WHO: You are invited to join us for an empowering weekend retreat: “Community Organizing for Deep Democracy.”

This event is tailored to meet the needs of the participants based on pre-event feedback. This event is open to participants from all over the country.

WHAT: This full weekend workshops will help participants effectively organize in their own communities to reclaim citizen sovereignty and will offer tangible strategies for actions that we can collectively take to get our democracy back from corporations. This three-day intensive workshops will challenge the deep assumptions that we all hold about what it means to live in a democracy and what the proper role of the corporation is. We will draw on history as well as current events to illustrate the changing role of the corporation over time and how seriously our past people’s struggles have taken the concept of democracy. 

Deep Democracy Retreats are right for you if you are:
* an activist, leader, organizer, or trainer engaged in issues of economic, environmental or social justice in your community;

* an educator, activist, organizer, or trainer seeking to improve your understanding of the history of corporate power and more effective strategies for resistance.

By the end of the weekend workshop participants will have a background on how corporate leaders and current judicial interpretations of the law are preventing us from defining our own communities. Emphasis of this weekend will be on giving participants the history, analysis, networks, and legal and educational strategies to more successfully organize for local democracy in their communities.

WHERE: We are offering two Deep Democracy Retreats this year, in one location.

*August 7-11 ~ This three day retreat will be hosted at the Democracy Unlimited Headquarters in Eureka, CA. Eureka is situated on the Redwood Coast of Northern California. The city is very near the largest and tallest stands of the world’s tallest trees, the coastal redwoods; the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the continental United States, the Lost Coast; and six of California’s most scenic rivers. This retreat offers optional day trips on either end (Thursday and Monday) for participants to explore the Pacific Ocean and redwood forest and the surrounding scenic beauty.

Participants will also have the opportunity to visit with the local community and volunteers who are spearheading the cutting-edge democracy organizing that has been taking place in Humboldt County for the past decade.

Sleeping accomodations are provided in host housing in nearby homes in Eureka, or participants can choose to pay for hotel accomodations. Vegetarian meals are prepared using local organic foods.

The drive to Eureka is approximately 5 hours from San Francisco or the East Bay. The trip from Sacramento to Eureka is about 5 hours. Carpooling is encouraged and we can help facilitate driving with others from the Bay Area. If you are not driving distance from nearby in California, you can fly to the Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento airports and get a ride or public transportation to the Retreat. You can also fly into Eureka directly (our airport code is ACV). The retreat location is approximately 20 minutes from the local airport.

WHEN: On-site sign-in for the Retreat begins on Friday from 2:00-3:00 pm; the program begins at 4:00pm Friday and concludes at 3:30pm on Sunday. Sessions will be conducted in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Breaks will be provided during the day to allow participants to take advantage of recreational attractions available at the retreat sites, and to allow participants to network.

It is important that participants plan to attend the full weekend Retreat in order to get the maximum benefit of the training.

Participants are invited to arrive Thursday evening to join us for a hike Friday morning and/or to stay for a day-trip on Monday. This retreat will also feature a potluck on Saturday evening for particpants and core Democracy Unlimited volunteers from the local community.

COST: Event cost is $250-$400 sliding scale, some scholarships may be available. Includes all meals and lodging (unless you chose to stay in a hotel at the Humboldt Retreat), does not include travel.

Sliding scale means you determine what you can pay based on your income and current financial situation. Below is a suggested model to follow - if you can donate more to help others who need scholarships please do so.

If your income is...under $15,000 -- you pay... $250
If your income is...$15,001-$25,000 -- you pay... $275
If your income is...$25,001-$35,000 -- you pay... $300
If your income is...$35,001-$45,000 -- you pay... $325
If your income is...$45,001-$55,000 -- you pay...$350
If your income is...over $55,000 -- you pay...$400 (and we welcome additional donations to cover scholarships for others).

Are you being sent to the training by your employer? If so, don't use your income to determine the fee -- use the annual budget of the organization. For example, if the organization's annual budget is $38,000, your employer would pay $325 to send you to the retreat.

For more information contact Democracy Unlimited: info@DUHC.org or (707) 269-0984. 
The Retreat is limited to 20 participants - so register early!

Materials, including a detailed agenda for the Retreat and a background reading packet, will be made available to all registrants prior to the training to help participants prepare for the Retreat.