Sunday, October 30, 2016

Upcoming events for the week of October 30, 2016


Protest at Vance Monument earlier today in support of Standing Rock. Photo by Clare Hanrahan.

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

10/31/16 EARLY VOTING CONTINUES 
There are over a dozen sites in Buncombe County for voting and they are open 10 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday. There are some sites open on Saturday and Sunday too, contact Buncombe County Board of Elections for more information. This is one-stop voting, so you can also register and vote during early voting. If you have problems voting, call 888-OUR-VOTE for assistance. Photo ID is not required. From City council member Cecil Bothwell, some of his recommendations on state elections:  
Supreme Court: Mike Morgan
Court of Appeals: Vince Rozier
Court of Appeals: Abe Jones
Court of Appeals: Linda Stephens
Court of Appeals: Rickye McKoy-Mitchell
For state and local partisan elections, vote Democrat.

11/01/16 CURRENT EVENTS BOOK CLUB
The Current Events Book Club will discuss “Listen, Yankee!: Why Cuba Matters” at 7 PM at Malaprops Bookstore on Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. Contact Malaprops for more information.

11/01/16 PRAYER PROCESSION TO PROVOKE RACIAL JUSTICE
From the Center for Participatory Change and Faith Leaders: Join an interfaith Prayer Procession to Provoke Justice on November 1st (All Saints Day) at 4:45 PM from the East End neighborhood (impacted by urban renewal) to City Hall with stops for targeted prayer along the way. We will end with publicly reading a Statement of Beliefs adopted by Faith Leaders at a press conference, then holding a collective worship. The point is to broadly share a faith perspective that speaks truth to power and addresses the violence against Black and Brown bodies (aka African descent and Latinx persons). Childcare is available starting at 4 PM, and location is Nazareth First Missionary Baptist Church at 146 Pine Street in Asheville. Procession will conclude with ritual at the courthouse around 6:30 PM. People are encouraged to wear something representing your faith and/or faith community. This event is created and sponsored by a coalition of leaders from a wide variety of faith communities in Asheville.

11/01/16 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.

11/02/16 GREEN GRANNIES BOOK CLUB
Founded in 2012, the Green Grannies are a group of women who are willing to make a ruckus about the need for action on climate change. This is their reading group and it is open to all! Time is noon and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

11/02/16 WHAT’S UP WITH WHITENESS WEDNESDAYS DISCUSSION GROUP
What's Up with Whiteness Wednesdays is an ongoing ASURJ series endeavoring to dismantle white supremacy. The “Title Track” part of the WUWW series will generally repeat on the first Wednesday of the month. But in October it's on the third Wednesday. What's Up with Whiteness functions to explore what “white” means, and how it was created as a racial group to implement a white supremacy culture in the United States. This group is for anyone who is willing and able to explore their whiteness or whiteness as a race with a racial justice lens. We aim to dismantle white supremacy power by exploring it from the inside. We will educate ourselves and each other about the political and social origins of “whiteness”; educate ourselves and each other on white supremacy culture functions; hold our personal experiences and benefits from whiteness accountable and responsible for change; build skills to address internalized dominance and make change; and build relationships with others to further imbue these lessons and build accountability. 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.

11/02/16 SIERRA CLUB MEETING/GREEN DRINKS
In his presentation, “Water Quality in Western North Carolina,”  Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson will demonstrate a phone application that enables people to report clean water violations. He will also talk about water quality in WNC, fish habitat, sedimentation, the French Broad paddling trail, and the riverkeeper networks. This event is free and open to the public. Time is 7 to 9 PM and location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at 1 Edwin Place in north Asheville (Charlotte Street and Edwin Place). For more information, contact Judy Mattox, 828-683-2176, judymattox@sbcglobal.net. 

11/02/16 ASHEVILLE SOCIALIST MEETING
Asheville socialists (ISO) will meet Wednesday November 2 at 6:30 PM in HIG room 102. Contact Asheville Socialists at asheville.socialist@gmail.com for more information.

11/02/16 WORKSHOP ON CLASS - THE OTHER TABOO
The Class the Other Taboo workshop will start to break down the barriers of talking openly about class and how it shows up in our lives. Resource Generation organizes young people with wealth and class privilege to leverage their resources for social change, however, this workshop will be open to everyone, especially those interested in exploring their class identity. Together we will deepen our understanding of class privilege, how to use it for social change, and start developing strategies for breaking the taboo of talking about class. Resource Generation organizes young people with wealth and class privilege in the U.S. to become transformative leaders working towards the equitable distribution of wealth, land and power. Resource Generation envisions a world in which all communities are powerful, healthy, and living in alignment with the planet. A world that is racially and economically just in which wealth, land and power are shared.  Time is 5 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

11/03/16 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.

11/03/16 AWESOME FOUNDATION GRANT TRAINING 
Positive Changes, YTL Training and CoThinkk are co-hosting a mini-workshop for anyone wanting to apply for the Awesome Foundation grant. The workshop is Thursday, November 3 from 5 to 7 PM at the Edington Center, 133 Livingston Street in Asheville.  Food will be provided, and transportation can be arranged. The Awesome Foundation of Asheville is awarding $1,000 grants to youth under the age of 18 with great project ideas to make Asheville better. The deadline is November 6th. The goal for workshop is to have participants leave with a completed application. Andrew Celwyn. a Trustee of the Awesome Foundation will be present at the training to provide additioanl information about the Foundation and to discuss the foundaitons' priority areas for giving. Tracey Greene-Washington of CoThinkk will share general grant-writing tips as well as tips for this particular grant. Volunteers will be available to help applicants complete the grant application. In preparation for the workshop, participants should think about what they might want to say about their project idea and about themselves, and how they would use the $1000. For more information about the grant, go to www.awesomefoundation.org/en/chapters/asheville. For more information about the workshop, contact Dewana Little, dewanalittle@yahoo.com.

11/05/16 BREAKING DOWN LOCAL POLITICS
Breaking down the ins and outs of local politics, from who's who to what's what. Get informed if you plan to vote in the November 8th election. Time is 6:30 to 8 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

11/05/16 MOVING BEYOND CAPITALISM PRESENTATION
Cliff DuRand explains how communities are declaring independence from Wall Street and building a more equal, participatory, and democratic society. Time is 4 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

11/05/16 DOCUMENTARY “DEMOCRACY FOR SALE” SCREENING IN ASHEVILLE
North Carolina — perhaps more than any other state in the Union — has been transformed by the new and growing tidal wave of political spending. “Democracy for Sale” travels with Zach Galifianakis, the comic star of the Hangover movies, back to his home state to investigate how North Carolina has become a bellwether for how the money of a few has come to dominate our democracy. Galifianakis investigates allegations that the current state government was put in power by moneyed interests and has thus carried out a program that only benefits its backers: cuts to education, healthcare spending and environmental protection; lowering of taxes for the wealthy and corporations; and the passage of laws designed to roll back access to the ballot. Join Buncombe County NAACP, Clean Water for North Carolina, Democracy NC, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, and Working Films for this free screening to learn more about how money in politics is influencing North Carolina and what you can do to help stop it. This is at 12 to 1:30 PM and location is Grail Moviehouse at 45 South French Broad Avenue in downtown Asheville. Contact Katie at katie@cwfnc.org for more information. 

