LAVA, the Lancaster AVenue Autonomous space, is a center for radical media and organizing located at 4134 Lancaster Avenue in the Belmont neighborhood of West Philadelphia.
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The LAVA collective's mission is to create an empowering and welcoming physical space where diverse communities converge to build connections and break down barriers, blending media-making, artistic expression and hardy nuts-and-bolts organizing in order to advance movements for justice.
The first floor of LAVA hosts the LAVA library, a community kitchen and an event space where social change organizations hold meetings, lectures, video-showings, benefit concerts and other community happenings. LAVA aspires to host welcoming, strategic and inspiring events that connect diverse communities, building bridges between movements for fundamental social change.
LAVA is currently home to several organizations that work for social, political and economic change, including :
Human Rights Coalition
Families and friends of prisoners working to support prisoners and their families and ultimately to abolish the Prison Industrial Complex and all prisons.
ACT UP Philadelphia
The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power has been doing succesfull direct action based campaigns for people with AIDS for well over a decade in Philadelphia.
Independent Media Center of Philadelphia
A democratic alternative to the mainstream media empire. Their website's newswire covers a range of local and international struggles. Philly Indymedia is part of what has become an international movement of independent media workers.
On the Block Radio
A show that takes a critical look at the criminal justice system. Airing every Friday night from 9pm until 10pm on WPEB-88.1 FM, Philadelphia.
the defenestrator
A quarterly radical newspaper which agitates for a social transformation to end all coercive power.
LAVA library
A radical library just inside the 1st floor door.
Food Not Bombs
Fighting global empire and war by giving away meals and groceries in the neighborhood.
Young Broadcaster of America
Young Broadcasters of America builds intramural Satellites of young people (ranging from ages 9-19) whom are aspiring for the noble trade of broadcasting throughout the Americas.
Rizumu
Electronic beats and bleeps from around the world.
New Society Educational Foundation
NSEF is a fiscal-sponsor to many small progressive organizations working for social justice using nonviolent organizing tools such as education, community empowerment, and non-violent protest.
Panadelphia
Inspiring artists and artisans through collaboration and encouragement, transforming consciousness and cultivating culture through community involvement. Our goal is to make affordable works of fine art with local communities, establishing a wealth of artistic expression and experiential joy.
Millcreek Farm
An urban farm just blocks away from LAVA.
