Thursday, December 31, 2015

T. S. Elliot Quote



What we call the beginning is often the end
And to make an end to make a beginning…
We shall not cease from exploration 
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
~T.S. Elliot “Four Quarters”

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Quote from Thomas Merton

“Do not be too quick to assume that your enemy is an enemy of God just because he is your enemy. Perhaps he is your enemy precisely because he can find nothing in you that gives glory to God. Perhaps he fears you because he can find nothing in you of God's love and God's kindness and God's patience and mercy and understanding of the weaknesses of men.” ~ Thomas Merton, “New Seeds of Contemplation”

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Upcoming events for the week of December 27, 2015


UPCOMING EVENTS

12/29/15 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national network of groups educating and organizing white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice. Asheville SURJ hosts a weekly discussion group on risk-taking, accountability, mutual interest and how to call more white people into racial justice work. Anyone with a passion for working with white people on racial justice is welcome! Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

12/30/15 ASHEVILLE SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION MEETING
The Asheville branch of the International Socialist Organization will be meeting this Wednesday 12/30 at 6:30 PM at Edna's Coffee Shop on Merrimon Ave. Over the winter break we've been taking up the topics of Islamophobia and Black liberation. This week we'll be reading a few chapters from Manning Marable's How Capitalism Underdeveloped Black America. Join us as we discuss the following proposed agenda: Chapter 6 of HCUBA- Black Brahmins: The Underdevelopment of Black Political Leadership (30 min); Chapter 9 of HCUBA- The Meaning of Racist Violence in Late Capitalism (30 min); Organizing/reflection in Asheville (30 min). For more information including a copy of the readings, contact Asheville ISO at asheville.socialist@gmail.com.

12/30/15 GREEN DRINKS
Have an idea for Asheville Green Drinks? Contact us at (828) 216-5769 Come early for community connections and green drink specials! Socializing is from 5:30 – 6 PM and presentation is from 6 – 7 PM. Location is the Twin Leaf Brewery at 144 Coxe Avenue in Asheville. They are on the corner of Coxe and Banks in the South Slope of downtown Asheville. Entrance is the big garage door on Banks Avenue.

01/02/16 PARIS CLIMATE CONFERENCE REPORT BACK
Paris Climate Conference Report-back from 10 AM to12:30 PM at Kairos West Community Center at 742 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Drew Jones of Climate Interactive and Said Abdallah will be the speakers at this event put on by Jim Barton of 350.org. Contact Citizens Climate Lobby - Asheville Chapter for more information, at asheville@citizensclimatelobby.org.

01/05/16 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national network of groups educating and organizing white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice. Asheville SURJ hosts a weekly discussion group on risk-taking, accountability, mutual interest and how to call more white people into racial justice work. Anyone with a passion for working with white people on racial justice is welcome! Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

01/05/16 CURRENT EVENTS BOOK CLUB
Current Events Book Club discusses “The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History” at 7 PM at Malaprop’s Bookstore and Cafe in downtown Asheville on Haywood Street.

01/05/16 ANTI-MILITARIST PUPPET SHOW AT FIRESTORM
“Fire with Fire: Anti-Militarist Puppet Show” will be held at Firestorm Cafe & Books. In cranks, banners, and spazzy sketch, Total War Puppets will excavate traces of militarism from our most intimate depths. Puppets will be inquiring about your most recent sexual encounter with a weapon of mass destruction, your exploits in revenge, your plan to save the urban children, and your involvement in The Recent Unpleasantness. Discussion to follow performance. This event is intended for adults, but is open to all ages. There is a scene involving domestic violence. Suggested donation $5-20, no one turned away. Time is 7 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

01/06/16 DIALOGUE CAFE
Interviews and dialog with persons in all walks of life; a forum especially for activists in the field of social justice, women's rights, nutrition and health, and the healing arts. The Dialogue Cafe is a circular form of conversation; packed with subjects and themes which are both simple and complex. Through dialogue, it guides the most complex and political issues, connecting and reapplying them to everyday life, our communities and the global picture. It becomes an invitation to take a look at solutions in a different way then we have been taught. Each panel or workshop will be introduced with a poem relating to the theme or a short storytelling. Time is 6 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

01/06/16 OPENING THE HEART OF COMMUNICATION - INTEGRATING JUDAISM AND NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION
Join Roberta Wall, Nonviolent Communication Trainer and student of Jewish thought and observance, for an exploration of communication principles and practices woven into Judaism. This four class series (6:30 to 8:30 PM on January 6, 13, 20, 27) will explore guiding principles at the core of Judaism such as “gratitude” and “forgiveness.” Roberta has taught and co-facilitated classes and trainings in religious and secular communities throughout Israel, Europe and the US. She draws on years of study of Torah, Hassidism, Rabbinic thought and Jewish Renewal to bring Jewish thought and principles alive through the concrete practices of Nonviolent Communication. Location will be the JCC on Charlotte Street in Asheville. Register for the four classes by December 30th for $100, the cost will be $120 for registrations after December 30. Register by contacting Rochelle Reich at rochelle@jcc-asheville.org or 253-0701 ext. 111.

01/06/16 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Drew Jones of Climate Interactive will analyze the Paris UN climate negotiations of December 2015 in his simulator to show what work remains to address climate change. Drew led a hands-on interactive session for our Sierra Club meeting on May 6 on climate change. Location is the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Pl (corner of Charlotte & Edwin). Contact Judy for more information at judymattox@sbcglobal.net or 828-683-2176.

