Your special contribution to our 10 year anniversary campaign will help us finish the year strong and ready to start the next 10 years of Love and Solidarity for the East Side, Saint Paul, and beyond!

Love & Solidarity Symposium: A Decade of Commitment to Justice, Equity, and Community

Join us in celebrating a decade of commitment to justice, equity, and solidarity at the East Side Freedom Library’s Love & Solidarity Symposium. As we commemorate our 10th anniversary, we proudly invite you to be part of a transformative gathering.

The Love & Solidarity Symposium brings together Artists, Activists, Academics, and Organizers who illuminate how communities unite in acts of solidarity. Together, we address the topic of collective action, mutual aid, and building solidarity in the face of historical injustices and ongoing challenges. Our symposium explores a decade of work and commitment to the interconnectedness of labor struggles, racial equity, justice, and broader social movements. Love and solidarity emerge as components of resistance and resilience, fostering a shared responsibility for positive change. Through the lens of Love & Solidarity, we explore contemporary moments that embody these values, grounding our collective efforts toward a society where love, collaboration, partnership, and solidarity are paramount to our work. 

At the heart of what we do best is bringing the community together in conversation to produce knowledge, share experiences, speak truths, and engage in active listening. Each session serves as a dynamic platform, fostering dialogue, encouraging critical thinking, amplifying community-driven approaches, and weaving the threads of love and solidarity into the fabric of our discussions. 

Saturday Keynote by:

Ellen David Friedman, Labor Notes – Board Chair

Sponsors:

Metropolitan State University – Office of the President

East Side Funders Group

Rooted Philanthropic

Institute for Advanced Study – University of Minnesota

Labor Education Services – University of Minnesota

Twin Cities Chapter of Japanese American Citizens League

Kofi Annan Institute for Global Citizenship – Macalester College

Center for Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender & Sexuality Studies – University of Minnesota

Department of African American & African Studies – University of Minnesota

Educational Studies – Macalester College

Juche Saint Paul

SYMPOSIUM WEEKEND SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, JUNE 7: Opening Reception (free) East Side Freedom Library

6:30 PM – 9:00 PM: Opening Remarks and Reception

SATURDAY, JUNE 8: Symposium (free)East Side Freedom Library

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Registration and Check-in

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM: Welcome Remarks

9:45 AM – 11:00 AM: Session 1 – Transforming Archives with a Focus on Community Perspectives and Driven Approaches

11:00 AM – 11:15 AM: Break

11:15 AM – 12:30 PM: Session 2 – The Intersection of Racial Justice and Labor Equity

12:30 PM – 1:45 PM: Lunch (pre-registration strongly encouraged)

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM: Session 3 – Erasing the Borders: Solidarity for the Centuries 

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM: Break

3:15 PM – 4:30 PM: Session 4 – Organizing with Joy, Prioritizing Mental Health, & Preventing Burnout

SATURDAY, JUNE 8: Banquet (paid event)Metro State University New Main

5:15 PM – 6:00 PM: Check-in

6:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Dinner: Juche St. Paul, Keynote: Ellen David Friedman, Community Awards

Thank you to our generous sponsors: