Bi-Monthly Film Series: The Business of Being Born

The Easide Café Health Collective & Freedom Schools - Los Angeles Present:

"The Business of Being Born"

Birth is a miracle, a rite of passage, a natural part of life. But birth is also big business.

Compelled to explore the subject after the delivery of her first child, actress Ricki Lake recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to question the way American women have babies.

The film interlaces intimate birth stories with surprising historical, political and scientific insights and shocking statistics about the current maternity care system. When director Epstein discovers she is pregnant during the making of the film, the journey becomes even more personal.

Should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potentially catastrophic medical emergency?

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Date: October 8, 2010

Time: 7pm-9pm (Film will be followed by a discussion)

Location: Eastside Café, 5469 Huntington Dr N, Los Angeles, CA

$3 Suggested Donation (No one will be turned away for lack of funds)

Snacks will be provided.

This film is part of an ongoing series of film/discussion events taking place at Eastside Café every other Friday. Next film event will take place on Friday, October 22, 2010.

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Freedom Schools L.A. Fall Planning Meeting and Picnic - Sunday, Sept. 26

Dear FSLA Family,

After such an an amazing summer experience of intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth and the collectivity demonstrated by our FSLA family, why would we want this to end?

The simple answer is: WE DON'T!

After a month of rest, it is now time to get to work and begin planning our fall session. So let's do this!

Some possible topics to be discussed:

- The structure of FSLA for the Fall session

- Immediately addressing changing conditions in our communities and recent events that require our attention and action

- The types of classes to be offered and their regularity

- Outreaching to new communities

- Formation of a Solidarity Action Committee and planning of an action

- Establishing further solidarity with other organizations

- Coordinating actions with other organizations

- Any other issues that needs to be addressed...

Please, think of any other topic that should be discussed during the meeting. Gather your thoughts and share!

Bring whomever wants to participate in generating change. Let's continue building community and solidarity. If you come late, it doesn't matter, just come! There will be plenty of work for everyone!

Date: Sunday, September 26, 2010

Time: 11:00am-2:00pm

Location: Sycamore Grove Park

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Our planning meeting is now a picnic, so be sure to bring all manner of goodies and refreshment!

TRANSPORTATION:

The closest MTA Gold Line Station is SOUTHWEST MUSEUM STATION. Please see the map below:

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Freedom Schools LA Interviewd on KPFK's "Soul Rebel Radio!"

On Tuesday, August 17, Alicia Vargas from Soul Rebel Radio on KPFK FM 90.7 interviewed many of our Freedom Schools LA family to retrieve stories regarding our movement's origins and our plans for the future. Have a listen and support our new friends at KPFK. 

Click there to listen to broadcast. Enjoy!

FSLA South Central Farmers

Viva la Vida! Juicing Workshop

FSLA Potluck, Fundraiser, & Celebration - 7/21/2010

Partial FSLA Family Portraits - Summer 2010

Freedom Schools LA Potluck, Fundraiser, & Celebration

To celebrate the first Freedom Schools session & all the wonderful folk who participated in ALL capacities, we will be having a two-part extravaganza!

At 6pm we will be having a veggie friendly potluck style dinner party with a suggested donation of $5 (no one will be turned away for lack of funds). We will also be raffling off some goodies. Oh and the dinner is a kid friendly event so bring your families!

At 9pm we will be switching it up to party hard & really celebrate all of our efforts, learning & growth. Kegs will be on hand with a donation of $5 for an all you can drink cup =). We will be jamming to the sounds of old school hip-hop with live DJ (Thanks Drew & Co.!).

Look forward to partying hard with everyone to celebrate this first of many Freedom School's sessions.

High school valedictorian lets the school system have it.

High school valedictorian lets the school system have it. Her speech resonates with many of the reasons why we created FSLA. 

Full speech text can be found here: http://www.lewrockwell.com/pr/valedictorian-against-schooling.html

The Radical Legacy of Black and Chicana Feminism EXTENDED!

