Equality Camp

Entries from January 2009

A small sliver of Camp Courage: Raw footage of one of the sessions

January 27, 2009 · 2 Comments

Sunday’s Camp Courage in West Hollywood was among the most fascinating and engaging events in which I’ve participated in some time. From start to finish the entire experience felt perfectly orchestrated – but at the same time it didn’t feel overly structured or controlled. From where I sat (and stood, and leaned) during the day, I give the organizers and facilitators high marks for striking what felt to me a splendid balance between structure (a defined agenda, to which they kept almost perfect time all day, structured exercises and well-staffed to support participant questions) and open space (large swaths of time to practice various techniques, explore new information and interact with other participants).

There is a high-level perspective post about my percolating in my noggin, but at the moment as I face down some other deadlines (not the least of which is being close to frightfully late out the door for a dinner meeting), I wanted to at least get this video up for your perusal. With the big fat disclaimer that this is:

a) Completely raw footage

b) Quite long (it clocks in at just under 1 hour)

I wanted to share this because it was a very real part of my experience that day. I wish I’d captured more video of the “powerful” moments … but those are all ingrained in my head and part of the pending post.

In the mean time … enjoy this … with more to come!

Camp Courage: Session about Canvassing from Cathy Brooks on Vimeo.

— Cathy

Categories: Event Information · Photos & Videos

Camp Courage: online tech tools session

January 26, 2009 · 3 Comments

Julia Rosen of the Courage Campaign facilitated a great session on tools and techniques for online organizing. Here are notes from the session, taken by Kat.

Courage Campaign EqualityHub
EqualityHub is the Courage Campaign’s tool for online organizing. Provided by Bluestate Digital, this is a version of the software that ran MyBarackObama for the Obama Campaign. EqualityHub is a powerful tool that makes it easy to organize online campaigns, with phone banking, events, and actions. Results from phone banking can be transferred into the master voter database. EqualityHub is one of many tools that are useful for online organizing. It won’t be as useful as tools like Facebook as a social networking website. EqualityHub doesn’t have a Facebook app yet, and it doesn’t yet have APIs (application programming interfaces that allow developers to connect and extend it). Any group created in the Courage Campaign would be a group within Courage Campaign. Donations within EqualityHub go to the Courage Campaign, and cannot be targeted at Marriage Equality.

How to keep folks engaged?
Keep folks engaged by having interesting things on the home page regularly. Network with other groups to find activities that are suitable for your constituency.

Twitter
What is Twitter, and how is it used in a real world scenario? Twitter is like Facebook Status updates on steroids – and it allows people to respond to those status updates instead of just leaving a comment on your profile. You have up to 140 characters to type your message. You can use Twitter to spread links to videos, events, and other content you want to share. It’s great for creating “flash mob” events. You can set your Twitter updates to be public (viewable by everyone) or private (viewable only by people following you, and you approve followers).

Email Best Practices
If you have a small organization and don’t want to “bcc” – there are companies can send broadcast email for a small fee for each email. You get basic reporting on the people you send emails to (who opened it and who didn’t, who subscribed when). Pay attention to the response rate to your action alerts — if you’re getting thirty percent of emails going through, then that’s good. One recommended tool is Constant Contact ($14.00 / month).

When using services, be careful because they get blacklisted for violating ISP spam policies. Be careful to stay on the “white lists” . If service providers are worried about you, they’ll blacklist you and kick you off. It’s a real struggle for a small organization to be white listed. Make sure to build your list organically – sign up folks who want your emails or you can get in trouble with the service provider. Be careful if you’ve got 501c3 status and don’t announce your 527 activities (political organizations can take unlimited amount of money)

How does Courage Campaign handle email opt-in?
Courage Campaign uses “single opt-in” – anyone who signs up with us gets on the list. We don’t add people to it randomly. If you’re on the list, then you’ve done some sort of action with Courage Campaign.

What is the most effective way to spread the word?
There is no one magic bullet. We need to use multiple platforms. Facebook and Twitter are good for younger generation. There are more African-Americans on MySpace. It’s good to have an email newsletter that is sent at regular intervals. You can use SMS to send text messages to community members. Mobile Commons is an SMS service provider. Google’s Open Social is an emerging standard enabling different social networking sites to connect.

