Propose a Session for AMC2017

AMC2017 will be the most important Allied Media Conference that we have ever hosted. We are now seeking your proposals for sessions.

We are living in a time of fast changing political and social conditions. Now is a time to Get Ready and Stay Ready. The 19th annual Allied Media Conference, to be held June 15-18, 2017 in Detroit, will be a space to explore new forms of organizing, infused with creativity and deep listening, and synergy between diverse tactics.

From “Community Technology” to “Design Justice” to “Poetry and Publishing” to “Sound and Revolution”, AMC2017 will feature a dynamic range of more than 30 unique focus areas that explore the imaginative strategies that we need right now for a joyful and sustainable activism.

When you propose a session for the AMC, you can associate it with one of the AMC’s tracks or practice spaces, or offer it independently as part of our “General Track”. Learn more about all of the AMC2017 tracks, practice spaces and network gatherings and read the calls for participation listed below. Then submit your proposal!

The deadline for submitting your session proposal is March 12, 2017 at 11:59pm EST.

A Focus on Media-based Organizing

“Media-based organizing” is the common thread that connects the rich variety of topics explored by the AMC’s tracks, practice spaces, and network gatherings. Media-based organizing is any collaborative process that uses media, art, or technology to address the roots of a problem and advances holistic solutions towards a more just and creative world. Coordinators of each track and practice space will be reviewing session proposals with a special eye towards how the session incorporates or explores the practice of media-based organizing.

Learn more about media-based organizing here.

Tracks and Practice Spaces Call for Participation

The Tracks and Practice Spaces of the AMC are looking for diverse and engaging session ideas. We especially love sessions that share interesting ideas, strategies, and tools in an accessible way, and that offer opportunities for continued work and connections beyond the AMC.

• A “track” is a series of sessions connected by a shared theme.
• A “practice space” is a hands-on open studio space dedicated to a creative practice such as dance, screen-printing, or technology-building that spans the four days of the conference.

The coordinators of each track and practice space have written “calls for participation” that invite you to share your session ideas. You can read all the calls for participation at the links below. Once you are ready to propose, go here to fill out the form and submit your session idea. Remember, if your idea doesn’t fit with the specifics of these tracks or practice spaces, you can always propose it to the General Track. Learn more about the types of sessions you can propose here.

Tracks

• Resourcing and Sustaining Our Movements Track
• Radical Libraries, Archives, and Museums Track
• Kids & Caregivers Transform the World! Track
• Disrupting Mainstream History Track
• Art as Resistance Track
• Sound, Revolution and ARTivism Track
• Securing Our Spaces Track
• Electric Dreams, Digital Futures Track
• Poetry and Publishing Track
• Design Justice Track
• Youth Activism in Hip Hop Track
• Food Matters Track
• Healing Justice Track
• Wage Love Track
• General Track

Practice Spaces

• Radical Kitchen Practice Space
• BOOM Concepts Salon Practice Space
• People’s Pop-up Media Shop Practice Space

Network Gatherings

Network Gatherings are day-long mini-conferences convened by local or national networks on the Thursday of the AMC. Network gatherings are either open or invite-only. Some network gathering have written their own calls for participation, which you can view below. If you would like to propose content ideas to one of these network gatherings, please contact the coordinators directly via the contact information provided in the call for participation.

• FemTechNet Network Gathering
• Trans*Visible Network Gathering
• Abundant Bodies Network Gathering
• Reimagining Movement Resource Strategies Network Gathering
• What Feeds Us? Network Gathering
• Radical Community Spaces Network Gathering
• RAD Care Beyond Social Justice Network Gathering
• Collective Knowledge Network Gathering
• Families United 4 Justice Network Gathering

You can see a full list of all the network gatherings taking place at the AMC here.

Never presented at a conference before? Have questions?

We encourage proposals from groups who don’t often attend conferences and we are prepared to support you to lead an awesome session.

We will be hosting three online information sessions about the AMC session proposal process on:

• February 3rd at 6:00 p.m EST
• February 26th at 1:00 p.m. EST
• March 8th at 6:00 p.m. EST

Call info: 712-432-6258
Code: 108584

Email us with questions at amc@alliedmedia.org.

What makes a good AMC session?

The AMC is especially excited about sessions that uplift voices that are marginalized or less often heard, such as: Detroiters, youth and elders, parents, immigrants, queer and trans people, Indigenous communities, black people and people of color, deaf, disabled and chronically ill people, non-conventionally educated people, poor/economically disadvantaged people, sex workers or people working outside the conventional economy, and formerly incarcerated people.

We prioritize sessions that include presenters who are great representatives of the topics being discussed and explored. For example, sessions exploring youth-based media making should ideally include a young person as a lead or co-presenter.

We will be accepting sessions that offer a range of learning opportunities: from beginner to advanced.

Here are some more guidelines for what makes a good AMC session:

• A clear connection to media-based organizing.
• Holistically explores solutions that span the internal, interpersonal, and systemic dimensions of a problem
• Result in tangible resources and strategic next steps
• Values the expertise of people most impacted by a problem to solve that problem
• Creates collaboration and connection. We love AMC sessions designed by multiple organizations or individuals, and that connect to an ongoing organizing process that extends beyond the conference.
• Aims to be accessible to as many people as possible, people of diverse abilities, experiences, ages, and backgrounds.
• Hands-on, creative, imaginative, and fun

We can’t wait to hear your ideas for making this year’s conference the best AMC ever!