Committees

Here are the different committees GBDSA is working on.

Cooking with Comrades

Chair: Julien H, cooking@baltimoredsa.org

What is it?

Making our meetings and events as welcoming as possible is key for people to be excited to be involved and food is a great way to do that. This working group is focusing on making sure every event organized by the chapter is able to have food available for everyone to have a good time. We also have occasional informal meeting to prepare for those events or just hang out and share cooking skills.

How do I get involved?

Email cooking@baltimoredsa.org or send a message in the slack channel after joining to get involved.

Ecosocialist Committee

Chair: Meg B, eco@baltimoredsa.org

What is it?

The Ecosocialist committee brings reds and greens together to fight for environmental justice. Ecosoc fights back against the devastation of Baltimore’s history of extractive capitalism by organizing fights against trash incineration, supporting community farming, and leading our chapter’s Green New Deal for Public Schools efforts.

How do I get involved?

Email eco@baltimoredsa.org for more information.

Electoral Committee

Chair: Melinda S and Bill H, electoral@baltimoredsa.org

What is it?

The goal of the electoral committee is to use the electoral system to support working people in building power and implementing socialist policy on the local level. We are trying to do that by endorsing working class leaders running for office and providing volunteer support to help their campaigns. Those same teams of DSA canvassers can go out and knock doors year round to continue to engage voters, as well as support resolutions and ballot initiatives that help lay groundwork for socialism in the city of Baltimore.

How do I get involved?

You can get involved by coming to one of our monthly meetings, or by jumping right in and coming to a canvassing day! If you are not comfortable going out to talk to people, we also need help researching candidates, creating graphics, writing statements of support, and developing our electoral strategy as a chapter.

Feel free to reach out to the committee chair with questions at electoral@baltimoredsa.org.

Housing Justice Committee

Chair: Dan B and Julien H, housing@baltimoredsa.org

What is it?

Renters are workers, so the housing justice committee is building worker power across the city’s neighborhoods. Housing justice helped organize for eviction bans and rent support during the COVID 19 pandemic, and we continue to work to build tenant unions and offer court support for those facing eviction. You can find us holding Know Your Rights canvasses outside Baltimore city rent court, and supporting tenants uniting against gentrifying developers.

How do I get involved?

New members can email housing@baltimoredsa.org if they are interested in participating in transit or tenant organizing.

Labor Committee

Chair: Lindsey S and Kevin G, labor@baltimoredsa.org

What is it?

The Labor Committee seeks to build mass worker power through organizing in the workplace, where we have the leverage to demand transformative change by withholding our labor. We host workplace organizing trainings, counseling for workers forming new unions or taking actions in the workplace, and study circles to deepen our knowledge of the history of labor and socialism. We also focus on solidarity work, from making calls in support of local union drives to taking road trips to walk picket lines with our striking comrades. Join us at any of these actions or at our monthly meetings, the third Tuesday of every month. Solidarity forever!

How do I get involved?

New members are asked to come to labor committee meetings to help with the regular work of the committee and participate in solidarity actions when they occur.

Outreach Committee

Chair: Scott W and Claire O, outreach@baltimoredsa.org

What is it?

The Outreach Committee is responsible for internal and external communication. We manage this website, social media, and member databases. We plan events to get Baltimoreans excited about socialism, we get new members oriented into our chapter, and we manage our socialist social calendar. Meet up with us for a game night, happy hour, or picnic in the park.

How do I get involved?

If you have experience in communications, technoloy, or even just talking to people and being friendly, you can help! Come to a virtual committee meeting, or email us for more information. If you don't know where to start as a new member, feel free to contact us as well and we can help you get started.

Political Education Committee

Chair: Sigourney T and Hoyt R, poled@baltimoredsa.org

What is it?

As socialists, we believe political education is an ongoing and essential practice. We make sure that the process of political education is collaborative and rooted in our community. Our ongoing socialist night school offers an introduction to democratic socialism, and explores topics such as police abolition, labor history, and the Reconstruction era. Everyone is welcome to join or lead a current events salon, movie night, or study circle.

How do I get involved?

To learn more, please attend our monthly meeting! We will be able to plug you into the groups you would like to join, and help get you started on your road to knowledge! To help us as we build these programs, please keep coming back to our monthly meeting. We hope to train as many people as we can to be confident leaders and teachers of the working class. Let’s learn together.

Socialist Feminist/Queer Caucus

Chair: Donna C and Madeleine MR, femlgbtq-caucus@baltimoredsa.org

What is it?

The SocFem/Queer Caucus keeps feminist and queer liberation at the center of our socialist struggle. We welcome all women- and LGBTQ+-identifying members to our drinks and theory meetings.

How do I get involved?

Join in on any of our caucus Zoom calls, every other Friday from 5:30-6:30 PM to meet our members and share in our ongoing organizing discussions. We also try to meet in person once a month for some casual community-building. The caucus Slack channel is a great way to keep the conversation going between calls, and updates are sent to the caucus google group.