Class
of 2009
Eric
Adams
My
favorite
thing about SOUL is that there's nothing that doesn't connect back to
me in some way. We do trainings to learn about things that, at first,
can sound like they're trying to paint a Picasso, but by the end of it,
you've got an HD picture of what they're saying, and it always fits
something that affects you in some way.
Eric is a member of Youth Together, and has been active at his high
school in Oakland and in the broader community, fighting for
educational equity and increased funding for youth services. As of
August 1st he will also sit on the Oakland Unified School District
School Board. This summer Eric worked with SOMCAN/South of Market
Community Action Network in San Francisco, organizing residents against
budget cuts and for equal access to vital city services.
Juan
Gervacio
To
unify and
work towards Liberation in our communities is vital for our lives and
our community members to simply get better. SOUL has helped me to
visualize this process and given me more confidence to develop more
ideas to help our collective movement.
Juan immigrated 11 years ago from Puebla, México. He came
into
organizing by engaging in counter-recruitment work in his high school
in Santa Ana, California. As an active member of Frente Independiente
Emiliano Zapata he has organized for immigrants’ rights, and
for
solidarity with Chiapas, Atenco, and Oaxaca. This summer Juan was
placed with St. Peter’s Housing Committee, organizing to
protect
the rights of immigrant Latino tenants in San Francisco at risk of
displacement.
Ariana
Gil-Nafarrate
I
began
participating in SOUL as a way to become more rounded in my social
justice politics, and community organizing work. It has been an
informative and empowering experience which is helping me to become a
better organizer, as well as more involved member of my community.
Originally from Tijuana, México Ariana has been active with
HOMEY/Homies Organizing the Mission to Empower Youth and with the Stop
the Raids Now Coalition, organizing for students’ and
immigrants’ rights, and against criminalization. Ariana spent
her
summer with Mujeres Unidas y Activas, fighting alongside immigrant
Latinas for their rights.
Rebecca
Hom
SOUL
has
given me a new perspective in organizing and political education. The
most inspiring workshop we had was a panel of worker rights organizers
who spoke about the intersections of union and community organizing.
Becki has spent the past two years supporting base-building in
low-income communities of color, with organizations such as Just Cause
Oakland and FIERCE in New York City. This summer she was at
SOMCAN/South of Market Community Action Network helping to build their
membership of residents in the SOMA, and organizing for increased
access to community-based resources for young people, seniors, and
families with low-incomes.
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