01/07/16 COMPASSIONATE COMMUNICATION CLASSES
This series of classes will be on ‘Compassionate Communication Within Our Families’. This workshop will focus on developing and practicing skills and consciousness for creating and deepening honest, compassionate and effective communication within your family and will be lead by Roberta Wall. When we learn these skills for communication with our children, partners, parents and other family members, we are less likely to end up feeling anger, frustration, hopelessness and fear in difficult situations. We are more likely to communicate what is really important to us; to hear what is really important to the other person; to be empowered to create solutions and strategies that really meet our needs and the needs of the rest of the family. Workshop is open to the public. Costs are $100 for all four sessions if paid in full by December 30 and $120 after December 30 or at the door. Rainbow School community cost is $80 if confirmed by December 30. Childcare ($12) for people over 5 yrs available, but preregistration  by  December 18  necessary for childcare. For more information and to register, call Kristin at Rainbow School 828-258-9264 extension 155 or email info@steps2peace.com. These workshops will be held on January 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 4 to 6 PM. Location is the Rainbow School in west Asheville. 

01/08/16 ASHEVILLE CLEAN WATER NEW YEAR PARTY
If you'll be in the mountains in early January, we'd love to see you at our annual New Year party for our many wonderful members, volunteers, and community and organizational allies. Our 2016 party will be Friday, January 8, from 5-7 PM in downtown Asheville. Watch for more details soon! Contact Katie and Xavier in Asheville office for more information at (828) 251-1291.

01/09/16 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING
Citizens Climate Lobby meets the first Saturday of each month (second Saturday this month due to holidays) at Kairos West Community Center, 742 Haywood Road in west Asheville. We are advocating for a Carbon Fee & Dividend, which would impose a fee on fossil fuels at point entry; this fee will be refunded to individuals and families. There is bipartisan support in Congress as this will create jobs and help grow the economy, boosting renewables. Time is 12:30 to 3 PM. For more information, contact asheville@citizensclimatelobby.org.

01/09/16 COTHINKK: CREATING THE NEW NARRATIVE IN WESTERN NC
CoThinkk is a “giving circle” that uses our collective time, talent, and treasure towards investment strategies that address education, economic mobility/opportunity, and leadership development towards impacting some of the most critical social issues facing African-American & Latino communities in Asheville and Western NC. Please RSVP by January 4th to reserve your seat at the table and to receive additional information that will be needed to inform the meeting conversation. We continue to look forward to having diverse voices and communities in the room to help shape this agenda. If you have any questions or concerns or wish to RSVP, please contact Tracey at Cothinkk@gmail.com. This will be held at the Asheville Art Museum in downtown Asheville and the time is 1:30 to 4:30 PM. 

01/11/16 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE SOCIAL AND FILM
The movie ‘A Convenient Truth’ will be shown at this Transition Asheville social. This informative, inspirational documentary is aimed at sharing ideas to provoke environment friendly and cost effective changes in cities worldwide. The documentary focuses on innovations in transportation, recycling, social benefits including affordable housing, seasonal parks, and the processes that transformed Curitiba into one of the most livable cities in the world. This will be shown at St. Mary's Episcopal Church at 337 Charlotte Street in Asheville. Time is 6:30 to 8 PM. For more information, contact transitionasheville@gmail.com. 

01/12/16 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
On the second Tuesday of each month, Western North Carolina Veterans for Peace meets to coordinate group activities and programs.Veterans For Peace is a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices. We inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars. Our network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide whose work includes: educating the public, advocating for a dismantling of the war economy, providing services that assist veterans and victims of war, and most significantly, working to end all wars. Time is 6:30 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information. 

01/13/16 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at 9:30 AM at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church at 117 Montreat Road in Black Mountain. Contact Suchi at suchi1025@bellsouth.net for more information.

01/13/16 MONEY IN POLITICS AND THE FREE MARKET CONSTITUTION
Capitalism v. Democracy: Money in Politics and the Free Market Constitution. The 2016 presidential elections are on course to be the most expensive in history. Ordinary citizens are utterly excluded by this plutocratic system that attempts to pass itself off as democracy. Rather than government "of, by and for the people," we now live under an oppressive regime of government of, by and for the wealthy. Author Tim Kuhner will explain how the Supreme Court has constructed this system and prevented citizens from changing it. Kuhner's Capitalism v. Democracy is a radical exposé of legalized corruption in the United States. Thomas Piketty, author of Capital in the Twenty-First Century, wrote, “This book made me realize just how dangerous supreme courts can be for matters of inequality and democracy. Kuhner has presented his book throughout Europe and the United States and he is eager to connect with Ashevillians. In conclusion, he will present a revolutionary idea for reforming the system and making elections, candidates, and political parties accountable to the people. Time is 7:30 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

01/13/16 GREEN DRINKS
Have an idea for Asheville Green Drinks? Contact us at (828) 216-5769 Come early for community connections and green drink specials! Socializing is from 5:30 – 6 PM and presentation is from 6 – 7 PM. Location is the Twin Leaf Brewery at 144 Coxe Avenue in Asheville. They are on the corner of Coxe and Banks in the South Slope of downtown Asheville. Entrance is the big garage door on Banks Avenue.

