February

Basic Bike Maintenance at Sibley Bike Depot (March)

micahthompson — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:26:49 +0000

This class is designed as a complete introduction to the basics of maintaining your bicycle yourself. Learning to fix your own bike can save you money, ensure access to reliable transportation, and be a rewarding personal experience to understand how your vehicle functions. Participants aren’t expected to know anything beforehand – the only thing you need to bring is your lovely selves, your bike if you want, and a creative desire to learn!

In addition to providing technical explanations and building mechanical knowledge and confidence, this class will attempt to provide a basic overview of the role of community bike shops throughout the country and world, as we work to build sustainable transportation movements locally and globally.

Facilitator email(s):

micahdthompson@gmail.com

Location

Sibley Bike Depot

712 University Ave W

St. Paul, MN 55104

United States

Phone: 651 222 2080

See map: Google Maps

Facilitator's experience:

As the primary educational staff at Sibley I am responsible for teaching all classes. Over the years I have had the opportunity to learn from and instruct hundreds of people.

Class maximum size:

Time/Location

Class times:

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 18:00 - 20:30

Thu, 03/08/2012 - 18:00 - 20:30

Thu, 03/15/2012 - 18:00 - 20:30

Thu, 03/22/2012 - 18:00 - 20:30

Thu, 03/29/2012 - 18:00 - 20:30

Location Accessibility:

Yes

Address:

Sibley Bike Depot

712 University Ave W

St. Paul, MN 55104

United States

Phone: 651 222 2080

44° 57' 20.3508" N, 93° 7' 49.9764" W

See map: Google Maps

Description: Begining Bicycle Maintenance!

South Side Free Skool Roots to Revolution: Food February Workshop Series

sarah.hf — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:48:35 +0000

Workshop date(s) & time(s):

Repeats every week until Sun Feb 19 2012 .

Sunday, February 5, 2012 - 12:00 - 14:00

Sunday, February 12, 2012 - 12:00 - 14:00

Sunday, February 19, 2012 - 12:00 - 14:00

Description: Three consecutive workshops on winter gardening skills, food justice theory and action

The mission of this workshop series is to connect with our community and enhance our skills and knowledge about healthy food production and accessibility.

All workshops run from 12-2pm at the Minnehaha Free Space, 3458 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis MN 55406 (on the #7 bus line, near #21, #23 and light rail)

Are you interested in building more resilient, sustainable and just communities? Over three Sunday workshops, FOOD FEBRUARY will merge the theory and practice of food justice. Together, we'll grow the conversation by learning from people already getting their hands dirty in the Twin Cities. No matter if you have little experience or a lot, come to connect with others, share knowledge, and nurture community sustainability.

Each workshop will build off the others, but can also be attended individually.

February 5 – WINTER GARDENING SKILLS
Learn about winter gardening, including how to grow small herbs and microgreens and how to sprout at home. This workshop will give practical tips for building sustainability at home.

February 12 – FOOD JUSTICE THEORY
This second workshop will transition from self-sustainability to the systems that affect access to food. Join local food justice activists to converse about why our communities often lack culturally appropriate, affordable and nutritious food with which to sustain ourselves.

February 19 – ACTION!
Come to this final workshop to explore what's being done locally to put food justice theory and practice to work for solidarity, not just charity. Bradi Baker from Project Sweetie Pie, an urban gardening program for North Minneapolis youth, will share her experiences teaching about growing our own food and reconnecting with the land in a culturally appropriate way.

Facilitator's experience:

South Side Free Skool is a chapter of EXCO that puts on workshop series focused on basic human needs, connecting with outside community members and using hands-on and theory-based learning techniques.

Facilitator email(s):

sarah.hf@gmail.com

Basic Bike Maintenance at Sibley Bike Depot (February)

micahthompson — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:35:37 +0000

Facilitator email(s):

micahdthompson@gmail.com

Location

Sibley Bike Depot

712 University Ave W

St. Paul, MN 55104

United States

Phone: 651 222 2080

See map: Google Maps

Facilitator's experience:

As the primary educational staff at Sibley I am responsible for teaching all classes. Over the years I have had the opportunity to learn from and instruct hundreds of people.

