SAVE ETHNIC STUDIES
Tucson Freedom Coalition Conference
A Revolutionary Praxis of Hope
November 1-3, 2012 - Tucson, AZ
The Tucson Freedom Coalition (TFC) is an outgrowth of the struggle for Ethnic Studies in Tucson, Arizona. We see this struggle as having national implications, with Arizona as the epicenter of the current fight for Xicana/o rights. Tucson Freedom Coalition is already a national movement of Xicana/o activists, artists, organizers and educators who are collectively committed to building a political and cultural movement of resistance to reaffirm and restore the humanity of the Xicana/o community. As Franz Fanon writes, “A nation which is born of the people’s concerted action and which embodies the real aspirations of the people while changing the state cannot exist save in the expression of exceptionally rich forms of culture.”
Working toward a solid plan of personal, community and national liberation is the theme for this conference; a revolutionary praxis of hope working toward the reconstruction of the Xicana/o movement. The call to national resistance is one familiar to the Xicana/o community since 1848. That resistance has evolved over the years but there has always been a recurring theme of national resistance, until now. Four decades have passed since the height of what we call the Xicana/o movement, and there remain no national organizations carrying on the Xicana/o agenda, if it can be argued there is such a thing. This a sobering thought indeed because in order to be a national group three things are necessary: national leadership, national policy (or more exactly a way to implement it quickly) and national activity. National activity builds and develops a shared experience and collective conscience along with identity. We presently lack these three basic building blocks. The fact that most “Xicana/o politics” remain primarily within the student realm is also disheartening since the original intent of the Santa Barbara plan was to have the campus serve as a nucleus of the community. However, if it both starts and dies there, we the intellectual heirs of a street born mass movement, rising from the disenfranchisement and poverty of an entire group of people, have fallen into the trap of being nothing more than a social club climbing the ladder of bourgeoisie success.
Simultaneously, grassroots activists for marginalized communities, as well as advocates for social justice and human rights have also faced demoralizing and dehumanizing political attacks. Arizona has been the incubator for national policies and laws that are built around exploitation, alienation, and dispossession. Thus, it is fitting that Tucson, Arizona be the epicenter of a commitment toward liberation and empowerment for allies of the Xicana/o struggle and all who are dedicated to like struggles in their communities around the nation. It is time for solidarity and collective action!
Save Ethnic Studies and the Tucson Freedom Coalition invites activists, organizers, educators and artists to join us on November 1-3, 2012 in Tucson, AZ as we begin to address these crucial questions:
How do we create national structures that will speak to policy and organization that can enforce that policy? As the Xicana/o population increases, we find ourselves more disenfranchised from the power structure. How do we build autonomous structures of our own outside of the large corporate funders and the government? Now more than ever our community is ready to collectively take the reins and work for liberation. Where are the organizing trainers and others to assume some type of responsibility?
We propose the following outcomes for the conference:
1. The creation of a national organization to generate and enforce political policy for Xicana/os
2. The creation of a Xicana/o think tank to create policy and research specifically for Xicana/os
3. A national training institute for organizers
Call for ProposalsProposals will need to address one of the following areas:
1. How do we create national structures that will speak to policy and organization that can enforce that policy? As the Xicana/o population increases, we find ourselves more disenfranchised from the power structure. How do we build autonomous structures of our own outside of the large corporate funders and the government?
2. Now more than ever our community and our allies are ready to collectively take the reins and work for liberation. Where are the organizing trainers and others to assume some type of governing responsibility? What models of organizing and resistance are you using in your communities?
Presentation Formats
Panels or Papers:
These presentations are an opportunity to describe and share current work, theoretical perspectives, or research. Panels may be organized ahead of time by the group submitting the proposal as well as conference organizers grouping similar papers onto one panel. Presentations in this section will be 1 hour in length and should allow time for discussion.
Workshops:
Interactive workshop will share specific strategies for organizing or teaching and are an opportunity for individuals or groups to engage conference participants in hands-on, practical applications for addressing the conference themes. Workshops will be 1 hour and 30 minutes long.
Performances:
A limited number of artistic or cultural performances will be selected for the conference. Performances should connect to the theme of the larger call and address the outcomes in a performative manner. Performances will vary in length.
Proposal Submissions:
Proposals should be submitted to info@saveethnicstudies.org as an MS Word file no more than 500 words in length. All proposals should must address the following areas:
1. Title, type of proposal (paper/panel, workshop or performance), lead presenter and organization, additional presenters and organizations.
2. Content in relation to the conference: How will this presentation address the conference theme and how will this presentation help to advance the goals of the conference?
3. Format: Describe the proposed presentation in terms of the sequences of activities to be shared as well as any resources participants will receive. We encourage interactive, experiential presentations that engage the audience and are participatory in nature.
Proposals are due by September 14, 2012. Notifications of acceptance will be sent out by September 30, 2012.
Conference Fee: Conference organizers are committed to offering access to anyone interested and hope that this will become an annual gathering of diverse individuals committed to a revolutionary praxis of hope. To cover the costs of facilitating the conference the following fee will be due with registration:
Individuals: $25
Individuals associated with an institution: $50
"As individuals or as peoples, by fighting for the restoration of our humanity we will be attempting the restoration of true generosity. And this fight, because of the purpose given it, will actually constitute an act of love." – Paulo Friere
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