My Schedule of Workshops & Talks
Upcoming Events:
During most of the period that Occupy Portland's downtown encampment existed, I led 2.5-hour mini-workshops there in their Library Workshop tent once or twice each week, usually attended by 8-20 folks at a time, to help this fast growing occupation to think strategically about what their larger goals should be. When the Mayor shut down the camp, I started leading the workshops all over the city in people's homes.
Since the camp's closure, I have been active in helping to form a new local group (tentatively) calling itself 'Community Rights PDX'. I, and my growing number of workshop trainees, are now leading the 2.5 hour introductory workshop in service to the capacity building of this new group. (You can follow this group, and the larger Community Rights movement HERE.)
Confirmed dates for this ongoing workshop series include:
* New dates in May and June are being finalized this next week. Please check back soon for details.*
The following workshops are all located at Saint Francis Church, at SE 12th and Oak. We are NOT in the Occupy Portland meeting space - we are in another room in the church - the Hawthorne Room.
* Tuesday, May 22, 1-330pm
* Tuesday, June 5, 630-9pm
* Tuesday, June 19, 1-330pm
* ...with more dates to be confirmed later.
See the rest of my events schedule below.....
I am available to travel to ANY communities or Occupy encampments in other cities to offer my workshops and talks. Please contact me to discuss options!
May 6, 2012 in McMinnville, Oregon:
I'll be leading a repeat special issue-specific introductory workshop to support a newly formed rights-based local group which intends to pass, by popular vote, a county-wide ordinance banning all GMO agriculture within the county. 1-4pm at the barn at 1827 Nehemiah Lane. (Details: Trisha Mandes at 484-357-0594 or <trisha.mandes@gmail.com>.)
I will be in New England, N.Y. and PA for this entire period, and available to lead workshops and give public talks. My goal is to fill my schedule with 2.5 to 4 hour introductory workshops across the NE. Anyone out there want to help me spread the word to Occupy groups or other orgs working on corporate rule issues? I don't make it to the East Coast very often, so this is a rare opportunity to schedule me without having to cover a cross-country airfare.
I'll be leading my full-weekend workshop in Portland, titled "We The People Are More Powerful Than We Dare to Believe: First Steps in Dismantling Corporate Rule". For more details about the content of the workshop, click HERE. For more details about cost, timing, and how to register, click HERE.
June 16, 2012 in Medford, Oregon:
I'll be leading a 4-hour introductory "Community vs Corporate Rights" double-workshop which incorporates some time to feel our strong feelings about living in a world drowning in corporate culture. We'll spend the first two hours (10am to noon) focusing on the rise of corporate dominance - a 200-year US history review - "from the Gilded Age to corporate personhood". After a free (with registration) lunch, we'll spend the second two hours (1pm to 3pm) learning about the rapidly growing Community Rights movement that has already successfully passed laws in 150 communities in seven states that reign in corporate "rights" and enshrine the right of communities to govern themselves.
$20 for one workshop, $35 for both (or whatever you can afford). Doors open 930am. Sponsored by, and happening at, Medford's Congregational United Church of Christ, 1801 East Jackson. (For more info or to register, call 541-772-8860.)
Possible additional event in Ashland on Friday the 15th or Sunday the 17th. Anyone want to host me that day?
June 22, 2012 at Breitenbush, Oregon:
I hope to lead a short introductory workshop at the 34th Annual Summer Solstice Healing Retreat.
June 30 & July 1 in Portland, Oregon:
Colleague Matt Guynn and I will be co-leading a 2-day intensive Organizers Training for the Community Rights movement's increasing number of active local groups in OR and WA. Anyone who has attended an introductory 2.5 hour workshop or longer is welcome to attend. Sliding scale fee $50 to $250 based on ability to pay. (Registration will open in mid-May. More details soon.)
July 29 in John Day, eastern Oregon:
I will be leading an introductory workshop at SolWest Renewable Energy Fair, 930am to noon at the County Fairgrounds.
September or October in Colorado:
I have been invited to give talks and workshops in Durango and Boulder. (Details will be figured out by early Summer.)
October or November or December in Hawai'i:
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Previous Events:
April 25, 2012 in Portland, Oregon:
I led a mini-workshop 10am to 1130am at the Global Teach-In Portland. I combined my workshop with Barbara Dudley's workshop on setting up state banks, as there were too few folks at the event. It was a lively mix of topics!
April 23, 2012 in Philomath (near Corvallis), Oregon:
I led a repeat special issue-specific introductory workshop to support the newly formed rights-based local group, GMO-Free Benton County, which intends to pass, by popular vote, a county-wide ordinance banning all GMO agriculture within the county. Sponsored by Oregon Tilth and GMO-Free Benton County.
