Sunday, October 01, 2017

Upcoming events for the week of October 1, 2017


UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

10/02/17 SOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE TALK
“Science, creativity, and compassion: 5 solutions for climate change” Creation Care Alliance hosts Author Katharine Wilkinson on Monday, October 2 from 5:30-7 pm at Lenoir-Rhyne University, 36 Montford Ave, Asheville. We will explore 5 solutions to address climate change from the book “Drawdown: the Most Comprehensive Plan ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming” and how faith communities can act on solutions in Western North Carolina. Katharine will be our guide for the evening. Katharine Wilkinson is the senior writer of the bestselling book, Drawdown, edited by Paul Hawken. She is also the author of Between God and Green. Her background melds research, strategy, and thought leadership on climate action. Katharine holds a D.Phil. in Geography & Environment from Oxford University and a B.A. in Religion from Sewanee. Many Thanks to Earth Equity Advisors for supporting this event and for their ongoing sustainability work for Western North Carolina and the planet. Contact Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina at (828) 258-8737 or creationcare@mountaintrue.org for more information.

10/02/17 COMMUNITY BILL OF RIGHTS FORUM
10/2, 6-8pm: Jubilee Community: Community bill of rights forum. Learn how a bill of rights can help us safeguard our land, water and air. Please enter at 101 Patton Ave. Contact Cathy at cathyfholt@gmail.com for more information.

10/02/17 HENDERSON COUNTY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS EVENT
Monday, Oct. 2 at 6:00 PM. Henderson County Candidates Meet and Greet. Come meet the municipal candidates for Flat Rock, Hendersonville, Laurel Park and Mills River at Henderson County Library on Washington Street in Hendersonville.

10/02/17 DINNER WITH PROGRESSIVES
This Monday, October 2nd from 5:30-7pm at Green Sage Cafe, Westgate. We are gathering this Monday, October 2 at Green Sage cafe with fellow progressives because now more than ever we need to be together, learn together and work together.  We invite all those who want to move forward and embrace all people. There is no membership fee but we ask that attendees purchase dinner, a beverage and/or dessert and RSVP so we can give our gracious friends at Green Sage a headcount. Invite your friends and neighbors to join us. Thank you. Anyone is invited to give an announcement or ask for signatures on a petition.  Please give myself & Sam a quick email to let us know how much time you will need. We have two speakers for Monday night. Sheneika Smith and Kelli Early. Sheneika is a candidate for Asheville City Council. Kelli is a UNCA student and has worked as a campus organizer at UNCA. For more information, contact Cheryl Orengo at ctorengo@gmail.com.

10/02/17 EARLY VOTING FOR ASHEVILLE CONTINUES
You can register and vote at the same time. At the Board of Election: 77 McDowell Street in Asheville.

10/03/17 SPEAKERS ON REVERSING GLOBAL WARMING
Reversing Global Warming: A Conversation with Katharine Wilkinson and John Sutter - You are invited to join us for a special evening with acclaimed author Katharine Wilkinson and CNN columnist John D. Sutter as we discuss climate change, challenging assumptions and taking action through established solutions and new ideas. This one-time event will include a panel talk by our guests, moderated by Earth Equity Advisors' CEO Peter Krull, and followed by a Q&A session. Earth Equity Advisors Speaker Series Featuring Katharine Wilkinson and John D. Sutter on October 3, at 6 pm at Collider, 1 Haywood Street, Asheville. Presented by Earth Equity Advisors 4th Annual Lecture Series. Free. Seating is limited, must RSVP. Katharine Wilkinson is the senior writer of the bestselling book, Drawdown, edited by Paul Hawken. She is also the author of Between God and Green. Her background melds research, strategy, and thought leadership on climate action. Katharine holds a D.Phil. in Geography & Environment from Oxford University and a B.A. in Religion from Sewanee. John D. Sutter is an award-winning columnist for CNN and creator of the networks “2 Degrees” project, which aims to involve readers in climate change coverage. Sponsored by Creation Care Alliance. Contact them at (828) 258-8737 or creationcare@mountaintrue.org for more information, including how to RSVP. Doors for The Collider event open at 5:30 pm, with light refreshments available, and the talk starts at 6:00 pm. RSVP strongly encouraged due to limited seating. 

10/03/17 CURRENT EVENTS BOOK CLUB AT MALAPROPS
Join host Bruce Roth for a lively discussion on topics of current interest including war and peace, the economy, the environment, and other hot political topics. This month the club begins its discussion of “An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take it Back” by Elisabeth Rosenthal. Contact Malaprop’s for more information. Time is 7 PM.

10/03/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON
Every Tuesday, Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 holds a vigil at Vance Monument in downtown Asheville. Time is 5 PM. This has been happening since 2002. No matter the weather, no matter if it falls on a holiday, they are out there standing for peace. Last year, our former president dropped 26,000 bombs on seven different countries. The current president seems to be trying to match or beat that horrible record. Meanwhile we are banning refugees from those countries we have destroyed. Show you are publicly against our country's endless wars and occupations by standing with Veterans for Peace. From Veterans for Peace newsletter:  “The president’s speech at its core is more of the same disastrous policies that we have seen for sixteen years, except this administration wants to completely abandon pursuit of a political solution and shroud the war in a cloak of secrecy.  Veterans For Peace, once again, calls for a different direction other than war.  We call for U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan and a robust pursuit of a political solution to end the war.”

10/03/17 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS CONSTITUTIONAL  STUDY COURSE 
Join us for "We The People" a six-week study of the history and contemporary role of the Constitution of the United States. Sessions will examine relevant topics such as freedom of speech, the right to assemble, executive power, voting rights, and procedural due process. Organized by the League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County the series is being co-sponsored by additional nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations including AAUW - Asheville, NC, YWCA of Asheville, and ACLU of NC - Western NC Chapter. Sessions are FREE and open to the public. They will be held at the YWCA on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 pm on October 3, 10, 17, 24 and November 7, 14. Email we.people.us@gmail.com to reserve your seat.

10/03/17 TO 11/19/17 AMERICANS WHO TELL THE TRUTH EXHIBIT
This runs from September 30th to November 19th. This exhibit is at the YMI at  39 South Market Street in downtown Asheville. AMERICANS WHO TELL THE TRUTH runs until November 19, 2017. Hours are 11 AM to 4 PM on Tuesday to Saturday and 1 to 4 PM on Sunday. Come and be inspired. The exhibit features portraits of citizens who address issues of social, environmental, and economic fairness and will be on display through November 19, 2017. Contact Ellie at elliebhope@gmail.com for more information. There is a need for docents, contact Melody at meljshank@gmail.com.  

10/03/17 WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL
World Affairs Council: Maria Moreno - The Venezuelan Crisis. Maria Moreno will discuss The Venezuelan Crisis at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at UNC Asheville’s Reuter Center in a talk presented by the WNC chapter of World Affairs Council, OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville) and the university’s Department of Political Science. Moreno, director of international education and associate professor of Spanish at Mars Hill University, is a native of Mérida, Venezuela. She has closely followed the politics of Latin America, especially her homeland, where completed her undergraduate studies in modern languages at the Universidad de Los Andes. She earned her master’s degree at the University of Arizona, and her Ph.D. at Brown University. Admission to World Affairs Council presentations at UNC Asheville is $10 for the public; free to members of the World Affairs Council and UNC Asheville students. For more information, call 828.251.6140.

10/03/17 PRESENTATION ON SELF HELP CREDIT UNION
Howard Covington presents Lending Power: How Self-Help Credit Union Turned Small-Time Loans into Big-Time Change. Throughout its history, Self-Help has never wavered from its mission to use Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of justice to extend economic opportunity to the nation's unbanked and underserved citizens. With nearly two billion dollars in assets, Self-Help also shows that such a model for nonprofits can be financially successful while serving the greater good. At a time when calls for economic justice are growing ever louder, Lending Power shows how hard-working and dedicated people can help improve their communities. Sunday, October 8, 2017 - 3:00pm to 6:00 PM. Event address is Malaprop’s at 55 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville.

10/03/17 SURJ - DO!SCUSSIONS
10:00:00 AM to 12:00:00 PM. Location:Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Rd, Asheville. Focused 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. Meetings facilitated by Matilda Bliss. Contact Firestorm for more information.

10/04/17 CITIZENS-POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
This meeting is organized by the City of Asheville. This meeting is free and open to the public. They meet in the first floor Conference Room at the Public Works Building at 161 South Charlotte Street in downtown Asheville. Time is 5 PM. Call 251-1122 for more information.