Is there a place to brainstorm events?
You can create a Google group or a Facebook group and have a group discussion to plan events. Also, tools like Google Docs, pbwiki and wetpaint can be used to work together on plan details. Social networking tools are best for rapid organization. EqualityHub is best at executing long term plans for groups working over a period of months

How can I use online video?
You can use viral video to promote events and campaigns. Post your video to Youtube and use Digg.com to get interest. Send the video out to your list — folks are more likely to watch a video than read an email. To take advantage of the ranking system (the hottest videos), send your video out out RIGHT BEFORE you start a promotion (sending emails, facebook messages, texts, twitter, etc). You get 48 hours to get as many viewers as possible to be on those daily lists. As a non-profit, you can rise up the ranking faster because there are fewer folks who are uploading things in the category.

It costs money to produce high quality videos. But you can produce video cheaply – get a flipcam. Video editing tools include Windows video editor, photobucket.com, flickr.com (can give you metrics, demographic data on who’s looking at your videos, when, where, how, etc)

Volunteer Management Software
There is no good version of this that really exists. Everyone wants to do different things with their lists, so it’s very difficult to make a system to manage volunteers. Courage Campaign VAN is good for storing data – but not managing volunteers. It sounds easy to write a voter management application, but for a large campaign, you’ll need different people at different levels to be able to access different functions, and to allow volunteers to say what tasks they’ve done. The process is different for every campaign, so it’s hard to write good general-purpose softare.

Jointheimpact.com
Jointheimpact.com arose to meet a need for events to organically happen and a place to publicize the events.
But the wiki site is not user-friendly for non-techies. They need to make system more user-friendly or plug into other tools. Want it to be better? Join them and help them be more organized. They’re interested in getting help.

Causecast
Causecast.org – register events there – nonprofits get free services (community of users internationally)

How to coordinate around tech tools for organizing?
There’s a brand new Facebook group, Geeks for Equality to stay in touch and learn.

Frequently asked questions
Information about tools and practices will be found on EqualityCamp website. A link will be posted to the Facebook Geeks for Equality group.

Equality Camp
Host an EqualityCamp, an open event bringing Tech people together with activists to brainstorm and create tools and organizing activities.

Upcoming Events
Online Voter Contact Tools for Organizations – what’s available and how to use them
Wed, Feb 4th, 6pm PST
Dial-in: (714) 432-0800
Guestcode: 814042
Email julia at couragecampaign dot org if you cannot make that call

On Feb 8th there will be Planning meeting about creating an online clearinghouse for all LGBT events coming up
See Geeks for Equality Facebook group for more information.

Categories: Uncategorized
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Equality Summit vs. Camp Courage

January 25, 2009 · 3 Comments

Bear in mind that these two events had different purposes and here really hadn’t been an airing of what happened in the No on 8 campaign, which is why the Equality Summit happened, along with the question of what to do next. My experience so far

Equality Summit
>organized by dozens of groups and a committee of over 50
>expensive impersonal convention center
>rock hard bagels
>check you off on a list
>wifi available for pay ($14/day_ few power outlets)
>tables with tablecloths for seating
>panels with lawyers
>anger between audience and plenaries. Questions unanswered about past
>facilitators provided for breakout sessions with flip charts for writing notes
>multiple plenary sessions with opening and closing comments by politicians and everyone who politically had to be included
>Obama mentioned a few times from stage

Camp Courage
>organized by a few paid staff for Campaign Courage
>donated rec center in W Hollywood
>nice soft bagels, packets of trail mix, fruit, little powdered sugar donuts
>please find your own name on the registration list
>free wifi + many extension cords
>open seating in assigned small groups (6-8) with new people to meet
>storytelling sessions
>no focus on past
>people running own sessions with info structure
>no plenary sessions: multiple airings of stories from veteran organizers
>Obama campaign referenced a great deal (Camp Obama + Equality Camp models for Camp Courage): Mantra borrowed from Obama campaign for entire event and practice: Respect – Empower – Include

-heather

Categories: Uncategorized

Meeting a Legend: Cleve Jones kicks off Camp Courage 2009

January 24, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Historically I’m not what you’d call an “engaged” lesbian. I’ve never been much for the flag waving, rainbow sticker sporting sort of rah rah that always seemed required of participation in the community. In fact there were many times, when attending some event or another made me feel … well … straight.

No doubt it has something to do with my having come out rather late in the game (I was 28). More likely, though, is the fact that as a rule I’ve not generally engaged deeply with “the community.” After all, what if Groucho Marx was right? If I was comfortable in my own skin and okay with who I was, what did I need all that marching, sign waving, banner hanging and such?