01/15/16 ENVIRONMENTAL FILM AT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST IN ASHEVILLE 
On Friday, January 15th, we are screening the important documentary “Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret”.  If you consider yourself an environmentalist or want to make an impact on climate change, you should see this film! The film screening is at 7 PM. Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret, is a groundbreaking feature-length environmental documentary following an intrepid filmmaker as he uncovers the most destructive industry facing the planet today – and investigates why the world's leading environmental organizations are too afraid to talk about it. As eye-opening as Blackfish and as inspiring as An Inconvenient Truth, this shocking yet humorous documentary reveals the absolutely devastating environmental impact large-scale factory farming has on our planet. At a time when whole regions are in drought, our oceans are dying, and severe weather is becoming the norm, Cowspiracy seeks to find the real reasons why and what we can do about it. Through intense conversations with the nation's leading environmental advocacy groups this film explores the blind spots that are leading us down a road we won't be able to drive our electric car out of. Greenhouse Emissions: Roughly 13% of all greenhouse emissions come from transportation. 18% come from cattle. Rainforests: Animal agriculture is responsible for up to 91% of Amazon destruction. One to two acres of rainforest are cleared every second. Up to137 plant, animal and insect species are lost every day due to rainforest destruction. Feed People: 82% of starving children live in countries where food is fed to animals, and the animals are eaten by western countries. Location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, One Edwin Place (corner of Charlotte Street) in Asheville. There is no charge for viewing the film-donations are welcome. Call Charlie at 612-860-6628 for more information.

01/15/16 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MEETING
Physicians, health personnel and everyone; all are welcomed at our monthly meetings held on the third Friday of each month. Bring a brown bag lunch around noon. This will be held at The First Congregational United Church of Christ, Room E205, at 20 Oak Street (just off College St. in downtown Asheville). Time is noon to 2 PM. Meeting starts at 12:30. Parking is available behind the church. Enter the church or ring doorbell at the glass doors on Oak Street. For more information contact Dr. Terry Clark, Chair, 633-0892 or Dr. Lew Patrie, 299-1242.

01/16/16 MLK ANNUAL PRAYER BREAKFAST
MLK Association of Asheville & Buncombe County will hold their 5th Annual Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, January 16 at 8:30 AM at the Crowne Plaza Resort in west Asheville (up the hill from Sam’s Club). During more than three decades of honoring Dr. King, we have brought the residents of Asheville, Buncombe County, and surrounding areas together physically and spiritually as we seek to fulfill the dream of equality and equal opportunity so eloquently articulated by Martin Luther King, Jr. With many thanks for your help and continued support of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association and our work to promote civil and social justice in the community, we invite you to share in this most important regional event once again this year. Keynote speaker is Rodney Johnson. To order tickets by telephone, or for more information, call 828-335-6896 or 828-281-1624.

01/16/16 HARD TO RECYCLE COLLECTION
Free to the public, recycling event, accepting items of all sorts. Now with two locations! Founded in 2011 by Rainbow Recycling, Hard 2 Recycle events are free to the public collections geared to bring awareness to other modes of recycling to our area. Four quarterly held collections to cover the four corners of the County and one central event in Downtown Asheville. Our goal is to educate, collect and divert items that would normally end up in the landfill: styrofoam, electronics, books, batteries, cooking oil and much more. Not accepting the following items: paints, stains, sealers, CFL or fluorescent or incandescent bulbs; chip & snack bags; petroleum products; hard plastics; vinyl / PVC / VHS / cassette tapes; plate glass, foam; wooden items or cement. Main collection from 10 AM to 2 PM at 1298 Patton Avenue in Asheville and satellite collection from 10 AM to 1 PM at 1461 Sand Hill Road in Candler.

01/17/16 ETHICAL HUMANIST SOCIETY MEETING
“The Hidden, Devious Opportunity in North Carolina’s K-12 Opportunity Scholarships” will be presented by Jan Blunt, MPA at the Sunday, January 17th meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville. We will meet from 2:00-3:30 PM at The Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC. Jan Blunt will discuss how North Carolina’s K-12 school vouchers, so-called “opportunity scholarships,” are, on the surface, about providing low-income parents with more school choices for their students. The details tell a different story. Learn how tax dollars intended for public schools are being sent to private religious schools without accountability or transparency for how the funds are spent, what their students are taught, or by whom. You may be surprised by the real reason state lawmakers want to give all students, not just low-income children, the same “opportunity.” Informal discussion and refreshments will follow the presentation. All are welcome. For more information: call 828 687-7759 

01/18/16 PEACE MARCH AND RALLY
Peace March & Rally will be held on Monday, January 18th at 11:30 AM at St. James AME Church at 44 Hildebrand Street in Asheville. All are welcome, free. At noon, we will march to City-County Plaza. Call 828-281-1624 or 828-335-6896 for more information.

01/18/16 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE MEETING
This will be a Common Table Meeting and an open invitation to all who are interested in TA. This will be held at First Congregational United Church of Christ at 20 Oak Street in downtown Asheville. Time is 5:30 to 7 PM. For more information, contact transitionasheville@gmail.com.

01/18/16 CANDLELIGHT SERVICE FOR MLK HOLIDAY
2016 Peace March Program and Candlelight Service will be held on Monday, Jan. 18 at 6 PM. Location is Nazareth First Baptist Church, 146 Pine Street off Martin Luther King Blvd in Asheville. Keynote Speaker is Rev. Clark Olsen, subject of the film Murder in Selma; featured poet Jaki Shelton Green, member of the NC Literary Hall of Fame. No charge. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County invites the community to gather for the 2016 Candlelight Ceremony where we will celebrate our Community Service Award Honorees for their efforts to increase access to and equality in education embodying the legacy of Dr. King. Saint John Baptist Church Choir to perform.