The Radical Legacy of Black and Chicana Feminism EXTENDED!

That's right, two days was simply NOT ENOUGH to discuss Chicana and Black Feminism! So FSLA and Radical Women and all our participants have agreed to extend the class by one more session.

The present fight to save public education and social services in California has been largely organized and led by women of color. This is why this class will be dedicated to highlight the hidden history of Black and Chicana feminism. We will cover the legacy of Black feminism in the Civil Rights Movement and Chicana feminism in the Chicana/o Movement. The goal of this class is to have lively discussions on working class women of color feminist theory and activism, obstacles in overcoming resistance to feminism, and examine how feminism relates to race, class, and sexuality struggles. We will develop strategies to confront sexism as well as draw out the lessons learned in this history for the present Civil Rights battles (education, immigration, LGBT, workers, abortion, etc.)! and for the liberation of all people!! All genders are welcome.

Facilitator(s): Yuisa Gimeno & Beatriz Paez

Date: Monday, August 16, 2010

Time: 6:30pm

Where: Solidarity Hall, 2170 W. Washington Bl. Los Angeles, CA

TODAY, Friday August 13 - Last Day for these classes! Come and Support!

Last Class Sessions! The following classes will have their last class sessions today:

An Interactive Walking Geography of Los Angeles

Today's topic: This Hybrid Existence.... "Awakening an Inner Geo- Narrative With Land: Discussions and (inner/external) Visions of Our Experiences With Earth." Please come and participate in discourse making as we create new ways to talk about geographical thought.

Facilitator: Eva Ríos-Alvarado
Date: Friday, August 13, 2010
Time: 2:00pm
Location:  Tierra de la Culebra, 240 South Avenue 57, Los Angeles, CA

Chess and Ethnobotany

Today's Topic: We will peruse the fascinating history of Chess and Ethnobotany finding such beautiful parallel junctions in Indian Betel nut use, neurotransmitters, the elephant piece and knight patterns. We may collaborate with a local chess club and/or have a casual tournament if people are interested. It should be open to any and all levels and interests, the trajectory been gained from feedback during the 1st class

Facilitator: Miguel Olivares
Date: Friday, August 13, 2010
Time: 6:00pm
Location:  Eastside Café, 5469 Huntington Dr North, Los Angeles CA

ATTENTION: South Central Farmers TONIGHT, AUGUST 5, 2010 @ 7PM!

IMPORTANT NEWS: TONIGHT, The "Browning and Yellowing of Whiteness" and "Communities in Resistance" will come together welcome a special presentation by THE SOUTH CENTRAL FARMERS! 

Date: Thursday, August 5, 2010

Time: 7PM

Place: Tierra de la Culebra, 

          240 S. Avenue 53

          Los Angeles, CA 90042.

Come out and support!

New Workshop: The Radical Legacy of Black and Chicana Feminism

Radical Women, LA Branch & Freedom Schools - Los Angeles Present:

The Radical Legacy of Black and Chicana Feminism

The present fight to save public education and social services in California has been largely organized and led by women of color. This is why this class will be dedicated to highlight the hidden history of Black and Chicana feminism. We will cover the legacy of Black feminism in the Civil Rights Movement and Chicana feminism in the Chicana/o Movement. The goal of this class is to have lively discussions on working class women of color feminist theory and activism, obstacles in overcoming resistance to feminism, and examine how feminism relates to race, class, and sexuality struggles. We will develop strategies to confront sexism as well as draw out the lessons learned in this history for the present Civil Rights battles (education, immigration, LGBT, workers, abortion, etc.)! and for the liberation of all people!! All genders are welcome.

