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7065 discussions

Proposal: Jamal as interim executive director

by Sarah Lockhart

I just wanted to provide some clarifications and professional suggestions on this proposal. For those who don't know me, I am Omni's soon-to-be former bookkeeper / finance person. I am not opposed to this proposal at a "high level" but there are things that should be considered. Silver also shared this with me last month: 2021 delegates meeting with > summary "agreed to hire Operations Coordinator (eventually) ": > https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Event:2021/03/11_Delegates. More discussion > was done the week before > https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Event:2021/03/04_Delegates. Operations > Coordinator shakes out to be the same thing as Executive Director. As someone who was part of the discussions around the Operations Coordinator role (which was conceived partly in the context of Omni's initial efforts to refinance), *saying that it is the "same thing" as Executive Director is actually inaccurate.* There was a lot of discussion at the time about whether it would be the same as an Executive Director, and the consensus was that it would very much NOT BE an Executive Director role, with the ability to make unilateral "executive" decisions. That was why "Coordinator" was included in the title, Having an "Executive Director" is actually new territory for Omni. The closest thing was when Emily was hired in December 2022 as "Finance Manager" after delegates decided that giving her an "Executive Director" role was too much power, among other reasons. > - Jamal has a lot of organizational and professional experience, and > connections to city officials and orgs who may help. His primary immediate > strategy is to try and get our lender to give us another extension. It is a bit awkward to read this, as we have received multiple communications from the lender through our lawyer that there would not be another extension. However, if someone new wants to give it a go, maybe the results will be different? But I am skeptical. However, I have been told that my natural skepticism is a personality flaw. At the very least, I would hope that Jamal has been forwarded / filled in on all the communications to date on this topic. > - *How can we pay for it?* Jamal has offered to fund the position himself > for the most part (current proposal, some small monthly fee ~$250, with the > rest of the money coming from a percentage of what he raises). This is a > big deal for Omni, which has almost no funds right now! Here's the professional guidance, as someone who has worked in the "nonprofit industrial complex" for the past two decades ... being paid a percentage of fundraised income is really counter to "best practices" and is generally frowned upon by most "aligned" non-profit fundraising professionals. There are numerous reasons to avoid a contract where a staff person is "paid a percentage of what they raise." Some of them are legal regulations about "private inurement" -- which I believe Jesse can explain to you. In general, having a staff person responsible for "raising their own salary" is something that is frowned on, because it creates a lot of stress for the staff person, and it is tied into equity issues. However, considering Jamal being hired for this role is an effort to create/improve equity (in the DEI sense, not in the financial sense), it does make things more complicated and worthy of discussion. > Sincerely, Sarah L

5 months, 3 weeks

Hardware and softWEAR* Hacking Tuesday is tonight

by Jake

Hi everyone, You're getting this email either because 1) you're on the sudoroom discuss email list, or 2) because I BCC'd you directly. URGENT: Sudoroom/The Omni needs help! Contact me directly to learn more. We'll be having a Sudoroom meeting tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 7PM. Tonight I'll be hosting Sudoroom for those who want to come hack on whatever, in person, or through telepresence (see the last link in this email) in the past few weeks, we've had about 5-15 people over the course of the evening, not including remote participants who logged in through telepresence Here it is on the sudoroom page: https://sudoroom.org/events/categories/sudo-room-events/ I am usually there by 8PM but people do show up before me! if you get to the door (at the corner of 48th and shattuck) and you can't get in, call me or someone else who's there to let you in! Email me if you don't have my phone number. Actually a great way to get our attention is to join the video chat link at the end of this email! We don't always hear the doorbell and I don't answer it anyway! You should get on this sudoroom discuss mailinglist! click here: https://sudoroom.org/lists/postorius/lists/sudo-discuss.sudoroom.org/ and you should donate monthly to sudoroom, monthly, by signing up here: https://sudoroom.org/humans and if you want to make a one-time donation, you can go here: https://sudoroom.org/donate if you can't make it in person: join the jitsi videochat with the room, and chat with each other as well as a giant TV screen/speakerphone on the wall: https://meet.waag.org/turtlesturtlesturtles see you soon! -jake

