Minnehaha Free Space

Pass along your possessions and help the Free Space raise funds!  The Free Space will be holding a fund-raiser rummage and bake sale on Sunday, June 10th.  Want to help out?  Drop off your donations of clothes, books, household items and small furniture at the Space during open hours any time before the 10th*.  Or stop by on the 10th and browse our interesting collection of stuff for sale!

We’ve already got some pretty neat books, vintage clothes, jewelry and shoes – it should be a sale worth visiting. Mark your calendar!

*Got something really awesome but can’t bring it to the Free Space?  We have limited ability to do pick-ups – reply to this email and we’ll schedule a time if we are able.

Friday, May 25
7-9pm at the Free Space

This workshop will be a two-hour introduction to Nonviolent Communication (aka “NVC”, more info on it can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonviolent_Communication) for radicals and activists. The core concepts will be explained, and plenty of time will be left for question-and-answers, role-playing and discussion.

For more info, contact Ian: parenthesiseye@gmail.com

Friday, May 25
7-9pm at the Free Space

This workshop will be a two-hour introduction to Nonviolent Communication (aka “NVC”, more info on it can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonviolent_Communication) for radicals and activists. The core concepts will be explained, and plenty of time will be left for question-and-answers, role-playing and discussion.

For more info, contact Ian:parenthesiseye [at] gmail [dot] com.

This month’s Radfam (Radical Families) meeting is on Friday, May 18 from 5-7pm at the Free Space.  Radfam meets once a month on Fridays – check the calendar for future dates!

radfam is a discussion group in minneapolis where you don’t have to justify your definition of family. the nuclear, biological family is not the norm here. instead, we are interested in promoting individual autonomy in defining what family means. we discuss issues that are at the intersection of families and social justice. we are committed to supporting reproductive justice, queer politics and radical family planning, recognizing that these are concepts to be talked about and negotiated. we we are interested in including, not excluding you so if there is something in this blog that raises a question for you or if you’d like to make a suggestion, feel free to reach us at radfamilies@gmail.com.

for more info visit: http://radfam.tumblr.com

Friday, May 11th
7-11pm

Come to the Free Space this Friday to make zines with others, either collaboratively or side-by-side!

Some materials are provided… We have a computer, printer, and copy machine. We do not have color printing or copying. There will be a sewing machine to use as well as a type writer. Paper, some markers, crayons, some scissors and glue will be there as well.  And snacks!

Please bring extra supplies to share with folks a donation to help cover the cost of ink, toner, and paper if you use it.

Bring friends, ideas, and stories to tell. See you there!

We’re currently seeking a handful of new friendly folks to help staff the Free Space during open hours, for around 3-5 hours once a week. Interested?  Read on for more details. Read more…

Dear Free Space Community,

It’s been almost a year since the Minnehaha Free Space moved into our space on Minnehaha Avenue.  During that time, we’ve had many successes, learned some important lessons, and have been continually working to improve what we do.  In an effort to make the space better for youth and their families, our volunteer staff, and other Free Space users, we have decided to change our approach to youth engagement at the space.

Beginning on Monday, May 14th, we will begin a new policy of permitting youth* unaccompanied in the space during open hours on Tuesdays and Saturdays. On these Youth Days, we will plan for additional staff and activities for youth. On all other days, youth must be accompanied by a responsible adult at the Free Space. Read more…

With the rescheduling of the Heart of the Beast’s annual Mayday Parade & Festival to Sunday, May 13, the Free Space will be closed for open hours on this day so we can attend the festivities at Powderhorn Park.  Read below for details. Read more…

Update: We’ll be re-opening for regular open hours starting Wednesday, April 25. Sorry for the inconvenience of the last few days!

MFS is still having plumbing problems today (Tuesday), so we’ll be closed again today.  Sorry!  The plumber is coming this afternoon and should have it fixed by tomorrow.

Dear Free Space community,

We’ve had some long-standing plumbing problems that have created some more immediate plumbing issues, like having the basement drain backed up and a leak in the main. As a result of not wanting to compound problems, we are temporarily closing the space for open hours until we can have a plumber come in to address the issue on Monday morning (4/23). We will be open for limited prescheduled use/meetings.

There will likely be associated costs in addressing these issues. If you would like to support us in dealing with this sh!t (pun intended), please follow this link to our donation page: http://minnehahafreespace.org/donate/

♥ the martians

P.S.  Please join us on Thursday for our Open Forum (see below).  We really value your feedback on what we’re doing well and how we can improve.  We’d love to see you Thursday!

To those who have organized or attended concerts, art nights, meetings, panels, discussions, dinners, workshops and classes at the Free Space,
To those who have checked out library books, played pool, had political discussions, used the computer, listened to music, plotted resistance, played with toys, watched movies or just hung out,

You are invited to the Minnehaha Free Space Open Forum!
The Minnehaha Free Space, run by the Minneapolis Autonomous Radical Space collective, has been open for almost a year at our location on 35th and Minnehaha. This past year has been a time of learning, growth, building, successes, mistakes, making connections and much more. The MARS collective and volunteers have often had discussions about the direction of the space, what goes on inside, and what the future could hold. But we realize that we are not the ones who make up the living breathing creature that is the Free Space. The Free Space is made up of every person who walks in our door, and so at this juncture we are coming to you (yes you!) to help us decide how to move forward with this project.   We will be having a moderated open discussion.

We will be having TWO open forum dates so that people with differing schedules can attend:

Saturday, April 21st from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

and

Thursday, April 26th from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

at the Minnehaha Free Space
3458 Minnehaha Ave S.

Some potential topics of the discussion include:

What have been the experiences at the Free Space you have most valued?

What do you wish you would see more?

What has made you not want to come to the space or feel uncomfortable or unwelcome?

Our lease is ending at the end of June, should we renew at our current location? Move to a new one? Squat? Blast off in a spaceship to Mars?

Do you think that the organization of the space is transparent and accessible?

How do you feel MFS does or doesn’t promote the resistance, revolution or transformation that you are fighting for?

Hope to see you there!

In struggle,
The MARS collective