This graphic came from Facebook. I am posting it in solidarity with the Iraqi people and all the terrorism they have had to endure. They are strong people, but it has been a hell on earth for them lately.
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UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER
07/11/16 VIGIL AT ASHEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOWNTOWN
This is a #BlackLivesMatter vigil. It is a time to grieve and to stand for justice for Jerry Williams. This will be at 6 PM every day this week. Be there.
07/11/16 07/05/16 VOICES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING EXHIBIT
aSHEville Museum presents “Bought & Sold: Voices of Human Trafficking” exhibit, which is photography by Kay Chernush of Art Works For Freedom. This exhibit speaks to the experiences of the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children caught up in slavery’s web.This multimedia exhibit asks you, the viewer, to consider their plight from their perspective. It is intended to spark dialogue and inspire creative action, to tell the stores of modern day slavery and the journey towards freedom. The aSHEville Museum is at 35 Wall Street in downtown Asheville. Hours are 10 AM to 10 PM. This exhibit runs until August 31, 2016. Call 828.785.5722 for more information. [This is well worth seeing. - dancewater]
07/11/16 DINNER WITH PROGRESSIVES
See you all on July 11 (we are skipping the July 4th holiday) from 5:30 until 7 PM at Green Sage Cafe, Westgate. Our speaker for Monday is Clare Hanrahan, activist, author, speaker, organizer and more. The assumption of personal responsibility for peace and social justice has been a lifelong calling for Clare. Born into a socially committed Catholic family, she grew up in the Memphis of the Civil Rights movement. “We were taught that patriotism and love of country demand personal risk,” she says. Two of her brothers volunteered for the Marines and were wounded in Vietnam. “As a young teenager it was a real shocker for me about war and the aftermath of war. [My brothers and their buddies] were kicked to the curb and discarded. It had a deep effect on me.” So did the assassination of Dr. King. “I didn’t know how to effect change in a large way, but I didn’t want to be a part of [racial apartheid and the destructiveness of war]. Tolstoy, or someone, said noncooperation with evil is as much a duty as cooperation with good. That rang true for me; I decided to try to live that.” For more information, or to RSVP, contact Cheryl at ctorengo@gmail.com.
07/11/16 CONVERSATION ABOUT POPE FRANCIS’ ENCYCLICAL
Laudato Si will be discussed both in terms of its impact globally (a shift in consciousness/conscience as related to the moral urgency and necessity of Creation care), and how it and the principles it reflects have shaped Karen Richardson Dunn’s environmental theology and work. An ordained minister with the United Church of Christ, Dunn has worked in parish ministry with numerous congregations, including most recently with Warren Wilson College Chapel, in Asheville. She is a founding member and the new Director of the UCC Southern Conference Environmental Ministries Justice Network. In addition to writing several articles for the national UCC on coal ash contamination in NC, Karen is an environmental advocate for Creation Care Alliance of WNC, for which she has been a facilitator for a community study of "Laudato Si," and the coordinator of Creation Sabbath community worship events in the Asheville area. Karen is a member of First Congregational Asheville and its terrific Earth Team. She lives in Asheville with her two sons. Location is the Parish Hall at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 337 Charlotte Street in Asheville (entrance and parking off Evelyn Alley north of church). Time is 6:30 to 8 PM. This is sponsored by Transition Asheville. For more information, contact transitionasheville@gmail.com.
07/12/16 ASHEVILLE TRANSIT PUBLIC MEETING
The City of Asheville is holding public meetings to discuss proposed changes to ART Route 170 to Black Mountain. This will include: discontinuing service to WWC, changes to some stops and schedules, and other potential changes. Public input is encouraged. Time is 4 to 7 PM and location is Black Mountain City Hall, Alderman Chambers, 160 Midland Avenue in Black Mountain. For more information, contact iride@asheville.com.
07/12/16 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.
07/12/16 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.
07/12/16 OCCUPY WNC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
This will be at 7 PM and will be held at the Sneak E Squirrel Community Room at 1315 West Main Street in Sylva. This is on the left side of NC Hwy 107 going from Sylva to Dillsboro.
Contact Lucy at (828)743-9747 for more information.
07/13/16 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.
