KICK OFF AUGUST IN SOCIAL JUSTICE STYLE BY VOLUNTEERING WITH OPIRG
For OPIRG August means planning and lots of it! We put on our brainstorming hats and start drawing up plans for the fall. This includes what events we want to hold, what campaigns we want to create or become a part of, creating workshops, and doing outreach within our community to see what opportunities exist for collaboration!
As you may know if you are a regular visitor to our site, we are a public interest group, which essentially means our communities guide the work that we do. That means YOU can direct the work we do!
If there is an issue you are passionate about and think we should create programming around it, or better yet if you want to work with us to create programming, workshops or campaigns let us know. We are always open to ideas and learning new ways of doing things.
Here are project we have on the go- we need volunteer help to either get them off the ground or to sustain them.If any of the following projects catch your eye send us an email at OPIRGBU@GMAIL.COM and let us know!
THE PROJECTS
Project 1: Getting Crafty: We're making an OPIRG radical calender!
This is a big project for August; Creating an OPIRG Calendar of Radical Events for 2010-2011!
The calender will be full of radical dates for every day of the year, space to write your phone numbers, a contact list of radical groups around the province, menstrual calendar, info on DIY projects, tips on sustainable living etc, extra note pages, plus much more.
If you want to get creative with DIY art, adbusting images for the calendar, or gathering radical dates that should be included, let us know we’d LOVE to hear from you!
We don’t think our scene is just an isolated bubble! Radical community spaces are popping up everywhere. You can help us by doing liaison work with rad communities in our region and getting them involved in our calender project!
Project 2: Looking for folks to start up a DIY Collective!
Wait- what’s this DIY thing all about?
The DIY ethic (do it yourself ethic) refers to the ethic of being self-reliant by completing tasks oneself as opposed to having others who are likely more experienced complete them. The term can indicate “doing” anything from home improvements and repairs to healthcare, from publication to electronics.
DIY questions the supposed uniqueness of the expert’s skills, and promotes the ability of the ordinary person to learn to do more than he or she thought was possible.
Interested?
Let’s craft a revolution! If you fancy yourself to be a DIY’er or are looking to learn how to silk screen and make patches, t-shirts , or grocery bags this is the collective for you!
Other possible projects:
-Turning recycled paper and old novel covers into funky notebooks!
- Painting murals in the InfoShop! Let’s showcase our artistic talents Niagara!
-making our own furniture!
-we’re open to ideas!
We believe in being the creators of culture rather than consumers. We believe in promoting a just society that supports itself through mutual aid and without hierarchies. We believe in fighting against institutionalized oppression (racism, sexism, ageism/adultism, and homophobia), and we support environmental justice, animal rights, egalitarianism, and human rights.
Project 3: Orientation Week Planning
Dis-orientation is a week of workshops, discussions, tours and events brought to you by OPIRG.
Originally designed to generate awareness and provide an 'alternative' lens, this tradition has existed to engage new students, with not only the political struggles on campus, but also within the community, and the world at large.
A closer look at issues surrounding sexuality, gender, ability, race, student unions, environmental sustainability, polices and ethical purchasing, all comprise a portion of the exciting platter we can display during o-week. We hope you'll take this opportunity to learn and explore ideas with us!
What do you think? Come on out and brainstorm new engaging disorientation week events with us.
First meeting: This Thursday- July 29th at 6pm in the OPIRG InfoShop on 10 Summer St.
If you can’t make this meeting but you are interested in getting involved let me know and I will keep you up to date on the next meeting!
Project 4:FreeSkool Fall Classes CALL OUT!!
As our summer FreeSkool term wines down, we are looking forward to starting up our Fall term of freeskool, beginning in Sep 2010.
This means we are looking for eager facilitators!
Anyone can facilitate a class on any topic whether they have skills or want to meet up with people that have skills. Send an email to opirgbu@gmail.com to propose your idea.