Facilitator(s): Yuisa Gimeno & Beatriz Paez

Organization: Radical Women, Los Angeles Branch

Date(s): Monday August 9 & Wednesday August 11

Time(s): 6:30-8:30pm

Location: Solidarity Hall, 2170 W. Washington Bl., Los Angeles, CA 90018

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CLASS REMINDER: WEDNESDAY AUGUST 4 - WOMEN AND REVOLUTION

Tonight's topic: Feminism and All Its Branches. What is Feminism? Can men be feminists? How is Feminism Essential to a Revolution? Come and discuss!

Date: Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Time:  7:00pm-8:30pm
Place: Tierra de la Culebra, 240 S. Avenue 57, Los Angeles, CA

REMINDER: Art Class Today - Make Your Own Musical Instrument!

CLASS REMINDER: WEDNESDAY AUGUST 4 - ART SERIES

Come to Make Your Own Musical Instrument!
(if you come, feel free to bring any kind of containers, beans, rice, beads, buckets, big coffee cans, and generally anything that you can clank on or shake) 

Date: Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Time:  5:00pm-7:00pm
Place: Tierra de la Culebra, 240 S. Avenue 57, Los Angeles, CA

Freedom Schools LA - Fundraiser!

The Freedom Schools - Los Angeles Family

Women in Revolution Canceled for Monday, July 19th.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Women in Revolution has been CANCELED for MONDAY, JULY 19th, 2010. The class will resume on Wednesday, JULY 21st, 2010.

Class "Into the Wild" Has Been Postponed.

ATTENTION:

July 13, 2010

Due to unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances, the class "Into the Wild" has been postponed until further notice. We will notify you immediately if and when the class will resume. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we promise that we will work hard to make this class possible. Thank you.

- Freedom Schools L.A.

New Workshop!

NEW WORKSHOP!

“Viva la vida” Do-it-Yourself Juicing, Sprouting and Fermenting Organic Veggies

This is a hands-on workshop where we will share the basics of juicing, sprouting and fermenting.

Facilitator(s): Sirena Pellarolo ( sirenapellarolo@gmail.com)

Date(s): Friday, July 30, 2010

Time(s): 6-8pm

Location: Eastside Café

Freedom Schools L.A. Fundraiser and Potluck!

This coming Sunday, July 11, we will be hosting a fundraiser & potluck at La Tierra de la Culebra. Come out and enjoy:

- Lots of Food! (Vegetarian Friendly)

- Music & Dancing!

- Raffle

- Face Painting

- and much more!

$5.00 Suggested Donation

(No one will be turned away for lack of funds)

All proceeds go toward Freedom Schools - Los Angeles.

Come out and have a good time in the company of friends and compañer@s, a while you're at it, help us out schools get the materials we need!

Please download our full page flyer, ideal of posting on bulletin boards HERE.

For hand to hand distribution, please download our four in one flyer HERE.

If you are unable to make it out on Sunday, but would still like to help, please follow the link below and make a donation. Any amount is appreciated!

We need your help!

A Message from the Organizers of Freedom Schools - Los Angeles:

Greetings to all,

We would first like to take the opportunity to thank all of our comrades, compañer@s, friends, family, partners, and the community for their support in getting this project off the ground and making it happen.


July 12, our official start date is fast approaching, and while we are sure that we will be successful in creating an alternative educational space that is progressive, diverse, inclusive and honors the beauty of learning, we unfortunately still operate within a system where resources are limited to us.

While none of the over thirty organizers and facilitators who have dedicated their time and energy into this movement are receiving any monetary compensation, we are in need of school related materials, art supplies, and funds for copying and transportation costs.


We once again call upon our community to help us get the materials and funds we need. 


If you can donate school or art supplies, or any other educational materials, please contact our Resources Coordinator:


Mayra Jaimes 

mayrajaimes36@gmail.com

However, if you would like to make a direct contribution to our movement, please click on the link below. Any amount is appreciated! 

Thank you!

Student/Participant Registration Form

For all you good folks who are interested in attending our classes, please review the class schedule HERE.

Please take the time to fill out the Student/Participant Registration Form HERE to keep up to date on any changes to the schedule as well new class additions.

