Documentation from the 2007 AMC
The 2007 Allied Media Conference was extensively covered by the grassroots media makers who attended. This is the best online documentation to help you capture the experience of that weekend. If you are aware of additional documentation that should be featured here or spot any broken links on this page, please contact us.
Articles
Ninth AMC - A movement milestone
Grace Lee Boggs, The Michigan Citizen
"Last weekend's 9th Annual Allied Media Conference (AMC) at Wayne State University was the most exciting conference I've participated in since the 1963 Grassroots Leadership Conference."
A new generation of movement builders
Grace Lee Boggs, The Michigan Citizen
"The Allied Media Conferences have been initiated by a new generation of activists who on the basis of their own experience believe that the media can be used to build a movement among the most vulnerable members of our society."
New paths to peace
Shea Howell, The Michigan Citizen
"The Allied Media Conference held in Detroit last weekend swept through our city like a fresh, fierce summer wind."
Glass cages & big ideas: Allied Media Conference comes to Detroit
Charles Maldonado, Metro Times
"We looked at a couple different options, but Detroit was really the dream"
Evolve or Perish: Media Conference Grapples with Future of Indy Print Media
Megan Tady, Toward Freedom
"Although the situation for print media appears bleak, there were also signs of hope, progress and resistance for independent media at the AMC."
Photos
pics from the allied media conference in detroit, MI - june 2007
Breathingplanet, Flickr
Allied Media Conference, Detroit, 2007
jessamyn_delight, Flickr
AMC photos
blixx, Flickr
Zine Librarians Caucus photos
V_Allison, AMC blog
AMC 2007 - 1
Sudy, A Womyn's Ecdysis
Pictures from the bustling hallways and exhibition area.
AMC 2007 - 2
Sudy, A Womyn's Ecdysis
Photos and coverage from "Popular Education for Radical Teaching & Activism" and "Node 101: Intro to Video Blogging" workshops.
AMC 2007 - 3
Sudy, A Womyn's Ecdysis
Coverage and photos from the "Morning Plenary: Breaking Silence Building Movements".
AMC 2007 - 4
Sudy, A Womyn's Ecdysis
Coverage and photos from "Women of Color Zines", "Hijacking the Master's Tools", "Empowering Our Communities Through Oral History" workshops
Photography Poetry: Community [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 ]
Allied Media Conference Youth Media Lab
photo by Max Sussman, The Michigan Citizen
Video
AMC Opening Ceremony Video (Diana Nucera, YouTube)
Amazing video constructed in the three days before the AMC and shown during the Opening Ceremony.
Library Fines!!!
The DIY Animation Workshop
this is a short animation from the DIY animation workshop at the Allied Media Conference. its a 'psa' about Library Fines being enforced by the cops in Detroit. this thing was made in a little over an hour by a group of 10-15 creative folks.
Allied Media Conference 2007 Virtual Reality Scene
Sensory Research
Virtual reality scene of the exhibition area of the 2007 Allied Media Conference.
Allied Media Conference 2007 Exhibitors
Sensory Research
This video features interviews with exhibitors of the Allied Media Conference 2007.
Audio
Rustbelt Radio for June 25, 2007
Pittsburgh IMC: Rustbelt Radio collective
Audio of Versiz, Angela Jones and D. Blair performing at the AMC Opening Ceremony. Saturday Morning Plenary presentation by Aishah Shahidah Simmons, speaking on her experience making NO!, a documentary about Black women and rape.
Zines
OutLaw Vision: Reclaiming, Truth, Power and Justice For Ourselves (PDF download)
by the participants in the UBUNTU workshop at the Allied Media Conference, BrokenBeautiful Press
Download OutLaw Vision, a zine about responding to violence without reaffirming the biases of the law created in ONE HOUR (!!!!) by participants in an UBUNTU workshop at the Allied Media Conference. This zine includes strategies for response, examples of how people are organizing for transformative justice, a review of a one woman show, vision maps, an interactive advice column and more!
Xerography Debt #22 (PDF download)
Features a column by Noemi Martinez about the AMC on pages 14-15.
Transcripts of Presentations
Talk from the "Hijacking the Master's Tools" Panel at the Allied Media Conference
Lex, Kitchen Table: Women of Color Pressed for Knowledge
"I have decided that nothing, not hatemail, not 1000 miles, not the fact that I can't connect to the internet in my home, not my ridiculous workload and low-tech sensibilities, I have decided that nothing will keep us apart."
Solidarity Journalism
Puck Lo, AMC Blog
Transcript of talk from Solidarity Journalism panel. "Seeking to understand the world around us- and then acting to transform it- are completely related. That is why journalism and social movements are inseparable, and no social movement has existed without having media and infrastructure for communications."
Blog Posts
No Snow Here has posted an excellent compilation of AMC-related blog posts. It is a useful entry point to AMC coverage in the blogoshpere. Please check it out.
Live Blogging From the Allied Media Conference
No Snow Here
"The conference starts tomorrow morning and people have been trickling in over the past couple days, and will continue the next couple."
