story of self”
Leadership development
Principles of successful organizing
Developing collaboration and building effective teams
Techniques of voter persuasion
Organizing a phonebank
Canvassing
Tabling
Throwing house parties
Online organizing

When
January 30-31, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Where
Santa Barbara (location provided once registration is confirmed)

Register now!
Simply head to the Camp Courage website and sign-up!

Save the Date: NVCD training w/Ruckus Society

Jordan — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:54:01 +0000

On January 31st, from 10am to 5pm, at Plummer Park (map), we’re going to be holding a Non-Violent Civil Disobedience training in preparation for upcoming actions. Please mark your calendar – more information coming soon!

Los Angeles vigil this Sunday for two gay teens

Jordan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:21:25 +0000

This Sunday, November 22nd starting at 8pm, a vigil will be held for Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado and Jason Mattison Jr., two gay teens murdered in the last week simply because they’re gay. The vigil will be held at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. & San Vincente Blvd. in West Hollywood (map).

Bring candles, and if you’d like, signs.

You can RSVP on the Facebook event page. Please be sure to share it with your Facebook friends and invite them to attend!

News coverage of these brutal murders:

Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado: Murder Charge Filed in Puerto Rico Teen Slaying, New York Times
Jason Mattison, Jr.: Baltimore Gay Teen Murdered, The Advocate

LAvender Los Angeles – revealing LA’s LGBT history before Stonewall

Jordan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:10:02 +0000

Join us on Thursday, November 19th at 7:30pm for LAvender Los Angeles’ “LGBT Political Power Discussion” with former Senator Sheila Kuehl and veteran activist Torie Osborn. This is the final night of their exhibit before closing masquerade ball, and Equality Network is attending to be a part of a pivotal conversation about politics in Los Angeles.

LAvender Los Angeles is a visually engaging exhibit that has been running for two weeks, with the mission of uncovering our city’s unsung LGBT history; to connect the experiences of the past to the aspirations of the future; and to highlight those who pioneered our progress.

The exhibit itself is open 4:30-9:30pm. For information on location, parking, and public transportation, head to the Roots of Equality website.

LA had a rich gay history before Stonewall!

Jordan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:07:39 +0000

“Lavender Los Angeles: The Making of our pre-Stonewall LGBT Movement” is a visually engaging exhibit running for two weeks from November 7-20th in Downtown LA, by Roots of Equality, an LGBT cultural activist group. The mission of this exhibit is to uncover our city’s unsung LGBT history, to connect the experiences of the past to the aspirations of the future, and to highlight those who pioneered our progress.

“Lavender Los Angeles” will run at The Exchange in Downtown LA at 114 W. 5th St. (map) in the heart of the historic gay ghetto from November 8th through the 20th. The exhibit will also host the Art Walk, panel discussions, speakers, and themed evenings.

Information about the location of the exhibit, the gallery open times, and parking are all available at the Roots of Equality website.

We also suggest, as a Vice Versa sponsor, that you attend one of the special showings/events:

Sun. November 8th, 4-6 pm: Pioneering Angelenos Appreciation Night with Lisa Ben
Mon. November 9th, 7:30-9:30 pm: L.A.P.D. Relations Panel Discussion
Thu. November 12th, 12-9:30 pm: Downtown LA Artwalk
Sat. November 14th, 10-11:30 pm: Walking tour of significant local LGBT sites.
Sun. November 15th, 2-3:30 pm: Walking tour of significant local LGBT sites.
Sun. November 15th, 4-6 pm: Gay Press Panel
Mon. November 16th, 7:30-9:30 pm: Transgender Focus Night
Thu. November 19th, 7:30-9:00 pm: LGBT Political Power Discussion
Fri. November 20th, 7-midnight: Closing night Masquerade Party

Members of Equality Network will be attending as a group the “LGBT Political Power Discussion” on Thursday, November 19th!

Last chance to sign up for Campaign Bootcamp!

Jordan — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:00:55 +0000

This Saturday and Sunday is “Campaign Bootcamp,” an incredible overview of the inner workings of running an effective campaign and how to ultimately repeal proposition 8, presented by OUT West Coalition. This two day event will teach you the nuts and bolts of how to run a campaign from experts who have won at the ballot box.

Pre-registrants will receive a free copy of Christine Pelosi‘s book, “Campaign Bootcamp“, and may have the chance to have her sign it when she appears at the event!

Very few seats remain, so be sure to reserve yours now!

Campaign Bootcamp, Sept. 12-13

Jordan — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:30:29 +0000

A coalition of marriage equality groups are proud to offer you a very unique experience. To help members of the grassroots community learn the inner workings of running an effective campaign and how to ultimately repeal proposition 8, the OUT West Coalition presents “Campaign Bootcamp”! This two day event will teach you the nuts and bolts of how to run a campaign from experts who have won at the ballot box. Register today to reserve your seat!

DAY 1: Participants will be given an overview of how a campaign operates including effective use of media strategies, polling, new media and a variety of other critical topics.
DAY 2: Participants will break into two of four tracks where they will focus in-depth on four critical areas of a campaign: Field, Political/New Media Organizing, Finance and Communications.

Event Details

Saturday, September 12 – 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Sunday, September 13 – 8:30 am – 5:15 pm
LOCATION: University of Southern California (USC), participants will receive confirmation email with location details and information.

You must pre-register for this event and you must commit to attending both days of the training. Space is limited and is on a first come, first serve basis. Register today to reserve your spot!

Join us on the AIDS Walk

Jordan — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:30:34 +0000

The 25th AIDS Walk will be happening on October 18th of this year, and OUT West, the coalition Equality Network is part of, will be walking together. Please join us by registering TODAY to walk with us in this powerful experience.

To register, head to the AIDS Walk website, and click “Register and Join a Team“. In the “Join an existing Team” drop-down box, choose “OUTWest – LA LGBT Grassroots – 1370“. Follow the process to complete your registration. You will then receive information on how you can pass on the word to others, and provide a fund-raising page for those who wish to sponsor you!

“History to Action” event canceled

Jordan — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:00:44 +0000

Please make note: the “History to Action: Grassroots Workshop” on August 29th at Fiesta Hall has been canceled, due to the “Interim Organizational Structure & Signature Gathering Meeting“.