Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 12:12:30 -0400
From: Chuck0 <chuck-AT-mutualaid.org>
Subject: Support your local anarchist project. Support the Autonomous Zone


Support your local anarchist project. Support the Autonomous Zone in 
Chicago

(Anarchist Opinion)

Date: Sunday August 10 2003 -AT- 09:06AM PDT
Author: Reverend Chuck0 (chuck-AT-mutualaid.org)

Support your local anarchist project. Support the Autonomous Zone in Chicago

by Chuck0

As anarchists, radicals, and anti-capitalists, we have many different 
priorities pulling at us at all times. There may be a protest to 
organize. We may have to take care of our kids and spend more time at 
work. These are all understandable responsibilities that take us away 
from volunteering with local anarchist projects. What is more 
irresponsible is when we adopt an attitude towards our local projects 
that relies on apathy, hostility or hollow rationalizations for not 
being involved. Some of us get upset during some meeting and think that 
this excuses our withdrawal from the project. Others among us will adopt 
irrational excuses for withdrawing, such as "I can't do anything because 
of the Bush adminsitration and the Patriot Act." Others among us will 
take projects for granted, or, we may be so fresh to activism and the 
anarchist movement that we don't remember what it was like when the 
local infoshop or Critical Mass or IWW branch didn't exist. What worries 
me is that the excuses for not practicing our politics is going to mean 
that all of our hard work of building counter-institutions will go down 
the drain.

Many activists think that the time commitment required to support 
projects is just too much for them. They look at the more hardcore 
activists and think that they could never plunge into volunteering and 
activism full time like that. But the thing is, if more of us simply 
spent 4 hours a week helping out the local infoshop or other anarchist 
project, that would make a huge difference in that collectively all 
those small amounts of volunteering would add up. And if you think about 
it, very few of us are so busy that we can't dedicate 4 hours every week 
or every other week to volunteer work for local activist projects. Some 
of us may be juggling 3 jobs and/or have family responsibilities, but 
many of us DO have that time available. Could you work a four hour shift 
at the local infoshop? Volunteer every week to help with your local IWW 
branch? How about helping out the Food Not Bombs branch by helping them 
transport food. You can't be spending all of your time watching TV and 
recataloging your punk record collection!

It's extremely critical that if we are serious about changing the world 
in the near future, that we support our existing projects. These 
projects are critical towards building other projects and helping people 
do activism. If that radical space in your town closes down, where are 
you going to have meetings? If the local anarchist magazine goes in the 
tank, are you going to read about anarchists in Newsweek? As I've 
pointed out earlier, we CAN nurture and support our existing projects if 
ALL of us donate at least a few hours on a regular basis to support our 
really awesome anarchist projects.

I'd also like to point out that volunteering is much more than showing 
up and waiting for somebody to tell us to do something. Remember the DIY 
ethic? We need to do a better job of taking care of the small stuff. 
This means taking the initiative to change the lightbulbs in the 
infoshop when they go out. This means washing your plates and cleaning 
up after yourself. This means sitting down and writing a regular article 
for that anarchist website or radical magazine. Just as more of us 
volunteering adds up to make things collectively better, so does taking 
the time to be proactive about the small stuff.

The impetus behind this essay and call-out was news I got yesterday that 
the Autonomous Zone in Chicago is having some tough times. This infoshop 
has existed in various locations around Chicago for almost a decade. 
I've been told that the place is falling apart, that there are few 
volunteers, and that the Zone is having problems paying the rent. So I 
wanted to make a call out to Chicago area anarchists to get more 
involved in the Autonomous Zone. Volunteer some of your time. Help 
promote the space. Organize fundraisers. Don't let one of your 
institutions bite the dust. And I'd like to make an appeal to anarchists 
around the world to help out the Autonmous Zone financially.

It is a critical time right now for us to support the anarchist projects 
that currently exist. Many years of work have gone into creating these 
projects and their very existence helps activists start up new projects 
and do cool activism and in general ratchet up the amount of dissent on 
the streets.

Four hours of your time would make a big difference.

The Autonomous Zone
azone-AT-azone.org
Located at
2129 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
773-353-3705
AIM: Autonomous Zone
http://www.azone.org/


How to get Involved with the A-Zone

The Autonomous Zone is comprised of a number of individuals working 
together to create a positive environment where social activists and 
anyone interested can come together to work on projects and share ideas. 
It is now easier than ever to help out the Autonomous Zone and join in 
the social transformation.

