ORICK, CA, November 16, 2018 — On November 3rd from 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Community Hall in Orick, True North Organizing Network held our first Regional Leadership Assembly since 2015. On this beautiful fall afternoon, amidst shadows of redwoods and within earshot of calling elk, more than 100 True North grassroots leaders gathered from Tribal Lands, Del Norte and Humboldt Counties to assess our victories, our challenges and the steps to fully awaken and lean into our power.
From the welcoming and reflections, including Native song and prayer, to interactive encounters; we shared our stories, opportunities and efforts in the community to strengthen our network’s five platforms:
Water & Environment
Immigrant Rights
Police Accountability
Housing and Health
Public Education
The room was energized by reports of progress and success in these platforms, and re-committed to work together, stand in solidarity across differences, and better our communities now and for future generations.
Reverend Alvin Herring, Executive Director of Faith in Action (formerly PICO National Network), gave a barn burning address toward the end of the gathering. He spoke on the importance of the work that we are doing and emphasized the crucial need for each and every voice in our community to be heard. “We should bring inside everyone who is houseless. We should welcome those that are strangers but in truth are sisters and brothers maybe from another mother. We should NEVER let another man, woman or child go to bed hungry and we should never let anybody that does not hold these values rest comfortably.” Rev. Alvin’s full address can be viewed on Faith in Action’s Facebook page.
The main program was followed by a multicultural dinner catered by local community members and served by True North staff. The crowd sat together to build relationship and enjoy plates of Indian tacos (from the Wiyot Tribe), tamales (from Smith River’s Latino community) and Salvadorian pupusas (from Eureka’s Ebenezer church). Grassroots leaders went home on November 3rd with renewed excitement and hope, and a strengthened sense of connection with their fellow True North leaders from across the region.
Photos from the Assembly can be found on our Facebook page.