A radically different approach to living and learning, Free Skool Santa Cruz is a grassroots educational project beyond institutional control. It is an opportunity to learn from each other and share what we know, to foster communities of mutual support and autonomy.
The 2025 Free Skool Santa Cruz session goes from May Day (May 1) to Autumn Equinox (September 22). While these classes listed below have been added for part 2, other classes scheduled earlier are still upcoming! Full information https://freeskoolsantacruz.org/ and all the information also available at the Free Skool google calendar https://freeskoolsantacruz.org/free-skool-calendar/
-Collective Creation Games part 2 – Sunday September 14th / 3 – 5 p.m. with Rami Chahine (346-235-9782)
Location: SubRosa courtyard, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA and then going onto Pacific Ave in downtown Santa Cruz
Description: The course will guide participants through a playful process for creating participatory experiences starting from the depth of our embodied experience, memories, pain and political thought. Through games we transform such instigators into thrilling dynamics of being together.
Accessibility: Open to all, refrain from coming if sick.
-Fuck Fast Fashion! Fix your Fit! Thursday August 21st and Thursday September 4th / 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. with Jae Wilde (they/them) (wildeflower_sc on Insta, jaestitch.com, and jaesew612@gmail.com)
Location: SubRosa courtyard, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA
Description: Please bring a simple sewing kit- needle, thread, pins, and scissors. If you have fabric scissors at home, that’s great! If you don’t already have any of these materials, go to Harts Fabric or Beverly’s, they’ll set you up. If you have a specific garment or item that needs mending, bring that, too, and we can discuss how to spruce it up.
Note: class size limited to 10. RSVP at jaesew612@gmail.com to reserve a spot!
-Identity and Knowledge: Intro to Feminist Epistemology 1 – Wednesday August 13th / 6:30 – 9 p.m. with Minh-Tu (minhtuv9@gmail.com)
Location: SubRosa courtyard, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA
Description: My class introduces the idea that you are a philosopher in virtue of living! I am here to provide space and some guidance on how to conceptualize and understand these experiences. In particular, this class will go over why philosophy is important and how our identity (or lived experience) shapes the knowledge we encounter, believe, value, and disseminate. This is an important tenant within feminist philosophy, and so this course could also be seen as a short introductory course to feminist epistemology.
Materials: I have a course syllabus that has access to all readings via Dropbox and supplementary readings! If anyone wants the readings beforehand or the syllabus, please provide an email for me to send stuff to! Something to write with and take notes would be good if they wanted too. ! Contact at minhtuv9@gmail.com
Accessibility: The space is accessible and plans to be outdoors! Masks are encouraged but not mandatory, I will have a few available!
-Handspinning (an introduction) – Wednesday August 13th / 4 – 6 p.m. with Marlene Burgess (instagram @marlene.muscaria and email – marlene.muscaria@gmail.com)
Location: SubRosa, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA
Description: An introductory class in how to spin yarn on a drop spindle, as well as some history of spinning and textile work. Spindles and wool will be provided.
Accessibility: Masks are recommended, and I will be masking.
-Mutual Aid in Action: Designing Real Projects Together – September 20th / 2- 4 p.m. with Dave Brown (dave831brown@gmail.com)
Location: SubRosa, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA
Description: This interactive workshop is all about rolling up our sleeves anddesigning mutual aid projects that we can implement. We’ll begin with a quick dive into what mutual aid looks like in action and how groups move from ideas to impact—but most of our time will be spent hands-on, collaboratively shaping project concepts into real plans. Through guided exercises and small-group work designed to give each other constructive input, we’ll identify needs, sketch out workflows, identify resources, consider logistics like space and storage, and co-develop simple, low-barrier ways to launch or support mutual aid efforts.
Whether you’re starting from scratch, building on an existing idea, or just want to be part of the design process, this session is a chance to co-create practical pathways for mutual support in our communities. Come with your curiosity, your half-formed ideas, and/or your deep readiness to make something happen. People that are experienced with mutual aid and just want to provide helpful input on project ideas are encouraged to attend.
-Queer writing circle – Saturday August 30th / 12 – 2 p.m. with Jesse Kathan (Signal: 510-666-5364)
Location: SubRosa courtyard, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA
Description: Circle will include a quick prompt and one or two longer prompts for fiction, memoir, poetry or whatever. Follow provided prompts or work on your own thing. Opportunities for sharing and positive feedback.
Materials: Notebooks/pens suggested; extras will be available.
Accessibility: Masked encouraged inside building
-What Can We Learn From the Rojava Revolution – Tuesday August 26th / 6 p.m. with Rojava Solidarity Santa Cruz (Instagram @rojavasc1)
Location: SubRosa, 703 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA
Description: It’s been 13 years since the Rojava Revolution began in Northern Syria, yet it remains largely unknown due to censorship. We will provide a brief history and background on this struggle, which aims to build a decentralized society rooted in democracy, feminism, and communal life. Concrete examples of women’s freedom, restorative justice, and critical reflection will be provided. With this foundation we invite discussion on what we can learn from Rojava and how we might apply those lessons in our own communities. Organized by Rojava Solidarity Santa Cruz, founded in 2018.
Accessibility: Masks preferred, class may be held outside depending on weather.
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https://instagram.com/freeskoolsantacruz AND https://m.facebook.com/freeskoolsantacruz/ AND go to our link tree for a collection of useful links https://linktr.ee/Freeskoolsantacruz
***Members of the SubRosa collective are involved in this revived and not entirely new, not all too different version of Free Skool Santa Cruz – a project in mutual aid learning and sharing. And SubRosa/the Hub is a site of a significant amount of classes (although not all!). More info about SubRosa at http://www.subrosaproject.org/ and the Hub at http://www.santacruzhub.org/
Free Skool Santa Cruz 