Incredibly late notice conference this afternoon

I just got this in email 10 minutes ago. Sorry about the late notice.


When: Saturday, April 30 2011 @ 01:00 PM - - 10:00PM
Contact: Mark A wearefamilydc@aol.com, www.positiveforcedc.org
Where: 15th & Irving Streets NW
Washington, DC
Description: PM Press will be tabling at DIY Punk & Wilson Center: 30 Years of Community, Arts & Protest (1 - 10 pm, Saturday, April 30, 2011)

Often history is made in the unexpected places; the humble hole in the wall that provides space at the right moment for creation to flourish. The basement of the former Central Presbyterian Church at 15th & Irving Streets NW -- long known as the Wilson Center -- is one such location. Among other things, it provided a haven for members of the now globally-influential DC punk underground to hold shows and build community, and inaugurated a broader tradition of DIY shows held in community hall spaces.

In honor of this legacy -- and to continue it -- punk activist group Positive Force DC (now based at nearby St. Stephen's Church) has organized a 30th Anniversary celebration, April 30, 2011 at the former Wilson Center, now operating as the Capital City Public Charter School.

PF aims to both celebrate DC's DIY punk history and build on it through an exhibition of photographs, posters, and videos of past Wilson Center shows, as well as speakers, and, of course, music, all of which would help to raise funds, gather food donations, and recruit volunteers to assist the Capital City Public Charter School and neighborhood non-profits We Are Family and Hermano Pedro, serving seniors and the homeless, respectively.

The evening benefit show beginning at 7pm will include Max Levine Ensemble, Birds & Wires, War On Women, and Regents (all-ages, sliding scale admission $5-10, with food donations encouraged); at 5pm, Ian MacKaye will speak and answer questions on "Playing Underground: The Importance of Community Hall Spaces." (A full schedule of the day's events will be available shortly; except for evening concert, all events are free, with canned food and gently-used clothing donations encouraged for Hermano Pedro and We Are Family.)

This event is not meant to be about nostalgia, but about celebrating and continuing a crucial local tradition of creativity, community-building, and empowerment. Please join us!

TENTATIVE schedule for the day (Free admission except for evening concert, but please bring food and clothing donations for Hermano Pedro and We Are Family - thanks!)

1 pm: Doors open for art/photo exhibition in main hall and video display in back room - available for viewing all day.

2:30-4 pm: panel "Cultural Convergence: The Wilson Center as Multicultural Meeting Ground" (w/ Head-Roc, Lilo Gonzales, Natalie Avery, Wade & Ryan Fletcher, all invited, but tentative)

5-6:30 pm: talk/Q&A w/ Ian MacKaye "Playing Underground: The Importance of Community Hall Spaces"

7-10 pm: Benefit concert with Max Levine Ensemble, Birds & Wires, War On Women, Regents; all-ages, $5-10 sliding scale admission, all proceeds to Capital City Public Charter School, Hermano Pedro, and We Are Family.

PLUS: Special musical guests, vegan bake sale, and CDs, DVDs, and books! ALL EVENTS ARE FREE EXCEPT FOR EVENING CONCERT - BUT PLEASE BRING CANNED GOODS (WHOLE GRAIN CEREAL, PEANUT BUTTER, VEGGIES, BEANS, SOUP) OR CLEAN, GENTLY USED CLOTHING FOR DONATION TO WE ARE FAMILY AND HERMANO PEDRO - THANKS!