07/14/16 ENVIRONMENTAL FILM AT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION
On Thursday, July 14th, we are screening the multiple-award winning environmental documentary “Call of Life, Facing the Mass Extinction”. The film screening is at 7 PM. “Species around the world are disappearing faster than ever before due to our addiction to fossil fuel and other human activities. “Call of Life” helps us understand this horrible consequence of our actions or lack thereof—a painful but necessary understanding. Everyone needs to see this film.” - Terry Root, Ph.D., Biologist. Runtime is 80 minutes and location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at One Edwin Place in Asheville. There is no charge for viewing the film - Donations are welcome. Contact Charlie at 612-860-6628 for more information.
07/14/16 HENDERSONVILLE GREEN DRINKS
“Green Burials, Bringing Death Back Into The Circle of Life” will be the subject of Green Drinks. Time is 5:30 to 7:30 PM and location is Black Bear Coffee Company at 318 N. Main Street in Hendersonville. Hendersonville Green Drinks will address “green burials” with speaker Michele Skeele, death doula, funeral home aid and member of the WNC chapter of the Funeral Consumers Alliance, a national advocacy organization. Sustainability is about achieving the needs of the present generation without diminishing the prospects of future generations, an aspect not usually considered when we die. But as we find ourselves in the midst of shifts in consciousness, we have an opportunity to be agents of change in our culture. We can reclaim death-care as part of the circle of our families and communities. Learn about the process of burying a loved one with the Earth in mind from Michele Skeele. Michele Skeele is passionate about bringing death back into the circle of life. The talk will touch on NC state statutes, burial choices, home funerals and earth-based services that are offered regionally. Many green choices are available if you know where to look. Contact Gray at 828-692-0385 for more information.
07/14/16 FIRESTORM BASTILLE DAY BENEFIT SHOW
Firestorm Bastille Day Benefit Show & Anniversary Party with Uninhabitable, comfort Creature, Pleasant and more TBA. Our anniversary of moving into our new home in West Asheville is coming up and we are planning a party! We want to celebrate you, our supporter and thank you for all that you do for us. You are crucial to our survival and with unfortunate recent events like the passing of HB2, our survival as a safe space for queer and trans* folks and a free gathering space for communities is more important than ever. All proceeds from the door go to supporting the space and specifically our ability to improve upon the resources we have available to the community through the community room that is free and open to all. It is a gift and a great privilege to be able to have a resource and safer striving space such as Firestorm especially in the toxic political climate that we all live in. Door is Donation $5-$20 - no one will be turned away. Door opens at 8 PM and show starts at 9 PM. Tranzmissions & Asheville Anti-racism will be tabling. Location is The Odditorium at 1045 Haywood Road in west Asheville.
07/15/16 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.
07/16/16 COTHINKK: NEXT STEPS & IMPLEMENTATION
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. We continue to be exited about the recent strategic planning retreat and the desire to dig in deeper to move to action steps. This meeting will provide an opportunity to make significant decision points from various committees, finalize the calendar for the next 12-24 months, and discuss select leadership opportunities moving forward. Please RSVP by July 12, 2016 via Facebook or contact Tracey at cothinkk@gmail.com. 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 please free to send me an e-mail at Cothinkk@gmail.com. I look forward to seeing everyone in the room. Location is the Asheville Art Museum at Pack Square in downtown Asheville and time is 1 to 4:30 PM.
07/16/16 SIERRA CLUB PICNIC
On Saturday, July 16, the Sierra Club will enjoy its 7th Annual Summer Picnic from noon to 4 PM at the Blue Ridge Parkway sheltered picnic grounds located on Bull Mt. Rd. near the VA Hospital on Riceville Road. Directions: Exit 7 on I-240; go east on Tunnel Rd for 2 miles; turn north on Riceville Rd; go past VA Hospital, turn left on Bull Mt. Rd. The fenced-in, sheltered picnic area is on the left about ½ mile up the road. Please bring a pot luck dish to share and your own settings. Drinks will be provided. Badminton, horseshoes and music will add to the festivities. We hope to see you there!
