Winston-Salem DSA

WINSTON-SALEM DSA INCORPORATED ON DECEMBER 12, 2020. BY BECOMING A NON-PROFIT UNDER THE 501(C)(4) EXEMPTION, WINSTON-SALEM DSA ENGAGES WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF WORKING GROUPS, WHICH CURRENTLY INCLUDE HOUSING JUSTICE NOW, THE EMERGENCY WORKER ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, AND MEDICARE FOR ALL. THE HOUSING JUSTICE NOW WORKING GROUP PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING WITHIN HOUSING-INSECURE COMMUNITIES. BOTH WINSTON-SALEM DSA DUES-PAYING MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS ENGAGE WITH THESE ACTIVITIES. WINSTON-SALEM DSA IDENTIFIES NEIGHBORHOODS AND INDIVIDUALS AT RISK FOR HOUSING INSECURITY. THIS IS DONE IN A VARIETY OF WAYS: MAPPING EVICTION COURT DATA, TAKING CALLS ON AN EVICTION HOTLINE, AND DEVELOPING LONGITUDINAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS. BY CANVASSING NEIGHBORHOODS WITH HIGH EVICTION RATES, HOUSING JUSTICE NOW IDENTIFIES A COMMUNITY'S NEEDS AND WHICH SERVICES MAY BE OF BENEFIT. AT CRYSTAL TOWERS APARTMENTS, HOUSING JUSTICE NOW FACILITATED THE FORMATION OF A TENANT UNION, WHICH OFFERED RESIDENTS A PLATFORM TO COLLECTIVELY RAISE GRIEVANCES REGARDING THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS. DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, HOUSING JUSTICE NOW USED COURT DATA TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS SCHEDULED FOR EVICTION COURT HEARINGS. WITH THIS INFORMATION IN HAND, A TEAM OF HOUSING JUSTICE NOW MEMBERS CANVASSED THESE INDIVIDUALS' HOMES AND PROVIDED FLYERS REGARDING (1) THE CDC EVICTION MORATORIUM; (2) THE EVICTION LEGAL PROCESS; AND (3) ADDITIONAL LEGAL AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY BE OF SERVICE. WHEN AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD OR APARTMENT COMPLEX IS IDENTIFIED AS HOUSING INSECURE, HOUSING JUSTICE NOW HAS ORGANIZED COOKOUTS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION TO LARGER GROUPS OF PEOPLE. THE EMERGENCY WORKER ORGANIZING COMMITTEE IS A NEWLY FORMED WORKING GROUP THAT FOCUSES ON THE EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF WORKERS IN WINSTON-SALEM, NC. DUES-PAYING MEMBERS OF WINSTON-SALEM DSA PARTICIPATE IN WORKER ORGANIZING TRAINING SESSIONS ORGANIZED BY EXPERIENCED ORGANIZERS. ONCE TRAINED, WINSTON-SALEM DSA MEMBERS IDENTIFY WORKFORCES WHOSE QUALITY OF LIFE WOULD BE IMPROVED WITH WORKER ORGANIZING. THE MEDICARE FOR ALL WORKING GROUP IS FOCUSED ON THE PASSAGE OF FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT ESTABLISHES A SINGLE-PAYER HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. IN THE PAST, WINSTON-SALEM DSA HAS EDUCATED THE PUBLIC ABOUT THIS IDEA THROUGH CANVASSING EFFORTS. WINSTON-SALEM DSA ACTIVITIES ARE PRIMARILY FUNDED BY COMMUNITY DONATIONS AND MEMBER DUES. BY INCORPORATING AS A 501(C)(4), THE CHAPTER INTENDS TO SPEND FUNDS ON ACTIVITIES AND MATERIALS RELATED TO POLITICAL EDUCATION IN WINSTON-SALEM. LESS THAN 50% OF TIME AND FUNDS WILL EVER BE USED ATTEMPTING TO DIRECTLY INFLUENCE ELECTIONS ON THE LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL LEVEL.