MIDWEST REGIONAL SOCIALIST CONFERENCE 2009
Chicago, IL-----November 14-15
University of Illinois Chicago, 750 S. Halsted

Capitalism isn’t working. Socialism is the alternative — a world organized for human need, not profit, where resources are controlled by and for the vast majority, instead of by a tiny rich minority. Real change depends on struggle and action by our side. This regional socialist conference is dedicated to: arming a new generation of rebels, activists and organizers with arguments and ideas for a revolutionary socialist alternative; learning our history of rebellion and resistance; and discussing strategies for building organization and winning struggles for real change.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE (Sat. 11/14--Sun. 11/15)

Saturday, Nov. 14

9am—Registration opens

10am—Opening Plenary
*Capitalism Isn't Working: The Case for Socialism* with Alan Maass, author of the Case for Socialism and editor of SocialistWorker.org

11:30am-12:30am—Lunch

12:30-2pm—Workshops Block I:

A.) Revolt in Iran with Behzad Raghian and Kaveh Ehsani
B.) Abortion Rights and the Struggle for Women's Liberation Today with Corrie Westing
C.) Black Liberation and Socialism with Keeanga Taylor
D.) The Democratic Party: A Critical History with Joe Allen
E.) History of the ISO with Lee Sustar

2:15pm-3:45pm Workshops Block II:
A.) Sexuality and Socialism: The Fight for LGBT Liberation with Sherry Wolf
B.) Afghanistan: Obama's Vietnam? with Martin Smith
C.) Is Revolution Possible in the United States? with Lauren Fleer
D.) No One is Illegal: Capitalism, Immigration & the Working-class with Pranav Jani
E.) Marxism 101 with Orlando Sepulveda

4pm-5:30pm Workshops Block III:
A.) Daley's Shock Doctrine: The Privatization of Chicago with Bob Quellos
B.) Ideas and Action: Why we need a Revolutionary Socialist Party with Shaun Harkin
C.) Bankruptcy, Foreclosures, Unemployment: ABC's of Capitalist Crisis with Adam Turl
D.) Zionism and the Origins of Israeli Apartheid with Binyamina L
E.) Socialist Strategy for the Liberation of the Oppressed with Kirstin Roberts

5:30pm-7pm Dinner

5:45pm Pizza Dinner: Q&A to Learn More About the ISO

7pm-9pm Evening Plenary
*Unite and Fight!: Resistance in a Time of Crisis*
with Sharon Smith, author of Subterrenean Fire and others

9pm-late Party with DJ's

Sunday, Nov. 15:

10:30-Noon Workshops Block IV:
A.) Honduras: Eyewitness to Resistance with Alexy Lanza and Bridget Broderick
B.) Socialists and the Trade Union Movement with Jesse Sharkey
C.) Tipping Point: Is it Too Late to Save the Planet? with Phil Gasper
D.) Trotsky's Struggle Against Stalinism with Aileen Paguio

Noon-1pm - Lunch

1-2:30pm Workshops Block V:
A.) A People's Guide to the Health Care Debate with Helen Redmond
B.) What would Socialism Look Like? with Elizabeth Wrigley-Field
C.) An Injury to One is an Injury to All: A History of the Wobblies with Eric Kerl
D.) Socialists and the Struggle for Reforms with Dennis Kosuth

2:30-3:30pm: Building ISO Branches

REGISTRATION

$30 2-Day Standard
$15 2-Day Low Income/Unemployed
$40 Solidarity Level 1
$50 Solidarity Level 2
$10 One Day Ticket

Pre-pay and register on line at www.midwestsocialistconference.com/

CHILDCARE

High quality childcare is available for free at the conference if you register for it in advance. Contact Annie at annie (at) zirin.com or call 413.687.0241 NO LATER THAN Nov. 5th with childcare requests.

TRANSPORTATION & GETTING AROUND UIC

UIC is located on the near west side of Chicago, near the intersection of Halsted and Harrison. It is accessible by el train or bus, and is next to the I-290 and 1-90/94.

Travel Directions by car or public transit are available here:
www.uic.edu/index.html/maps_directions.shtml

Campus Maps are available here:
www.uic.edu/index.html/maps.shtml

Folks across the Midwest will be car-pooling to attend the conference. If you are interested in getting in touch with folks traveling to the conference from your area, please write chicago_iso (at) yahoo.com and post your information on the Facebook invite wall as well at www.facebook.com/event.php.

HOUSING

Some limited housing is available for conference attendees from out of town. Please write us at chicago_iso (at) yahoo.com to let us know your needs.

FOOD AND DRINK

While food will not be provided as part of the conference package, there are plenty of cheap food options in the UIC vicinity. Maps will be provided at registration.

MORE INFORMATION/PRE-REGISTRATION
312.698.5029
chicago_iso (at) yahoo.com
www.midwestsocialistconference.com
www.socialistworker.org