2019 ISE Annual Gathering: Beyond the Local

This August, the Institute for Social Ecology cordially invites you to attend our Annual Gathering for a weekend of engaging political discussion, great food, and a chance to socialize with social ecologists and fellow travelers in beautiful Marshfield, Vermont.

As our ideas continue to spread and our movements grow, this year’s theme is Beyond the Local. We will focus on questions related to the challenges of thinking big: how can we best scale up our political efforts, coordinate our movements and organizations across geographic space and borders, and confederate to build transformative but democratic forms of popular power? We also have panels focusing on social ecology and disability, race/racism, human/animal relations, and more – full program below.

We look forward to another fun, engaging, and rejuvenating weekend – mark your calendars and join us!

Registration and Cost: To register email us at: social-ecology@mail.mayfirst.org. We provide great fresh meals over the course of the weekend, so we ask participants to pay a sliding scale fee of 70-200 dollars – we won’t turn anyone away for lack of funds. Please pay in advance here: https://social-ecology.org/wp/donate/. There is plenty of outdoor camping and limited indoor floor space on site, as well as a variety of local accommodations – full list on request. There is also a solar pool and wood-fired hot tub – bring your swimwear!

Friday, Aug. 23

5 pm Opening circle/introductions

6-7 pm Dinner

7-8:30 Open discussion: The State of Social Ecology & Our Movements Today

Saturday, Aug. 24

9-10 Breakfast

10-11:45 Moving Beyond the Local

Imani & Saki (Cooperation Jackson), Katie Horvath (Symbiosis), Brian Tokar (ISE), Spencer Sunshine (antifascist researcher)

12-1:30 The Politics of Disability

Lateef Mccleod, Kelly Roache

1:30-2 Lunch

2:30-4 Free Time

4:15-5:45 Global Resistance Movements

Saladdin Ahmed, Graciela Monteagudo, Vera Eccarius-Kelly

5:45-7 Dinner

7:15-9:15 Cooperation Jackson: Building Community Power from Below

(this event is public, held at the Plainfield Opera House)

Sunday, Aug. 25

9-10 Breakfast

10-11:45 Open Discussion: Race, Social Ecology, and the Left

11:45-12:45 Lunch

12:45-2:15 Perspectives on the Relationship Between Food Systems, Ecology, Humans and Animals

Grace Gershuny, Laura Schleifer, Mason Herson-Hord

2:15-3:30 Closing circle, reflections, cleanup