10/04/17 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Sierra Club Oct. 4: “Fossil Fuel Divestment and Responsible Investing” On Wednesday, Oct. 4, the Wenoca Group Sierra Club presents Peter Krull, CEO and Director of Investments at Earth Equity Advisors (formerly Krull & Company). Krull will discuss fossil fuel divestment and responsible investing. You’ll learn how to judge different investment opportunities and pick those that are most closely aligned with your values. This event is free and open to the public. Date: Oct. 4, 2017. Location: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place (off of Charlotte). Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Krull will explain what performance might look like for responsible investments and will also look “under the hood” of your mutual fund. He’ll address portfolio screening, shareholder advocacy and community investing, and will share some real-life examples. After launching his career in the financial services industry with Merrill Lynch in 1998, Krull founded Krull & Company in 2004 out of his desire to help clients align their investments with their values. The company has since grown to well over $50 million in assets with clients in 22 states. Client investments are socially and environmentally responsible and fossil-fuel-free. In 2009, Krull was selected by the Savannah Business Report & Journal as one of its “40 under 40” business leaders. In 2015, he traveled to Washington, DC with Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) to advocate for environmentally responsible legislation. A recognized authority in his field, Krull has been quoted in the Washington Post, US News & World Report, and various local newspapers. ­­­For more information, contact Judy at judymattox@sbcglobal.net or (828) 683-2716.

10/04/17 LWV CANDIDATE FORUM IN ASHEVILLE
The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County is holding forums for all municipalities in Buncombe County this year. The League will hold a forum for Asheville City Council candidates in October after the primary, date and location TBD. Asheville City Mayor forum on October 4 from 6:00-7:00pm at South Buncombe Library. Go to their website for more information. 

10/04/17 INDIGENOUS FILM FESTIVAL
Indigenous Film Festival - Mortu Nega (Those Whom Death Refused). 10/04 from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm at Humanities Lecture Hall. This is the second of four films in UNC Asheville's 2017 Indigenous Film Festival. Through cinema, the series will present the experiences and perspectives of indigenous peoples around the world, not often reflected on American movie screens. The screenings are free and open to everyone and a short Q&A will follow the film.  Mortu Nega (English: Those Whom Death Denied) is a 1987 film, the first directed by Flora Gomes of Guinea-Bissau, and the first produced in that nation post-independence. The movie blends contemporary history with African mythology. It got two honorable mentions at the Venice Film Festival in 1988 and also has screened at the Cannes and London film festivals and many others internationally. The Indigenous Film Festival is curated and will be hosted by UNC Asheville faculty members Trey Adcock, assistant professor of education and director of American Indian Outreach; Agya Boakye-Boaten, associate professor of Africana studies and director of Interdisciplinary, International and Africana Studies Programs; Juan G. Sánchez Martinez, assistant professor of Spanish; and Jeremias Zunguze, assistant professor of Africana and Lusophone studies. Contact for this event: Juan Sánchez at jsanche1@unca.edu or 828-251-6277.

10/04/17 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS VIGIL 
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Helpmate and UNC Asheville are partnering together to hold a Domestic Violence Awareness Vigil on Wednesday, October 4 from 5:30-7:30 pm. This event is free and open to the general community. Two survivors of domestic violence will share their story and The Alex Krug Combo will perform live music. A Buncombe County Commissioner will read the Proclamation to End Domestic Violence. The names of domestic violence homicide victims will also be read in order to memorialize those that have lost their lives in North Carolina over the last year. Contact for this event is Keishea Boyd at kboyd3@unca.edu or 828.258.7872. Location is Sherrill Center - Mountain View Room 417.

10/04/17 SOCIALIST WORKER DISCUSSION AT UNCA
The Asheville branch of the International Socialist Organization (ISO) will meet Wednesday10-4 at 6:30 pm in Rhoades Robinson room 103 on UNCA campus. The meeting is open to the public and the agenda follows. Recently at Socialist Worker - A conversation about current events and politics. On September 16 armed Georgia Tech police surrounded and shot 21 year old Scout Schulz, a student in the midst of a health crisis. Coverage of the ongoing protests against the killer cops in St Louis. What's behind the saber-rattling between the US and DPRK? Marx's Capital turns 150 years old this month, Hadas Thier explains some of its revolutionary ideas. Assessment of 9-27 meeting. Thoughts on the political questions raised by last week's Eyewitness to Cville meeting. Planning 10-11 SW sale. Let’s discuss how we can build a pre-meeting campus SW sale. A discussion of the university administration's training and membership requirements for the student club. Contact Asheville Socialists at asheville.socialist@gmail.com for more information.

10/04/17 PROTECT YOURSELF CLINIC
We are excited to host a FREE “Protect Yourself” Clinic in Asheville. We'll cover safety issues that come up for trans folks, including trainings in self defense (including how to use pepper spray), safety planning, and how to use safety apps on your phone. There's room for 15 people to attend this free clinic. To register, email Ivy Hill (ivy@southernequality.org) or call CSE at 828.242.1559.

10/05/17 AUTHOR EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
An Evening with “Altered Genes, Twisted Truth” by author Steve Druker: Discussion /Q & A, Thursday October 5, 7 pm, Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, 123 Kenilworth Rd.  Book endorse by Jane Godall and internationally acclaimed for investigative journalism.  Hosted by GMO Free NC - Asheville Chapter, GMO NC and Trusted Sharing.

10/05/17 DISCUSSION ON OPIOID ADDICTION IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY
Opioid Addiction in Buncombe County from the Medical, Law Enforcement and Social Services Point of View on October 5, 2017 from 6:40 pm - 8:10 pm at North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave., Asheville. 6:40 pm Dessert & Coffee. 7:00 pm Program Begins. According to “Buncombe Beat” in the August 9-15, 2017 Mountain Xpress, the national problem of opioid overdoses and addiction is very much happening in Western North Carolina and Buncombe County. Governmental and other agencies are trying to understand the impact of addiction to and overdoses from pain pills. Join the League and three speakers working every day on this problem for education and discussion. Sheriff Van Duncan, Carriedelle Fusco, a Nurse Practitioner at MAHEC and Tammy Shook, Director of Buncombe County Division of Social work will each present differing aspects of this crisis and then, as a panel of experts, respond to questions. Please send an email by September 29th with Yes in the subject line to ruthodonnell6@gmail.com if you plan to attend so we can be sure to have plenty of desserts. For more information, contact alanapie@gmail.com. This was posted on League for Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County. 

10/05/17 PRESENTATIONS ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING
OCTOBER 5: “What You Need to Know About Human Trafficking” In July Pope Francis called human trafficking, “an aberrant plague,” and, “a modern form of slavery,” renewing his appeal for universal commitment to ending the practice. Learn how you can raise your voice for the most vulnerable among us. Presentations by Tammy Harris of Redeeming Joy in Charlotte and Katrina Andberg of Our Voice in Asheville. Location is the Parish of St. Eugene in the Social Hall, with Soup and Substance at 6:15, followed by the presentation from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Contact Tricia at hynes.tricia@yahoo.com for more information.

10/05/17 DEMOCRACY NC MEETING
We have an important planning meeting coming up for the month of October where we'll discuss and plan our events and actions for the fall. Unfortunately, we expect one or more anti-voter bills to come out of the General Assembly in the coming month during a series of special sessions. We need to be ready to respond, and you can help. To get us ready, we have a numbers of events-- education, demonstration, and trainings-- on which we'd love your input. We also always have the option of phonebanking, if you'd rather help with calls for our redistricting campaign. The meeting is onThursday, October 5, from 6-7 p.m. Location is the Wesley Grant Center (285 Livingston St, Asheville, NC 28801). If you have questions, you can contact Darlene Azarmi at 828-216-3430 or darlene@democracy-nc.org. Also contact her to find out how to RSVP for the meeting.

10/05/17 PARENTING WITH IDENTITY IN MIND
Parenting with Identity in Mind - Community forum featuring Rosetta Lee. Rosetta Lee is a professional diversity trainer and speaker. How do we learn about our various group identities like female, African American, Buddhist, homosexual, middle class, etc.? From whom do we learn the meaning of these terms? What messages have we internalized about ourselves and others? What are the differences that result in one person having a healthy self-identity and another person experiencing own-group shame and hatred? Learn how we can instill positive self-identity in our children and coach them to be positive influences on others’ identities. Carolina Day School invites WNC parents and educators to a free community forum addressing these questions and more called, “Parenting with Identity in Mind,” on October 5. The forum features nationally known professional diversity trainer and speaker Rosetta Lee. Lee, a faculty member of Seattle Girls’ School, teaches science, math, technology, art, ethics, and social justice. She is also a professional outreach specialist, designing and delivering trainings to the local and national educational and nonprofit sectors. Since 2004, Lee has been a diversity speaker and trainer on a variety of issues, including cross-cultural communication, identity development, prejudice reduction and coalition building, gender and sexuality diversity, facilitation skills, bullying in schools, and gender bias in the classroom. Lee has presented at numerous conferences and nonprofit organizations such as the White Privilege Conference and City Year. She has worked with more than 175 K-12 public and independent schools throughout the country, as well as a number of colleges and universities. Parenting with Identity in Mind takes place Thursday, October 5, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Carolina Day School, 1345 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville. There is no cost to attend; however, seating is limited. This event is intended for adult audiences. For more details, please call (828) 274-0757.

