CALL FOR OPIRG YORK WORKING GROUPS
The Ontario Public Interest Research Group at York (OPIRG-York) is looking for new working groups for 2009-2010.
OPIRG-York is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization based at York University. Fundamental to our operation are working groups. These working groups organize autonomously around various issues of social justice and environmental action. Some examples of current and former working groups include: Grassroots Anti-Imperialist Network (GRAIN), Students Together Against Detentions and Deportations (STADD), York Animal Rights Group, Students in Solidarity with Haiti, Off the Grid Prison Books Access Project and No Sweat.
All working groups are allocated a budget for projects and events they wish to have. These might include a speaker series, movie nights, handbooks, and zines. In addition to a budget each working group also has access to OPIRG’s many resources:
-phone, photocopier, fax machine
-a radical resource library
-computers with internet access
-meeting space at the OPIRG office at the Student Centre (4700 Keele St) RM. C449
This is in addition to the help of OPIRG staff, board members and volunteers for project support, visioning and outreach etc.
What role do working groups play at OPIRG?
Working groups are central to the functioning of OPIRG. They consist of a group of volunteers who work on a specific issue pertaining to social justice or the environment. The working groups are dedicated to enacting change on campus and/or in the broader community. Working groups receive funding from OPIRG and access to the OPIRG office. OPIRG York is committed to change at York University but we ALSO envision larger community interaction. We want to blend student organizing with grassroots activism to ensure broad social and environmental change. Thus, we are encouraging applications for working groups with a broad vision, especially those who come from traditionally marginalized communities.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To be considered for Working Group status please fill out the application form. This form allows the Working Group to concisely outline its goals and the way in which it embodies a particular issue of social or environmental justice.
If you or your group is interested in getting working group status, please email our volunteer coordinator, Aruna Boodram at aruna@opirgyork.ca for the application, or you can visit the office for hard copies of the application in the student centre, RM. C449.
If you have any questions about applying to become a working group and/or what the benefits of becoming a working group are please contact us at 416-736-5724 or aruna@opirgyork.ca.
We are also in the office (C449, the Student Centre, York Univeristy, 4700 Keele.) from 10am - 6pm Monday to Friday.
