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Free Skool Schedule

Summer 2005

Here it is (so far). Click on the link (or scroll down) for a full description of each class, including dates, times and locations. More classes are coming so be sure to visit this page again.

All classes are drop-in friendly unless otherwise marked.

We are interested in your comments, ideas, suggestions and/or help. We are still looking for more classes and teachers. Remember: anyone can teach absolutely anything. Contact us at freeskool@barringtoncollective.org.

Course Descriptions

Monsters, Robots and Beasts

• Transforming Everyday Experience Into Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Stories

• AGES: 10 and over

• DATES: Every Thursday, (no more Tuesdays) June 21st - August 2nd

• TIME: 4pm-6pm
• LOCATION: Nabalom Bakery Basement 2708 Russel at College, Berkeley Turn your everyday experience into fiction! Learn how to write stories that will scare, suprise and amaze your friends! This class will teach about the process of writing fiction: brainstorming, developing description, revising and editing short stories. People with all types of fiction writing interests are welcome and encouraged to join this class book binding on Aug. 2nd Laura Zink is a student of English Literature at Mills College in Oakland. She tutored English and worked as a classroom aide at Diablo Valley College from 02/02 to 5/04. She also wrote, edited and self-published the creative writing zine N.P.F.O. from 04/00 to 05/03.

Steps To Buying Your First Home

• Maximum Attendance: 8 people

• DATE: on June 9th, 23rd, July 14th, 28th, and August 11th.
• TIME: 7-8pm
• LOCATION: Shaw Properties 400 45th St. Oakland
• NAME: Donna Milette One night seminar on how to purchase a home in the difficult and demanding Bay Area Market. Information on how to understand and navigate the home buying process, from start to finish. This class will begin with the process of pre-approval for financing, including income requirements and credit issues. From there students will learn helpful tips on finding a realtor, and of course the house of their dreams! Donna Milette has worked in several areas of the mortgage industry in the Bay Area since 1989. She has owned her own mortgage brokerage for the past 8 years. Most recently Shaw-Milette Financial has partnered with Shaw Properties and both companies provide residential financing, real estate sales and property leasing and management. Donna is also a real estate investor in California and Florida.

Criminal Records Part I

• DATES: Tuesday, June 14
• TIME: 6-7:30 PM
• LOCATION: La Pena Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck, Berkeley
• NAME: Margaret Richardson
• BIO: Margaret Richardson is a staff attorney in the Decriminalization of Poverty Practice at the East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley, CA. Her work focuses on the intersection of poverty and criminal law including representing individuals seeking to clean up their criminal records, victims of police misconduct at citizen police review board hearings in Oakland and Berkeley, status citation defense for homeless people in Berkeley.
• DESCRIPTION: This class will focus on remedies available for people with criminal records in Alameda County. Many people believe that their records no long impact them once they've completed their sentence, unfortunately this is not true. This seminar will walk through the remedies available for individuals with criminal records in California. It will outline the legal process as well as the benefits and limitations of the remedies.

Criminal Records Part II

• DATE: June 28
• TIME: 6-7:30 PM
• LOCATION: La Pena Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck, Berkeley
• NAME: Margaret Richardson
• BIO: Margaret Richardson is a staff attorney in the Decriminalization of Poverty Practice at the East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley, CA. Her work focuses on the intersection of poverty and criminal law including representing individuals seeking to clean up their criminal records, victims of police misconduct at citizen police review board hearings in Oakland and Berkeley, status citation defense for homeless people in Berkeley.
• DESCRIPTION: This class will focus on dealing with a juvenile record in Alameda County. Juvenile records can be sealed and destroyed (and should be!) but many people don't know what this process involves. This seminar will walk through the remedies available for individuals with juvenile records in California. It will outline the legal process as well as the benefits of dealing with juvenile records.

Tenant/Landlord Legal Issues

• DATE: June 6 through August 1, no class July 4, Mondays
• TIME: 6-7 PM
• LOCATION: Long Haul Infoshop 3124 Shattuck Berkeley
• NAME: Francisco Marquez
• BIO: Graduate of UC Berkeley with a BA in Philosophy, Tenant/Landlord Legal Counselor working for local Nonprofit organization for 3 years.
• DESCRIPTION: Understanding your legal relationship with your landlord: learn basic tenant/landlord law, its applications to real world scenarios, and resources available to the community.

