OGCM - Oak Guild Institute

### Context Profile for OGCM - Oak Guild Institute

#### 1. Organization Mission & Cause
The Oak Guild Institute (OGI) is dedicated to fostering community engagement through cultural discussions and artistic expression. Their mission revolves around promoting understanding and dialogue about social justice issues, particularly those related to race and identity. OGI aims to create a space where diverse voices can share their stories and experiences, ultimately working towards a more inclusive society.

#### 2. Type of Activities
OGI organizes a variety of activities, including:
- **Salon Discussions**: Regular events that feature discussions on relevant cultural and social topics, often led by authors or experts in the field.
- **Book Signings**: Events like the "Double Play on the Red Line" book signing, which celebrate literary contributions that address themes of racial injustice and cultural barriers.
- **Community Programs**: Initiatives aimed at engaging the local community in meaningful conversations and artistic expressions.
- **Podcast Series**: Featuring interviews with authors and thought leaders, providing a platform for deeper exploration of discussed themes.

#### 3. Tone of Voice
The tone of OGI's communications is:
- **Friendly and Inviting**: The language used is approachable, encouraging participation and engagement from the community.
- **Inspiring**: Communications often highlight themes of hope and resilience, aiming to motivate individuals to engage with important social issues.
- **Informative**: The content is well-structured, providing clear information about events and discussions, while also fostering a sense of curiosity.

#### 4. Emoji Usage
The organization does not appear to use emojis in their communications. Their tone remains professional and straightforward, focusing on clarity and engagement without the use of informal elements like emojis.

#### 5. Key Facts
- **Founding Info**: Specific founding details were not available on the website.
- **Scale**: OGI has conducted 24 total forms and 19 email campaigns, indicating an active engagement with their audience.
- **Impact Metrics**: While specific metrics were not highlighted, the organization emphasizes community involvement and dialogue as key indicators of their impact.
- **Volunteer Info**: Information about volunteer opportunities was not explicitly mentioned on the website, suggesting a focus on organized events rather than a volunteer-driven model.

#### 6. Writing Guidelines
- **Clarity and Structure**: Use clear, concise language that is easy to understand. Organize content in a way that highlights key information (e.g., event details, themes).
- **Engagement Focus**: Write in a way that invites the audience to participate, ask questions, and engage with the content.
- **Emphasize Themes**: Highlight themes of social justice, cultural understanding, and community engagement in all communications.
- **Professionalism**: Maintain a professional tone that reflects the organization's mission while remaining friendly and inviting.

This context profile will assist AI assistants in generating personalized and relevant content for the Oak Guild Institute, aligning with their mission, tone, and community engagement strategies.

Event is free -- suggested donation $5.00 for non-members of OGI (you can opt in or out of fees to Zeffy).

You can become a member through 2025 by signing up here:
https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/6785c8da-11ba-4197-a4d2-8c63384c33ef.