01/19/16 CLIMATE JUSTICE AND THE CALL TO HOPE EVENT AT UNCA
Wake Forest Divinity School Presents: Our Common Home: Reflections on the Pope's Encyclical, Climate Justice, and the Call to Hope. This panel event is sponsored by the Wake Forest University School of Divinity's Food, Faith, and Religious Leadership Initiative, and co-sponsored by the Office of Sustainability at the University of North Carolina Asheville and Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina. Panelists include: Jacqueline Patterson-Director, NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program; Dr. Gail. R. O'Day-Dean and Professor of New Testament and Preaching Wake Forest School of Divinity; Justin Catanoso-Program Director, Journalism- Wake Forest College; Dr. Laura Lengnick-Soil Scientist and Climate Change Consultant. This will be held at Alumni Hall at UNCA. Time is 7 to 8:30 PM. Register online at Wake Forest Divinity School.

01/19/16 STATE OF BLACK ASHEVILLE LECTURE
State of Black Asheville Lecture will be on Tuesday, January 19th at 6 PM at Highsmith Union, Rooms 221-222. It will be facilitated by Dr. Dwight Mullen, Professor of Political Science.

01/19/16 LUNCH AND LEARN AT UNCA
Lunch-n-Learn Series:  Social Justice and Service Learning will be on Tuesday, January 19th, 2016 from noon to 1 PM at the Intercultural Center, Highsmith Union, Room 114 at UNCA. Growing through service learning can be act of social justice within itself. Join Multicultural Student Programs as we explore the intersections of social justice, activism, and service learning. In this facilitated dialogue, you will learn ways in which serving your community can inspire social change.

01/20/16 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at noon at Brooks-Howell Community Room on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. Bring a bag lunch. This is for for sharing possible JPIP initiatives, sharing good reads, discussing issues. Contact Suchi at suchi1025@bellsouth.net for more information.

01/21/16 MLK WEEK KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT UNCA
 Asheville native Terry Bellamy was elected to the Asheville City Council in 1999 and, in 2005, became Asheville’s first African American mayor. During her eight-year tenure as mayor, she shared her vision for a unified community that worked together to address challenges and took advantage of opportunities for the future. While she was in office, Asheville received accolades and recognitions too numerous to mention. Bellamy currently serves as the Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator/Communication Specialist for the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville. Free and open to the public. Time is 7 PM and location is Lipinsky Auditorium. 

01/22/16 FILM SHOWING AT UNCA
“Selma” will be shown at 8 PM at Highsmith Union, The Grotto, at UNCA. This is a chronicle of Martin Luther King's campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.

01/25/16 BUILDING BRIDGES 
Our next session start date is January 25, 2015 and runs through March 21, 2015. Time is 7 - 9 PM each night. Location is  MAHEC, 123 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC. Cost is $35. Please go to their website and fill out the application and pay $35 either through the paypal link or send a check for $35 to Building Bridges, PO Box 63, Asheville, NC 28802. This seminar is an introduction to the dynamics of racism and is an opportunity to explore how race has impacted our relationships, communities and institutions. Past participants are welcome. Encourage and recommend individuals as well as organizations that you know to participate in Building Bridges. If you are an alumni of the Building Bridges Seminars, you may apply to become a Co-Facilitator. To apply for a Co-Facilitator position, send an email to info@buildingbridges-ashevillenc.org for more information about Co-Facilitator Trainings. A celebratory potluck supper will be held for all participants at the ninth meeting. Families are welcome to attend the potluck. You may call (828) 777-4585 for more information, including how to register. Spring session is now full, but you can call to be waitlisted for the fall session.

01/28/16 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE MEETING
Creation Care Alliance General Meeting will be on January 28 from 5:30-7 PM. Location is the First Baptist Church of Asheville at 5 Oak Street in downtown Asheville.

01/29/16 COMMUNITY DEBATES
Asheville and area residents are invited to attend a community debate in which four prominent citizens will debate against, and in support of, the different resolutions. The three-part debate series will take place on Friday evenings at 5:30 PM in the Asheville High School auditorium, November 13, January 29, and April 8, 2016. Two-person teams will debate substantive issues including race relations, and the organic food/eat-local movements. 

01/29/16 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at 3:15 PM at Brooks-Howell Home on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. Meet in the media room. Contact Suchi at suchi1025@bellsouth.net for more information.

01/30/16 SYMPOSIUM ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES
How would you like to make this planet a better place for future generations and the creatures and people here now?  Spend a meaningful day learning how to help create an environmentally sustainable, socially just and fulfilling human presence on Mother Earth. The symposium is called Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream.  It is also called Up to Us: Earth in the Balance. It is an interactive mixed media event, which explores where our planet is today, how it got this way, what is possible now and how we can be change agents for the future. No charge. Location is Rainbow Community School at 574 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Time is 10 AM to 2:30 PM. This is organized by Creation Care Alliance, Rainbow Community School and the Pacha Mama Alliance. Contact facilitators Charley or Pam Rogers at (828) 674-1959 or crogers216@gmail.com or Scott Hardin-Nieri at scott@creationcarealliance.org for more information, including how to register for this event.