11/06/16 FILM DISCUSSION AT UU CONGREGATION IN BLACK MOUNTAIN
A new documentary film from Ava DuVenay, director of the film, Selma,  chronicles how our justice system has been driven by racism from the days of slavery to today’s era of mass incarceration. The film “13th” is named for the constitutional amendment that abolished slavery with the exception of punishment for crime. The United States accounts for 5 percent of the world’s population, but 25 percent of its prisoners. The film is now available on Netflix and we encourage everyone to see it. A discussion of the film will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Swannanoa Valley, 500 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, on Sunday, November 6 at 12:30 PM. Herb Way will lead the discussion. Everyone is invited. For more information, contact Roberta at robertamadden@yahoo.com.

11/07/16 CLIMATE ACTIVIST SPEECH AT UNCA
“Public Lands, Private Profit” is the title of a  speech by Tim DeChristopher with Bryan Cahall. Climate activist Tim DeChristopher will discuss the role of public lands and national parks as battlegrounds between private profit and public good, sharing stories of some of his own fight with the fossil fuel industry over the fate of western lands near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. DeChristopher spent twenty one months in prison in 2008 after interrupting a Bush era oil and drilling auction with a spontaneous act of courage and civil disobedience. He used his prosecution as an opportunity to organize the climate justice organization Peaceful Uprising in Salt Lake City, and most recently founded the Climate Disobedience Center. DeChristopher will be joined by singer/songwriter Bryan Cahall with songs inspired by struggles for justice. Sponsors are NEH professorship, Office of Sustainability, and Student Environmental Center. Time is 7 PM and location is Highsmith Student Union Grotto at UNCA. 

11/08/16 ELECTION DAY
Last chance to vote in this horrid election. Please go to your precinct to vote.

11/08/16 EXHIBITION AT RAMSEY LIBRARY AT UNCA
“All My Relations” exhibit by Shan Goshorn will be at Ramsey Library, Blowers Gallery from November 8 to December 16. There will be an opening reception on November 15 - see listing below for more information. This exhibit includes forty black and white photographs of contemporary Cherokee people. They were  taken over a 25 year period by Eastern Band artist Shan Goshorn. Goshorn is perhaps better known for her painted photographs (many of which address stereotypes and racism) which she weaves into baskets that now reside in many prestigious collections around the world. 

11/08/16 OCCUPY WNC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
This will be at 7 PM at the Sneak E Squirrel Community Room at 1315 West Main Street in Sylva. It is on the left side of Main Street past Watson Park. Contact Lucy at (828)743-9747 or lucy.christopher42@gmail.com for more information.

11/09/16 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE EVENT
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 6:30-8:30pm: "Title Track" led by Lia Kaz; meeting at Unitarian Universalist congregation of Asheville (downstairs in main building, corner of Edwin Place and Charlotte). What does “white” mean and how was it created as a racial group to implement a white supremacy culture in the U.S.? This group is for anyone who is willing and able to explore their whiteness or whiteness with a racial justice lens. We aim to dismantle white supremacy's power by exploring it from the inside. "Title Track" is part of Asheville SURJ's "What's Up with Whiteness Wednesday (WUWW)" series. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lainschell.com for more information.

11/10/16 HENDERSONVILLE GREEN DRINKS
This Hendersonville Green Drinks will be with the French Broad Riverkeeper. The French Broad Riverkeeper will talk about our biggest pollution source, sediment, and Muddy Water Watch, a training program to find and report sediment pollution problems. Sediment pollution smothers aquatic life, clogs fish gills, and destroys aquatic habitat. Luckily MountainTrue has streamlined the process to report sediment problems. Come learn about what you can do stop sediment pollution and keep our rivers and aquatic ecosystems healthy. Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue and the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. Black Bear Coffee offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available. Time is 5:30 to 7 PM and location is Black Bear Coffee at 318 North Main Street in Hendersonville. For more information, contact Gray at 828-692-0385 or gray@mountaintrue.org.

11/10/16 INTERFAITH PEACE CONFERENCE AT LAKE JUNALUSKA
Affirming the community of Abrahamic faiths, the Peace Conference seeks to work in partnership with Christians, Jews, Muslims, and members of other religious traditions to advance the work of reconciliation and peace. The theme for this year's conference is “The Climate Crisis and Peace” and Dr. Norman Wirzba, Professor of Theology, Ecology, and Agrarian Studies at Duke Divinity School will be among the speakers. This runs from November 10 to November 13, 2016. For program questions contact Tammy McDowell at 828.454.6681 or tmcdowell@lakejunaluska.com. For registration contact 800.222.4930 or reservations@lakejunaluska.com.

11/10/16 PUBLIC HEARING ON CLIFFSIDE COAL ASH WATER PERMIT IN SHELBY
Please attend a public hearing on Tuesday, November 10th at 6 PM to tell the NC Department of Environmental Quality that our families deserve clean water, not a permit that allows Duke Energy to turn our streams into coal ash pollution ditches. Under the proposed permit, Duke Energy could dump unlimited arsenic, mercury and lead into our waterways from the leaking, unlined coal ash pits at its Cliffside power plant. Our state should protect people, not polluters. Time is 5 to 8 PM. Location is Boiling Springs Town Hall at 114 East College Avenue in Shelby. Contact Anna at 828-258-8737 or anna@mountaintrue.org.

11/11/16 NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH EVENT AND STANDING ROCK PROTEST UPDATE AT UNCA
Dr. Trey Adcock, a Cherokee Nation citizen, Assistant Professor of Education and Director of American Indian Outreach will speak on Indian politics in the United States as part of the Humanities 414 lecture series. Together with Juan Sánchez Martinez, assistant professor of Spanish and Gilliam Jackson, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and UNC Asheville adjunct lecturer who teaches Cherokee language, Dr. Adcock traveled to the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota to deliver supplies for the Sacred Stone Camp at the junction of the Cannonball and Missouri Rivers. Come to hear about their first-hand experience of the ongoing Standing Rock Sioux protest of construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline and its impact on sacred land and the water supply. Time is 11 AM to 12:15 PM and location is Humanities Lecture Hall at UNCA. This is presented by Multicultural Student Programs. Contact dhylton@unca.edu for more information.

11/12/16 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING
Citizens Climate Lobby meets the second Saturday of each month at Kairos West Community Center (behind Firestorm) at 610 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.

11/12/16 GREENWORKS TIRE AMNESTY DAYS
(Free Tire Collection) Volunteers sought to help us heave SUPER dirty tires into semi-trailers. This is hard work, but so helpful for our environment. We collected 2,455 tires at the last event, we're expecting to receive even MORE this time around. Think crossfit+spartan run but without the trophies. This will be from 9 AM to 5 PM on 11/12/16 and 11/13/16. Location is Sears Asheville Mall parking lot on South Tunnel Road. Call Greenworks for more information. If you're interested in volunteering, please email: volunteer@ashevillegreenworks.org or call 232-7144. 

