Our chapter organizes most of its work in Working Groups, which are open for participation to any members in good standing. Many of the public events and activities our chapter hosts are the result of organizing in these Working Groups. Join us! To get involved: attend a General Meeting, or send us an email at chattanoogadsa@gmail.com.
Mutual Aid
We focus on food sovereignty, international solidarity, and solidarity with unhoused neighbors. Our main event is our monthly community cook and meal distributions directly to our neighbors, as well as in community fridges around the city. Once a month we host a MAWGED education night where we read and discuss theory that shapes our work. We’ve also collected donations to send to people impacted by the genocidal American blockade on Cuba, and promote international solidarity through our meal selections. Click here for more info.
Political Education
We host education events and discussion groups focused on socialism, working class politics, anti-imperialism, and international solidarity. We learn from socialist political theory, historical socialist struggles, and contemporary movements to inform our own theory and practice. We run our weekly Study & Struggle reading/discussion group, and our Socialist Night School.
Labor
We primarily support solidarity efforts for local unions. We also host organizer trainings and provide political education about union organizing.
Palestine Solidarity
We stand with the people of Palestine. We promote work from the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions movement. We have organized film screenings, solidarity bike ride, and artisan markets. We support two families in Gaza. We supported our chapter’s effort to pass our Anti-Zionist resolution, and the National DSA Anti-Zionist resolution.
Ecosocialism
We incorporate our concern for human flourishing with the health of our local ecology, which are both degraded by the effects of capitalism like climate change. We focus on developing sustainable food systems rooted in care for our ecology, our shared commons, and just forms of distribution. We cultivate solidarity with other local community groups, as well as peasant, radical agrarian, and other ecological movements around the world.
Housing Justice
We are a working group that exists to build collective power for housing justice within Chattanooga. We are dedicated to providing tenants with resources, support tenant organizing efforts, educating renters on their power, forming coalitions and fighting for fair housing policies. Right now we are training through the Emergency Tenant Organizing Committee in order to prepare ourselves for our organizing efforts.