Each month, at The Ruby we will be holding Do Something Dinners where we gather with one another to engage with current topics facing our communities and take political action. Each dinner will focus on one or two specific issues; corresponding information about these issues and action items will be provided.
For October's Do Something Dinner, we'll be joined by our friends from Shelter Tech. What will you do in this event? Collaborate with members of the homeless community, learn about services available to folks experiencing homelessness, and help those experiencing homelessness access information about available resources. ShelterTech, a volunteer-led 501c3, is creating an online resource directly (think Yelp!) to help the underserved community in San Francisco gain information on basic needs (i.e food, shelter, shower). Their goal is to create the most reliable, up-to-date online database of services available to homeless and underserved communities in San Francisco. One of the regular public events/workshops we hold is a Datathon, which is an opportunity for you to work side-by-side with community representatives -- people who are currently or previously homeless -- to verify and vet information and make sure the 500+ services in our system are correct. No technical skills or knowledge is necessary -- just a good attitude and a willingness to learn.
A wholesome dinner and nonalcoholic beverage will be provided (BYOB and wine — to share, if you are able!). We believe that gathering together as a community is at the foundation of sustained activism. The Ruby is a work and gathering space for women-identifying and nonbinary folks in the Bay Area. Children are welcome as long as they are supervised.
Do Something Dinners will be open to suggestions for specific actions (send them our way!), and may feature rotating guests. We will be addressing immediate political concerns with action and engagement. While these dinners will not require anyone commit to a certain political stance, all actions will be centered around creating equality for all peoples, and dismantling systems of oppression. While no political affiliation is required, these dinners are centered around resisting and dismantling white supremacy, the patriarchy, misogyny, homophobia/transphobia, attacks on religious and ethnic communities, etc. Hate speech of any kind will not be tolerated. We will be resisting many of this current administration’s policies, so be forewarned.
No experience of being politically active? Overwhelmed by all there is to be done? Not sure where to begin? No worries, these dinners are for you. We’ll provide info about the issues and actions you can take, whether it’s calling your reps, writing letter to elected officials, or organizing online or IRL. Join us, and bring your friends!
Suggestions for specific actions? Email us at staff@therubysf.com with the subject line “Do Something Dinners.”