Liberation and Reality: On the Move

• NAME: This class has been cancelled due to travel plans. Sorry! Look for it in the fall.

• DATES:
• TIME: .
• LOCATION:
• DESCRIPTION: This discussion-based class is designed to understand and critique society as a whole. Looks at anomalies of our mainstream worldview and seeks to explore alternative understandings. It seeks to connect theory and reality and action and thought. Finally we explore theories of social change. There is a choice of a couple readings for each class. We will meet once to set the stage, We will than wait one week. Then, we will meet for one hour on ten straight weeknights. This course has been tried at UC Berkeley and is being refined to enable all students of the course to facilitate this course upon completion. Additionally, it is being tried in progressive enclaves in a farm in Oregon, and potentially in Santa Cruz with the potential to spread consciousness, community and liberation horizontally.
• BIO:

Yoga

• DATES: Tuesdays, July 1- August 31
• TIMES: 6-8 PM
• NAME: Brian Quinn
• BIO: Briann Quinn is an RN. He is currently teaching yoga at Castro Valley Yoga, and an advanced studies student at Piedmont Yoga Studio.
• KIDS: ok, if interested
• LOCATION: FM Smith Park near Lake Merritt
• DESCRIPTION: Beginning yoga.

Community Mental Health Discussion Group

• DATES: Thursdays June 1 until August 31
• TIMES: 6-7:30 pm
• LOCATION: Willard Park Derby and Hillegass, Berkeley
• NAME: no one

• DESCRIPTION: This class will have no facilitator. It will be up to the participants to run the discussion. This is meant to be a starting ground for a cooperative and mutually run community support group. If you have questions, you can email us at freeskool@barringtoncollective.org.

Beer Brewing

• DATES: every Saturday, June 24th to August 12th

• TIMES: noon to 5pm (in kitchen until 1:30, in courtyard until 5pm)
• LOCATION: Casa-Zimbabwe Co-op, 2422 Ridge Rd. Berkeley, CA 94709
• NAME: Ben Friedman
• DESCRIPTION: I was planning on dong the brewing, transferring and bottling all on the same day, which for one person takes about 5 to 6 hours, not including bottle washing, which I'll do the in advance. A good time for me to start would be about 11 am or noon, so as to finish by 5 or 6 at the latest. I figure that I'll be brewing in the kitchen until about 1 or 1:30, then I'll move down to the courtyard to bottle and transfer. People can learn everything in one day, or just stay for a part of the process one day, and see the other parts another Friday. People can also bring their own supplies and ingredients and brew their own beer.
• BIO: I started brewing when I was a senior in high school at the age of 18, since that's how old you have to be to buy a lot of the necessary stuff like yeast. I learned to brew with my friend Joseph one Saturday afternoon at a free demo/class. The first batches I made turned out great, so not much experience is necessary to make great beer, just a good recipe and some basic know-how, which can be learned in an afternoon. I make all types of ales, but no lagers, because they require lower temps for fermentation. The process for both is basically the same anyway. So come and learn how to make your own delicious homebrewed ale!

YAY FOR BEER!

Welding

• DATES: Monday, June 20th
• TIMES: 5-8pm
• LOCATION: 2601 Adeline #130 (at 26th Street)
• NAME: Gabe Wilson
• CONTACT: (707)-332-9024
• DESCRIPTION/BIO: maximum of 5 people so call to reserve a space. Gabe is a welder, who has done mostly construction/industrial work, but can help sculptors as well. This is a one time class (but may be expanded), and is an informal workshop which can cover all experience levels, and will include MIG, TIG, Stick and Oxy-Acetylene welding.

Creating a California Non-Profit 501(c)(3)Corporation.

