The Tede Matthews Initiative
The Tede Matthews Initiative (TMI) is a new project of Modern Times Bookstore that aims to expand our events and reading series. Through partnerships with community organizations, schools, artists, and educators, we will be launching a series of classes, panel discussions, and cultural events to support the Bay Area's activist, artist, and literary communities.
Who was Tede Matthews?
Tede Matthews worked at Modern Times and was the first person to bring events to the bookstore. He was a political activist who worked tirelessly for gay rights and in solidarity with the people of Nicaragua. In 1993, he died of AIDS. We name this project in his honor, with the hope of carrying on his legacy at Modern Times.
Tede Matthews on freedom: "We don't really know how much freedom could exist because society has
lied to us about what freedom is. Is it a new car? Is it a minipad? Is it a
new fighter aircraft? Although we really don't know what freedom is, we know
that we need it. In fact, we know that millions are dying for it... Freedom
from hunger, hostility, violence and fear...the freedom of association, the
right to associate with whomever we choose, to choose the units in which we
want to live. The freedom to make love, and fall in love, with whom and how
many we choose."
—From a 1991 panel called "Queer Relations: the Lesbian/Gay Movement and the
U.S. Left," held at the SF Women's Building during pride week, with Harry
Hay, Pat Norman, Tede Matthews, Angie Fa, Josie Medina, Carmen V‡zquez, and
Arawn Eibhlyn
Donating to the Project
All donations to the TMI are tax deductable. Make checks payable to Community Ventures, a Project of the Tides Center, and mail them to the Tides Center, P.O. Box 29907, San Francisco, CA 94129-0907. Please put Tede Matthews Initiative in the memo line. You will receive a thank you letter directly from the Tede Matthews Initiative for your tax records.
Tede Matthews Initiative Advisory Board
As of March 2009, we have launched our first Advisory Board, made up of community members, long-time friends, and stakeholders of Modern Times. The Board will play an important role in supporting our fundraising and program development as we move forward in this next phase of our work.
Current Board Members:
Anatole Anton
Lou Gold
Melissa Hoover
Phil Huchings
Richard Terry Koch
John Leanos
Brenda O'Sullivan
Jean Pauline
Roberto Rivera
Contact
For all questions regarding the Tede Matthews Initiative—donating, hosting an event, teaching a class, or becoming a member of the board—contact
Rebecca Tumposky.
