Politics of Place: Black & Indigenous Solidarity
Politics of Place is a methodology InSite utilizes to orient ourselves and others to the multiple narratives of place through performance, arts, music, walking and storytelling. We work artists, cultural workers, organizers and residents to develop a place-based approach to connect to land, history, and politics. In essence, we treat place as another facilitator in our trainings. To participate, please contact us.
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REPORT: 2024 Dreaming Futures: Black and Indigenous Solidarity in Phoenix Written and Published by: Studio for Creativity, Place and Equitable Communities Funded by: Primary funding by LISC Phoenix. with additional support by City of Phoenix Environmental Programs. |
PAST EVENTS
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Braiding Our Stories: Land, Housing and Place
(Walking Tour + ADA Golf Cart access) Politics of Place | Mon. Nov. 6 | 3 - 5 pm Location: Rio Salado (7th Avenue) Our last event in the series is a site-specific storytelling, poetry and performance walking tour to investigate and testify to the ongoing displacement of Black and Indigenous communities due to aggressive light-rail development and privatization along the downtown and south side corridor. Participants will learn about the histories of place and the environmental degradation along the Rio Salado River. Participants will learn about the ongoing cultural organizing and grassroots movements to protect small businesses and families from encroaching light rail displacement and increase cost of living associated with privatization. Accompanying this tour is a virtual map of displaced important cultural spaces and organizations due to light rail. 3:00 - 3:30: Greeting activity with Reframe Youth Arts 3:30 - 3:40: Welcome to Politics of Place InSite 3:30 - 4:15: Storytelling walking tour along the Rio 4:15 - 4:50: Community conversation 4:50 - 5:00 - Close *This is a walking tour on uneven ground with slight hills. We will provide ADA 6-seat golf cart transportation every 15 mins. **If you have additional accessibility needs, please contact [email protected]. |
Curated by: InSite Consultants & ReFrame Youth Arts
In collaboration with Black River Life, Cahokia Arts, Cihuapactli Collective, Savvy Pen, Mass Liberation AZ |
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Sharing the Fire: A Black and Indigenous Solidarity Event
Tues., Oct. 17 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm Curated by Black Rivr Life & Cihuapactli Collective Come sit around a fireplace with the Cihuapactli Collective and Black River Life to dialogue about the impact of shared harm, in a shared space of healing. We will convene outdoors behind the Sagrado Galleria on Oct. 17th at 6–8 p.m. for a conversation on the shared experiences of Black and Indigenous communities, particularly those in South Phoenix. This event is a family-friendly space that's free and open to the public. We are grateful to offer this event in collaboration with a group of Black and Indigenous Solidarity group that includes Mass Liberation AZ, Savvy Pen, Cahokia Phx, Black River Collective and the Cihuapactli Collective. Sponsored by InSite Consultants, LISC Phoenix and the City of Phoenix. |
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Rooted Memory: Black and Indigenous Creative Placekeeping
Tues., Sept. 19, 2023 | 7 - 9 pm Curated by: Cahokia Artspace & Saavy Pen Our culture is rooted in our memory and the stories we pass on. For many Indigenous and African American people, the roots of their past have been broken, so memory serves as an essential connecting branch. This panel discussion will explore the politics of place that memory, identity and land have on the way Black and Indigenous people navigate the world and preserve their culture. Artists and cultural workers do not just create artworks, they create practices that spark a creative break with the disciplines and narrow imagination that condition the status quo. This conversation will feature Black, Indigenous, Latinx, queer panelist leaders, including artists, community organizers and cultural workers whose work expands a vision for cultivating thriving spaces with Black Liberation and Indigenous Land Back at the center. |
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Popular Education Workshop | Weds., June 28 | 5:00 - 6:15 pm
Black & Indigenous Housing and Land Rights in Phx, AZ. Interactive workshop focusing on housing and land rights in Phoenix, AZ. In contemporary capitalist societies, the economic power of owning land is critical, allowing the building of equity to access resources to fund education, businesses, more land ownership, and more self-determination for one’s descendants. Today, Black and Indigenous communities are navigating these relationships to land while mapping and acting to build community economics that are decoupled from exploitative systems of production and trade. We will learn and discuss important strategies for solidarity and policy change to support the liberation and thriving across shared struggles. |
Land, Place and Indigenous Placekeeping
Join Cahokia Art Space, InSite Consultants, Mass Liberation AZ and LISC Phoenix for an evening of art, storytelling and discussion about land, gentrification and the power of Indigenous placekeeping projects to sculpt narratives of liberation and land rematriation in the desert.
6:00 - 6:30 - Meet & Greet 6:30 - 8:00: Public Panel and Conversation 
Join Mass Liberation AZ, InSite Consultants and LISC PHX as we share findings from the 2022 survey of South PHX residents and their connection to the history of displacement.
This conversation will share the top findings about harms toward Black, Latinx, Indigenous and unsheltered communities in south, central and west PHX. Get tix here: Eventbrite |
Politics of Place (in-person gathering)
Politics of Place is a methodology InSite crafted to orient ourselves and others to the multiple narratives of place through walking and storytelling. We work with organizers and residents to develop a place-based approach to equity and justice. We will learn about the history of the Campo Santo Mexicano (Sotelo-Heard Cemetery) and connect this history to other communities in South Phx. Join us for a panel discussion with Collette Watson, Ali Nervis and more about the findings of Mass Liberation AZ's 2022 Report: "Pushed Out: Displacement in South Phoenix"
With a special ceremony with Cihuapactli Collective and community members to honor the location and place. All ages welcome! 2:00: Opening ceremony with Cihuapactli Collective 2:15: Sharing about the location 2:30: The Displacement Report Presentation 2:45: Panel discussion 3:30: Poem & Storytelling of place 3:45: Call to Action 4:00: Closing ceremony with Cihuapactli Collective MC Ebone Johnson "Muse" Virtual Conversation
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Politics of Place (Food Sovereignty)
Saturday, April 9, 2022 (2 pm - 4:30 pm) Politics of Place is a methodology developed by InSite Consultants to orient ourselves and others to the multiple narratives of place through walking and storytelling. We work with organizers and residents to develop a place-based approach to policy-making, equity, and justice. In essence, we treat place as another facilitator in our trainings.
*Masks are recommended 2:00: Opening ceremony and honoring Cihupactli Collective
2:30: Conversation-- Food Sovereignty, Land Back and Abolition 3:00: Performance: Racquel McKenzie 3:15: Conversation-- Funds to Feed Grant Recipients 3:45: Story share with Christy Moore 4:00: Closing ceremony and honoring Cihupactli Collective MC's Jessica Valiente & Ebone Johnson Featuring: DJ Rikki Tee Guest Appearance with State Representative Reginold Boulding |
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Health Justice & Solidarity
Move beyond allyship to standing in solidarity with those most impacted by health disparities. Learn key strategies to standing with Black, Indigenous and Latinx communities to provide the best care during the pandemic and beyond.
Please note: This work was on March 8, now moved to April 26. |
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Public Workshop: Addressing Whiteness
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Ground Rules for Zoom
-Sincere questions are welcome, but we will not debate with you;
-The work of racial justice is not about your personal feelings, your white fragility, or good intentions;
-You may leave the Zoom at any time, our facilitators may also remove you at any time;
-If you find this conversation of value, please donate to www.masslibaz.org or tqpueblo.org
-Sincere questions are welcome, but we will not debate with you;
-The work of racial justice is not about your personal feelings, your white fragility, or good intentions;
-You may leave the Zoom at any time, our facilitators may also remove you at any time;
-If you find this conversation of value, please donate to www.masslibaz.org or tqpueblo.org