Though there are, according to most accounts, as many as three-dozen political, social, and faith activist groups in the Rochester area, some say the groups have traditionally had difficulty working together.

Leaders from several of Rochester's activist groups hope to change that, and they have organized a special meeting to find common ground. The event is being called the "Rochester Activist Summit: Solidarity in Struggle."

"There are so many people working on their little brick in the wall," says Rochester Indymedia's Ben Dean-kawamura, one of the event's organizers. "It would be so much more effective if we worked together."

Mayor Bob Duffy's proposal to consolidate the city school district with city government, for example, is an excellent opportunity for cooperation, says Dean-kawamura.

"Mayoral control is a straight-up power grab for control of the district's budget," he says.

It's an issue, he says, that involves racism, classism, and education. Some activist groups have united in opposition of mayoral control, Dean-kawamura says. But more could be achieved with even greater unity.

Racism, sexism, and homophobia, as well as learning how different forms of oppression reinforce and co-facilitate each other are some of the concepts that what will be covered during the summit.

The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 6, at the Flying Squirrel Community Space, 285 Clarissa Street. It is free and open to the public through online registration at www.activistsummit.rocus.org.