Artists' Political Power Workshops

This month at #UjimaWednesdays we're studying Artists' Political Power in honor of the Ashe Ashe 2021 Cultural Assembly. Join us next week for a thematically curated series of workshops and discussions centered on the importance of artists creating systems and infrastructure for caring cultural economies.

Art is labor. Art is work. These truths undergird the sustained organizing efforts of BIPOC artists over the last century. Like any field, artistic production is part of our economy and should be enumerated by an equitable wage. And yet, artists and cultural workers still struggle to access such guarantees. This Assembly will be an opportunity for artists, creatives, and cultural organizers to come together, set collective priorities, and develop shared practices for political power and economic development in Boston. 

See below and get excited about these upcoming workshops and featured speakers.

October 13th: Artists and Systems Change

Our first Wednesday features a special focus on the role of self-organized coops and movements that respond to the needs of artists. Eddie Torres, President and CEO of Grantmakers in the Arts and brandon king, Community Engagement Coordinator at Resonate Coop.

October 20th: Freelancers and the Role of Unions

Freelancers and independent contractors face a range of challenges accessing timely and equitable working conditions. There are over 56.7 million independent workers in the US, and the advocacy of unions promises a clear path to change. Featured speakers include: Rafael Espinal, President and Executive at the Freelancers Union, and Joke Williams, Program Manager for the Freelancers Cooperative Initiative (Guilded)

October 27th: Media and Collective Storytelling

BIPOC storytelling matters. Whether it's cultural institutions like museums or mass media coverage, the stories propagated about our communities have a profound impact. With so many narratives to tell, how do we prevent the formation of silos, so that all of our stories are amplified? Featured speakers include: Oscar Perry Abbello, Senior Economics Correspondent at NextCity, and curator Larry Ossei-Mensah.

#UjimaWednesdays: #CoDirect TONIGHT

Our next Ujima Open Meeting is on October 6th, 2021, on Zoom. 

Time: Wednesday, Oct 6th, 6PM | Location: Zoom Only

6:00PM-7:15PM - #Co-Direct with Ujima Staff

7:15-8:30PM - #Co-Create: Arts & Cultural Organizing Member Team

PLEASE RSVP. Thank you!

October 6th  - #CoDirect: Join us for deeper organizational updates with Ujima Staff. We'll be discussing:

1) Upcoming Assemblies:  Ashe Ashe: 2021 Cultural Assembly, A Loving Embrace: 2021 Real Estate Assembly, and The Vocal Assembly

2) Voter Affirmation Process

3) Our Latest Endorsement Request: Crane Ledge Woods' Letter to the Mayor

October 6th - Arts & Cultural Organizing Member Team: This quarter, the Arts and Cultural Organizing Micro-learning Pod is led by Ujima member and artist Dzidor. In this session, creators will look at videos, poems and stories that center healing narratives and be challenged to create their own pieces based on written work. We will examine how healing, or the question thereof, Is shared through Jojo Abot, Dzidzor, Sun Ra, Montell Fish, Worlasi, and Moor Mother's work. 

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Upcoming Ujima Meetings

We hold Open Meetings every Wednesday at 6pm, on Zoom! See our calendar below for details on October's workshops on artists and political power.

#UjimaWednesdays Meeting Agenda:

6:00-7:15 - Community Building + Financial and Political Education
7:15-8:30 - Member Team Meetings

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