The document describes an event called "Not Going Back: Building Community, Resilience, and Power in the Wake of the Trump Presidency" that will take place at The New School on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2017. The all-day event will include teach-ins, skill-building workshops, and healing spaces to empower participants to engage in political and social justice work in response to the new presidency. Topics will include know-your-rights training, strategic advocacy, self-care, online privacy, and decolonizing the curriculum. Organizers hope to connect those from different New School campuses and community groups working for social justice.

1. Not Going Back:
Building Community,
Resilience, and Power
In the Wake of the
Trump Presidency

2. An all-day event in The New School’s University
Center on Inauguration Day (January 20, 2017).
Proposed by the Social Justice Initiatives Office
Gail Drakes, Director
Get involved. SocialJustice@newschool.edu

3. On January 20th, 2017. . .
. . .Donald J. Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th
President of the United States.
On January 20th, many in the United States will celebrate
this inauguration with the belief that it marks the start of
rollbacks of much of the progress made in civil and human
rights.

4. On January 20th, 2017. . .
. . . we will not celebrate.
We will not stand idly by and watch communities
disrespected or abused. We will not consent to restrictions
on human and civil rights. We will not allow the United
States to become further isolated in the global community.
We will not be overwhelmed by the challenges ahead.
We are not going back.

5. On Inauguration Day...
Let us come together to
build, plan, dream, resist.

6. TheStructure
Part teach-in, part skill-building, part skill-sharing, part healing
space… The entire building. The entire day.
We have been reflecting on an election, now we need to prepare
for a presidency. No more reactionary gestures, we now develop
thoughtful, strategic responses. Throughout the University
Center, rooms would be dedicated to various conversations,
workshops and trainings. Sessions are repeated (or continuous)
allowing participants to move from space to space, creating the
individual and collective experiences that empower them to fully
participate in the changing political landscape.

7. Beyond the “Teach-In…”
Building on the strengths of the “teach-in” model - and inspired by the work of the BUFU collective (of TNS
student and alums) - Not Going Back is organized around four types of interventions:
Context/Learning
as we Build...
Concise multidisciplinary
insights that can be used
to inform and guide
action.
Practical Knowledge
and Skill-Building
Strategic Advocacy
What you need to
know to survive and
thrive in the light of the
coming changes...
Specific guidance and
manageable “next steps” in
support of organizing
efforts of directly affected
groups.
Self-care and
healing spaces
The basis for sustainable
social justice organizing
and political action.

8. We are “Not Going Back…”
Instead we will. . .
We will care for ourselves
as the foundation of our
care and respect of others.
We will challenge ourselves to
take concrete steps toward true
solidarity and allyship.
We will use technology to connect
with those engaged in struggle
beyond NYC and build community
in person while looking each other
in the eye.
We will engage concise political and social justice education
(grounded in the local, national, and global histories of
marginalized communities), offered as the foundation of
understanding which undergirds both individual and collective
action.
We will lift up the work and efforts of
faculty, staff and students of color
and those from other marginalized
communities.

9. Possible
Workshops
and Healing
Spaces
“Know Your Rights“ trainings
Utilizing your New School studies in service of
justice
“Decolonizing the Curriculum” / Faculty
Resources
Gathering space for Social Justice
administrators / white faculty and staff /
faculty from marginalized groups
Design Thinking + Social Justice Strategy
Music therapy / Drama Therapy / Art Therapy
Guided Meditation / Massage / Reiki

10. Possible
Workshops
(con’t)
Online privacy workshop
Empowered Bystander & Self defense
Resources on… ways for international
students to offer support organizing, trans*
folks name change/passport application info,
resources for DACA students, reproductive
health info, updates on changing visa
requirements, etc.
Strategic advocacy for immigrants,
incarcerated people, Muslim community
...and the full range of traditional “teach-in”
political/social justice education.

11. Let’s build this together.
(Here’s how to get involved. . .)
Have a suggestion for a session that
should be included? Want to propose
a session YOU will lead?
Complete this short Google form and we’ll be in
touch promptly.
Have questions? Need additional
details? Want to volunteer, offer
resources, or find out more?
Check out our (work-in-progress) website at:
NotGoingBack.info (that’s .INFO)
or email us at socialjustice@newschool.edu.

12. Event Options
Not Going Back need not be seen as opposing the President-elect, but instead
making it plain that many at TNS are against the further manifestation of hateful
rhetoric that was at the foundation of his campaign, and any movement (on the
part of the administration or its supporters) to reverse the progress that has
been made in regards to human and civil rights.
To that end, the event seeks to encourage positive action at the crossroads of
The New School’s social justice legacy and the democratic principles that are
meant to shape this nation.

13. EventOptions
Inauguration Day is the Friday before the start of Spring 2017
classes, allowing for considerable scheduling flexibility.
Not Going Back is sponsored by Social Justice Initiatives Office,
but provides an inclusive space for the social justice oriented
individuals and groups at local universities and community
organizations to collaborate, provide content and move beyond
currently disconnected/siloed efforts.
Although the event is happening at The New School, the hope is
that we can build bridges between the various campuses and
community organizations throughout the city who are invested
in working in support of social justice.