02/06/16 SWANNANOA VALLEY MLK PRAYER BREAKFAST
Steven Crump will be speaker at the Swannanoa Valley Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast. Tickets are $15 for adults, $6 for children. Time not listed. For more information, including how to obtain tickets, contact Diane at 828-545-2583.

02/12/16 CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME PRESENTATION
Join us on Friday, February 12, from either 1 to 2:30 PM or 7 to 8:30 PM (same presentation given twice) in the Social Hall of St. Eugene for an overview of Pope Francis’ papal encyclical, “Laudato Si’ –  On Care For Our Common Home”.  Our speaker, Dr. Catherine Wright, will discuss why Pope Francis wrote this encyclical and the idea that faith and science need to be in dialog.  The purpose is to give participants an overview of the letter, to discuss how this document is a part of Catholic Social Teaching, and that we are the who that the letter is inviting to ecological conversion.  Come learn what all the fuss and excitement is about.  There will be a question/answer period following the presentation.  This is at St. Eugene Catholic Church at 72 Culvern Street in Asheville. For more information, please contact Cynthia Gibbs at 828-684-3555 or cynthia@gibbsco.com. 

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ONGOING EVENTS
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TUESDAY
Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 4:30 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument
Standing up for Racial Justice at Firestorm Cafe & Books at 10 AM

WEDNESDAY
Haywood Peace Vigilers have a weekly vigil at 4 PM at Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville

FRIDAY
Women in Black have a weekly vigil at noon at the City Hall in Hendersonville
Women in Black have a monthly vigil at 5 PM at Vance Monument in Asheville (first Friday only)

SATURDAY
Transylvanians for Peace and WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility have a weekly vigil at noon in front of the courthouse in Brevard. Call 884-3435 to confirm. 
Third Saturdays – Asheville’s Green Grannies invites the public to “sing for the climate” at Pritchard Park at 5 PM.

SUNDAY
Youth OUTright meeting from 4 to 6 PM at First Congregational United Church of Christ at 20 Oak Street in Asheville. Ages 14 - 23 only.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

This is for the refugees.....

Written and sung by John Denver in celebration of the spirit of Christmas. I join him in wishing for "the peace beyond all fear" for all the refugees and everyone. 



Lyrics:

Thank You for this precious day
These gifts You give to me
My heart so full of love for You
Sings praise for all I see
Oh, sing for every mother's love
For every childhood tear
Oh, sing for all the stars above
The peace beyond all fear

This is for the Refugees
The ones without a home
A boat out on the ocean
A city street alone
Are they not some dear mother's child?
Are they not you and I?
Are we the ones to bear this shame
And they this sacrifice?

Or are they just like falling leaves
Who give themselves away?
From dust to dust, from seed to shear
And to another day
If I could have one wish on Earth
Of all I can conceive
T'would be to see another spring
And bless the falling leaves

Thank You for this precious day
These gifts You give to me
My heart so full of love for You
Sings praise for all I see

Oh, sing for every mothers love
For every childhood tear
Oh, sing for all the stars above
The peace beyond all fear
Oh, sing for all the stars above
The peace beyond all fear

Monday, December 21, 2015

Happy Holidays Asheville!


I love living in this town. This photo was on facebook in 2014, and I am recycling it.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Upcoming events for the week of December 20, 2015


UPCOMING EVENTS

12/22/15 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national network of groups educating and organizing white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice. Asheville SURJ hosts a weekly discussion group on risk-taking, accountability, mutual interest and how to call more white people into racial justice work. Anyone with a passion for working with white people on racial justice is welcome! Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

12/22/16 WHAT’S LEFT IN YOUR WALLET?
We’re holding a series of events across the state with middle class taxpayers and educators who are sharing their stories and pushing back on bogus claims from Raleigh. We’ll be in Asheville next Tuesday, at Pack Square Park Pavilion at 121 College Street in downtown Asheville. Time is 4 PM. Join taxpayers, working families and teachers who are calling out Governor McCrory and other politicians for their bogus claims about cutting taxes and helping the middle class. We'll be joined by Rep. Susan Fisher and Sen. Terry Van Duyn. This has been organized by Progress NC. Contact Luis for more information at admin@progressnc.org.

12/23/15 PLAY AT NC STAGE IN ASHEVILLE
All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 relives a poignant moment in history when Allied and German soldiers laid down their arms to celebrate the holiday together during WWI. This dramatic concert presents traditional patriotic and holiday songs from both sides of the Western Front and is interspersed with text read from letters, journals, and interviews from the soldiers who lived it. Featuring ensemble members from Cantaria: The Gay Men’s Chorus of Asheville. “These miracles are what make All Is Calm such a pure example of what was meant when angels first declared Peace on Earth. –Star Tribune. Dates/Times are: Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 PM; Sunday at 2 PM; Additional Shows: 12/19 and 12/26 at 2 PM, 12/22 at 7:30 PM. This play runs until 12/27/15. Tickets run from $16 to $36. NC State is on Stage Lane in downtown Asheville. This play is highly recommended. I saw it last week and thought it was very well done, and shows an important event of peace in the middle of war.-dancewater

12/23/15 OTHER WORLDS ARE POSSIBLE BOOK GROUP AT FIRESTORM
This discussion group focuses on science fiction, speculative fiction and fantasy literature with a feminist, social justice and/or “radical: theme. We'll read a book each month and discuss both the vision presented by the author and how the book contributes to our understanding of our present moment. The book for December is “Stone Mattress” by Margaret Atwood. Time is 7 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

12/26/15 PROTEST HEWLETT-PACKARD AT BEST BUY STORE
Boycott Hewlett-Packard street protest will be on Saturday, December 26th, from 12-1:30 PM on the sidewalk in front of Best Buy on Tunnel Road in Asheville.  HP supplies monitoring devices for checkpoints in Palestine. For more information, contact Just Peace for Israel/Palestine at 828-319-7652.

