our structure
UDSA is a democratic organization run by its members. Members can engage with the chapter in a variety of different ways. The most common ways to start organizing is by showing up to events! Break the ice, get your feet wet and get to know some other people in the chapter. Once you’ve done that if you are looking for more a great place to start is joining a committee or working group.
Committees
In UDSA committees handle permanent organizing work that the chapter needs. We have several committees that handle different kinds of work. All committees can be joined by any UDSA member with the exception of Steering Committee.
Steering committee
The Steering Committee acts as the chapter’s leadership team. Members of the Steering Committee are voted in by the general body at our chapter’s yearly chapter convention. There are six members of the Steering Committee, three co-chairs, one membership chair, one treasurer, and one secretary.
Additionally, Steering appoints several coordinators and officers to assist the chapter including an accessibility coordinator, a technical coordinator, and two grievance officers.
Education committee
Education Committee focuses on increasing the class consciousness of workers here in the Upstate. They create courses and host educational classes teaching people about capitalism and socialism.
The Education Committee also hosts a book club in collaboration with a local chapter of The Black Alliance for Peace.
Onboarding committee
The Onboarding Committee helps new members get plugged into the chapter. Onboarding plans and hosts all of our DSA 101 events where new members can learn how our chapter functions in an in person meeting with other new members.
Additionally they plan and host social events for both member and non-members to attend and build community.
working groups
communications committee
The Communications Committees handles internal and external communications for the chapter. This can include, social media posts, emails, event reminders, press releases, and messaging on the chapter’s digital platforms.
The Communications Committee also designs and creates physical media such as zines, pamphlets, stickers, and buttons. Check out some of the Committee’s work on our digital library page!
Labor committee
The Labor Committee hopes to help workers here in the Upstate start to build worker power across industries.
The Labor Committee currently is focuses on creating spaces outside of work where people can come together and talk candidly about the problems they face on the job and how they can talk to their coworkers about fixing those issues.
Technical committee
The Technical Committee works to maintain and improve all of our chapter’s digital infrastructure. Things like our Discord, WhatsApp, Website, Zoom, and Google Calendar.
The Tech Committee also handles the microphone setups at our hybrid meetings and is working on ways that the chapter can self host some of our digital documents.
Upstate mobilize
Upstate Mobilize is a mutual aid working group that primarily focuses on helping the unhoused communities in Greenville and Spartanburg.
They organize distributions of food, clothes, hygiene products, medical supplies, and more.
Diversity action working group
The Diversity Action Working Group focuses on making the chapter a more welcoming place for members of all backgrounds.
Socialism can only be built with a working class unified across boundaries of race, gender, and nationalities. DAWG is working to ensure that solidarity exists in our chapter here in the Upstate.
Anti Flock/alpr working group
Our newest working group aims to organize members to get Flock and other ALPR cameras out of our communities.