The Sanctuary For Independent Media

Volunteer Orientation Day
2025-09-17 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Looking for a meaningful way to stay involved with the Sanctuary at your own pace? Join us every third Wednesday from 5–7PM for our monthly volunteer day. RSVP by sending an email to Alivija@mediasanctuary.org

We’ll start with light refreshments and a tour (plus a little campus clean up) and get an in-depth introduction to a volunteer role that interests you – whether it’s helping in the garden, setting up events, cleaning shared spaces, or spreading the word about our work!

Each month has a different role focus, so come find what fits you best! No experience needed – just bring your curiosity and commitment to building a stronger community together. Meet at the main space 3361 6th Ave.

September’s Volunteer Orientation will be around being a Sanctuary Scene Setter, with a focus on learning how to operate our video cameras.

Volunteer Role Training Descriptions:

Sanctuary Scene Setter (event set up/breakdown): Help set up for concerts, film screenings, workshops, and other events by placing tables, chairs, beverages/food or getting behind the camera to help document the event! Frequency: One day/ Occasional

Sanctuary Sweeper (cleaning): Help us keep our spaces clean and safe by cleaning indoor spaces and/or doing a street sweep!Frequency: Drop in style, Occasional

Sanctuary Social Butterfly (outreach): Help share our message, increase visibility of our work for more connections, funding, and attendance at our events Frequency: drop in, prescheduled leading up to events

Collard City Growers Garden: help tend to our garden by watering, weeding, and harvesting for and with our neighbors!Frequency: Occasional, weekly

StoryHarvest 2025: Altar to the Past, Altar to the Future
2025-09-13 14:00 - 17:00
Join us for StoryHarvest, our annual food justice celebration, connecting the community over stories of food. This year’s event kicks off our 20th Anniversary with the theme Altar to the Past, Altar to the Future! Join us for a campus-wide celebration, bringing together community groups and offering activities, games, music, and food– all FREE!

Featuring

Artist Meg Jala will create a participatory altar for attendees of the event to contribute to

Photographer Robert Cooper will offer mini portrait sessions

Visitors will be invited to have a seat at the table, joining others at a long table at Freedom Square where guests will be served food and invited into conversations about the past and future

An apple pressing station will be at Collard City Growers

Tour NATURE Lab’s new mural, a collaboration between Jade Warrick and Water Justice Lab Youth fellows

Community Acupuncture with Dr. Xavier Coughlin of People’s Health Sanctuary

A mugwort “Reclining Chair” with artist Z. Cecilia Lu

Be5 Stem Club will have activities combining science, technology, engineering, art, and math

Tai Chi will take place in the main space

Broken Plastics collection and zines, by Nicole Chrochrek

Liquid Antennae experiments with Water Justice Lab fellows and artist Natan Diacon-Furtado

Cordage Demonstration with Azuré Keahi

watercolor with Kayla Jolin

art stations and chalk drawing

more info coming soon…

Community Groups

Collar City Pride

Alliance for Positive Health

Soul Fire in the City

Community Rising Project

Capital Region Sanctuary Coalition

Capital District Border Watch

The Children’s Museum at Saratoga

The Street Peace Project

Hudson Mohawk Magazine · StoryHarvest is this Saturday!

Photos from past years

Volunteer Orientation Day
2025-08-20 17:00 - 19:00
Looking for a meaningful way to stay involved with the Sanctuary at your own pace? Join us every third Wednesday from 5–7PM for our monthly volunteer day. RSVP here! (this will take you to an external link to RSVP through the New York Foundation of the Arts Volunteer Portal)

We’ll start with light refreshments and a tour (plus a little campus clean up) and get an in-depth introduction to a volunteer role that interests you – whether it’s helping in the garden, setting up events, cleaning shared spaces, or spreading the word about our work!

Each month has a different role focus, so come find what fits you best! No experience needed – just bring your curiosity and commitment to building a stronger community together. Meet at the main space 3361 6th Ave.

