All work groups will maintain a standardized contact format: occupyrichmondva.workgroupname@gmail.com . The following workgroups are already in existence, and may have their own page on the website with time.  If you have trouble contacting one of these work groups, it is because it is primarily being organized on the ground.  Please contact occupyrichmond@gmail.com to get plugged in.

• Auxiliary: The Auxiliary Group is the webbing that keeps the Occupation together. They work as intermediaries between all the working groups. Auxiliary delivers messages between the groups, steps in to the different groups when an extra hand is needed and generally keeps the Occupation engine well-oiled. They have to be ready at all times. occupyrichmondva.auxiliary@gmail.com
• City Council Liaisons: One of the most direct ways to get the voice of Occupy Richmond through to the city government is to attend City Council Meetings. It would be impossible to fit everyone from Occupy Richmond in the meeting room’s pews, so the movement designates people to speak on Occupiers behalf. These approved City Council Liaisons are well-spoken and composed. They express Occupy’s sentiment with the goal of having a positive response.
• Comfort: It’s difficult to occupy a public park comfortably. The Comfort Group eases this. They supply an array of comfort staples including blankets, pillows, tents, water, warm clothes, and jackets. occupyrichmondva.comfort@gmail.com
• Action Work Group: Action is how things get done. Spreading the word is essential, but without being on the front line Occupy would remain Anonymous. The Action Work Group organizes protests, marches, vigils, gets people to come out to city council meetings, court hearings and other non-violent acts. In order for them to achieve social and ultimately revolutionary change, they must work with Media and Outreach to get the word out on the upcoming actions taking place. occupyrichmondva.action@gmail.com
• Facilitation: In order for a group as diverse as Occupy Richmond to accomplish anything, it needs the input of all participants; therefore we hold daily General Assemblies. G. A.’s require a 90% modified consensus for proposals to pass. The Facilitation Team leads the Occupation’s General Assembly meetings. Because the Occupy movement is a leaderless movement, Facilitation varies at each meeting and anyone can facilitate. They are given basic training on how to conduct the meeting calmly and efficiently. The Facilitation Team is comprised of a Moderator, who’s job it is to preside over the meeting; a stack keeper, who’s job it is count how many people are present and call on people who want to speak about the topic at hand; a temp check, who works to keep things flowing smoothly and also speaks on behalf of people who would rather not stand up in front of everyone; a scribe, who takes minutes on the meeting; and a time check, who keeps tabs on how long the meeting is going. occupyrichmondva.facilitation@gmail.com
• Finance: The Finance Committee takes monetary donations and disperses them aptly. This means if there’s a Working Group in need of supplies the Finance Committee can aid them. If a defender of the Movement is arrested, the Finance Committee will offer up the money necessary for bond. occupyrichmond.finance@gmail.com
• Kitchen and Food/Foraging: Food is delicious and without it we’d die. The Food Group ensures that we eat well and live to see the Occupation through to the end. It cooks three scrumptious meals a day, offers snacks, water, dessert and coffee. The Food Group works non-stop to keep everyone nourished. Providing food for 100s of people daily can be expensive. Luckily we have a Foraging Group to go out and retrieve food for free. This means using food stamps, harvesting from gardens and nature, and re-purposing salvage. This wing of the Food Group is how Occupy Richmond can have such a variety of good meals. occupyrichmondva.kitchen@gmail.com
• Legal: The Occupation Movement by default is on shaky legal grounds. The Legal Group is here to navigate the murkiness of the law and how it effects Occupy Richmond. They are in charge of recording the interactions between the police and demonstrators, and ensuring that police are held accountable for their actions. The Legal Team also ensures that constitutional rights are upheld by getting people legal aid and compiling evidence if there is litigation. A portion of the Legal Team are also trained National Lawyers Guild Observers. This branch of Legal is separate from the Occupation, while still present. They also observe protesters and lawmakers, but remain neutral and refrain from giving legal advise. occupyrichmondva.legal@gmail.com
• Library: The People’s Library is a beautiful concept. It’s the open, costless sharing of knowledge. Occupy Richmond has it’s own people’s library, Barns and Joeble. The name itself gives away what sets this library apart from others. Joebel stands for Just Ordinary Everybody Basic Library Establishment and that’s just what it is. The Library like other groups is only open when Occupy is in occupation. Barns and Joeble is organized like a book store by genres and includes zines, flyers and progressive newspapers. Unlike your run of the mill bookstore/ library, Barns and Joeble has it’s very own arts and crafts department. This is great for making signs, patches, puppets, whatever. Barns and Joeble is a comfortable, homey place with couches, tables and lamps. It’s a place where the person next to you isn’t going to hiss “Shhh”. It’s a place where you are welcome to pull out your guitar and play a tune. Barns and Joebel gives fresh new meaning to the words public library.
• Media: Media has the vital duty to broadcast notable happenings, keep everyone updated and inform people not at the Occupation as to what the heck is going on. That’s a non-stop job. These committed workers toil all night and all day, to deliver a fair and honest representation of the Movement. Since the mainstream media fails to report accurately, the Occupy Media Group sets the record straight. The Media Group is Occupy Richmond’s voice to the outside world. occupyrichmondva.media@gmail.com
• Medical: The Medical Group serves to *drum roll* give medical aid. Their job is to act as first responders until an ambulance arrives. The group is comprised of EMT’s, nurses, medical students and medical enthusiasts. This imperative work group is of course more active when there is an occupation. While occupation is not in session, the group focuses more on workshops and preparing people for reoccupation. This means getting people up to speed if there is a police raid or informing everyone on how to prepare for the cold winter ahead. occupyrichmondva.medical@gmail.com
• Outreach/Education: The purpose of Outreach and Education is to inform those outside of the Occupation and help them realize it’s pertinence to the vast majority of the population. These two working groups are umbrellaed under the same group, because they rely on each other. Outreach extends itself to a wider section of the population by canvassing, leafleting, engaging passersby and generally spreading the word. Education has similar duties, but also offers lectures and informational seminars. Together these groups spread awareness of the injustices we’re fighting against. occupyrichmondva.outreach@gmail.com
• Peace Keepers: Peace Keepers are the Occupy Richmond’s defense team against conflict. They’re here to protect and defend our Movement family. They aren’t paid off to defend biased laws. They do this because they care and want to ensure that everyone is kept safe.
• Police Liaisons: Occupy Richmond faces police intervention and harassment around the clock. The Movement needs people to deal with the cops in these situations. The Police Liaisons act as a calm assertive voice for the Occupation when directly addressing the RPD. They also help alleviate uncertainty during police confrontation.
• Safer Spaces: Occupying a public space with a bunch of unfamiliar people on the quest to social justice, can be stressful. Luckily there’s safer spaces! They’re here to alleviate emotional discomfort. If you find someone with a heart on their arm band, then you’ve found a safe person to speak to. occupyrichmondva.safespaces@gmail.com
• Sanitation: The Sanitation crew makes it their mission to keep the Occupation and it’s inhabitants as clean as possible. They supply toilet paper, tissues, wipes, rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, garbage bags, the works. This vital work group cleans the port-o-potties (provided we have them), comes up with alternate options for personal relief when we don’t, “takes out the trash,” and goes around and hand cleans the park. occupyrichmondva.sanitation@gmail.com
• Transportation: Transportation provides those unable to get to or from Occupation a ride. They also offer supply runs.
• Special Events: We facilitate coordination between work groups to put on public events that promote the Occupy agenda. occupyrichmondva.specialevents@gmail.com