11/12/16 RICHMOND HILL PARK INVASIVE 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! Volunteers help to stop the spread of harmful non-native invasive species and return native species to the unique park. We’ll provide all gloves, equipment and necessary instructions. Please bring snacks, water and a rain jacket and wear long pants, long sleeve shirt and closed toe shoes (no open shoes or sandals allowed for safety). Time is 9 AM to 1 PM. Contact Susan at 828.258.8737 x 216 or susan@mountaintrue.org for more information.

11/12/16 MARXISM DAY SCHOOL
We are now registering people for the Marxism Day School that is coming up on Saturday, November 12. Branches from all around the region will meet for discussion of socialist theory and history so that we can take that knowledge and apply it to the struggle for liberation in our time. We will have two sessions followed by an evening plenary. The first session will be on race, class, and capitalism which will be followed by a session on party-building. The evening plenary, What's next for the left?” will focus on perspectives for continuing the resistance to capitalism and winning support for the alternative, socialism. No one will be turned away for lack of funds but we encourage donations of $5-$15 to help us pay travel and lodging costs for speakers and attendants. Please RSVP at the FB event page- (https://www.facebook.com/events/1781139188835771/).

11/13/16 CONCERT FOR MOUNTAINTRUE
MountainTrue is proud to welcome Mavis Staples to Asheville for a concert to benefit the French Broad River on November 13 at The Orange Peel on Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville. Tickets are on sale now at The Orange Peels box office and on their website. Proceeds from the concert support the work of the French Broad Riverkeeper, a program of MountainTrue and the primary protector and defender of the French Broad River watershed. Asheville-based artist Lyric will perform with her band as the opening act and will also perform a special acoustic set at a VIP event at PULP (The Orange Peel’s lower level private club) before the show. The concert is presented by MountainTrue, 98.1 The River and Mountain Xpress and is generously sponsored by The Matt & Molly Team, Movement Mortgage and Prestige Subaru. Cost is $35. Contact Anna at 828-258-8737 or anna@mountaintrue.org for more information.

11/14/16 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE SOCIAL
Topic is “Communication Skills for Resilient Communities”. A resilient community must be sustainable for the long haul—but, what can get in the way? Often it is not the absence of technical know-how, but the presence of interpersonal conflicts. At the root of many a conflict is misunderstanding caused by lack of communication. Learn how the nonjudgmental language of feelings and needs can help dissolve disputes, and how empathy can bring people together. Cathy Holt is certified as a teacher of the Connection Practice, and is also a certified HeartMath® coach. She has been learning and teaching nonviolent communication skills for over twenty years. A long-term environmental activist, she is currently involved with Citizens Climate Lobby, working for a carbon fee and dividend. Time is 6:30 PM and location is St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at 337 Charlotte Street in north Asheville. Contact Rebecca at palmtree747@gmail.com for more information.

11/14/16 HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM AT UNCA
There will be a campus and community human rights forum at UNCA on “Child Detention in Palestine” with Azadeh Shahshahani, the legal and advocacy director of Project South. Shahshahani has worked in NC and Georgia to protect the human rights of immigrants and Muslim, Middle Eastern and South Asian communities. She has served as a National Security/Immigrants’ Rights Project Director with the ACLU of Georgia and president of the National Lawyers Guild. She has also participated in a delegation investigating the plight of political prisoners in Palestine in April of 2016. Time is noon to 1 PM and location is Mountain View Room at the Sherrill Center at UNCA. Cosponsors are Belk Distinguished Professor in the Humanities at UNCA and Just Peace for Israel/Palestine of WNC. For more information, contact jpip@wnc@gmail.com or call 828-319-7652.

11/15/16 OPENING RECEPTION FOR EXHIBITION AT UNCA
“All My Relations” exhibit by Shan Goshorn will be at Ramsey Library, Blowers Gallery from November 8 to December 16. There will be an opening reception on November 15 from 5 to 7 PM, with opening remarks by Barbra Duncan and Trey Adcock. This exhibit includes forty black and white photographs of contemporary Cherokee people. They were  taken over a 25 year period by Eastern Band artist Shan Goshorn. Goshorn is perhaps better known for her painted photographs (many of which address stereotypes and racism) which she weaves into baskets that now reside in many prestigious collections around the world. 

11/16/16 REBUILDING AFFRILACHIA - PEARSON PLAN WORKSHOP
DeWayne Barton will be offering a Pearson Plan Workshop on November 16 from 5 to 6 pm at the Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton Street, in Asheville. Learn more about this plan for Rebuilding Affrilachia and how you can be a part of it. There is no charge for the workshop, though contributions to support the Pearson Plan will be accepted. If you'd like to be part of this, please join him; there is no pre-registration necessary. Questions? Email info@hoodhuggers.com.

11/16/16 GREEN DRINKS
Sustainability and social justice meet-up at The Block off Biltmore at 39 S. Market Street in downtown Asheville. This starts at 5:30 PM with socializing and the presentation starts at 6 PM. Contact Asheville Green Drinks for more information. This happens on the third Wednesday of the month.

11/16/16 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE EVENT
* Wednesday, Nov. 16, 6:30-8:30pm: "Calling People In" led by David Greenson; meeting at Firestorm Books & Cafe. Many of us either stay silent or get into arguments when we hear racist comments, neither of which will begin the essential process of educating and "calling in" of white people to become part of multi-racial coalitions for racial justice. Role play conversations to be better prepared when opportunities arise. "Calling People In" is part of Asheville SURJ's "What's Up with Whiteness Wednesday (WUWW)" series. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lainschell.com for more information.

11/17/16 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE GENERAL MEETING
Join the Creation Care Alliance of WNC for a general meeting as we inspire one another to good work and discuss our work empowering care for creation. We will connect with one another and explore ways to care for creation. Everyone is welcome. The meeting will be held in the First Baptist Church of Asheville in Room MB306, which is upstairs. Address is 5 Oak Street in downtown Asheville. Time is 5:30 to 7 PM. If you have any questions, please contact Scott Hardin-Nieri at scott@creationcarealliance.org.

11/19/16 HARD TO RECYCLE COLLECTION IN ARDEN
This will be from 10 AM to 2 PM at 2310 Hendersonville Road in Arden. And a word from Greenworks: never put hard-to-recycle items or any kind of plastic bag or plastic film in with your curbside recyclables (other than blue recycling bags). The blue bags are emptied and removed early in the sorting process at the recycling facility as plastic bags and film clog recycling equipment forcing operations to shut down for workers to cut that material off by hand with boxcutters! Note: Be sure to pull out the plastic liner bags out of your cereal boxes before you throw them into your recycling bin. Check that no chip and snack bags or regular and resealable (zipper) bags, snuck into your bin, too!

11/23/16 THE NEW JIM CROW BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
This is a monthly discussion group of Michelle Alexander's book “The New Jim Crow.” This is on Wednesday from 6:30 - 8:30 PM at Firestorm Bookstore & Cafe at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. This monthly discussion group of Michelle Alexander's book the "The New Jim Crow" will discuss a chapter a month. In September we will cover Chapter One. This group will meet September 28, October 26, November 23, December 28, and January 25, 2017 and maybe one more in February. Anyone is welcome to jump in anytime. Led by Eryka Lynn Peskin. Contact Firestorm for more information.

