La lucha sigue three years after the assassination of Lorenzo Sampablo Cervantes-husband and father of four-who was assassinated on August 22, 2006 by paramilitary troops under the orders of...
Who are we?
CASA
Colectivo de Apoyo, Solidaridad y Acción
Collectives of Support, Solidarity and Action
CASA Chapulin is a transnational solidarity organization comprised of allies organizing with grassroots efforts in Oaxaca, Mexico. We collaborate with various groups, including indigenous communities, women’s cooperatives, political prisoner advocates, human rights organizations, community radio projects, and popular education centers.
We recognize that our work is part of a larger movement that challenges existing power hierarchies and neoliberal agendas by organizing on a global scale while also staying rooted in our local struggles between Mexico, the U.S. and beyond. Our efforts resonate with those striving for another more dignified world using a bottom-up approach.
A Brief History
We were formed in November 2001 by Colin Bossen and Roxanne Rivas as the Chiapas Peace House Project. After a period of fundraising, we hired a coordinator and began accepting volunteers in Chiapas in August 2003. Our work began in 2006, where a group of committed allies organized and mobilized in solidarity with los pueblos of Oaxaca in a time of extreme repression and resistance during teh popular APPO movement.
Our coordinators in Oaxaca are Andrea and Sylvia. (We are currently not accepting volunteers to the Chiapas collective.)
What do we do?
CASA hosts and places short-term (3-6 months) volunteers to work in solidarity with grassroots efforts in Oaxaca. This includes affordable housing, resources, support, orientation to the political landscape of Oaxaca and Mexico, and privilege and solidarity workshops. See Volunteering.
CASA maintains a space in Oaxaca City open for volunteers, allies, and community members for collaborative action and reflection.
In addition, CASA organizes 1-2 week educational delegations for youth, students, and community members to connect with communities in Oaxaca and gain first-hand experiences of neoliberalism and its affects in Oaxaca.
Staying true to our local roots
Our goal is to strategize concrete ways to enact solidarity across geopolitical borders, identities, and generations in an effort to make fundamental and systemic change possible. We strive to act upon the opportunities and challenges that may arise in our collaborative work.
We are committed to building a base of allies with long-term commitment and accountability. We focus on developing skills and critical thinking so volunteers can continue organizing at the local level while also maintaining a more collective and just vision for social change.
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