What is Fair Childcare?

Fair childcare is respect and care for every child and every caregiver

Fair childcare respects mothers and doesn't separate them from their children through forces such as economics and borders

Fair childcare is divided across all sectors in a more equitable fashion

Fair childcare means all children to have the physical and emotional requirements they need to grow and blossom

Fair childcare supports caregivers and children's leadership & dignity

Fair childcare is respect for individual differences and culture

Fair childcare value's the work of growing bodies, hearts and spirits

Fair childcare is concrete support for all families

Fair childcare is community solidarity

Fair childcare centers those on the margins in this unjust system

Fair childcare is beauty and self expression, even when that self expression isn't so beautiful

Fair childcare is affordable, free, sliding scale, collective

Fair childcare is wonderful and necessary

Fair childcare is healthy

Fair childcare is equal

Fair childcare is putting your resources where your mouth is!

What does "Fair Childcare" mean to you?

original flyer and spanish translation here:

http://issuu.com/chinabodina/docs/pg_2_fairchildcare-4

This project was inspired by the "What is Fair Development ?" photo booth project (check out the photo set - lots of youth and kidz city volunteers mixed in!)

Fair Childcare Now! - Children's Programing at the Fair Development Conference Oct. 29

Hello! Kidz City is preparing for the children's programming for the Fair Development Conference (in Baltimore) at the end of the month. WE NEED LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS! Volunteer for a two-hour shift! Let me know if you are interested and mark the date

Time: Saturday Oct 29, from 9 am to 5

Place: 2640 Saint Paul

Estimated: 5-15 kids. But they don't really know.

For more info: http://unitedworkers.org/fair-development/conf/

I am also interested in assembling a planning/organizing team!

Second organizing meeting this tuesday, oct.11 at 6:30 in Hampden. Let me know if you would like to come. We will also have a volunteer orientation the week before the event.

yours for the long term intergenerational building,

china/kidz city

radkidcare@gmail.com

http://kidzcitybaltimore.blogspot.com/

ENVISIONING BRAINSTORMING IDEAS SO FAR (from United Workers Meeting):

* Make Halloween Costumes with/for Kids! They can use them to march around the next day for the Sunday action (There is going to be a giant pumpkin prop involved in the United workers demo), to feel part of the larger action, and also trick or treat in. I am thinking it would be neat to set up a sewing and costume station and get a lot of creativity going on around this.

Create a "Fair Development" GAME for children! Build Something meeting the criteria of using public resources fairly, with respect for all, and is sustainable. Or perhaps experience the game in two ways, with one boss; and then in a collaborative way. various ideas - but creating a game is a really cool idea!

Create a village, there own town. Building a community. Verbally or with waterpaints. Older kids building with younger kids.

Puppets

Workshops for Youth.

Assemble Packages of crayons, paper, and toys to put in each workshop so that children that go to workshops with caretakers have stuff there to be occupied with.

Work on ways to develop youth leadership, incorporate youth decision making.

Represent "Fair Development" in Kidz Terms: youth to experience collective decision making.

Work on a Fair Childcare Bill of Rights! What is fair childcare? Perhaps work with kids on a Children's Bill of Rights.

Photo Booth Project: If we make signs we could be part of the larger photo booth project which will ask a question like: "what is fair development?"

Develop some kind of idea for presentation that could come from the youth to the greater assembly before supper

Have ideas? Get in touch ASAP. Especially with workshop ideas and folks that could give workshops to youth. We need to put that program together.

More about the Fair Development Conference:

The 2011 Fair Development Conference is a going to be an incredible convergence of some of the most dynamic and effective organizers and scholars locally, nationally and even globally.

Check out the amazing program of workshops, events, and actions here!

People are traveling far and wide to share stories and strategies for building the power needed to develop our communities and economies in ways that respect the inherent worth of all people. From the Dominican Republic, Vermont, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, West Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania and elsewhere, organizers, artists, faith leaders, and students will be making their way to Baltimore to participate in the Fair Development Conference. We hope that you will make your way too.

So don’t miss out, register online today!

Be on the lookout for additional updates on Fair Development Conference events, actions, and news.