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ONGOING EVENTS
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TUESDAY
Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 5 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument during most of the year, but after DST kicks in, they meet at 4:30 PM. 
Showing Up for Racial Justice at Firestorm Cafe and Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. 10 AM. 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. 
Green Grannies Book Club meets at noon at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. 
“What’s Up With Whiteness” discussion group at 6 PM at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville.

THURSDAY
Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Cafe & Books at 6 PM on fourth Thursday of the month. Materials provided.

FRIDAY
Women in Black have a weekly vigil at noon at the City Hall in Hendersonville.

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

Peace Vigil at All Souls Cathedral in Biltmore Village. This is from 5 to 5:30 PM. This vigil will last until election day 2016.

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Healing outing to the river in Afghanistan




Published on Sep 14, 2016

This was not a typical festive ‘first world’ outing, as its need and idea arose not from leisure, but from trauma.

Recently, Hadisa was broken after an ‘endless’ night of crouching nervously in the dark of her University dormitory, while bomb blasts and gunshots were ending precious lives only a hair’s breath away.

Nemat, in a safe space which softened Hadisa’s distress, remembered looking at a heavily-breathing comatose father in a bare Afghan government hospital ward with no monitoring devices. I was well aware of Nemat’s questions over his own undiagnosed lower limb weakness and limp, when he asked me in resigned desperation, “Do you think I should transfer him to another hospital?”

Ali, listening to and comforting Hadisa, had also just lost a loved one too, his older brother, Sultan. Sultan was killed by at least four bullets.

The Afghan Peace Volunteer community agreed unanimously, “Let’s go for a picnic, or let’s just be together for a day.”

Who can Habib trust, especially after his father was killed in a suicide bombing attack a few years ago? 

“Active volunteers…Those we know well.”

“Where should we go?” No satisfactory answers – there are no ‘guarantees’ anymore. Decision on the picnic location kept changing, even till 10.00 p.m. the night before, “My uncle told me that there’s unrest between an Uzbek group linked to the Vice President and a Tajik group, over a re-burial. Can’t we change location?” Hadisa called Ali, who rang Abid, who rang a relative…

“Let’s decide tomorrow morning, just before we leave,” were their thoughts as they and the night retired.

Basir said early the next morning, “I just checked, and it seems alright to go.” His wife had initially decided against going, as they now have another new life to take care of, Barbud their son.

“Abid, didn’t we agree? Ask the driver to slow down,” Muqadisa demanded.

Whenever the other bus overtook us, for good-spirited relaxation, Muqadisa and Nida would cheer, “Zek, get up, dance, we can’t be the boring bus!” I noticed Hadisa was in ‘knots’ of laughter over the transient ‘roar’ from our bus.

Such were our fluctuating feelings throughout the day at Salang Pass, next to the its river which arises from the Hindu Kush mountains; the communty’s recovery presented exuberant imagery for each of our inner healing. 

The river helped to heal us.
But most of all, we healed by being together.

*******
A slice of life in Afghanistan.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Article by David Swanson

This Is Our Lucky Day
By David Swanson

This is our lucky day for quite a few reasons. We haven't yet rendered the climate of this planet uninhabitable for our species. For those of us who are not in prison: we're not in prison -- and not because of some significant difference between us and many who are. For those of us not hungry or scared (see note above re prisons). But there's another big reason that this is our lucky day -- a reason that is different in kind from these. This is our luck day and we've had about 25,965 of them and counting. Ever since the creation of nuclear weapons there have been thousands of accidents, incidents, and close calls. Nuclear bombs have been accidentally dropped on the United States by the United States and come very close to detonating. The United States and the Soviet Union / Russia have come very close to believing the other had begun the nuclear apocalypse. In one case, the decency of a single Russian sailor, Vasili Arkhipov, probably saved the globe. Nuclear weapons have been lost in the ocean, been flown unwittingly across the country and left unguarded, and -- in an incident that is the chief focus of a new film - accidentally blasted out of a bunker in Arkansas to land in a nearby field where the ‘warhead’ did not explode in great part because September 19, 1980, was one of our lucky days.

“Command and Control” a film based on a book by Eric Schlosser, tells the story of one weapon 600 times as powerful as the one dropped on Hiroshima. One weapon and one worker who chose one wrong tool causing him to drop one small part, causing a nuclear weapon to launch, not to hit the Soviet Union where it would have killed huge numbers of human beings and triggered an apocalypse, but instead to launch into a nearby field. As Schlosser points out, a system in which such a thing is possible is itself broken. Blaming one maintenance worker misses the problem.

The film plays out the suspenseful minute-by-minute response in Damascus, Arkansas. We watch the people who invented the term SNAFU, the U.S. military, confront the possibility that they may be about to nuke Governor Bill Clinton's Arkansas. Nobody with much useful knowledge of the weapon can apparently be found, but numerous people far removed from Arkansas get involved, and the most distant of them call the shots. The Keystone Cops, taking orders from afar, having locked themselves out of the missile silo, break their way back in but fail to prevent an explosion, after which they have to begin a search for the weapon, because - like the U.S. Army’s recently reported 6.5 trillion unaccounted for dollars - they don't know where it went.

Harold Brown, then-Secretary of so-called Defense, is shown in the film saying that “accidents were not unusual in the Defense Department. There must have been several every day.” Most were, no doubt, not nuclear. But a ‘Defense’ Department report lists thousands of those over the years. A television newscast from 1980 informs us that “The Titan is not to blame. It was human error.” The Titan, apparently treated as an actual titan from ancient Greece, greater than a god, is the name of the inanimate weapon. The Pentagon and its media echo chamber defend the weapon from blame, choosing instead to put all the blame on members of the military. This history of near misses with catastrophes is a well-kept secret. That the problem is structural rather than one of ‘a few bad apples’ is a carefully avoided realization. And here's an even better buried secret: this problem is not in the past. The United States still has some 7,000 nuclear weapons, and as this film shows us, and as is generally agreed, oversight and attention to safety have gotten worse, not better, over the years.


The non-nuclear nations of the world are pushing for a ban on nuclear weapons. The United States is expanding its nuclear arsenal. Which is the right way to go? In the words of that model of lawless U.S. violence Dirty Harry, you've got to ask yourself one question: “Do I feel lucky?”


Monday, October 24, 2016

Vigil for peace and nuclear disarmament

Will you help end our terrible love affair with nuclear weapons that threatens us all?

From Lew Patrie, with WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility

Reducing the nuclear weapons danger is an urgent task for our survival.


Join with us to say no to continued development and threatened use of nuclear weapons!!  

The risk of outbreak of nuclear war has recently increased sharply, due to deteriorating relations between the US and Russia and China. 

We invite you to join Asheville’s Veterans for Peace Chapter, (VFP), and WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility Chapter (PSR) for a vigil on Tuesday October 25th, at 5PM, at the Vance Memorial in Pack Square to say no to our continued development and threatened use of nuclear weapons and  for establishment of peaceful relations with Russia and China.

