Various matters/updates Re: [Tbtn] Discussion w/ Imani

[ruxandra m costescu]

Hi all. I'm most likely going to be out of town, so I won't make the meeting either. Ross, I'm glad you have talked to Imani, and I agree that the issues you mention are extremely important but I just don't see how a small group focused on a pretty "direct action"-minded march can accomplish the goals of reaching out across the campus-community divde that elude everyone else, especially this year when we're making the transition from the org. that has been doing TBTN for a couple of years back to a more loosely-structured planning committee. We should definitely think about it and talk about it more, and send outreach letters and announcements to as many and as diverse organizations as we can. It would be good for people to come with their own lists to the meeting on Sunday, or better yet send suggestions to the list.

I have suggested some corrections to the letter that Katie sent a while ago, you can read it at: 
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/rcostesc/www/tbtn_outreach_katie_corrections_r.doc -- what do people think? Who all wants to sign it? We should send this letter by April 1st, I think.

I have heard back from somebody from Champaign Police regarding our space request for downtown Champaign, and I guess he wants to meet with me/us to discuss some things. He said something about "alternatives"... so I don't know. I don't want them to "manipulate" our plans or route in any way, or provide security, so I hope we can work out something reasonable. (Oh, it's so much easier with a campus location !!:) )I'm trying to schedule a meeting with him. Anyone else interested in going?

Alright, that's it from me right now. Still not sure if Prof. Zerai can speak at the rally, will keep you posted.

Ruxandra.


---- Original message ----
>Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2004 16:54:56 -0600
>From: "Ross A Wantland" <wantland at ad.uiuc.edu>  
>Subject: [Tbtn] Discussion w/ Imani  
>To: <tbtn at ucimc.org>
>
>Our next scheduled meeting (according to what I've been told) is Sunday at 3pm at Espresso Royale-Urbana. 
>
>I'm unable to make the meeting, but I did talk with Imani Bazzell. She had already said she wouldn't be able to speak at TBTN, but she was willing to speak to me about ways we can make this an event more than just a campus event. In short, she said that we have a lot more work to do than can be done by TBTN. Otherwise, it just feels dishonest. But she gave me a lot of ideas about forming a loose network of folks who will be together on the issues of violence against women, and ways we could go about doing that. I can talk with y'all more about this later. It is definitely an exciting (and overwhelming) venture, but we don't need to think about it this month. For now, we should make sure we invite a variety of community organizations to TBTN, including NAACP, Urban League, National Council of Negro Women, YWCA, League of Women Voters, SisterNet, etc. But it is likely that many of them will not come because they do not have adequate buy in for this event. Sure, the issue is imp!
ortant to them. But they may not feel in allignment with a march/rally, or they may not see TBTN as addressing their issues. That doesn't mean we can't invite and meet with groups, though. 
>
>Have a great meeting, and I'll talk to you soon.
>In peace,
>Ross
>
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