Dear Friend,



DSA National Convention is less than two months away. It’s where the members you just elected vote on what our socialist movement does for the next two years. This is how our democracy happens, and we need to raise $9,200 to get our delegates to Chicago! <[link removed]>



Ever wondered exactly what goes down at National Convention, and exactly why you should care? Here’s your quick ‘n’ dirty guide!



Who are East Bay’s delegates?



Great question. At our local convention, we just elected 27 delegates and three alternates to represent us. Let me introduce you to a few!



<[link removed]>



Jess B



Hi EBDSA family! I’m honored to be serving as one of your National Delegates for the second convention in a row. I’ve been around our chapter since 2017, and spent time on our Steering and Electoral Committees and as a rep to CA-DSA. For the past few years I’ve also been an organizer and elected officer in the grad student union UAW Local 2865, where I helped lead the 2022 UC-UAW strike. I will bring this same commitment to mass working-class organizing and action to Chicago this summer <[link removed]> as we chart DSA’s critical next steps.



<[link removed]>



Matthew T



Hi folks. My name is Matthew, and I help co-lead our local East Bay Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee (EWOC) group, which helps workers start unions at their jobs. East Bay DSA is a model chapter nationally, and chapters across the country are looking to our EWOC group as an example to follow. I’ve dedicated my time organizing solely to organizing workers. DSA has become a hot spot for workers to find a socialist home for their organizing. I’m trying to get to convention <[link removed]> because DSA badly needs organizers that want to build capacity not just locally, but build our capacity as socialist organization nationally.



<[link removed]>



Keith BB



Hi comrades! I was chapter co-chair for our epic Bernie 2020 campaign. For the last few years I've focused on mentoring YDSA activists, building solidarity ties with left activists in Brazil and the Central Valley, and helping lead statewide organizing for the rank-and-file UAWD caucus in the UAW. I currently work as a labor-climate organizer and reporter. I hope you'll support me and other East Bay delegates to get to Chicago! <[link removed]> We have an urgent chance to turn national DSA to more agitational, movement-building electoral work that turns the tide against an increasingly oppressive right; to win the support YDSA deserves to grow multiracial socialist organizers for life; and to build our labor organizing into a springboard for thousands of rank & file activists whose power can end the climate crisis for good.



What happens at DSA National Convention? 



The National Convention is the highest decision-making body of DSA. Delegates from across the country will meet to set our course for the next two years and elect our new National Political Committee (NPC), which is DSA’s highest decision-making body between conventions.



This year, we’re voting on important political questions like:



- What’s our strategy for fighting a Trump or DeSantis presidency? Should we promise as an organization that we won’t endorse Joe Biden?

- Should DSA function like a political party, and how? What should we require of candidates to get our endorsement? 

- Should we make DSA’s highest elected leadership positions into full-time jobs, which would mean these people could represent DSA in the media and raise the profile of the socialist movement nationally?



How much does all this cost, and how are we paying for it?



As you can imagine, Friend, flying 30 people from the Bay to Chicago, plus hotel and convention registration, is not cheap! The cost per delegate is about $1,300. Some delegates have the means to pay for themselves, but many are low-income or working-class and need help - especially our teachers and students. Our chapter has committed $3,000, and delegates can apply for national aid, but that amount is limited. Based on the amount of aid that delegates need, we need to raise an additional $9,200. <[link removed]>



I’m in! How can I help?



You’ve come to the right place! Pitch in to cover our delegates’ flights, hotel, and registration here. <[link removed]> It’s a quick and meaningful way to support our internal democracy.



Thanks for everything you do to build socialism in the East Bay and beyond.



Solidarity,

Ella



<[link removed]>



Ella Teevan

Incoming Co-Chair and Delegation Chair

East Bay DSA







-=-=-

East Bay DSA - United States

This email was sent to [email protected]. To stop receiving emails: [link removed]

-=-=-



Created with NationBuilder - [link removed]