• DATES: June 9, June 23, July 14, July 28, August 11
• TIMES: 6-8 PM
• LOCATION: Long Haul Infoshop, 3124 Shattuck, Berkeley
• NAME: Patty Pink

• CONTACT: freeskoolyes@yahoo.com

• DESCRIPTION: Workshop goal is to actually form a non-profit corporation. All ages welcome. Class size maximum 5 persons. Email for advance registration and information: <freeskoolyes@yahoo.com> FREE!

DIY Meditation

• Facilitators: Ashley McNamara and Sam Bernier

• Location: 1918 Bonita Way, Berkeley
• Date: (one session class) Sunday, June 19th
• Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pm
• Description: We'll share basic postures and practices used in sitting meditation. We'll discuss how to set up your own regular practice at home, where you can find other people to practice with in the Bay Area, how the practice of meditation can help us to take care of ourselves, have healthier relationships, and work sustainably towards changing this world we've been given. If people are interested in continuing to meet, we are hoping to begin an ongoing DIY weekly meditation group.
• Bios: We're both active members of the Berkeley Zen Center who have been studying Buddhist meditation and sitting on our own for a number of years. We're always hatching schemes to create some crossover between people engaged in spiritual practice and people who identify with the DIY/Radical community. We're hoping this class will be one such bridge.

Grant Writing

• Facilitator: Ashley McNamara

• Location: 1918 Bonita Way, Berkeley
• Date: Wednesday, June 29, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
• Description: Sometimes you have to learn new dances with the enemy... In this class we'll talk about how to write a good grant proposal that will get you or your group the money you need to fund all your wild dreams. We’ll talk about format, language, research, drafts, timelines, budgets, and all the other bizarre but necessary details that go into crafting a document that can get you the money you need from the people who have it. If people have ongoing specific proposals they're working on and want to set up another date for following up, I'm open to making that happen.
• Bio: When one of my crazy dreams suddenly caught on fire and started becoming an "organization," I inadvertently slipped into the world of writing grants and raising money. A few years later I'm one of the people running The Icarus Project, a non-profit community based website, support network, and underground media project created by and for people struggling with bipolar disorder and other dangerous gifts that are commonly labeled as mental illnesses. We are currently funded entirely by donations and grants, all of which I wrote. So I feel like it's time to give back to my community and share a little of what I've figured out in this strange world of funding goals and quarterly reports…

Insects for Kids

• Name: Eric Rippchen-Pennalla
• Dates: Wednesdays, June 22- July 27
• Time: 9-10am
• Space: Ecology Center 2530 San Pablo, Berkeley
• Kids: Ages 5-10
• Needs: at least one older person to assist

• PLEASE PREREGISTER: email freeskool@barringtoncollective.org

• Course Description: Join us as we learn all about the lives of insects. From ladybugs to butterflies, we will explore the ins and outs of their tiny world through investigations in insect morphology, behavior and life-cycles. Students will also enjoy real-life specimens and art projects they get to take home.
• Bio: Eric is a geology student at UC Berkeley who teaches kids in a variety of science subjects including chemistry, biology and physics.

Speculative and Practical folklore

• Name: Thomas Albin
• Dates: Wednesdays June 8-July 6
• Time: 7-8pm
• Space: La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, Berkeley
• Course Description: A look at folk practices in the United States." In this class we will discuss American folk practices from around the country but specifically Southern/South-Eastern, Pennsylvanian, Appalachian and Ozark folk practices. We will discuss the beliefs, superstitions and charms of American folk practices with a few practical demonstrations.
• Bio: Thomas Albin has had over a decade of experience working with American folklore. He is fully conversant with the native practices of Hexen Croft, Hoodoo, Conjure and the practices of the Appalachian and Ozark mountain folk. Thomas applies his knowledge of these practices to serve the needs of the community in various areas, from winning a court case

to finding a lost love.

Introduction to Palo Mayombe

• Name: Thomas Albin
• Dates: Wednesdays June 8-July6
• Time: 8-9pm
• Space: La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck, Berkeley
• Course Description: A look at the practices and beliefs of Palo Mayombe, a Cubanised form of indigenous Congolese religious practice." In this class we will discuss Palo Mayombe. We will discuss the different traditions or Ramas and some of the differences between them. We will discuss the main "deities" or the Nkisi and their functions and temperaments. We will discuss some of the rites and spells of Palo Mayombe. The last class will be a wrap up and a practical demonstration in the form of a Misa Espiritual.
• Bio: Thomas Albin is an initiated priest of Palo Mayombe.