Live Blogging From the Allied Media Conference 2
No Snow Here
"I have been having the best time with ya'll bloggers and zinesters. I knew I wanted to meet you and converse with you, but I did not know how much I needed to see you and hear your voices. I feel transformed, from angry and isolated and depressed to hopeful, happy, and part of a constellation."
Reflections on the Allied Media Conference, Part 1
No Snow Here
"The conference is over now, time to process and reflect. I have a lot of thoughts as well as a lot of information I want to share with those who were/n't in attendance. My emotions ran high the entire time and even now that it is Sunday night and I'm back in the solace of my home I am still tearing up as I write this."
Reflections on the Allied Media Conference, Part 2
No Snow Here
Reflections on staffing the registration table during the Pop Ed Symposium, the Opening Ceremony, Friday night hanging out, the Morning Plenary, and the Saturday night show.
Reflections on the Allied Media Conference, Part 3
No Snow Here
Reflections on the Women of Color Zines panel.
Reflections on the Allied Media Conference, Part 4
No Snow Here
Reflections on Women of Color Blogging Caucus and Empowering Our Communities Through Oral History workshop.
On a quiet day: Reflections AMC 07
rachel parsons, For Lack of Better Words
The work represented in the room got me thinking about one of my favorite quotes by Arundhati Roy: "Not only is another world possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing." Last weekend, I could hear more than just breathing. She came through in conversations, music, poetry, rap, books, films, radio, newspapers, hugs, laughter, and hot dance moves. Everybody was feeling it by the time they left—I was definitely not the only one leaving with mad amounts of inspiration.
Another Politics is Possible!
RJ Maccani, ZAPAGRINGO
Whereas some conferences can feel like they are taking place on some other planet - totally disconnected from the place where they are being held - this one was firmly rooted in "the D." And, well, as it turns out that is a tremendous strength.
On my way home
Yolanda M. Carrington, The Primary Contradiction
I'd say that I learned as much from just being here in the Motor City as much as attending the conference.
How Far We've Come
Max Sussman, Pickles
This year's Allied Media Conference broke new ground. The areas of independent media, media justice, and movement media were connected in ways that I have never seen before.
amc: last thoughts?
Johanna, dangerous & moving
I was feeling a bit mediocre about zines when I headed to Detroit. No more! I met so many incredible, spirited, intimidatingly intelligent women there who were interested in zines, who were doing zines, who wanted to do zines. And what I realized anew was that our voices matter. They need to be heard. Whether through blogs or zines or what have you. No one else is going to tell our stories for us. And these stories must be told.
amc: oral history workshop
Johanna, dangerous & moving
I have a new brain crush: Emily Lawsin, who did an intense & amazing & head-exploding workshop on oral history.
more on amc
Johanna, dangerous & moving
There were two things I was struck by pretty immediately when I got to AMC. The first was that there were a ton of people of color around. And not just the handful of Asians & maybe token black or Latina person you typically get @ zine events. It felt pretty damn amazing. Also, in terms of subcultures it was refreshingly broader, as well.
some notes on amc : our panel
Johanna, dangerous & moving
Coverage of Women of Color Zines panel
AMC Wrap-up: What is your method to media justice?
Samhita Mukhopadhyay, Feministing
AMC successfully mapped out what is going on with grassroots activism and media justice, from films to live hip-hop performances and highlighting independent media production to ways we can intervene in mainstream media. I strongly recommend folks that are interested in media justice hit this shit up next year.
Two Days After the AMC
Fabulosa Mujer
On Sunday night I flew in from the Allied Media Conference . Having the privilige to gain inspiration from the stamina, knowledge and tools sharing from many individuals throughout the states including many Detroiters around media justice and movement building.
Turtle-like reponse
Fabulosa Mujer
Meeting and speaking to other woc of bloggers was a breath of fresh air. Our very different experiences had common threads of resistance.
Allied Media Conference - beautiful!
Jasmine, UBUNTU!
"It was amazing, inspiring, and truly beautiful. We learned about how folks are using a wide spectrum of media forms to connect movements, educate, empower, and create possibilities."
Zines by Women of Color - more grassroots publishing goodness
Jasmine, UBUNTU!
"Here is a list of zines published by Women of Color (from the presentation Women of Color Zines given by Nadia Abou-Karr, Noemi Martinez, Trula Breckenridge, and Johanna Eva at the AMC)"
AMC Follow-up - thoughts on grassroots publishing as a response to sexual violence
Jasmine, UBUNTU!
"Grassroots publishing (by which I mean to include a wide range of mediums that allow writers to share their words without going through commercial publishing institutions... can be a powerful resource in the context of personal and community healing."
Allied Media Conference -- Day 1 Blog
Elijah Barrett-Aviles, WireTap Magazine
"The Motor City's story, especially since the dramatic decline of its auto industry, was important today because it was a lens through which the presenters in the workshops and symposia made us examine the question of popular education at home and abroad."
