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@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.