Nuclear powers still maintain more than 15,000 nuclear warheads with more than 2,000 on high alert, available for immediate launch. 

● 100 nuclear weapons detonated in a limited nuclear war could cause deaths of up to 2 billion people due to mass starvation caused by crop failures triggered by a prolonged nuclear winter. 

●We urge President Obama to establish a clear policy of no-first-use and eliminate plans for spending a trillion dollars for nuclear weapons.

● Politicians and the media largely ignore this issue It is essential that we speak out to urge the US to stop threatened use of nuclear weapons and to for all countries to take nuclear weapons off high alert/launch on warning.


Please join us for the vigil at Vance Memorial on Tuesday, Oct. 25th, 5 PM  

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Upcoming events for the week of October 23, 2016


UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

10/24/16 EARLY VOTING CONTINUES 
There are over a dozen sites in Buncombe County for voting and they are open 10 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday. There are some sites open on Saturday and Sunday too, contact Buncombe County Board of Elections for more information. This is one-stop voting, so you can also register and vote during early voting. If you have problems voting, call 888-OUR-VOTE for assistance. Photo ID is not required. From City council member Cecil Bothwell, some of his recommendations on state elections:  
Supreme Court: Mike Morgan
Court of Appeals: Vince Rozier
Court of Appeals: Abe Jones
Court of Appeals: Linda Stephens
Court of Appeals: Rickye McKoy-Mitchell
For state and local partisan elections, vote Democrat.

10/24/16 THIRD MOUNTAIN MORAL MONDAY IN ASHEVILLE
Keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. William Barber, President NC-NAACP. If you would like to volunteer for this inspiring event, contact Melissa Murphy at mcoxmurphy@gmail.com. Location is Pack Square Park, Roger McGuire Green. Time is 4 to 6 PM. In coalition with the Mountain People’s Assembly, the local Branch of NAACP and other regional branches of NAACP, will host Asheville’s third Mountain Moral Monday at 4 PM on Monday, Oct 24 in Pack Square. Rev. Dr. William Barber will be the keynote speaker. They ask that you do not wear or bring political signs.  If you have questions, contact Carmen Ramos-Kennedy at (828) 423-6476, or 4ward2getherCall2Action@gmail.com. Democracy NC is also helping to organize this event.

10/25/16 VIGIL FOR PEACE AND REDUCTION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
At 5 PM, Tuesday, October 25th, PSR will join with Asheville’s Veterans for Peace, Chapter 099 at their Pack Square vigil, to increase awareness that striving for peaceful solutions to our conflicts with Russia and China and reducing nuclear weapons dangers is an urgent task for the very survival of us all. Please attend the vigil and lobby for an end to wars of mass self destruction.

10/25/16 OCCUPY WNC GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN SYLVA
Occupy WNC General Assembly will be at 7 PM at The Sneak E Squirrel Community Room at 1315 W Main Street in Sylva. The Sneak E Squirrel is on left side of Main Street past Sylva's Mark Watson Park. All are welcome. Contact Lucy at (828)743-9747 for more information.

10/25/16 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.

10/25/16 BENEFIT FOR STANDING ROCK
Concert and party to benefit the Standing Rock Reservation. Time is 6 to 10 PM and location is The Regenerations Station at 26 Glendale Avenue in Asheville. 

10/25/16 LECTURE AT UNCA
The STEM series of lectures is an interdisciplinary program that covers a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. Each lecture provides the lecturer with the opportunity to share his/her work, present new ideas for feedback, learn new ideas that participants can use, and introduce students to exciting areas to explore. The lectures are all scheduled in the Reuter Center, room 102 at UNCA. Time is from 4:30 - 6 PM and this lecture is  free and open to the public. October 25, ‘Forest Roads: The Ecological Imprint from their Presence and Use' by Hermann Gucinski is the topic.

10/25/16 SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS AT UNCA
Eban Goodstein, Director of Graduate Programs in Sustainability at Bard College, will be presenting two programs at UNC Asheville on Tuesday October 25th. One is a Lunch & Learn on “How To Get a Job Saving the Planet.” This will be from noon to 1 PM at Highsmith Student Union Grotto. Interested in finding a job in sustainability?  Dr. Goodstein will discuss career paths in business, NGO’s, and government focused on solving challenges like climate change, sustainable food systems, water shortages, biodiversity loss, toxics exposure and renewable energy. The talk will also provide students with a concrete strategy for getting a job next summer. The second one will be on “Republicans, Democrats and Sustainability: Recovering Bipartisan Environmental Politics” from 7 to 8:30 PM at Karpen Hall, room 038. The period from 1970-1992 saw major US national legislation on topics ranging from clean water to climate change. Since 1994, the country has passed no significant environmental laws, the dialog on the environment has become extremely partisan, and this has lead to unprecedented gridlock in Washington DC. What is the cause of this divide, and what are the prospects for the future? Both programs are free and open to the public.

10/26/16 FILM SCREENING AT UNCA
The Student Environmental Center will be doing a series of environmental film screenings promoting awareness of environmental issues on the last Wednesday of every month. This will be our first event of the series. Time is 8 PM and location is Karpen Hall 100, Karpen Lobby, at UNCA.

10/26/16 MOUNTAIN TRUE FALL GATHERING
Each year MountainTrue invites all our members to gather for our annual meeting where we celebrate our work over the past year, recognize our organizational champions and celebrate success. We encourage all our members to attend and participate in a brief business meeting where you will vote to elect new board members. If you are not a current MountainTrue member, now is a great time to join us. Time is 6 to 8 PM and location is New Belgium Brewery’s Brewhouse. Music from the Midnight Plowboys. Contact Susan with any questions: susan@mountaintrue.org.

10/26/16 ASHEVILLE SOCIALISTS MEETING AT UNCA
"What's next for the left?" Panel discussion on the prospects for building the left after the election. Panel discussion hosted by the International Socialist Organization. Speakers include Tony Ndege from the NC Green Party and Jeff Rose, formerly of WNC for Bernie. The discussion will encompass each speaker's perspectives for radicals and progressives in relation to the election but especially its aftermath.After a short presentation from each panelist we will open the floor for debate and discussion from the audience. Childcare can be organized with sufficient notice. UNCA branch of the International Socialist Organization will meet WED OCT 26 at 6:30 in HIG 102. Free visitor parking is available near Highsmith Student Union. Contact Asheville Socialists at asheville.socialist@gmail.com for more information.

10/26/16 THE NEW JIM CROW BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
This is a monthly discussion group of Michelle Alexander's book “The New Jim Crow.” This is on Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 6:30 - 8:30 PM at Firestorm Bookstore & Cafe at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. This monthly discussion group of Michelle Alexander's book the "The New Jim Crow" will discuss a chapter a month. In September we will cover Chapter One. This group will meet September 28, October 26, November 23, December 28, and January 25, 2017 and maybe one more in February. Anyone is welcome to jump in anytime. Led by Eryka Lynn Peskin. Contact Firestorm for more information.

