Marc from Portland Free School here, giving you a reportback from the recent North American Free Skool Conference that took place in Santa Cruz, California. I'll also give an update and reflect upon the Free School here in Portland and ask for your involvement in strengthening our network of radical, autonomous, and empowering education. This includes submitting your classes in time for our June calendar, which will already be full of great workshops from the Portland Anarchist Bookfair, the Village Building Convergence and the Pedalpalooza bike festival.

From Free Skool Santa Cruz:

Hey, friends. We've been working on a Free Skool event this spring. For a while now, we've been excited for an opportunity to get us all together to share free skool successes, challenges and ideas. We'd like you to come. Check it.

The 2009 North American Free Skool Conference
Santa Cruz, California
May 7th to 11th

The first ever North American Free Skool Conference happens in conjunction with the Santa Cruz Anarchist Convergence. The conference will focus on building support networks between far-flung free skool projects, building the strength of the free skool movement, and exploring broader free skool ideas.

Activities will include speakers, panel and group discussions, a free skool community picnic, and a campfire. Discussion topics may include starting and running a free skool, forming mutual support networks, how free skools contribute to the broader anarchist project, and free skools for kids. This is an amazing opportunity for free skools from all over to get together, exchange ideas, and make ambitious plans.

The convergence will also feature an anarchist bookfair, discussions and speakers on other anarchist topics, a kick-off performance event, a dance, music, games, and other events.

More information about the anarchist convergence and free skool conference: http://santacruzanarchist.org

The Olympia Olympia Old-Time Music Fest is February 27th - March 1st and on Saturday free workshops will occur throughout the day on topics such as: fiddle, banjo, square dance calling and many more. There's even a spot for learning to play the spoons! For more info go to http://www.olyoldtime.org

A member of Cascadia Earth First! who is working on the workshop schedule for the Earth First! Trans and Womyn's Action Camp (TWAC) from June 19-June 27th and the Round River Rondezvous (RRR) 2009 from June 27th-July 6th, recently sent out a request for workshops. You can read her request below:

I'm writing to see if you would be interested in participating this year by hosting a workshop. We are looking to offer a wide range of direct action, forest issues, eco-centrism, and Western Oregon Plan Revision (WOPR) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) specific trainings and workshops. We would also really like to see environmental justice and anti-oppression workshops, etc.

Recently the KBOO Youth Collective hosted a show on sharing skills and they interviewed one of our organizers, Liz. You can listen to the audio here.