2016 Convergence Workshop: Protecting Democracy from the TPP with Aaron Lehmer-Chang

What is the Culture of the Modern Village and how are we creating a Global Village? As we become increasingly aware of our interconnection on this one shared home called Earth, there is a compelling call to find our common threads and become the stewards for our collective future. By sharing principals that include Thinking Global, Acting Local practices, regional resilience, appropriate technology, cultural literacy, holistic health, living economy and more, the call is to empower engagement and participation in direct action at personal, interpersonal, and local community levels while considering our place in the greater web of life. Whether on a Land Stewardship project, or in an Urban environment, together we will explore the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern innovation to foster holistic solutions in our communities.

Presented By: Jamaica Stevens

We have reached a critical moment in the national campaign against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Despite growing concerns about the threat it poses to well-paying jobs, the environment, public health, food safety, and our democratic freedoms, members of the Obama Administration have said they plan to call on Congress to approve this awful trade deal during the so-called “lame duck” session right after the November elections. We can’t let this corporate power grab go unanswered. Thankfully, there are actions we can take as concerned residents to ensure that California’s congressional leaders vote against the TPP, and to build a powerful coalition for a fair and green economy.

Presented By: Aaron Lehrer-Chang and Will Wiltschko

Saturday September 17th | 6:45 pm – 7 pm | Main Stage

Aaron Lehmer-Chang, who comes out of the San Francisco Bay Area’s social and environmental justice movement, is a veteran of fair trade fights. He participated in the “Battle of Seattle” in 1999 where union members, environmentalists, and global justice activists shut down the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting, and organized against the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) agreement with a student, labor, and community alliance. Aaron co-founded a regional eco-justice organization, Rooted in Resilience (formerly Bay Localize), which works to build equitable, resilient communities. He holds a Master’s in Globalization and the Environment from Humboldt State University. Aaron’s background includes working for Van Jones’ Ella Baker Center for Human Rights as State Policy Director, for Julia Butterfly Hill’s Circle of Life Foundation, for David Brower’s Earth Island Institute, and with the Student Environmental Action Coalition.

Will Wiltschko is a graduate of UCLA with a B.A. and an M.A. in Political Science. At UCLA, Will worked as a student organizer for civil rights and studied the theory and philosophy behind nonviolence. He was a legal intern with the ACLU in Southern California, where he planned community outreach strategy within the state of California, fighting school districts in response to D.J. v. State of California on issues of equitable access to English Learner programs. Will was also recently a staffer on Bernie Sanders’ 2016 Presidential campaign, where he was the lead field organizer in Southwest Virginia. He ran operations out of the Southwest Virginia regional field office, where he trained and recruited hundreds of new volunteers.

2016 Convergence Workshop: Protecting Democracy from the TPP