07/16/16 BE PEACE: EMPATHY AND INSIGHT FOR TRANSFORMING RELATIONSHIPS
BePeace is a highly experiential course which brings together key aspects of social-emotional learning from HeartMath and Non-Violent Communication. The result is connection: the energy created with people when they feel seen, heard, and valued. Also known as the Connection Practice, when offered outside a spiritual center. BePeace has assisted many people in dissolving stress and accessing our own best wisdom, by getting hearts and brains into alignment. It's “the profound made practical.” Paired with an empathetic focus on our own feelings and needs, and those of others, these practices are a simple yet powerful way to mend our relationships and promote peace--both within ourselves, and with others. This course starts at 9:30 AM on July 16 and goes for eight hours. On July 17, the course is for four hours. Cost is $120; early bird only $99 by July 10; bring a friend for further discount. Please preregister with Cathy at cathyfholt@gmail.com. This will be held at Unity- The Blue Ridge at 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road in Mills River, NC.
07/17/16 ETHICAL HUMANIST SOCIETY OF ASHEVILLE
“The Waves of Feminism” will be presented by Patricia Robertson and Curry First at the Sunday, July 17th meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, from 2 to 3:30 PM, at Asheville Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC. All are welcome to attend. Join professor emerita Patricia Robertson and civil rights attorney Curry First as they explore the “Waves of Feminism” in the United States. They will examine the personal, political and legal aspects of sexism and female oppression past and present. Informal discussion and refreshments will follow the presentation. For more information: call 828 687-7759 or email EHSAsheville@gmail.com.
07/18/16 FILM SCREENING AND SPEAKERS ON SOLAR ENERGY
Join clean energy and solar advocates for an evening of learning and discussion about what we can do to move forward with solar power in a just and autonomous way. Are you passionate about energy justice in a changing climate? Do you want to be powered by solar energy but find barriers to do so? Are you a member of the solar industry? Appalachian Voices will screen a documentary and host a panel discussion with various stakeholders in the Asheville solar energy community. Bring your questions, concerns, comments and inspiration! Vegan food will be offered. Join us for a free screening of “Catching the Sun”, a silent auction, and speakers about solar energy, from 6 - 9 PM. Location is The Block Off Biltmore at 39 S. Market Street (Corner of Eagle & Market) in downtown Asheville. Call 828-254-9277 for more information. We ask for a $3-10 suggested donation at the door to benefit Appalachian Voices and the host of this event, THE BLOCK off biltmore. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
07/19/16 ASHEVILLE TRANSIT COMMITTEE MEETING
The meeting will take place at 4 PM at the 4th Floor Training Room at the Municipal Building at 100 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC. 28801. If you have any questions please contact Asheville Redefines Transit (ART) at (828) 232-4531 or via email at: iride@ashevillenc.gov.
07/20/16 GREEN DRINKS
Asheville Green Drinks is a networking party and part of the self-organizing global grassroots movement to connect communities with environmental ideas, media and action. People who are interested in environmental issues and topics meet up for a drink and occasionally listen to an expert in environment, ecology, and social justice. Asheville Green Drinks moves to a bi-monthly format in May. The location of Green Drinks has been changing a lot lately, contact them for more information. Time is 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Call 855-232-4723 for more information.
07/21/16 LEADERSHIP ASHEVILLE BUZZ BREAKFAST
Jim Stokely, president of Wilma Dykeman Legacy will moderate a discussion of Asheville's Direction. Panelests are Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer; UNC Asheville Chancellor Mary K. Grant; and Bill Dean, CEO, The Collider. Breakfast at 7:30 and program from 8 - 9 AM. Admission $20. Location is the Renaissance Asheville Hotel at 31 Woodfin Street in Asheville. Contact Jan at jlowe@unca.edu or 828.255.7100 for more information.
07/28/16 CLEAN ENERGY IN THE MOUNTAINS
Clean Energy in the Mountains is presented by NC Sustainable Energy Association.
Time is from 5:30 to 9 PM and location is Highland Brewing Company at 12 Old Charlotte Highway in east Asheville. Contact Christy at christy@energync.org or 919-832-7601 x 111 for more information.
07/29/16 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at 3:15 PM at Brooks-Howell Home 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
Showing Up for Racial Justice is from noon to 2 PM at Firestorm Cafe and Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Educating and organizing white people for racial justice. Free.
Orientation session for Asheville Timebank. 4 PM at Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Email help@ashevilletimebank.org for information and to register.
WEDNESDAY
Haywood Peace Vigilers have a weekly vigil at 4 PM at Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville
French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.
