Working Groups NSPIRG's working groups are the key to enabling broad participation in the organization; they are crucial to NSPIRG's effectiveness in research education and action for social and environmental justice. Working groups are organized to address particular issues, and are open to students and non-students. All that's required is interest in the subject matter. They have an autonomy in that they organize their own activities, without requiring approval from NSPIRG. Working groups can form around various issues, as long as they are consistent with NSPIRG's objectives. We encourage greater participation in existing working groups and the formation of new ones to increase the diversity of the NSPIRG community. Note: some working groups have traditionally been taken care of by only one or two people, such as the film project, which works in that case. Every Dal student -- in conjunction with and/or in addition to non-Dal students and community -- has the opportunity to start a working group through NSPIRG and receive support from the organization, a small amount of funds for education and promotion, and access to NSPIRG resources (computers, projector, megaphone, supplies, etc). For more information about starting your own NSPIRG-Dal working group, please email info[at]nspirg[dot]org START A Working Group: *First discuss your Working Group idea with NSPIRG staff by dropping in the office (SUB, room 314), sending an email (info|at|nspirg|dot|org) or calling (494-6662). *Request or download the NSPIRG Working Group application available through staff, or on the NSPIRG website. Fill it out and submit it by email or at the office. After submitting a proposal, applicants may be asked to make a presentation to the BOD. *Working Groups will be approved if: --the applicants commit to the responsabilities listed below; --the BOD is convinced that the applicants have the capacity and vision to do so; --there are not any obvious redundancies with already existing Working Groups. *If approved, members of the new Working Group will be given an orientation session on the NSPIRG office, resources and organization. *New Working Groups are expected to hold a first meeting and also submit to NSPIRG staff an annual summary of plans for the upcoming year (timeline of projects/events and budget) within one month of being approved. View the Working Groups policy HERE for more details on Working Groups and their relationship to NSPIRG. *** NSPIRG WORKING GROUPS Campus Action on Food (CAF) CAF aims to work towards food justice on campus by striving to create space for choices that are representative of student diversity and accessible to people of low income. CAF will explore food issues as they relate to economic, social and environmental factors on campus. meeting time: Wednesdays at 4:30pm in the NSPIRG office, Rm 314 Dal SUB (re-commencing in the new year) CAF on Facebook PHP (People's History Project) It's design is to try and achieve greater public awareness about histories in Halifax and surrounding communities that have been white-washed and/or stuffed under the rug and deprioritized, including histories of: working class struggles, First Nations, women's achievements, etc. There will be research phases for each issue/subject and creative and diverse presentations / dissplays of the results, aiming for places where it will have the greatest impacts. for now, relay contacts through info[at]nspirg[dot]org FOCI (Films on Critical Issues) / Cinema Politica - Halifax A working group which coordinates film screenings, presented free of charge, followed by discussion to encourage discussion on a range of issues. Screenings are held roughly every two weeks in a number of community venues over the course of the year. Our first year, most of the screenings were at the Dalhousie Student Union Building (SUB) and the NSCAD Bell Auditorium. For a listing of films screened or information on upcoming screenings, email foci[at]nspirg[dot]org or stop by the NSPIRG office. Cinema Politica - Halifax on Facebook Seymour (SeeMore) Green Community Organic Garden Seymour (SeeMore) Green is a communal gardening space on Dalhousie Campus – open to students and Halifax residents of all ages and backgrounds. Interested gardeners are invited to become a part of the summer’s “SeeMore Green Working Group” – a consistent group of people that care for the garden throughout the spring, summer and fall. Gardeners have the opportunity to attend once a week work parties/workshops and take home a portion of the produce grown. In order to give back to the community, the SeeMore Green working group also donates a portion of the produce to Feed Nova Scotia. Some workshops are also open to the general public and are posted as such in our events section. The Seymour (SeeMore) Green Community Garden is located on Seymour Street behind 1411 Seymour Street. collective gardening times are: TUESDAYS 4:00 pm-6:00 pm followed by a workshop! from 6:00-8:00pm THURSDAYS 2:00-5:00 pm SUNDAYS 2:00-5:00 pm Check out the SeeMore Green BLOG for the most recent updates! Also check out the SeeMore Green intro video. More info about Seymour (SeeMore) Green ... Typically the garden program begins in May of each year and ends in September. There was a disruption of the program this year, due to a delay in funding and due to some renovations at the site. Consequently, only a few public building workshops have been held this year. We apologize for the inconvenience and encourage interested participants to watch our webpage for updates regarding next year’s garden program, and any upcoming talks/workshops that may be held throughout the winter season. Seymour (SeeMore) Green was originally built in 1996, by a group of volunteers working out of the Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group (NSPIRG). With approval from the Dalhousie Department of Facilities Management, and with the funding support from NSPIRG, these volunteers secured the first community garden spot, which sat next to 1443 Seymour St. The original site got moved a few years later however, to its current location, after Dalhousie constructed an administrative building in its place. The garden still sits in the same park courtyard, but in a more secluded and shadier spot. In 2001 volunteers built the community’s first garden shed. It was made out of strawbale and was the first ever of its kind in Halifax. While it faithfully served its purpose for four years, it sadly had to be torn down in 2005, due to a design problem that had caused it irreversible damage. The project did inspire others to replace the old shed with one, that kept the original philosophy of affordable and environmental design. In the summer of 2005, two Dalhousie architecture students designed a new shed for the garden, and, with their teacher and a group of dedicated volunteers, built it at the garden site. A living roof has since been constructed on top of the shed, by another dedicated carpenter and community volunteers. This past summer the garden has also seen the construction of raised beds using a variety of sustainably harvested and recycled materials, a compost bin and a cob oven for Seymour Green barbecues! Over the years the gardeners have grown a variety of produce, particularly shade tolerant vegetables, herbs, medicinal weeds and flowers and have taken in workshops on composting, herbal medicine making, plant identification and on the basic principles for starting and maintaining a healthy organic garden. The space continually evolves and morphs itself to meet the changing needs and vision of the garden community. For more information, contact the Seymour (SeeMore) Green Gardening Coordinator at garden[at]nspirg[dot]org Or visit the Halifax Garden Network website. Examples of past Working Groups ARCH (Animal Rights Collective of Halifax) AYEP (Anti-Oppression Youth Education Project) DalGreen HAH (Haiti Action Halifax) Halifax Student Housing Co-op SCAW (Students Coalition Against War) Students Taking Action in Chiapas (ZEN) Students For Students Vegan Potluck Group