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Stir It Up Conference

Los Angeles Gets Down...Stir It Up Style!

Submitted by Ian Mikusko on Mon, 04/26/2010 - 18:59
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Editors Note:  This post was written by Marcos Escobar, who organized the second ever (Chicago'#1!!!) Stir It Up Conference in Los Angeles.  He doesn't have a log-in name but will soon--hopefully--be joining our distinguished lineup of Stir It Up bloggers.  

Faculty, students, and union leaders came together on USC’s campus on April 10th at Southern California’s first Stir-It-Up conference. Students came from the University of Southern California, Loyola Marymount University, Pomona and even the University of New Mexico. Worker leaders came from USC, Disney, and the Hilton LAX. 

Participants discussed how they fought for justice, participated in organizing trainings, and made plans for forming and strengthening worker-student coalitions. 

Elias Kohn, a USC student, said “[the conference] was very inspiring and moving. It started with passionate testimonies from workers and then it was great speeches by students about how they affect their campuses and communities. [The conference] also put us in touch with local organizer so we can plug into local actions.”

Katie Duberg from Pomona said, “it was really exciting to come and meet the other students who are interested in the same things I am. If we keep in touch I think we can help support each other in bringing justice to our campuses.”

This event was organized by UNITE HERE Local 11 and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, Los Angeles (CLUE-LA).

Stir It Up Conference....Los Angeles!

Submitted by Ian Mikusko on Wed, 02/24/2010 - 19:44
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A couple of months ago, Stir It Up had a student conference in Chicago.  Students from Northwestern, DePaul and Loyola all got together to learn more about the food service industry, hear from food service workers and to learn some of the organizing and research skills that make campus organizing successful.  


Well, now....Stir It Up is going Hollywood! 

On Saturday April 10th on the USC campus, students from universities all over Los Angeles and Orange County will be getting together for the second Stir It Up conference.  All students are welcome to this free event.  To register please fill out this online form.  

We'll have more about this conference as we get closer to the date.  In the meantime please make sure to fill the registration to reserve your spot at the conference.

Reflections on the Stir It Up conference

Submitted by Kyle Schafer on Mon, 11/16/2009 - 15:08
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I know we’ve already told you that the inaugural Stir It Up conference in Chicago was a huge success, but I’m sure all of you in the Stir It Up world want to know a bit more than that! 

The busy 5-hour day included introductions to the campus food service industry, Unite Here and the Student/Farmworker Alliance. Attendees heard from a panel of students who already have done great work around their campus food service providers as well as an incredibly moving panel of Unite Here Local 1 members who are fighting to improve their lives. The day ended with trainings on organizing and strategic campaign planning, giving students more of the skills they need to build power and make a difference on their campuses.
 
The hard work of the DePaul students who hosted the event and the other students from across the city who organized their peers to attend is still paying off. In the days following the conference, students and workers from the different campuses have begun to become friends on Facebook and are building the kinds of connections that will change campus food service for the better. 
 
If for some reason you still don’t believe our “huge success” claim, though, take a look at what the conference attendees have to say about the day’s events:
 
“Hearing how the students really wanted to help the workers out made me feel invigorated with a new sense of determination. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers presentation really made me think about the connection between us making the food and the workers who make everything we do in the kitchen possible.” – Alan Camacho, food service worker, DePaul University (See Alan’s full reflection here.)
 
“At the conference I got a chance to meet workers, fellow students and organizers on equal footing and build real relationships that shows me that my work is part of something bigger. Going back my campus I have a renewed sense that I'm not alone, and that together we can win." – Luis Brennan, student, University of Chicago. (See Luis’s full reflection here.)
 
“It felt really good to get things off my chest about my working environment. I was very pleased at how the students actually cared and listened to what the employees had to say. … The conference with the students was one the best times of this year.” – Chanteen Hardway, food service worker, DePaul University. (See Chanteen’s full reflection here.)
 
“The general sentiment was intimacy, a real sense of responsibility and commitment to one another as human beings. Our struggles are just as much our own as they are everyone's. I was both humbled and engaged by the workers' testimonies, and look forward to deepening my relationship with this community, and committing myself more fully to the union..” - Abbey Schumacher, student, DePaul University. (See Abbey’s full reflection here.)
 
“The turnout by itself was remarkable and inspiring, but the key thing for me to experience was dialogue with students – sharing my personal experiences and listening to their responses, it was supremely awesome to realize the mutual concern.” -- Ana Prillaman, barista, DePaul University. (See Ana’s full reflection here.)
 
“I left feeling great to know that these people understood what we are going through and are willing to do all that they can to help us.” – Nathan Arnold, food service worker, DePaul University. (See Nathan’s full reflection here.)
 

Conference Success!

Submitted by Kyle Schafer on Mon, 11/09/2009 - 22:52
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The Stir It Up miniconference in Chicago on Saturday was a huge success!  Students from five schools across the Chicago area spent the day learning from each other and from campus food service workers also standing up for change.

We'll have some more posts about the conference in the coming days and weeks, including some video, but for now check out the photo set on Facebook.  The photos were taken by Pat Brown, a student leader from DePaul.  Here's a sampling:

 

 

Students and workers start out the day.

 


Workers Making Change panel discussion.

Reminder!

Submitted by Kyle Schafer on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 13:29
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Sorry to all of you longing for Stir It Up-dates from Chicago.  Don't worry, though, we've been busy.  As hopefully you all know, the Stir It Up Chicago mini-conference is just three days away!  If you haven't registered, do so now!

Stir It Up mini-conference: Bringing Justice to Campus Food Service!
Saturday, November 7
12-5 pm
DePaul University (main campus in Lincoln Park neighborhood)

If you have questions, just shoot an email to Kyle Schafer at kschafer [at] unitehere.org.

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