Here’s a list of just some of the participation groups

Amnesty International

Baltimore Algebra Project

Baltimore Bicycle Works

Centro de los Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha

Civilian Soldier Alliance (CivSol)

Coalition for Economic Justice

Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Community Law Center

Democracy Collaborative

Fight for a Fair Economy

Generations for Peace and Democracy

Good Jobs Better Baltimore

Iraq Veterans Against the War

InvertedPower.org

Justicia Global

Keeper of the Mountains Foundation

Media Mobilizing Project

Michigan Welfare Rights Organization

Milk Not Jails

Northeast Pennsylvania Organizing Center

National Economic and Social Rights Initiative

Philadelphia Student Union

Picture the Homeless

Poverty Initiative

Puppet Underground

Spectres of Liberty

United Workers

Urban Justice Center

Vermont Workers Center

War Resisters League

And More!

BOOKFAIR!!!! starting tomorrow ...

They've got a great line up of talks aimed at radical parents and kids
this year in the Radical Bookfair Pavilion at the Baltimore Book
Festival, taking place outdoors in Mt. Vernon Place, September
23rd-25th:

Saturday 9/24 @ 1PM: Rad Dad

Tomas Moniz, creator of the zine "Rad Dad", presents the new
anthology collecting the best of "Rad Dad" and "Daddy
Dialectic"---essential reflections on the politics of
fatherhood. (In the Radical Bookfair Pavilion)

Sunday 9/25 @ Noon: Encouraging Reluctant Readers

Iris Kirsch, Baltimore City public school teacher, leads a
discussion workshop on "Encouraging Reluctant Readers": we all know
reading is vitally important, but how do we get kids to realize
this? (in our brand new Baltimore Free School Lit & Language tent).

Sunday 9/25 @ 1PM: Urban Theory for Kids!

Art activist Becky Slogeris presents an interactive workshop for
kids based on her new book, "The Baltimore Textbook"---a
middle-school level introduction to critical urban theory focused on
Baltimore. (in the Free School Lit & Language tent).

There's tons more great stuff going on in the Radical Bookfair
Pavilion, and at the larger Book Festival itself, all of it 100% free.
Check out the full schedules at http://bookfair.redemmas.org/ and
http://baltimorebookfestival.com/http://bookfair.redemmas.org/

DIY Fest! "The flower of independence blooms from the soil of interdependence."

"Do It Together" Children's programming at DIY Fest – this Saturday!

WHERE: 2640 St Paul Street Balt. MD 21218

WHEN: Saturday, September 17 - between 12 PM and 6 PM.

Kidz City is excited to be working with DIY Fest to program more activities for children, support for parents, and all-ages community building skills. There will be:

‪- children’s craft table with Grandma Shirley;

- making dinosaur eggs (and hang out in the dinosaur nest) with Kidz City;

- puppet theatre;

- and jewelry making for (older) children at the jewelry making table

Come to DIY Fest and bring your children!

The flower of independence blooms from the soil of interdependence. Let’s work together to make a great DIY Fest for all.

More Info about DIY Fest:

DIY Fest 2011 (Do It Yourself Festival) will be the 5th DIY Fest to be held in Baltimore City. The event is free (donations are greatly appreciated) and is open to anyone wanting to learn a new skill, teach or present one of their skills/hobbies or just check out what goes down at a DIY Fest.

Harriet's Reflections on the IWW CONVENTION

So the IWW Convention is over, it's been a week or more, and I have spent some time reflecting.

Coordinating childcare for this event has really helped to revitalize my hope for our collective, for Baltimore 'radicals' and for the world (okay may that's over stating it).

I think doing Kidz City work I've gotten comfortable with the role of someone who has to push to be heard, who has to shout to be considered. I went into organizing with Baltimore IWW folks defensively, ready to be disapointed. Well I was not disappointed, I had such a great time, and developed a deeper repsect for all the people in the IWW branch and for the IWW in general.

Visiting delegates were also on the whole lovely people, many of them came and said "thank you for your work" to the childcare volunteers. There was a lot of respect for the 'work' that each person did. And it seemed that care work was just as appreciated by the people that I had the pleasure of speaking with.

