A-Infos (en) US, Hartford, CT. Report Back on the "Spotlight On Anarchism" Conference by Hog River Collective

The Organizing Committee for November 8th's "Spotlight on Anarchism" conference in Hartford, CT was 
comprised mostly of Hog River Collective members (with the important addition of SDS organizer, 
M(A)tt--thank you, Matt!). This is a collective report back on what we (Hog River) thought were 
some of the strengths of the effort as well as ways we might improve upon it. It is our hope that 
other anti-authoritarians can use some of our reflections when planning similar events.
Thank You! ---- First and foremost, before we get into the actual event, it is important to note 
that nothing like this exists without the help (mutual aid?) of many different individuals and 
groups. We would like to publicly thank Queers without Borders, NEFAC (Northeastern Federation of 
Anarchist-Communists), the WSA (Worker's Solidarity Alliance), NEAN (Northeast Anarchist Network), 
the Hartford Independent Media Collective, western Massachusetts Cop Watch, New Britain and 
Hartford Food not Bombs, the Wrench in the Works Collective, the Lucy Parson's Center, Elm City 
Infoshop, CT TransAdvocacy and any other contributing group we may have neglected to mention for 
their tabling, help, and cooperation. Further, we would like to publicly extend our heartfelt 
thanks to all of the individual panelists for providing us with your time and insights. Without 
these groups and individuals the event would not have happened, much less provided the space for 
the critical exchanges that took place.

Background

This conference was the last event scheduled in our "Spotlight" series. It lasted from noon until 
about midnight that night. First, we had panel discussions on racism, anarcha-feminism, a radical 
queer panel from Queers without Borders, anarchism and Marxism, and student organizing for social 
justice. Next, we ate dinner together then watched a diverse group of musical performances.

Our own expectations for the event were to build solidarity with other local social justice 
activists within and on the outside of the anarchist milieu. Secondly, we wanted to connect with 
other anti-authoritarians in the region. Third, we wanted to have broader conversations about 
movements for social justice as well as highlight anarchist approaches to these issues. We were 
successful on all three counts, but have also learned important lessons for organizing similar 
future events.

Successes

Rather than focus solely on anarchists for panel discussions, we chose to ask community activists 
who were not anarchists to participate in their own areas of expertise as well. This strategy 
allowed us to make connections with other local activists and provided us with a diverse group on 
every panel. Every panel was racially diverse. Every panel but one was diverse in terms of sexual 
orientation. Every panel but one was diverse in terms of gender. This diversity was a direct result 
of organizing panelists from outside of our predominantly (but certainly not exclusively) white 
anarchist milieu here in Connecticut.

Secondly, this strategy for organization, only a month and a half after the conference, has already 
yielded results in terms of outreach. Some folks who had little or no understanding of anarchist 
politics went away with a better idea of what it is that we stand for and do. Other folks learned 
more about anarchist politics and developed an interest in learning more about anarchist theory and 
practice. Still others re-connected with radical politics after seeing so many people gathered to 
talk about various issues related to structured inequalities, recognizing their inter-relatedness, 
and articulating radical solutions that get to the roots of these social problems.

Thirdly, this event gave us all a chance to meet new comrades in the region as well as re-connect 
with others. Members of NEAN, NEFAC, and WSA that some of us were already connected with were 
there. We also met new comrades from areas as disbursed as Boston, New York City, and Providence. 
As well, providing childcare at the event was crucial for parents to be able to attend.

Finally, the panel discussions, being organized around social struggles, provided spaces for 
conversations about fighting hierarchy within AND outside of our movements. This allowed us to make 
connections between the social struggles that we fight for together and the internal struggles that 
all consistent radicals have fighting our own socialization in a world built on domination, 
coercion, and control. In addition, it gave those involved a chance to see non-hierarchical 
organization at work.

Issues to Address

In addition to the successes of the event, we feel there were issues that certainly could have been 
addressed and lessons to learn for organizing future events like this. Facilitation of panels 
should have been tighter. Some panelists spoke for too long, others began taking questions from the 
floor themselves, some meandered off-topic. In addition, with tighter facilitation, things would 
have been easier to keep on time. All of the panels ran late, taking away some of our time to 
socialize. In addition, panelists were separated from the general audience and all of the panels 
could have been more participatory.

Also, focusing solely on panels contributed to the room generally running out of steam by the end 
of the panels. In the future, mixing panel discussions with hands-on workshops would certainly help 
with burnout in group discussions. Further, small breaks between sessions could be made longer to 
give people a chance to settle into the next discussion. Panels also gave folks from a variety of 
perspectives to voice their opinions on various social struggles. Some of these perspectives made 
it all too clear that we have much work to do in terms of fighting patriarchal, heterosexist, and 
white supremacist assumptions within our various communities. As well, we could have organized 
back-up speakers for the panels in case anyone canceled. Doing this, we could have avoided the 
panel on "anarchism and Marxism" being solely occupied by anarchists (as our Marxist panelist 
canceled at the last minute).

Childcare was generally ghetto-ized from the rest of the event in a room in the basement. Only two 
organizers were responsible for childcare and more volunteers would have made it an easier task for 
all involved. Further, workshops could have been planned for the children rather than just leaving 
them in a room relying on the spur-of-the-moment imaginations of those in charge of childcare to 
keep them occupied--and, unfortunately, out of sight.

Concluding

Hindsight is always 20/20 and we hope that these reflections will help others organizing similar 
events. Again, thanks are due to everyone who participated in this event in whatever capacity they 
were able to. Many people made long drives to contribute and their aid did not go unnoticed. We 
need to be able to rely on one another to bring about social transformation. It was gratifying for 
us to see we could rely on so many of our comrades.

Yours in Solidarity,

The Hog River Collective
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