August’s Volunteer Orientation will be around being a Sanctuary Social Butterfly! RSVP here! (this will take you to an external link to RSVP through the New York Foundation of the Arts Volunteer Portal)

Volunteer Role Training Descriptions:

Sanctuary Scene Setter (event set up/breakdown): Help set up for concerts, film screenings, workshops, and other events by placing tables, chairs, beverages/food or getting behind the camera to help document the event! Frequency: One day/ Occasional

Sanctuary Sweeper (cleaning): Help us keep our spaces clean and safe by cleaning indoor spaces and/or doing a street sweep!Frequency: Drop in style, Occasional

Sanctuary Social Butterfly (outreach): Help share our message, increase visibility of our work for more connections, funding, and attendance at our events Frequency: drop in, prescheduled leading up to events

Collard City Growers Garden: help tend to our garden by watering, weeding, and harvesting for and with our neighbors!Frequency: Occasional, weekly

CCG Community Work & Play Days
2025-08-15 16:00 - 19:00 | Collard City Growers, 3337 6th Avenue, Troy, New York, 12180, United States
Drop in to Collard City Growers where we have activities for families and garden tasks for our adult volunteers. Community Work & Play Days take place on the 3rd Friday of each month, during the regular CCG Open Garden Hours which take place every Friday from 4:00 – 7:00 pm, from May through October.

Join us in tending, harvesting, and caring for the plants and the land, or just take some time to rest amongst greenery and appreciate the gifts of the garden. These open hours are family-oriented and open to all!

Volunteer Orientation Day
2025-07-16 17:00 - 19:00
Looking for a meaningful way to stay involved with the Sanctuary at your own pace? Join us every third Wednesday from 5–7PM for our monthly volunteer day. RSVP here! (this will take you to an external link to RSVP through the New York Foundation of the Arts Volunteer Portal)

We’ll start with light refreshments and a tour (plus a little campus clean up) and get an in-depth introduction to a volunteer role that interests you – whether it’s helping in the garden, setting up events, cleaning shared spaces, or spreading the word about our work!

Each month has a different role focus, so come find what fits you best! No experience needed – just bring your curiosity and commitment to building a stronger community together. Meet at the main space 3361 6th Ave.

July’s Volunteer Orientation will be around being a Sanctuary Scene Setter! RSVP here! (this will take you to an external link to RSVP through the New York Foundation of the Arts Volunteer Portal)

Volunteer Role Training Descriptions:

Sanctuary Scene Setter (event set up/breakdown): Help set up for concerts, film screenings, workshops, and other events by placing tables, chairs, beverages/food or getting behind the camera to help document the event!

Frequency: One day/ Occasional

Sanctuary Sweeper (Cleaning): Help us keep our spaces clean and safe by cleaning indoor spaces and/or doing a street sweep!

Frequency: Drop in style, Occasional

Sanctuary Social Butterfly(outreach): Help share our message, increase visibility of our work for more connections, funding, and attendance at our events

Frequency: drop in, prescheduled leading up to events

Collard City Growers Garden: help tend to our garden by watering, weeding, and harvesting for and with our neighbors!

Frequency: Occasional, weekly

Flaherty Film Seminar
2025-06-29 11:00 - 16:00 | The Sanctuary, 3361 6th Ave, Troy, 12180, United States
An immersive program of screenings and conversations, the Flaherty Film Seminar is an internationally recognized forum for collective inquiry into non-fiction cinema, encouraging the exchange of cinematic ideas across generations and cultures, and promoting the expansion of the limits of cinema itself.

Register

In collaboration with Picture Lock One and the Tang Museum, this gathering of the internationally recognized seminar provides access to two curated non-fiction film programs followed by group discussion, encouraging the exchange of cinematic ideas across generations and cultures, and promoting the expansion of the limits of cinema itself. Lunch will be provided.