01/02/16 PARIS CLIMATE CONFERENCE REPORT BACK
Paris Climate Conference Report-back from 10 AM to12:30 PM at Kairos West Community Center at 742 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Drew Jones of Climate Interactive and Said Abdallah will be the speakers at this event put on by Jim Barton of 350.org. Contact Citizens Climate Lobby - Asheville Chapter for more information, at asheville@citizensclimatelobby.org.

01/05/16 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national network of groups educating and organizing white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice. Asheville SURJ hosts a weekly discussion group on risk-taking, accountability, mutual interest and how to call more white people into racial justice work. Anyone with a passion for working with white people on racial justice is welcome! Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

01/05/16 CURRENT EVENTS BOOK CLUB
Current Events Book Club discusses “The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History” at 7 PM at Malaprop’s Bookstore and Cafe in downtown Asheville on Haywood Street.

01/05/16 ANTI-MILITARIST PUPPET SHOW AT FIRESTORM
“Fire with Fire: Anti-Militarist Puppet Show” will be held at Firestorm Cafe & Books. In cranks, banners, and spazzy sketch, Total War Puppets will excavate traces of militarism from our most intimate depths. Puppets will be inquiring about your most recent sexual encounter with a weapon of mass destruction, your exploits in revenge, your plan to save the urban children, and your involvement in The Recent Unpleasantness. Discussion to follow performance. This event is intended for adults, but is open to all ages. There is a scene involving domestic violence. Suggested donation $5-20, no one turned away. Time is 7 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

01/06/16 DIALOGUE CAFE
Interviews and dialog with persons in all walks of life; a forum especially for activists in the field of social justice, women's rights, nutrition and health, and the healing arts. The Dialogue Cafe is a circular forum of conversation; packed with subjects and themes which are both simple and complex. Through dialogue, it guides the most complex and political issues, connecting and reapplying them to everyday life, our communities and the global picture. It becomes an invitation to take a look at solutions in a different way then we have been taught. Each panel or workshop will be introduced with a poem relating to the theme or a short storytelling. Time is 6 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

01/06/16 OPENING THE HEART OF COMMUNICATION - INTEGRATING JUDAISM AND NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION
Join Roberta Wall, Nonviolent Communication Trainer and student of Jewish thought and observance, for an exploration of communication principles and practices woven into Judaism. This four class series (6:30 to 8:30 PM on January 6, 13, 20, 27) will explore guiding principles at the core of Judaism such as “gratitude” and “forgiveness.” Roberta has taught and co-facilitated classes and trainings in religious and secular communities throughout Israel, Europe and the US. She draws on years of study of Torah, Hassidism, Rabbinic thought and Jewish Renewal to bring Jewish thought and principles alive through the concrete practices of Nonviolent Communication. Location will be the JCC on Charlotte Street in Asheville. Register for the four classes by December 30th for $100, the cost will be $120 for registrations after December 30. Register by contacting Rochelle Reich at rochelle@jcc-asheville.org or 253-0701 ext. 111.

01/06/16 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Drew Jones of Climate Interactive will analyze the Paris UN climate negotiations of December 2015 in his simulator to show what work remains to address climate change. Drew led a hands-on interactive session for our Sierra Club meeting on May 6 on climate change. Location is the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Pl (corner of Charlotte & Edwin). Contact Judy for more information at judymattox@sbcglobal.net or 828-683-2176.

01/07/16 COMPASSIONATE COMMUNICATION CLASSES
This series of classes will be on ‘Compassionate Communication Within Our Families’. This workshop will focus on developing and practicing skills and consciousness for creating and deepening honest, compassionate and effective communication within your family and will be lead by Roberta Wall. When we learn these skills for communication with our children, partners, parents and other family members, we are less likely to end up feeling anger, frustration, hopelessness and fear in difficult situations. We are more likely to communicate what is really important to us; to hear what is really important to the other person; to be empowered to create solutions and strategies that really meet our needs and the needs of the rest of the family. Workshop is open to the public. Costs are $100 for all four sessions if paid in full by December 30 and $120 after December 30 or at the door. Rainbow School community cost is $80 if confirmed by December 30. Childcare ($12) for people over 5 yrs available, but preregistration  by  December 18  necessary for childcare. For more information and to register, call Kristin at Rainbow School 828-258-9264 extension 155 or email info@steps2peace.com. These workshops will be held on January 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 4 to 6 PM. Location is the Rainbow School in west Asheville. 

01/08/16 ASHEVILLE CLEAN WATER NEW YEAR PARTY
If you'll be in the mountains in early January, we'd love to see you at our annual New Year party for our many wonderful members, volunteers, and community and organizational allies. Our 2016 party will be Friday, January 8, from 5-7 PM in downtown Asheville. Watch for more details soon! Contact Katie and Xavier in Asheville office for more information at (828) 251-1291.