5 months, 3 weeks

Proposal: Jamal as interim executive director

by Paige P

Hi, I want to make a new thread to talk about this. I was first introduced to the idea of the role of ED at Omni along with a discussion about formalizing the Omni President/Treasurer/Secretary roles in September. This has been something discussed a lot by the fundraising working group, who has struggled in the past to talk to funders due to Omni's lack of point people and structure. Silver also shared this with me last month: 2021 delegates meeting with summary "agreed to hire Operations Coordinator (eventually) ": https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Event:2021/03/11_Delegates. More discussion was done the week before https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Event:2021/03/04_Delegates. Operations Coordinator shakes out to be the same thing as Executive Director. I am in strong support of Jamal as interim ED along with other delegates, Patrik from CCL, Natalie from Sketchboard, John from Liberated Lens, and partial support (at least in contract writing) from Toan from FNB. However Jamal has not been officially approved yet. To answer some questions - *Who is Jamal? *Jamal was originally hired on to facilitate conversation between People's Programs and Omni. After that meeting, there was informal consensus that he would be a good fit for hiring to facilitate our internal Omni accountability retreat. All of these funds are coming from the $4000 approved from the Hellman grant for DEI in November. Jamal has a lot of organizational and professional experience, and connections to city officials and orgs who may help. His primary immediate strategy is to try and get our lender to give us another extension. They have not yet filed for foreclosure. Jamal is hopeful with a clear, credible roadmap to better organization, along with tidying up the space/getting rid of clutter, and press involvement, that we will have a good chance at securing this extension. In parallel, we are working on all other proposals on the table. I have had uneasiness with the thought of professionalizing, having been part of an organized nonprofit before, and all the fakeness that marketing and fundraising requires, but have had to reflect on how our past ways of organizing have led to burnout, exclusion, and disempowerment and feel like this is a good answer (though I welcome discussion). Past meeting notes give some indication of how Jamal leads, but I encourage you all to come in person or remotely to meet him first and foremost. - *What is the timeline?* goal is to have paperwork written by Jesse, our lawyer, outlining job description and payment ready by Thursday, to be voted on by delegates. Given the formal paperwork might not be ready before Wednesday, SR should decide what they are okay with seeing or how much they are willing to trust the delegate with the decision. - *Isn't this not-horizontal?* Please read meeting notes above which have very thoughtful discussion of this. Also please understand we are facing foreclosure and have had extreme issues with unity and organizing ourselves. We need someone responsible for coordinating all the many threads of work going on right now. - *Is this a permanent decision? *No - Jamal has offered to work as ED for 2-3 months, given that is when he is available/in-state - *How can we pay for it?* Jamal has offered to fund the position himself for the most part (current proposal, some small monthly fee ~$250, with the rest of the money coming from a percentage of what he raises). This is a big deal for Omni, which has almost no funds right now! - *How do we build trust?* Jamal agreed to come to our Wednesday Sudo Room meeting remotely. He has been very insistent about leaving the room when decisions were made about him (he left the room when delegates decided to pursue writing a contract), so we can expect he will give time for Sudo Room to discuss privately. He has done a lot of difficult labor for us, and the job he's been tasked with is extremely difficult, something we have failed at. The main points of distrust I've heard are that (1) he favors People's Programs and (2) is working with Silver to unjustly remove Jake. The first claim I think can be assuaged by meeting Jamal, and reading the meeting notes from the accountability meeting. The "Current proposals, next steps" https://omnicommons.org/wiki/Event:2024/01/05_06_Delegates section was actually a couple hours of work, in which point people were assigned to every proposal, with Jamal stressing that priority go to pursuing extension from our current lender. As for (2), Silver and Jake have been in many conflicts, and while Jamal was informed of these, he did not bring up these conflicts to the delegates, nor encourage Jake's removal. Responsibility goes to the delegates, including me. I can speak to that in a different thread. - *How do we not build trust?* We don't build trust by discrediting people who have strong feelings about anti-racism (i.e. Pallavi last meeting). Even if you have disagreement or discomfort, as a predominately white space in Oakland that is critically underutilized, these discussions of equity, racism, and rules of engagement need to be on the table and must be given space, respect, and reflection. Paige

