KID(z) CITY MANIFESTITA

KID(z) CITY is a creative program intended to support children and parents' access to participation at the City from Below conference and to promote all ages interaction—with respect and equality. We recognize that the city is a structure that should serve its inhabitants (and not the other way around): KID(z) CITY will include a city of boxes to build or destroy one's own space. It will also include children’s workshops to explore nature in the city, sidewalks, and radical singing that will include a symphony of found and urban sounds.

One important component of any conference/gathering is access to that conference. Access for parents and childcare givers are an important part of any grassroots or community gathering. However, at many conferences and gatherings, children’s and caretakers’ issues are often marginalized and addressed last, if at all.

We have formed the "KID(z) CITY Crossing Guard Committee" to help address these needs. (We chose crossing guards because they help children and others to navigate the city.)

The Crossing Guard Committee recognizes that women have historically and continue to be the primary caretakers of children, and are often the ones that must miss activities to care for their children. We are calling on people with male privilege and those who have been socialized as men to sign up for childcare as an act of solidarity. Placing the onus of childcare on women and girls sends a message that males are not responsible for and cannot take care of children. Boys often grow up feeling less equipped than others interacting with kids. This too needs to be changed.

KID(z) CITY is ultimately an experiment, created to explore right-to-the-city values with some of its smallest members, and to act as a living dialogue in how the community can best support the mostly unpaid, or low paid, but vitally important work of taking care of children. We respect the role of community support to make a difference: We can do more together than we can alone. Children’s issues are everyone’s issues.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Workshop presenters: Please submit a page to our KID(z) CITY coloring book that relates an aspect of your theme on a children’s level. Consider dropping by and sharing your skills/concepts in the children’s space. Feel free to contact us and we will help you develop ideas on how your work applies to children. We plan on having a Kidz City coloring book/workbook that will represent each of the larger adult workshop themes of the conference.

Parents: Please contact us ahead of time. Let us know the ages of the children you are bringing, as well as other concerns, especially those with special needs, so we can provide for them.

Conference Participants: Look out for the children around you and support everyone’s right to participate.

Volunteers: We need you! All experience levels (including no experience) are welcome: We will have crossing guard training. You can volunteer for as little as one hour.

CONTACT: cityfrombelow-childcare@redemmas.org