Basic Computers Workshop

• Name: Nils Bailey
• Dates: Even Thursdays: June 9, June 23, July 14, July 28, August 11
• Time: 6-8 pm
• Location: Long Haul Info Shop 3124 Shattuck, Berkeley
• Kids: All Ages Welcome

• Needs: Limited class size, preregistration PLEASE (preregister to freeskool@barringtoncollective.org)

Beginning Capoeira

• Name: Yogi Hendlin
• Phone: (510) 472-2948
• Dates: Saturdays.. July 16, 23, 30, August 6, 13, 20, 27
• Time: 11am-1pm
• Space: MLK park, Milvia and Center St, Berkeley
• Kids: Not looking to specifically work with kids due to martial-arts complications.
• Course Description: Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art/dance/gymnastic exercise while has its origins in West Africa (esp. Angola). This course will train in the same tradition as the current regional (pronounced hay-john-al)style, which is highly aerobic. We will focus on form and culture as well as on flexibility and strength. Everyone will work together, and the class will progress according to the level of the students. This is a beginning class.
• Bio: Yogi Hendlin (Cahinero) is cordão amarello-verde and has been practicing Capoeira on and off for 5 years. He has trained in Brazil twice with Cordão de Ouro and various other academies. He practices capoeira angola as well as regional, and speaks Portuguese.

Philosophy and Politics

• Name: Yogi Hendlin
• Dates: Thursday, July 21
• Time: 6pm
• Space: Grassy Knoll, at Sather Gate, Next to Wheeler, on UC Berkeley Campus
• Course Description: This class will have it's genesis in a round-table discussion to take place on the first Thursday evening of July to determine it's contours. The discussion, as well as the class, which really is more of a workshop, will center on the perennial question of why philosophy and politics appear to be irreconcilable. We will trace this original rupture to the Trial of Socrates (which Hannah Arendt calls the philosophical equivalent to the Trial of Jesus), and the possible reasons why this fissure has not healed. More importantly for this workshop, we will discuss and deconstruct how various philosophical outlooks are always inherent in political action and policy, and how WE might construct a working common philosophy to then engage in appropriately politically. This dimension of the course entails ACTUALLY PARTAKING IN POLITICAL ACTION, the extent of which will be determined by our political philosophy constructed. As in all action, the parameters remain radically open as to what occurs, for the phenomena of freedom, once unleashed conforms to no artificial barriers...
• Bio: Yogi Hendlin, philosopher and political activist, has two B.A.s (honors) in Political Science and Rhetoric from UC Berkeley and a MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics. He is passionate about political engagement as the only way

of channeling the negativity of skepticism regarding our current state into effective and dynamic action. Yogi has participated in local, national, and international politics in varying degrees and hope that you endeavor to as well.

Radical Mental Health

• TIMES: Tuesdays 6 - 7:30, through the end of August, possibly extending into the fall.
• LOCATION: Long Haul Infoshop 3124 Shattuck, Berkeley
• NAME: Bay Area Radical Mental Health Collective
• DESCRIPTION: An exploration and discussion of the history, treatment, and politics of "madness" that radical folks face when dealing with their mental health. We'll address topics like: How has madness been defined? Does mental illness exist? How can we navigate the system if we need to? What alternatives are available? How can we learn effective self-care? What is the history of the emotional extremes commonly labeled as mental illness? What can we do in times of crisis? How can we apply principles of harm reduction? What are the politics behind mental health treatment in this country? How are experiences of mental health/mental illness affected by race, class, gender, and sexual orientation? How does trauma, both psychological and physical, affect our mental health?
• Bio: the Bay Area Radical Mental Health Collective is a group of people who have all struggled with mental health problems either in their own lives or as allies to friends and family. We are trying to open discussion about alternatives, provide resources, and get dialogue going about mental health in the radical community.