01/09/16 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING
Citizens Climate Lobby meets the first Saturday of each month (second Saturday this month due to holidays) at Kairos West Community Center, 742 Haywood Road in west Asheville. We are advocating for a Carbon Fee & Dividend, which would impose a fee on fossil fuels at point entry; this fee will be refunded to individuals and families. There is bipartisan support in Congress as this will create jobs and help grow the economy, boosting renewables. Time is 12:30 to 3 PM. For more information, contact asheville@citizensclimatelobby.org.

01/09/16 COTHINKK: CREATING THE NEW NARRATIVE IN WESTERN NC
CoThinkk is a “giving circle” that uses our collective time, talent, and treasure towards investment strategies that address education, economic mobility/opportunity, and leadership development towards impacting some of the most critical social issues facing African-American & Latino communities in Asheville and Western NC. Please RSVP by January 4th to reserve your seat at the table and to receive additional information that will be needed to inform the meeting conversation. We continue to look forward to having diverse voices and communities in the room to help shape this agenda. If you have any questions or concerns or wish to RSVP, please contact Tracey at Cothinkk@gmail.com. This will be held at the Asheville Art Museum in downtown Asheville and the time is 1:30 to 4:30 PM. 

01/11/16 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE SOCIAL AND FILM
The movie ‘A Convenient Truth’ will be shown at this Transition Asheville social. This informative, inspirational documentary is aimed at sharing ideas to provoke environment-friendly and cost-effective changes in cities worldwide. The documentary focuses on innovations in transportation, recycling, social benefits including affordable housing, seasonal parks, and the processes that transformed Curitiba into one of the most livable cities in the world. This will be shown at St. Mary's Episcopal Church at 337 Charlotte Street in Asheville. Time is 6:30 to 8 PM. For more information, contact transitionasheville@gmail.com. 

01/12/16 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
On the second Tuesday of each month, Western North Carolina Veterans for Peace meets to coordinate group activities and programs.Veterans For Peace is a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices. We inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars. Our network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide whose work includes: educating the public, advocating for a dismantling of the war economy, providing services that assist veterans and victims of war, and most significantly, working to end all wars. Time is 6:30 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information. 

01/13/16 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at 9:30 AM at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church at 117 Montreat Road in Black Mountain. Contact Suchi at suchi1025@bellsouth.net for more information.

01/13/16 MONEY IN POLITICS AND THE FREE MARKET CONSTITUTION
Capitalism v. Democracy: Money in Politics and the Free Market Constitution. The 2016 presidential elections are on course to be the most expensive in history. Ordinary citizens are utterly excluded by this plutocratic system that attempts to pass itself off as democracy. Rather than government "of, by and for the people," we now live under an oppressive regime of government of, by and for the wealthy. Author Tim Kuhner will explain how the Supreme Court has constructed this system and prevented citizens from changing it. Kuhner's Capitalism v. Democracy is a radical exposé of legalized corruption in the United States. Thomas Piketty, author of Capital in the Twenty-First Century, wrote, “This book made me realize just how dangerous supreme courts can be for matters of inequality and democracy. Kuhner has presented his book throughout Europe and the United States and he is eager to connect with Ashevillians. In conclusion, he will present a revolutionary idea for reforming the system and making elections, candidates, and political parties accountable to the people. Time is 7:30 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

01/16/16 MLK ANNUAL PRAYER BREAKFAST
MLK Association of Asheville & Buncombe County will hold their 5th Annual Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, January 16 at 8:30 AM at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Asheville (up the hill from Sam’s Club). During more than three decades of honoring Dr. King, we have brought the residents of Asheville, Buncombe County, and surrounding areas together physically and spiritually as we seek to fulfill the dream of equality and equal opportunity so eloquently articulated by Martin Luther King, Jr. With many thanks for your help and continued support of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association and our work to promote civil and social justice in the community, we invite you to share in this most important regional event once again this year. To order tickets by telephone, or for more information, call 828-335-6896 or 828-281-1624.

01/16/16 HARD TO RECYCLE COLLECTION
Free to the public, recycling event, accepting items of all sorts. Now with two locations! Founded in 2011 by Rainbow Recycling, Hard 2 Recycle events are free to the public collections geared to bring awareness to other modes of recycling to our area. Four quarterly held collections to cover the four corners of the County and one central event in Downtown Asheville.Our goal is to educate, collect and divert items that would normally end up in the landfill: styrofoam, electronics, books, batteries, cooking oil and much more. Not accepting the following items: paints, stains, sealers, CFL or fluorescent or incandescent bulbs; chip & snack bags; petroleum products; hard plastics; vinyl / PVC / VHS / cassette tapes; plate glass, foam; wooden items or cement. Main collection from 10 AM to 2 PM at 1298 Patton Avenue in Asheville and satellite collection from 10 AM to 1 PM at 1461 Sand Hill Road in Candler.

01/17/16 ETHICAL HUMANIST SOCIETY MEETING
“The Hidden, Devious Opportunity in North Carolina’s K-12 Opportunity Scholarships” will be presented by Jan Blunt, MPA at the Sunday, January 17th meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville. We will meet from 2:00-3:30 PM at The Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC. Jan Blunt will discuss how North Carolina’s K-12 school vouchers, so-called “opportunity scholarships,” are, on the surface, about providing low-income parents with more school choices for their students. The details tell a different story. Learn how tax dollars intended for public schools are being sent to private religious schools without accountability or transparency for how the funds are spent, what their students are taught, or by whom. You may be surprised by the real reason state lawmakers want to give all students, not just low-income children, the same “opportunity.” Informal discussion and refreshments will follow the presentation. All are welcome. For more information: call 828 687-7759 

01/18/16 PEACE MARCH AND RALLY
Peace March & Rally will be held on Monday, January 18th at 11:30 AM at St. James AME Church at 44 Hildebrand Street in Asheville. At noon, we will march to City-County Plaza. Call 828-281-1624 or828-335-6896 for more information.

