This is your weekly Metro Atlanta DSA Update!

We have quite a few announcements this week:

1. Metro ATL DSA Announces New Leaders & Legislative Agenda
2. October 26th General Meeting, ft. Councilmember Andrea Cervone
3. Call for Harassment-Grievance Officers
4. Team Bernie: Debate Watch Party @ Noni's
5. Douglass-Debs Dinner
6. Eat Drink & Be Marxist
7. South Fulton Electoral College
8. Meet MADSA's New Executive Committee
9. Full MADSA Calendar

1. Metro Atlanta DSA Elects Youngest, Most Diverse Leadership in History

Pictured from left to right:

Rear: Brandyn Buchanan, Rara Imler, Catie Elle, Q Benford

Front: Cole Reardon, Councilman khalid, Nate Knauf

This September, the Atlanta Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (MADSA) — the Southeast’s largest Socialist organization — elected its youngest, most diverse Executive Committee in history.  The new leadership went straight to work in an all-day retreat, auditing organizational policies, assets and accounts. The new Executive Committee has made increasing engagement with its members a priority.

Even as MADSA joins Democratic Socialists chapters around the country mobilize for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign, Atlanta's new executive team — lead by City of South Fulton Councilman khalid — vows to take a more active role in local elections and legislation. 

Get more involved with the Metro Atlanta Democratic Socialists by filling out the form linked below. Someone who shares your interests will get in contact with you!

2. General Meeting: Saturday, October 26th at 4pm

MADSA's new leaders will present their plans for 2020 at the next General Body Meeting Saturday, October 26 at 4PM at CWA Local #3204 at 279 Logan Street SE in Downtown Atlanta.

October Speaker: Andrea Cervone

In keeping with MADSA's new focus on local politics, October's speaker will be Clarkston City Councilwoman Andrea Cervone. Cervone will discuss how her progressive slate, lead by Clarkston Mayor Ted Terry, turned this city — the most diverse square mile in America — into one of the most progressive cities in the South.

Cervone is applying for Metro Atlanta DSA's endorsement for her re-election campaign, which we will be considering at the October 26th meeting. The Clarkston City Council election is November 5th.

3. Call for Harassment & Grievance Officers

To ensure everyone in the organization feels safe & celebrated, MADSA's Executive Committee will appoint three individuals to serve as Harassment & Grievance Officers (HGOs). HGOs are not conflict mediators; they are investigators. While conflict mediation may be persued as avenue to resolve some conflicts, any MADSA member may report harassment to HGOs to investigate.

If you have a talent for interviewing & research, coupled with uncompromising principles, please consider applying to be a Harassment & Grievance Officer by sending an email to the Executive Committee at [email protected]. You may also use this email if you would like to report harassment. 

4. #TeamBernie Debate Watch Party

WHEN: Tuesday, October 15th at 8-11pm
WHERE: Noni's Bar & Deli on Edgewood Avenue

The fourth debate of the 2020 democratic primary is here! Join us as we turn out to support Bernie Sanders and his political vision of Medicare for All, College for All, a Green New Deal, and Workplace Democracy.

5. Douglass-Debs Dinner

WHEN: Saturday, November 9th at 6pm
WHERE: Paschal's Restaurant

MADSA's annual Douglass-Debs awards dinner has become the event of the Left's holiday season, bringing together Atlanta's progressive community — from labor, civil rights and other organizations, as well as new and veteran MADSA members. The event also doubles as one of MADSA's biggest annual fundraisers.

This year's Keynote Speaker is Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants union. In 2019, Nelson used social media and cable TV appearances — and her 50,000 union members — to pressure Congress into ending a government shutdown that stopped the pay of tens of thousands of federal workers.

6. Eat Drink & Be Marxist

WHEN: Friday, October 18th at 7-10pm
WHERE: Georgia Beer Garden on Edgewood Avenue

The fourth debate of the 2020 democratic primary is here! Join us as we turn out to support Bernie Sanders and his political vision of Medicare for All, College for All, a Green New Deal, and Workplace Democracy.

7. South Fulton Electoral College

WHEN: Saturday, October 19th at 9am
WHERE: Kingdom of God International Ministries, 4590 Welcome All Rd, 30349

Created in 2017 by DSA member Councilman khalid, the City of South Fulton's Electoral College is an annual Day of Political Education held each year on the First Saturday of Early Voting. Electoral College professors review every question on the November ballot. This year's event will feature forums for leading Democrat and Republican candidates running for Congress in 2020, hosted by WSB-TV's Tyisha Fernandes.

The four leading Democratic contenders for David Perdue's Senate seat — Jon Ossoff, Teresa Tomlinson, Ted Terry & Sarah Riggs Amico — have confirmed their attendance for this year's event!  Leading Democrat & Republican challengers for David Scott's Congressional seat will also participate in a candidate forum where they will take questions from South Fulton voters. 

8. Meet MADSA's New Executive Commitee

Councilman khalid (Chair) America’s first #BlackLivesMatter organizer elected to public office. Also a former #Fightfor15 and Union organizer, khalid serves on City Council in South Fulton, Georgia — Atlanta’s new twin city & the Blackest City in America.

Brandyn Buchanan (Membership Secretary) was raised in a labor family.  After years managing six-figure campaigns for coaches and authors as a copywriter, he's currently working to merge old-school principles with a new-school scale.

Cole Reardon (Treasurer) is one of many armchair communists turned street socialists in the wake of the 2016 election. He plans to us his background in Economics to improve MADSA’s financial viability and increase its capacity to offer Mutual Aid.

Nate Knauf (Recording Secretary) is a student organizer with the Young DSA at Georgia Tech, where he served as co-chair for the last two years. He's currently working on the electoral committee to organize #DSAForBernie canvasses throughout Atlanta.

Catie Elle (At-Large)'s introduction to Socialist politics began in 2009 as a student at Georgia State University. For more than a decade, she has poured her energy into organizing for labor, universal healthcare, reproductive justice, immigrant rights and LGBTQIA+ rights.

Rara Imler (At-Large) a comedian, actor, writer, and adult entertainer from Guam has used her quarterly showcase of progressive comics, Fistful of Laughs, to fundraise for MADSA. She uses her social media following to advocate for Indigenous, sex worker and LGBTQIA+ rights.

Q Benford (At Large) simply describes himself as "terrible at bios so you'll just have to observe him from a distance to find out more"

9. Full MADSA Calendar

Finally, we're moving to a new Google Calendar to organize our events. Check out our calendar and subscribe to it using the link below!

That's all for this week!

In Solidarity,

Metro Atlanta DSA