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W A M M ’s Ally for Progressive Action
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Lynne Gildensoph, W A M M and MAPA
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As you may know, Women Against Military Madness is a member of the Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action (MAPA), a coalition of 28 member organizations that works to unify grassroots resources of member organizations; champion issues of justice, fairness, and equality; and affect public policy and debate through research, education, and organizing.
WAMM was a founding member of MAPA and is the primary peace organization in the coalition, which includes nonprofit organizations such as OutFront Minnesota, ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), the Minnesota Senior Federation, Clean Water Action, and a number of union locals, including AFSCME (Associated Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees) and SEIU (Service Employees International Union) councils. The full list of participating organizations can be found at MAPA online.
It is this very interesting and complex structure that, in part, makes the work MAPA does so important, because it brings together groups that might not otherwise intersect. One of MAPA’s goals is to bring diverse groups together so that they may work in an integrated fashion on common issues of social justice.
For many years, Marie Simpson represented WAMM on the MAPA board, and I served as the alternate (non-voting) member. Last year Marie and I switched positions, and she is now the alternate. WAMM is a full participant in MAPA’s activities, and both Marie and I have served on the MAPA executive committee and participated in the work of MAPA committees. We invite other WAMM members to get involved with MAPA.
MAPA works to make Minnesota a more fair and just place for all of its inhabitants. Some of the past issues MAPA has been involved with have included opposing the siting of the high-level nuclear waste dump next to the Prairie Island Dakota Community and the Mississippi River, hate crime legislation (including the “It’s Time, Minnesota” campaign), and educating the public and legislators about issues like public campaign financing and tax-supported subsidies for corporations.
Each year representatives from the member organizations sit with staff in a weekend retreat to determine what issues MAPA will focus on for the coming year. Each member organization is encouraged to submit proposals for the group to review. This is a lengthy process with much back and forth discussion. Once the board settles on the work for the coming year, the MAPA staff then determines how the work will get done, and which staff person or people will work on each issue. Board members sit on committees that form around each issue, so the staff and board work together to accomplish the tasks. MAPA will focus on the following issues for the coming year:
Fair and Clean Elections: MAPA is working to get a vote in the Minnesota House for use in fall elections and also to educate Minnesotans. We are also coordinating “Democracy Matters” student interns working on this issue on seven campuses around the state.
Civil Rights: MAPA’s civil rights committee is working to introduce MAPA member groups to the Action Statement for the Defense of Civil Rights and Liberties. They would like each member group to sign on to a statement of support that will stimulate groups to work together to defeat post-September 11 anti-civil rights policies.
Electoral Organizing: MAPA will facilitate communication among activists in 501(c)3, 4, and 5 organizations as they develop electoral plans, and will work to educate members and allies about changes to the electoral landscape.
State Budget/Visioning: MAPA will continue leadership with the Minnesota is Watching coalition to ensure a fair budget and budgeting process.
Internal Organizing: MAPA will work to connect MAPA member groups so that they can increase their strength by working synergistically in alliances with other member groups on common issues.
Other MAPA issues include smart growth/big box retail/sprawl; right to organize; corporate accountability; health care; fair trade; and working with the Midwest Progressive Elected Officials Network (MPEON). Ongoing work includes undoing oppression within MAPA and its member organizations, volunteer activism, national and regional coalition work, and communications, including the maintenance of the MAPA Web site and production of the newsletter Currents. MAPA will also attend to organizational maintenance and administration, staffing, development, and the production of annual events such as the MAPA dinner and baseball tailgate parties.
MAPA welcomes participation by individuals associated with member groups (and those not associated, through its MAPA Roots statewide network) in the work of the various committees.
MAPA online. |
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© 2004 Women Against Military Madness. All rights reserved.
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Complete March 2004 Index - click here
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