FOR THE BIRDS FEMINIST COLLECTIVE New Member Questionnaire

                                   forthebirdscollective.org  -  forthebirdscollective@gmail.com


Please note that For The Birds is inclusive of folks with a range of gender expression, though we are not currently open to male-identified community members in the interest of preserving a safer space.


WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT FOR THE BIRDS:

PROCESSING: For the Birds attempts to process internal and external group interactions on a weekly basis, as well as an extensive processing period during seasonal collective retreats. This is a crucial element of For the Birds as it allows for productive group discussion, direct communication, troubleshooting, and improvement. Processing is comprised of Check-ins, Check-outs, and a general commitment to reflecting on the work we are doing as a collective.

MEETING CLIMATE: Our meetings cover a lot of material, but are also full of laughter, bad bird puns, and support. We work on not using language and words that perpetuate patriarchal stereotypes of womyn. We are also committed to examining the race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality dynamics within our group and the larger climate in which we work. As we have all internalized negative patterns and attitudes, we see meetings as a time to practice communicating about differences within a safer and caring space so that we can all grow in our feminism. We also attend to dynamics of who carries out which tasks and how often, having become aware that some of us must learn to step forward at times, while others must learn to step back. We try to make sure that work distribution is equitable and that everyone has a voice.

INTER-MEETING COMMUNICATIONS: For the Birds uses a google group email list and a shared gmail account. We use google documents to facilitate collective writing and access to meeting agendas/tasks, plans, and general collective documentation. We also communicate by phone/text.

ACTIVITIES (WHAT WE DO):
PROJECT FOCUS: We are a member-driven organization, so projects are decided by consensus discussion based on     members’ interests, passions, ideas, and networks. In general, we seek to respond to, amplify, and support feminist struggles around intersectional issues, especially within the NYC area.
ALLY/SUPPORT WORK: We have partnered with groups like Momma’s Hip Hop Kitchen, POC Zine Project and Free Marissa Now in the past to support their events and initiatives through staffing, fundraising, publicity assistance, and grunt work.
ZINE DISTRO: In the past we’ve focused a lot on maintaining and distributing a collection of feminist zines, though we are now more focused on updating our own zine on feminist organizing, as well as a public zine project begun at the Brooklyn Zine Fest examining white privilege.
NEWSLETTER:  We produce a seasonal newsletter including upcoming events we are directly involved in or would like to support, announcements, and ‘staff pics’ of news members find particularly noteworthy.
BIRD ON A WIRE: Every month one member takes on the role of Bird on the Wire, checking the e-mail, Facebook, and Twitter on a regular basis.

QUESTIONNAIRE: (Feel free to introduce yourself to us in whatever way you would like. No pressure! We just want to learn a little more about you.)
Sign in to Google to save your progress. Learn more
Name
E-mail
What drew you to For the Birds?
What feminist/activist/artistic/political organizing have you been involved with in the past or are currently involved in? (It’s okay if you’ve not yet done any organizing as well!)
What are some past experiences or personal qualities you bring with you that you feel would enrich and synergize with For the Birds?
What types of projects would you hope a feminist collective that you participate in would undertake? What groups might you think to collaborate with?
Is there anything else you would like to tell us about yourself? Questions for us? (Optional)
Submit
Clear form
Never submit passwords through Google Forms.
This content is neither created nor endorsed by Google. Report Abuse - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy