Africa Action’s 1st Annual Baraza

October 3 & 4, 2003

DAY ONE

Participants: African partners, activists from 6 U.S. cities, representatives of U.S.-based activist & social justice organizations, and Africa Action staff & board.

8:00 – 9:00am Registration & Breakfast

9:00 – 9:30am Welcome and Overview of the day

Salih Booker, Africa Action

9:30 – 11:00am Morning Plenary: Ending Global Apartheid

Part 1 – State of Africa, Muthoni Wanyeki, FEMNET
Part 2 – State of U.S. Africa Policy, Ann-Louise Colgan, Africa Action

This session will be facilitated by Andre Banks of Africa Action The purpose of the plenary is to provide an overview of African priorities and of the key issues in U.S. Africa policy. Each speaker will present for 15 minutes, identifying priority issues, challenges and trends. This will be followed by a facilitated discussion.

11:15 – 1:00pm Morning Break-Out Sessions:

Drop the Debt, Treat the People, End Discrimination (3 concurrent sessions)

1.Treatment Access

Discussion leaders:
Pholokgolo Ramothwala – Treatment Action Campaign
Asia Russell – Health GAP
Facilitator: Sherry Ayres, Africa Action
Rapporteur: Neil Watkins, World Bank Bonds Boycott

2. Campaign2. IMF-World Bank/Debt Cancellation

Discussion Leaders: Demba Dembele – Forum for African Alternatives
Njoki Njoroge Njehu—50 Years is Enough
Facilitator: Ann-Louise Colgan, Africa Action
Rapporteur: Marie Clarke, Jubilee USA Network

3. Stigma and Discrimination

Discussion Leaders: Michael Angaga – Network of African People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAP+)
Stephanie Stines – NAPWA (U.S.)
Facilitator: Monique Luse, Africa Action
Rapporteur: Amanda Alexander, Harvard SGAC/Africa Action

The purpose of the break-out sessions is to educate and update participants on key campaigns and activities relevant to each subject area, both in Africa and in the U.S. Discussion leaders will each provide a 20-minute overview on the status of the issue, and current initiatives. This will be followed by a 1-hour discussion, with opportunities to talk about making the connections between these issues, and promoting collaboration between U.S. activists and African activists.

1:00 – 2:15pm Lunch

2:30 – 3:45pm Afternoon Plenary: Uniting to Fight

Facilitator: Bill Fletcher, TransAfrica

The purpose of the plenary is to share the main points from the break-out sessions, and to identify priority initiatives in each of the three issue areas. Rapporteurs from the break-out sessions will report back to the plenary on key messages and initiatives from their sessions.This will be followed by a 1-hour discussion focused on identifying common campaigns and highlighting possible opportunities for action.

3:45-4:00pm Afternoon Break

4:00 – 4:30pm Africa Action’s “MOST WANTED” Strategy Field Operations Staff

The purpose of this session is to introduce Africa Action’s new initiative to demand U.S. leadership in the war on AIDS. Africa Action Field Operations staff will give a 15-minute overview of the “MOST WANTED” strategy. This will be followed by 15 minutes of Q & A and discussion with the group.

4:30 – 5:00pm Closing – Group Photo

7:00pm – 12:00am: Africa Action’s 50th Anniversary celebration dinner!

The Renaissance Hotel, Washington, DC

DAY TWO

Participants: African partners, activists from 6 U.S. cities, and Africa Action staff

8:00 – 9:00am Breakfast

9:00 – 9:15am Opening Salih Booker

9:15 – 10:30am Morning Plenary Facilitator: Ann-Louise Colgan

The purpose of the plenary is to provide background and basic information about the current focus of Africa Action’s work, in order to frame the day ahead.

9:15-9:30am The Africa's Right to Health Campaign Andre Banks

9:30-10:00am The "Most Wanted" Strategy Monique Luse/Sherry Ayres

10:00-10:30am Comments/Questions

10:45- 11:30am Mobilizing Strategy Break-Out Sessions –

Part I (2 concurrent)

1. Working with Students Resource people: Oludare Ogunlana – All-Africa Students Union (AASU)
Amanda Alexander – Harvard SGAC/Africa Action
Co-Facilitator: Andre Banks, Africa Action

2. Working with Community Organizations

Resource people: Limota Goroso Giwa – BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights
Gerald Lenoir – Priority Africa Network (PAN)
Co-Facilitator: Sherry Ayres, Africa Action

The purpose of the break-out sessions is to identify the techniques useful to organize with these constituency groups, and to plan activities for World AIDS Day, December 1. Each resource person will have 5-7 minutes to present their experience working with those constituency groups, followed by 15 minutes for Q & A. There will be 15 minutes for brainstorming and discussion. Note-takers will be assigned in each group to record the high points of the discussion, with a focus on key dates, actions, messages.

11:40-12:30pm Mobilizing Strategy Break-Out Sessions – Part II (2 concurrent)

1. Working with Faith Communities

Resource person: Bishop Mvume Dandala – All-Africa Conference of Churches
Co-facilitator: Monique Luse, Africa Action

2. Working with People Living with HIV/AIDS

Resource people: Zondi Baloyi – National Association of People Living with AIDS (South Africa)

Adrienne Brown – Conscious Movements Collective
Co-facilitator: Salih Booker, Africa Action

The purpose of the break-out sessions is to identify the techniques useful to organize with these constituency groups, and to plan activities for World AIDS Day, December 1. Each resource person will have 5-7 minutes to present their experience working with those constituency groups, followed by 15 minutes for Q & A. There will be 15 minutes for brainstorming and discussion. Note-takers will be assigned in each group to record the high points of the discussion, with a focus on key dates, actions, messages.

12:45-2:30pm Lunch

2:45-5:00pm Afternoon Plenary: Bringing it all together – Building the campaign, building partnerships

The purpose of the plenary will be to begin building a coordinated effort towards World AIDS Day.

2:45-3:30pm Report Back

Facilitator: Andre Banks

Note-takers will each spend 7-10 minutes reporting back to the larger group on the key points from the break-out sessions.

3:30-4:15pm Consolidating into a plan

Facilitator: Sherry Ayres

This discussion will begin to integrate these findings into a single national/international plan, building towards World AIDS Day, December 1.

4:15-5:00pm Looking Forward: What's After World AIDS Day

Facilitator: Monique Luse

This will be the beginning of a discussion about key dates and possible activities after World AIDS Day. The facilitator will also re-cap on the major findings of the previous day, and engage in a short dialog about the impact of these findings on our work.

5:00-5:30pm Closing Salih Booker & Africa Action staff

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