Of course for anyone who reads this blog even occasionally you’re aware that my gay neutrality shattered this past May after the California Supreme Court’s landmark decision. Even after that, however, while I attended more events, signed more petitions, made more calls and certainly participated, I was still – as so many – rather late to the game in getting really involved. I’m not talking about writing checks and going to fundraisers, I’m talking about hands-on help. I just didn’t. To be blunt – I was complacent.

Tonight I attended a kick-off event for tomorrow’s Camp Courage here in LA.  Cleve Jones, whose central role as a community organizer is chronicled to letter-perfect detail in Gus Van Sant’s Oscar nominated Milk, spoke to the crowd.

No, scratch that, he electrified the crowd.

Screw complacency.

If Flixwagon would embed here, you’d see a video window right about at this spot … but as noted in an earlier post today, it won’t … grrrr … So, you’ll just have to be satisfied checking out this link to hear what Cleve had to say…

Not sure how I’m going to get to bed, but will endeavor to do so. Tomorrow is going to be a big day.

—  Cathy

Categories: Event Information · Queer News
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Equality Summit: Kate Kendell, Exec. Director of NCLR on next steps

January 24, 2009 · 5 Comments

In between the morning breakout sessions here at Equality Summit, I grabbed a few minutes with Kate Kendell, Executive Director of NCLR. She’s one of the most powerful (energy wise) and truly motivational individuals with whom I’ve ever had the pleasure of speaking. I’ve often said that I would follow her into a burning building if she asked. Thankfully all she’s asked of me is my engagement in the movement. I may ensure I’m wearing fire retardant togs just in case.

– Cathy
NOTE: tried to embed the video here, but sadly Flixwagon doesn’t seem compatible with WordPress … sigh. Hopefully you’ll check the link above.

Categories: Event Information · Queer News
Tagged: , ,

EqualitySummit: Research Study from David Binder on Proposition 8 Campaign

January 24, 2009 · 3 Comments

Here I sit, alongside two of my fellow EqualityCamp organizers (for the record, that would be Heather Gold and Adina Levin, sadly for various reasons Hillary Hartley and Tara Hunt were unable to hop the caravan.) at EqualitySummit in LA.

Today’s opening session is a collection of voices from the 2008 election cycle and the (now notorious) efforts executed (or not, as some say) for the No on 8 campaign.

But I’m a rather lousy live-blogger, so won’t attempt to encapsulate the session now, rather I wanted to proffer a tidbit from one of the press releases they gave me … It’s about a research report from David Binder Research. He’ll be speaking a bit later, and I’m hoping to snare a few minutes on video with him, but in advance of that here’s a tidbit:

The headline reads: “Prop 8 Study Reveals Conversations with Friends, Family, Co-workers, Most Influential in Driving ‘NO’ vote.”

Gosh there’s a shocker.

You mean actually meeting and getting to know real people and hearing real stories may have impact in winning hearts and minds? Sorry if I sound a bit bitter, but isn’t that precisely what any good effort towards social change endeavors to accomplish?

Okay, so how about this next tidbit that came in the sub-headline of the release:

“Study finds 73% of people who voted for Prop. 8 said nothing could’ve changed their vote.”

This, also, doesn’t really surprise me … what surprised me is that the release buried a point that I think matters more… On the second page of the release, in the second to last paragraph is this:

“Only about 15% of yes on 8 voters could name something tangible that could cause them to change their mind and support same sex marriage, including:
- Call marriage by another name
- Ensure marriage for same-sex couples will not be taught in schools
- Ensure churches will not be forced to perform same sex marriages
- Approval, or lack of formal opposition, from churches or religious leaders”

This says two things to me:

1) It reconfirms my belief that while focusing efforts on changing those minds is a waste of energy, that does <em>not</em> mean we should not endeavor to engage with that community … This is pretty much my take away after the ever-so-educational interaction with The Rev. Chauncey Killens at EqualityCamp.

2) There are points outlined above that may be worth at least considering, if for no other reason than at least understanding what kind of middle ground might be acceptable. I’m not suggesting we acquiesce, but I do believe that within our strength we need to avoid stridency and strive to find middle ground.

—–  Cathy

Categories: Queer News · Uncategorized
Tagged:

The No on 8 Executive Committee is finally named in public

January 23, 2009 · 3 Comments

Queerty published the list yesterday which they obtained after blogger Michael Petrelis filed with the CA Secretary of State to obtain the information.