Schedule:11am-1pm: Flaherty screening program #4 + discussion12pm: food is provided1pm-2pm: break between sessions and get a Sanctuary campus tour if interested2pm-4pm: Flaherty screening program #5 + discussion

Join other Flaherty Film Seminar pods:June 27: The Tang Museum in Saratoga SpringsJune 28: Picture Lock One at 50 4th Street, Troy

Learn more about the Flaherty Film Seminar gatherings

Sanctuarian Think Tank
2025-06-25 18:00 - 20:00 | The Sanctuary, 3361 6th Ave, Troy, 12180, United States
Join us for the Sanctuarian Think Tank where we will brainstorm ideas to inform the Sanctuary’s future programming. We will do so in community with a potluck. This is a space for Sanctuary-involved folks to contribute visions, share networks, and connect with other invested members of our community.

Bring your half-baked ideas and collaborative energy, and please send a quick note to info@mediasanctuary.org if you plan to join us so we can get an idea of who to expect.

Are Plants People?
2025-06-13 16:00 - 19:00 | Collard City Growers, 3337 6th Avenue, Troy, New York, 12180, United States
A Public Philosophy Conversation at Collard City Growers

Come for the work party, stay for the philosophy! Capital Region Public Philosophy and Collard City Growers present a public conversation (5-7pm) on plants, agency, rights, and belonging following time to work & play (4-5pm) in the Sanctuary for Independent Media’s garden.

Please RSVP for pizza.

Be The Dance Party!
2025-06-07 14:00 - 17:00 | The Sanctuary, 3361 6th Ave, Troy, 12180, United States
Spaces for joy are an important part of resistance movements when built around creating community, encouraging creative expression, and inviting inclusive participation. Be The Dance Party! is part panel discussion, part dance party. We will hear from folks on the panel on how they have each used joy, music, and creative expression to build movements in our community. The audience will then transition into party-prep to decorate, dress, and hydrate before the daylight dance party begins! This is a family-friendly event.

Panel discussion, 2-3pmDance party, 3-5pm

Panelists:

Moderated by Angela Beallor, a co-creator of The Flagsss Day Collective and Documentarian in Community Co-Creation of MDOCS at Skidmore College

Hana van der Kolk is a queer dancer, artist, and embodied learning, ritual, and celebration facilitator. She spends time looking for and co-creating bridges through pedagogy, performance, language, healing, celebration, transformation, and the dismantling of empire inside and out. Hana was part of starting and maintaining Polly, Troy’s underground queer dance party and community fundraiser from 2014 to 2019 and is part of the FlagsSs Day Collective with Angela Beallor and Elizabeth (EP) Press. https://www.hanavanderkolk.com/

DJ Nate Da Great is an Albany based DJ that has lit up dance floors across the Capital District and beyond. He’s best known for his mixing skills, creative music selection and ability to play for diverse audiences. Nate believes that creating community, inclusive vibes and moments of joy on the dance floor are all just a basic part of a DJs job.

Patrick Harris Jr. is a multidisciplinary founder who turns big ideas into systems that work. As CEO of Collectiveffort, he’s led brand, media, and infrastructure projects ranging from global companies to grassroots orgs and public institutions.

Dance Party DJed by Intell Hayesfield

This event includes music, panelists, and DJ from The No More Genre Show

Listen Friday and Saturday nights to Sanctuary Radio, from 10pm-1am, to hear The No More Genre Show. Tune into 105.3fm Troy or steam online at MediaSanctuary.org

Cybersecurity
2025-05-17 16:00 - 17:45
Join us for a cybersecurity workshop with Dan Phiffer. This is part of the Community Care Workshop day on May 17: 12pm Plant Swap, 2pm De-escalation workshop, 4pm Cybersecurity workshop.

This workshop will make space for us to think about cybersecurity together and offers a set of practical steps for using your devices more safely. Learn about strategies to protect yourself and your friends. What is encryption? Should you be using a password manager? (Spoiler: yes!) Let’s practice better digital security together so that we can act with more confidence and better understand how technologies can both betray and liberate us.

Dan Phiffer is a web developer living in the Hillside neighborhood of Troy. He builds tools and websites with a social justice orientation, including mediasanctuary.org.

