They also have great graffic design!
Back in the day at FSU, Sarah SK and I were consecutive directors of one of the original and oldest free schools in the country, the Center for Participant Education. We stopped studying, we skipped class, and we missed tests to make sure that our classes ran on time, the workshops stayed open, and that our surprisingly conservative student senate was kept from writing us out of their budget each semester. That being said, I have a bit of a soft spot for this kind of work which is why I am thrilled to have witnessed the carnation of the New Orleans Free School Network.
From their mission statement:
The New Orleans Free School Network offers quality, no-cost, volunteer-run, community-based educational opportunities for people of all ages throughout the city of New Orleans. Classes and workshops directly respond to neighborhood- and community-specific desires and needs.
Bad ass.
They are currently offering 16 classes ranging from plumbing to political theory to bounce (speaking of which, check out Big Freedia’s new AMAZING video!). These two really appeal to my personal interests and just so happen to be taught by some personal friends.
Human Sexuality | A survey course that includes the study of anatomy & physiology, as well as the psychological & sociological aspects of human sexual behavior. 1: perspectives on & components of human sexuality. 2: female & male anatomy & physiology. 3: sexual response cycle, sexuality over lifespan. 4: STIs, HIV & AIDS, safer sex practices | Sundays March 20th-April 17th (Note: no class April 10th) @ 5-7pm @ the LGBT Center (2114 Decatur St) | contact: Marika Maypop msymmetric@gmail.com
Men & Feminism | The class is a study of critiques of men & masculinity by feminism and mens involvement in the feminist movement. | Thursdays March 17-April 28 @ 5-6pm @ Sycamore House (3111 Palmyra St in Mid City) | contact: Peter Reed ptreed@uno.edu
You may have been hearing rumors of trouble within the activist scene here in New Orleans as of late. Both our local infoshop, the Iron Rail, and our community bike shop, Plan B, were suddenly and unexpectedly evicted from their mutual tenement, the ARC. Many of us can’t imagine our worlds here without these two amazing resources and while those collectives are still working to relocate, it’s a great comfort to see new projects, like the Free School, emerging.
Tags: activism, education, free school, NEW ORLEANS, organizing
