Structures for Inclusion Conference 2012 in Austin Texas: Design is Relational

STRUCTURES FOR INCLUSION is an annual conference focused on design for social good.

Structures for Inclusion 2012 brings together activists, designers, funders and policy makers who are at the forefront of designing in the public’s interest. Dynamic innovators and experienced professionals from around the world are providing honest, inspiring conversations and participatory workshops to help designers do more and do it better.

This year’s theme: Design is Relational

It is not just about objects. It’s also about being a catalyst to change human relationships and activities. Last year, at our annual Structures for Inclusion Conference, Sergio Palleroni said that 90% of the impact of his architecture is not in the construction. The real impact is in the relationships, the empowerment, and the activities created, in addition to the bricks and mortar.

This type of impact continues to be revealed, every year, at our conferences. The presentations at Structures for Inclusion highlight design work that addresses a critical social, economic, and environmental issue. For me, the most successful of these presentations have been when an architect and community partner present together and convey this relationship building as well as the physical building. What begins as a combination of a need and a service becomes a collaboration and greater benefit.

Friday, March 23 @ 7pm: Premiere of SEEDocs mini-documentary, produced by The UpTake
Saturday, March 24, 9:30am – 5:30pm Structures for Inclusion conference

Click here for the full schedule of speakers and events:

SFI Schedule

Coleen Rowley Discusses Afghanistan and Iran Issues

Coleen Rowley, FBI whistle blower and peace activist talks about Afghanistan massacre and the building pressure to invade Iran.

Recent polls show that more than 70% of the people in the U.S. now believe that Iran has nuclear weapons.

Israeli newspapers warn the Israeli people that Prime Minister Netenyahu is preparing them for action against Iran.

If Israel does attack, the U.S. moves into a very difficult position. The conduct of U.S. troops in the war zones is a consequence of extended tours in high pressure situations. Returning vet suicides and homicides are reaching new heights.

Maneuver To Un-stall “Right To Work” Fails In MN House

There was something strange going on in the Minnesota House chamber Thursday night. Legislators were ready to get to evening committee hearings and the House floor session was winding down when suddenly Majority Leader Matt Dean called for a recess. House Minority Leader Paul Thissen objects, pointing out that taking a recess would delay the start of many important committee hearings.

Getting no explanation for the recess, Democrats call for adjournment, which fails.

After the 40 minute recess Republicans try to move the controversial “right to work” also known as “rob the workers” constitutional amendment to the friendlier Rules committee than its current assignment. The maker of the motion, Representative Doug Wardlow (R-Eagan) does not appear to speak to it. After an almost three minute wait, Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers moves on to announcements and adjournment.

Videos of the events and press release from House Minority Leader Paul Thissen … Continue Reading

Syrian Revolution Anniversary Demonstration

A group of Syrian-Americans gathered in Loring Park to commemorate the the anniversary of the beginning of the Syrian Demonstrations that grew out of the Arab Spring. This rebellion has bee treated very harshly by the Assad government. To this date, there are more than 10,000 people dead, among them 600 women and 430 children. The Syrian Sunrise Foundation is one of the US organizations involved with the revolution.
Minnesota Facebook page has the local information.

GOP Chooses Corporations Over Renters

Renters versus corporations is how Minnesota House Democrats described a bill that phases out a state business property tax at the expense of a renters credit. Republicans say the bill will leave more money with businesses which will boost employment. The bill passed on a 72-62 party line vote.

MN GOP Considers Flexible Voter Photo ID Language

Minnesota Senate Republicans are considering adopting a change to the voter photo ID constitutional amendment that the House rejected last night. It would allow other forms of visual ID as technology improves. Republican Senator Julianne Ortman made the suggestion which bill author Senator Scott Newman said he will consider.

That’s quite different from the House version of the bill where author Representative Mary Kiffmeyer has rejected any attempt to broaden the language, saying that would make the requirement too “vague.”

The Senate Rules committee approved sending voter photo ID to the full Senate with one other change that delays it’s implementation from June 2013 to December 2013.
That change may mean a conference committee to hammer out the differences.