10/06/17 SIXTEEN YEARS OF A WAR OF AGGRESSION ON AFGHANISTAN
When will we ever learn? When we will care enough to stop all these mass murders?

10/07/17 TO 10/14/17  KEEP SPACE FOR PEACE WEEK

10/07/17 EARLY VOTING ENDS
On Saturday at 1:00 pm.

10/07/17 ART PUBLIC MEETING
In January 2018, ART will begin new service including 1 additional daily trip on Route 170, Sunday/Holiday Service on all routes, and 8 additional hours of evening service on select routes. City staff requests your feedback via surveys and public meetings. ART Public Meeting takes place Saturday, October 7, 2017 between 1-3pm at Edington Education Center, 133 Livingston Street in Asheville. Interpreter assistance needed? Contact: iride@ashevillenc.gov, (828) 259-5943.

10/8/17 AUTHOR EVENT AT MALAPROPS
Sunday, October 8 at 3 pm. Howard Covington presents “Lending Power: How Self-Help Credit Union Turned Small-Time Loans into Big-Time Change.” Throughout its history, Self-Help has never wavered from its mission to use Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of justice to extend economic opportunity to the nation's unbanked and underserved citizens. At a time when calls for economic justice are growing ever louder, Lending Power shows how hard-working and dedicated people can help improve their communities. Call Malaprop’s for more information.

10/09/17 DEMONSTRATION AGAINST GERRYMANDERING
Join us for A Demonstration Against Judicial Gerrymandering at 6:00 pm on Monday Oct. 9th at Pack Square. The agenda of the upcoming "special session" this coming week was released by NC Policy watch last Thursday. The #1 item on the agenda is Judicial Gerrymandering. This is a serious threat that will even further jeopardize NC's democracy. We are calling community members from across Western North Carolina to come together and stand against attacks on our voting rights, our courts, and our democracy. Help us show the NC General Assembly that we are watching. If you have questions, contact Darlene directly at 828-216-3430 or darlene@democracy-nc.org. 

10/10/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON
Every Tuesday, Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 holds a vigil at Vance Monument in downtown Asheville. Time is 5 PM. This has been happening since 2002. No matter the weather, no matter if it falls on a holiday, they are out there standing for peace. Last year, our former president dropped 26,000 bombs on seven different countries. The current president seems to be trying to match or beat that horrible record. Meanwhile we are banning refugees from those countries we have destroyed. Show you are publicly against our country's endless wars and occupations by standing with Veterans for Peace. From Veterans for Peace newsletter:  “The president’s speech at its core is more of the same disastrous policies that we have seen for sixteen years, except this administration wants to completely abandon pursuit of a political solution and shroud the war in a cloak of secrecy.  Veterans For Peace, once again, calls for a different direction other than war.  We call for U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan and a robust pursuit of a political solution to end the war.”

10/10/17 AUTHOR EVENT AT MALAPROPS
Tuesday, October 10 at 6 pm. YA Author Amy Reed launches “The Nowhere Girls” - An Authors for Action Event. Told in alternating perspectives, this groundbreaking novel is an indictment of rape culture and explores with bold honesty the deepest questions about teen girls and sexuality. OurVoice will also be represented at the event.  Call Malaprop’s for more information.

10/10/17 SURJ - DO!SCUSSIONS
10:00:00 AM to 12:00:00 PM. Location:Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Rd, Asheville. Focused 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. Meetings facilitated by Matilda Bliss. Contact Firestorm for more information.

10/10/17 INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY AT MARS HILL UNIVERSITY
Indigenous Peoples Day on Tue, October 10, 7pm – 8pm at Belk Auditorium at Mars Hill University. Dr. Heather Hawn (political science) and Amy West (President of the Native American Student Association) will present a discussion of the controversy surrounding Columbus Day and the national movement to rename this "Indigenous Peoples Day" and why students should support this movement mandy.proffitt83@gmail.com

10/10/17 VANDANA SHIVA RESIDENCY AT UNCA
Oct. 17-19 - Vandana Shiva Residency - The world-renowned activist and author described by Bill Moyer as a “rock star” of the anti-GMO movement, will visit UNC Asheville for a three-day residency, highlighted by a free public lecture at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18 in Lipinsky Auditorium.

10/10/17 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE FALL BOOK STUDY
Creation Care Alliance Fall Book Study--Limited Space. “Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming” Edited by Paul Hawken; with Katharine Wilkinson as Senior Writer. This book study will be on Tuesdays, October 10-November 7th at Jubilee! Community at 46 Wall Street in Asheville. Sign-up by emailing facilitator Chas Jansen at chas.jansen@mtsu.edu. Class size is limited! Creation Care Alliance is sponsoring a 5-part book discussion of Drawdown meeting from 6 to 7:15 on Tuesdays, 10/10 to 11/7/2017, at Jubilee! Community. If interested in joining this discussion, please sign up through the Creation Care website or email Chas Jansen who will send out a schedule of assignments & guide the discussion sessions (chas.jansen@mtsu.edu). This large, paperback book should be available at Malaprops Bookstore (828-254-6734) for $23.54. In the face of widespread fear and apathy, an international coalition of researchers, professionals, and scientists have come together to offer a set of realistic and bold solutions to climate change. One hundred techniques and practices are described here--some are well-known; some you may have never heard of. They range from clean energy to educating girls in lower-income countries to land use practices that pull carbon out of the air. We will kick off the discussions of Drawdown by attending a conversation with Senior Writer Katharine Wilkinson and CNN columnist John Sutter on “Reversing Global Warming” to be held at The Collider in downtown Asheville on Tuesday, 10/3. 

10/10/17 PRIMARY ELECTION DAY
There are 12 candidates; you can vote for 3. Also, you get to vote for Mayor. Must be registered to vote prior to primary election day.

10/10/17 OCCUPY WNC
The non-partisan group meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at the Sneak E Squirrel in Sylva. The next meeting is  October 10th at 7:00PM in the restaurant’s Community Room. Supper beforehand at 6:00PM. OccupyWNC has worked for economic and social justice in WNC since 2011. Newcomers and visitors are welcome. Submitted by Lucy Christopher (828-743-9747 or lucy.christopher42@gmail.com.

10/11/17 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY BILL OF RIGHTS ORDINANCE FORUM
The Community Roots team has been hard at work these past months, and we want to update everyone on what we've accomplished, and what's next. We've got an Asheville Community Bill of Rights Ordinance drafted! You can comment online, or come to one of our in-person public comment sessions. In those sessions, we'll be teaching about the ordinance and asking how you'd like to see the draft evolve. We'll also provide next steps if you want to be more involved. Come to one of the upcoming Public Comment Sessions: Sat., 9/23 5-7 PM at the BLOCK off Biltmore and Weds., 10/11 6-8 PM at Pack Memorial Library. For more information, contact ashevillecommunityrights@gmail.com. They can send you a link to the original bill.  You can also contact Cathy Holt at cathyfholt@gmail.com for more information.

10/11/17 MOUNTAIN TRUE AND SIERRA CLUB ACTIONS MEETING
Oct. 11: Joint MountainTrue & Sierra Club Environmental Issues & Actions Meeting. Join MountainTrue and the Sierra Club for monthly meetings to discuss local, state and national environmental issues. October 11 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Free. Join MountainTrue and the Sierra Club for monthly meetings to discuss local, state and national environmental issues. These meetings will help identify opportunities to take action on current issues, and provide educational opportunities for anyone who would like more information about how to get involved in environmental action. These meetings will occur on the second Wednesday of every month, and the next meeting is October 11 from 6:00pm-7:30pm at the Wedge at Foundation. If you’re interested in staying up to date on environmental issues and want to know how you can get involved in local, state and national opportunities, come on out to learn more. Contact Susan Bean at 828.258.8737 x 216 or susan@mountaintrue.org for more information.

