SAVE THE DEMOCRACY CENTER!
This page will summarize events that have led to the Democracy Center's potential closure and how our community may be able to help keep it open.HOW TO HELP
- SIGN THE PETITION and share it widely please!
- JOIN THE MEETING THURSDAY 4/25 AT 6PM the FCL Board President, Ian Simmons, will be present to hear our outrage at his decision to close the DC.
- Print this flyer and hang it up at your favorite infoshop, bookstore, cafe, etc. to spread the word!
- Democracy Center Shows community members: Join our mailing list, write a testimonial, etc
RECENT PRESS:
- "Activists Clash With Leadership Over Planned Closure Of Democracy Center In Cambridge" Sam Cavanaugh. Hoodline. 4/28/24.
- "Despite Activist Pleas, Owner Says Decision to Close Democracy Center is 'Not Changeable'" Sally E. Edwards and Asher J. Montgomery. The Harvard Crimson. 4/26/24.
- "Activists fight the loss of ‘beautiful experiment’ for repairs without a plan at Democracy Center" Yaakov Aldrich. Cambridge Day. 4/16/24.
- "Activists Demand ‘Indefinite Pause’ on Plans to Renovate Democracy Center for New Nonprofit" Sally E. Edwards and Asher J. Montgomery. The Harvard Crimson. 4/16/24
- "Democracy Center to Close, Leaving Progressive Cambridge Groups Scrambling" Sally E. Edwards and Asher J. Montgomery. The Harvard Crimson. 4/10/24.
- "The Democracy Center in Harvard Square shocks activist groups with the news it will close in July" Yaakov Aldrich. Cambridge Day. 4/9/24.
- "The Democracy Center will close in July, citing 'necessary renovations'" Victoria Wasylak. Vanyaland. 4/9/24.
TIMELINE:
APRIL 4: The Showbooking Collective, along with the other Resident and Meetinghouse organizations at the DC, were informed via email that the DC will close on July 1st.Here is the public announcement of FCL's decision to close the space.
April 11: A community meeting was held at the Democracy Center and over Zoom. The meeting was facilitated by Elizabeth, the director of the Democracy Center. Representing the Foundation for Civic Leadership at the meeting were:
- Sue Heilman - the interim Executive Director at FCL
- Dana Green - National Director of Advancement at Democracy House.
- Sue Heilman - the interim Executive Director at FCL
- Aaron Tanaka - FCL Board member (Called in while traveling but was unable to speak during the meeting)
GLOSSARY/BACKGROUND/STRUCTURE
The Foundation for Civic Leadership (FCL): The non-profit organization that owns (/fiscally sponsors?) The Democracy Center. They are now focused on a new initiative called Democracy House.Democracy House: Democracy House is an org fiscally sponsored by FCL whose mission includes "educating for impact" -- mentorship, networking, ???, and "creating spaces for connection and action" -- by re-appropriating the Democracy Center from those who have been making connections and organizing there for 20 years, and buying a building in Durham New Hampshire.
Democracy Center: The DC is a building at 45 Mt Auburn in Cambridge that hosts fundraisers, cultural events, workshops, meetings for political organizing, storage for activist supplies, offices for non-profit orgs, and more.
- Resident Organizations: Non-profits and grassroots projects, mainly utilizaing office space on the 2nd and third floors of the building
- Better Future Project, The Black Response, Cambridge HEART, One Fair Wage, New England Bangladeshi American Foundation
- Meetinghouse Organizations: Groups who rent out event space regularly, store shared items at the DC, and/or have some other contract/agreement with the space.
- The Showbooking Collective, Stone Soup Farm Share, The Activist Supply Closet, #DeeperThanWater, Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard, Neighbor Program Cambridge, Karaya LLC, The Seneca, Grow to Consume, Filling the Gaps, Cambridge Community Fridge, Fan-Club, and others.
- Other Important Orgs in the DC Community: SubDrift Boston, Boston Area Liberation Medics (BALM), Bluesy Tuesy, Boston Alternative Tango, Boston South Asian Coalition, DSA, and more