Full video of the Senate Rules Committee meeting on the voter photo ID constitutional amendment. … Continue Reading

Require Photo ID To Go To Church? Vote In Our Poll

If Minnesota is going to require a photo ID to vote, perhaps it should consider requiring a photo ID for some of our other rights such as going to church suggests Democratic State Representative John Lesch.

How about showing a photo ID so you can have a gun in your house (as opposed to walking around with outside which you need to have a permit) or a photo ID to prevent unreasonable search and seizure or to peacefully assemble?

Representative Lesch’s point is that those rights don’t require a photo ID and never should. He says that voting which is a more highly protected constitutional right should not be subject to the same standards as buying cigarettes and cashing a check.

What do you think? Watch and read Representative Lesch’s comments and vote in our poll. … Continue Reading

Voter Photo ID Allows Iowa Drivers License To Vote In Minnesota

Under a proposed voter photo ID constitutional amendment, a student from Iowa living in Minnesota would be able to use their Iowa drivers license without a Minnesota address to vote in Minnesota, while a Minnesota student attending a private university in Minnesota would not be able to use their student ID, even if it has their current address on it. That was one of the revelations from voter photo ID author Representative Mary Kiffmeyer (R- Big Lake) during a more than nine hour debate that approved her bill along party lines 72-62.

The Iowa drivers license qualifies to vote in Minnesota because it is both “valid” and is “government issued.” The student ID for a private school would not qualify because the government didn’t issue it. The student from Iowa would need to now live in Minnesota and be at least 18 years old.

Representative Melissa Hortman (DFL- Brooklyn Park) was one of several Democratic lawmakers who tried to change the voter photo ID standard from “government issued” to “government approved.” Representative Kiffmeyer opposed the change saying it made the requirements too “vague.”

The Senate is considering a slightly different version of the voter photo ID bill and could vote on it as early as Friday. If what the Senate passes remains different than the House, it will need to go to a conference committee. The bill would not need Governor Mark Dayton’s signature to appear on the fall ballot. Republicans are passing voter photo ID as a constitutional amendment instead of a law since the Democratic Minnesota Governor vetoed similar legislation last year and Republicans did not have enough votes to override his veto.

MN House Approves “Photo ID” Constitutional Amendment

The Minnesota House debates and passes a controversial constitutional amendment requiring a state-issued photo ID to vote in a Minnesota election. The vote was 72-62 along party lines. If it is approved by the Senate it would be put on the Fall election ballot.

Outside the Minnesota House chamber Representatives of both parties talk about the voter photo ID constitutional amendment and the issues it brings up. The debate on the amendment went late into the night Comments from Representatives Thissen, Simon, Clark, Rukavina, Hornstein, Eken and Stensrud

More highlight videos: … Continue Reading

DFL: GOP Won’t Say What Photo ID Language Means

Minnesota Democrats are upset that Republicans are being evasive about what a voter photo ID constitutional amendment would do to the state’s absentee balloting and other voting systems. The bill which requires a state issued photo ID or a “substantially equivalent” ID to vote will be debated on the House floor this afternoon. Republicans support it. Democrats do not.

Representative Steve Simon (DFL-St. Louis Park) says the author of the bill, Representative Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake) opposed Minnesota’s same day voter registration system when she was Secretary of State and is “skilled” at avoiding answering questions about what voter photo ID would do to same day registration.

Representative Ryan Winker (DFL- Golden Valley) says Representative Kiffmeyer has refused to say what voter photo ID could do to absentee ballot voting. In committee Representative Kiffmeyer walked around direct questions about the constitutionality of her suggestion of requiring absentee ballot voters to provide just the number of their drivers license instead of presenting a photo ID to vote. Historically, absentee ballots tend to favor Republican voters. House Minority Leader Paul Thissen says that voter photo ID could disenfranchise US soldiers who can not present a photo ID in time when they are deployed overseas.

No definition of what the key words in the amendment mean … Continue Reading