Becoming 'We The People': Finding Our Voices as Citizens

A weekend with Paul Cienfuegos presenting the workshop content, Laurence Cole leading singing and Kelly Hogan offering 'games of dialogue' using Theater of the Oppressed techniques.

April 4, 5 & 6 at Tryon Life Community Farm, Portland, OR

What is it that most deeply matters to you? What kind of town/landscape do you want to create for our children? For our grandchildren? We invite you to spend a weekend with us as we learn more effective ways to protect our local communities and the rest of the living world by learning about and exercising our inherent right to govern ourselves. Your voice is the carrier of what matters to you. Imagine using that voice to both speak and sing, as an empowered member of your local community.

Beginning in Pennsylvania, and now stretching across nine states from Maine to New Mexico, 160 communities have passed legally binding, locally enforceable Community Rights laws that for the first time in U.S. history enshrine the inherent right of a local majority of residents to protect the health and welfare of their local places. Each of these new-paradigm laws defines what the community wants, reins in corporate so-called "rights", and stops legal but harmful corporate activity dead in its tracks.

By utilizing the Community Rights legal strategy, and by blending our voices with others, we actually CAN empower ourselves as citizens to achieve goals regarding water, air, energy, frack sand mining, cell phone towers, land & economic development, education, etc... 
We the People really are more powerful than we dare to believe. 
If you think of yourself as a non-singer who would be uncomfortable in the singing, know that you can just listen to others. You might then find yourself humming along, and maybe later, trying out one of the easy-to-learn parts that carries you into harmony with the group, contributing to a 'whole that is greater than the parts'.
No previous experience or knowledge of any sort is necessary to attend. We hope you'll join us!

For workshop details and payment options, please visit http://www.motherearthschool.com/adult_education.shtml

Registration is required in advance. The fee for this workshop is a sliding scale between $100 and $300 depending on your means. Please choose a payment that honestly reflects your ability to financially support this event. 
Our workshop leaders:

• Paul Cienfuegos has been leading workshops, giving public talks, and organizing local communities towards dismantling corporate rule and strengthening local democracy, since 1995 when he founded Democracy Unlimited in northern California. Now living in Portland, he co-founded CommunityRightsPDX.org in 2012, and the Oregon Community Rights Network in 2013. He continues to expand his life passion: to help communities near and far to rediscover their power to govern themselves. He has great faith in the inherent wisdom and capacity of everyone to strive for a better world. His talks have been broadcast nationally on 'Alternative Radio' (AlternativeRadio.org). More info at PaulCienfuegos.com.
• Laurence Cole is a choir director and composer from Port Townsend, Washington. A long time eco-villager and advocate for the whole natural community, Laurence is known for leading many kinds of groups into the power and convivial pleasure of group singing; an ancient human process for investing a space and a community with beauty, meaning, connection, and the cohesive motive force “that helps shy people get up and do what needs to be done.” More info at LaurenceCole.com.
• Kelly Hogan is a co-founder and preschool teacher at Mother Earth School. Her passions include teaching children and adults in an outdoor setting, utilizing a fusion of current, regenerative educational philosophies while weaving in her deep commitment to anti-oppression work. She has been attending Theater of the Oppressed trainings and researching topics of diversity and accessibility for the past 7 years. In July, 2013 she attended a Theater of the Oppressed facilitator training with the Mandala Center for Change and is now spearheading an effort toward creating a forum theater group for Portland educators.