THURSDAY
Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Cafe & Books at 6 PM on first Thursday of the month. Materials provided.
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.
French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.
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.
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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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BUILDING BRIDGES FALL SESSION
Registration for the 2016 fall session of Building Bridges is now open! 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. The program will be held at Rainbow Community School in West Asheville on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 PM starting on September 13th and running through November 8th. Please go to buildingbridges-ashevillenc dot org to get to the registration page and for more information. Help us spread the word by telling your friends and colleagues. We anticipate filling fast, so be sure to register early to reserve your spot. Hope to see you there! Cost is $35. Go to their webpage to see payment instructions. A celebratory pot luck 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.
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Hood Tour Tickets
An interactive tour focusing on Asheville’s African American resilient history and future in the arts, environmentalism and entrepreneurship. The tour visits neighborhoods with existing and active green spaces, art, and grassroots initiatives. Tours run most Thursdays at 1 PM and Saturdays at 3 PM, and by appointment for groups by emailing info@hoodhuggers.com. Tours last approximately 1.5 hours. Cost is $25 per person. Tours begin at the Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Avenue.
Hood Huggers International, LLC offers sustainable strategies for building support pillars for resilient historically African American neighborhoods, providing a framework for community capacity building while increasing the effectiveness of existing service programs. These strategies incorporate the arts, environmental education and social enterprise.
DeWayne Barton is the founder/CEO of Hood Huggers. A sculptor and poet, Barton has been involved in community improvement and youth development for over 20 years. He serves on the African American Heritage Commission, CoThinkk, and the City of Asheville Neighborhood Advisory Board.
Please call (828) 275-5305 or email blove@hoodhuggers.com for more information including how to register for these tours.
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GOOD NEWS! St. Eugene's Catholic Church in Asheville saved 35.5% or $4,694 since they installed 147 solar panels in Oct. 2015 and the environmental impact was 27 tons of CO2 not emitted into the atmosphere. The savings will continue – the panels have a 25 year guarantee.
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Contact: Rachael Bliss
WNC 4 Peace: A Partnership of Peace Makers
8283780125
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Students in WNC invited to be creative about peace
ASHEVILLE WNC 4 Peace, a Partnership of Peace Makers in Western North Carolina, announces a contest in which students across Buncombe County, NC, can enter via their school’s creative works that promote the importance of peacemaking. There will be four "Winners" for Best Poem, Best Video, Best Artwork, and Best Essay on Peace.
Students’s creations will be featured on our website, wnc4peace.com.
Additionally the winning video and a video of the winning poem and essay
being read plus winning artwork will be shown on International Peace Day at key
websites throughout the world.
The School from which winning students submit their poem, video, artwork or
essay will be given $100 checks from WNC 4 Peace. The $100 prizes will be
presented to schools (or homeschooling associations) to encourage students there
to enter, as well as helping schools provide resources for them to teach peace
related skills.
WNC 4 Peace and our peacemaker partner groups will raise funds to support
this important youth project.
We will invite Mountain Xpress and other local media to announce the
competition and to also print the names of winning entries and their schools.
We are naming awards in honor of recently deceased local peace heroes:
● Isaac Coleman, who died recently, and was founder of Read to Succeed and
former Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the 1960s;
● Judith Hallock, cofounder
of the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance
and leader of previous local International Days of Peace;
● Tony Bing, former leader of the Palestinian/Jewish Egalitarian Team (formerly
called Western Carolinians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East), and
● Ron Harayda, former chairman of Veterans of Peace Chapter 099 and host of
their weekly WPVM radio program for years.
Deadline for submissions will be September 7, 2016. All entries should be sent to
WNC 4 Peace wnc4peace@gmail.com . In the case of videos, send an email to the
address above and give the name of the video, which has been uploaded to
YouTube by the entrant. Artwork should be uploaded as a. PDF attachment and
sent in an email to WNC 4 Peace. All students from elementary through high school
are eligible to participate. Be sure all entries include entrant's name, school, grade
level, and contact information.
Winners will be announced in September for International Day of Peace. Details
about the date and place to honor all entrants and winners will be announced at a
later date.
For more information, contact WNC 4 Peace wnc4peace@gmail.com , or call
8283780125.
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