[Je kan hier alle info in het Nederlands vinden.]
Would you like to participate in Critical Citizenship Day?
Then register via this link.
Schedule
11:30 Doors open
12:00 Intro + lunch screening of ‘The Elements of Mutual Aid’
13:30 Break
14:00 Workshops
– Radical care in grassroots movements
– Zine-making
– Active Hope
4:00 p.m. Break
4:30 p.m. Panel – The Politics of Radical Care
6:00 p.m. Closing reception
7:00 p.m. End
Program
Lunch screening of “The Elements of Mutual Aid” [Intro in Dutch and film in English, with English subtitles]
‘The Elements of Mutual Aid’ is a four-part, independently produced docuseries that takes a look behind the scenes and into the workings of mutual aid in North America. Various groups struggle to build something in a collapsing system and explore the origins, structures, healing methods, and logistics of collective organization.
We are screening part 1, “Fire”: The spirit of mutual aid compels us to care for each other rather than believe that we must depend on authoritarian structures. In this introductory episode, we meet organizers who can help us define what mutual aid is and what other values it teaches us.
During the screening, you can enjoy delicious lentil soup with bread. You can give a free contribution, which will be donated in full and used to facilitate legal support to counter protest repression.
Workshops
Radical care in grassroots movements [NL/ENG]
How do you keep going as a movement in times of increasing repression? How do we focus on radical care in a system that fails to take care of us? In this skillshare circle, we want to bring activists together to collectively think about how we can shape a sustainable future for our grassroots movements. We will exchange our experiences and skills, guided by an experienced grassroots activist. Another world is possible. Let’s make a plan.
The circle will be facilitated by Marcel (they/them), who is active in grassroots activism.
Zine-making [NL/ENG]
Zine making is an accessible, low-tech publishing technique. It is an independent, DIY culture of sharing information and expressing yourself.
In this hands-on workshop, you will learn – whether you are a beginner or already have some experience – different aspects and techniques of zine-making. We will craft and create zines that revolve around radical care. You will learn an interesting and relevant tool that you can use to connect with your community in a different way.
The workshop will be led by Katja Lorencic from Plica vzw. Katja is a multidisciplinary artist (graphics, words, photography, tattooing) and designer. Plica is a young non-profit organization that aims to promote the culture of illustration and zine-making and provide a platform for the community.
Active Hope [NL/ENG]
Through a few simple but profound connection exercises inspired by the work of Joanna Macy, we take the time to reflect on where we come from, what motivates us, and what we dream of for the future. During these exercises, we focus specifically on gratitude for life and acknowledge the pain, sadness, and powerlessness surrounding all the injustice in the world. By doing these exercises, we find the strength to take action for change.
The workshop is led by Eleke (she/her). For several years, she has been giving sporadic workshops on Joanna Macy’s The Work That Reconnects and Augusto Boal’s Theater of the Oppressed for LABO.
Panel “The Politics of Radical Care” [ENG]
How do we build sustainable systems of care together? How is radical care interwoven with our struggle for collective justice and liberation? In short: How do we survive this shit together? In this panel, Layla El-Dekmak will talk to Christina De Witte, Max Arto de Ploeg Bedoyan, and Fed-up Mama from Brussels4Palestine to explore the meaning of care. At the end, there will also be an opportunity to ask questions to the panel.
Layla El-Dekmak (she/her) is an independent journalist and radio, documentary, and podcast creator. She currently writes for various media outlets, hosts the radio program “Reis Rond de Wereld” (Travel Around the World) on Radio 1, and is working on her own audio documentary. She’s also a part of the general assembly of Kif Kif.
Max Arto de Ploeg Bedoyan (he/him) is a grassroots organizer, program maker, teacher, and public speaker with a focus on decolonization, restoration, and climate justice. He is co-founder of Samen Tegen Racisme (Together Against Racism) and Stichting Aralez (Aralez Foundation), where he designs projects, actions, campaigns, and educational programs.
In the field of radical care, he organizes meditative sound journeys through Stichting Aralez for activists and communities engaged in justice in the broadest sense of the word under the name “Rooting Resistance: the right to rest after protest,” and has set up ceremonies with various Indigenous diaspora communities in the Netherlands to strengthen mutual bonds.
For him, not only is “self-care” a form of healing, but active organizing in community is a medicine against collective injustice and feelings of individual powerlessness, cynicism, and depression. For him, activism in all its forms is an expression of radical love.
Christina De Witte (she/her) is an illustrator and barista.
Professionally, she only illustrates for NGOs, non-profit organizations, individuals, or grassroots organizations, both voluntarily and involuntarily. She also works part-time as a barista, deliberately choosing to work at a local coffee bar that puts people first. Artistically, she likes to exchange her illustration work for other services, goods, or artworks with others, in order to stay out of the monetary system.
On a personal level, in addition to serving the community as a street volunteer in Antwerp, she also runs a small-scale soup kitchen during the summer months. She also enjoys organizing artistic fundraising, which she believes is one of the most accessible things to do.
Through her grandmother, she came into contact with mutual aid and care. At her age, she still volunteers to help others. This inspires Christina and has unconsciously motivated her to take action herself, starting in her own neighborhood.
Fed-up Mama is part of the Brussels For Palestine collective. They live up to their name. Fed-up Mama is a mother and is fed up.
Brussels For Palestine is a collective of racialized women and queer people. They are part of a growing network of anti-colonial activists who have joined forces to support the people of Palestine.
They believe that only strong and global resistance can liberate all oppressed, exploited, and marginalized people from the white supremacist, capitalist, and patriarchal world order.
They live, work, love, and fight in solidarity with Palestine and peoples everywhere facing colonial violence, exploitation, displacement, and erasure. They raise funds to support the direct needs and actions of Palestinian, Congolese, Syrian, Sudanese, and refugees here and elsewhere. They consolidate and make international solidarity material and tangible. They not only move money, but also share connections and expertise, organise actions, and amplify each other’s voices of pain, dreams of hope, and strategies for change.
Accessibility
- All rooms are wheelchair accessible, except for the quiet room (1st floor, no elevator).
- The catering is vegan and boycott-proof. No alcohol is served.
- Free face masks and disinfectant are provided.
- There is an underground parking garage within walking distance of the location. The event location is also within walking distance of Antwerp-Berchem station.
- If you have specific needs in order to participate in DVKB, please let us know via the registration form.
Safe(r) space
- No form of discrimination or oppression will be tolerated. We want to hold ourselves and each other accountable for this.
- If you feel uncomfortable about something, you can report it to the safe(r) space persons.
- Be aware of your privileges and the space you take up. Listen actively to each other and respect each other’s boundaries.
- You can indicate if you do not want to be photographed, so that both staff and participants can take this into account.
Contact
Email: res@labovzw.be
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labovzw