S.P.R.I.N.G.

What is International Solidarity? How is a local labor organization in Detroit connected to the land struggle of pastoral Maasai in Tanzania? How is Western feminist theory related to a need for reclaiming traditional farming methods in Central India? What do school garden projects in Berkeley have to do with autonomous peasant movements in Southern Mexico? Are these issues connected? If so, how can they unite as part of a larger shared movement? International Solidarity: what is it, how do we create it, and how can it be harnessed to effect change? How can we rethink globalization to recognize our common interests and propose alternative solutions that link social and environmental justice movements around the world? S.P.R.I.N.G. is a youth collective that has begun to explore these questions. After traveling the world for a year with an experiential learning program, we came to see that our passion for creating other worlds begins at home. This is our challenge: to create a community of international allies who, conscious of their links to each other's struggles, work collaboratively and holistically--not in isolation. During this interactive workshop, facilitators and participants will share their personal narratives to understand what international solidarity is, learn about how our movements are interconnected, and discuss methods and tools for harnessing the power of collective action. SPRING will share their own experiences of creating intergenerational and cross-cultural international solidarity through their use of documentary filmmaking, dance and theatre as story-telling, and development of collaborative (food justice) education programs.

What is International Solidarity? How is a local labor organization in Detroit connected to the land struggle of pastoral Maasai in Tanzania? How is Western feminist theory related to a need for reclaiming traditional farming methods in Central India? What do school garden projects in Berkeley have to do with autonomous peasant movements in Southern Mexico? Are these issues connected? If so, how can they unite as part of a larger shared movement? International Solidarity: what is it, how do we create it, and how can it be harnessed to effect change? How can we rethink globalization to recognize our common interests and propose alternative solutions that link social and environmental justice movements around the world? S.P.R.I.N.G. is a youth collective that has begun to explore these questions. After traveling the world for a year with an experiential learning program, we came to see that our passion for creating other worlds begins at home. This is our challenge: to create a community of international allies who, conscious of their links to each other's struggles, work collaboratively and holistically--not in isolation. During this interactive workshop, facilitators and participants will share their personal narratives to understand what international solidarity is, learn about how our movements are interconnected, and discuss methods and tools for harnessing the power of collective action. SPRING will share their own experiences of creating intergenerational and cross-cultural international solidarity through their use of documentary filmmaking, dance and theatre as story-telling, and development of collaborative (food justice) education programs.