5 months, 3 weeks

Re: Temporary Ban of Jake from Omni Commons (fwd)

by E

I have deep reservations about the actions taken at yesterday's “retreat.” I informed my co-delegate that I would be delayed by one hour and ultimately arrived at the meeting at approximately 3:30pm. Jamal, Angela, Jemma, Anwar, Silver, Patrik, Yar, Paige, Toan, and John were there in person. Our newly hired facilitator, Jamal, was dictating the above letter to Paige. Jake was not present. I was told that before I arrived, Jamal had called a vote on what accountability measure would be suitable to address “the Jake problem.” During this vote, delegates John (LL), Patrik (CCL), Paige (SR), and Natalie (SB) voted in favor of inflicting this punishment and Toan (FNB) blocked the measure. Toan’s block was overruled and the issue was then passed by consensus-minus one. Paige did not consult with or inform me that this vote was taking place. Jamal asked me to keep this information secret from Jake. I found this request objectionable as this was allegedly meant to be an open meeting. The meeting notes on the wiki say barely anything about how and why this decision was reached. Jake was tried, convicted, and harshly sentenced - in absence - without a chance to hear any charges, defend himself or plead his case. Abandoning due process is not restorative in any way - it’s shameful - it makes the meeting seem less about accountability and more about silencing dissent. When I consulted with my co-delegate after the meeting, I asked if they believed that they had voted in line with the wishes of our collective - they acknowledged that they had not done so and would understand if they were asked to step down from the position. I understand that Paige was under a lot of pressure and clearly cares deeply about our community. I have great esteem for Paige and appreciation for much of the work they’ve done in our space, however, it looks like the meeting may have escalated more quickly than anyone could have expected. When I asked if it was possible to appeal this judgment I was directed to consult with Jamal. I call upon all people of sudoroom who share my fondness for due process and distaste for secret trials to object by responding to this thread and making your views clear. Last night, judgment was passed against one of our members without that person even being present, and fundamental structural changes were made to our organization without consultation of the general membership. -Eric Sudoroom Co-delegate

5 months, 3 weeks

Chromebooks

by tom r lopes

Last week I flashed the last of the chromebooks. (At least all the ones in the cabinet -- Maybe Peter has another stack.) Now they all have an unlocked bios firmware and ready to take an OS. Most of the chromebooks are Google "Candy" (have the plastic bezel around the screen) with a few of Google "Wolf" (all glass screen) Both are 4GB ram and 16GB storage soldered in place with no upgrade. 16GB makes Windows impossible. And even for Linux it is hard to get a modern experience. Linux: (on Candy, I haven't checked Wolf) You can get some of the media keys working if you change keyboard layout to "chromebook" (Volume works but I don't think screen backlight control works) Sound: Works in full featured distros but then you run out of space in the 16GB emmc. Minimal distros miss some things that are needed for sound: Need the sound chip firmware. On Debian it is sof-firmware so "sudo apt install sof-firmware" Even after installing the firmware many times the speakers are muted Run alsamixer from terminal ("sudo apt install alsa-utils" if alsamixer is not available) By default the Intel digital audio is selected. F6 to change soundcard but on the chromebook the F keys are shared with the media keys. Depends on the layout but either search (key with mag glass icon) or right ALT key is the Fn key. Hold Fn key (search or R ALT) and press "lower backlight" (small sun icon or count 6 from ESC) When the right sound card is selected press arrow keys until "Left speaker left dac" and press "m" to unmute then "Right speaker right dac" Should work now. Unless you have a minimal Linux distro without an audio server installed. Then "sudo apt install pulseaudio pavucontrol" Some distros need pulseaudio-alsa (Arch) Some desktop environments may need plugins for the GUI (XFCE need xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin) Disk space: This is a tough one because we have only 16GB. There are many very small Linux distros but they are not easy for the noob or non-expert Linux user. And if you start small and try to add you end up chasing the stuff that doesn't work. (like Try to install wifi gui but wpa-supplicant is not automatically installed?) You can start with something a little too big like Lubuntu then "sudo apt purge" to free space (purging Libreoffice gets Lubuntu to around 8GB) I will try some more distros and have some recommendations soon. Thomas

5 months, 3 weeks

Why don’t we dance with each other more?? Oakland Ecstatic Dance - Sunday Morning • Ecstatic Dance

by Romy Ilano

A lot of us are already goth club regulars but I had fun dancing with Noisebridge and SudoRoom folks at my birthday Friday We were able to talk about stuff briefly outside of a depressing meeting with everyone sitting and yelling There’s a cool dance session at sweets ballroom for ecstatic dance - anyone interested in coming??? They also have dances Wednesday I’ll send invites every so often movement is a great way to loosen people up instead of just alcohol ! Part of me hopes we can somehow have similar dance events on a more regular basis at the Omni ballroom There are so many yoga studios all over Oakland ! Why don’t more apply to be hosted at our space? We’re certainly cheaper and have a more interesting venue https://ecstaticdance.org/dance/oakland-ecstatic-dance-sunday-morning/ Sent from my iPhone

