Turning the Tide Towards Freedom: Building the Youth and Student Movement for Justice was a resounding success (and graciously co-sponsored by the Columbia University Working Families Party chapter). Young people today face an ever darker future, with the Bush administration openly violating the law and the right-wing consolidating their control over all three branches of the state. We face a potentially never-ending "war on terror," drastic cuts to social programs that affect young people in areas like education and affordable housing, growing threats to reproductive and sexual freedom, increasing government suppression of dissent and blatantly racist and xenophobic responses to rising economic uncertainty. But as young idealists, we can draw on our own energy, creativity and organizing experience, and combine that with the wisdom of our progressive forebearers to build a better future. The conference was designed to remind us of our history and reinvigorate us for the struggle. Folks came from as far away as Arkansas and Nevada to be inspired by notable speakers and fellow activists. Attendees discussed organizing against Wal-Mart in the deep south, defending the right to higher education, working with campus Democrats, protesting racist detention centers in their communities, fighting for reproductive rights on their campuses and doing political education to inform their activism with a pragmatic anti-capitalist analysis – democratic socialism. DSA's own Joe Schwartz and Corey Walker were joined by speakers such as Bill Fletcher Jr., Christian Parenti, Gayatri Spivak and Damu Smith, who reminded us of the big picture, exposed structural injustice at home and abroad and got us fired up to continue and intensify the fight for a better world. An integral element to the conference was the opportunity for YDSers from far and wide to get to know each other and exchange ideas about activism. The conference opened with a group welcome and Activist Bingo as an icebreaker activity to get folks talking to each other. We continued with a review of YDS discussion guidelines to ensure that normally unheard voices would have an opportunity to engage in respectful dialog as much as those of us more comfortable speaking out. Throughout the weekend we consciously made space for discussion, and closed the conference with a "go-around" for folks to express their feelings and thoughts about the intense experience we had just created together. Once YDS leaders and the National Organizer recovered from our sleep deprivation and headed back to the YDS office to analyze feedback, we were humbled by the overwhelmingly positive remarks from folks about their conference experience. A quick sample: "everyone, including speakers, were approachable….everyone wants to hear from each other," "superb speakers once again," "AWESOME! Wish it could have been longer." Attendees commented on high quality of intellectual exchanges as much as the strong attention to group learning. Finally, plenary sessions at the conference were filmed, and edited copies will eventually be available for distribution. Stay tuned! As this report goes to press the YDS National Organizer and other leaders are out speaking on campuses with new YDSers inspired by the conference, and we're already planning our summer retreat and national conference for August 11-14. Contact the national office at yds@dsausa.org to arrange a visit and bring some of Turning the Tide Towards Freedom energy and analysis back to your campus! Read more here: Turning the Tide Towards Freedom: YDS Conference Feb '06

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