Academy Park Free Academy

[Albanius]

Sundays Gen Assembly agreed to my proposal to set the time slot beginning 4:00PM (weekdays) for organized presentations and discussions at the encampment, under the title Academy Park Free Academy.
Weekday GAs are scheduled to start at 5:30 PM; weekend GAs will be starting at 3:00 PM from now on. We have not yet set a time for education programs on weekends.

This is a different component from "Community Teach-ins" as initially proposed by Shanna, which are intended to go out into the community using Freirean participatory education techniques, theater of the oppressed etc. Amanda, aka nutella here, is coordinating that work.
As it develops we will set up a separate board for the education programs at the encampment.

In consultation with Mike and others in the sub-group, we proposed two types of education: Skill Sharing and Social Change.
The list of topics below is preliminary, more ideas are very welcome.

SKILL SHARING, with discussions led both by OA members and outside friends with skills to share.
we hope to begin this maybe Tuesday with a program on
nonviolent conflict resolution as soon as that work group is ready to lead a training,
and an open ended range of other topics: some ideas include
Be The Media, with Indy Media Center,
Cooperatives with Honest Weight Food Coop
Bicycle Maintenance, with Troy Bike Rescue
transition to sustainable living with Transition Network, etc.

SOCIAL CHANGE education, again with discussion leaders both from among ourselves and outside friends.
Some ideas include
hydro-fracking, the hottest environmental issue in NYS, with Siobhan Burke, an anti-fracking leader who helped facilitate Sunday's GA;
Community Land Trusts, with Roger Markovics (Fri 10/28)
Millionaires tax, with somone from the coalition that helped enact the NY State temporary top bracket, fighting now to extend it;
History of Social Movements, with History Prof Larry Wittner of SUNY, also an important peace and labor activist;
Community Organizing, maybe with A Village;
Africana Studies someone from African Dept at SUNY;
Save SUNY, with activists from Save SUNY;
Public Transit (I have some potential presenters in mind, need to ask them)
Energy/Climate, with someone from Bill McKibben's 350.org;
Economic Justice, with Prof Janet Spitz of St Rose, who participated in our GA on Saturday
....

There will be enough topics to keep us going for months;
suggestions/requests for speakers and topics are very welcome;
please post on this thread.

[madskeptic]

I proposed an "Ask an Atheist" in the teach-in thread. I don't know if it could be considered here.

[hz]

I have contact for reporter from fox23 who would like to come down and do a teach-in about how to talk to media. : )


message me for info.

-Hezzie

[davehochfelder]

I could contribute something on the history of corporate personhood.

I'd also be happy to talk about the Transition movement (www.transitionus.org).

[shage]

At some point in the near future I would like to organize a class on psychology and social sciences. I have a whole series of critiques to go through that can also suggest particular individual and collective actions. I also want to start a dialogue on how we can reinvigorate social research for the era of occupations.

[oehlda2000]

There are a few potential volunteers and helpers who are requesting a teach-in or informational meeting on how banks are ripping off customers and how Lobbyists are used by companies to influence government.

"hello,

"I am interested in getting more information on this because i think
you have good things to say...the bank fees and being able to afford
lobbyists. is there an informational meeting i could attend?"

[Albanius]

Nov 8, 2011 9:39:26 GMT -5 oehlda2000 said:

... requesting a teach-in or informational meeting on how banks are ripping off customers and how Lobbyists are used by companies to influence government.

Good suggestion!
Ripoffs and other abuses by banks is an excellent teachin topic; undue influence by corporate lobbyists is another important topic, but different.

I will try to find good discussion leaders on both topics, maybe in a week or two - I will mostly be away through Sunday.

[luigimorelli]

Hey folks

just wanted to let you know that I am trying to post info about a new working group loosely called "Honoring our Differences" and that it will address conflict resolution. I am a Nonviolent Communication facilitator and mediator and one of the first things I plan to offer for the group is a basic training.

Luigi