10/11/17 TOWN OF WOODFIN CANDIDATE FORUM
Town of Woodfin Forum on Wed, October 11, 6pm – 7pm at North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave, Asheville. League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County. Contact alexnuesse@gmail.com for more information. Town of Woodfin Candidate Forum - Alderman and Water and Sewer District Trustee.

10/12/17 TEACH IN AT MALAPROPS
Thursday, October 12 at 6 pm. Teach-in with Rima Vesely-Flad presents “Racial Purity And Dangerous Bodies: Moral Pollution, Black Lives, and the Struggle for Justice.” At the center of contemporary struggles over aggressive policing practices is an assumed association in U.S. culture of blackness with criminality. Rima L. Vesely-Flad examines the religious and philosophical constructs of the black body in U.S. society, examining racialized ideas about purity and pollution as they have developed historically and as they are institutionalized today in racially disproportionate policing and mass incarceration. Call Malaprop’s for more information.

10/12/17 HENDERSON COUNTY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS EVENT
Thursday, Oct. 12 at 6:00 PM. Fletcher Municipal Candidates Meet and Greet. Come meet the municipal candidates for Fletcher at Fletcher Town Hall.

10/12/17 RAISE A GLASS FOR RAISE THE AGE IN ASHEVILLE
Since you have been involved for the last few years in advocating to Raise the Age of our juvenile offenders in NC, we are asking you to do one last action step-- Raise a Glass for Raise the Age! Beginning in 2019, 16 and 17-year-olds charged with misdemeanors or low-level felonies will be in the jurisdiction of our juvenile justice system. This protects their safety, provides developmentally appropriate interventions and consequences, engages their family, and offers resources for mental health and substance abuse treatment. Children First/Communities In Schools has been working with local and state advocates to pass this legislation for the past 10 years. Now, we can celebrate this important victory for our youth. So please join us on Thursday, October 12 from 5:30 to 6:30 at the Wedge Foundation at 5 Foundy Street in the River Arts District to Raise a Glass for Raise the Age! Drop in for all or part of the celebration. We will have a very short presentation on the importance of this legislation and how we can continue to advocate for our youth, followed by a toast and conversation. Food and adult beverages available to purchase on site and at surrounding food trucks. Non-alcoholic beverages are available to purchase and we welcome youth under 18 to join the celebration. Thank you to the Wedge Foundation for providing the event space at no charge. Host Contact Info: Jodi Ford JodiF@childrenfirstbc.org or call 828-620-9091. Contact her for information on how to RSVP. 

10/12/17 HOW WHITENESS SHAPES MULTIRACIAL SPACE TALK AT UNCA
Join Center for Diversity Education in welcoming Dr. Sarah Mayorga-Gallo to UNC Asheville as she presents her lecture “How Whiteness Shapes Multiracial Spaces: Lessons Behind the White Picket Fence” on October 12th from 5pm-6:30pm. This event will be held in the UNCA Humanities Lecture Hall. This event is free and open to the public. Please contact CDE at 828.232.5024 if additional accessibility or more information is needed.

10/12/17 HEALTHCARE FOR ALL - A MORAL OBLIGATION?
Do our core beliefs move us toward Healthcare for All? Five speakers, representing a variety of spiritual paths, will explore whether we have a moral imperative to care for all. They will address how their different theologies and philosophies inform response to our current healthcare crisis. Time is 7 PM and location is First Baptist Church of Asheville at 5 Oak Street in Asheville. Free. Hosted by Healthcare for All-WNC. For more information, contact hcfawnc@gmail.com.

10/13/17 LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE FOR NOVEMBER ELECTIONS

10/13/17 DOCUMENTARY AT GRAIL MOVIE HOUSE IN ASHEVILLE
The Grail Moviehouse presents a special screening of the new Anthony Bourdain documentary “WASTED! The Story of Food Waste” benefiting Asheville's Food Connection. Every year, 1.3 billion tons of food is thrown out. That's $218 billion worth of food produced for human consumption that never gets eaten. With one-third of the world's food being thrown away even before it reaches the plate, it is time to shed new light on what is food and what is garbage. “WASTED! The Story of Food Waste” is a feature-length documentary that will change how people buy, cook and eat food. Through the eyes of chef-heroes like Massimo Bottura, Dan Barber and Danny Bowien, we'll see how the world’s most influential chefs battle food waste — transforming what most people consider garbage, scraps, and rejects into incredible dishes that feed more people, impact the bottom line, and create a more sustainable food system. This documentary will also showcase forward-thinking organizations and individuals who are already influencing the future of food recovery and demonstrating how eating empowers you, in the fight to solve one of the greatest problems of the 21st Century: global food waste. There will be a panel discussion after the screening featuring Flori Pate, founder/director of Food Connection, Chef Katie Button of Curate and Nightbell, Danny of Danny's Dumpster, and a representative from the City of Asheville. Tickets are $20. All proceeds go to help support Food Connection. Buy Tickets online at their website or at the Box Office. Contact the Grail Movie House for time of showing.

10/13/17 TO 10/15/17 ERA NC ALLIANCE WEEKEND RETREAT
You are warmly invited to the Alliance’s first fall retreat. Location is Kanuga Conference Center in NC. October 13, 6PM-9PM: Dinner and a movie for early arrivals, Equal Means Equal movie by Kamala Lopez. October 14, 9AM-5PM: General session, breakout groups, review of work done to date by the Alliance, generate new ideas for closing in on ERA ratification. Special luncheon speaker, Hon. Carla Cunningham, lead House sponsor of ERA bill. 6PM-9PM, Special dinner speaker, Melinda Lowrance, chair of Henderson County NAACP and ERA champion. Silent Auction throughout day to raise funds for ERA-NC (bring items, gift baskets, with lists and values, please). October 15, 9AM-11AM: ERA-NC Alliance Board Meeting, open to all. Room Rates: $125/night pp in shared room, meals included, $160/night single, meals included, $50.48 Saturday only (lunch & dinner included). Register early! Space is tight! $5 registration fee. Register online at https://registration.kanuga.org/4849. 

10/14/17 WE ARE DEMOCRACY WORKSHOP
October 14 | We Are Democracy Workshop | Asheville. Join us at at this upcoming “We Are Democracy” workshop in Asheville on October 14. Location is Jubilee! at 01 Patton Avenue in Asheville. Time is 9:15 AM. Join us at at this upcoming We Are Democracy workshop in Asheville on October 14. Democracy North Carolina will equip you and your fellow activists from surrounding counties with the latest updates, tools, and training for building a multi-racial movement to mobilize for redistricting reform, fight back against voter suppression, and set the stage for our collective work in 2018. You’ll also learn some movement history, hear success stories from the field, and get timely training on core organizing skills. Please make a contribution of at least $10 to Democracy NC to help cover the costs of this workshop. Any contribution that you are able to make will help Democracy NC bring this workshop to more participants statewide. Saturday, October 14th, from 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM (sign-in begins at 9:15 AM) at Jubilee! (01 Patton Ave, Asheville). RSVP below to let us know you'll be there. Contact Darlene Azarmi at 828-216-3430 or darlene@democracy-nc.org with any questions.  

10/14/17 THE RACE RELATIONS STATION
Do you want to heal, connect and evolve race relations here in Asheville? Are you looking for a powerful and no cost place to begin?Join us on October14th from 4:30-6:30 PM at the West Asheville Library to find out how. The Race Relations Station is a lightly guided structure for diverse groups of three people to meet once a month to share stories, knock down walls, overcome assumptions and connect authentically. We believe that by sharing stories, we can weave a thread of understanding, healing and community together. The conveners of this experiment are very different humans when it comes to race, religion, age, experience and so much more, yet we are committed to walking together in curiosity, care and love. Over the past 18 months we've "walked" together once a month with tremendous success and are now launching a pilot initiative here in Asheville for others to experience the power of healing and connecting through story and intimate conversations. We invite you to join the catalysts of this initiative for a short presentation followed by questions and responses. Drinks and light refreshments will be served. There is no cost to participate, but financial contributions to support this work will be accepted. RSVP at https://www.bridgecollective.us/race-relations-station.  