Non-member

Member

In September 2023, we held a salon about the Russia-Ukraine conflict that was led by OGI member and Ukraine scholar Rich Beyer. At that time, the current conflict had been raging for 18 months, with the U.S. and the Biden administration strongly supporting Ukraine. Today, with the Trump Administration, the U.S. Policy toward Ukraine and the conflict is markedly different. The situation is still very fluid and changing almost daily, including at the time of this newsletter as a supposed agreement on mineral rights indicates that the U.S. still has some interest in supporting Ukraine. &nbsp; For our next salon, we will zoom out from the specific Ukraine-Russia conflict and evaluate the core principles behind our nation&rsquo;s foreign policy.&nbsp;For the last 50 years, from Carter and Reagan through Biden (with the first Trump term as an exception), America&rsquo;s policy, while not always explicit, was to use our global power to help spread democracy and democratic regimes. Trump 1.0 was more transactional in its dealings with foreign nations, and Trump 2.0, whether in Ukraine or with trade, has been even less value-based and more tit-for-tat and at times even expansionist, as President Trump claims to want to annex Greenland and Canada. We will be having two salons examining our political and economic foreign policy. The first one on May 17 will revolve around the questions: What principles should drive US foreign policy and posture? We&rsquo;ll look at the tension between America&rsquo;s values and transactional short-term interests, the balance between soft power, diplomacy, and military force, putting &ldquo;boots on the ground&rdquo; versus using automated and proxy forces, and whether we have a vested interest in expansion or not. The economic foreign policy salon in June will zero in on trade and tariffs! &nbsp;&nbsp; Below is a ChatGPT-generated&nbsp;summary of U.S. Foreign Policy over the years up to but not including Trump 2.0 and some suggested readings. &nbsp; Chat GPT Summary &nbsp; From its founding in 1776, U.S. foreign policy has evolved from cautious isolationism to global leadership. In its early years, the United States focused primarily on avoiding entanglements in European conflicts, as articulated in George Washington&rsquo;s Farewell Address and codified in the Monroe Doctrine (1823), which warned European powers against interference in the Western Hemisphere. The 19th century was also marked by expansionist policies such as Manifest Destiny and conflicts like the Mexican-American War, through which the U.S. asserted its growing regional power. The 20th century ushered in a dramatic shift as the U.S. emerged as a major global actor. After initially resisting involvement in both world wars, America&rsquo;s decisive role in World War II cemented its status as a superpower. The Cold War then defined U.S. foreign policy for nearly half a century, focusing on containing Soviet communism through alliances like NATO, proxy wars, and economic influence. Following the Cold War, U.S. strategy pivoted toward promoting a liberal international order, confronting terrorism post-9/11, and managing complex relationships with emerging powers like China and resurgent ones like Russia. Today, U.S. foreign policy is shaped by a more multipolar world. Challenges include navigating great power competition, addressing global threats like climate change and cybersecurity, and redefining America&rsquo;s role amid calls for restraint and recalibration. While some advocate for a return to realist priorities, others emphasize a values-based approach centered on democracy and human rights. The tension between interventionism and retrenchment continues to influence the direction of American engagement abroad. &nbsp; Suggested Readings: Wikipedia: &quot;<a data-cke-saved-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_policy_of_the_United_States#:~:text=The%20main%20trend%20regarding%20the,War%20in%20the%2020th%20century" fr-original-style="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_policy_of_the_United_States#:~:text=The%20main%20trend%20regarding%20the,War%20in%20the%2020th%20century" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Foreign policy of the United States</a>,&quot; &quot;<a data-cke-saved-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_foreign_policy" fr-original-style="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_foreign_policy" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">History of the United States foreign policy</a>,&quot; and &quot;<a data-cke-saved-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War" fr-original-style="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Cold War</a>.&quot; Lumen Learning:&nbsp;<a data-cke-saved-href="https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-ushistory1ay/chapter/the-monroe-doctrine-and-manifest-destiny/" fr-original-style="" href="https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-ushistory1ay/chapter/the-monroe-doctrine-and-manifest-destiny/" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">The Monroe Doctrine and Manifest Destiny</a>. Miller Center at University of Virginia:&nbsp;<a data-cke-saved-href="https://millercenter.org/president/roosevelt/foreign-affairs" fr-original-style="" href="https://millercenter.org/president/roosevelt/foreign-affairs" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Theodore Roosevelt: Foreign affairs</a>. U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian: <a data-cke-saved-href="https://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/monroe" fr-original-style="" href="https://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/monroe" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Monroe Doctrine, 1823</a> and&nbsp;<a data-cke-saved-href="https://history.state.gov/milestones/1914-1920/wwi" fr-original-style="" href="https://history.state.gov/milestones/1914-1920/wwi" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">U.S. entry into World War I, 1917</a>.

Hi <span data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name , Thank you for RSVPing to OGI&#39;s salon discussing America&#39;s foreign policy over the years. When: May 17th, 2:30-4:30pmWhere:<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.harryshofbrau.com/location/redwood-city/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">&nbsp;Harry&#39;s Hofbrau, Redwood City</a>, <a fr-original-style="" href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/4faTzTQovn5U5HZLA" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">1909 El Camino Real, Redwood City, CA 94063</a> If you have time, check out these pre-reads so we can have a richer discussion: Chat GPT Summary &nbsp; From its founding in 1776, U.S. foreign policy has evolved from cautious isolationism to global leadership. In its early years, the United States focused primarily on avoiding entanglements in European conflicts, as articulated in George Washington&rsquo;s Farewell Address and codified in the Monroe Doctrine (1823), which warned European powers against interference in the Western Hemisphere. The 19th century was also marked by expansionist policies such as Manifest Destiny and conflicts like the Mexican-American War, through which the U.S. asserted its growing regional power. The 20th century ushered in a dramatic shift as the U.S. emerged as a major global actor. After initially resisting involvement in both world wars, America&rsquo;s decisive role in World War II cemented its status as a superpower. The Cold War then defined U.S. foreign policy for nearly half a century, focusing on containing Soviet communism through alliances like NATO, proxy wars, and economic influence. Following the Cold War, U.S. strategy pivoted toward promoting a liberal international order, confronting terrorism post-9/11, and managing complex relationships with emerging powers like China and resurgent ones like Russia. Today, U.S. foreign policy is shaped by a more multipolar world. Challenges include navigating great power competition, addressing global threats like climate change and cybersecurity, and redefining America&rsquo;s role amid calls for restraint and recalibration. While some advocate for a return to realist priorities, others emphasize a values-based approach centered on democracy and human rights. The tension between interventionism and retrenchment continues to influence the direction of American engagement abroad. &nbsp; Wikipedia: &quot;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_policy_of_the_United_States#:~:text=The%20main%20trend%20regarding%20the,War%20in%20the%2020th%20century" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Foreign policy of the United States</a>,&quot; &quot;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_foreign_policy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">History of the United States foreign policy</a>,&quot; and &quot;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Cold War.</a>&quot; Lumen Learning: &quot;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-ushistory1ay/chapter/the-monroe-doctrine-and-manifest-destiny/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">The Monroe Doctrine and Manifest Destiny</a>.&quot; Miller Center at University of Virginia: &quot;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://millercenter.org/president/roosevelt/foreign-affairs" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Theodore Roosevelt: Foreign affairs</a>.&quot; U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian: &quot;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/monroe" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Monroe Doctrine, 1823</a>&quot; and &quot;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://history.state.gov/milestones/1914-1920/wwi" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">U.S. entry into World War I, 1917</a>.&quot; We look forward to seeing you there. Best,Oak Guildteam@oakguild.org

