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Mobilizing and Organizing From Below: Schedule up!
Apr 27, 2012
Check out the dozens and dozens of awesome panels and workshops lined up for MOBCONF!
more >>Red Emma's needs new collective members!
Apr 9, 2012
For eight years, the collective behind Red Emma’s has been keeping a self-managed, consensus-operated, and worker-owned radical space open seven days a week and nearly 365 days a year, while organizing hundreds and hundreds of events, and spinning off new projects like 2640 and the Baltimore Free School. We’ve done this all with a collective of between 10 and 15 people, all working out of dedication to the project and the ideals of direct democracy and autonomous political action it represents.
While our collective is still strong, it’s not strong enough: we haven’t taken on quite enough new collective members in the last year or so to keep up with the work we need to do to keep the doors open, the coffee flowing, and the books stocked; we’re spread thin, and we need your help!
Normally our process of taking on new collective members has been a pretty loose and organic one; while this has given us a lot of time to get to know people, we’ve decided to switch for the time being to a process we hope can be faster and more intentional: we want to get a few more people on board to help keep the space thriving and insure we’ll be here for years to come.
Who are we looking for?
- You thrive in collective settings and love participatory decision making
- You can commit to working a minimum of five hours a week in the store and can attend a weekly collective meeting on Sunday evenings
- You’ll be in Baltimore and able to work with the project for at least a year
- You understand that while we are currently able to make a share of the money earned by selling books and coffee available to people working in the store, we also tend to put ethics before maximizing profit, and spend money collectively on organizing and building radical infrastructure. In practice, this means we earn about $5-$6/hr—-far from ideal as a primary source of income, but it’s more sustainable than depending on purely volunteer labor.
We’re especially (but not exclusively) interested in people who can bring special skills to the table besides a willingness to sling coffee for the revolution; in particular and in no particular order, we need graphic design wizards, outreach geniuses, free software fanatics, book geeks, food nerds, media makers, event promoters and lots more. And above all we need people who want to bring their political commitments to bear on helping self-manage a very visible space dedicated to advancing the cause of collective liberation. We’re also hoping that this new, streamlined and more intentional process will help us diversify the collective—-the more voices and ideas in the project, the stronger it becomes.
(Read on for the details of how this all works)
Punk Rock Karaoke! March 30!
Mar 8, 2012
Back by popular demand, Liam Flynn's Ale House hosts a night of PUNK ROCK KARAOKE! And, it's a fundraiser for Red Emma's. What could be better? All the classics, and some new stuff too. Don't miss it! Friday, March 30 | 9PM - 2AM | at Liam Flynn's Ale House (22 W. North Ave.)
more >>Mobilizing and Organizing From Below: June 1st-3rd in Baltimore
Feb 15, 2012
We're organizing a conference this summer!
Mobilizing and Organizing From Below
June 1st - 3rd, 2012
Baltimore, Maryland
Mobilizing and Organizing from Below will be a gathering of activists and organizers, workers and parents, revolutionaries and militants and radicals and dissenters, dedicated to increasing our ability to come together and challenge the systems of exploitation and oppression that have taken hold of the world. The conference will be a weekend of intensive, horizontally-organized political education, in which we can share skills, analyze the problems we face, and pose difficult questions. It will also provide a space for people from different traditions to come together and recognize the depth of our similarities and the richness of our differences; a space for reflection and discussion, distinct from both the chaotic excitement of spontaneous mass actions and the intense demands of long-term organizing work.
More info at mobconf.org...
more >>Real News Network on Schools not Jails Occupation
Feb 9, 2012
more >>
End of year break...
Dec 31, 2011
Red Emma's will close a little early, at 6PM, on January 31st, and reopen 10AM on January 4th.
more >>Eddie Conway's January 2012 letter
Dec 28, 2011
Marshall "Eddie" Conway is a political prisoner, framed and incarcerated—for over four decades—for his work with the Baltimore branch of the Black Panther Party. We're posting this letter, his quarterly update to his friends and supporters, both to highlight the amazing work he continues to do while imprisoned, and also to spread the word about his parole process: Eddie needs our support! If you're interested in learning more about Eddie, the Panthers in Baltimore, the counterintelligence programs which put him in prison, or his long and inspiring struggles to continue his work of building community power even while locked away, there's no better place to start than Eddie's autobiography, Marshall Law: The Life and Times of a Baltimore Black Panther, published by our friends at AK Press.