April 22, 2012 in Vancouver, Washington:
I led my second workshop for the newly formed Community Rights group there. Dozens of people attended.
April 21, 2012 in Portland, Oregon:
I led a 75-minute mini-workshop at the Earth Day conference at PCC Sylvania. (Conference details HERE.)
April 14, 2012 in Bellingham, Washington:
I led a shortened one-day version of my two-day intensive workshop for the Coal Free Bellingham group's educational wing at WWU. 20 folks attended.
March 25, 2012 in Portland, Oregon:
Dana Lyons (songs) & Paul Cienfuegos (songs & spoken word) about democratic uprising. It was an amazing House Concert at Albert Kaufman's home. We both had a blast, and will be trying to figure out how and when to do this again. Please invite us to YOUR town!
March 15, 2012 in Seattle, Washington:
I led my intro workshop for students of a medical anthropology class at the U of Washington.
March 10-12, 2012 in Corvallis, Oregon:
On the Saturday, I led a special 3-hour intro workshop specifically for organic farmers, food processors, and food activists, to introduce the idea of people in the Willamette Valley working together to pass local ordinances that would ban GMO agriculture in the valley, county by county. There was tremendous energy for organizing an ordinance campaign in Benton County coming out of the workshop. About 54 folks attended.
On the Sunday, I led my regular 2-hour intro workshop at Corvallis Friends Meeting House. About 46 people in attendance, and afterwards we continued informally for another full hour talking about the relationship between the Community Rights movement and MoveToAmend. Very productive and provocative afternoon!
On the Monday, I was one of three panelists who spoke about the grave danger of GMO agriculture, and what can be done to end this menace in our local communities. At Oddfellows Hall downtown.
March 2-4, 2012 in Missoula, Montana:
I presented a new public talk on March 2nd at the U of Montana, titled "Cities Across the Country Are Exercising Their Right of Self-Governance: Will Missoula Be Next?". There were about 140 people in attendance. David Barsamian has shown interest in possibly broadcasting it this summer on his A.R. radio show.
And I led my two-day intensive workshop "First Steps in Dismantling Corporate Rule" over that weekend. About 27 folks in attendance. An amazing bunch of people, with terrific age diversity.
February 24, 2012 in Portland, Oregon:
I was interviewed by Jim Lockhart on his cable access TV show 'A Growing Concern'. You can watch it on youtube HERE or on Ustream HERE.
February 11, 2012 in Shelton, Washington:
I led my 2-hour intro workshop, followed by a new 2-hour follow-up more advanced workshop, back to back, at the PUD3 building downtown. About 25 folks were there from Shelton/ Mason County, and another 25 or so from Olympia/ Thurston County. A VERY high energy event!
February 5, 2012 in Portland, Oregon:
My 2-hour workshop presented for the Living Earth group, followed by a potluck dinner. About 16 folks attended.
January 22, 2012 in Newport, Oregon:
Two hour introductory workshop, sponsored by Occupy Newport. At Newport Visual Arts Center. A few dozen folks were in attendance.
January 20 & 21, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon:
I gave a 15-minute speech at the rally on the 20th commemorating the 2nd anniversary of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. About 70 in attendance. I'll have the audio of my speech online soon.
And I led a three-hour introductory workshop in downtown Eugene on the 22nd. About 25 folks in attendance.
January 18, 2012 in Portland, Oregon:
I was the guest speaker at the regular Portland Transition Town monthly meeting at 7pm at St Francis Church Dining Room at 1131 SE Oak. I gave a talk proposing that Portland Transition begin to seriously consider collaborating with the local Community Rights group to envision turning local sustainability policy into legally-binding law. You can read or listen to my talk HERE. There were about 35 folks in attendance.
January 14/15, 2012 in Portland, Oregon:
Full weekend workshop: "We the People Are More Powerful Than We Dare to Believe: first steps in dismantling corporate rule." 33 folks attended, from Portland, Newport, The Dalles, & Hood River, OR, and from Vancouver and Olympia, WA. I'll be leading another one of these intensives in the Spring. Stay tuned for details.
January 11, 2012 in Vancouver, Washington:
Two hour introductory workshop from 7 to 9pm, sponsored by Occupy Vancouver. About 24 folks attended. Excellent group, including many from Occupy Vancouver.
January 8, 2012 in Portland, Oregon:
Occupy Portland Legislative Action Forum at Project Grow, sponsored by Occupy Solutions committee. About 60 folks were in attendance. A lively conversation.
December 5 in Hood River, OR
Two-hour workshop at the Hood River Library Meeting Room. Attended by 40 energetic folks!
November 27 & 28 in Olympia, WA:
2-hour workshop in Olympia on the 27th, attended by approx 50 people (!) at the Labor Council Bldg, speech in Sylvester Park downtown to a few hundred people, sponsored by Occupy Olympia, approx 10am on the 28th and a few hours later again at the Capitol Steps to about 2000 people.