Alternative and Non-coercive Education

• DATES: Every other Tuesday June 7th through August 23rd (odd days)
• TIMES: 7-9pm
• LOCATION: Nabalom Bakery Basement 2708 Russell at College, Berkeley
• NAME: The Barrington Collective
• DESCRIPTION: This is a class facilitated by the Barrington Collective. We will talk about free schools (and skools), folk schools, self-education, home-schooling and numerous other alternatives to state run public education. We will also learn of different examples which already exist, like the Albany (NY) Free School and the Making Changes Freedom School in Richmond. We will cover the history, principles and realities of free schools and libertarian education, the problems with public schools, the crisis of OUSD and the East Bay Free School Project, itself.

Firearms; Use, Safety and Laws

• DATES: June 1st, 2nd and 4th
• TIMES: on 1st and 2nd; 7pm, on 4th; 11am
• LOCATION: 921 Apgar St (at Market) Oakland
• NAME: Brent
• DESCRIPTION: three seminars; 1- Basic firearm familiarity (this is the barrel, this is the trigger), on 2 - Laws and Loopholes (ie owning, carrying, manufacturing, importing, antiques, etc.), 3- (on June 4th) Field Trip to the range in Richmond, meet at location to carpool, bring $8 for range and $5 (optional) for fancy ammo. 1 is prerequisite for 3 but 2 and 3 are optional
• KIDS: not okay

Clases de Ingles Gratis (ESL)

• DATES: cada lunes y miercoles
• TIMES: lunes: 5-7 en la tarde, miercoles: 2-4 en la tarde
• A DONDE?: 2647 International Blvd. (por la esquina de International y 27th, en la oficina de Mujeres Unidas- cuarto 108)
• NAME: Rusty
• DESCRIPTION: Somos un colectivo de maestros. Queremos ofrecerles una alternativa gratis para aprender ingles. No creemos en las fronteras entre la gente, los paises y los idiomas. No necesitan traer nada solamente el deseo de aprender.

S&amp;M 101- An Overview

• DATES: Sat, July 2nd
• TIMES: 6-8pm
• LOCATION: 921 Apgar St. (at Market) Oakland
• NAME: Jessi Ross
• DESCRIPTION: In this class, we will go over the different aspects of most BDSM play to give participants an idea of which areas they may be interested in learning more about. Please bring questions, and any interests you may already have to class so that we may focus more on the interests of the people present.
• BIO: Jessi Ross is a queer switch anarchist with too many limiting yet ambigous labels it is digusting. For the past year, she has served as the cashier for Society of Janus, and continues to be active within the Bay Area Leather Community. She is currently attending City College of San Francisco working on her sex educator certificate. She recently completed 60 hours of sex education through San Francisco Sex Information and is currently a volunteer on the switchboard.

Conflict Skills

• DATES: Mondays June 6-27th
• TIMES: 7-8pm
• LOCATION: Oscar Wilde Coop, 2410 Warring St, Berkeley
• NAME: Chelsea Collonge and Anna Hake
• DESCRIPTION: Come learn about different approaches to conflict, your conflict style, active listening, effective communication, and the basic philosophies that aid in transforming interpersonal conflict.
• BIO: Both Chelsea and Anna are certified community mediators and are working with the Conflict Resource Center student group on the UC Berkeley campus to develop workshops on active listening, communication, and conflict transformation.

== Revolutionary Baking==

• DATES: see description
• TIMES: see description
• LOCATION: Nabalom Bakery, 2708 Russell Ave. Berkeley
• NAME: Crow

• DESCRIPTION: This is a very special opportunity-- Come learn baking in a one on one, hands-on situation from a profesional baker. Crow wants to show people on a one-on-one basis, so if you're interested, email us at freeskool@barringtoncollective.org, and we'll give you his email. After that, you two work out the dates, times, etc.

• BIO: Crow is an avid member of collectives. He has been working in a collectively owned bakery for four years now.

Want to see a class that is not listed here?

• Send your class ideas/requests via email to freeskool@barringtoncollective.org!

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