Urban Feast will fund social justice programs democratically

With the growing influence of big money in elections, the carving up of voting districts to marginalize the vote of certain communities, and the polarization that poisons national and state political discourse it's easy to see why some say democracy is on life-support in the United States.

Others say it doesn't have to be this way, and they are proving it in cities across the country and abroad. A group in Kalamazoo that wants to show what democracy can look like has organized the area's first Urban Democracy FEAST.

The local FEAST will be at 5:30 p.m. May 2 at the Hispanic American Council building, 930 Lake Street in Kalamazoo.

The event is a culmination of discussions that have been ongoing for about 18 months. At 9:30 every Saturday morning members of the group gather at Fourth Coast in the Vine Neighborhood to talk. As their discussions ensued they decided they wanted to do more than discuss the community's unresolved problems.

They researched a number of successful grassroots programs, paying particular attention to the way Detroit SOUP achieves its goals and creates events with a bit of magic to them. They came up with a local version of the program that offers micro-loans to get projects going that otherwise might flounder for lack of funds. 

It's an idea whose time has come. There now is a worldwide network of organizers who have taken the basic premise of the original meal based get-togethers -- collect grant proposals, cook a meal, invite people to pay and eat, and have the diners decide who receives the proceeds -- and have adapted it to their own community's needs. The meals have taken place in more than 60 cities across the world.

The Kalamazoo group is promoting projects that support social justice. And by social justice they mean equal access to all resources and services.

Another of the FEAST's basic principles is direct democracy, where one person gets one vote--no representative enters the decision making process--the decision in this case being the recipient of the grant monies. The evening also is a chance for people to identify problems and work out solutions together, says Santiago Valles, a former Western Michigan University professor who now teaches at University of Michigan at Dearborn.

Their version of crowd-funding takes place in person, over a meal.

FEAST organizers have a wide range of projects they hope to see initiated, such as child care services for single parents who work the second- and third-shift; urban farms that sell to local independent restaurants; worker owned co-operatives; and open source software to challenge inequity in housing and hiring or pay policies.

At each FEAST, representatives of four projects seeking funds will speak. They have applied for funding and been advised by Urban Democracy FEAST how to best present their proposals. "People have told us they haven't gotten this kind of direction when they've applied for funding before," Valles says.

At the dinner they have five minutes to present their case for funding.

Applicants must provide evidence that their cause is one shared by a significant portion of the population, not an individual concern. They must demonstrate that public policies are providing obstacles that can be reformed. How the project is an example of direct democracy also should be addressed. Information on other groups are working on the same problem, how they can collaborate, and how their project addresses a social justice need of the community all will be evaluated.

Those who attend the supper will be able to ask questions of those making proposals. The winner must commit to returning to the next gathering to talk about how the money was spent and how the project is progressing.

The group expects to have two feasts this year, three the following year, and four in 2017.

People working together can create opportunities as they did through the John Hopkins Action Center in the 1960-70s, Valles says. A day care center, a library of journals that were not available in other locations, and a print shop offered people of Baltimore information on all the social movements they could connect with. Today, that spirit continues at Red Emma's, a worker cooperative behind a restaurant, coffee roaster, bookstore, and community events space.  

The political party Podemos (Yes We Can) in Spain, to its sister organization Syriza in Greece are examples of grassroots organizations that have quickly grown to national prominence and significant political parties in their respective countries, he points out.

"We don't need experts who come into town for a day and leave the next day to tell us how to solve a problem." Through face-to-face conversations and shared resources, solutions to problems that might otherwise seem intractable can be overcome.

FEAST details

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.  The FEAST process will be explained and the four presentations will be made. Next, food and those who made the food will be presented. Restaurants that donate food can make announcements about a social justice project or community event in the city they support. The meal will be presented and attendees can get a plate of food. Questions will be asked of the applicants. Suggestions for them will be written on a white board. The musician or artist working that night will be introduced and given time to discuss his or her work. The date and place of the next FEAST, and the winner of the voting that night will be announced.

Childcare for toddlers and for pre-school children will be available in separate rooms to accommodate single parents and young couples. Supper tickets are $10 and are available at the FEAST website or at the door. When the ticket is presented each attendee will be given the ballot to be used that night.

Those who would like to donate food for the event, especially ingredients for soup or salad, can drop it off on April 30 until 6 p.m. and May 1 till noon at the Hispanic American Council or at the People's Food Co-op, April 29, April 30 and May 1 till noon.

Partners for the event are the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, the Hispanic American Council, KNOW (Kalamazoo Non-Violent Opponents to War), Loaves and Fishes, the WMU Peace Center, the Interfaith Coalition for Peace and Justice, Majcyk Radio, People's Food Co-op, and Tabitha Farms.

Kathy Jennings is the managing editor of Southwest Michigan's Second Wave Media. She is a freelance writer and editor.