We also had new volunteers join us for the first time labor day weekend, and they were amazing. I can't wait to continue working with them, and learning more about them.

The coloring book I make was just a blast to research, draw, paste up and copy (many hours at Kinkos). There are still copies available if anyone wants one.

Kidz City has other activities coming up very soon. It seems like the organizing with DIY Fest has been going really well, and the kids program looks amazing.

If you want to be on our e-mail list to volunteer or recieve updates please e-mail radkidcare-at-gmail.com.

In solidarity and love,

Harriet

IWW Convention !! One Big Union.......One Awesome City!

Kidz City Baltimore and the Baltimore IWW Convention Planning Committee are partnering to bring amazingly fun and educational childcare/children's programming to the
2011 IWW Delegate Convention.

Schedule:
Saturday, Sept 3rd – 8:45 am to 8:00 pm
Sunday, Sept 4th – 11:45 am to 8:00 pm
Monday, Sept 5th – 8:45 am to 5:30 pm
* for schedule concerns please feel free to contact us.

Programming: Baltimore IWW and Kidz City have a lot of great ideas and plans for children's activities including radical song writing (in the IWW tradition), sign making, story telling and more. The schedule of the planned activities for the thre days will be posted outside of the childcare space on the first day of convention.

How to participate: It takes a lot of volunteers to keep a kids' space fun. If you'd like to volunteer or if you would like to lead an activity for children please contact Harriet, from Kidz City, by e-mail: moonharriet-at-gmail.com. You can also participate by bringing the children you care for, or by buying a Kidz Stamp – more info below.

Coloring Book: It's a Kidz City tradition to create a short coloring book for each of the conferences/events that we organize with. We are working hard to provide one for this event in the style of the Little Red Song Book. If you have ideas or suggestions let us know.

Kidz City contact: Please contact Harriet from Kidz City with any questions, suggestions or to register a young person for childcare. E-mail: moonharriet-at-gmail.com.

Kidz Assessment Stamp: There will be a $10 stamp offered this year that directly funds the childcare space and Kidz City's work. Please consider buying one (or two...) to show your support.

Wikipedia IWW page.

Volunteer for the Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy!

Dear Kidz City volunteers,

Kidz City is excited to participate in the (quickly) upcoming Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy July 8-10 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County! The ECWD brings together worker-cooperatives and coopertively-run organizations to strengthen the network of democratic workplaces in the Eastern United States. Check out their website to see the amazing workshops they've got lined up and for information about the walking tour and showcase of Baltimore co-ops on Friday, July 8.

Kidz City is going to be providing childcare throughout the conference weekend and we *really* need your help! So far, we've got 6 registered youth, 2 under 13 years and 4 between 13 years old and 18 years old. We know its quite a hike to get out to UMBC, so we'll try our best to set up shuttles or carpools to get folks down there. All volunteers will also be able to get meal cards so you can get food throughout the day. On Friday, the ECWD is hosting a showcase of worker-cooperatives in Baltimore at the 2640 space. Its from 6pm - 10pm and includes an awesome buffet with vegan, vegetarian, and meat options. Kidz City will be creating a Kidz Zone and folks who'd like to volunteer are welcome to eat for free and enjoy the showcase. We'll also be providing childcare on-site at UMBC on Saturday and Sunday throughout the day. Please take a look at the following schedule and let us know *all* of your available shifts and how many shifts you're willing to work per day.

Friday, July 8:
Showcase at 2640 St. Paul Street
Shifts: 6:00-10:00pm (can do only part)
2-3 volunteers needed

Saturday, July 9:
ECWD at UMBC
Shifts: 8:30-10:30am, 10:30-12:30pm, 12:30-2:30pm, 2:30-4:30pm
2-3 volunteers needed for each shift

Sunday, July 10:
ECWD at UMBC
Shifts: 8:30-10:30am, 10:30-12:30pm, 12:30-2:30pm, 2:30-4:30pm
2-3 volunteers needed for each shift

Lastly, we're thinking about arranging a field trip to Baltimore on Saturday for some of the older kids so if anyone is interested (and possibly has a mini-van), please let us know. More details about that upcoming. Thanks y'all!

With love ,
Sine and Kidz City