Description:

Trump is on a rampage to put more power into the hands of billionaires– at the expense of working people.

In just the first few weeks of his administration, he issued (and then rescinded) a memo threatening to gut federally-funded social services that millions of people rely on– things like Medicaid, food stamps, and federal housing. Meanwhile, Russel Vought, the key architect of Project 2025 and a Christian nationalist zealot who is hellbent on slashing federal spending and firing employees, is now the head of the Office of Management and Budget, and will have immense power in determining how federal funds are spent and allocated.

How did we get here? And what role do white people play in out-organizing this strategy, which is particularly aimed at white communities?

Speakers:

Robin DG Kelley is an American historian and academic, who is the Gary B. Nash Professor of American History at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His research has explored the history of social movements in the U.S., the African Diaspora, and Africa; black intellectuals; music and visual culture; Surrealism, Marxism, among other things. Kelley has written several books focusing on African-American history and culture as well as race relations, including Race Rebels: Culture, Politics, and the Black Working Class (1994), and Yo' Mama's DisFunktional!: Fighting the Culture Wars in Urban America (1997). His essays have appeared in a wide variety of professional journals as well as general publications, including the Journal of American History, American Historical Review, The Nation, Monthly Review, New York Times, Color Lines, Counterpunch, Souls,Black Renaissance/Renaissance Noir, Social Text ,The Black Scholar, Journal of Palestine Studies, and Boston Review, for which he also serves as Contributing Editor.

Recording Here!

Slides Here!

Description:

This is our community-building space to stay connected while we keep organizing! We'll share campaign updates, stories from our Local Circles, and connect with other Circle members from across the country in small groups! At least one person from your Local Circle is expected to attend to rep your group on the call and bring info back to the Circle!

Recording

Slides 

Additional Resources:

• [SURJ General Coaching Tips]

• The Advice Trap and Staying Curious Just a Little Longer

• GROW Model Guide

Description:

Teachers and bus drivers pledging to resist ICE raids. Doctors continuing healthcare for trans kids. Religious leaders protecting vulnerable people in their communities. Across the country, regular people are stepping up and refusing to enact the racist, violent, billionaire-driven Trump agenda.

And you can contribute to the rising tide in your own community!

Since the Inauguration, our members have been organizing community leaders across the country to sign the “Pledge to Resist and Protect”-- a public commitment to resist Trump’s illegal and immoral agenda. In this training, you’ll hear from ordinary working class people about what this organizing looked like in their community, and how you can join in the efforts. Then, after the call, you’ll receive a copy of our Pledge Organizing Guide– a step-by-step tool that you can use to organize in your own community.

In the midst of these tremendously violent and challenging first 100 days, we are reminded that throughout history, multiracial coalitions of working class people have come together to build the collective power needed to topple authoritarian agendas. This is our inheritance– join us to step into it.

Recording Here!

Slides Here!

Additional Resources (If speakers mention any additional readings or resources, we will link them below):

• Join us in organizing around the pledge to protect and resist! Check out the Circles Page and our Pledge Website for more information!

Description:

This is our community-building space to stay connected while we keep organizing! We'll share campaign updates, stories from our Local Circles, and connect with other Circle members from across the country in small groups! At least one person from your Local Circle is expected to attend to rep your group on the call and bring info back to the Circle! We shared some updates on the May 1st Day of Action!

Recording

Slides 

Additional Resources:

• Day of Action Commitment Form

• Day of Action Training Call Series Sign up

• The Peer Consultation Method we used: Troika Consulting

Description:

• Solidarity, not scapegoats: strategies for organizing the white working class focused on strategies for organizing against division and towards solidarity as we prepare to celebrate May Day—the quintessential solidarity holiday!—in a national day of action with unions and other social movements across the country.

• We heard from Jackson Potter of the Chicago Teachers Union about their recent contract win and how they’re organizing for solidarity around May Day, as well as stories from SURJ organizers about our work in majority-white communities in Kentucky and Ohio.

Speaker Info: 

• Jackson Potter, Chicago Teachers Union

• Carla Wallace, co-founder of SURJ

• Beth Howard, founder of Appalachian People's Union

• Deb, SURJ member in Ohio

Recording here!

Additional Resources (If speakers mention any additional readings or resources, we will link them below):

• Coming soon!

Description:

This is our community-building space to stay connected while we keep organizing! We'll share campaign updates, stories from our Local Circles, and connect with other Circle members from across the country in small groups! At least one person from your Local Circle is expected to attend to rep your group on the call and bring info back to the Circle!

Additional Resources:

• Coming soon!