By Stefanie Skiljan, Seattle CISPES activist

In October, Northwest CISPistas got together to share ideasand knowledge from Portland to Seattle. Those of us from Seattlearrived Friday night to kick off the weekend of analysis, workshops, and danceparties, joining Olympia CISPES,  Jacobyand Heyward from the national office, and the Portland Central AmericanSolidarity Committee (PCASC).  We beganwith the film Un Poquito de Tanto Verdad, a documentary about the 2006uprising in Oaxaca, Mexico, with a focus on the importanceof independent media. After the outstanding film, we had a slumber party at thehome of long-time CISPES member Larry Mosqueda, and went to bed that night withdreams of revolution.

On Saturday we began with an Immigration and Tradepresentation by Seattle, which uses historicalanalysis of the structures of poverty in Latin America to frame the affectsthat UStrade and immigration policy have there. As a Seattlecommittee member, it was inspiring to see my compañeros work presented. 

After a delicious lunch, Jacoby and Heyward led a workshopabout gender identity and solidarity,  guiding activities that highlight the weight and expectations thatgender carries, and encouraging us to look at how this plays out in ourlives.  We ended with role plays aboutacting as an ally to trans people, with essential insights for those who arestill learning about gender identity. The Seattlecommittee particularly appreciated this workshop; it was very helpful to us inour commitment to anti-oppression education within the group.  We took away important information andperspective that we were able to share with the rest of the committee at ourfollowing meeting, where we began with a shortened version of the workshop.  

We finished Saturday with an organizational structurediscussion in which PCASC especially had some valuable experience to share inthe way of structure, that was pertinent to Seattles recent development ofsubcommittees.  The day ended with goodenergy and anticipation of pupusas from a local Salvadoran restaurant.  PCASC had to head back to Portland, but Olympia CISPES showed the restof us a night out on the town.

Sunday began with a phone banking training, led by theexpertise of our beloved West Coast Fundraiser Heyward.  We got some practice in asking for money, anexercise that proved to be harder for some than     others, but definitely a valuableexperience for all. 

We wrapped up that day talking about committee plans overthe next six months, which was a great chance for Olympiaand Seattle tocoordinate some program, and ended up with a grand plan for a Northwestsolidarity bicycle trip beginning on May Day 2008... keep a look out for moreinformation coming up!

We all felt so close at that point that Seattledecided to hang around Olympiafor just a little bit longer, where we hit up some local establishments beforeheading home.  For myself, the regionalgathering was a valuable experience not only in the way of learning andplanning, but also developing a closer relationship to all that is CISPES.  It continues to inspire me to meet CISPESfolks from other areas, to hear about their   projects and to see their commitment, and it comes back to strengthen mydedication to the work. 

Thanks to everyone that came and shared!