Bay Area Anarchist Salon

Question: "Using contemporary examples of housing actions, particularly in the Bay Area, what lessons can be drawn about the effectiveness and limitations of antistatist, anticapitalist interventions into the housing crisis?"

The Station 40 Events Collective is pleased to announce the fourth Bay Area Anarchist Salon, a monthly facilitated conversation by and for anarchists. Our aim is to encourage critical yet constructive dialogue and comradely debate concerning the difficult strategic questions that we face as we try to engage in social transformation; to develop a culture of reconstruction and vision alongside a culture of resistance; and to build more trust and understanding among the diverse anarchist perspectives. Our hope is that through ongoing discussions related to contemporary organizing dilemmas--discussions that focus on ideas not people, and strive to develop a culture of kindness in how we grapple with key strategic issues--our various projects and organizing efforts, within and outside anarchist circles, will become stronger, smarter, and more effective.

The format each month will be as follows: we'll announce a question for each Bay Area Anarchist Salon in advance. At the salon, we'll do a go-round for people to quickly introduce themselves. Then two to four people, chosen in advance, will kick off the conversation by offering their thoughts on the question for five or so minutes each. Two moderators will then facilitate a participatory conversation, striving to ensure that the discussion stays on point, and that everyone feels comfortable to speak, no one speaks too much, and all feel heard and respected. Each salon will last two hours, starting promptly at 7:00 p.m. Afterward, at 9:00 p.m., we'll share food and conversation informally; bring a vegan or veggie dish, snack, drink, or dessert to share, in addition to eats provided by Food Not Bombs.

The respondents for this month's salon are Molly Goldberg (HAVOQ), Theo (Station 40), and James Tracy (SF Community Land Trust). The facilitators are Finn Finneran (Oakland 100) and Cindy Milstein (Institute for Anarchist Studies).

$3-5 donation toward a new projector for Station 40, but no one turned away for lack of funds.