It all starts Sunday with a kick-off at the Unitarian Universalist Church. There will be a panel on Religion in the Public Square, then a dinner and a play about homelessness (Habitat Play). Don’t forget to pay the piper; your donations help fund the whole week of events. You bought that $25 Homegrown ticket; you can afford $5 or $10 for good political discourse.

On Monday, take in the first of five “lunch with a councilor” sessions at noon at Burrito Union with the ineffable Ms. Sharla Gardner. She told me she’d buy the first 5 people there a drink. (just kidding). In the evening, join a panel discussion at the Central Hillside Community Center (across Lake Ave. from the Washington) about what to do about ex-offenders in the neighborhood, at 5:30. Round off the evening with a rousing social justice simulation.

Tuesday’s lunch is with Kerry Gauthier, who’s got great ideas about health care but hopefully will show up to Monday night’s panel. (hey, I’ve got opinions). Then at the Harrison Community Center at 5, learn how to get all your fake online friends to actually do something, and join a discussion at 6:30 about how the economy impacts democracy.

Wednesday’s lunch is on Mr. Zeitgeist himself, Tony Cuneo (but he’s still making you pay for it). Then it’s movie night at the Teatro Zuccone (not the Zinema; thank you timm), with a documentary double-feature: the locally-produced film on the New San Marco Apartments at 5:15, and the award-winning HBO documentary Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech at 7:15.

On Thursday, Todd Fedora hosts shop talk at Blackwoods. That should satisfy you upscale types. Then at 4, join the MPIRG folks up at UMD’s Kirby Lounge for a panel on higher education. College night continues at 6, with a Neighborhood Housing Services community meeting on crime prevention focusing on students, at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Lincoln Park. Or the West End. Whatever.

Dan Hartman and Jeff Anderson double-team lunch duty at Pizza Luce on Friday.  Hey, did you know DemocracyNow! is on every Friday at 5 at the Zinema? Oh, you don’t know what it is? That’s because KUMD continues to deprive Duluth of the best alternative news broadcast in the country, listenable just about every place else you can get public or community radio. But hey, at least we have it once a week downtown, or online daily at democracynow.org. So slam back a $2 brew at the Zinema, then slam some poetry at the Amazing Grace at 7, which will have a few good local performers and a big fat open mic. For you.

Saturday, Day 7, is the day to eat and talk. This one’s co-sponsored by the Duluth Central Labor Body. Take in Breakfast at 8 at the Radisson with Steve O’Neil, Liz Kuoppola and other progressive public officials. Then go do whatever else of the million community activities you can choose from on May 1, and come back to the Central Hillside Community Center at 4:30 for a May Day picnic and speak-out, honoring the worldwide workers’ holiday.

It’s all taking place thanks to the Twin Ports Action Coalition and MPIRG. If you see Scott Yeazle, give him a great big hug and buy him a drink.