Hey there Free Schoolers!
No, we haven't forgotten about you... Our organizers just took an accidental summer break. Don't worry, we are coming back stronger than ever this fall.
Thank you to everyone who continued with their classes during our hiatus and to all the folks who submitted class proposals and have not yet heard back. You all are what keeps this project going. This next calendar is going to knock your socks off.
Our first meeting of the season is next Wednesday, August 4th @ 6:30. If you are interested in attending, call Hillary at 937.361.1302 for the details.
If you have web design skills, teaching or outreach experience, a passion for community projects and/or an interest in sharing knowledge widely and openly, please consider coming to a meeting. With a larger volunteer network, we can be sure to avoid breaks like this in the future!
Look out for our new calendar this September and come visit our table at the New Orleans Anarchist Bookfair, October 19th and 20th at Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center.
See you soon!
The New Orleans Free School offers quality, no-cost, volunteer-run, community-based educational opportunities for people of all ages throughout the city of New Orleans.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
We're still here!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Change is coming!
Hey there Free Schoolers!
Just wanted to give y'all a heads up, we are making some changes to the Calendar format and the Class Proposal Form. Look out for new versions of those next month. In the meantime, go to our current classes page and check out all the great stuff going on this month.
Our organizer group is still meeting every other week but not at a regular time. If you want to come see what we do or get involved, give us a call, send us an email and we will make sure you know when and where to find us.
Our search for a class/office space continues. Let us know if you have any leads on free/cheap/totally awesome spaces we could call home.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Help NOFSN find a home!
We need your help!
The New
Orleans Free School Network has decided that in order to better serve
and support alternative education in our city, we need a central space
to work from. Our dream is to have a space where we can hold office
hours, host a variety of classes and store records of past classes and
educational materials.
Our perfect location would be a safe,
handi-capped accessible, semi-public space with restrooms that we could
furnish with some seating, tables, bookshelves and a coffee maker and
have 24 hour access to. This spot might be a room in a community center,
an office building, warehouse or a house. This might be a place that
needs some attention and we would work-trade with the owner/property
manager in exchange for use of the space. We aren't too picky about the
geographic location.
Do you have the perfect place for us? Do you know
someone who might? Please spread the word about our school house search
and contact us if you have any leads. Cheap is good, free is better! We really appreciate your support!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Check out all the awesome classes happening this month!
Creating Community Art Projects in Your Neighborhood
Fairgrinds @ 3133 Ponce De Leon StThis hands-on workshop will discuss different ways to implement a socially-engaged art project in a community, ranging from something traditional like a mural to something more experimental like a public intervention project. Creating collaborations with other artists, community partners, local resources, and bureaucracy to get your project up and running will also be discussed. Finally, we will brainstorm a community arts project (as a group, or solo, your choice) and work on the design and concept. A follow-up meeting will take place (date determined by group) to discuss the progress on research and development of the projects.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Upcoming class: Change your oil - Change your life
Several people have been asking for a free school class on car mechanics. Well, here you go!
Change Your Oil - Change Your Life
Interest Meeting: Sun Jan 27 at 3:00 pm
Contact Ed at brokefastgarage@gmail.com for location!
Date and Time for regular
class meeting TBD (probably starting in February). If anyone interested
cannot make the meeting, just email me experience/interest level and
time preferences.
This
is a class for people who want to know how cars work and how to keep
them working. The exact content will depend on peoples interests and
experience, but we’ll talk about the operating mechanisms and major
components of cars, how they work and interact, and how they break.
We’ll also do some looking at actual cars and identifying parts,
differences between models, and common problems. Finally we will look
at the tools and equipment used to work on cars, and then use it to work
on some cars. How hands on any given class is will be weather
dependent, so wear clothes you aren’t too attached to.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u5LxrBdAlehg2i7W4e0wKbxpSu8FaLDXexj5B7JKRpE/edit
The order and content of the syllabus are always up for review and revision based on the interests and knowledge of the class.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
New Year, New Classes!
January 2013 Class Descriptions
Freedom to Build, Phase 2: phased 2 build
see http://freedomtobuild.blogspot.com forclass times, locations, and up-to-date info
A hands-on informal study of architecture history focused on the
creation, control, and usage of spaces people use + shape in New
Orleans and elsewhere... researching, discussing, and building.
When + where we meet will change depending on the topics, so
check our website for times, info, and locations.
Contact Jackson: jackson.blalock@gmail.com
All Ages Knitting
Tuesdays 7:30 PMCommunity Book Center @ 2523 Bayou Rd
Come learn to knit. Some materials provided. All ages and abilities
welcome!
Contact Lena: 267-312-5817
Rope Bite (formerly the Art of Adult Ropes)
Monday 1/14, 1/28, 6:15 PMMarigny area, contact teacher for location
From the ancient Japanese art of Shibari to the present and diverse
world today, we will be exploring how we can use rope for love,
lust, and a show, the bondage, the power exchange, the art, and the
flow. The first 30 minutes of every group session is for new
students to learn the basics, as well as for returning students to
warm up and review. The class will include field trips to allow for
extra learning and real-life exploration. NOLA has some great
spots for gorilla/flash tying; let's find them. Practice rope is
available, but it is recommended that you bring your own. Come to
class to learn about the different types of rope and how to select
them.
