Accomplishments in Review for 2022 & 2023 Action Plan. Get Involved!
/1. Human Agenda 2022 Accomplishments and Year in Review
The year 2022 was intense -- the most active year in the history of Human Agenda.
Policy Advocacy
Human Agenda took policy positions to support the farmworker union election bill, a fast food workers bill, CalCare, social housing, San Jose tree cover, immigrant rights bills, a woman’s right to choose, California cooperative fund development, public bank implementation, ending the blockade against Cuba (there was a 185-2 vote in the United Nations to do so), human rights in Palestine, and an end to the Ukraine war.
Participation in Rallies and Marches
Human Agenda participated in the May Day march, in rallies against the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, in immigrant rights rallies, and in support of the farmworker election bill. Human Agenda was the key organizer in support of Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren’s rolling registry bill.
CLARO - Colectivo Legal Accesible Razonable y Organizado
CLARO has successfully represented dozens of persecuted undocumented immigrants applying for political asylum, never losing a case in court in the past 2 and ½ years. Importantly, work authorization was granted to approximately 50 undocumented immigrants in court proceedings. Toward the end of 2022 CLARO hired two full-time paralegals to support the work of CLARO. CLARO provided hundreds of free consultations requested via the CLARO cell phone and via weekly appearances at the Mexican consulate. CLARO began regular pro se asylum clinics given the high demand to complete the political asylum application within one year of entry to the United States. CLARO provided urgent consultations as part of the Rapid Response Network of Satna Clara County and participated in quarterly community forums with the RRN.
Rental Assistance Grant
From February to June Human Agenda conducted extensive outreach in the immigrant community to assist covid-impacted undocumented immigrants obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars of rental assistance for them from the State of California. Outreach materials were developed and a canopy was purchased for street presentations.
CIELO – Cooperative Information Education Legislation and Organizing
Human Agenda was able to receive a $25,000 grant from the Office of Supervisor Otto Lee, mostly for the development of Alma Premium Care LLC (the rest, for pro se asylum). Alma Premium Care LLC was incorporated, purchased a San Jose business license, and developed a 17-page operating agreement signed by the 7 members of the cooperative, yet to be launched. A bank account, website, tee shirts, caregiver training, and a business cell phone were some of the foundations laid. Alma cannot launch until a CA in-home caregiver license is applied for, including a business plan, the registration of each member with the state, a member handbook, liability insurance, a surety bond, and other requirements.
Emulation Tours
After entering into an agreement with the US Federation of Worker Cooperatives, Human Agenda organized two Emulation Tours to Mondragon, Spain (Thanksgiving week) and to Cuba (January 4-11). Fourteen (14) coop members and interested persons traveled to Mondragon and seventeen (17) to Cuba, with the goal of highlighting worker-owned cooperatives. Both trips were engaging, informative, fun, and exhausting. Several people traveled to Bologna, Italy afterwards and made contacts for a potential Emulation Tour to the Emiglia Romana region of Italy with its 4,000 worker-owned cooperatives, a trip tentatively planned for early September. Economist Dr. Jesus Cruz is organizing an international conference of cooperatives in Cuba June 27-30, 2023, and one of the conference themes is Human Agenda.
Support for Macuelizo
After Human Agenda was able to raise almost $10,000, four board members of Human Agenda visited Macuelizo in the state of Santa Barbara, Honduras. Treated royally by Macuelizo Mayor Jakeline Trejo of the Partido Libre, the board members were able to meet with youth, agricultural workers, politicians, and community leaders and deliver $10,000 to the municipality for the purpose of hiring a medical doctor and a nurse for one year and purchasing $1000 worth of student desks. Human Agenda was invited back to Honduras to help revise and develop a law of cooperatives for the country. On November 15th Human Agenda hosted a zoom and in person meeting with the Mayor, “Human Agenda in Macuelizo”. As part of the trip to Macuelizo, Human Agenda printed 1000 business cards with the vision and values of Human Agenda, in Spanish. Hundreds of the cards were distributed in Honduras and scores in Cuba.
Elections Forum
Human Agenda was the host and co-sponsor of an October 15th Elections Forum at the Roosevelt Community Center regarding the propositions on the November ballot. Twenty (20) organizations co-hosted; Human Agenda reserved and paid for the venue.
5th Annual Break the Mold
Human Agenda held its 5th Annual Break the Mold conference on Saturday, October 8th at San Jose City College. Focusing on the need for public education and MediCare for All, SEIU also spoke about the fight for $15 and the AB 257. SJCC, MECHA, Chicana and Chicano Studies, and the Ethnic Studies Department all co-sponsored. The speakers were spot on with excellent attendance and participation.
