JHR Minutes #26

Wednesday, January 9th 2008 @ Trabant Coffee & Chai

Present: Diana Archambault; Erica Bergmann; Nari Corley-Wheeler; Jacob Galfano; Yuhei Miyauchi; Todd Price; Rachel Proefke; Ben Shock

The Liaison: Nari discussed this quarter’s issue of The Liaison and its theme: Justice & Human Rights. Article topics are flexible, as long as they make some connection between the two concepts. If you would like assistance or examples, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The group set a rough draft word count of 500 words (maximum) and a deadline of Wednesday, January 23^rd. Please submit articles to: j4hr@u.washington.edu

The group hopes to publish and distribute this issue by week 6 of the winter quarter. There are several wonderful opportunities to contribute; if you’re interested, please contact us. We need help with:

- Photography

- Layout/Design

- Special issue components* such as Spotlight on…, HR in this Issue, Resource Guide, In Perspective

- Interviewing

* If you’re unsure of what these are, please visit: http://students.washington.edu/j4hr/documents.html

Nari and Rachel will also look into the Human Subjects Review process; our next issue (Spring 2008) will be themed “Education, Youth, & Human Rights” and may require special permission by the university before working with younger students in the communities surrounding campus. If approved, the group may consider working with Pipeline. If you are interested in helping with this exciting project, please contact us: j4hr@u.washington.edu

Why Human Rights? The group also discussed working on its human rights pamphlet, Why Human Rights?, which is a collection of JHR members’ ideas, beliefs, values, etc. and a unique way to introduce ourselves to the university and beyond.

The group hopes to publish this pamphlet (to pass out with newsletters, while tabling, and at events) as soon as possible, and will also make it available on our website. We encourage submissions (no more than 100 words) by January 23^rd: j4hr@u.washington.edu

The group will brainstorm at our next meeting to help develop ideas.

JHR National Publication: Like its previous publication, Speak!, JHR is creating a chapter-inclusive publication, and needs help putting it together. If you are considering helping with The Liaison, you might also consider extending your skills to this wonderful opportunity.

Rabble: Canada’s progressive online publication, Rabble, still collaborates with JHR, and welcomes student contributions. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to be published in this unique cross-cultural outlet!

Fundraiser: The group decided to shift the theme of its fundraiser from Speak Silence! to a UW chapter-focused event (mainly due to our being months late in planning). We plan to hold the event in February (before Valentine’s Day) or March, and need help in the following areas:

- Finance/Budget (contact Diana)

- Exhibit Design (contact Jacob)

- Silent Auction/Donations (contact Nari or Rachel)

- Promotion/Literature (contact Anthony)

- Entertainment/Venue (contact Janice)

- Website (contact Yuhei)

Several members expressed interest in combining a silent auction with spoken word event, comedy, music, and/or featured speaker.

The group still hopes to utilize the HUB, as we are eligible for funding using this venue. If you’re interested in helping, please don’t hesitate to contact us: j4hr@u.washington.edu

Note: As mentioned in previous minutes, Americans for Informed Democracy has created a competition called Rights, Camera, Action! – for which it will select 10 winning proposals and fund their project (including a video camera) and their travel to Washington DC to present the film. The fundraiser may be a fun thing to film, from start to end. Its deadline was pushed back to 1/18 – if you’re interested in heading up this new-to-JHR-medium project, please contact us immediately: j4hr@u.washington.edu

News:

- JHR is setting up a potential event on campus with UW’s Pakistani student group and local independent journalist Ethan Casey. Ethan is creating a documentary film on the latest on press freedom and human rights violations in Pakistan, which is particularly poignant with the recent assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

- The group continued discussion about an interview with three local women responsible for youth empowerment & hip-hop culture. Nari, Rachel, & Yuhei have volunteered to conduct this interview and create a multi-media report, including print and an online version complete with audio of comments and performances.

The interview will include Jen Johnson of the Seattle Debate Foundation, Julie Chang Schulman of 206 Zulu and Hip-hop Congress, and Angela Dy Martinez of Youth Speaks. It will also include comments and performance examples of the youth these wonderful women work with. Background information is available in this article and this video.

Potential Speakers: JHR would like to organize, sponsor, and promote speaking engagements on or near campus. Potential speakers:

- Steve Bezruchka (Winter 08)

- Pat Graney (Winter 08)

Website: Yuhei has continued to develop JHR UW’s website, and the group discussed further possibilities. Todd posited the idea of interactivity, envisioning a discussion board or blog that allows anybody to comment (for example, The Daily’s blog Intermission).

Other ideas for the website include developing the calendar to include JHR events as well as what else is happening on campus and in Seattle, access to meeting minutes and individual articles of The Liaison, and a page for links to groups (on- and off-campus) aligned with JHR’s mission and values.

Stay tuned for these exciting developments!

UW Bothell: JHR is continuing its work to expand to UW’s Bothell campus, and will table on January 22^nd to recruit leadership. If you’d like to help (perhaps you’ve never visited your sister campus before?), please contact us: j4hr@u.washington.edu

The group is also planning collaborating with other Bothell student groups, including its Intercultural Club, Gay-Straight Alliance, and the Center of Guineoequadorian Studies.

Business Cards: Ben mentioned that he could get business cards for JHR members, which will help with promotion and visibility of our club on campus and in the work that we do. If you are not included on the following list of officers and would like a card, on the list but would not like a card, or on the list but would like to use a different title, please let us know immediately:

- Diana Archambault, Financial Advisor

- Nari Corley-Wheeler, President

- Jacob Galfano, Secretary

- Janice Goh, Promotions

- Yuhei Miyauchi, Website Administrator

- Rachel Proefke, Editor

Tabling: JHR will table in early January to continue reaching out to new and potential members, as well as to inform the campus community about what JHR is working on. If you’re interested in volunteering, please let us know: j4hr@u.washington.edu

Next Meeting: The next meeting will be Wednesday January 16^th at 6 pm, location TBA. We will continue our discussions about Why Human Rights? and upcoming projects.

Tentative Agenda for Meeting #27:

- The Liaison

- Brainstorm: Why Human Rights?

- Fundraiser: Details/RCA! (application due 1/18)

o Other fundraising (both due 1/25): MG Leadership/UW Bothell SAF

o Fund uses (Banner, Travel (Toronto, Chicago, GYC), etc.)

- Pakistani collaboration

- Interview: Local hip-hop & Youth

- Journalism Day: CLP & Comm. Department

- Tabling dates

- Website development

o Connection to UWB

- Bothell: Tabling/Collaboration/Presidents Mtg. (2/5)

- Reflection on organizational management/Protocol for next year

- MLK Info?

Notable Announcements:

- The Seattle Burma Roundtable will meet at 6:30 pm on January 15^th at the Greenwood Branch of the Seattle Public Library.

- Dr. Muhammad Yunus – Nobel Prize winner – will speak at Kane Hall on January 18^th. Unfortunately, this event at Kane Hall is sold out.

- The Philosophy of Non-Violence, a workshop about freedom from oppression, will be held on January 19^th.

- NISGUA, the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala, is looking for a Human Rights Campaigner. Applications will stop being accepted on January 21^st. Visit their website if interested.

- The Reverend Martin Luther King, JR. Memorial day of Service will be held on January 21^st, and will meet at the HUB at 8 am. There will also be the 26^th annual march beginning at Franklin High School.

- Women, Action, & the Media! 2008, A Conference for Journalists, Activists & Everyone, will be held at the end of this March; the deadline for applications is January 31^st.

- Global Youth Connect is sending human rights delegates to Bosnia, Guatemala, Rwanda, and Venezuela this summer! Visit their website for more information.