Hudson Mohawk Magazine · Cybersecurity Workshop with Dan Phiffer at the Sanctuary, May 17

Practicing Justice in a Struggling World
2025-05-17 14:00 - 15:45
Join us for a de-escalation and communication workshop with Celia Kutz. This is part of the Community Care Workshop day on May 17: 12pm Plant Swap, 2pm De-escalation workshop, 4pm Cybersecurity workshop.

Practicing justice in a world struggling through multiple catastrophes is difficult, to say the least. Because we need each other we have to build the skills to be with disagreement and disorientation, within ourselves and our community. Come hear stories, learn internal de-escalation techniques and gain ways to communicate when things get tense. No promises, but the hope is you leave a little more grounded and clear about how to be resilient in the midst of this polycrisis.

Celia Kutz is a facilitator and trainer, radicalized through the mass mobilization movement in the early 2000’s. She’s been with Training for Change for 16 years training and facilitating thousands of groups across the social justice left. Currently she’s focused on sticky, tense and disorienting group dynamics, supporting organizers and movement directors to make embodied decisions. She lives with her dog and partner with the land of the Mohawk and Mohican, along the banks of the Hudson River, the Muheakunnk, The River that Runs Both Ways. She is guided by her work with Sacred Vibes Apothecary, Process Work Practitioners, the School for Global Somatics, and by the Jewish women who have taught her resilience, compassion and bravery.

Hudson Mohawk Magazine · De-Escalation Workshop with Celia Kutz at the Sanctuary, May 17

Plant Swap 2025
2025-05-17 12:00 - 14:00 | Collard City Growers, 3337 6th Avenue, Troy, New York, 12180, United States
Join us for our annual Plant Swap at the Collard City Growers garden! This is part of the Community Care Workshop day on May 17: 12pm Plant Swap, 2pm De-escalation workshop, 4pm Cybersecurity workshop.

Where: 3337 6th Ave, Troy, NY 12180

This is a free event for the community to get together and exchange plants for the spring season. Stop by to pick up some plants, drop off any extras that you don’t have room for, or just come on by to say “Hi!”

What is a plant swap? An opportunity to share plant abundance!

How to participate? Bring your extra plants and/ or saplings to trade for something new, including perennials, annuals, house plants, and more! You don’t have to bring a plant to participate.

Why participate? It’s an amazing excuse to explore the garden, soak up the sun, and meet some new people and plants!

And remember: All the plants that you give and take are free!

Colombian and Latin American Songs with Lucía Pulido
2025-05-10 19:00 - 21:00 | The Sanctuary, 3361 6th Ave, Troy, 12180, United States
Join us for Lucía Pulido Quartet in concert, performing Colombian and Latin American songs, infusing Afro-Colombian, Mexican, Venezuelan folk sounds with experimental arrangements. Lucía Pulido is a torrent of sound and emotion that mesmerizes with its energy and captivates with its sensibility. Spanish flyer below.

*Tickets are priced at $30 for General Admission and $20 for Sustainer, Student, or Low-Income Admission. The Sanctuary recognizes that even with a sliding scale, cost can affect the accessibility of any event. We want to emphasize that no one will be turned away at the door for a lack of funds. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.

Become a Sanctuary Sustainer and get access to our special event ahead of the concert! Details below

Hear some of Lucía Pulido’s music here

The Lucía Pulido ensemble pays homage to Colombian music through a highly experimental style. Traditional genres such as cumbia and bullerengue from the Atlantic Coast, currulaos from the Pacific Coast as well as joropos of the Colombian Eastern Plains are the point of departure for musical creativity. Lucía’s vocal sophistication is enhanced in genres such as herding songs (cantos de vaquería), funeral laments (alabaos) and harvest chants (cantos de zafra) which give the singer the liberty to explore her voice fully. The ensemble also performs songs written for Lucía by composers Iván Benavides and Sebastián Cruz.

The quartet, comprised of guitar, bass, drums, and voice, generates a unique sound, allowing each member to explore their instruments, and making each presentation an incomparable and entertaining experience. The program includes traditional Colombian and Latin American songs, and original compositions.

