It can be humbling and isolating trying to struggle for social change. Just little you and your tiny circle of friends and comrades against massive and seemingly untouchable foes: global capitalism, industrial consumer culture, the eco-destroying economy and nation states armed to the teeth protecting the status quo.
But even though we may feel small and vulnerable, we are not alone or isolated in our struggle. We’re part of something much larger — we share with people around the world and through history a vision for a different world. Browsing the list of infoshops, radical community centers, alternative libraries and free bike shops, one sees the thread of community coming together in all directions. In each of our towns we may feel like we’re swimming upstream against resignation and apathy, but it helps to realize that people from the Philippines to Bolivia to Toledo are out there swimming with you.
Here are updates to the radical contact list published in the 2009 Slingshot organizer. We’re going to revise and update the list for the 2010 organizer. Let us know if you see any corrections. The deadline is July 31. For updates before then, check our online updates: slingshot.tao.ca. Happy traveling!
Rice, Beans & Revolution Infoshop – McAllen, TX
A new infoshop in deep South Texas just miles from the border wall with a lending library, zine library and bookstore. Open Mon-Fri 10 – 8, Sat/Sun noon – 6. 402 N. Main, McAllen, TX 78501, myspace.com/rice_beans_revolution, 956-212-8753
The Black Cherry – Toledo, OH
A bookstore, for-donation cafe and show space with a lending library, free store and an office for local projects as well as several apartments. 1420 Cherry St. Toledo Ohio 43608 theblackcherrycenter@gmail.com
EarthDiver book Collective – Oshkosh, WI
They have a lending library, show space, band practice space and host events, films and meetings for local projects like Books to Prisoners and a free food project “Relocation of Surplus Vittles Project (RSVP).” They also have a community garden. 949 W. 7th Ave. Oshkosh, WI 54902
CRASH collective infoshop – Burlington, VT
The have the first floor and basement of a house with a lending library, meeting/event room, zine distro and media center with free computer lab and a zine photocopier. They also have a bike tool share and bulk food buyers club. They serve free food and coffee and host a bunch of groups. Check them out at 117 Bank St Burlington VT 05401, infoshopvt@gmail.com.
Firebrand Infoshop – Nashville, TN
A warehouse with space for all-ages shows, a library, zines, computers and a bike co-op. They also have a free skool. Open Mon – Fri 5pm-8:30. 1318 Little Hamilton Road, Nashville, TN 37203 615-673-4153, livefreeordie@riseup.net
Burning River D.I.Y. Collective – Cleveland, OH
Ooops – we listed Burning River in our “RIP” section because a few years ago, there was a collective in Cleveland called Burning River. We think that the old collective did in fact die, but it turns out a new group of folks organized their own collective and picked the same name! The new group is alive and going strong. They have free workshops and continuing classes about “doing things for yourself — growing your own food, mending your own clothes, maintaining your own bikes … anything anyone in the group has to offer, under the premise of fostering personal and community strength through DIY punk ethics.” They host shows and seek to open up a show / zine library space. For now they are based out of a house at 2831 Hampshire Road #2 Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 (216) 577-4211
Joe Hill House – West Lafayette, IN
An alternative living space with an infoshop and community center in the garage: “a hub of radical activity in the Greater Lafayette area.” They have a lending library / zine library and host the IWW. 2108 North Salisbury Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906
Confluence Books – Grand Junction, CO
They have zines and host a radical community center for meetings and activities. They are active regarding h2a visa worker abuse in the sheep camps of Colorado. The similarly named Confluence collective currently listed in the organizer is a residential collective house. Find the infoshop at 600 White Ave. Suite 302 Grand Junction, Colorado 81501, 970-245-4442.
Silent City Distro – Ithaca, NY
A zine library and radical distro. 115 E. MLK St. (the commons), Ithaca, NY 14850, www.silentcitydistro.org
Wonderroot Community Arts Center – Atlanta, GA
“A place where artists and activists can come together to build community through art.” They have a darkroom, recording studio, digital media lab, performance space, and a room for classes or meetings available if you pay dues. Open Mon, Tues, Thurs and Friday 10-8 and Sat noon-9. 982 Memorial Dr SE Atlanta, GA 30316 (mail PO Box 89018, Atlanta, GA 30312), 404.254.5955
Coldwater Distro – Floyd, VA
A source for print media in do-it-yourself format about indigenous led resistance to global empire: “the revolution will not be on the internet” Visit 111 Main St. Floyd, VA (mail Box 672, Floyd, VA 24091.)
