Upcoming courses and events
November 2, 2024
Venue TBA – Toronto
Having problems at work and are not sure what to do? Have you heard about unions and want to know how to get started? Do you lack the confidence to talk to your coworkers about forming a union? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the How to Unionize Your Workplace course is for you!
Over two days participants will learn what it takes to go from zero organization at work to a functioning committee of coworkers that can take on the boss and win! Together we will learn and practice the ideas, methods, and skills necessary to build power at work. The course will also feature a general discussion of unions: strengths and weaknesses, potential and limits, and why organizing at work should still matter for those who want a better world.
When: November 2-3 (mid-morning until late afternoon)
Breakfast and lunch to be provided.
Where: Toronto, ON (Downtown – venue TBA)
How much: free/PWYC
Who: Anyone curious about how to organize at work!
Registration deadline: Friday October 18.
Please note that we are currently asking potential participants to register their interest. Space for this pilot version of the course will be limited and selections may be made to ensure a diversity of backgrounds and experience.
Accessibility
The venue will be shared with participants in advance of the course date. The venue will be close to downtown Toronto will have level access and/or an elevator to get to the training space. Please note that this is an in person training and we cannot guarantee all participants will be masked.
Any questions regarding accessibility, participation, or programming can be directed to info@leopanitchschool.ca.
September 25, 2024
Eyesore Cinema, Toronto ON.
The Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education and the Socialist Project presents La Llorona as the next film in our ongoing FilmSocial series.
La Llorona (Guatemala. 2019.) is the modern re-imagining of the Mexican and Central American folktale about a vengeful ghost who roams near bodies of water mourning her dead children whom she killed after discovering her unfaithful husband. Director and screenwriter Jayro Bustamante places the legend inside contemporary Guatemala at a particularly turbulent time. Retired Guatemalan general Enrique Monteverde is being tried for orchestrating a brutal genocide against native Mayans in the 1980s. Now elderly and ailing he lives comfortably with his wife, daughter, and granddaughter, but is haunted by his past.
This is the third film in our special series exploring the topic of imperialism. Jayro Bustamante uses La Llorona as a way to explore Guatemala’s violent and racist history. The ramifications of the Spanish colonization of Guatemala is still felt today in its race and class struggles. The movie is based on the real events surrounding the presidency of José Efraín Ríos Montt from 1982 to 1983 where he oversaw one of the bloodiest periods in the Guatemalan Civil War. Efraín Ríos Montt was convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity in 2013 for the systematic massacre of indigenous communities under the guise of fighting communist insurgents. The verdict was overturned days later.
The film will be followed by a short presentation and general discussion on the politics and implications of the film’s subject today.
Accessibility Information
Eyesore Cinema’s screening room is on the main floor of a video store, right on Bloor St. While there is close to level access, the floor is uneven in places and may not be suitable for all mobility devices. Washrooms are located in the basement of the store and are not wheelchair accessible. Masking is encouraged at Leo Panitch School events but not required.
The film will be presented in Spanish, Ixil, and Kaqchikel with English subtitles. Please note that La Llarona has scenes with violence and some sexual content, in addition to featuring themes of political violence and genocide.
September 9, 2024
Venue TBA – Toronto
The Leo Panitch School is very pleased to announce that we’ll be supporting a brand new course titled Fighting to Win: Social Struggles, Containment, and Effective Resistance. It’s been developed by John Clarke, former Ontario Coalition Against Poverty organizer and Packer Visitor in Social Justice at York University. The course is intended for burgeoning community and union activists and will run over 12 weeks beginning September 9, 2024.
We are very proud to have the chance to play a supporting role and promote what will surely be an incredible opportunity to learn from one of Ontario’s most effective and prolific activists!
Please check out John’s excellent blog post for more background on the course.
Anyone interested in participating is invited to register their interest via the button below!
Missed an event?
Check out LeftStreamed for recordings of past Leo Panitch School events and much more!
Watch now