from the D.I.Y. Guide to Santa Cruz
AN INCOMPLETE LIST OF INDEPENDENT LOCAL PROJECTS
AN INCOMPLETE LIST OF INDEPENDENT LOCAL PROJECTS
There are many inspired and energized people in this town who are motivated to create new ways to relate to each other and the world around us. Here is a short list of some of these kinds of projects in Santa Cruz.
-Anarchist Library
at SubRosa, 703 Pacific Ave. 831-426-5242
Rad books! Topics include anarchy, cultural studies, history, ecology, gender and queer studies, indigenous studies, kids books, and more! Knowledge is power and can be inspiring and fun!
-Bike Church
703 Pacific Ave. 831-425-BIKE
http://bikechurch.santacruzhub.org
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bike-Church/
A community bike shop and tool cooperative. Mechanics help you learn how to fix your bicycle. We encourage you to get your hands dirty and familiarize yourself with this machine that you rely on.
-Central Coast Rising
centralcoastrising@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/centralcoastrising
A collective organizing to empower communities to protect land, air, & water. Our current focus is to stop the fracking of the Monterey Shale.
-Computer Kitchen
703 Pacific Ave.
http://computerkitchen.org
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Computer-Kitchen
Strives to reduce the amount of technology that ends up in landfills while providing a space, tools, and advice for people to work on and learn about this technology. Open Wed & Sun.
-The Fábrica
703 Pacific Ave.
http://thefabrica.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/thefabrica
A community textile arts cooperative organized by a collective of artists for the purpose of artistic collaboration and creative reuse. A space to work on projects or learn to sew, knit, etc.
-Free Radio Santa Cruz - 101.1 FM
101.1 FM. 831-427-3772
http://www.freakradio.org
On the air since 1995 without a license, broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, in defiance of federal regulations. Broadcasting programs unavailable on corporate controlled stations.
-Free Skool Santa Cruz
Calendars distributed widely around Santa Cruz
http://santacruz.freeskool.org
https://www.facebook.com/freeskoolsantacruz
A completely grassroots, collective effort to create an autonomous, mutual-support network. It is a direct challenge to institutional control and the commodification of learning and how we relate to each other.
-Guerilla Drive-In
http://www.guerilladrivein.org
https://www.facebook.com/scgdi
An outdoor movie theater under the stars that springs up intermittently. Showing great movies, bringing a broad community together, and reclaiming public space.
-Meristem Health Distro
Zines available at SubRosa
Information to empower ourselves and each other, take our well-being and healing into our own hands, and find ways to minimize our reliance on western medicine. Topics include herbalism, women's health, mental
health, emotional support, and more!
-Really Really Free Market
at SubRosa, 703 Pacific Ave
A completely free market every third Saturday based on a gift-economy striving to subvert exploitative exchange. Bring food to share, special items that you don’t use but can’t throw away, and/or special talents to offer people.
-Santa Cruz Food Not Bombs
http://www.santacruzfoodnotbombs.org
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SantaCruzFoodNotBombs
All volunteer project that recovers foods that would be otherwise discarded and prepares and serves vegan meals at the clocktower on Pacific, Sat./Sun. @ 4pm. We also share meals in solidarity with local groups seeking peace, social justice and a sustainable future. Contact: info@santacruzfoodnotbombs.org
-Santa Cruz Forest Keepers
http://saveuppercampus.org
https://www.facebook.com/saveuppercampus
Community organizing to protect the beautiful forest of Upper Campus from UCSC development plans. Check out the Spring Forest Walk calendar available at the above links.
-Santa Cruz Fruit Tree Project
http://fruitcruz.org
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Santa-Cruz-Fruit-Tree-Project
fruittreesc@gmail.com
A network of volunteers working to make use of surplus tree fruit, and to support tree propagation and maintenance.
-Santa Cruz Indymedia
https://www.indybay.org/santacruz
https://www.facebook.com/scimc
Indymedia is a tool for the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate tellings of truth, and is dedicated to improving the coverage of local events. You can easily publish articles, audio, photography, and video. Find & contribute online.
-Sin Barras
http://sinbarras.org
https://www.facebook.com/sinbarras
Contact sinbarras@gmail.com for meeting info.
A community-based group that works to build coalitions to eradicate the prison industrial-complex. We are working to build a long-term movement for a world without cages.
-SubRosa: a community space
703 Pacific Ave.
http://subrosaproject.org
https://www.facebook.com/subrosaproject
An anarchist and radical space offering anarchist literature, coffee and tea, shows and a weekly open mic, art by local artists, and a garden courtyard social space. It also hosts the Anarchist Library, Free Skool classes,
Meristem Health Distro, GDI, and more!
-Support the Santa Cruz 11
http://santacruz11.wordpress.com
The Santa Cruz Eleven are community members who are charged with a variety of offenses arising from their alleged involvement with the occupation of a vacant bank building in 2011. The remaining defendants go to trial sometime in 2014.
-Union of Benevolent Electrical Workers
http://ubew.org
Creating technical infrastructure for both local and global radical communities. UBEW provides mutual support to anti-authoritarian groups making radical social change through direct action, community
involvement, and education.
Another world is possible and we can create it in the here-and-now. At times our actions must also involve struggle against oppressive forces to protect and nurture that which we value and love. Of course, there are many more possibilities for meaningfully-relating than this short list encompasses. Act alone and with others to make this area a more vibrant place to be alive!
