Wichita Democratic Socialists of America

From KeyWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
17492573 192408327916706 4420606631417365241 o.png

Wichita Democratic Socialists of America is affiliated with Democratic Socialists of America.

Beginnings

Wichita local 2009, Russell Arben Fox, front left, Rannfrid Thelle, second from right, front

In March 2009 Rannfrid Thelle, a transplanted activist from Norway’s Labor Party and now a college teacher in Wichita, Kansas, decided to try to form a DSA local in Wichita. She contacted Chris Hicks, a YDS activist at Wichita State, who put her in touch with Stuart Elliott, a labor activist and longtime DSA member. A call to Frank Llewellyn provided the practical info to get off on the right track.

On April 1, a dozen trade unionists, workers, academics, and others met in the basement meeting room of Watermark Books to found the local. The enthusiastic group numbered just a few short of the fifteen required to be chartered as a DSA local, but a quick trip to Wichita State yielded the needed additional signatures. Since April, the group has held meetings on the DSA Economic Justice Agenda and “what is democratic socialism,” with rising attendance.[1]

WSU YDS

50272 2298091438 122 n.jpg

In 2011, leaders of Wichita State University Young Democratic Socialists were;[2]

Occupy Wichita

According to a report from Wichita Democratic Socialists of America member Stuart Elliott on October 2, 2011 there was a lively group of up to fifty at Occupy Wichita . [3]

We circulated the Conyers petition, getting about 30 signatures. We did run into one former member of Wichita DSOC who is very interested in getting involved again!

People specifically mentioned in Elliot's report on DSA participation included Louis Goseland, (Sunflower Community Action), and Aaron Rivers, (Young Democratic Socialists), Harold Schlechtweg (SEIU Local 513), Larry Burks, Janice Bradley, and Jim Phillips, (Democratic Socialists of America)

Other speakers included William Rogers, Wichita Labor Federation, Billie Nyden, (Moveon.org), Mike Shatz (Progressivetoo.com), Dustin Bond, Dennis Romero, (Tequila Party), Emira Palacios (Sunflower Community Action).

Old hands

Megop.PNG

In 2016, leaders Of Wichita Democratic Socialists of America were Jim Phillips and Dorothy Billings.

DSA Workshop: Agenda and Strategies for a Post-Sanders Movement

DSA Workshop: Agenda and Strategies for a Post-Sanders Movement, 3340 W Douglas Ave,Wichita, Saturday 3 December 2016, 12:00 till Saturday 3 December 2016, 14:00. Organized by : Rannfrid Thelle.

Immigrant's rights, jobs, mass incarceration, minimum wage, education, native rights, environmental justice, health care, reproductive justice, all movements on the frontlines against Trumpism. Everyone is welcome to this workshop to network, and to connect with the groups and people working on the issues you care about. Wichita DSA will lead off with a couple of speakers (including Maxine Phillips, Russell Arben Fox, Jim Phillips, and Rannfrid Thelle), then we will break out into groups according to issues. (After the workshop, DSA members and anyone wanting to join will meet to form a new steering committee in Wichita).

Those indicating attendance on Wherevent included Rannfrid Thelle, Jay Andrew Vehige, Alan Trenary, Wesley F. Alex, April Lemon, Claudia Amaro, Rhonda Cox, Holly Rayl, Chau Truong, Scherzi Ellson, Helen Reicher, Julia Siwierka, Esau Freeman, Adele Falk, Lisa Alldredge Vayda, Shane Schneider, Aaron Horner, Dorothy Billings, Aaron Rivers, Russell Arben Fox, Christopher Rayl, Joanna Jenkins, Jerry Sherwood, Sharon Gordon, Travis Usher, Marco A. Fernandez, Janice Bradley, Vernette Chance, Levi J. Henry, Alexander David Vulgamore, Steve Otto, Axel Chacon, Patrick Ryan Moler, Zachary Brown, Mark Shobe.[4]

Reading/Discussion Group

Adsavvvvvvv.JPG

Reading/Discussion Group Hosted by Wichita Democratic Socialists

Saturday, May 13 at 1 PM - 3 PM CDT

Watermark Books & Cafe, 4701 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, Kansas 67218;

This Month we'll be discussing the book The Case for Socialism by Alan Maas.

Invited on Facebook

Interested

Went

Facebook group

Wichita Democratic Socialists of America, public Facebook group, as of March 12, 2017;

This is a group to spread information about the activity of Wichita Democratic Socialists. We work for basic things like universal health care, accessible public education, workers' rights and social and economic justice issues. Our meetings are open to anyone who is interested.
Wichityui.JPG

Admins

Members

More members were added by October 10, 2017.[5]

More names had been added by December 20, 2017;

Wichitadsxccx.JPG

Admins and Moderators

Members

References

  1. ↑ Democratic Left, Summer 2009
  2. ↑ Wichita State University Young Democratic Socialists Facebook page, accessed September 10, 2011
  3. ↑ DSA Occupy page, accessed Dec. 1, 2011
  4. ↑ [1]
  5. ↑ [2]
Retrieved from "https://keywiki.org/index.php?title=Wichita_Democratic_Socialists_of_America&oldid=581567"