Hot Topic Roundtables
Human Agenda organized four Hot Topic Roundtables on the Ukraine, noncitizen voting, the influence of corporations in elections, and the culture wars that divide the United States, “The New Civil War”. This last roundtable had the most participation at the Roosevelt Community Center with Dr. Jethroe Moore III and Dr. Will Armaline presenting.
Co-Sponsoring Events
Human Agenda was frequently asked to co-sponsor community events and did so, e.g. co-sponsoring the October 26 event “Democracy in the Americas” held at the San Jose Peace and Justice Center.
20th Annual Human Rights Banquet
The 20th Annual Human Rights Awards at the Roosevelt Community Center on December 10 with keynote speaker Dolores Huerta was the capstone event of the year. Approximately 240 persons attended; DECKS Awards were presented to Somos Mayfair, SEIU Local 1021, PANGEA, Rev. Jeff Moore and Silicon Valley Sunrise, and a lifetime achievement award was presented to Human Agenda co-founder Wendy Greenfield; hundreds of Human Agenda coffee cups were designed and printed; and a PowerPoint History of Human Agenda pointed out some of the highlights in the past 20 years.
Committee Accomplishments
Human Agenda decided to develop four working groups or committees in 2022, each of which made substantial contributions to Human Agenda.
1. Resist and Build organized most events and developed a PowerPoint presentation presented to board members: Resist and Build: Ten Concepts. The PowerPoint advanced the theoretical work of Human Agenda and consolidated its conceptual and practical critique of our existing society and consolidated concepts and praxis to build an alternative eco-humanist society. At the time of developing the PowerPoint it should be noted that the committee met weekly for months.
2. Infrastructure primarily reviewed the bylaws of Human Agenda and updated them after a lengthy six-month process. The final updated bylaws were approved unanimously by the Board of Directors in November.
3. Media met frequently and developed a social media presence for Human Agenda, with weekly postings. It also designed many of the flyers for events, worked to re-conceptualize the website, and updated materials. Not specifically part of the Media Committee, the Human Agenda e-letter was published every month.
4. Membership developed the three membership categories of Human Agenda: Supporter, Volunteer, and Activist.
2.Human Agenda Plans for 2023
In 2023 Human Agenda will work primarily on the issues of food, housing, health care (including mental health and reproductive justice), the environment, cooperatives, immigrant rights, labor rights, criminal justice, and the effects of the war budget. These will be the priorities for policy work, community organizing, and participation in rallies and marches.
Human Agenda will work to deepen its ties with the African American, Latino, Native American, and undocumented communities as the most oppressed groups in Santa Clara County. At its own events it is proposed to land acknowledgment. Board recruitment will also focus on these groups, as well as on individuals who can help develop Human Agenda programs and infrastructure.
CLARO will seek additional funding to support the immigration legal needs of immigrants in removal proceedings and immigrant victims of domestic violence, in particular.
CIELO will work to create an Advisory Board for Alma Premium Care with the hope of it becoming a permanent Co-op Council. It will work to launch ALMA Premium Care LLC, seek coop grant funding, and provide coop trainings.
The Emulation Tours Program of Human Agenda will pursue an Emulation Tour to Emilia-Romagna in September 2023, a short Emulation Tour to Cuba as Human Agenda is featured in the International Symposium on Cooperatives in Havana from June 27-30, and plan co-op tours to Cuba (Jan. 2024) and Mondragon (July 2024)
With respect to its ongoing support work for Macuelizo, Honduras, Human Agenda will consider touring the Mayor of Macuelizo in the spring, a visit to Macuelizo in the summer, and a request to review of the law of cooperatives in Honduras.
Human Agenda will continue its Hot Topic Roundtables on an ad hoc as-needed basis and hopes to participate in a Farmworker Reality Tour under the auspices of the Center for Farmworker Families.
Finally, in regards to two signature events, Human Agenda will host its 6th Annual Break the Mold Conference with a focus on food and its 21st Annual Human Rights Banquet focusing on local and international human rights, since December 10th will be the 75th annual anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. At that event Human Agenda may return to its practices of the first 10 years of its existence and hold a hunger banquet.
3. Group Photo of 2022 Board of Directors with Dolores Huerta
Human Agenda wishes you a joyous and healthy 2023 as we struggle to grow as human beings and fight for better conditions and institutions with DECKS values, locally and nationally. Pictured is the Board of Directors of Human Agenda with lifelong activist Dolores Huerta at the 20th Annual Human Rights Awards Banquet at the Roosevelt Community Center on December 10, 2023.