5 months, 3 weeks

Temporary Ban of Jake from Omni Commons (fwd)

by Jake

did sudoroom vote for this? what are the accusations? why was i not notified i was on trial? ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sun, 07 Jan 2024 21:04:41 +0000 From: maydayjt(a)riseup.net To: jake(a)spaz.org Cc: Paige P <pgeplan(a)gmail.com>, Jamal Taylor <lemmeeducateyou(a)gmail.com>, Yardenack <yardenack(a)gmail.com> Subject: Temporary Ban from Omni Commons Jake, Yesterday's Omni Commons delegates accountability meeting voted to temporarily ban you from all communications and access to Omni Commons for a 3 month period (effective until March 7, 2024). This decision was made given a history of harm, including conflict-escalating behavior, disrespect, racist comments, and a lack of accountability. Your behavior has been unacceptable, and mediation sessions with you have been ineffective. If you choose to participate in an accountability process until resolution, we will welcome you back to the space after the 3 month time period. We will follow up with you on this process. In the meantime, we offer you space to sit with yourself, and self-reflect on harm done. We hope you come back with a commitment to listen deeply and learn from complaints made rather than acting defensively. We appreciate all the work you have done here and hope you do the work required to be a part of this community. To schedule a time to collect belongings, or if you have further questions you may contact Jamal. John Torok Liberated Lens Film Collective delegate On Behalf of the Omni Commons Delegates Assembly

5 months, 3 weeks

ban "dissolved"

by Jake

I guess the ban is formally "dissolved" by decree of the Executive Director, after a threat not to talk about the ban, along with instructions not to talk about the dissolving of the ban. Sudoroom, please lets have a meeting and talk about what is going on. -jake ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2024 11:34:50 -0800 From: Jamal Taylor <lemmeeducateyou(a)gmail.com> To: jake(a)spaz.org Cc: Paige P <pgeplan(a)gmail.com>, maydayjt(a)riseup.net Subject: Re: Temporary Ban from Omni Commons Good morning, After a few conversations I have informed the board that it is my position in the role they have asked me to occupy that it is your right to have a full response and a list of the complaints. In that regard, and given the nature of the complaints a full investigation will take place. This will take time and a series of conversations with those that have made complaints against you and a review of emails and messages that have been sent. Once that fact finding is completed you will be given a notice of the complaints and an opportunity to make your responses. You may not interfere with the investigation in any way, nor may you attempt to unduly influence board members or witnesses. Following your written response, after the notice, I will review the facts and inform the board and you of my dispensation. Once this action is complete you may appeal my final dispensation to the board. This notice is not a public notice, nor is it a tool to generate any additional controversy. The ban is dissolved with the stipulations set forth above. Have a great day! On Sun, Jan 7, 2024 at 6:38 PM Jamal Taylor <lemmeeducateyou(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Good evening, Jake, > > I want to take the time to send this correspondence to invite you to make > time to speak with me if you need more clarity on this decision. > Accountability can feel dysregulating, sometimes confusing, and emotional. > We want to make sure that you feel supported as you engage in much needed > reflection. In the face of the serious nature of complaints that have been > made against you it is imperative that you sit with the fact that these > events noted have not been isolated, nor or they limited to one person. > > Additionally, it has been brought to my attention that there are a series > of emails going back and forth in your collective. The email that I am > responding to has also been shared with an entire collective. I want you to > reflect and think about what goal you had in sending this message rather > than reaching out to me or a member of the board. Did you think it showed > that you were reflective of the decision that was made? I want to mention > that not only is this counterproductive, but it distracts from the ability > of the organization to focus on the pressing matter of foreclosure. This > self-centering behavior that invites additional conflict into this space is > unwelcome and quite frankly is not indicative of an individual that has > stopped to think what additional harm might be caused. I invite you to > truly think how you are continuously centering yourself and quite frankly > consuming valuable space for healing. > > As a final thought I want to mention very directly that sending messages > inquiring about who made decisions relative to your behavior, to an entire > collective, is counterproductive and borders on retaliatory conduct. I also > want to name that additional accountability action will be taken where > repeat behaviors occur during this ban. I say with a spirit of sincerity > that love is liberatory, and I am happy to meet and chat with you in that > spirit. I am happy to walk you through what might also help to lessen the > time period of the ban. Feel free to reach out. I would once again admonish > you to discontinue retaliatory or harmful behaviors that may in fact > continue to perpetuate a cycle of harm or distract from the business of > focusing on foreclosure. > > I wish you a season of reflection and healing. > > Jamal > > On Sun, Jan 7, 2024 at 1:04 PM <maydayjt(a)riseup.net> wrote: > >> Jake, >> >> Yesterday's Omni Commons delegates accountability meeting voted to >> temporarily ban you from all communications and access to Omni Commons >> for a 3 month period (effective until March 7, 2024). >> >> This decision was made given a history of harm, including >> conflict-escalating behavior, disrespect, racist comments, and a lack of >> accountability. Your behavior has been unacceptable, and mediation >> sessions with you have been ineffective. >> >> If you choose to participate in an accountability process until >> resolution, we will welcome you back to the space after the 3 month time >> period. We will follow up with you on this process. >> >> In the meantime, we offer you space to sit with yourself, and >> self-reflect on harm done. We hope you come back with a commitment to >> listen deeply and learn from complaints made rather than acting >> defensively. >> >> We appreciate all the work you have done here and hope you do the work >> required to be a part of this community. >> >> To schedule a time to collect belongings, or if you have further >> questions you may contact Jamal. >> >> John Torok >> Liberated Lens Film Collective delegate >> On Behalf of the Omni Commons Delegates Assembly >> >