Revolutionary Greetings, to all my family, friends, and supporters. The last few months have been a very busy time for me. I am very happy to report that some progress has been made in several areas. The best news to date is the progress with my parole situation. Since my last update letter, my lawyer filed a request for a parole hearing for me. I had the hearing on November 30, 2011. I met with two commissioners and they decided to advance my case to the next level of the parole process for persons with life sentences. That level requires a psychological evaluation, which means that sometime in the near future I will be transferred to another institution for a three month evaluation. This whole process is called a Risk Assessment, and once this level is completed the case goes before the full body of the parole commission. There are ten commissioners and a majority vote is required before the case can be sent to the governor who has the final right to approve or deny.
more >>
Important Message about "Fair" Trade Coffee
Dec 20, 2011
As third party certifications like Fair Trade and Organic are being co-opted by the multi-national roasters, small-scale operations are looking to alternatives to deepen the commitment to their growers. This past fall Trans Fair USA (AKA Fair Trade USA), one of the biggest Fair Trade labeling organizations, announced that it was to abandon it’s original commitment to the international Fair Trade system. They are now certifying large plantations and multi-national corporations to open up larger markets and increase profits. This goes in contrast to one of the original missions of Fair Trade labeling, which is to support democratic small farmer organizations, to ensure, equitable, fair and just outcomes for the small producers who often are exploited and marginalized by the industry.
Roasters committed to supplying 100% Fair Trade coffee are unable to compete when these large coffee roasters carrying no more than 5, 10, 15% fair trade coffee are able to call their coffee Fair Trade certified. The certification no longer holds roasters accountable for the other aspects of trade beyond the set minimum price the way it once did.
Roasters like Just Coffee believe that Fair Trade means more than just paying the minimum price per pound, but establishing lasting relationships with growers. This translates to transparent trade, toward a model of direct trade (although Just Coffee is not explicitly direct trade), where a meaningful and lasting relationship is developed and maintained between the growers/ producers and sellers/ consumers.
Just Coffee is a part of Cooperative Coffees, a green coffee importing cooperative. Co-op Coffees works with community-based roasters that are committed to furthering fair and sustainable trade relationships for the benefit of the growers and their communities. Co-op Coffees works to promote transparent trade and provide sustainable development alternatives both to the growers abroad and the roasters here in the US.
Red Emma's is proud to carry and support coffee from roasters such as Just Coffee for their deep commitment to just, sustainable, and true fair trade.
Don't Miss the Red Emma's End of Year Celebration!
Dec 14, 2011
This Saturday, December 17: It's the first-ever Red Emma's Speakeasy, hosted by our favorite Wobbly sailor, Liam Flynn!
We're saving our traditional end-of-year Red & Black Ball for Spring this year, but we couldn't let the season pass without celebrating another successful year with all of our friends and supporters. And this year we have something extra to celebrate: the long-awaited opening of Liam Flynn's Ale House, the project of Red Emma's founding collective members Liam Flynn & Jessica Beil, and our new favorite pub (22 W. North Avenue).
So join us on Saturday, December 17 for an evening of revelry and rejoicing as we co-host a 20s-themed evening at Liam's. We'll provide the food, and you can expect great specials on 20s-era cocktails and more. Been longing to wear some fringe? Wear your flapper-style finest! Or head in a moodier Dorothy Parker inspired direction with a fur collar (fake, of course!) and a cloche. All are welcome! 8PM - Midnight; don't miss it!
more >>Red Emma's Mugs
Dec 6, 2011
Come on down to the shop to drink and think with Red Emmas' mugs.
more >>- Subscribe to the Red Emma's Mailing List for updates about the project.(low traffic, announcements only)
- Subscribe to the Red Emma's News RSS Feed