Class maximum size:

Time/Location

Class times:

Thu, 02/02/2012 - 18:00 - 20:30

Thu, 02/09/2012 - 18:00 - 20:30

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 18:00 - 20:30

Thu, 02/23/2012 - 18:00 - 20:30

Location Accessibility:

Yes

Address:

Sibley Bike Depot

712 University Ave W

St. Paul, MN 55104

United States

Phone: 651 222 2080

44° 57' 20.3508" N, 93° 7' 49.9764" W

See map: Google Maps

Description: Begining Bicycle Maintenance!

"Games" for Facilitators, Teachers and Learners

bjhokanson — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:43:24 +0000

This class is a space to share your best games!

Introductions, icebreakers, energizers, team exercises, transitions, idea generators, theatre tools... often, participants in a class, meeting or workshop just recognize them as "games." But these games have a purpose! Beside putting some much-needed fun into the work, these activities tap into learning channels that are often neglected in traditional classrooms, and can bring out the best in a group's creative energy.

Here's how this class works: I'll facilitate a couple activities to kick off the class... and then leave it up to the you and the other participants. You should bring a favorite activity and be prepared to lead the group through it. The only requirements are: 1) You think it'll be fun, 2) Other participants will be able to "take it home" and do it with another group, and 3) It can be done in 15 minutes or less (but can take longer if the group doesn't want to stop). We'll take turns sharing and learning from everyone's games, and you'll leave with a brand new set of activities for your toolbox/toy chest.

A week before the class, I'll email all registered participants a PDF with some fun activities, to get your ideas going (but the best game to bring is the one you know and you'll have the most fun with!), and with a confirmation of your registration. Then, at the first class meeting, we'll collectively decide if and when we want to make "games day" a regular occurrence, and if so, set the schedule.

I encourage other EXCO facilitators, teachers in any setting, and anyone who's ever sat through a deadly dull meeting to register for this class, steal the game ideas and use them on your own!

Questions? Please email or call. Thanks for reading! --Jaime

Facilitator email(s):

bjhokanson@gmail.com

Location

Minnehaha Free Space

3458 Minnehaha Ave S.

Minneapolis, MN 55406

United States

Phone: 612-729-3733

See map: Google Maps

Facilitator's experience:

I'm a 25-year-old white genderqueer facilitator, writer and trainer in south Minneapolis who hates dull meetings and classes, but loves kinesthetic and improvisational activities! I'm also a collective member at the Minnehaha Free Space (where this class is held). You can learn more about me at my website: http://www.jaimehokanson.info.

Facilitator phone number(s):

612-655-1080

Class minimum size:

Class maximum size:

Time/Location

Class times:

Sat, 02/25/2012 - 13:30 - 15:30

Location Accessibility:

Yes

Address:

Minnehaha Free Space

3458 Minnehaha Ave S.

Minneapolis, MN 55406

United States

Phone: 612-729-3733

44° 56' 23.8236" N, 93° 13' 41.3508" W

See map: Google Maps

Additional class location information:

http://minnehahafreespace.org

Description: Sharing activities amongst facilitators and teachers

Improvised Contact Between Luminous Beings

ryanpusch — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:47:04 +0000

Contact improvisation, according to wikipedia, is defined as: "a dance technique in which points of physical contact provide the starting point for exploration through movement improvisation...one of the best-known and most characteristic forms of postmodern dance."

According to my friend Lisa, contact improvisation is "a bunch of [wierdos] rolling around on each other"

I would define contact as a way to develop, through exercises of physical and mental meditation, an appreciation of the sensitivity, strength, softness, familiarity and unpredictability of our bodies and, consequently, the bodies of others. I would argue that the purpose of contact is to explore the expectation which our bodies' movements and habits conform to, and find the edges of those expectations to peel away the layers that insulate us from one another.