5 months, 3 weeks

1/5/24 Accountability Meeting 6pm - 9pm

by Z Silver Zahn

Reminder this upcoming Friday all members of collectives are invited to a facilitated accountability meeting. January 5th, Friday 6pm to 9pm at Omni Commons. YOU’RE INVITED : We are hosting a huge meeting again for all members and collectives to talk about what is not working and how we can move forward with making our decision of how we will move forward with our upcoming foreclosure. We can also move forward talking about our status of boycott and talking about the harm we have caused and received at Omni Commons. Omni has invited you to join a video meeting on Google Meet. Join the meeting: https://meet.google.com/des-hkce-hof Dial in (audio only): ‪(US) +1 567-334-1148‬ PIN: ‪934 912 442#‬ Other numbers: https://tel.meet/des-hkce-hof?pin=5240178658114 [image: Omni Commons (1).jpg]

5 months, 3 weeks

Fixit Clinic at Hayward Library Saturday 11AM

by Peter Mui

Hi Sudoers: We’ve got a Fixit Clinic this Saturday (Jan 13) at the Hayward Main Library: can you coach people trying to repair? Sign up at http://bit.ly/inpersoncoachsignup. WHAT: Fixit Clinic MLIX (1059) USA-CA-Hayward Hayward Main Library WHEN: Sat, Jan 13, 2024 11AM to 2PM WHERE: 888 C Street Hayward, CA 94541 https://www.hayward-ca.gov/public-library https://hayward.librarycalendar.com/event/fixit-clinic-13312 https://www.facebook.com/events/872188044562622/ - It’s our inaugural Fixit Clinic at this beautiful new Library that opened in Sept. 2020. - We’re graciously hosted by Fixit Coach extraordinaire (and now, Hayward Librarian too!) Sandra Stewart. - The City of Hayward has a free parking garage right behind the Library and it’s a .25-mile walk from Hayward BART. This is another in the network of ongoing in-person repair events throughout the SF Bay Area: we can and should promote and encourage people to keep repairing through Sudoroom / Omni Commons on Tuesday evenings. Sign up at http://bit.ly/inpersoncoachsignup so that we can have lunch for you. And if you know anyone else who would make a good Fixit Coach: bring ‘em along! Hope to see you Saturday, -Peter Peter Mui @ Fixit Clinic www.fixitclinic.org - Fortifying joyous, resilient communities through all-ages do-it-together hands-on fix-n-learn community disassembly and discovery 408 647 5790 fixitclinic(a)gmail.com ======== P.S.: There’s another Fixit Clinic at the Redwood City Library the following Saturday (Jan 20): https://www.redwoodcity.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/72825/2638 …and at the Millbrae Library Sat Feb 3: https://smcl.bibliocommons.com/events/65876ebdb6d9893800850f44 Hope to see you at those too. P.P.S.: Join the Global Fixers Server on Discord, an online resource for knowledge sharing and training amongst repairers where we broaden skills, share skills, cross-train, and bring items we’re struggling to repair on their own: follow the instructions in this Google Doc: https://bit.ly/joinglobalfixers -p

5 months, 3 weeks

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