| In January 2001, Synthesis began at the State University of New York at Ulster as an interdisciplinary club. Since that time, Synthesis has blossomed into a countywide youth and student movement with collectives at SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Ulster, Rondout Valley High School, Wallkill High School and New Paltz High School. The collective organizers have created meetings, events, forums and workshops to explore the consciousness of humanity through philosophy, science, politics, economics, sociology, ecology and more. Synthesis organizers have led campaigns in their schools and communities for peace, social justice and environmental sustainability.
Over 300 students and youth have been active organizers and members of Synthesis to date, while thousands have attended our lectures and events. Synthesis has transformed many people's lives, their career paths and lifestyle choices. And this is only the beginning... |
| Past Projects & Events 2001-2007 Here is the linear history of Synthesis with a sample of topics from weekly meetings at our high school and college collectives. Check it out! Click on the links to scroll to date on page. • 2001 • 2004 • 2007 • 2002 • 2005 • 2008 • 2003 • 2006 |
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Organizational Accomplishments: • Founding of Synthesis as an Interdisciplinary Discussion Club at SUNY Ulster Presentations: • Joel Kovel, Bard College professor & author of The Enemy of Nature: The End of Capitalism or the End of the World • Dr. Thomas Lambert, Sullivan Community College Professor of Sociology on the “State of the World” Meeting Topics Explored: • The Gaia Hypothesis • Theory • Archetypes in Literature • 9/11 • The Gulf War • Depleted Uranium Weapons • Fractals • The United Nation • Health benefits of yoga; etc. Lectures: • Dr. Lawrence Fagg, Physicist and Author of Electromagnetism and the Sacred Trips: • Shawangunk Ridge and Catskill Mountains hikes; The Hayden Planetarium in NYC |
| Organizational Accomplishments: • Two new Synthesis collectives founded at SUNY New Paltz and Rondout Valley High School - the 1st high school chapter • Synthesis members attend a demonstration outside of the World Economic Forum in NYC Presentations: • Phil Rosner, Nazi Resistance fighter • Rev. Finley Schaef, president of North American Coalition for Ecology and Christianity • Rainbow Weaver, local Native American environmentalist • Milan Cupurdija, director of a film on the life of Nicoli Tesla Meeting Topics Explored: • Globalization • Renewable Energy • Campaign Finance Reform • School of the Americas • Stem Cell Research • The Prison Industrial Complex • Super String Theory; etc. Lectures: • Congressman Maurice Hinchey: “The War on Terror: Where is it Taking US?” Events: • Synthesis Open Mic Series starts at SUNY Ulster • 1st Wake-Up Week! @ SUNY Ulster with guest speaker Jeff Cohen from media watch group • Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting talks about the corporate media and the World Social Forum • Members attend and speak at a peace demonstration in Kingston, NY Campaigns: • Involvement with Save the Ridge community campaign • Involvement in Redistricting Petition for Ulster County Legislature |
| Organizational Accomplishments: • Synthesis becomes a member organization of the United Nations’ Young-General Assembly • The 4th Synthesis collective is founded at Wallkill Valley High School • Opening of Synthesis office space on Water St. in New Paltz • Synthesis director and members help coordinate the “Share the Spirit of Peace Youth Summit” at the UN • Publication of Synthesis Newsletters begins Presentations: • Members attend annual NGO/DPI conference at the UN and run a workshop called “The Next Generation Speaks Out: Young People on Fulfilling the Promise of the UN” • Earth Day BioDiesel Truck demonstration with Winslow Jenkins Meeting Topics Explored: • Spiral Dynamics • Hydrogen Energy • The War on Iraq • The Military Industrial Complex • Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant; etc. Lectures: • Scott Ritter, former Chief U.N. Weapons Inspector • Organizer from STAC Montreal on the Zapatista Movement and Grassroots Organizing Events: • Synthesis Octoberfest membership drive and concert in New Paltz • Monthly Open Mics and ‘Renaissances’— visual and performance art exhibit series @ SUNY Ulster and SUNY New Paltz • ‘Wake-Up Week!’ at Rondout Valley H.S. with over 40 workshops offered including a screening of ‘Bowling for Columbine’ • Performance by progressive folk singer David Rovics • ‘Wake-Up Week!’ @ SUNY Ulster • Interfaith Spiritual Forum including participants from a number of world religions • Pete Seeger, legendary folk singer performed for RVHS students • Alex Schein performs @ Synthesis Save the Ridge benefit • Co- sponsored Rock Against Racism concert at SUNY New Paltz • Student walkouts against the war @ RVHS & SUNY New Paltz • Members attend massive peace demonstrations in Washington DC and NYC Campaigns: • SUNY New Paltz organizes campus and village-wide voter registration drive • SUNY NP organizes local peace march and demonstration before Iraq War • SUNY NP helps to preserve 400+ year old tree on campus • SUNY Ulster Books Not Bombs - Voter registration drive and book swap Trips: • Attended 9th Annual Multicultural Conference at SUNY New Paltz |
| Organizational Accomplishments: • Leadership Training with Melissa Everett - Executive Director of Sustainable Hudson Valley • Co-sponsored Party for Peace! Concert on the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza at the United Nations, with speakers and performers including New Paltz Mayor Jason West, and progressive singer/songwriter, Aliza Hava • Mentoring Training with Michael Rudolfo from Vermont Wilderness School • Medicine Wheel Workshop at Boughton Place with Walker Korby from the Wilderness Awareness School Presentations: • Lorna Tychostup - independent photojournalist multimedia presentation on trip to Iraq before and during the war Meeting Topics Explored: • The Patriot Act • Same-sex marriage • Corporate control of politics and media • 1960’s student movement history; etc. Lectures: • Heather Quinn of Tikkun Campus Network: “Peace Process between Israel & Palestine” • Bruce Gagnon of Nuclear Age Peace Foundation: “U.S. Space Command: Military Arm of Corporate Globalization” • SUNY 1st Annual Environmental Forum with Lester Brown from Worldwatch Institute & author of “Plan B: Rescuing a Planet under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble” Events: • Members attend peace demonstrations in Washington DC & NYC • Monthly Open Mics and ‘Renaissances’ • ‘Wake-Up Week!’ at Rondout Valley H.S. • Performance by progressive singer/songwriters, David Rovics & Aliza Hava • Co-sponsored Rock Against Racism concert at SUNY New Paltz • Wallkill HS screens Fahrenheit 9-11 Campaigns: • Involvement in stopping the Belleayre Development Project • Wallkill HS institutes school-wide recycling program • Wallkill HS adopts an army troop in Iraq Trips: • Bus trip for all Synthesis members to United Nations in NYC for Gandhi/King Season of Non-violence event and UN tour • Attended 10th Annual Multicultural Conference at SUNY New Paltz • Bus trip to Party for Peace! Concert at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in NYC Community Service: • Members volunteer at Red Fox Friends - local wilderness mentoring program for elementary school children |
| Organizational Accomplishments: • New Synthesis headquarters opens on Main St. in New Paltz • Publication of Synthesis brochure, programs and construction of website • Youth Empowerment workshop at Omega Teen Camp facilitated by Synthesis director, Julia Walsh • 1st Synthesis Zine – “Concentric Circles” published Presentations: • Lola Kaufman, Holocaust survivor • Zachary Skiar, Screenwriter – JFK, “Crisis of Democracy” Meeting Topics Explored: • Social Implications of MySpace • Military Recruitment • Galapagos Island Biodiversity • Rwandan Genocide • GMO’s; etc. Lectures: • SUNY 2nd Annual Environmental Forum with Julia Butterfly Hill, Director of The Circle of Life Foundation environmental organization and author of The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods • Bonita Roy, editor of Integral Review, on Integral Theory Events: • Synthesis Earth Activist Retreats: - Spring semester facilitator: Mark Morey, Director of the Vermont Wilderness School - Fall semester facilitators: Lorene Wapotich and Mary Sweeney of Her Feet on the Earth • ‘Wake-Up Week!’ at Rondout Valley H.S. • Monthly Open Mics and ‘Renaissances’— visual and performance art exhibit series held at 60 Main/New Paltz Cultural Collective • SUNY SLAM Team performed for 500 students at RVHS • Co-sponsored Rock Against Racism concert at SUNY New Paltz Campaigns: • Wallkill chapter fundraises for Tsunami victims • SUNY New Paltz networks with the Sustainable Agriculture Club to introduce local, organic food to campus eateries, as well as establishing accreditation for volunteers on local farms • SUNY NP launches campaign to revitalize the Solar House built in 1970s for alternative energy use on campus Trips: • Trip to Mohonk Consultations presentation on the Global EcoVillage Community at Mohonk Mountain House • Attended 11th Annual Multicultural Conference at SUNY at Paltz • Attended International Day of Peace event at the UN • Attended Interfaith Spiritual Forum at the UN • Visited visual artist Alex Grey’s gallery called the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors Community Service: • SUNY New Paltz members volunteer and train at Vermont Wilderness School’s Summer ‘Coyote Camp’ and Fall ‘Art of Mentoring’ |
| Organizational Accomplishments: • 2nd Synthesis Zine “Concentric Circles” published • Members create a new mission statement • Organizers from the different Synthesis collectives meet and strategize Presentations: • SUNY Ulster Professor Tom Davis on Integral Theory @ SUNY New Paltz • ReadNex Poetry Squad facilitates a creative writing workshop at RVHS Meeting Topics Explored: • Quantum Healing • South American politics • Nuclear Weapons • Autism • Green Architecture • Amnesty International; etc. Lectures: • SUNY 3rd Annual Environmental Forum with Hunter Lovins from Natural Capitalism Solutions • The Human Condition Forum – an interdisciplinary discussion with professors @ SUNY Ulster Events: • ‘Rennascence’ 24 hour Art Happening at 60 Main Café in New Paltz • Wake-Up Week!’ at Rondout Valley H.S. • SUNY SLAM Team performed for 500 students at RVHS • Co-sponsored Rock Against Racism concert at SUNY New Paltz • Earth Activist Retreat with Tam Jackson, facilitator from Red Fox Friends • Open Mics • Blackout Artist Collective & Climbing Poetree facilitate a writers workshop & perform • Screenings of The Secret, What the Bleep Do We Know?, Crash, Iraq for Sale Campaigns: • World Wide HIV/AIDS Awareness day Trips: • Attended12th Annual Multicultural Conference at SUNY at Paltz • RVHS members attend GLSEN Summits • Bus trip to International Day of Peace event at the UN and Party for Peace! concert in Union Square Park Community Service: • Collected holiday gifts for Marbletown Youth Commission • Collected winter coats for charity |
| Organizational Accomplishments: • Development of the Integral Action Community Training Program (I-ACT) Lectures: • Kathy Kelly from Voices in the Wilderness – Middle East peace talk called “Eyewitness to War Witness to Peace” • Salifu Kamara from the Global Disabled Peoples Campaign in Sierra Leone spoke about the civil war and disabled peoples rights in Sierra Leone Events: • Celebrated Black History month, Women’s Herstory month and Earth Day • Screened the "Inconvenient Truth" @ RVHS & SUNY New Paltz • Screened SIR, NO Sir! – a documentary on GI resistance to Vietnam War • Co-sponsored Rock Against Racism concert at SUNY New Paltz • RVHS Battle of the Bands to raise $ for Wounded Warriors Project Campaigns: • Lights Out campaign to raise community awareness about global climate change & energy use • Reuse to Reduce – SUNY New Paltz end of the year material recovery program in the 14 dorms students donated various items incl. books/clothing/shoes/food/supplies to local charities • SUNY New Paltz Recycling Campaign • SUNY New Paltz raises awareness of the PCB/Dioxin contamination issue on campus from a 1991 chemical fire, and forms PDAC (PCB/Dioxin Action Coalition) to take steps to protect students’ health. |
| Organizational Accomplishments: • Synthesis launches new website |
student leader I am today."
- Jeff Fonda, SUNY New Paltz 2010
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