NEXT MEETING - Monday January 5th, 2004; 6pm At Alternatives Inc - 4730 N. Sheridan Ave (just west of Lawrence Red line stop)
SAPAC General Meeting - Dec 1, 2003 at Alternatives Inc. Present: Shashi, Prateek, Susan, Sapna, Steven, Purvi, Sanji, Raj, Sadaf, Aparna I. Bhisma Agnihotri meeting in Schaumburg - sponsored by (among others) "Overseas Friends of the BJP". - There was a significant SAPAC/ Building Bridges Coalition presence at this meeting. Over 3/4 of the questions after Agnihotri's talk revolved around the rise of communal violence in India. Although, Agnihotri did not "answer" these questions, it was an indication to those in attendance (including Agnihotri) that this is an important issue that needs to be discussed. - Members of the media - e.g. Indian Reporter also indicated the focus of their articles would be the Q & A session. II. Media Advocacy - There is a need to compile a media list that represents "people of color" and that take progressive slants. This will allow us to send out press releases etc when events come up. - Sanji will take the lead in compiling this list - Sapna will send Sanji the NRI-SAHI media list III. Media Advocacy - Part 2 - Some local media outlets have expressed an interest in having SAPAC reps write op-eds, articles etc. SAPAC would like to pursue this as it will help us reach out to a wider audience. - Sanji has put out a "request for articles" on the SAPAC list-serv - Sapna might have an article draft by the end of the month IV. SAPAC's broader focus on "communal violence in South Asia" - Besides being part of the Building Bridges Coalition (members include Coalition for a Secular Democratic India; South Asian Group for Action and Reflection; India Muslim Council; World Tamil Organization etc.) - SAPAC is looking to expand its efforts in addressing the rise of communal violence in South Asia. - A list of potential topics were discussed. A SAPAC member has been assigned to each idea to research and bring "action items" to the next meeting to facilitate a discussion for an action plan - Everyone is welcome to post to the listserv on any of these topics (a) Working with the local campus group "Hindu Students Council" at UIC; NWU; Loyola (Aparna) (b) Connecting with Mayor Daley with regard to his recent trip to India (World Economic Forum) where he met Gujarat Minister - Narinder Modi (Shashi) (c) Addressing the growing communalism in Orissa (Prateek) (d) Researching how communalism inhibits development in South Asia (distracting from the "real" issues). (Sanji) (e) Researching the "Kashmir Pandits" - Hindus living in Kashmir (Sanji) (f) Posting articles to the SAPAC list-serv on human rights violations in other South Asian countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh) (Sapna) - At the next meeting, we will spend some time deciding on which issues to focus on based on the information brought to the meeting. V. University Outreach - There is a potential to help SAPC at UIC hold a forum on the Patriot Act - Might connect with SAALT (South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow), who often present on civil rights violations against South Asians, to help set up this forum - Raj will assess interest at UIC - Aparna will contact SAALT VI. Bhangra for Unity - Will be held in August 04 around the time of the India-Pak independence day parades - Currently looking for locations near Devon - Bombay Hall; the Heartland Cafe - Need to do intensive outreach to other South Asian communities (Pakistani, Bangladeshi) - Nilofer and Shashi VII. Voices of Resistance 3 - IT'S COMING!!!!!! Friday February 27th at Insight Arts (Morse and Ashland) - Look for the CALL FOR ARTISTS! VIII. Miscellaneous - FTAA meeting in Miami. Prateek will post more information on the "targeting" of people of color. -Third I - next screeing will likely be "Dam/Age" in Feb 04 - SAAN conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan Jan 30th to Feb 1st. There is a SAPAC contingent going. If you are interested, e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR [EMAIL PROTECTED] Conference info at http://www.saanconf.org/ NEXT MEETING: January 5th, 2004 at Alternatives Inc 4730 N. Sheridan Ave at 6:00pm SEE YOU THEN!!!! ------------------------------------------------ visit http://www.geocities.com/sapacchicago email [EMAIL PROTECTED] with "unsubscribe sapac" in msg body to unsubscribe