In September 2023, we held a salon about the Russia-Ukraine conflict that was led by OGI member and Ukraine scholar Rich Beyer. At that time, the current conflict had been raging for 18 months, with the U.S. and the Biden administration strongly supporting Ukraine. Today, with the Trump Administration, the U.S. Policy toward Ukraine and the conflict is markedly different. The situation is still very fluid and changing almost daily, including at the time of this newsletter as a supposed agreement on mineral rights indicates that the U.S. still has some interest in supporting Ukraine.   For our next salon, we will zoom out from the specific Ukraine-Russia conflict and evaluate the core principles behind our nation’s foreign policy. For the last 50 years, from Carter and Reagan through Biden (with the first Trump term as an exception), America’s policy, while not always explicit, was to use our global power to help spread democracy and democratic regimes. Trump 1.0 was more transactional in its dealings with foreign nations, and Trump 2.0, whether in Ukraine or with trade, has been even less value-based and more tit-for-tat and at times even expansionist, as President Trump claims to want to annex Greenland and Canada. We will be having two salons examining our political and economic foreign policy. The first one on May 17 will revolve around the questions: What principles should drive US foreign policy and posture? We’ll look at the tension between America’s values and transactional short-term interests, the balance between soft power, diplomacy, and military force, putting “boots on the ground” versus using automated and proxy forces, and whether we have a vested interest in expansion or not. The economic foreign policy salon in June will zero in on trade and tariffs!    Below is a ChatGPT-generated summary of U.S. Foreign Policy over the years up to but not including Trump 2.0 and some suggested readings.   Chat GPT Summary   From its founding in 1776, U.S. foreign policy has evolved from cautious isolationism to global leadership. In its early years, the United States focused primarily on avoiding entanglements in European conflicts, as articulated in George Washington’s Farewell Address and codified in the Monroe Doctrine (1823), which warned European powers against interference in the Western Hemisphere. The 19th century was also marked by expansionist policies such as Manifest Destiny and conflicts like the Mexican-American War, through which the U.S. asserted its growing regional power. The 20th century ushered in a dramatic shift as the U.S. emerged as a major global actor. After initially resisting involvement in both world wars, America’s decisive role in World War II cemented its status as a superpower. The Cold War then defined U.S. foreign policy for nearly half a century, focusing on containing Soviet communism through alliances like NATO, proxy wars, and economic influence. Following the Cold War, U.S. strategy pivoted toward promoting a liberal international order, confronting terrorism post-9/11, and managing complex relationships with emerging powers like China and resurgent ones like Russia. Today, U.S. foreign policy is shaped by a more multipolar world. Challenges include navigating great power competition, addressing global threats like climate change and cybersecurity, and redefining America’s role amid calls for restraint and recalibration. While some advocate for a return to realist priorities, others emphasize a values-based approach centered on democracy and human rights. The tension between interventionism and retrenchment continues to influence the direction of American engagement abroad.   Suggested Readings: Wikipedia: "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_policy_of_the_United_States#:~:text=The%20main%20trend%20regarding%20the,War%20in%20the%2020th%20century" target="_blank">Foreign policy of the United States</a>," "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_foreign_policy" target="_blank">History of the United States foreign policy</a>," and "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War" target="_blank">Cold War</a>." Lumen Learning: <a href="https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-ushistory1ay/chapter/the-monroe-doctrine-and-manifest-destiny/" target="_blank">The Monroe Doctrine and Manifest Destiny</a>. Miller Center at University of Virginia: <a href="https://millercenter.org/president/roosevelt/foreign-affairs" target="_blank">Theodore Roosevelt: Foreign affairs</a>. U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian: <a href="https://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/monroe" target="_blank">Monroe Doctrine, 1823</a> and <a href="https://history.state.gov/milestones/1914-1920/wwi" target="_blank">U.S. entry into World War I, 1917</a>.

OGCM - Oak Guild Institute

May 17 Salon: US Foreign Policy, Posture and Principles Over the Years

SF Bay Area - Peninsula (Address to be sent later)

Non-member

Free

Member

Free

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