SONG RVA
SONG RVA is a local, member-led Southerners On New Ground Affiliate based out of Richmond, Virginia. We are committed to building a multi-racial and multi-issue LGBTQ left movement in the city of Richmond, as well as in the surrounding counties and areas. We believe that we are all connected to each other across lines of race, class, gender, sexuality, immigration status, ability and geography—and that our fights for social justice only strengthen when we build power together. We believe that it is only through collective efforts that we will truly move further away from isolation and closer to liberation for all of us.www.southernersonnewground.org
“The national dialogue isn’t just about just gay rights, it’s not just about gay marriage, it’s moving towards a national dialogue around what does it mean for people of color, queer people, poor people, people across multiple sectors coming together to give each other support and fight for each others liberation. So when we are talking about queer liberation we are talking about all of our liberation and you know what? this amendment made that possible! Helped that process! So THANK YOU” Kai Barrow
A few words from SONGsters in North Carolina who fought hard against Amendment 1. What is your win?
VA SONG Organizing School
Southerners On New Ground (SONG)
in collaboration with
Fabulous Local Transgender, Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Leaders all around VA
Present:
The SONG Organizing School!!!
(For folks from all over the state of Virginia)
A 2.5 day training and political space (led by Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans & Queer folks!) for people committed to social justice work that is cross-issue, anti-oppression, and meets at the crossroads of race, class, culture, gender and sexuality, towards building the local work, unity and interconnection of people in Virginia.
It’s all going down:
Friday May 18- Sunday May 20, 2012
At the Gay Community Center of Richmond
1407 Sherwood Avenue,Richmond, VA 23220
Are you interested?? Want to know more information?? Want to apply??
To contact Salem or Hermelinda at SONG VA:
Phone: 804.933.9945 // Email: Salem@southernersonnewground.org
Phone: 804.386.7798 // Email: Hermelinda@southernersonnewground.org
Check out our website: www.southernersonnewground.org Application Deadline: Saturday, April 1, 20
Some of the topics & themes of the Organizing School will be:
- To build and sustain mind, body, and spirit in our work for social change.
- To think together about ways to organize around longing and desire instead of anger and fear.
- To learn how all of us—and our issues—are connected in this world of social justice that we seek.
- To build concrete skills for how to work together, build groups, and sustain groups.
- To help us think about how to bring our shared visions together in order to build concrete projects and campaigns with LGBTQIA people across the state
Our work, as well as the mission and strategy for this school is out of the belief that while the South as a region is underfunded, and the work & achievements of our communities are often made invisible and minimalized… that we are the legacy of amazing communities, elders, LGBTQI Folk, people of color, and working-class people who’ve been making it happen each and everyday. This organizing school is also coming out of our year-long listening campaign all across Virginia. SONG has been building, working and connecting deeply with LGBTQ Virginians for the past year and a half and it is our hope that we can expand, as well as deepen our skills, understanding, and ability to continue engaging inter-generational, multi-racial, multi-gendered communities in our own liberation & survival…
please join us!!
The SONG Organizing School is a 2.5 day long sub-regional training intensive in collaboration with Virginia local organizers, based on community organizing (people working together to build power). It will be an organizing school that brings together a multi-racial, multi-generational, multi-faith, multi-classed, multi-cultured group of LGBTQ people to support them to become leaders to fight for the future of justice in Virginia. The Organizing School will be a space for learning, strategizing, connecting leaders, celebrating our community, pollinating new strategies, and moving jointly into strategic projects and campaigns.
This is not a LGBTQI/queer-exclusive space, but it is based on the premise of work and experience born out of the connections, lives and intersections within LGBTQI communities.
This training is intended and targeted to meet the needs of adults, youth, and folks from organizations, groups and collectives who have at least a year’s experience in community work ~ to help those emerging, as well as more seasoned organizers take their political work, thinking, connections and strategies to the next level. This is not intended to be an introductory training to issues of power and oppression.
“we cannot live without our lives…” - Barbara Deming
If you would like to sponsor the song organizing school please contact us and let us know which of these amounts you would like to donate:
Fierce & Fab Sustainer: 50$
Card Carrying Trouble Maker: 100$
Tenacious Tactician: 150$
Front-Line Freedom Fighter: 200$
Recognition, Organizational Bios, and Thanks Yous will all be included in our program for those who would like to co-sponsor/donate.