Line Up:Lucía Pulido, voice, percussionSebastian Cruz, guitarStomu Takeishi, BassMichael W. Davis, drums

Sustainer Event

We couldn’t do our work without the support of our sustainers! As a thank you for the regular support, we are inviting Sustainers for a special event from 6-7pm ahead of the concert with special mixed drinks, light bites, a special live DJ set, and an artist talk with Kathy High, Bio-Artist and co-Director of NATURE Lab, about Microplastics: A BioArt Exhibition. More information to come!

Become a Sustainer

Backyard Composting 101
2025-04-26 12:00 - 14:00 | Collard City Growers, 3337 6th Avenue, Troy, New York, 12180, United States
Join composting enthusiast Christian Grigoraskos to learn all about composting, from kitchen to finished compost. We will cover simple and low-cost methods for diverting food waste from the landfill and using it to build biologically robust, living soil. Participants will help to spread finished compost in the garden as well as assemble ingredients to build a new pile.

RAIN OR SHINE. Rain plan: set up tents near the compost

Critical Conversations: Immigrant Justice
2025-04-24 19:00 - 20:30
Join us for a critical conversation about immigrant justice with guests from Columbia County Sanctuary Movement, organizing immigrants and allies to collectively support, empower, and defend communities. This conversation will include clips from Beyond Borders by Director Tony Ramirez, see description below.

Critical Conversations is a series of discussions hosted by The Sanctuary for Independent Media where guest facilitators lead an intimate discussion on a critical issue of the moment. Critical Conversations take place every Thursday in April, from 7-8:30pm, focusing on the issues of journalism and democracy, environmental justice, protecting trans lives, and immigrant justice. Attendees are welcomed to join the conversation in a constructive setting for the exchange of ideas.

Pre-registration is required for these events with limited admission for an intimate and constructive space for the exchange of ideas.

Columbia County Sanctuary Movement (CCSM) uses a service-to-organizing model to do our work. This means that they ensure our community has their basic survival needs met, and everyone fights together for longer-term change! They believe this powerful model aligns with the political landscape of our region. CCSM is the only immigrant-led base building and multilingual organization in multiple counties throughout our region.

Beyond Borders is a poignant documentary that follows the lives of four immigrants as they share the powerful stories behind their journeys to a new land. Each comes from a different corner of the world, carrying unique dreams, burdens, and memories, but all are united by the shared hope for a better future

“Más allá de las fronteras” es un drama conmovedor e inspirador que sigue las vidas de cuatro inmigrantes mientras comparten las poderosas historias que hay detrás de sus viajes a una nueva tierra. Cada uno de ellos procede de un rincón diferente del mundo, con sueños, cargas y recuerdos únicos, pero todos están unidos por la esperanza común de un futuro mejor.

To view this film, CCSM is offering a private link for a sliding scale donation. Please email tony@sanctuarycolumbiacounty.org

April 2025 Critical Conversations:

April 3: Democracy & Journalism, with guest Rosemary Armao and host Raneem AfifiApril 10: Environmental Justice, with guest Aaron Mair and host Eleanor SteinApril 17: Protecting Trans Lives, with guests Cafe EuphoriaApril 24: Immigrant Justice, with guests Columbia County Sanctuary Movement

Sam Feder presents "Heightened Scrutiny" Screening & Q&A
2025-04-23 19:00 - 21:00 | The Sanctuary, 3361 6th Ave, Troy, 12180, United States
Heightened Scrutiny is a documentary film about the first out trans attorney arguing in front of the US Supreme Court (United States v. Skrmetti) and the role of mainstream media in fueling anti-trans legislation. The film’s director, Sam Feder, will be presenting this film at the Sanctuary followed by a Q&A. Ahead of the film, Feder will be offering a Be The Media! workshop from 5-6pm.

