Sporeprint Infoshop

The Spore is an amazing, transformative social space used for community education and care. I have attended meetings there on Friday evenings (oh look! almost time to go) that discuss Marxist philosophy and the ways in which Marxism effects/​affects lived experience. What’s really provocative and useful about this space/​these meetings is that it’s a mix of community members and academics and activitsts — so there is an exceptionally well-​rounded group with diverse opinions and points of view — making alliances across social, economic, and specialization categories.
For me, as a (rogue) academic this is such a necessary space, because so much of the time academics isolate themselves from the rest of the community and/​or think they «know better/​more» than those not in academia (ivory tower syndrome). Newsflash: Everyone in this community is valuable and worthy, and we all know differently from (as opposed to better than) each other… and just imagine, with our love (alliances), we can save the world. Not only this, but as the academic-​types learn from the non-​academic community, the non-​academic community is also able to access, for free, some of the philosophical ideas we toss around as students/​graduate students/​professors — because, really, what’s the point of theory without reality, and reality without theory, especially if you study or are interested in society and culture?
Sporeprint Infoshop is also a Food Not Bombs drop off center, and boasts a lending library of books on social issues, as well as an internet usage center. The website lists a monthly calendar of interesting events, such as discussions on ecofeminism, Marxism, and more. There is also a build-​you-​own bike night monthly, as well as other fun stuff, such as board game nights and various holiday parties. If this sounds good to you, I recommend dropping in — they have daily hours as well.
Community first. Think globally, act locally. Spaces like this are crucial to mending some of the social and economic alienation that postmodernity and globalization have lent us. Love this place.