Bicycle Farm – Portland, OR
A volunteer-run space for learning about building, maintaining, and riding bikes. Open Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon and Tues (every other Tuesday is women/trans only.) 305 NE Wygant St., Portland, OR 97211, (971) 533-7428, bikefarm@bikefarm.org, bikefarm.org
Sibley Bike Depot -St. Paul, MN
A not-for-profit community bike shop that offers classes, tools and a workshop plus a women’s’ and trans’ night. Open Wed 3-9, Sat 10- 6, Sun 12-4. 712 University Ave St. Paul, MN 55104, 651-222-2080 sibleybikedepot.org
Anthology New and Used Books – Scranton, PA
An independent bookstore that carries zines and original art. 515 Center St. Scranton, PA 18503 570-341-1443 www.scranthology.com
Seomra Spraoi – Dublin, Ireland
An radical autonomous social center since 2005 that features shows, art, activist groups, meeting space, films, a vegan café, library, crafts workshop, bike repair tools and computer access. 10 Belvedere Court, Dublin 1 Ireland (off Gardiner St, near Mount Joy Square), seomraspraoi@gmail.com.
Café Victoria – Mexico City
They are a collective coffee roaster and coffeeshop born out of a strike at a cafe that locked them out. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 10.30 p.m. Mercado La Paz. Calle Victoria (entre Plaza de la Constitución y Madero, Centro de Tlalpan) Mexico DF cafe-victoria.blogspot.com
Coyotic: Lugar de Encuentro – Mexico City
A community meeting space that sells locally-made products. Copilco 102, planta alta, local 115. Mexico DF (Closest Metro is Miguel Angel de Quevedo) http://www.myspace.com/coyotic
Red TiNKU – Cochabamba, Bolivia
A radical social movement office always in need of volunteers that has a community house which hosts events, and where travelers can stay for cheap. Visit Esteban Arce 532, 1er Piso, Of. 2, Galería ¨El Nazareno¨, entre Calamo y Cadaislao Cabrera, Phone. 71769493, redtinkubolivia@gmail.com, www.redtinku.com
Espaço Impróprio – Sao Paulo, Brazil
A vegan restaurant with an infoshop, recording studio and open space that hosts documentaries, debates and concerts. Rua Dona Antonia de Queiroz, 40, Consolação, phone (11) 3129.7197, improprio@riseup.net, www.espacoimproprio.org
Kinaiyahan Unahon Collective -Davao, Philippines
They are a radical community center with a garden, theater group and a lending library with zines, videos and other radical media. They are working on anti-pesticide spraying campaigns, working with local farmers, and other ecological struggles. They are working to translate anarchist texts to the local language — send them materials. Dinah B. Canonigo Blk. 24 Lot 4 Phase 2 Ciudad De Esperanza Cabantian, Davao City, Phi
lippines 8000, www.freewebs.com/kinaiyahanunahon
Freedom Shop – Wellington, New Zealand is moving
They are NZ’s longest running anarchist bookshop (since 1995). They are moving out of Cuba Mall and looking for a new space. Until then, they are tabling at festivals and events. If you visit NZ, contact them at: PO Box 9263, Te Aro, Wellington, New Zealand/Aotearoa, the_freedom_shop@yahoo.com
Corrections to 2009 Organizer
• The Rhizome Collective in Austin, TX was evicted in mid-March after the city cited them for building code violations. They had operated a number of community organizing and urban sustainability projects out of a warehouse since 2000.
• The Jack Pine Collective in Minneapolis, MN decided not to renew their lease in March due to a lack of financial and energy sustainability. They wrote in a nice goodbye message noting that they were established in 2006 as a child-friendly and sober radical space set up to be specifically anti-oppression.
• The Phoenix, AZ anarchist library is now located inside of the Conspire gallery at: 901 North 5th street, Phoenix, AZ 85004 (602) 237-5446.