Strategies for Solidarity: a mini-conference organized by the Place + Space Collective

Hello Friends and Colleagues!

You’re invited to attend a mini-conference called Strategies for Solidarity: a mini-conference on forming collectives in the neoliberal academy. Organized by the Place + Space Collective, this half-day session is aimed at developing strategies and fostering friendships to navigate (and resist) the neoliberal academy. Together we will explore what is possible when we engage in solidarity to address collective and direct actions in a fun and supportive environment.

When: Friday, Dec 8th, 2017
Time: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (registration at 12:30 p.m.)
Location: SFU Harbour Centre Room 2270, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver.
Registration: Free. Please register online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/strategies-for-solidarity-tickets-39226575744 

Territory Acknowledgement: This conference takes place on the unceded, ancestral territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We recognize the many ways that Indigenous resistance and dedication to the land has deeply informed our own activism, both within and outside the academy.

Accessibility: The main entrance is located on the south side of the building, off of Hastings Street (can be accessed via ramp and automatic door with push button activation). This is the recommended wheelchair entrance to the SFU Harbour Centre building. There is a centrally located elevator in the east corridor of the building. There are accessible washrooms on both the Main and 2nd Floors. We are committed to making this event accessible for you. If you have accessibility needs that are not addressed in the above description, please contact us at placeandspacecollective@gmail.com.

Sustainability: We are striving to make this event as socially and environmentally sustainable as possible. Please support this effort by bringing your water bottle, reusable coffee cup or mug, pen and paper. Additionally, we encourage you access the venue by walking, biking, rolling (skateboard, scooter, etc.), and transit.
 
SFU Vancouver Campus is conveniently located at Harbour Centre (515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, V6B 5K3). Please consider the following access options:

Skytrain, SeaBus and West Coast Express

The nearest SkyTrain station for SFU Harbour Center is Waterfront Station. Waterfront Station is also served daily by SeaBus from North Vancouver. The West Coast Express commuter train travels to downtown Vancouver from Mission, Port Haney, Maple Meadows, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam Central and Port Moody during peak hours, Monday through Friday. See the West Coast Express website for a complete schedule. Current schedules, route maps and fares SkyTrain, SeaBus and West Coast Express services are available at TransLink <http://www.translink.ca/>.

Buses
Numerous bus routes serve the downtown area and SFU's locations daily. Please consult TransLink's maps and schedules at TransLink.

Cycling
Unfortunately, no bicycles are allowed inside any of the SFU Harbour Center. Nearby storage options include the following:
Hastings Street between the main concourse and the HC Atrium Lobby. Please note that numerous thefts occur in this area. If you require a bike lock on a temporary basis, they are available from SFU Security. 400 West Cordova Parkade: Accessible until midnight Monday — Saturday. Closed on Sundays.

About the Place + Space Collective: We are an interdisciplinary academic solidarity collective based at Simon Fraser University. We came together in September 2016, and since then have worked in solidarity activities and actions, including several presentations on forming solidarity collectives in academia. More information about our collective can be found here <http://www.sfu.ca/geography/student-organizations/geography-place-space-collective.html>. 

More details about the mini-conference, including session details can be found here: https://solidarityconference.wordpress.com/  Please feel free to forward this invitation to anyone in your networks that you feel may be interested in joining us at this event.

Hope to see you there!
The Place + Space Collective

(Diandra Oliver, Samantha Thompson, Natalia Perez, Steve Tornes, Alex Thumm, John Pickering, Oliver Keane, Trevor Wideman)

Diandra Oliver
SFU Geography / Place + Space Collective