SONG in DAY OF ACTION FOR IMMIGRATION JUSTICE in RICHMOND
Join Southerners on New Ground (SONG) and the Virginia Immigrant People’s Coalition
Friday, February 17, 2012Day of Action for Immigrant Justice!Richmond, Virginia
As LGBTQIA people we must take a strong stance against inhumane, racist, anti-immigrant policies that seek to demonize and destroy our communities. LGBTQIA folks who are held in detention centers are under the constant threat of homo/trans-phobic violence at the hands of Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. ICE continuously refuses to acknowledge the rights of LGBTQIA folks with HIV by denying their treatment in detention and rigorously perpetuates violence and fear in immigrant communities through massive raids and deportations.
Join us in calling for an end to the militarized incarceration and deportation tactics of the 287g-Secure Communities program which is currently in place in various parts of Virginia, including Harrisonburg and Prince William County. If the bills being proposed in this year’s Virginia General Assembly Session become law:-
- Police would be able to ask for papers from you based on the color of your skin
- Undocumented children would be banned from attending state universities
- Poor and elderly people who lack government ID would be prevented from voting.
Rally and Press Conference 11:00 am - 12:00 pmBell Tower on the Capitol GroundsN. 9th St. and E. Grace St.
Lobby Action and Literature Drop 12:00 - 4:00 pmGeneral Assembly BuildingN. 9th and E. Broad St.
Check out the facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/289546904437208/An introduction to the Southeast Organizing Drive 2011
This summer members of SONG (VA, AL, GA) participated in a 10 week-long summer organizing drive led by Project South (Atlanta). Project South is a 23 year old, grassroots organization based in the US South working to create movement spaces for social, economic and racial justice.
For ten weeks, Project South, SONG and 6 other Southern, movement organizations came together to form an alliance in order to build collective power across the region. During the ten weeks, these 8 organizations came together to share skills, knowledge and strategies in order to further the cause for social justice, build our bases, and develop ourselves as leaders organizing in the the south. This is a 10 minute long video that briefly captures the experience and all of the organizations involved.
We would like to send our love and HUGE thanks to Project South and all of the other orgs/people we got to meet. The experience was truly life-changing and the relationships that were made are truly revolutionary. .
We are currently updating this website. Please be patient with us as we add content!
Upcoming Events
End of Summer SONG Party
Friday, September 30, 8pm, 325 South Pine Street in Oregon Hill
From listening campaigns, to video projects, to workshops about race, immigration, gender, and healing and spirituality Southerns On New Ground has been working all summer to build Southern LGBTQ movement right here in Virginia. Join us to learn more about what we have been up to and how YOU can support this work and get involved.
Light snacks will be provided.
Community Empowerment Workshop
Tuesday, October 4, 5:30pm, Library of Virginia, 800 East Broad Street
Join SAGE Central Virginia, AARP Virginia, SONG (Southerners on New Ground), and the Asian Chamber of Commerce and several other community groups for a Community Empowerment Workshop. Virginia is more racially and culturally diverse than it has ever been. To ensure all communities are fairly represented, all individuals should be involved, including individuals from the LGBT, Hispanic, Asian and African American communities. This workshop will focus on what you need to know to fully participate in the political process, learn the ins and outs of redistricting and improve lives in your community. It will also be a chance to bring diverse communities together to help find common ground with the goal of improving the community.This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Call 1-877-926-8300 to register. Visit www.gayrichmond.com for more information.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Across the Life-Course
Tuesday, October 11, 7:00pm, St. Andrew’s School Auditorium, 227 S. Cherry Street
The 2011 Hans S. Falck Lecture on Social Responsibility presented by William Byrd Community House will feature a panel exploring the challenges and strengths of the LGBTQ community as they reach adolescence, adulthood, and the elder years. The panel will include Elizabeth “Liz” Cramer (VCU School of Social Work), Patricia Sauls (ROSMY), Shannon Marling (SAGE), Hermelinda Cortes (Southerners On New Ground). Reception to follow.
SONG Grits & Gravy Community Dinner
Monday, October 17 @ 7pm, Location TBA
Monday, November 21 @ 7pm, Location TBA
Join Southerners On New Ground for our monthly community gathering featuring the best breakfast for dinner you’ve ever had! We’ll be chowing down, laughing until we cry, and talking all things queer.
