--conference announcement -- FEB 20-22 -- New York City --

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LIFE AFTER BUSH: Youth Activism & the Fight for Our Future
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Location:
City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center. 365 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street (Manhattan)

Date:
Opening session, Friday 7pm, February 20th. Ends Sunday afternoon, February 22nd.

Description:
A weekend long conference for young activists dedicated to social and economic justice. Workshops and plenary presentations will address topics ranging from U.S. foreign policy, workers rights, anti-racism, the feminist movement, confronting right-wing ideology, globalization and America's low-wage economy, LGBTQ activism, grassroots organizing, democratic socialist politics and more. Participants will explore what's at stake in this critical election year as well as strategize how students and youth can best affect change in 2004 and beyond. The conference will highlight upcoming mobilizations and campaign initiatives that anyone can plug into such as the April 25th March for Women's Lives, and the Books Not Bombs national day of action. "Life After Bush" will be an excellent opportunity to debate, network and have fun with other young people from across the country.

Featured speakers (among others):

Cornel West, Department of Religion, Princeton University; author of Race Matters and many other books; Honorary Chair of Democratic Socialists of America ;

Frances Fox Piven, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, the Graduate Center, CUNY; author of Poor People's Movements and many other works; Honorary Chair of Democratic Socialists of America;

Doug Henwood, editor of Left Business Observer;

Steve Max, Director of Organizing and Training, Midwest Academy;

Leslie Cagan, National Coordinator, United for Peace and Justice;

Ian Williams, author of The U.N. for Beginners and a correspondent for In These Times and The Nation;

Bertha Lewis, Executive Director, New York ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now); Co-chair, Working Families Party


Download flyers:
Poster --------------> www.ydsusa.org/confs/nyc04.pdf
Quarter-cards-----> www.ydsusa.org/confs/nyc04_quarter.pdf


Cost:
FREE to students/low-income who pre-register by Feb. 14th (Valentine's Day!).
25$ for whole weekend, or 15$ per day for all other conference attendants. If you are coming as part of a registered campus organization, you may wish to request funding for the trip from your school.

Housing accommodations:
Free housing accommodations will be available to a limited number of registered participants on a first-come/first-serve basis. Conference goers are encouraged to stay with friends and/or family members while in New York City, and if possible, to offer space for others to use.

Travel arrangements:
Book your transportation as soon as possible! If you intend to come by plane, make airline reservations now. Arrange carpools, bus rides, of train trips to New York City if you are coming from out of town. If you are coming as part of a registered campus organization, you may wish to request school vans for your journey. Some financial assistance to cover travel expenses may be available to registered participants. Preference is given to Young Democratic Socialist members and those interested in starting YDS chapters.

How to Register:
Online payment and registration forms will be available on this site shortly. In the interim, please call, email or write to office indicating you would like to register.

Young Democratic Socialists
c/o DSA 180 Varick St. 12th Floor
New York, NY, 10014
office: (212) 727-8610 ext. 24
fax: (212) 727-8616
www.ydsusa.org
yds-AT-dsausa.org

Organized by the Young Democratic Socialists and the Democratic Socialist Club at the Graduate Center, CUNY. Co-sponsored by the Continuing Education Program at the CUNY Graduate Center and the Democratic Socialists of America Fund.