All classes are FREE of charge. Everyone is welcomed.


Let's make this happen!

Freedom Schools L.A. Summer 2010 Class Schedule IS OUT!

The schedule of classes for the Summer 2010 session is now available for review.

Please be advised that this is still a tentative schedule as new classes are still being added. Facilitators, locations, and class times are subject to change.

 

The online version of the class schedule can be viewed by clicking on the Summer 2010 Class Schedule link on the right-hand side of the page: ---------------------->

Or by simply clicking HERE.

You can also download a PDF version of the schedule in pamphlet form HERE.

Online version of Facilitator Class/Workshop Registration Form NOW AVAILABLE!

You can still download our registration form in Word document format HERE

OR

Take advantage of our online version of the same form. Simply look over to the right hand side of the screen, or alternatively, click HERE!

New Flyer is now Available!

New Flyer is now Available for download! Click HERE TO DOWNLOAD!

Freedom Schools - Los Angeles Planning Meeting #5

We need volunteers in the following areas:


Outreach - to high schools, colleges, community centers... we need students!

Fundraising - If you have experience and skills at raising funds, we need you!

Locations - If you know of a space, or you can provide one, please tell us!

Transportation - Help us get students and participants to their classes!

Resources - We'll need plenty of materials and resources for our classes. Help us get them!



Date: Thursday, June 24, 2010
Time: 6:30PM
Location: Tierra de la Culebra:
                  240 S. Avenue 57
                  Los Angeles CA




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Freedom Schools - Los Angeles Planning Meeting #4

After three incredible and enriching meetings, we're moving on ahead!

We're only a few weeks away from starting, so we need all the help that we can get.

We need volunteers in the following areas:

Outreach Committee - to high schools, colleges, community centers... we need students!

Fundraising - If you have experience and skills at raising funds, we need you!

Locations Committee - If you know of a space, or you can provide one, please tell us!

Transportation Committee - Help us get students and participants to their classes!

Resources Committee - We'll need plenty of materials and resources for our classes. Help us get them!

Date: Thursday, June 17, 2010

Time: 6:30PM

Location: Tierra de la Culebra:
                 240 S. Avenue 57
                 Los Angeles CA


NOTE: MTA GOLDLINE "Highland Park Station" IS JUST TWO BLOCKS AWAY!


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The Workshop/Class Registration Form is NOW AVAILABLE!

Hello all!

If you are interested in FACILITATING a workshop or class, please download the form below (Word format), fill it out, save it, and email it back to our main email address: freedomschoolsla@gmail.com.

Below is a short summary of our goals:

Freedom Schools – Los Angeles is an autonomous, grassroots movement organized by community members, students, and educators to address the educational needs of our community. Rather than supplement the shortcomings of public education, our goal is to create an alternative educational space that :

• Emphasizes learning over memorization
• Encourages critical thinking
• Honors the value of manual skills and labor
• Empowers participants to become active in their communities to struggle against social injustice.

We welcome any class or workshop that promotes these goals and are receptive to all methods of learning and teaching.

Download registration form HERE.

Download our Current Flyer (Printable) !

Download our current flyer and distribute it to whomever might interested in either facilitating a class or participating in one as a student!

Download the PDF file HERE

The Freedom Schools - Los Angeles Blog is now Active!

Hello all!

Our first home was on our Facebook page, and that will remain in place, but we have also created this blog in response to many you out there who are not on Facebook.

So with that out of the way, Welcome!

Please take the time to read our brief mission statement on right-hand side. We are presently at work on a much more in depth document which will better articulate the goals and philosophical principles of the school.

Since late April, we have been consistently meeting to theorize, discuss, and plan out how the schools will work. While our numbers have been increasing every week as more people find out about us, we obviously need all the help we can get. So drop on by and learn how how you can contribute to this movement. Details on the next meeting date, time, and location are forthcoming.

In solidarity.