10/15/17 ETHICAL HUMANIST SOCIETY
“Latin America: What the Left Got Right and What It Got Wrong” will be presented by Dada Maheshvarananda at the Sunday, October 15, 2017 meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:00-3:30 PM, at Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC.  All are welcome to attend. Join Dada Maheshvarananda for an examination of What the Left Got Right and What It Got Wrong in Latin America.  Dada’s 21 years, having taught and organized for social justice in Brazil (1992-2003) and in Venezuela (2003-2016), provide a hands-on perspective. His first book, “After Capitalism: Prout's Vision for a New World” (preface by Noam Chomsky), was published in 2003 and has been translated into 10 languages. His second book, “After Capitalism: Economic Democracy in Action,” was published in 2012. His latest book, “Cooperative Games for a Cooperative World,” was just released in May 2017.  He gives seminars and workshops about social activism and cooperatives and has spoken at the UN and with several world leaders about Economic Democracy. Informal discussion and refreshments will follow the presentation. For more information: call 828 687-7759 or email  EHSAsheville@gmail.com.

10/15/17 ISRAEL/PALESTINE PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE SPEAKING EVENT
Sunday, October 15 - 10:40 am - Black Mountain Presbyterian Church. Topic: Christian Zionism (117 Montreat Rd. in Asheville). Kathy Bergen is an Israel/Palestine Peace and Human Rights Advocate and she will be speaking at various events in Asheville and Black Mountain. Kathy Bergen has worked for justice in the Middle East since 1982. She has spent 16 of the past 35 years based in the region. She worked with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Jerusalem. For nine years she engaged with local Palestinian Christian and Muslim communities, as well as the Israeli peace movement, and organized study tours in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel from universities, seminaries, colleges, and churches around the world. After the Gulf War in 1991, Bergen lived in Geneva, Switzerland, where she was the director of the International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ICCP). After that, Bergen spent 12 years in Philadelphia, PA, as the National Coordinator of the Middle East Program of the Peacebuilding Unit in the national office of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)—a Quaker organization that works for peace and social justice in the U.S. and around the world. In 2006, Bergen moved to Ramallah, a Palestinian city north of Jerusalem, where she was the Program Coordinator for the Friends International Center in Ramallah, a Quaker ministry that has worked for peace and justice in Palestine for decades. She held the position until June 2013. After finishing her time in Ramallah, Bergen moved back to Canada in July 2013 and currently resides in Waterloo. She continues to be involved with Middle East issues and has been back to Palestine and Israel three times in the past year. Events Sponsored by Western North Carolina’s Just Peace for Israel/Palestine. Contact jpip.wnc@gmail.com or call 828-319-7652 for more information.

10/16/17 TALK BY HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR AT A. B. TECH
 An Evening with Dr. Walter Ziffer, Holocaust Survivor. 6:00pm | Ferguson Auditorium. A-B Tech is proud to announce a special event with Holocaust survivor Dr. Walter Ziffer, adjunct faculty at UNC-Asheville and Mars Hill and author of his most recent book, “Confronting the Silence: A Holocaust Survivor’s Search for God.” Space will be limited to the first 400 people who arrive. Admission is free. Doors open at 5 p.m. Parking is available adjacent to the building.

10/16/17 ISRAEL/PALESTINE PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE SPEAKING EVENT
Monday, October 16 - 2:00 pm - St. Eugene Catholic Church, Asheville. Topic: Plight of Children in Palestine (72 Culvern St. in Asheville). Kathy Bergen is an Israel/Palestine Peace and Human Rights Advocate and she will be speaking at various events in Asheville and Black Mountain. Kathy Bergen has worked for justice in the Middle East since 1982. She has spent 16 of the past 35 years based in the region. She worked with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Jerusalem. For nine years she engaged with local Palestinian Christian and Muslim communities, as well as the Israeli peace movement, and organized study tours in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel from universities, seminaries, colleges, and churches around the world. After the Gulf War in 1991, Bergen lived in Geneva, Switzerland, where she was the director of the International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ICCP). After that, Bergen spent 12 years in Philadelphia, PA, as the National Coordinator of the Middle East Program of the Peacebuilding Unit in the national office of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)—a Quaker organization that works for peace and social justice in the U.S. and around the world. In 2006, Bergen moved to Ramallah, a Palestinian city north of Jerusalem, where she was the Program Coordinator for the Friends International Center in Ramallah, a Quaker ministry that has worked for peace and justice in Palestine for decades. She held the position until June 2013. After finishing her time in Ramallah, Bergen moved back to Canada in July 2013 and currently resides in Waterloo. She continues to be involved with Middle East issues and has been back to Palestine and Israel three times in the past year. Events Sponsored by Western North Carolina’s Just Peace for Israel/Palestine. Contact jpip.wnc@gmail.com or call 828-319-7652 for more information.

10/16/17 DEMOCRACY ASHEVILLE COALITION MEETING
October 16 | Democracy Asheville Coalition Meeting. Please join us for the next Democracy Asheville Meeting on Mon., October 16. Join us for our regular monthly coalition meeting for updates on the latest voting rights news and plan our next steps for the fall. Monday, October 16th at 6 PM at Wesley Grant Center (285 Livingston Street, Asheville). Please RSVP below to let us know you're coming. Contact Darlene Azarmi at 828-216-3430 or darlene@democracy-nc.org with questions. What is the Democracy Asheville Coalition? Our Local Coalition brings together organizational representatives and individuals who agree to work together to change and use the political system so it equips people to take action, promotes grassroots leadership, and serves “the good of the whole.” We want an elections process that is accessible, fair, and secure. And we want a government “of, by, and for the people,” that fosters equity, solidarity, and justice.

10/17/17 ISRAEL/PALESTINE PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE SPEAKING EVENT
Tuesday, October 17 - 10 am - St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Asheville. Topic: Faith Community Responses Toward a Just Peace (337 Charlotte St. in Asheville). Kathy Bergen is an Israel/Palestine Peace and Human Rights Advocate and she will be speaking at various events in Asheville and Black Mountain. Kathy Bergen has worked for justice in the Middle East since 1982. She has spent 16 of the past 35 years based in the region. She worked with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Jerusalem. For nine years she engaged with local Palestinian Christian and Muslim communities, as well as the Israeli peace movement, and organized study tours in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel from universities, seminaries, colleges, and churches around the world. After the Gulf War in 1991, Bergen lived in Geneva, Switzerland, where she was the director of the International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ICCP). After that, Bergen spent 12 years in Philadelphia, PA, as the National Coordinator of the Middle East Program of the Peacebuilding Unit in the national office of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)—a Quaker organization that works for peace and social justice in the U.S. and around the world. In 2006, Bergen moved to Ramallah, a Palestinian city north of Jerusalem, where she was the Program Coordinator for the Friends International Center in Ramallah, a Quaker ministry that has worked for peace and justice in Palestine for decades. She held the position until June 2013. After finishing her time in Ramallah, Bergen moved back to Canada in July 2013 and currently resides in Waterloo. She continues to be involved with Middle East issues and has been back to Palestine and Israel three times in the past year. Events Sponsored by Western North Carolina’s Just Peace for Israel/Palestine. Contact jpip.wnc@gmail.com or call 828-319-7652 for more information.

10/17/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON
Every Tuesday, Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 holds a vigil at Vance Monument in downtown Asheville. Time is 5 PM. This has been happening since 2002. No matter the weather, no matter if it falls on a holiday, they are out there standing for peace. Last year, our former president dropped 26,000 bombs on seven different countries. The current president seems to be trying to match or beat that horrible record. Meanwhile we are banning refugees from those countries we have destroyed. Show you are publicly against our country's endless wars and occupations by standing with Veterans for Peace. From Veterans for Peace newsletter:  “The president’s speech at its core is more of the same disastrous policies that we have seen for sixteen years, except this administration wants to completely abandon pursuit of a political solution and shroud the war in a cloak of secrecy.  Veterans For Peace, once again, calls for a different direction other than war.  We call for U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan and a robust pursuit of a political solution to end the war.”

10/17/17 SURJ - DO!SCUSSIONS
10:00:00 AM to 12:00:00 PM. Location:Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Rd, Asheville. Focused 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. Meetings facilitated by Matilda Bliss. Contact Firestorm for more information.

10/17/17 LWV OF ASHEVILLE - BUNCOMBE CANDIDATE FORUM
Candidate Forum - Town of Weaverville on October 17, 2017 from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm at Weaverville Library, 41 N Main St, Weaverville. Town of Weaverville Candidate Forum for Mayor and Town Council. Contact alexnuesse@gmail.com for more information.

10/17/17 WHY RALEIGH'S AGENDA IS ON ASHEVILLE'S BALLOT: A TEACH IN
This fall, Asheville voters will be faced with a referendum on their ballot that could drastically change our local electoral process. While citizens currently vote in at-large elections to elect city council members, legislation from Raleigh could mandate districted elections in Asheville. In an attempt to raise awareness about this referendum and its potential impact, DemocracyNC is hosting a teach-in on Tuesday, October 17th at 6:00 pm at the Grant Center (located at 285 Livingston St). Join us to learn what this referendum could mean for you. Must RSVP - and RSVP information and questions can be directed to JaNesha Slaughter at jslaughter.demnc@gmail.com. 

