The Civic Media Center has organized Radical Rush since 1998. Radical Rush is an organizational fair for progressive and radical activist groups of Gainesville to recruit new members and publicize their work to students. Radical as in getting to the root of problems, Rush meaning entertaining bids for membership. The Rush is presented in the form of a collaborative tabling effort. Campus and community-based groups participate, with the added bonus of helping to bridge the “town/gown” divide and allow activists working on a wide variety of issues to meet each other, network, and learn about each other’s organizations.
Radical Rush also helps break through the generation gap, fostering inter-generational collaboration as students and younger activists are introduced to older, seasoned organizers for a wide variety of causes. Anyone interested in learning about progressive social change and/or becoming more active in the community has the opportunity to talk with members about their organizations.
This year’s Radical Rush will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, in the Oak Grove at Santa Fe College, and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 16–17, on the Plaza of Americas at UF. The Radical Rush Reception will be on Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m. at the Boca Backyard. The week is a great way for people to engage with organizations and for people from various organizations to meet one another. The Civic Media Center also prepares a guidebook to all the organizations involved. For more information or to participate, please email coordinators@civicmediacenter.org or call 352-373-0010.