Contact Tyrus: 816-210-4077
Crock N Jug Club
WednesdaysContact instructor for time and location
In this class we will go over the basics of fermenting food and
drink products, as well as get our hands dirty and make some
awesome stuff!
1/9: Sauerkraut & Kimchi & Fermented Salsa
1/16: Alcohol (mead? beer?) & Kombucha
1/23: Basic Cheesemaking
Contact Andy: an.hasp@gmail.com
Empower Hour Series: Empower Your Instincts
Friday, Jan 4, 11:30AMHarmony Oaks Community Center @ 2514 Washington Ave
This informative and enlightening workshop focuses on the
importance of trusting your gut and following your instincts.
Contact Latrice: 504-265-8960
Free GED tutoring
Tuesdays, 6 PM and Thursdays, 10AMRAE @ 1212 St Bernard Ave
Resurrection After Exoneration is now offering free GED tutoring!
Classes are Tuesdays from 6-7:30pm (math focused) and
Thursdays from 10-11:30am (literacy focused). Attend either or
both. Please contact Sebastian if you have any questions or to sign
up! It's never too late to get your GED!!!
Contact Sebastian: 504-302-1940
Book reading: Eckhart Tolle, "The Power of Now"
Tuesdays, 6:30 PMFairgrinds Coffee House @ 3133 Ponce de Leon
This will be a book reading/ open discussion of the Nature of
Reality. Many of us are going through our spiritual paths alone yet
it is so much easier to have a support group and a safe place to
openly discuss the often complicated path toward higher
consciousness. We will also read/discuss supporting material from
Jiddu Krishnamurti, Deepak Chopra, Rene Descartes, the Vedanta
and Upanishads.
Required materials: Eckhart Tolle's, The Power of Now. There is a
free audio version online on YouTube.
Contact Leanne: lee_lee143@hotmail.com
Intro to Permaculture
Saturday, 1/26, 11 AM - 1 PMContact instructor for location
Permaculture is a design system for living that mimics nature. This
class is to introduce urban dwellers to how permaculture can help
live a more sustainable and rewarding life. Permaculture generally
includes using natural building, organic gardening and farming
methods that leave little impacts on the enviornment. This class is
also a pre-requisite for the Urban Survival Revival. Please preregister,
by emailing permaculturenola@gmail.com, as class size is
limited - cancellations can be made prior to 3 days before the event
to allow others to attend.
Contact Amy: permaculturenola@gmail.com
Zen Meditation Instruction
Sundays 8:45 AMMid-City Zen @ 3156 Toulouse
Every Sunday morning Mid City Zen will offer zazen (sitting
meditation) instruction before its usual morning meditation
program. Using the touchstones of upright posture and breath
awareness, we will acquaint ourselves with the movement of our
own minds. Please wear loose comfortable clothing.
Contact: midcityzennola@gmail.com
Punk Rock Takeover
Sundays 2-6 PMThe Big Top @ 1638 Clio St
PUNK ROCK TAKEOVER produces a weekly showcase of
diverse local bands from all around the Greater New Orleans area--
as well as the occasional national or international act--in order to
generate a cross pollination of musicians and fans to help foster a
more diverse and balanced music scene. All of our shows will
include bands of varying age groups and talent, bands from
different subcultural and geographical communities. All of the
proceeds from these shows will be funneled into local nonprofit
organizations, and the shows will also include speakers,
workshops, and skillshares from those organizations whenever
possible. One of our main goals with these events is to educate and
network people in a variety of ways, so they can take those skills
and create their own events or help where needed. Here's what we
can teach you: stage-managing, money-taking, sound-running,
food-cooking and -serving, flyering/promoting. You can show up
on any day you would like to learn/help.
Contact Nicole: NicoleBZ@me.com
Intro to Harm Reduction
Fridays 2:30-4:30 PMLGBT Community Center @ 2114 Decatur St
Harm Reduction is a perspective and a set of practical approaches to reduce
the negative consequences of drug use, incorporating a spectrum of
strategies from safer use to abstinence. In this course, we will demonstrate
some of the principles of Harm Reduction. Drop-ins welcome.
Contact: Nora & Michelle nolaharmreduction@gmail.com or call
504-535-4766
NOFSN Organizers Meetings
Want to get involved with the New Orleans Free School Network?Come to our weekly organizers meeting! NOFSN always needs
motivated people to help us flyer, fundraise, organize events, table
at festivals, create promotional materials and help with lots of
other fun stuff! Contact NOFSN for current meeting time and
location.
New class proposals are always accepted. If you would like your class to
appear on our printed calendar, please get your proposal to us by the
15th of the previous month. Proposal forms are available on our website,
at our weekly meetings and at the Iron Rail Bookstore @ 503 Barracks
For more information on the New Orleans Free School Network, please
visit our website at http://nolafreeschoolnetwork.blogspot.com. You can
also reach us by phone at 504- 484-9418 or by email at
nolafreeschoolnetwork@gmail.com