Announcing the USM Civic Education Series!

Calling all USM employees and students!

United Campus Workers of Mississippi has a dynamic semester ahead, and we’re excited to invite you to join us. This spring, we’re rolling out a new workshop series centered on civic education and timely political topics designed to spark conversation, build understanding, and strengthen our movement together.

To kickstart our series on January 24th, we’ll be joined by Davy Goldsmith of Hattiesburg Alternative, a semesterly music, arts, and writing zine to lead a conversation on Guerrilla Marketing. Together, we’ll talk about how to make zines, flyers, stickers, and buttons, the context around them, and how to effectively use these tools to make an impact in today’s political moment. Click here to RSVP for Jan. 24 event!
 

Then on January 28th, the USM Field Organizer, Jena McCullin, will lead a conversation about the contemporary labor movement! What is a union and how do they work? We'll learn about the union that is organizing at USM and across the southeast for better working conditions, and why organizing higher education workers in the south is more urgent than ever. We’ll explore the history and vision of UCW, the organizing model that guides our work, and how building collective worker power leads to stronger voices and better working conditions. Click here to RSVP for Jan. 28 event!

On February 25th, we'll be joined by legal advocates from the Southern Poverty Law Center who will lead Advocacy 101, an introductory training on how everyday people can influence policies, practices, and public decisions. Participants will learn the basics of advocacy, from identifying community issues and understanding decision-making structures to crafting messages and taking strategic action. Click here to RSVP for Feb. 25 event!

Next, on March 6th, faculty member Dr. Mike Forster will guide us through the current political moment and explore how we, as workers, can improve our material conditions. We’ll unpack the economic, political, and hierarchical forces shaping the MAGA era and learn practical steps to respond. The session will cover the basics of local and state civic engagement, how to get involved in decision-making, and strategies for building a strong community network around you. Click here to RSVP for March 6 event!

And to wrap up the series on March 25th, staff member Evelyn Evans will demystify AI, explaining what it really is compared to how it is popularly portrayed, and explore its economic impact on our society. After a crash course in how the technology works, she will guide us in developing strategies to support each other as we navigate the changes AI brings. Click here to RSVP for March 25 event!

Please join us and share this flyer with your co-workers and comrades! If you would like to be more involved in union events this semester, please get in touch with the organizer at [email protected] or reach out to one of the hosts of the series, and we will plug you in!