10/26/16 GREEN GRANNIES BOOK CLUB
Founded in 2012, the Green Grannies are a group of women who are willing to make a ruckus about the need for action on climate change. This is their reading group and it is open to all! Time is noon and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

10/26/16 WHAT’S UP WITH WHITENESS WEDNESDAYS DISCUSSION GROUP
What's Up with Whiteness Wednesdays is an ongoing ASURJ series endeavoring to dismantle white supremacy. The “Title Track” part of the WUWW series will generally repeat on the first Wednesday of the month. But in October it's on the third Wednesday. What's Up with Whiteness functions to explore what “white” means, and how it was created as a racial group to implement a white supremacy culture in the United States. This group is for anyone who is willing and able to explore their whiteness or whiteness as a race with a racial justice lens. We aim to dismantle white supremacy power by exploring it from the inside. We will educate ourselves and each other about the political and social origins of “whiteness”; educate ourselves and each other on white supremacy culture functions; hold our personal experiences and benefits from whiteness accountable and responsible for change; build skills to address internalized dominance and make change; and build relationships with others to further imbue these lessons and build accountability. 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.

10/27/16 WORKS IN TRANSLATION BOOK DISCUSSION
Works in translations book club will discuss “Voices From Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster” By Svetlana Alexievich and Keith Gessen. Time is 7 PM and location is Malaprops in downtown Asheville. Contact Malaprop’s for more information.

10/27/16 AUTHOR EVENT AT FIRESTORM
“Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection” was written by author and activist Medea Benjamin. She returns to Firestorm on tour with her new book, “Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection”, in which she fearlessly tackles a subject most political commentators studiously avoid. In “Kingdom of the Unjust” Benjamin argues that it’s way past time to call into question the toxic US-Saudi relationship and build a movement that demands an end to US weapons sales to this repressive regime and supports the courageous Saudi dissidents who are trying to transform their nation. With extremism spreading across the globe, a reduced U.S. need for Saudi oil, and a thawing of U.S. relations with Iran, the time is right for such a movement. 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.

10/27/16 HOOD TALK
Developing positive energy to restore greater communication and strength throughout our community. Starting from step 1 again (communities). Location is Burton Street Center. Time is 6 to 8 PM. Hope to see everyone there. No further information, this came from facebook.

10/27/16 LECTURE AT UNCA
“Refugees in Crisis: From Texas to Turkey” is the topic of this lecture. Marty Rosenbluth is NC-based immigrant rights defense attorney who recently spent a month on the Texas-Mexico border working with refugees from Latin America and five weeks in Greece working with refugees from Syria and elsewhere. He will be speaking about the current global refugee crisis. Rosenbluth is currently the Legal Advisor/Training Coordinator of Advocates Abroad. Time is 4 PM and location is Karpen Hall 139, Laurel Forum, at UNCA.

10/27/16 TRANZMISSION PRISON PROJECT PACKING PARTY
Help the Tranzmission Prison Project distribute free literature to incarcerated members of the LGBTQ community. Every fourth Thursday of the month volunteers meet from 6 to 9 PM, preparing packages of books and zines for mailing to prisons across the United States. Books have already been selected for each inmate, you just need to help get them wrapped and addressed. 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.

10/27/16 POLITICAL DEBATE AT WCU
Political debate between opponents for the NC Senate District 50 seat. Incumbent Jim Davis (R-Macon) and opponent Jane Hipps (D-Haywood) will debate. Free, open to all. Held in room 204 of the Health and Human Services Building at WCU. Time is 7 PM. Call 227-7397 for more information. 

10/27/16 THIRD ANNUAL AFRICAN AMERICANS IN WNC CONFERENCE
Third Annual African Americans in WNC Conference Scheduled for Oct. 27-30 at YMI Cultural Center and UNC Asheville. The third annual African Americans in Western North Carolina Conference will be held Oct. 27-30, 2016 at the YMI Cultural Center and UNC Asheville’s Sherrill Center. Conference activities are free and open to everyone, and they include an evening reception on Oct. 27, panel discussions and documentary films on Oct. 28, and Buncombe County’s celebration of “Unsung Heroes” on Oct. 30. The conference starts on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the YMI Cultural Center with a 6:30 PM reception and special presentation for community service, followed by a keynote speaker for The Jesse and Julia Ray Lecture. DeWayne Barton, founder and CEO of Hood Huggers International, will be honored during the evening reception. Barton is a sculptor and poet who combines his creative practice with community activism.  His mixed-media, found-art installations have been featured at Duke University, Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of African Art, Upstairs Gallery in Tryon, N.C., and August Wilson Center for African American culture in Pittsburgh as part of the exhibition ‘Common Ground: Affrilachia! Where I’m From.’ His company, Hood Huggers International, 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. Barton also is co-founder of the Burton Street Community Peace Gardens and serves on the African American Heritage Commission of Asheville and Buncombe County, is a founding member of CoThinkk and Everybody’s Environment. He is the co-founder of Green Opportunities, a job training program designed to prepare Asheville-area youth and adults for “green-collar” careers. A native of Asheville, Barton grew up in Washington, D.C. and is a Gulf War Veteran. He attended Norfolk State University from 1996-1999, majoring in social work. He is the author of two books of poetry, Urban Nightmare Silent Screams and Return to Burton Street, and has been involved in community improvement and youth development for over 20 years. For more information on this event, contact Jo Steininger, UNC Asheville Department of History, 828-251-6415 or history@unca.edu.

10/28/16 THIRD ANNUAL AFRICAN AMERICANS IN WNC CONFERENCE
Friday, Oct. 28 will feature panel discussions in UNC Asheville’s Sherrill Center, as well as invited presentations introducing two documentary film projects. The films will include “Beneath the Veneer”, which explores race, class and income mobility by taking a glimpse beneath the veneer of life in a progressive, affluent, Southern city as seen through the eyes of its ‘invisible black boys,’ and “Testify Beyond Place”, a documentary film that pays homage to the Mount Zion AME Zion Church and its relationship to Western Carolina University. UNC Asheville also will plant and dedicate a tree in memory of Don Locke, at 5:15 PM at Karpen Garden on campus. Locke, an author, education advocate and longtime champion for diversity, served as director of Diversity and Multiculturalism at UNC Asheville. He also served as director of the Asheville Graduate Center and director of the NC State University doctoral program in Adult and Community College Education at the Asheville Graduate Center. Locke passed away in June. On Friday, October 28, the morning panel begins at 9 AM. Presenters are: Diane Tower-Jones and Sekou Coleman, independent producers: “Beneath The Veneer: A Documentary Film Project on the African American Experience in the Appalachian City of Asheville, North Carolina” and Phil Jamison, coordinator of Warren Wilson College Appalachian Music Program: “African Americans and Mountain Dance Traditions in Western North Carolina” and Forrest Gray Yerman, graduate student at Appalachian State University: “Exhuming Boone’s Past: American Segregation in Life and Death”. The afternoon panel starts at 1 PM and is followed by a closing reception at 5 PM. Presentations include Katherine Cutshall, UNC Asheville graduate and local history docent, and Catherine Amos, UNC Asheville history student: “Sarah Gudger’s Journey to Freedom: A Digital History Project/Exhibition” and Doris Davenport, educator, literary and performance poet with ten published books: “Beauty, Passion & Integrity: Cultural Heritage of Black Appalachia” and Enkeshi Thom, doctoral student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville: “Black Knoxville: At The Intersection of Race and Region” and Marie Cochran, artist and founding curator of The Affrilachian Artist Project: “Testify Beyond Place: A Documentary Film Project”. For more information on these events, contact Jo Steininger, UNC Asheville Department of History, 828-251-6415 or history@unca.edu.