This event is a collaboration with the RPI’s iEAR Presents series, supported by the Department of Arts and the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, and is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Heightened Scrutiny follows Chase Strangio, ACLU attorney and the first out trans person to argue before the Supreme Court, as he fights a high-stakes legal battle to overturn Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth (United States v. Skrmetti).

The film exposes the dangerous role of mainstream media in fueling anti-trans legislation, uncovering how biased coverage drives hate, endangers lives, and threatens democracy itself. With insights from journalists like Jelani Cobb, Lydia Polgreen, and Gina Chua, and activists like Laverne Cox, the story dismantles anti-trans disinformation and highlights its devastating real-world impact.

As SCOTUS prepares to rule on the case, HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY reveals the fight for bodily autonomy as a fight for the soul of democracy, offering a powerful call to action against bigotry and injustice. website

Be The Media! Workshop with Sam Feder
2025-04-23 17:00 - 18:00 | The Sanctuary, 3361 6th Ave, Troy, 12180, United States
Centering Representation and Access in (Social Justice) Filmmaking

Join Sam Feder, the director of Heightened Scrutiny, for a Be The Media! workshop ahead of the screening of Heightened Scrutiny, a documentary film about the first out trans attorney arguing in front of the US Supreme Court (United States v. Skrmetti) and the role of mainstream media in fueling anti-trans legislation.

This event is a collaboration with the RPI’s iEAR Presents series, supported by the Department of Arts and the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, and is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

SAM FEDER, DIRECTOR / PRODUCER

Sam Feder is a Peabody Award-nominated film director and writer. Sam’s films explore the intersection of visibility and politics along the lines of race, class, and gender. Sam directed the award-winning Netflix Original documentary DISCLOSURE (2020) and the widely acclaimed documentary Kate Bornstein Is a Queer & Pleasant Danger.

Hudson Mohawk Magazine · Heightened Scrutiny Screening at the Sanctuary with Director Sam Feder

Critical Conversations: Protecting Trans Lives
2025-04-17 19:00 - 20:30
Join us for a critical conversation about protecting trans lives with guests from Cafe Euphoria, a transgender and gender non-conforming worker-owned and operated cafe, restaurant, and community space.

Critical Conversations is a series of discussions hosted by The Sanctuary for Independent Media where guest facilitators lead an intimate discussion on a critical issue of the moment. Critical Conversations take place every Thursday in April, from 7-8:30pm, focusing on the issues of journalism and democracy, environmental justice, protecting trans lives, and immigrant justice. Attendees are welcomed to join the conversation in a constructive setting for the exchange of ideas.

Pre-registration is required for these events with limited admission for an intimate and constructive space for the exchange of ideas.

Atsushi Akera is General Manager and co-founder of Cafe Euphoria, a transgender/gender non-conforming worker owned cooperative and restaurant located here in downtown Troy. She was formerly a faculty member in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She also serves as the Vice President of the Pride Center of the Capital Region’s Board of Directors.

Meagon Nolasco (they/them) is the founder and board chair of Collar City Pride, which provides services and community building to LGBTQIA+ folks in Rensselaer County. Their day job sees them working in Constituent Services and LGBTQIA+ policy at the NYS Senate.

Cafe Euphoria is a community space, and a trans visibility project, and worker owned cooperative.

We’re designed to be a safe haven and radical workplace. The progressive national magazine, Yes! Magazine, ran a feature about us entitled, “The Cafe That’s Upending Capitalism.” While this is pure hyperbole — no single cafe is going to overturn our society’s dominant institution — our mission and values define us as a different sort of business.

April 2025 Critical Conversations:

April 3: Democracy & Journalism, with guest Rosemary Armao and host Raneem AfifiApril 10: Environmental Justice, with guest Aaron Mair and host Eleanor SteinApril 17: Protecting Trans Lives, with guests Cafe EuphoriaApril 24: Immigrant Justice, with guests Columbia County Sanctuary Movement

DIY Air Filter Workshop
2025-04-12 14:00 - 16:00 | The Sanctuary, 3361 6th Ave, Troy, 12180, United States
Learn how to build your own air purifiers using a box fan, a furnace filter, and cardboard! Air Justice Lab and Capital Region Clean Air are collaborating for this DIY workshop with enough materials for up to 12 builds!

