Western Montana DSA Working Groups
Chapter members are invited to join working groups - where focused action happens. Working groups welcome your participation whether your knowledge of a subject is little or deep.The groups report back to the chapter and participate in or create community events/actions. For information about specific working groups, contact the facilitators listed below.
We are always open to new working groups. If there’s something you’re passionate about then no doubt others are interested too. Feel free to propose a new group and get at it. And members can connect with and participate in national working groups. Check the national DSA website for more info. www.dsausa.org.
Current national working groups include:
We are always open to new working groups. If there’s something you’re passionate about then no doubt others are interested too. Feel free to propose a new group and get at it. And members can connect with and participate in national working groups. Check the national DSA website for more info. www.dsausa.org.
Current national working groups include:
- Medicare for All
- Green New Deal
- Democratic Socialist Labor Commission
- National Electoral Committee
ECO-SOCIALIST WORKING GROUP – Works to build a broad-based regional coalition in order to bring public power to Missoula city and/or county. We believe it is necessary to pry ownership away from the monopoly, investor-owned utility so that citizens may control their own energy future. Eco-socialists realize there must be limits to growth. Rather than development demand dictating supply, ecological impacts must limit future development. Anyone concerned with protecting fragile habitats, threatened species and wild spaces is welcome. Meets 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month.
HOUSING WORKING GROUP – Building working class power includes organizing tenants as housing is a human right. The ownership and use of housing to generate profit for the few flies in the face of the values of Democratic Socialism. Housing is a human right as stated by the UN in its 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The working group focuses on various strategies to increase power among tenants and reduce barriers to housing that exist in a capitalist system. Recently this working started a local Renters Union. Meets 3rd Tuesday monthly.
LABOR WORKING GROUP – Building working class power includes organizing on the job. We work to encourage, train and support workers in Western Montana to organize and take action to improve their conditions at work. We also work to encourage, train and support a broader rank and file democratic labor movement. Meets: every Wednesday at 9:00 am.
ELECTORAL WORKING GROUP – Building working class power includes organizing within the political system. We work to elect and hold accountable people who express Democratic Socialist politics, and who build support for transformative reforms that deliver real benefits to everyday people. We also work to build a durable political organization and organize the collective strength needed for our membership and elected officials to effectively wield political power. Recently two Western MT DSA endorsed candidates and members won seats on the Missoula City Council. Meets as needed.
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE WORKING GROUP
Initial Organizing Meeting: Thursday June 9, 6:30pm - Location To Be Announced
Are you angry about the Supreme Court's plan to overturn Roe v. Wade? Are you wondering how to support those most affected by this undemocratic decision? Do you want to take action to ensure that everyone, everywhere can parent with dignity?
Let’s brainstorm together at our first Reproductive Justice Working Group meeting. This group will be democratically run and centered around those most affected by the struggle for abortion rights.
EDITORIAL WORKING GROUP – We believe that there is an important place for a socialist perspective on current events, locally, statewide and nationally. The Editorial Working Group brings that perspective to the Missoulian’s readers. We regularly write guest editorials and letters to the editor to help readers understand our perspective and goals. There are often concerns or criticisms about socialism voiced in the Missoulian’s guest editorials and letters to the editor. We will address those as well. Our intention is to make the letters and editorials informative, engaging and entertaining without being preachy or moralistic. Ideally, we’ll craft them so that readers look forward to the next installment. Meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 5:00pm. Contact: xxxx@xxx.xx
EDUCATION WORKING GROUP – Identifies materials pertinent to organizing the working class and deepening our understanding of Democratic Socialism. Meets as needed to plan Discussion meeting for the 3rd Thursday of the month.