The individual and cooperative efforts by which these exercises take place are as diverse and meaningful as the attitudes of the participants. The code of contact is that no participant is ever obligated to take part in any exercise that they are not comfortable with, and anyone may join in or step back from these exercises as they see fit. Of course, the Tao Te Ching says (paraphrased) "Opposition is growth," and thus it should be noted, that every offering that participants bring to this class will be rewarded.

Facilitator email(s):

bandcomesfrist@gmail.com

Facilitator's experience:

Ryan Pusch is new to contact improvisation, new to dance, and new to teaching. He's a patient person. He's extremely excited by the prospect of increasing accessibility and contributing to the creativity of the contact community in the twin cities.

Facilitator phone number(s):

2627073038

Class minimum size:

Class maximum size:

Time/Location

Class times:

Fri, 02/17/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Fri, 02/24/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Fri, 03/02/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Fri, 03/09/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Fri, 03/16/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Fri, 03/23/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Fri, 03/30/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Fri, 04/06/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Fri, 04/13/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Fri, 04/20/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Fri, 04/27/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Fri, 05/04/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Fri, 05/11/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Fri, 05/18/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Fri, 05/25/2012 - 19:00 - 20:30

Location Accessibility:

Location not set.

Description: Contact Improvisation

Occupy Support Class

mmandregg — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:24:21 +0000

This Class will combine chit chat about theories of social change with strictly practical efforts to support Occupy Minnesota activities at the Hennepin County Government Center and elsewhere. The basic deal will be that people who attend class are expected to do something helpful and practical for the cause that next week as well. Classes will focus on figuring out one easy thing that anyone can do that week while coordinating longer term and more comprehensive efforts that are generated by class participants organized into teams for that purpose.

The instructor is an adjunct professor of justice and peace studies at the University of St. Thomas, so he is experienced with both the chit-chat side and the practical side of social change efforts. The effort to accomodate academic interests will be real, but subordinate to doing practically useful things for Occupy instead of JUST chit-chat. "Never a meeting without an action" will be a representative goal adopted from WAMM (Women Against Miltary Madness). Connectivity to other peace groups in town will be natural, like especially with the Veteran's for Peace who have been very present for Occupy Minnesota.

Class will meet each Thursday evening for 1 - 2 hours to prepare whatever help for Occupy will occur that week.

Facilitator email(s):

mmandregg@stthomas.edu

Location

McCarthy Gym

University of St. Thomas Cretin and Grand Aves (100 yards west of)

St. Paul, MN 55105

United States

Phone: 651-962-5907

See map: Google Maps

Facilitator's experience:

Dr. Andregg has taught at the U of MN for 30 years, at the U of St. Thomas for 20 years in justice and peace studies, and for EXCO about 3 times in prior years. He is also a social change activist, has overnighted at Occupy MN, and recognizes the rare grass roots energy of a year when protestors toppled governments in North Africa and worried them in North America. Time has called "Protestors" the people of the year this year -- this class aims to help our local protestors in several small ways.

Facilitator phone number(s):

651-962-5907

Class minimum size:

Class maximum size:

100

Time/Location

Class times:

Thu, 02/02/2012 - 19:00 - 20:00

Thu, 02/09/2012 - 19:00 - 20:00

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 19:00 - 20:00

Thu, 02/23/2012 - 19:00 - 20:00

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 19:00 - 20:00

Thu, 03/08/2012 - 19:00 - 20:00

Thu, 03/15/2012 - 19:00 - 20:00

Thu, 03/22/2012 - 19:00 - 20:00

Thu, 03/29/2012 - 19:00 - 20:00

Location Accessibility:

Yes

Address:

McCarthy Gym

University of St. Thomas Cretin and Grand Aves (100 yards west of)

St. Paul, MN 55105

United States

Phone: 651-962-5907

44° 56' 31.3944" N, 93° 11' 32.6364" W

See map: Google Maps

Description: This class will study how to actually help true grass-roots social change