Sharing our ideas with others on how to transform our community is taking a step closer to something. Sharing our skills is actualizing that transformation.
Sprout Anarchist Collective offers workshops as a way to increase anarchists’ collective knowledge base. We’re not experts, but we believe that by learning from each other, reflecting, and sharing our collective knowledge that we can build a stronger community. Lots of anarchists talk about their ideas, but few people talk about the nitty- gritty of how to actualize those ideas.
The bulk of these workshops come from first-hand experience some of us have had that we’re itchin’ to share. We’ve been involved in a number of different projects over the years ranging from organizing collectives to protests and campaigns. Obviously we can’t tell you exactly what to do (or not do), but we can offer some ideas and can have a mutually beneficial discussion on some of these exciting topics!
Consensus
Whether it’s planning an event (protest, festival, march, etc…) or a long term project (bicycle co-op, Food Not Bombs, community garden, radical bookstore, etc…), chances are, folks will be making decisions in some form. Making those decisions based on consensus can turn hierarchical pyramids filled with unequal power dynamics into smoother sailing, transparent, less oppressive, horizontally-organized events or collectives. This workshop will cover the basics on how to conduct a project more efficiently using formal and informal consensus methods, how to recognize oppression within a group and ways to dismantle it, provide ideas on how to empower others, and give practical examples of ways to have efficient meetings, distribute work evenly, and implement those decisions.
How To Organize A Protest
This workshop looks at the basics of organizing a protest. In this case, “protest” is means a march, rally, or picket. It covers the “how-to’s” of organizing including choosing a target, advertising, developing a focus, roles during a protest, deciding to work with the media, etc. It also includes a discussion of other tactics that fall outside of the traditional “protest” idea and when those may be more appropriate.
Menstrual Health
With half the human population menstruating it’s crazy the topic is rarely discussed. This workshop will expose the hidden dangers behind commercial “feminine products” and the corporations that produce them. Discover the menstrual industry’s role in the upbringing of women today and learn how to challenge the system that upholds it. We will discuss how we can take our bodies back, give support to each other, and learn how to create your own alternatives with reusable materials and herbs.
**Note: those who would like this workshop given should specify whether non-menstruating folks are welcomed or not. The workshop can be tailored to any crowd!
Working (or not working) With The Media
This workshop covers the basics of how the media operates, how working with the media (corporate and “independent”) can add to or detract from your organizing, and provides an overview of ideas for engaging (or not engaging) with the media. Participants will learn the basics of how to do a press release, how to develop talking points, etc. There is also time for discussing why working with the media shouldn’t be considered a given.
Health and Safety In The Streets
Taking charge of our health and safety goes hand-in-hand with our experiences in the streets. Our success in the streets hinges on our safety out there. This workshop will cover basic health and safety during large mobilizations to smaller actions locally. From protection against less lethal weapons (chemical irritants: tear gas, pepper spray), to minor injury treatment (heat exhaustion, eye flushes), to maneuvering with your affinity group in the streets. We’ll talk about what to wear (and not to wear) to a protest/action and how to arrive and exit the streets safely.