Registration is REQUIRED for this limited capacity event, with priority to the immediate neighborhood. High quality masks/respirators (such as N95s) and rapid COVID tests will be required and provided for all attendees. Pick up goodie bags, containing masks and COVID test, between 3 – 6pm on Fridays March 28, April 4, and April 11

Itinerary: 2pm to 3pm: Info Session on air quality and intersectionality and demonstration3pm to 4pm: Build, build, build! *feel free to bring stickers or special tape to decorate your air filter

Community Safety Agreements:

Respirator Requirement: All attendees are required to wear a high-quality respirator (minimum KN95, N95 preferred) while indoors throughout the entire workshop. Please practice social distancing (10ft) when stepping outside for mask break.

COVID-19 Testing: Attendees must take a rapid antigen test on the day of the event. Alternatively, you may arrive 20 minutes early (1:40 pm) to take a free rapid test on-site.

Stay Home if Unwell: If you are experiencing any symptoms and/or have a household member who is sick, please stay home, even if you test negative for COVID-19.

Fragrance-Free Policy: Please refrain from wearing fragrances or strong scents to create a scent-free environment for everyone.

Additional Information:

Wheelchair Accessibility: The Sanctuary and restroom facilities are wheelchair accessible. There is a ramp at the entrance to the Sanctuary.

Arrival Time for Testing: If you have not tested prior to the event, please arrive 20 minutes early (by 1:40 pm) for free rapid testing.

Masking Protocol: All participants are required to wear a respirator indoors. If you need to remove your mask, please step outside and maintain at least 10 feet of distance from other participants.

Caregiver/Support Person: If you need to bring a caregiver or a person of support to the event, they are welcome. Please reach out to Sanctuary staff in advance to inform them of their attendance.

Critical Conversations: Environmental Justice
2025-04-10 19:00 - 20:30
Join us for a critical conversation about environmental justice with guest Dr. Aaron Mair, legendary Arbor Hill eco-activist and former president of the national Sierra Club; Benita Law-Diao, former public health nutritionist and first person of color to sit on the board of the Adirondack park Agency to lead a conversation around environmental justice; and host Eleanor Stein, professor and environmental lawyer.

Critical Conversations is a series of discussions hosted by The Sanctuary for Independent Media where guest facilitators lead an intimate discussion on a critical issue of the moment. Critical Conversations take place every Thursday in April, from 7-8:30pm, focusing on the issues of journalism and democracy, environmental justice, protecting trans lives, and immigrant justice. Attendees are welcomed to join the conversation in a constructive setting for the exchange of ideas.

Pre-registration is required for these events with limited admission for an intimate and constructive space for the exchange of ideas.

Above photo is a video still from Mair’s presentation at Ruderal Ecologies 2018. See video here.

Dr. Aaron Mair is a retired New York State public health epidemiological-spatial analyst, environmentalist, and 57th national president of the Sierra Club with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for his international climate work from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Dr. Mair was until recently the Adirondack Council’s “Wilderness Campaign Director” responsible for connecting all New Yorkers to the nation’s largest environmental treasure. As a national environmental justice movement pioneer, founder of Albany’s Haywood Burns Environmental Justice education center, and activist of the Arbor Hill, NY community in Albany, he was also responsible for the creation of the Arbor Hill Environmental Justice Corporation. He currently lives in Schenectady, New York.

Hudson Mohawk Magazine · Aaron Mair to Speak on Environmental Justice at the Sanctuary, April 10

April 2025 Critical Conversations:April 3: Journalism & Democracy, with guest Rosemary Armao and host Raneem AfifiApril 10: Environmental Justice, with guest Aaron Mair and host Eleanor SteinApril 17: Protecting Trans Lives, with guests Cafe EuphoriaApril 24: Immigrant Justice, with guests Columbia County Sanctuary Movement
