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Flash: n. A sudden and brilliant burst of light, wit or genius; a momentary blaze.
Bulb: v. To swell; to take the shape of a bulb Mission The Flashbulb Institute values the continuation of life on this planet & equitable human communities that live without oppressing human beings or the ecological systems they are a part of. We see a need to disrupt & dismantle industrial civilization in order to remove the ability of the powerful to exploit the marginalized & destroy the planet. We see a need to defend & rebuild just, autonomous human communities & assist in the recovery of the land. In order to meet these needs, we create and support educational projects which build skills and relationships necessary for a resistance movement. |
History
The Flashbulb Institute began in August of 2009, with a two week course in bicycle mechanics, carpentry, urban permaculture and small business skills in a garage in a residential neighborhood in the Old North End of Burlington.
In 2010, the garage was given a makeover adding 500 square feet of finished floor space and a 6 stand bicycle shop. The same courses were offered again, but separately at different times throughout the spring, summer and fall. The business skills course was transformed into one-on-one Project Development Training. The garage space began to be offered to neighborhood residents to use for events, bike repair and yoga.
In 2011, The Flashbulb continued to offer bicycle mechanics courses, including a custom course for ONE-Revolution bike couriers, and the Project Development Training. A 70 hour Wilderness First Responder Certification with SOLO Schools was offered in the spring and the Community Learning Hub was launched in the neighborhood garage and our new office on Main Street. The garage saw regular community bike days and open yoga times, as well as a few ongoing workshops like Intro to Gun Safety and Performing Activism. An downtown office hosted new discussion groups and workshops like Anarchy Summer School and Deconstructing Gender. This space was also available to the community free of charge and local activists were able to meet here.
Spring & Summer 2012
The Flashbulb Institute will continue to offer a limited number of Project Development Trainings and serve as a Community Learning Hub to promote social and ecological justice educational projects. Our neighborhood garage will continue to be available as Community Space, however our downtown office is now closed. The bike shop and bicycle mechanic classes have moved to Pine Street Studios in the South End, as they are able to provide a more professional workshop space year round.
We are very excited to be in the early planning stages of organizing a Direct Action Camp at the end of the summer with the
Global Justice Ecology Project, Gears of Change and the Red Clover Climate Justice collective!
