The “First 100 Days” is traditionally thought of the first 100 days of the newly elected president’s first term, closely watched to understand the tone and priorities of the administration.Southern organizers recognize that no matter who is in the White House, social movements cannot wait for the government to respond to the crises we face. We believe the people should set the tone, define the issues, and create our own priorities.
We are coordinating mutual aid infrastructure to protect our people. We are connecting local policy campaigns to divest from harm and invest in community solutions. We are organizing public actions to share our vision for the world we want based in the Southern People’s Initiative for people-driven economies, governance, and protection.SMA Action Sites (organizations and groups of at least 4 people) will gather to:
Become a member of SMA and sign on to one of the Work Teams!
SMA participating members align with the Principles of Unity and the Southern Peoples Initiative. We believe that we are stronger together, and that the work we are already doing, if connected and supported, grows our collective power.
Four Work Teams will create interlocking plans that lay the foundation to achieve our goals of protecting our people, disrupting capital, and building movement infrastructure that lasts beyond the 100 days and beyond any presidential term.
A coordinated network of Mutual Aid Liberation Centers is a vision the SMA initiated in 2016. It’s time to manifest that vision for our safety and protection. Our first step is to map and coordinate sanctuary hubs and Mutual Aid sites and Liberation Centers to connect local efforts to protect, defend, educate, and assemble our people.
To build a new economy we must disrupt existing systems of capital and profit and reclaim community control of our own resources. It’s time to connect policy campaigns calling for divestment from policing, harm, and extractive industries. We will coordinate people’s investment plans to advance a Green New Deal for the South, participatory budgeting plans, and our shared visions for a new social economy.
To demonstrate our power and vision for community safety, economic well-being, health, education, and participatory democracy, we will practice community organizing in our cities, towns, and neighborhoods. We will create cultural projects that reimagine our world in order to shape it from the ground up. And we will converge to show our regional collective power at the end of the People’s First 100 Days.
Developing a regional communication strategy is a critical part of the People’s First 100 Days. Our strategy must reach Southern communities with messages that resonate with people and inspire them to become part of the movement. Internally, we must be able to stay connected with each other throughout the campaign and during moments of rapid response to crisis. We will build communication tools and infrastructure needed to mobilize quickly and securely. Southern People’s Power will transform our region. There is a role for everyone to play. Like an Appalachian organizer at the first Southern Movement Assembly declared: “We cannot do this alone, and we don’t want to.”
