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

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.

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

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!

Staff volunteers are the “face of the Free Space,” helping keep our space open during open hours and special events (usually, but not always, with a shift partner). The time commitment required is an average of one 3 to 5 hour shift once a week, with the opportunity for greater involvement if interested in the form of more hours, participating in committees or other organizing roles.

If you are interested in being a staff volunteer, we’ll ask you to fill out a short questionnaire. Then, if we agree that you’d be a good fit for this role, our volunteer coordinator will get in touch and schedule you for a training shift with an experienced volunteer. After that, you’d be on the roster for scheduling a weekly shift according to your availability.

Tasks that staff volunteers do include opening and closing the space, welcoming visitors as they come in and answering questions,being self-directed to solve problems as they come up, and all the miscellaneous tasks like cleaning that a space open daily requires. Starting mid-May, we will be limiting the days when youth are allowed in the space without supervision from a parent/guardian. Volunteers will have the option of helping contribute to youth programming/activities on certain days, or staffing on days where there is less interaction with kids.

In deciding who to ask to become a staff volunteer out of all those interested, we especially prioritize women, trans, queer and genderqueer folks, people of color, and people not in their 20s.

If you’re interested or have questions about this volunteer opportunity, please write to radspacetc@gmail.com or call Jaime at 612-655-1080. Thank you!

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.

With this new approach, volunteer staff will be able to give youth more focused attention, better supervision and planned activities during the Youth Days.

On all other days, having a responsible adult such as a family member accompanying youth in the space will create a safer, more positive environment for kids, volunteers and others.  With this new policy, the resources of the Free Space will be more accessible to all.

In order to ensure the safest experience for youth in the space, please review the following:

• All youth participating in Youth Days are expected to have an up-to-date emergency contact form.  Please come by the space to pick one up and let us know if any information changes.
• We strive to be family friendly by offering resources for all ages.  However, we are not a childcare service and cannot be held responsible for youth in the space. Families must be available should a child need to leave the space at any time.
• We expect youth to be respectful in the space at all times.  We will not tolerate bullying, whether in language or behavior.  We encourage you to discuss this with your children.
• Families are responsible for making sure youth arrive and leave safely.  Please use caution when crossing the street and encourage safe crossing practices with your children (using the crosswalk, looking both ways, crossing with others).

If you have any questions, would like to give us feedback, or would like to get involved, please feel free to contact us! You can call us at 612-729-3733, email us at radspacetc@gmail.com, or stop by the space during open hours (Monday–Friday 2-7pm, Saturday/Sunday 1-5pm)

Thank you for working with us to make the space better for everybody.

Sincerely,
The MARS Collective/Minnehaha Free Space

* For this policy, we currently define youth as middle school (8th grade) age and younger.

The Free Space will be closed on Tuesday May 1 for International Worker’s Day and the May 1 General Strike, and Sunday May 6 for the annual Heart of the Beast Mayday Parade and Festival at Powderhorn Park.  (We’ll still be hosting the events listed on our event calendar on these days.)

We apologize for the inconvenience.  Join us in participating in any of the events listed below!

Tuesday, May 1
May 1 General Strike

10:00 am – Opening Action and Welcome (Loring Park)
11:00 am – SEIU Action (Meet at Loring Park)
12:30 pm – Occupy Homes Action (Meet at Loring Park)
2:00 pm – Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network Teach-in and Action (Loring Park)
3:30 pm – Minnesota Immigrant Rights Coalition March (Meet at Lake and Nicollet)
5:30 pm – Food and Retail Workers United March (Meet at Powderhorn Park)
6:30 pm – Dinner and Performances (Loring Park)
10:00 pm – Noise March in Solidarity with Prisoners and ICE Detainees
(Meet at Loring Park)

http://occupymay1tc.org/

Sunday, May 6
38^th Annual Mayday Parade & Festival

Parade begins at 1pm at the corner of 25th St. E. and Bloomington Ave. S., and travels south on Bloomington to 34th St. E., where the parade turns west towards Powderhorn Park, where the parade ends and the MayDay Ceremony and Festival begins, at approximately 3pm. www.hobt.org

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.

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!

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