10/28/16 AUTHOR EVENT AT MALAPROPS
Activist author Medea Benjamin joins us once more to celebrate her new book, “Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection.” Medea’s book tackles the issue of foreign policy and the controversial relationship between the United State and Saudi Arabia. Medea is the cofounder of the peace group CODEPINK and Global Exchange, an international human rights organization. She has published articles on The Huffington Post, AlterNet, and more. In 2014, she was the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Award. Time is 7 PM and location is Malaprop’s at 55 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. For more informatin, contact Melanie at (828) 254-6734 or melanie@malaprops.com.

10/28/16 JUST PEACE 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.

10/29/16 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FILM EVENT
The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County are sponsoring the film “Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders.” Ninety six years ago women won the right to vote. Today, voter apathy is real for young women. So, what happened? Join us for a radical morning of film screening, panel discussion, and inciting change! This documentary will be presented at The Grail Movie House at 45 South French Broad Avenue in downtown Asheville on October 29. Great film, and it is free. Sponsored by Western North Carolina AIDS Project, YWCA of Asheville, Our Voice, and Planned Parenthood Votes. Time is 11 AM to 1:30 PM. Call 828-239-9392 or email grailmoviehouse@gmail.com for more information. 

10/30/16 UNSUNG HEROES IN OUR COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
“Unsung Heroes: A Grand Celebration of Latinx and Black Resilience” will be held on Sunday, October 30 at 3 PM at UNC Asheville’s Lipinsky Auditorium. This celebration is free and open to the public. We are inviting the entire community to join us in celebrating not only these identified heroes but also to come together, to connect and align our efforts as we move toward a more resilient community. We have so much to be thankful for in our community and we know that there is great potential when we work together, recognizing what each of us has to offer. Unsung Heroes will highlight points of light in the community through storytelling, music, and dancing. “We will celebrate the heroes’ stories of resiliency and how they have committed their life’s work to shouldering movements by lifting up ideals, giving wisdom and guidance to their communities,” says event producer Sheneika Smith. “By uncovering and celebrating the work of individuals and groups who demonstrate resilience, we will provide an opportunity for attendees to connect to this community’s resource grid.” The Unsung Heroes that will be celebrated are: Educational Enrichment - Keyla Estrada; Ally - David Forbes; Arts & Entertainment - Oskar Santana; Health & Wellness - Kathey Avery; Environmental Stewardship - Eric Howell; Entrepreneurship - Dulce Lomita Mobile Home Cooperative; Historic Preservation - Priscilla Nydiye; Spirituality - Rosalia del Carmen Islas; Community Legacy - John R. Hayes and Community Legacy - Lucia Hinojosa Hernandez. Sponsored by Buncombe County, UNC Asheville and Date My City, Unsung Heroes will be the culminating event of UNC Asheville’s African Americans in WNC Conference. For more information on this event, contact Jo Steininger, UNC Asheville Department of History, 828-251-6415 or history@unca.edu.

10/30/16 PEACE VIGIL RETURNS TO ALL SOULS
The Vigil Returns - Beginning Sunday, August 21, at 5 PM, the Vigil for Peace on the All Souls Cathedral grounds in Biltmore Village, will resume and continue weekly until the Nov 8 election. Sponsored by the Episcopal Peace Fellowship of WNC, it is a way of asking people to make special intercessions in their prayer and life for peace and justice in our American culture.  The tone of the current political campaign makes it obvious that we are neglecting our Baptismal vows to respect the dignity of every human being. This is a call to pray with actions as well as words.  We invite you to join us each Sunday for our thirty minute Vigil.

10/30/16 MARCH TO THE POLLS SUNDAY
Casting a ballot in Buncombe County? Vote with your community! Join us for a March to the Polls in this special celebration of Sunday voting. Meet at Pack Square Park at 121 College Street in downtown Asheville at 2 PM. 

11/01/16 CURRENT EVENTS BOOK CLUB
The Current Events Book Club will discuss “Listen, Yankee!: Why Cuba Matters” at 7 PM at Malaprops Bookstore on Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. Contact Malaprops for more information.

11/01/16 PRAYER PROCESSION TO PROVOKE JUSTICE
From the Center for Participatory Change and Faith Leaders: Join an interfaith Prayer Procession to Provoke Justice on November 1st (All Saints Day) at 4:45 PM from the East End neighborhood (impacted by urban renewal) to City Hall with stops for targeted prayer along the way. We will end with publicly reading a Statement of Beliefs adopted by Faith Leaders at a press conference, then holding a collective worship. The point is to broadly share a faith perspective that speaks truth to power and addresses the violence against Black and Brown bodies (aka African Descent and Latinx persons).  

11/05/16 BREAKING DOWN LOCAL POLITICS
Breaking down the ins and outs of local politics, from who's who to what's what. Get informed if you plan to vote in the November 8th election. Time is 6:30 to 8 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

11/05/16 MOVING BEYOND CAPITALISM PRESENTATION
Cliff DuRand explains how communities are declaring independence from Wall Street and building a more equal, participatory, and democratic society. Time is 4 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

11/06/16 FILM DISCUSSION AT UU CONGREGATION IN BLACK MOUNTAIN
A new documentary film from Ava DuVenay, director of the film, Selma,  chronicles how our justice system has been driven by racism from the days of slavery to today’s era of mass incarceration. The film “13th” is named for the constitutional amendment that abolished slavery with the exception of punishment for crime. The United States accounts for 5 percent of the world’s population, but 25 percent of its prisoners. The film is now available on Netflix and we encourage everyone to see it. A discussion of the film will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Swannanoa Valley, 500 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, on Sunday, November 6 at 12:30 PM. Herb Way will lead the discussion. Everyone is invited. For more information, contact Roberta at robertamadden@yahoo.com.

11/07/16 CLIMATE ACTIVIST SPEECH AT UNCA
“Public Lands, Private Profit” is the title of a  speech by Tim DeChristopher with Bryan Cahall. Climate activist Tim DeChristopher will discuss the role of public lands and national parks as battlegrounds between private profit and public good, sharing stories of some of his own fight with the fossil fuel industry over the fate of western lands near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. DeChristopher spent twenty one months in prison in 2008 after interrupting a Bush era oil and drilling auction with a spontaneous act of courage and civil disobedience. He used his prosecution as an opportunity to organize the climate justice organization Peaceful Uprising in Salt Lake City, and most recently founded the Climate Disobedience Center. DeChristopher will be joined by singer/songwriter Bryan Cahall with songs inspired by struggles for justice. Sponsors are NEH professorship, Office of Sustainability, and Student Environmental Center. Time is 7 PM and location is Highsmith Student Union Grotto at UNCA. 

11/08/16 ELECTION DAY
Last chance to vote in this election. Please go to your precinct to vote.