I think we’ll get to meet a lot of these people this weekend. Let us know if you have any questions or ideas for them. We’ll all be on twitter and live tweeting using #eqcampsf and #equalitysummit.

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video: new gay family TV ads effective except when censored by KABC

January 23, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Gettoknowusfirst.org aired these spots in most California counties during the inauguration (the kind of spots that we wish would have started 6 months before the prop 8 vote, but I guess we’re starting nice and early for the next vote). But KABC of LA serving Orang County refused to air the spots because “many families will be watching.”

Queer folks and our families and our entire movement need to make good use of the word family. 1) it gets used (as above) as away to avoid saying “watching gay people exist together makes me uncomfortable” and 2) it’s a powerful truth. We have families. We were children. We have children. It gets at the heart of connection, love and social belonging all of which are truths today. The more visible and strong our reality, the more quickly our legal equality will come.
-heather

Categories: Uncategorized

The line-up for Equality Summit

January 18, 2009 · 2 Comments

equality2 There’s just about a week before EQCA’s Equality Summit in LA. All five of the EqualityCamp organizing posse will be hitting the road to attend and hope to see many of you there. The good news for those who can’t make it is that EQCA will be webcasting much of the proceedings with a 30 minute delay. I’m also glad to report that the organizers of Equality Summit have rethought their previous moratorium on media attendance at the gathering. So this WILL be an open event, though they will be asking the press to get specific permission to quote material in any of the breakout sessions or smaller workshops.

One of the highlights in the program (at least for me) is a session with David Binder – a guru of research and major player in the Obama/Biden campaign. He’ll be bringing his research findings on the No on 8 campaign sorting out where precisely it went wrong. They will have a 30 minute Q&A session with him after his discussion.  They don’t indicate whether they’ll open up those questions to the folks watching by Internet, but my guess is that the 30 minute delay will make that impossible. So if you have specific questions you want asked, just leave a comment on this post and your Equality Camp posse will ensure we at least toss a hand in the air and try to get it answered.

Now without further ado, here’s the program as of Jan. 17:

7:45 AM Registration begins. Coffee, Pastries & Networking in Main Room

8:00 AM Shabbat services available with Rabbi Denise L. Eger

9:00 AM OPENING PLENARY SESSION – Looking Backward and Moving Forward

Welcome by State Assemblymember John A. Perez

Presentations from NO on 8 and Let California Ring Staff and Marriage Equality USA

Proposition 8 Post-Election California Voter Survey, presented by David Binder, Consultant to Obama/Biden Campaign
Question & Answer session

Keynote Speech by Eva Paterson, Equal Justice Society 11:20 AM

Break 11:30 AM

BREAKOUT SESSIONS for networking & strategy by interest/constituency:
African American; Asian & Pacific Islander; Faith Communities; Families; Government/elected officials/legislative advocates; Grassroots Community Organizers; Labor Unions; Latino; Legal; Media (Earned and Paid); Netroots/Web 2.0; Transgender; and Youth

12:30 PM lunch break (food court open and available)

1:30 PM PLENARY SESSION – Race, Religion & the LGBT Movement Presentation and Q&A Prop 8 polling data analysis released by the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute, by Patrick J. Egan, Ph.D., of New York University, and Kenneth Sherrill, Ph.D., of Hunter College, CUNY Discussion facilitated by Jan Adams and Bob Wing

3:00 PM break

3:10 PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS for networking & strategy by region: Central Valley/Central Coast/Nor Cal Rural areas; Inland Empire/Coachella Valley; Los Angeles County; Orange County/Long Beach; Sacramento Area; San Diego area; San Francisco Bay Area; and Statewide & National

4:10 PM break

4:20 PM PLENARY SESSION – What’s Next?

Panel update on legal and electoral issues
Open Source development of strategy ideas from attendees

5:20 PM break, snacks

5:30 PM BREAKOUT SESSIONS for next step strategy planning

Sessions proposed and led by summit attendees.

6:30 PM break, snacks

6:40 PM CLOSING PLENARY SESSION – What’s Next?
Report back from breakout groups, facilitated by Lawrence Ellis

Closing at 7:30

– Cathy

Categories: Uncategorized

America needs gay people; my anti-DOMA rally speech

January 13, 2009 · Leave a Comment



This was the first time I’ve addressed a rally. It was a thrill to stand where Harvey Milk stood and speak some truth to people. Is your dignity up to any one else?
-heather

Categories: Uncategorized