LAS VEGAS, NV — An art show in downtown Las Vegas hosted a speed dating event the night after Valentine’s Day, except instead of finding love, attendees found community organizations they’d want to work with.
The Speed Activism event was hosted by Indecline, a collective of artists focused on culture jamming and activism.
Members of five local community organizations sat at tables in a circle and met with attendees to explain what they do and give options for how the attendees could work with them if they’re interested.
A representative from Indecline said that dozens of people came to the event, and while many seemed interested in volunteering, they hope that the attendees do get involved in their communities.
“I really do believe that volunteering reorganizes someone’s mind around the issue that they’re looking at,” the Indecline representative said. “It’s very hard to look at people as not being people after you have seen and talked to them when giving out services. So I think that is the end goal.”
‘I think it’s important that we keep this going’
The Fifth Sun Project, More Than A Hashtag, The Cupcake Girls, The Adobo Collective, and Shine A Light were the groups that met with attendees at Speed Activism.
While the groups had varying levels of success with the attendees, many of them agreed that the event overall was a success in its intentions.
“It was very unique, I loved the theatrical presentation of the night,” Brent Nowak, engagement liaison for Shine A Light, said. “Most importantly, what I thought was cool was that it was a different way for other people to engage and educate themselves on what different nonprofits are doing throughout the city.”
Eztli Amaya, co-founder of the Fifth Sun Project said that there was such a wide range of people in attendance that she was concerned that some of them might have been police. She said that events to make people feel safe in working for the community are vital.
“I think right now, with everything that’s going on and how a lot of us feel like we’re on edge or on our toes with this work, I think it’s important to keep this going,” Amaya said about the event, “to get the people that want that space to not feel on edge anymore, to know where they can be proactive.”
But Amaya also cautioned that organizations need to be careful as more people join onto causes, to make sure everyone involved is safe in doing their work.
‘This seems like the way to do it’
Members from Indecline said they put the event together intending for other organizations and activist groups to replicate it on their own.
“The hope is that it’s adaptable to other cities, and every city could refine the idea and make it better, or any group could, because they have their own cultural flavor,” the Indecline representative said.
Indecline said that people have reached out to inquire if they could host more Speed Activism events in other parts of the US, but since the group cannot easily travel around the country they hope that the event will be replicated.
“We’re in a place where we need to usher people in (to community organization), and people want to work, and there are places where they can work,” event organizer Emily Ajir said. “This seems like the way to do it.”
Mark Credico is an independent journalist working in Southern Nevada. He covers subjects including government accountability, homelessness, workers' unions and the environment.