Live radio interview with CFUV-FM's 'Gorilla Radio' in Victoria, BC, Canada scheduled for Monday, November 28 from 5 to 6pm.
November 25, 2011 in Portland, OR:
November 19/20, 2011 in Eugene, Oregon:
Full weekend workshop: "Dismantling Corporate 'Rights' and Seizing Back the People's Rights! We The People Are More Powerful Than We Dare to Believe!". 22 people were in attendance. A very energetic group!
November 1 at 5pm in downtown Portland's Pioneer Square:
I gave a brief speech to a crowd of more than 5000 people on Oct 28th at Pioneer Square, at a rally in solidarity with Occupy Portland. In my speech, I invited those present to return to this same location on Tuesday, November 1 at 5pm to continue this critical conversation about launching a rights-based local ordinance campaign in Portland. 40 folks returned for that conversation, and are now beginning to self-organize towards preparing a Portland-based Community Rights ordinance.
September 13, 2011 in Portland, Oregon:
Public Talk, Sponsored/hosted byOccupation/Preoccupation at the TBA Festival at Washington School.
July 31 in John Day, Oregon:
2-hour workshop: Sustainable Energy Policy vs Corporate "Rights". At the annual Sol-West Renewable Energy Fair
July 25 at Aprovecho in Cottage Grove, Oregon:
3-hour workshop: Can we achieve a truly sustainable path if we continue to allow corporate constitutional "rights" to block our desires and goals?
May 16, 2011 in Eugene, OR:
Public talk: “We Need Much Bolder Thinking & Action to Wrest Our Country Back From Corporate Rule”, sponsored by the WeThePeopleEugene. It will be broadcast nationally on David Barsamian's 'Alternative Radio' series in October 2011. DVD's of the talk are available now. Contact paul@100fires.com to order one.
Cosponsored by:
Lane Peace Center, Civil Liberties Defense Center (CLDC) Eugene, Community Alliance of Lane County (CALC), Oregon State Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG), Univ of Oregon Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Springfield
Endorsed by:
Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND), Eugene Springfield Solidarity Network (ESSN), Healthcare for All Oregon, MindFreedom International, Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene, Lane County Fair Trade Campaign
September 25/26, 2010 in Arcata, CA:
Two-day Workshop: "First Steps in Dismantling Corporate Rule: We the People are More Powerful Than We Dare to Believe"
June 8, 2010 in Portland, OR:
Panel and Community Fishbowl Conversation with Paul Cienfuegos and Barbara Ford: “Despair and Personal Power in an Age of Corporate Rule and Climate Crisis”
June 4, 2010 in Portland, OR:
Workshop at the Village Building Convergence: "How would We The People design and implement a plan which cuts Portland's car use by 80% within 20 years?"
June 3, 2010 in Portland, OR:
Public talk at the Village Building Convergence: "Are We The People? Striving for a Future Where Our Actions Match the Crises/ Opportunities We Face"
(You can listen to the entire 68-minute speech here or watch it here.)
May 26, 2010 in Portland, OR:
"Lecture & Community Discussion with Paul Cienfuegos" hosted by Transition PDX
May 22/23, 2010 in Bellingham, WA:
Two-day workshop: "Understanding Corporate Rule (and ending it)"
May 15/16, 2010 in Seattle, WA:
Two-day workshop: "Governing as We the People: Reclaiming Our Society From Corporate Rule" - with a special focus on how working people (union and not) can reclaim their power
April 24, 2010 in Redding, CA:
Public talk at a house meeting
February 27/28, 2010 in Portland, OR:
Two-day Workshop: "First Steps in Dismantling Corporate Rule"
February 26, 2010 in Portland, OR:
Public talk: "Is a Truly Sustainable Society Achievable As Long As Corporate Rights Trump the Rights of People?"
(You can listen to the entire hour-long speech here.)
January 16, 2010 in Mount Vernon, WA:
Public talk at the 8th Annual Martin Luther King Celebration titled "Corporate Rule, Climate Change, the Economy: Everything is Connected"
January 9/10, 2010 in Mount Vernon, WA:
Two-day Workshop: "First Steps in Dismantling Corporate Rule"
October 2, 2009 in Portland, OR:
Public talk on a panel with Mari Margil (CELDF) at the Econvergence Conference
August 12, 2009 near Jacksonville, OR:
Workshop on how to use a sliding scale for conferences, teach-ins, retreats - and the feelings that arise in the process
June 8 & 11, 2009 in Portland, OR:
Public talk and workshop at the Village Building Convergence titled "Thinking Like Citizens, Acting Like Citizens"
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