The core collective is a group of volunteers and committed individuals 
who are dedicated to keeping the Autonomous Zone open, coordinating 
communication and managing the space. We strive for consensus in our 
decisions and operate on non-hierarchical principles. Although 
membership is essentially open and we encourage new participants we 
recommend that you get to know the Azone before jumping right into the 
collective. For more info e-mail collective-AT-azone.org

Subcollectives: the various projects and task groups that compose the Azone

COMPUTERS/WEB DESIGN

Maintaining and helping set up Azone related web pages and design. 
Setting up a space for free internet use and computer use at new space. 
Donating computers/printers/supplies/etc. Fixing broken parts/teaching 
and sharing skills. Contact freeware-AT-azone.org

LIBRARY/BOOKSTORE

Building and re-organizing the existing book collection into an up to 
date, informative, resource library, sorting through old books, ordering 
new books, asking for book donations, being present at the azone and 
helping co-run the bookstore/library during scheduled hours.

Keeping the library in order. Also, there will be a ZINE 
LIBRARY/archive. We need zine donations, people to read 
zines/review/write up descriptions/organize and maintain zine library.

hell yeah. Contact WordsareWeapons-AT-azone.org

ART SPACE/COLLECTIVE

Donations of old/used/unused art supplies/silk screening supplies.

Organizing an art workspace studio at the new space. Encouraging and

collecting donated art supplies art stores/schools. Organizing and

exhibiting monthly, changing art on the walls of the a-zone made by

different local activists/artists, setting up and bringing performance

art shows/spoken word/poetry reading events at the azone. Contact

AZONE-AT-azone.org


FUNDRAISING

Grant writers!! Collect donations from local businesess, organize 
raffles at events. keep current memberships and membership donations 
current. Help us find ways to pay the damn rent and utilities! Contact

Paytherent-AT-azone.org


MEDIA OUTREACH


Promoting Azone events, making fliers for shows/events that have been 
set up, contacting and maintaining contact with different media outlets, 
Helping with copy making, printing, mailing out bulk mail calendars once 
a month, updating mailing list, Public Relations for the Azone. Contact
WhatsGoingOn-AT-azone.org


WORK-CORE

We love you! Donate your time and energy into creating an amazing space 
we can all enjoy! Build community! Make new friends! Painters, builders, 
electricians, construction, parttime bakers, clean up crew...

Help keep the Azone in general order, help clean after events. Hammer, 
saw, run around, help any group with anything you can, when you can. 
Donate an extra set of hands for events when you got the time! We will 
make a contact list of "helpers" and call you when we need people to see

if you are availiable! yeah! Contact Helpers-AT-azone.org

YOUTH ORGANIZING

Create a positive safe space for kids at the azone. Collect positive, 
anti opressive kids books and toys. Organize and plan amazing events 
just for kids! Contact Kidcore-AT-azone.org


Azone Wishlist

what we need

SOMEONE WITH A TRUCK TO HELP HAUL AWAY TRASH

PEOPLE WHO WILL HELP US ORGANIZE THE BASEMENT AND MAINTAIN IT WITH GOOD 
LIGHTING

FLORECENT LIGHTS

RENT MONEY

YOUR USED RADICAL BOOKS

ALSO, someone to maintain the silk screening area. Making tee shirts for 
the Azone to sell. Also to on occasion have silk screening workshops.

EMAIL WHATSGOINGON-AT-AZONE.ORG FOR MORE INFO

The Autonomous Zone is funded almost completely by donations from people 
who support it, thus we don't have a whole lot of money to buy things. 
We are also a 501c3 non-profit so donations are tax-deductible, so just 
ask for a reciept.

Computer space:

Computers (newer than 486)

Printers (ones that work)

A Scanner

CD-Roms and CD-Rs

DSL internet access

Mac NU-Bus ethernet cards

contact freeware-AT-azone.org

Tools (we need any and all types)

Library:

Zines and Good books (preferrably with radical or anarchist messages)

Small bookshelves

Gift certificates of $5-$100 to bookstores in order to buy spefic 
titles. Perferably from indepedent stores such as Quimbys, Revolution 
Books, Women and Children First, Myopic Books and New World Resource 
Center. (big business is fine, but support your local bookstores!!!)

Radical videos.

Art Supplies:

Drafting Table

Design markers

Acryllics

Canvases

Spraypaint

Please call to coordinate drop off or pick up 773-353-3705 or email 
whatsgoingon-AT-azone.org

Related Links:
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This story came from Infoshop News (http://www.infoshop.org/inews)
For more, see 
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=03/08/10/1608704