Resources

New Member Handbook

New to East Bay DSA? Learn about who we are, how we work, and how to plug in.

Socialist Night School

East Bay DSA holds a twice-monthly Night School class to educate members and prospective members on socialist theory and history with a focus on advancing our movement today.

Interested in socialist political education?

Member Statements

Members are encouraged to submit position papers for consideration ahead of general membership meetings. East Bay DSA solicits these statements in the hopes that this will foster internal democracy and comradely debate.

Read member statements

Priorities Resolution

East Bay DSA's membership voted on and amended a document that guides our work throughout the year.

Read the priorities resolution

Bylaws

Bylaws are the basic rules that define how an organization governs itself. For East Bay DSA, as an organization committed to democratic governance by its members, our bylaws' most important function is to establish the democratic structures through which we make decisions, carry out collective goals, and elect accountable leaders.

Read the bylaws

Meeting Notes and Past Resolutions

Transparency is built into our democratic organization. Part of that transparency is to share the notes from our most important meetings, such as Steering Committee meetings and meetings of our general membership.

Meeting notes

National Harassment and Grievance Policy

Democratic Socialists of America is committed to creating a space that is welcoming and inclusive to members of all genders, races, classes, and abilities. At our 2017 national DSA convention, we passed Resolution #33, which provides guidelines to ensure that everyone is able to organize without fear of harassment, abuse, or harm. The resolution also establishes a process to handle these types of charges between members.

Additionally, East Bay DSA has a code of conduct that all members are expected to abide by. If you want to file a grievance, please email: grievance@eastbaydsa.org.

Please include the following information with your grievance:

Your name, the person(s) involved, what happened, any documentation you have available (screenshots or email chains, for example)

East Bay DSA’s Harassment and Grievance Officers (HGOs) are charged with implementing the National DSA Harassment Policy. They are appointed by the Steering Committee for one-year terms, and HGOs can serve no more than three terms in a row. HGOs are anonymous to prevent retaliation; their identity is known by the SC and the Grievance Stewards.

Any duly reported allegation of harassment or abuse as defined in the National DSA Harassment Policy is investigated by the chapter’s HGOs. HGOs facilitate conflict resolution in all other allegations of misconduct. The HGOs communicate anonymously (through the grievance@eastbaydsa.org email) with the complainant, gathering information, and help the conflict come to a resolution in accordance with the National Grievance Policy.

East Bay DSA also has three Grievance Stewards:

Hasan C. A.
Jackie A.
Casey B.

These stewards' role, as an option available to members' request, is to help inform members about the grievance process, accompany them during conversations with HGOs and SC members, and act as a liaison as needed. The stewards are familiar with the grievance process but are there to support members, rather than serve an investigatory role like the HGOs.

Complainants will also have the option to identify an emotional support person of their choosing to accompany them through the grievance process if they’d prefer to have a personal friend, comrade, or family member instead of a steward provided through the Chapter.

If you wish to contact the stewards for grievance support or for more information, please email grievancestewards@eastbaydsa.org.

To confidentially report an instance of harm to the National Harassment Grievance Officer, email nationalgrievanceofficer@dsausa.org.

Readings

Other DSA California Chapters

Find local California Democratic Socialists of America and Young Democratic Socialists of America chapters in your area.

California DSA and YDSA chapters

Member Discussion Forum

Members in good-standing can join our online discussion forum to chat with other members, share or organize events, and debate upcoming resolutions put forth to the chapter. Check it out today!

For any questions, reach out to moderators@eastbaydsa.org