A-Infos (en) 3rd Annual Finding Our Roots - Call for Workshop proposals April 24-26 2009, Chicago

The theme of this year’s conference is SPACE. ---- Why and how is space important to anarchists, 
and so often central to our struggles? What do we mean when we talk about “anarchist space”? What 
different spaces have anarchists created and struggled to keep and maintain; how have these spaces 
functioned and thrived, or failed to do so? What kinds of anarchist spaces exist currently, and how 
are they serving anarchist community as well as contributing to larger struggles for liberation and 
against capitalism? Examples could include infoshops, multiuse spaces, housing collectives, squats, 
farms, gardens, parks, free schools, workers’ collectives, or any other space dedicated to radical 
purpose and used by anarchists as a focal point or staging ground of struggle.
How are anarchists involved in struggles around space, both within and beyond our community? What 
kinds of spaces exist (or attempt to) within larger radical spaces: Why, for instance, are queer 
space, women’s space, or space by and for people of color important; how do these and other 
marginalized/oppressed groups use space as part of their struggles and organizing?

How does space operate within the social landscape and the machinations of capitalism? How can 
anarchists support and join poor and disenfranchised peoples’ struggles around space, such as 
fights against gentrification and displacement?

Potential workshop topics include but are not limited to: Gentrification and anti-gentrification 
struggles, squatting, community, Europe’s autonomous radical communities and their role in popular 
uprisings (ie, the recent events in Greece), self-sustainability in urban or rural environments, 
decolonization and resisting the police state, the relationship of anarchists to 
anti-imperialist/nationalist struggles for autonomy, Queer space, safe space, space as a human 
right, the use of autonomous spaces by oppressed groups, “spiritual space” - anarchism and 
non-hierarchical spirituality, the history and practice of anarchist spaces, problems of unity vs. 
fragmentation within anarchist space, collective living, workers’ collectives and non-hierarchical 
workplaces, reclaiming the commons, democratizing/infiltrating media space, the “infoshop 
movement,” reclaiming corporate and governmental spaces, “anarchist space” and its intersection 
with other spaces of resistance.

Proposals should be NO MORE THAN ONE PAGE in length and should include:
Proposal deadline: March 15
Submit proposals to: findingourroots at riseup.net

1.Workshop title
2. Your name and contact info (and those of workshop presenter(s) if this isn't you – though please 
make sure you have confirmed with all presenters BEFORE you volunteer them)
3.Detailed workshop description, including an explanation of how your workshop fits into the 
conference theme
4. Questions to be posed/answered in the workshop
5. Main workshop goals
6. Workshop format (Will it be an open discussion? Panel/roundtable? Lecture followed by Q&A?)
7. BRIEF reading list [optional]
8. Any special materials or equipment (ex: audiovisual) you will need

Workshops are one hour and fifteen minutes (75 minutes) long. If you feel you need more time for 
your workshop, please explain why, and we will consider allotting a longer slot.



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The Research on Anarchism List (RA-L) is an international forum
which was started on January 1, 1996, and is devoted to book reviews,
research and discussion of the theories, histories and cultures of
world anarchist movements and to other topics related to anarchism.
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Our site: http://raforum.info/

MODERATORS/MODERADORS/MODERATEURS:
L. Susan Brown
John P. Clark
Ronald Creagh
Maryvonne Equy-Nicola
Annick Stevens
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