Don't forget: REGISTER TO VOTE! Monday, July 12, 2004 Also: read the latest STAND news in WAND's Bi-Weekly News Bulletin.

Hey Ya’ll,

Hope everybody had a fine holiday weekend last week.  We got a little off schedule because of the holiday, but we’re back and have lots of new opportunities to share with you.  Not to put a damper on your summer, but we are moving ever closer back to school days, and especially during this interesting election year, there are lots of ways for you to get involved politically on your campus or in your community.

Remember if you’ve got ideas or experiences to share with us about what you’re up to this summer, please write to us at stand@wand.org. 

Conferences and Educational Opportunities

1. All People’s Power Summit – (7/15-18)
2. Young Women’s Leadership Conference, Boston (7/26-29) & New York (9/2)
3. Campaign Institute (8/2-9)

Jobs, Internships, and Scholarships

1. Student Peace Action Network (SPAN) Coordinator, Silver Spring
2. Public Leadership Education Network Program Assistant, Washington, DC

Elections and Voter Education

1. League of Independent Voters Convention – (7/16-18)
2. Center for Progressive Leadership: Voter Mobilization Training
3. Protect Student Voters
4. Declare Yourself!

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Conferences & Educational Opportunities

All People’s Power Summit (7/15-18)

Young people from around the world will gather July 15-18 for the All People’s Power Summit: Building Communities of Hope, Strength, and Sustainability. The summit will be held at the San Francisco Peaks outside of Flagstaff, Arizona, a sacred spot to more than twenty-two different nations in the southwestern United States.  There will be three days of workshops, dancing, poetry and other forms of education and self-expression about environmental and social justice.  The summit hopes to bring together youth and elders from different communities to promote a cross-cultural and cross-generational exchange, focusing on hope, strength, and sustainability.  Click here for more information.

Young Women’s Leadership Conference, Boston (7/26-29) & New York (8/29 - 9/2)

The YWLC '04 seeks to bring together young women leaders from all 50 states to take part in a two-day conference that will teach them about women in leadership roles and their ability to influence government and society. The Conference's primary goal is to use the convention as an educational vehicle, introducing young women to the electoral process, and linking successful national and local leaders with young women in attendance.  The YWLC runs concurrently with the Democratic National Convention in Boston, July 26-29 and with the Republican National Convention in New York, Aug. 29 - Sept. 2.  Click here to apply.

The Campaign Institute, Boston (8/2-9)

The Campaign Institute aims to train the next generation of electoral activists who care about the environment, education, women s rights, health care, jobs and peace in Iraq to run and win campaigns driven by the issues, funded by small donors, and fueled by grassroots activism.  This summer 200 activists will learn how to develop a grassroots campaign strategy, plan field operations, organize press events, and more.  Both recent college grads looking to gain skills and find campaign jobs and staff of various issue groups are being recruited for the Institute.   A job fair with recruiters from political campaigns and issue-focused groups will take place at the end of each training session.  Check out the Institute’s Flash video about a new "recipe" for political campaigns. Click here for more info on the Campaign Institute, and email Meg Gray to apply.

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Jobs, Internships & Scholarships

Student Peace Action Network (SPAN) Coordinator

Peace Action Education Fund offers the Freeman Fellowship to young people in college or recent graduates interested in promoting campus activism for peace, disarmament and economic justice. The Fellow coordinates SPAN, providing firsthand experience in bridging the gap between academic learning and direct organizing for peace with justice.  Position is 1 year beginning July or August, located in Silver Spring, MD.  INFO: Garrett Wright, 301-565-4050 x320 or span@peace-action.org.

Public Leadership Education Network Program Assistant

PLEN is a national organization working to prepare women for public leadership.  PLEN's six annual Washington programs serve hundreds of women college students each year.  Students from across the country have the opportunity to experience a first-hand view of the policy process with women leaders acting as their teachers and mentors.  The Program Assistant assists with all aspects of planning, organizing and conducting programs including recruiting, scheduling and confirming speakers and serving as liaison with students prior to their arrival.  To apply, send cover letter, resume, 2-3 page writing sample and list of 3 references to: PLEN Program Assistant Search, 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036 or fax to 202.872.0141

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Elections & Voter Education

League of Independent Voters National Convention (7/16-18)

The League’s mission is to engage 17-35 year olds in the democratic process to build a progressive governing majority in our lifetime. At Ohio State University, we will lay out a sample 90 Day Plan for voter organizing. Then you will self-organize into small "working groups" to compare notes and consult with resident voter organizing experts who will be available all weekend to help your team design or refine your own tailor-made 90 Day Plan to electoral success.   It is recommended that you come in groups of two or more from your local area, but individuals are welcome, too.  Travel, housing and registration scholarships are available.  Click here for more info or register online.

Center for Progressive Leadership: Voter Mobilization Training

Progressive non-profit organizations around the country are looking for trained field organizers to help them identify, educate and mobilize voters supportive of their issues. This summer, CPL aims to meet that need through targeted Voter Mobilization Training programs for individuals prepared to work full-time managing a 60-day push to Election Day.  Training will include strategic planning, communication with voters about progressive issues, and volunteer recruitment and management.  Each training will conclude with a Campaign Job Fair where you will learn about paid opportunities to work full time on a field campaign.

Available Trainings:

• July 31 - Aug 2: UCLA (Los Angeles, CA)
• Aug 7 - Aug 9: CA State Univ. at Hayward (near Oakland, CA)
• Aug 14 - Aug 16: Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)

Click here to register online.

Protect Student Voters

There is a serious problem going on around the country effecting students, and Rock the Vote needs your help to raise awareness to change it. College students who try to register and vote using their campus residence are being denied their right to vote by local election officials who claim that campus and school addresses are not considered a "permanent" residence. In fact, in 1979 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional to deny someone their right to vote based on their residency.  The latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine has an explosive article titled that exposes this problem. Click here to see the article.

What can you do about it? Sign Rock the Vote's Web Petition to your Secretary of State.

Declare Yourself is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit campaign to energize and empower a new movement of young voters to participate in the 2004 presidential election.  Declare Yourself has several cool activities planned to rally young Americans including a live spoken word and music tour of college campuses, a nationwide voter education initiative for high school seniors, an extensive online awareness campaign, a massive voter registration drive, and a televised "get out the vote" concert.  INFO on how to get involved: Click here.