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!
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!
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 as we chart DSA’s critical
next steps.
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 because DSA badly needs
organizers that want to build capacity not just locally, but build our
capacity as socialist organization nationally.
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! 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.
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. 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
Ella Teevan
Incoming Co-Chair and Delegation
Chair
East Bay
DSA