10/18/17 LWV OF ASHEVILLE - BUNCOMBE CANDIDATE FORUM
Candidate Forum - Black Mountain and Montreat on October 18, 2017 from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm at Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain. Candidate Forum for Town of Black Mountain Alderman and Town of Montreat Commissioner. Contact alexnuesse@gmail.com for more information.

10/18/17 LECTURE AT UNCA
Vandana Shiva is visiting UNCA. Lecture scheduled for Wednesday, October 18th 2017 at 7 pm. Location: Lipinsky Auditorium. Vandana Shiva, the world-renowned activist and author described by Bill Moyers as a ‘rock star’ of the anti-GMO movement, will visit UNC Asheville for a three-day residency Oct. 17-19 2017. After earning a bachelor's degree in physics, a master's in the philosophy of science, and Ph.D. in philosophy, Shiva came to focus on environmental and social issues, becoming a leading activist working to promote biodiversity, especially native seed, and promoting fair trade and organic farming. She is the founder of the Navdanya movement in India, which has established 60 seed banks and contributed to the conservation of more than 3000 rice varieties. She is on India's National Board of Organic Standards and chairs the Commission on the Future of Food in Tuscany, Italy. Shiva's advocacy and writing, including her books, Ecofeminism and Staying Alive: Women, Ecology and Develoipment, tie in gender and environmental issues. She is a founding board member of the Women's Environment & Development Organization (WEDO), established by the late U.S. Congresswoman Bella Abzug. Shiva's most recent book is Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability and Peace.

10/18/17 GREEN DRINKS
Meet-up every 3rd Wednesday of every month at 6 PM at The BLOCK off biltmore at 39 South Market Street, Asheville. We encourage folks from all points of view and backgrounds to join us for informal networking focused on the science of sustainability. Bring a friend and enjoy an organic cocktail or local beer, make new friends and join forces to make Western North Carolina a model of sustainability. Vegan food is often available as well as live music.

10/18/19 ISRAEL/PALESTINE PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE SPEAKING EVENT
Wednesday, October 18 - 3:30 pm - Givens Highland Farms, Black Mt. Topic: Israeli Settlements in Palestine (200 Tabernacle Rd. in Black Mountain). Kathy Bergen is an Israel/Palestine Peace and Human Rights Advocate and she will be speaking at various events in Asheville and Black Mountain. Kathy Bergen has worked for justice in the Middle East since 1982. She has spent 16 of the past 35 years based in the region. She worked with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Jerusalem. For nine years she engaged with local Palestinian Christian and Muslim communities, as well as the Israeli peace movement, and organized study tours in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel from universities, seminaries, colleges, and churches around the world. After the Gulf War in 1991, Bergen lived in Geneva, Switzerland, where she was the director of the International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ICCP). After that, Bergen spent 12 years in Philadelphia, PA, as the National Coordinator of the Middle East Program of the Peacebuilding Unit in the national office of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)—a Quaker organization that works for peace and social justice in the U.S. and around the world. In 2006, Bergen moved to Ramallah, a Palestinian city north of Jerusalem, where she was the Program Coordinator for the Friends International Center in Ramallah, a Quaker ministry that has worked for peace and justice in Palestine for decades. She held the position until June 2013. After finishing her time in Ramallah, Bergen moved back to Canada in July 2013 and currently resides in Waterloo. She continues to be involved with Middle East issues and has been back to Palestine and Israel three times in the past year. Events Sponsored by Western North Carolina’s Just Peace for Israel/Palestine. Contact jpip.wnc@gmail.com or call 828-319-7652 for more information.

10/18/17 COMMUNITY CONCERT FOR KINDNESS
Hanger Hall School for Girls presents “The Change” a community concert for kindness - stand up, stand strong, stand together. The all-girl teenage rock/funk band The Change will bring its high-energy, confidence-boosting, anti-bullying, be-yourself music and messages from West Virginia to Asheville next month. Presented by Hanger Hall School for Girls, The Change will play a community concert at New Mountain (38 N French Broad Avenue), one of Asheville’s premier music venues, on Wednesday, October 18th. The show is FREE for students with a suggested $5 donation for parents/adults. Doors at 5:30pm, show at 6:00pm. Loved by kids and adults alike, the girls have been playing together as a band since age 10.

10/19/17 ISRAEL/PALESTINE PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE SPEAKING EVENT
Thursday, October 19 - 3:15 pm - Brooks-Howell Home, Asheville. Topic: Faith In Action for Human Rights for Palestinians (266 Merrimon Ave. in Asheville). Kathy Bergen is an Israel/Palestine Peace and Human Rights Advocate and she will be speaking at various events in Asheville and Black Mountain. Kathy Bergen has worked for justice in the Middle East since 1982. She has spent 16 of the past 35 years based in the region. She worked with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Jerusalem. For nine years she engaged with local Palestinian Christian and Muslim communities, as well as the Israeli peace movement, and organized study tours in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel from universities, seminaries, colleges, and churches around the world. After the Gulf War in 1991, Bergen lived in Geneva, Switzerland, where she was the director of the International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ICCP). After that, Bergen spent 12 years in Philadelphia, PA, as the National Coordinator of the Middle East Program of the Peacebuilding Unit in the national office of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)—a Quaker organization that works for peace and social justice in the U.S. and around the world. In 2006, Bergen moved to Ramallah, a Palestinian city north of Jerusalem, where she was the Program Coordinator for the Friends International Center in Ramallah, a Quaker ministry that has worked for peace and justice in Palestine for decades. She held the position until June 2013. After finishing her time in Ramallah, Bergen moved back to Canada in July 2013 and currently resides in Waterloo. She continues to be involved with Middle East issues and has been back to Palestine and Israel three times in the past year. Events Sponsored by Western North Carolina’s Just Peace for Israel/Palestine. Contact jpip.wnc@gmail.com or call 828-319-7652 for more information.

10/19/17 ISRAEL/PALESTINE PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE SPEAKING EVENT
Thursday, October 19 - 6:00 pm - St. Eugene Catholic Church’s Soup Supper. Topic: Christians in the Holy Land. (72 Culvern St. in Asheville). Kathy Bergen is an Israel/Palestine Peace and Human Rights Advocate and she will be speaking at various events in Asheville and Black Mountain. Kathy Bergen has worked for justice in the Middle East since 1982. She has spent 16 of the past 35 years based in the region. She worked with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Jerusalem. For nine years she engaged with local Palestinian Christian and Muslim communities, as well as the Israeli peace movement, and organized study tours in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel from universities, seminaries, colleges, and churches around the world. After the Gulf War in 1991, Bergen lived in Geneva, Switzerland, where she was the director of the International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ICCP). After that, Bergen spent 12 years in Philadelphia, PA, as the National Coordinator of the Middle East Program of the Peacebuilding Unit in the national office of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)—a Quaker organization that works for peace and social justice in the U.S. and around the world. In 2006, Bergen moved to Ramallah, a Palestinian city north of Jerusalem, where she was the Program Coordinator for the Friends International Center in Ramallah, a Quaker ministry that has worked for peace and justice in Palestine for decades. She held the position until June 2013. After finishing her time in Ramallah, Bergen moved back to Canada in July 2013 and currently resides in Waterloo. She continues to be involved with Middle East issues and has been back to Palestine and Israel three times in the past year. Events Sponsored by Western North Carolina’s Just Peace for Israel/Palestine. Contact jpip.wnc@gmail.com or call 828-319-7652 for more information.

10/19/17 BUNCOMBE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS PRESENTATION
Board of Elections presentation on voting integrity on Thu, October 19 from 6pm – 8pm. Time to be finalized and place TBD. This was on League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County website. Contact alanapie@gmail.com for more information.

10/19/17 EARLY VOTING FOR ASHEVILLE GENERAL ELECTION
The Board of Elections is open for voting from 8 to 6 PM, M-F, until November 3, 2017. Saturday, October 28, they are open 10 to 6 PM and Saturday, November 4, they are open from 8 to 1 PM. Board of Elections is at 77 McDowell Street in Asheville. There are five other early voting sites: First Congregational Church at 20 Oak Street in downtown, North Asheville Library, West Asheville Library, South Buncombe Library, and Murphy-Oakley Recreation Center. Same hours and dates as above starting on October 28th. Last day to request absentee ballot is October 31, 2017.