01/18/16 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE MEETING
This will be a Common Table Meeting and an open invitation to all who are interested in TA. This will be held at First Congregational United Church of Christ at 20 Oak Street in downtown Asheville. Time is 5:30 to 7 PM. For more information, contact transitionasheville@gmail.com.

01/19/16 CLIMATE JUSTICE AND THE CALL TO HOPE EVENT AT UNCA
Wake Forest Divinity School Presents: Our Common Home: Reflections on the Pope's Encyclical, Climate Justice, and the Call to Hope. This panel event is sponsored by the Wake Forest University School of Divinity's Food, Faith, and Religious Leadership Initiative, and co-sponsored by the Office of Sustainability at the University of North Carolina Asheville and Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina. This will be held at Alumni Hall at UNCA. Time is 7 to 8:30 PM. Register online at Wake Forest Divinity School.

01/19/16 STATE OF BLACK ASHEVILLE LECTURE
State of Black Asheville Lecture will be on Tuesday, January 19th at 6 PM at Highsmith Union, Rooms 221-222. It will be facilitated by Dr. Dwight Mullen, Professor of Political Science.

01/19/16 LUNCH AND LEARN AT UNCA
Lunch-n-Learn Series:  Social Justice and Service Learning will be on Tuesday, January 19th, 2016 from noon to 1 PM at the Intercultural Center, Highsmith Union, Room 114 at UNCA. Growing through service learning can be act of social justice within itself. Join Multicultural Student Programs as we explore the intersections of social justice, activism, and service learning. In this facilitated dialogue, you will learn ways in which serving your community can inspire social change.

01/20/16 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at noon at Brooks-Howell Community Room on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. Bring a bag lunch. This is for for sharing possible JPIP initiatives, sharing good reads, discussing issues. Contact Suchi at suchi1025@bellsouth.net for more information.

01/21/16 MLK WEEK KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT UNCA
 Asheville native Terry Bellamy was elected to the Asheville City Council in 1999 and, in 2005, became Asheville’s first African American mayor. During her eight-year tenure as mayor, she shared her vision for a unified community that worked together to address challenges and took advantage of opportunities for the future. While she was in office, Asheville received accolades and recognitions too numerous to mention. Bellamy currently serves as the Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator/Communication Specialist for the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville. Free and open to the public. Time is 7 PM and location is Lipinsky Auditorium. 

01/22/16 FILM SHOWING AT UNCA
“Selma” will be shown at 8 PM at Highsmith Union, The Grotto, at UNCA. This is a chronicle of Martin Luther King's campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.

01/25/16 BUILDING BRIDGES 
Our next session start date is January 25, 2015 and runs through March 21, 2015. Time is 7 - 9 PM each night. Location is  MAHEC, 123 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC. Cost is $35. Please go to their website and fill out the application and pay $35 either through the paypal link or send a check for $35 to Building Bridges, PO Box 63, Asheville, NC 28802. This seminar is an introduction to the dynamics of racism and is an opportunity to explore how race has impacted our relationships, communities and institutions. Past participants are welcome. Encourage and recommend individuals as well as organizations that you know to participate in Building Bridges. If you are an alumni of the Building Bridges Seminars, you may apply to become a Co-Facilitator. To apply for a Co-Facilitator position, send an email to info@buildingbridges-ashevillenc.org for more information about Co-Facilitator Trainings. A celebratory potluck supper will be held for all participants at the ninth meeting. Families are welcome to attend the potluck. You may call (828) 777-4585 for more information, including how to register. Spring session is now full, but you can call to be waitlisted for the fall session.

01/29/16 COMMUNITY DEBATES
Asheville and area residents are invited to attend a community debate in which four prominent citizens will debate against, and in support of, the different resolutions. The three-part debate series will take place on Friday evenings at 5:30 PM in the Asheville High School auditorium, November 13, January 29, and April 8, 2016. Two-person teams will debate substantive issues including race relations, and the organic food/eat-local movements. 

01/29/16 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at 3:15 PM at Brooks-Howell Home on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. Meet in the media room. Contact Suchi at suchi1025@bellsouth.net for more information.

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ONGOING EVENTS
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TUESDAY
Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 4:30 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument
Standing up for Racial Justice at Firestorm Cafe & Books at 10 AM

WEDNESDAY
Haywood Peace Vigilers have a weekly vigil at 4 PM at Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville

FRIDAY
Women in Black have a weekly vigil at noon at the City Hall in Hendersonville
Women in Black have a monthly vigil at 5 PM at Vance Monument in Asheville (first Friday only)

SATURDAY
Transylvanians for Peace and WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility have a weekly vigil at noon in front of the courthouse in Brevard. Call 884-3435 to confirm. 
Third Saturdays – Asheville’s Green Grannies invites the public to “sing for the climate” at Pritchard Park at 5 PM.

SUNDAY
Youth OUTright meeting from 4 to 6 PM at First Congregational United Church of Christ at 20 Oak Street in Asheville. Ages 14 - 23 only.