S.O.N.G.

15th Anniversary:

FOR ALL FOLKS COMING IN THIS WEEKEND:

EMAIL ALBA at ALBA@SOUTHERNERSONNEWGROUND.ORG if you are not registered and need a logistics packet.

The recommended hotel (with SONG rooms, $50 a night for 2 double beds with free breakfast) is:

Days Inn on Hillsborough Road
3460 Hillsborough Rd
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 383-1551

The Friday Night Gathering is at:

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Saturday daytime:

WD Hill Community Center on Fayetteville Street

Saturday night:

Barriskill Dance Studio on Shannon Road

We are preparing to house many of our folks from all over the South in cozy spaces like this all over Durham! Join us Sep 19-21, 2008 for SONG’s 15th Anniversary weekend (see link to ‘15th anniversary’ for more details). Also, please note any registrants who need community housing or have access needs must register by FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2008 so that we can make sure everyone is taken care of.
Have questions about access for folks with disabilities??-check out the 15th Anniversary Page.

Do you live in Durham and want to house some lovely SONG members for the 15th anniversary? Or want to help carpool people around? We could really use the help! Contact Alba at: Alba@southernersonnewground.org

Other SONG Updates:

-We are continuing our commitment to the 3 point strategy of our Southern base building:
1. Queer Mapping–finding our folks thru phone organizing and mapping of small LGBTQ communities and bases around the South
2. Drawing what we learned mapping and spending time in local communities and collaborating with small towns and rural areas to hold small workshops, creation studios, or campouts
3. Drawing what we learned from spending time in these communities to convene a group of local seed leaders for an Organizing School

This summer SONG has held a campout in Tyro, Virginia; a studio in Little Rock, AR; a discussion in Chapel Hill, NC; a speaking and dancing event in Greensboro, NC. This Fall we will be holding: a workshop in Asheville, NC; and an Organizing School in Little Rock, AR—In addition to our People of Color fall gathering and our 15th Anniversary. We keep busy!

(From left: Candie Carawan, Mandy Carter, and Guy Carawan)

Mandy Carter, one of the original founders of Southerners on New Ground and former Executive Director, has been named the co-chair for Obama Pride! We are very proud of the work Mandy is constantly doing for multi-racial, multi-gendered, multi-classed LGBTQ communities all across the country. Regardless of our members and constituencies views on the election, SONG is committed to observing and engaging with the ENERGY of young people, people of color, working class people, and LGBTQ people around this election.