A talk and workshop on 'How to Speak American' About Peace and Justice November 18, 2012

In the course of achieving the goals leading to a better world, peace and justice advocates would do well by learning to communicate their ideas to everyday people. They already know the issues and world problems and can articulate them in a number of ways; it's the folks who don't know the issues who need to hear about them. The problem is how to reach such people in a way that will cause them to stop and think about the problems that affect them every day...and even possibly take action themselves.

Author, academic and activist Susan Strong in 1997 founded the Metaphor Project, dedicated to finding ways for progressives to reach out to a variety of people in mainstream America. The idea is to take their messages and frame them "as part of the ideal American story", as the Metaphor Project puts it in its web site.

As the project's Executive Director, Susan conducts workshops on what she calls "How to Speak American", which span a wide breadth of progressive themes. She will give such a presentation on "How to Speak American about Peace and Justice." Tailoring her talk to Peace Action's goals, Susan will discuss important points in reaching out to people not necessarily in our corner (though not necessarily out of it either), and invite participation with an exercise in messaging.

Susan is well-qualified to address a meeting of Peace Action, having been on the national board as a California representative of what was then the Nuclear Freeze Campaign before it merged with SANE and became SANE/Freeze - and later Peace Action. She was also the chair of what was then called Northern California Nuclear Freeze.

Susan is the author of the book "Move Our Message: How to Get America's Ear", which will be on sale at the event. She has also written for various alternative and local mainstream news outlets.

Don't miss this important event that looks at making a real difference in communication with people. The venue is wheelchair accessible.

Official Website: http://www.sanmateopeaceaction.org