Howdy folks! There's a lot going on in the world of Altar Magazine. I
know this is a long email, but it's packed with lots of useful
information. Happy scanning. ;)

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C A L L F O R S U B M I S S I O N S !
D E A D L I N E: F E B R U A R Y 1 S T 2 0 0 4
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We're accepting submissions for Altar Magazine Issue #3! The vitality
of this publication is as dependent on our contributors as our
readers. Your words and artwork are important, and we want to print
them. Below is a list of topics we feel are directly related to our
mission. Please feel free to elaborate on them or add your own. We
welcome people from all over the world to be a part of this
independent media project. Full submission guidelines can be found in
the "Participate" section of our website (www.altarmagazine.com) or
by emailing submissions@....

skillz (what can you teach us?), grub (recipes), activism/events,
music/film/art/book reviewers needed, news, essays/short stories
(fiction and non-fiction), art (visual or otherwise), sexual (r)
evolution

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N Y C W O M E N ' S I N D Y M E D I A C O A L I T I O N
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As media makers, much of our success depends on those around us...
the connections we have, the resources we have access to, the
information we learn. NYC WIMC's vision is to create a space for
women to come together to support each other in our work. So, what
does this look like? Once a month, the NYC WIMC will have a meeting
to share information about projects that we (as individuals or as a
group) are currently involved in, ask questions or get help with
issues that we are having (for example: how do i get distribution for
the magazine/film i a working on? where is a good gallary to approach
with my work? where can i publish my fiction/non-
fiction/poetry/erotica/etc?), receive honest feedback and criticism of
our work, form alliances, and share information about
events/conferences/fairs/workshops that may be happening in the area.
For more info or to be added to the listserve email
info@....

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N Y C G R A S S R O O T S M E D I A C O N F E R E N C E
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The NYC Grassroots Media Conference is a gathering of community-
oriented media in New York City and their allies during the weekend
of Feb 27-29, 2004 to promote awareness of the grassroots media in
New York City, strengthen and unify our city's independent media, and
create strong bonds between community groups and local grassroots
media groups. For more information visit www.nycgrassrootsmedia.org.

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V I S I T O U R N E W A N D I M P R O V E D W E B S I T E !
W W W . A L T A R M A G A Z I N E . C O M
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Find out what's new with Altar Magazine!
Buy a copy of Altar Magazine or a special Altar Magazine t-shirt!
Give feedback on the website and the magazine!
Read Articles, Interviews and Reviews that Don't Appear in the
Magazine!
Become part of the Altar Magazine Volunteer Staff!

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B A C K I S S U E S
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You can still get a copy of Issue Two...
Altar Magazine, a forum for critical thought, coalition building,
artistic creativity, and activism, is kicking off its second issue.
With more pages and better print quality, this issue will feature
articles such as Myopia by Inga Muscio, Hajira: Part Two by Fawzia
Afzal-Khan, Arting Up the Revolution by Jonathan Culp, Concrete
Blonde Interview, Celie's Revenge: Hip-hop Betrays Black Women by
Jennifer McLune, No Justice No Peace: a critique within the peace
movement, Scott Heron Interview (Prefuse 73, Savath + Savalas) and
much more from writers and artists living all over the world.

We are almost sold out of Issue One Featuring...
Interviews with:
* Mr. Lif on the politics of hip-hop
* Sleater Kinney, ladymen in effect
* Elaine Brown and Constance Curry, two civil rights activists talk
about currentpolitics
* shebang!, an all-girl breaking crew from Canada chat about being b-
girl pioneers
* Bitch & Animal, self-described tittie tribal hoe down funk

Articles:
* Before and After September 11th: Notes from an Anti-Racist,
Feminist Patriot by Zillah Eisenstein
* Justice is a Human Right, the struggle for prison reform by
Vanessa Filley
* A Look at the Emergence of Graffiti Culture by J. Jarosz
* Hajira: Part One, a short story about a friendship between two
Pakistani women struggling to define themselves within the confines
of their expected societal roles
AND MORE!!!

The cost is $3 per issue.
** NOTE: If you live outside of the US, please add a few dollars to
help with shipping costs **

You can purchase your copy using a credit card via Paypal by clicking
on the following link:
https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=info%
40altarmagazine.com&item_name=Altar+Magazine&no_note=1&tax=0¤cy_code=U
SD

Or you may send cash, check or money order (made out to "Mandy Van
Deven") to:
Altar Magazine
955 Metropolitan Ave. #4R
Brooklyn, NY 11211

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M I S S I O N S T A T E M E N T
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Altar Magazine believes that problems are not monolithic, and neither
are solutions. It is imperative to have socially progressive women
and men fighting on all fronts of the movement whether that is anti-
racist work, feminism, anti-heterosexism, economic justice or any
other political action. Altar Magazine exists within a community that
is fragmented, but not broken. It exists in a time when coalition is
crucial and must be implemented. We believe that the personal is
political; therefore, all forms of creativity are inherently
political. We want to create a space where critical thought and
understanding happen simultaneously. This is important because before
we can create social change we must be able to re-imagine
communities that foster difference. We must be able to take ownership
of that which we do not claim in order to effectively critique this
oppressive system that we know and perpetuate. Social change is not
momentous. It is a process. Our hope is that each individual
recognizes his or her place within this system of change.

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S U B S C R I B E
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If you would like to subscribe to our listserve to receive Calls for
Submissions and other announcements please write to:
mandy@..., and ask to be added. Thank you for your
support and dedication!