by Bret, CMC Board member
The Civic Media Center and Stetson Kennedy Library have been a beacon of independent media, grassroots activism, and community education in Gainesville since 1993.
Home to the Travis Fristoe Zine Library, the CMC, at 433 S. Main in Gainesville, is more than an alternative library — it’s a community hub where ideas, organizing, and action can come alive.
Hours for summer may be irregular, but usually they are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 2 to 6pm. Poetry Jam is every Thursday at 8pm, and a Confession Kids hosted music show will be on Friday, July 25 at 7 pm.
Right now, the CMC needs your support. It is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and is entirely sustained by individual donations and membership contributions. The Center receives no large grants or institutional funding. Your financial support keeps the lights on, the rent paid, and the coordinator compensated with a living wage. In return, the community gets access to:
- A public lending library and zine collection
- Workshops, film screenings, and educational events
- WGOT community radio
- A meeting space for grassroots organizing
- Live music, poetry readings, and more
Drop by during open hours to browse and check out books. You can also arrange to host events and meetings at the space. Volunteers are crucial to the CMC’s longevity. Visit civicmediacenter.org for an updated calendar (including volunteer meetings), access to collection titles, and more information. You can also email coordinators@civicmediacenter.org or call (352) 373-0010 for more information.
This summer, the CMC is facing an urgent financial shortfall. We’re calling on our community to step up and lend a hand. Please consider donating. This can be done in the form of a membership, or a one-time or recurring donation. Every contribution, big or small, helps sustain this space of resistance, learning, and solidarity. Visit http://www.civicmediacenter.org. Donate with a check or in the following ways: venmo, Paypal, QR code.