Rethinking Social Transformation: Reclaiming the City & Building Popular Power

June 1 – 4, 2019

University of British Columbia Farm, Vancouver B.C.

We’re excited to announce that our next Social Ecology Intensive will take place June 1st through 4th at the University of British Columbia Farm in Vancouver, B.C.! Join ISE faculty and local activist-educators for a weekend or full week of classes, workshops, and panel discussions that will provide a comprehensive overview of Social Ecology and explore a variety of contemporary political issues and local struggles (program below).

The registration fee for the full 4 days is $70-$300 sliding scale, or $40–85 for just the weekend. We don’t turn anyone away for lack of funds, so if you can afford it please consider giving more so we can allow others to participate on scholarship. We provide food as well as limited onsite camping and local home shares. Our last Intensive was an inspiring week of transformative education with over 60 amazing international participants from across the United States, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. To enroll or ask questions, contact us at social-ecology@mail.mayfirst.org. You can reserve a confirmed space by paying a $30 deposit here.

Program

Saturday June 1

9-10:30 Introductions and opening circle

10:45-12:30 What is Social Ecology? Dan Chodorkoff

12:30-1:30 Lunch

1:30-4:00 Kitsilano Beach Greenpeace Exhibit & UBC Farm Tour

4:00-6:00 Panel Discussion: Building Popular Power in the Pacific Northwest

Mark Friesen, Vantage Point/Evoke BC; Lucia Wolgar, Let’s Speak Up; Vancouver; Franz Carroll, Olympia Assembly; Ami Sommariva, Demand Utopia Portland

6:30-8:00 Dinner

Sunday June 2

10-12 Understanding Capitalism – Peter Staudenmaier

12-1:30 Lunch

1:30-3:30 Challenging Capitalism – Peter Staudenmaier

4-6 Open Discussion: Aligning the Left: Developing integrative strategies across diverse movements and organizations

6-7:30 Dinner

7:30-9 Utopia and Reconstructive Vision – Dan Chodorkoff

Monday June 3

9:00-11 Fascism and the Far Right – Peter Staudenmaier

11:15-12:45 Feminist Social Reproduction Theory and Social Ecology – Franz Carrol

12:45-1:45 Lunch

1:45-3:30 Food & Climate Justice Panel – Clare Cullen, Ian Marcuse, Colin Dring

5:15-6:30 Dinner

6:30-9:00 Film screening: Universal Basic Income – Our Right to Live

Discussion with film participant Mayte Quinanilla and Livable Income Vancouver

Tuesday June 4

10-12 Panel: Insurgent campaigns and building movement power: an ecology of tactics

Jean Swanson (Vancouver City Councillor/COPE), Derrick O’Keefe (COPE), Shawn Vulliez (COPE), Peter Prontzos, emeritus professor of Political Science, Langara College

12-1:00 Lunch

1:00-3:00 Open Discussion Session

3-3:30 Break

3:30-6:00 Indigenous Sovereignty from an Urban Perspective

Scott Clark, ED-Aboriginal Life in Vancouver Enhancement Society, President, North West Indigenous Council; Representative Congress of Aboriginal Peoples

6-7 Closing Circle & Reflection

7- Dinner