Allied Media Conference -- Day 2 Blog
Elijah Barrett-Aviles, WireTap Magazine
"Today I was most excited to be at the Print Caucus discussion...Many writers and editors from different independent and alternative publications showed up to discuss what's working and what's not in the indy print world"
Allied Media Conference -- Day 3 Blog & Conclusions
Elijah Barrett-Aviles, WireTap Magazine
"The Allied Media Conference is something that's good for the independent/alternative media community, and I'd encourage everyone to go who can afford to."
AMC Recap
Adele Nieves, A Book Without a Cover
I will highlight three sessions that left me either wanting more or pondering the issues raised long after they ended.
Videoblogging 101
ZMedia librarian, From Theory to Practice
Notes from "Node 101: Intro to Vlogging" workshop.
post-mortem
ZMedia librarian, From Theory to Practice
The end of my day at AMC and I am seriously exhillahrated, the zine caucus is over and I believe it went well. Todays events have renewed my hopes, vision, and feeling that I cand have an impact.
Vlogging Workshop
brownfemipower, Women of Color Blog
Live blogging from "Node 101: Intro to Vlogging" workshop.
Popular Education as revolution
brownfemipower, Women of Color Blog
Live blogging from "Popular Education for Radical Teaching and Activism" workshop.
A curriculum for popular education
brownfemipower, Women of Color Blog
Live blogging from "Developing Popular Education Curriculum: workshop.
woc zine caucus
brownfemipower, Women of Color Blog
Live blogging from "Women of Color Zines" workshop.
Healing boarding school project–documentaries as a way to heal from colonization
brownfemipower, Women of Color Blog
Live blogging from "Using Documentary to Organize Against Violence and Colonization" workshop
notes from "hijacking the master's tools" panel
Anjali Taneja, Women of Color Blog
We still live in a society where communities with traditionally less power (women of color) are attempted to be broken, squashed, and divided and conquered. Online technologies and tools are more than "cool" for women of color and especially anti-violence organizing – they're radical and revolutionary.
New panel: Zapatistas/Oaxaca/media
brownfemipower, Women of Color Blog
Live blogging from "Bridging the Gap: International Solidarity and Alternative Media in Mexico" workshop.
A list of the bloggers at the AMC
brownfemipower, Women of Color Blog
many people at the AMC have asked for a list of all the woc bloggers that were there–to my knowledge, the following is who was there
some thoughts on AMC
brownfemipower, Women of Color Blog
The organizers are committed to making the AMC a part of community organizing rather than just another conference–which means they hold themselves accountable to the community. It's what I appreciate most about them.
Grace Lee Boggs
brownfemipower, Women of Color Blog
We're participating in a paradigm shift. 40 years is not a long time–it takes time to make this paradigm shift.
Charles Simmons (media maker, professor, Detroit activist)
brownfemipower, Women of Color Blog
Our job as media makers is to build up people, communities with passion and love.
Elena Herrada (Union organizer, Detroit activist)
brownfemipower, Women of Color Blog
Change is up to us. It's not just–what are our problems, but also, where do we go, what are we doing right?
I Don't KNOW anything- THANK YOU GOD!
Blackamazon, Having Read the Fine Print...
Allied Media Conference was rejuvenating and frustrating.
Back up in dat blog with the resurrection
Blackamazon, Having Read the Fine Print...
I was introduced to the concept of popular education and it is something that I feel WOC have described without being named
LIVE Blogging from Detroit, the AMC Conference
Sudy, A Womyn's Ecdysis
I've already delved into a three hour conversation about WOC feminism, thrusting myself even further into the stratified layers of this complicated Movement. I listen. I absorb. Then, I reflect.
AMC 2007
Sudy, A Womyn's Ecdysis
Opening Ceremony coverage.
AMC 2007
Sudy, A Womyn's Ecdysis
I'm sorry to report that we, the radical women of color bloggers, in fact did NOT succeed in fixing all the problems of the world today. Damn. We came soooo close though.
AMC Quotes
Sudy, A Womyn's Ecdysis
Here are the top five quotes for Day Two of the 2007 AMC
AMC 2007
Sudy, A Womyn's Ecdysis
Leaving, I am amazed by the power of technology, its ways of corruption and the possibilities of revolution.
Grace Lee Boggs
Sudy, A Womyn's Ecdysis
Grace Lee Boggs was everywhere during the AMC conference.
We Are the Daughters
Sudy, A Womyn's Ecdysis
I wrote this poem for myself, and for all the transforming women of color I met this weekend in Detroit. Mabuhay.
Allied Media Conference: B/c People Asked
Prof Black Woman, Oh No a WoC PhD
The AMC just came to an end after what seems like a series of powerful presentations, meet-ups, and late night discussions of revolution.
Refreshed: Getting Out Of The Internet And Into The Community
J-Ro, The Seminal
It was incredibly refreshing to be around so many involved, committed people. The projects represented ran the gamut from independent local newspapers to hip hop collectives using the prinicples of cooperative economics to help their communities.
molds
truegrit, well, what did you expect from an opera?
A livejournal post about a lot of things including some interesting comments on the AMC.
this is a shame
imjustice
A livejournal post that includes reflections on the Wrong is Not My Name: Poetic Responses to Sexual Violence workshop
