IFCO/Pastors for Peace - Super Solidarity Events

You know that popular education and solidarity are the main goals of the Caravan. Pre-caravan events get people talking and thinking about the issues that connect us with our destination countries and spark interest in the actual Caravan visit. An event that is heavy on the political or lacking in creativity and fun may not appeal to new people or to those less politically involved. Be creative and have fun! Here are some ideas for different kinds of events for the Caravan visit and leading up to it, and some key points to remember while planning.

• All Night Film Festival! Rent your favorite flicks, pop some popcorn, make your favorite drinks, and invite your neighborhood! You could have this at your school, your church, or in your basement! For those who cringe at the idea of giving up their beauty sleep, consider a three week Friday night series instead. If you need recommendations give our office a call.
• Solidarity Dance! Get a salsa band or just a few Latin "Exitos Calientes" cds, put up some Christmas lights, convince your friend's girlfriend to give a mini-salsa class, while your friend mixes mojitos (white rum, fresh mint, club soda, sugar & lemon) & Cuba libres (rum, cola & lemon,) and let the party begin! Virgin drinks without rum are also possibilities.
• Have a Lecture Series on current events at your favorite gathering place, and invite local activists to report on the changes in your neighborhood as a result of the war, the Patriot Act, and other disturbing international trends. Feature the Caravan as a "People's Foreign Policy," and invite people to join us!
• Call your local radio station or neighborhood paper, and plug an Interview with people who are innovatively creating their own "People's Foreign Policy." Invite your local committee or interested caravanistas, or (if everyone's shy) call our office to set up a time to do it by phone. Use the opportunity to plug your upcoming outreach event.
• Find a bar / café / basement/church fellowship hall to host a "Peña Cultural," * an interchange of art, politics & good food. Everyone bring some food, and everyone gets to talk/sing/read into the open mike. Share recent developments in the destination countries.
• Bowling / Tailgate party Get your local bowling alley to reserve some choice alleys and offer a group promo. Double that price and sell event tickets ahead of time. Save your quarters so you can get Spanish music out of the juke box, and promise a bag of organic coffee to the person who gets the most strikes (to be awarded after the Caravan's return!) Meet in the parking lot before hand for a good ole-fashioned tailgate party! (Let the bowling alley know ahead of time, just in case.)
• Campfire / Drum Circle Find out where campfires are permitted in your community, and let your creativity role! Some might like to stock up on chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers for good ole fashioned s'mores. Others might want to invite every drum or guitar player they know and have a good sing-around… maybe even dance around… the campfire. Warning: people have been known to reach deep inner peace after dancing around campfires near natural sources of water.
• Solidarity Karaoke, Yoga, Salsa, Cake-baking, Karate, Hip hop steps… (Any local activity)! Convince a local center or educator or friend to offer a series of classes or a community event in solidarity with the destination country. Ask that all (or half) of the fee go to the caravan.
• Solidarity picnic / Baseball tournament: Pull out the gunny sacks, water balloons, & bandanas for a three-legged race, buy out your local grocer's popsicles, and invite everyone to join you at the park! Culminate it with a mini baseball tournament: challenge the young vs. the old, men vs. women, east side vs. west side, etc.

MIX & MATCH, ADD YOUR OWN, BE CREATIVE!!!!

Key points to keep in mind

• Make sure you ask enough people to help you that nobody gets over-committed or taken advantage of (including yourself!). Don't be shy about asking new people-many people never get involved simply because they are never asked.
• Confirm event times & locations as early as possible, so you can have time to invite people. If you can, choose a place that already has a following in the community so you're not starting from scratch.
• Be clear that the point is outreach and education. But don't forget that everything costs money, and some people find financial support an easy way to be in solidarity. It doesn't hurt to ask.
• Inviting local groups to "endorse" (lend their name & send invitations) or "sponsor" the event (lend their name, send invitations, and actually donate something) can get the word out and save you some cash. If you are going to print invitations, offer to advertise for local restaurants/shops for a donation.
• Selling tickets ahead of time ups attendance by discouraging last-minute mood changes, and can also make you more money than you would have gotten at the door. Selling a second ticket half price can double the size of your event and make you some extra cash. Sliding scale tickets can ensure nobody is excluded, while encouraging solidarity donations.
• Go out of your way to invite more than just the usual subjects. If your crowds tend to lean toward one end (or the middle) of the age spectrum, reach out to a different age bracket through your neighborhood, church, or community agency. Take note if your events tend to be centered around one ethnic group, and intentionally outreach to others. Make materials and announcements available in other languages. If you're not sure where to start, ask people you know to take the lead on this.
• Don't skimp on the food / drink. Be adventuresome and try some delicious recipes.
• Providing child care (ask your niece/nephew, neighbor, etc) will reach people who would otherwise not come. Also consider age appropriate activities for different ages.
• Announce the event on your local radio, on flyers in the neighborhood, in your church newsletter, at meetings, in class…. Ask your team to carry & sell tickets for at least two weeks before the event, and collect in advance! You can even offer a discount advance-purchase price.
• Always plan to have an information and sign-in table. Include Caravan information, info on US foreign policy and the destination countries, and info on your local organization & activities. IFCO/Pastors for Peace has many available publications. Ask volunteers to take shifts at it so that someone is always on hand to answer questions.
• Have a diverse selection of music available to fit the mood of the event. If you're starting from scratch, try www.descarga.com. Here are some starting suggestions:

• Nueva Trova/Folk: Pablo Milanes, Silvio Rodriguez, Sara Gonzalez

• Jazz: Emiliano Salvador, Chico O'Farrill, Mario Bauzá

• Son: Argenio Rodriguez, Omara Portuondo

• Bolero: Elena Burke, Benny Moré

• Dance: Los Van Van, Aragón

• Rap: Las Orishas, Frijoles Negros, Obsesión

• Folklór: Muñequitos de Matanza, AfroCuba de Matanza

• Hip Hop: TechnoCaribe, Concepto Cuba, Anónimo Consejo