Sunday, July 03, 2016

Upcoming events for the week of July 3, 2016

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

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. This exhibit runs until August 31, 2016. Call 828.785.5722 for more information.

07/05/15 CURRENT EVENTS BOOK CLUB
Current Events Book Club will discuss “Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right” by Jane Mayer. Time is 7 PM and location is Malaprops on Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. Call Malaprops for more information.

07/05/16 ASHEVILLE TRANSIT COMMITTEE MEETING - CANCELED
The City of Asheville Transit Committee Meeting on Tuesday, July 5th, 2016 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, July 19th, 2016.  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.

07/05/16 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 to noon and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

07/06/16 ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS
Eco-presentations, discussions and community connection. Free. Held at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at Edwin Place and Charlotte Street in Asheville. Time is 7 PM. No contact information.

07/06/16 JIM WALLIS AND BREE NEWSOME SPEAKING IN ASHEVILLE
Building Bridges is spreading the word about this upcoming Sojourners event featuring president Jim Wallis discussing his new book: America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America. On Wednesday, July 6th, Jim will be in conversation with Bree Newsome (who heroically took down the Confederate flag following the massacre at Mother Emmanuel AME in Charleston, SC) at Jubilee Community Church in downtown Asheville. In America’s Original Sin, Jim offers a prophetic and deeply personal call to action in overcoming the racism so ingrained in American society. He speaks candidly to Christians, urging them to cross a new bridge toward racial justice and healing. Registration is via Facebook under “America’s Original Sin”. No contact information. Time is from 7 to 9 PM. 

07/07/16 MOUNTAINTRUE MEET & GREET EVENT
MountainTrue is excited to announce the hiring of Gray Jernigan as regional director for the Southern Regional Office, located in Hendersonville and serving Henderson, Polk, Rutherford and Transylvania counties. Gray comes to MountainTrue from Waterkeeper Alliance, where he served in Raleigh as a staff attorney and communications coordinator. To welcome Gray to WNC, MountainTrue is hosting an open house at our Hendersonville office. The public is invited to meet Gray, learn about MountainTrue’s efforts to promote sensible land use, restore public forests, protect water quality and promote clean energy, and how they can get involved as members, supporters and volunteers. This will be from 4 to 6 PM at MountainTrue Southern Regional Office,  611 N. Church St., Hendersonville, N.C. 28792. Contact Gray at 828-692-0385 for more information.

07/07/16 HOMEWARD BOUND TOUR
‘Welcome Home Tour’ is a tour of Asheville organizations that serve the homeless population. Registration required, free to attend. Time is 11 AM and location is 218 Patton Avenue in Asheville. Call Homeward Bound at 258-1695 to register and for more information.

07/07/16 POLITICAL PRISONERS LETTER WRITING NIGHT
The first Thursday of every month, join local activists for a night of support and solidarity for those incarcerated. Materials will be provided. 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.

07/07/16 MEDICAID STORY COLLECTION BY JUST US UNITED
Just Us United is a non-profit dedicated to fighting for policies that support North Carolina families through voter education, grassroots lobbying, and electoral organizing. We are focused on promoting high-quality public education, access to affordable health care, safe energy alternatives, fair tax reform, and competitive democracy.Just Us United is a non-profit dedicated to fighting for policies that support North Carolina families through voter education, grassroots lobbying, and electoral organizing. We are focused on promoting high-quality public education, access to affordable health care, safe energy alternatives, fair tax reform, and competitive democracy. Join us for an open video interview session on July 7th from 1:30 to 5 PM in conference room 3 at the United Way in Asheville. Video clips will be used to supplement the work of Medicaid expansion advocates across the state, in order to show what happens when people cannot access the health care they need. Contact Kelsey at kelsey.tavares@justusunited.org for more information. Just Us United is also running phone banks for voting, contact them for more details.

07/09/16 RICHMOND HILL INVASIVE PLANT REMOVAL WORK DAY
Join us and help restore native plant communities by controlling non-native invasive plants at Richmond Hill Park. This is the City of Asheville’s only forested park and is home to many special native plant and animal species! We’ll provide all gloves, equipment and instruction needed. Please bring snacks, water, rain jacket and wear long pants, long sleeve shirt and closed toe shoes (no open shoes or sandals allowed for safety). This event will be held during the second Saturday of every month. (Rain Date: Second Sunday). Time is 9 AM to 1 PM. Contact Amanda at amanda@mountaintrue.org for more information and to register.

07/09/16 SWANNANOA RIVER CLEAN UP
Join the Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa and GreenWorks for this much needed river cleanup. Meeting up at Owen Park, boats, tools and safety supplies will supplied. Time is 10 AM to 2 PM and location is Owen Park at 875 Warren Wilson Road in Swannanoa. Contact volunteer@ashevillegreenworks.org to register for this event and for more information.

07/09/16 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING
Citizens Climate Lobby meets the second Saturday of each month 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.

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. 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 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 at1045 Haywood Road in west Asheville.

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 TBD 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!

07/18/16 FILM SCREENING AND SPEAKERS ON SOLAR ENERGY
Join us for a free screening of “Catching the Sun”, a silent auction, and speakers about solar energy, from 7 - 10 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. 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? We 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! About the film, Catching The Sun, released April 2016: Through the stories of workers and entrepreneurs in the U.S. and China, Catching the Sun captures the global race to lead the clean energy future. Over the course of a solar jobs training program, Catching the Sun follows the hope and heartbreak of unemployed American workers seeking jobs in the solar industry. With countries like China investing in innovative technologies and capitalizing on this trillion-dollar opportunity, Catching the Sun tells the story of the global energy transition from the perspective of workers and entrepreneurs building solutions to income inequality and climate change with their own hands. Their successes and failures speak to one of the biggest questions of our time: will the U.S. actually be able to build a clean energy economy?
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 at12 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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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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