10/19/17 WORKSHOP ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION STRATEGIC PLAN
Stakeholders and the public are invited to provide input at community workshops across the state as part of the North Carolina Public Transportation Statewide Strategic Plan. The workshops are free and open to the public. No registration is necessary to attend. The N.C. Department of Transportation is developing the Public Transportation Statewide Strategic Plan to improve bus, rail, and paratransit services across the state by better matching transit services to the needs of North Carolinians. For more information on the Public Transportation Statewide Strategic Plan, please contact Buncombe County website. NC Public Transportation Strategic Plan Community Workshop for the Southern Mountains will be held on: October 19, 2017 from 12:30 to 3:30pm at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College at Conference Center, Room B at 340 Victoria Road in Asheville. NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Jamille Robbins, Human Environment Section, via e-mail at jarobbins@ncdot.gov or by phone (919) 707-6085 as early as possible so that arrangements can be made.

10/19/17 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HENDERSON COUNTY MEETING
Generally the third Thursday of each month, September through May. Location is the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce meeting room at 204 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville, NC. Thursday, Oct. 19 at 4:00 PM. General Meeting and Immigration Discussion. For more information, go to their website.

10/19/17 to 10/21/17 AFRICAN AMERICANS IN WNC CONFERENCE
The 4th Annual African Americans in WNC Conference will be held on October 19, 20 and 21. The theme is "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow." The conference offers scholars and the community an opportunity to address the African American experience in Southern Appalachia, both past and present. It provides a forum to engage on the vital issues facing Appalachian communities of color. In addition to African American history, this year's conference will highlight research from UNC Asheville's State of Black Asheville classes, as well as examples of current day community resilience. Free Admission. Hosted by University of North Carolina Asheville History Department. The African Americans in Western North Carolina Conference began in 2014. It offers scholars and the community an opportunity to meet and discuss issues related to the African American experience in western North Carolina. Original scholarship that sheds new light on the African Americans in Appalachia is preferred. Asheville has a long history as a regional center for African Americans in western North Carolina. Its vibrant culture and diverse communities serve as a model for this conference, which seeks to address scholarly and community issues of both past and current significance.The event is open to the public and no tickets are required. African Americans in WNC & Southern Appalachia Conference. The Fourth Annual African Americans in Western North Carolina and Southern Appalachia Conference offers scholars and the community an opportunity to address the African American experience in Southern Appalachia. This year's theme is “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.” In addition to history, this year's conference will highlight research from UNC Asheville's State of Black Asheville classes, as well as examples of current-day community resilience. The conference is free and open to the public. Schedule of Events: Thursday, Oct. 19, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Opening Reception - Jesse & Julia Ray Lecture by Judge Yvonne Mims Evans - YMI Cultural Center.  Friday, Oct. 20, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Panel Discussions - UNC Asheville's Sherrill Center. Saturday, Oct. 21: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Panel Discussions - UNC Asheville's Sherrill Center - 7 - 11 p.m. CoThinkk Awards Night. Reservations: cothinkk.org. The Collider. For more information and event updates, visit our Annual African Americans in Western North Carolina Facebook event, or visit aawnc.unca.edu. Help us spread the word!

10/20/17 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MEETING
Physicians, health personnel and everyone; all are welcomed at our monthly meetings held on the third Friday of each month. Bring a brown bag lunch around noon. This will be held at The First Congregational United Church of Christ, Room E205, at 20 Oak Street (just off College St. in downtown Asheville). Time is noon to 2 PM. Meeting starts at 12:30. Parking is available behind the church. Enter the church or ring doorbell at the glass doors on Oak Street. For more information contact Dr. Terry Clark, Chair, 633-0892 or Dr. Lew Patrie, 285-2599.

10/20/17 LECTURE AT UNCA
Fab Friday Lunch & Learn Lecture 11:30 AM to 1:15 PM. Friday, October 20, 2017 - 11:30 AM to 1:15 PM - Reuter Center 102 October 20, 2017 “Off the Beaten Path: Travels in North Korea,” by Jonathan C. Tetzlaff. North Korea is one of the most secretive and remote locations on earth, visited by few Americans. In Jonathan Tetzlaff’s travels, he visited not only the capital, Pyongyang, but also remote locations in central and northern Korea (along the border with China). Jonathan is also one of the few Americans to view the famous Korean DMZ from the northern side. Other destinations included Chongjin, for decades a city closed to all visitors. Opened only a short time before his trip, the city - renowned as a key development site for North Korean missiles -- remains highly militarized. Jonathan will discuss travel (much by small airplane), food, beer, and his accommodations. Hotels varied from imposing structures with ornate marble lobbies to very basic accommodations in small rural hotels which had electricity only one hour per day and a “scoop” to move filthy water from a pre-filled bathtub into the toilet. With humor and a relaxed manner, Jonathan will illustrate his travel with photographs and real-world examples of laws and customs in North Korea.

10/20/17 BOYCOTT, DIVESTITURE AND SANCTIONS
Friday, Oct 20th @ 6:30pm. Boycott, Divestiture and Sanctions: How Does it Really Work? BDS as it relates to the situation in Israel/Palestine is becoming an increasingly important issue as both state and federal legislation seeks to prohibit using these non-violent techniques to protest human rights violations in Occupied Palestine. Kathy Bergen, a veteran of decades of work on human rights issues in Israel and Palestine will explain what BDS is, how it works, and why Palestinian civil society started it. Location is Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville.

10/20/17 ISRAEL/PALESTINE PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE SPEAKING EVENT (Same event as above)
Friday, October 20 - 6:00 pm - Firestorm Café - West Asheville. Topic: Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement (610 Haywood Rd. in Asheville). Kathy Bergen is an Israel/Palestine Peace and Human Rights Advocate and she will be speaking at various events in Asheville and Black Mountain. Kathy Bergen has worked for justice in the Middle East since 1982. She has spent 16 of the past 35 years based in the region. She worked with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Jerusalem. For nine years she engaged with local Palestinian Christian and Muslim communities, as well as the Israeli peace movement, and organized study tours in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel from universities, seminaries, colleges, and churches around the world. After the Gulf War in 1991, Bergen lived in Geneva, Switzerland, where she was the director of the International Coordinating Committee for NGOs on the Question of Palestine (ICCP). After that, Bergen spent 12 years in Philadelphia, PA, as the National Coordinator of the Middle East Program of the Peacebuilding Unit in the national office of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)—a Quaker organization that works for peace and social justice in the U.S. and around the world. In 2006, Bergen moved to Ramallah, a Palestinian city north of Jerusalem, where she was the Program Coordinator for the Friends International Center in Ramallah, a Quaker ministry that has worked for peace and justice in Palestine for decades. She held the position until June 2013. After finishing her time in Ramallah, Bergen moved back to Canada in July 2013 and currently resides in Waterloo. She continues to be involved with Middle East issues and has been back to Palestine and Israel three times in the past year. Events Sponsored by Western North Carolina’s Just Peace for Israel/Palestine. Contact jpip.wnc@gmail.com or call 828-319-7652 for more information.

10/20/17 GREENWORKS REGIONAL FOOD WASTE SUMMIT
The Regional Food Waste Summit will bring together industry leaders to initiate cross-sector conversations and spark collaboration. Attendees will learn more about what the food waste systems are in our area, with a goal of establishing a collaborative network to address food waste recovery issues. Purchase tickets at Greenworks website. Summit is free, charges for lunch if you want that.  Must register. Time is 9am to 4pm. Location is Warren Wilson College.

10/23/17 COMMUNITY BILL OF RIGHTS FORUM
Community Bill of Rights forums will be held in several venues throughout the city. Come learn about how we as citizens can take back our rights over our land, air, and water! Monday, 10/23, 6-8pm, Kenilworth Center, 4 Chiles Avenue, behind Kenilworth Presbyterian Church in Asheville. Contact Cathy Holt at cathyfholt@gmail.com for more information.

10/24/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON
Every Tuesday, Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 holds a vigil at Vance Monument in downtown Asheville. Time is 5 PM. This has been happening since 2002. No matter the weather, no matter if it falls on a holiday, they are out there standing for peace. Last year, our former president dropped 26,000 bombs on seven different countries. The current president seems to be trying to match or beat that horrible record. Meanwhile we are banning refugees from those countries we have destroyed. Show you are publicly against our country's endless wars and occupations by standing with Veterans for Peace. From Veterans for Peace newsletter:  “The president’s speech at its core is more of the same disastrous policies that we have seen for sixteen years, except this administration wants to completely abandon pursuit of a political solution and shroud the war in a cloak of secrecy.  Veterans For Peace, once again, calls for a different direction other than war.  We call for U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan and a robust pursuit of a political solution to end the war.”