11/10/16 INTERFAITH PEACE CONFERENCE AT LAKE JUNALUSKA
Affirming the community of Abrahamic faiths, the Peace Conference seeks to work in partnership with Christians, Jews, Muslims, and members of other religious traditions to advance the work of reconciliation and peace. The theme for this year's conference is “The Climate Crisis and Peace” and Dr. Norman Wirzba, Professor of Theology, Ecology, and Agrarian Studies at Duke Divinity School will be among the speakers. This runs from November 10 to November 13, 2016. For program questions contact Tammy McDowell at 828.454.6681 or tmcdowell@lakejunaluska.com. For registration contact 800.222.4930 or reservations@lakejunaluska.com.

11/10/16 PUBLIC HEARING ON CLIFFSIDE COAL ASH WATER PERMIT IN SHELBY
Please attend a public hearing on Tuesday, November 10th at 6 PM to tell the NC Department of Environmental Quality that our families deserve clean water, not a permit that allows Duke Energy to turn our streams into coal ash pollution ditches. Under the proposed permit, Duke Energy could dump unlimited arsenic, mercury and lead into our waterways from the leaking, unlined coal ash pits at its Cliffside power plant. Our state should protect people, not polluters. Time is 5 to 8 PM. Location is Boiling Springs Town Hall at 114 East College Avenue in Shelby. Contact Anna at 828-258-8737 or anna@mountaintrue.org.

11/12/16 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY MEETING
Citizens Climate Lobby meets the second Saturday of each month at Kairos West Community Center (behind Firestorm) at 610 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.

11/14/16 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE SOCIAL
Topic is “Communication Skills for Resilient Communities”. A resilient community must be sustainable for the long haul—but, what can get in the way? Often it is not the absence of technical know-how, but the presence of interpersonal conflicts. At the root of many a conflict is misunderstanding caused by lack of communication. Learn how the nonjudgmental language of feelings and needs can help dissolve disputes, and how empathy can bring people together. Cathy Holt is certified as a teacher of the Connection Practice, and is also a certified HeartMath® coach. She has been learning and teaching nonviolent communication skills for over twenty years. A long-term environmental activist, she is currently involved with Citizens Climate Lobby, working for a carbon fee and dividend. Time is 6:30 PM and location is St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at 337 Charlotte Street in north Asheville. Contact Rebecca at palmtree747@gmail.com for more information.

11/14/16 HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM AT UNCA
There will be a campus and community human rights forum at UNCA on “Child Detention in Palestine” with Azadeh Shahshahani, the legal and advocacy director of Project South. Shahshahani has worked in NC and Georgia to protect the human rights of immigrants and Muslim, Middle Eastern and South Asian communities. She has served as a National Security/Immigrants’ Rights Project Director with the ACLU of Georgia and president of the National Lawyers Guild. She has also participated in a delegation investigating the plight of political prisoners in Palestine in April of 2016. Time is noon to 1 PM and location is Mountain View Room at the Sherrill Center at UNCA. Cosponsors are Belk Distinguished Professor in the Humanities at UNCA and Just Peace for Israel/Palestine of WNC. For more information, contact jpip@wnc@gmail.com or call 828-319-7652.

11/16/16 TRUTH ABOUT THANKSGIVING - DISCUSSION AT UNCA
Join Multicultural Student Programs and Native American Student Association as we unpack and discuss the history of the North American holiday called “Thanksgiving.” Engage in a dialogue that explores the colonization of North America and its impact on indigenous communities. Space is limited so be sure to RSVP in the Intercultural Center. Time is 6 to 8 PM and location is Highsmith Union, rooms 221-222 at UNCA. Contact dhylton@unca.edu for more information.

11/16/16 REBUILDING AFFRILACHIA - PEARSON PLAN WORKSHOP
DeWayne Barton will be offering a Pearson Plan Workshop on November 16 from 5 to 6 pm at the Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton Street, in Asheville. Learn more about this plan for Rebuilding Affrilachia and how you can be a part of it. There is no charge for the workshop, though contributions to support the Pearson Plan will be accepted. If you'd like to be part of this, please join him; there is no pre-registration necessary. Questions? Email info@hoodhuggers.com.

11/16/16 GREEN DRINKS
Sustainability and social justice meet-up at The BLock off Biltmore at 39 S. Market Street in downtown Asheville. This starts at 5:30 PM with socializing and the presentation starts at 6 PM. Contact Asheville Green Drinks for more information. This happens on the third Wednesday of the month.

11/19/16 HARD TO RECYCLE COLLECTION IN ARDEN
This will be from 10 AM to 2 PM at 2310 Hendersonville Road in Arden. And a word from Greenworks: never put hard-to-recycle items or any kind of plastic bag or plastic film in with your curbside recyclables (other than blue recycling bags). The blue bags are emptied and removed early in the sorting process at the recycling facility as plastic bags and film clog recycling equipment forcing operations to shut down for workers to cut that material off by hand with boxcutters! Note: Be sure to pull out the plastic liner bags out of your cereal boxes before you throw them into your recycling bin. Check that no chip and snack bags or regular and resealable (zipper) bags, snuck into your bin, too!

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ONGOING EVENTS
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TUESDAY
Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 5 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument during most of the year, but after DST kicks in, they meet at 4:30 PM. 
Showing Up for Racial Justice at Firestorm Cafe and Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. 10 AM. 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. 
Green Grannies Book Club meets at noon at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. 
“What’s Up With Whiteness” discussion group at 6 PM at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville.

THURSDAY
Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Cafe & Books at 6 PM on fourth Thursday of the month. Materials provided.

FRIDAY
Women in Black have a weekly vigil at noon at the City Hall in Hendersonville.

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
Peace Vigil at All Souls Cathedral in Biltmore Village. This is from 5 to 5:30 PM. This vigil will last until election day 2016.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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From Lew Patrie, with WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility:

Will you help end our terrible love affair with nuclear weapons that threatens us all? Reducing the nuclear weapons danger is an urgent task for our survival. Join with us to say no to continued development and threatened use of nuclear weapons!! The risk of outbreak of nuclear war has recently increased sharply, due to deteriorating relations between the US and Russia and China. 
We invite you to join Asheville’s Veterans for Peace Chapter, (VFP), and WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility Chapter (PSR) for a vigil on Tuesday October 25th, at 5PM, at the Vance Memorial in Pack Square to say no to our continued development and threatened use of nuclear weapons and  for establishment of peaceful relations with Russia and China.
Nuclear powers still maintain more than 15,000 nuclear warheads with more than 2,000 on high alert, available for immediate launch. 
● 100 nuclear weapons detonated in a limited nuclear war could cause deaths of up to 2 billion people due to mass starvation caused by crop failures triggered by a prolonged nuclear winter. 
●We urge President Obama to establish a clear policy of no-first-use and eliminate plans for spending a trillion dollars for nuclear weapons.
● Politicians and the media largely ignore this issue It is essential that we speak out to urge the US to stop threatened use of nuclear weapons and to for all countries to take nuclear weapons off high alert/launch on warning. 
Please join us for the vigil at Vance Memorial on Tuesday, Oct. 25th, 5 PM  

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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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