The "Cleveland NEMA" planning group would like to focus discussions at the upcoming conference on two related topics: community organizing, and problems of racism within the anti-authoritarian/anti-capitalist movement. With the first, we feel that community organizing is an important component in a strategy for building an anti-capitalist revolution which needs doesn't get as much attention as tactics like mass actions. The latter topic is put forward because current discussion about how racism is limiting the movement and excluding people of color is insufficient.

We're hoping to have a diversity of workshops and activities at NEMA Cleveland; we're putting these themes forward in order to ensure that there's some cohesive dialog throughout the weekend, and because folks in Cleveland would really like to learn about what other groups are doing and discuss tactics and experiences.

The description of the Cleveland conference will develop as we plan more workshops and discuss how to approach these themes effectively. Any input will be cherished.

Bring a bike for the haunted rides, bring your helmet and light, and bring your worst nightmare!!!  If you can't bring a bike, a good number of loaners will be available.
There will be room for tabling, you are very invited to bring information about your groups, and especialy invited to print out and bring articles you like on the NEMA Cleveland workshop topics: Community organizing, and the problems of racism within anti-authoritarian/anti-capitalist movement.

Schedule

    Friday Oct 29 (at Asterisk Galleries)
  • Check-in starts at 4pm EST at Asterisk Galleries (map/directions), and continues until the Lost Film Fest is over (around midnight). At check-in you can pick up your welcome packet, get a housing assignment, and get info on loaner bikes. If you arrive afterwards, you can call 216-308-1612 or 216-402-4994 or just stop by the Rotten Veggies house (map/directions).
  • 6pm-8pm Cleveland Critical Mass, starting at Public Square (in front of the Terminal Tower)
  • 9pm-1am Lost Film Fest & Potluck at Asterisk Galleries (map/directions)
    Saturday Oct 30 (at the GLBTQ Center) (map/directions)
  • 10am-10:50am inter-constantinople breakfast & welcome
  • 11am-12:30pm Workshops
    • Community-Organizing Workshop
    • [tentative] History of Radicalism/Anarchism in Cleveland
  • 12:30pm-2pm lunch, intro to NEMA and reportbacks from working groups
  • 2pm-2:30pm Yoga and Smoking
  • 2:45pm-3:45pm Screening selections from Color of Fear
  • 3:45pm-4:45pm Small-group discussions of movie
  • We need to be out of the Center by 5:30!
  • Later that night...
  • 7pm-9pm WorkshopWorkshop, Guerilla Workshops
  • 9pm-?? NEMA Dance Party
  • 7pm-?? Haunted Bike Co-Op Ride and Party (costs $$)
    Sunday Oct 31 (at CWRU and houses)
  • 9am-10:30am breakfasts with justice
  • 10:45am-1:45pm Projects/Ideas/Resources Go-Around
  • 2pm-4pm lunch break and A31 report-back
  • 4:10pm-5:40pm Workshop: Grassroots Pro-Choice Activism in Your Area AND YOU!
  • 4:30pm-6pm Food Not Bombs sharing in downtown Cleveland, with a movie!
  • 7pm-9pm Scary Bike Ride ending at the 9pm Halloween-or-bust Party at Uma's Place