10/24/17 PLAY AT MARS HILL UNIVERSITY
Tue, October 24, 7:00pm – 8:30pm at Broyhill Chapel, 338 Cascade St, Mars Hill. “GO, GRANNY D!” Currently touring nationwide, actress Barbara Bates Smith and musician Jeff Sebens will present "Go, Granny D!” “You're never too old to raise a little hell,” the 90-year-old Doris “Granny D” Haddock in 2000 blazed a 3200-mile trail across America for campaign finance reform, precipitating the passage of the McCain-Feingold Act. She continued her bipartisan reform efforts in countrywide voter registration drives, issuing her final challenge in 2010 at age 100: “Democracy is a running game. You huddle and you go back in. You keep going.” Contact mandy.proffitt83@gmail.com for more information.

10/24/17 PEACE CORPS PANEL AT UNCA
Peace Corps Panel 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Tuesday, October 24, 2017 - 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM - Karpen Hall 139 - Laurel Forum

10/24/17 MEN’S DIVERSITY CIRCLE
The Men's Diversity Circle at 7 PM. Location is Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Rd, Asheville. From circle organizer Duncan Tam: As men of color and culture, we navigate the margins of power and privilege from cradle to grave. We inherit the legacies of our ancestors and pass down our love and pain to our children. In circle, we give support, voice and strength to each other in our personal challenges with the experiences of exclusion and inclusion, and celebrate the contributions we make in our lives and in all our relations. All men of color are welcome. 

10/24/17 SURJ - DO!SCUSSIONS
10:00:00 AM to 12:00:00 PM. Location:Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Rd, Asheville. Focused 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. Meetings facilitated by Matilda Bliss. Contact Firestorm for more information.

10/25/17 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ASHEVILLE - BUNCOMBE MEETING
Board Meeting, Public Comment Open at beginning of each meeting. Wed, September 27, 6:30pm – 8:00pm. Monthly on the fourth Wednesday. Location is The Cathedral of All Souls, 9 Swan St, Asheville. Join us in the CE Room.

10/25/17 INDIGENOUS FILM FESTIVAL AT UNCA
Oct. 25 – “Heritage Africa” – at 6:00 pm-8:00 pm at Humanities Lecture Hall. This drama tells the story of a Ghanaian who becomes a colonial officer, but re-examines his role and identity during his nation’s struggle for independence. This is the third of four films in UNC Asheville's 2017 Indigenous Film Festival. Heritage Africa, from 1989, was the second film directed by Kwaw Ansaw, who in 1998 was awarded the Acrag Prize, the Living Legend Award for Contribution to the Arts of Ghana. An excerpt from theTimeOut London description of Heritage Africa: “Set in 1955 in the violent run up to Ghanaian independence, this  ambitious political drama follows the conversion of conscience of the first black District Commissioner, an anglicised Cambridge man so dedicated to his duties that he refuses to attend his mortally ill son. Ansah presents a diffuse political analysis - he is at pains to distinguish both between the 'enlightened self-interest' of the Governor and the cruder reactionary methods of sneering civil servant Snyper, and the rivalries in the 'Association of Freedom' led by Kwame Nkrumah.” Through cinema, the series will present the experiences and perspectives of indigenous peoples around the world, not often reflected on American movie screens. The screenings are free and open to everyone and a short Q&A will follow the film. The Indigenous Film Festival is curated and will be hosted by UNC Asheville faculty members Trey Adcock, assistant professor of education and director of American Indian Outreach; Agya Boakye-Boaten, associate professor of Africana studies and director of Interdisciplinary, International and Africana Studies Programs; Juan G. Sánchez Martinez, assistant professor of Spanish; and Jeremias Zunguze, assistant professor of Africana and Lusophone studies. For more information about the Indigenous Film Festival, contact Juan G. Sánchez Martinez at jsanche1@unca.edu or 828.251.6277.

10/25/17 WORKSHOP AT FIRESTORM IN ASHEVILLE
Oct 25- Building healthy relationships in an unhealthy world - cultivating healthy relationship dynamics in a world of violence. (led by Helpmate organizer Hannah). Workshop runs from 5 to 7 pm at Firestorm Coop at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Free. For more information, contact: callistocollective@protonmail.com.

10/25/17 MOUNTAIN TRUE ANNUAL GATHERING
Join Us for Our 2017 Annual Gathering at New Belgium Brewing on October 25. Gather with your fellow MountainTrue members to celebrate another great year and to welcome the Asheville Design Center (ADC) to the MountainTrue family! Our MountainTrue Annual Gathering returns to New Belgium Brewing in Asheville for the second year in a row. We’ll look back at our accomplishments in 2017 and forward to how merging with ADC will benefit both organizations. Proceedings will include a membership vote to ratify the new board and the merger with ADC.2017 MountainTrue Annual Gathering on October 25 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. We who are MountainTrue have much to celebrate this year. In the response to threats to our waters, lands and communities, we have come together to raise our collective voice on behalf of the future we want to uphold and protect. We will also be welcoming the Asheville Design Center to the MountainTrue family. Our merger creates one organization better able to pursuing a holistic approach to our built and natural environments. To celebrate these developments and also camaraderie of fellow MountainTrue members, we hope you will come out to the 2017 Annual Gathering – see you there. Location is New Belgium Brewery, 21 Craven St, Asheville. See Mountain True website for information on tickets. Must RSVP.

10/25/17 ASHEVILLE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM
This forum is on LGBTQ Equality. Sponsored by Blue Ridge Pride Foundation, Campaign for Southern Equality, Tranzmission, and Western NC AIDS Project. Time is 6:30 to 8:30 PM and location is First Congregational UCC at 20 Oak Street in Asheville.  

10/27/17 DOCUMENTARY AT FIRESTORM
Friday, Oct 27th @ 7:30pm. “Trouble” Screening. Every fourth Friday since September 2017.
sub.Media offers Trouble, a brand-new monthly show offering an in-depth anarchist analysis of current struggles, tactics, and movement dynamics. Trouble broadcasts first-hand accounts and perspectives from organizers on the ground, with the aim of cutting through the fog of misinformation that often clouds our understanding of the world, and provoking people into taking bold, collective action. This monthly, half-hour film on topics of interest to people fighting the settler colonial capitalism is hosted by Blue Ridge Anarchist Black Cross and will include a discussion of the film with questions provided by the film makers.  Location is Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville.

10/28/17 NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION WORKSHOP IN ASHEVILLE
Roberta Wall will guide us in applying the principles and consciousness of Nonviolent Communication in this day-long interactive workshop, “Connecting Across Divides.” Roberta Wall has been involved in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) for many years, and she gave a presentation about it to the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville in April. Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville and the Peace and Earth Committee of Asheville Friends are co-sponsoring this event. The suggested donation would be $80 for members of EHSA and Friends, and $100 for non-members. The workshop will be held on Saturday, October 28, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM at Asheville Friends Meeting, 227 Edgewood Road, Asheville. Please brown bag it for lunch. To register by mailing a check, please make your check payable to EHSA (and please add a notation that it is for NVC) and mailed to: Jim Tobin, EHSA Treasurer, 20 Stonebridge Drive, Asheville, NC 28805. Please mail it by September 29, 2017. For registration options and info, including about scholarships: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/connecting-across-divides-expressing-your-truth-and-creating-connection-tickets-37718247293?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=order_confirmation_email&utm_term=eventname&ref=eemailordconf. Further details will be sent after you register.Roberta Wall is certified as a trainer in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) by the Center for Nonviolent Communication. Roberta is trained as a lawyer, mediator, trainer, facilitator, parent, activist, mindfulness practitioner and coach.

10/28/17 THE NAKBA TOUR IN ASHEVILLE 
The North America Nakba Tour and Asheville Committee for Palestinian Human Rights invite you to “The Exiled Palestinians: Stateless Palestinians from the Camps in Lebanon”. Khawla Hammad has been a stateless refugee in Lebanon for 69 years. At the age of sixteen, she was expelled from her village of Kabri, in Palestine. Now she is 84 years old and still a refugee in Lebanon, with no citizenship in any country at all. Israel expelled most of the population in 1948, and has prevented them from returning to their homes. Kabri and hundreds of other towns and villages were leveled to the ground, a crime that Palestinians call al-Nakba (the Catastrophe). But Israel did not stop there. It repeatedly attacked Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, killing three of Khawla’s children among many others. Before the Nakba, Khawla’s father died as a Palestinian freedom fighter. Khawla has a message that she wants to bring to North America. So does 23-year-old Palestinian refugee, journalist and translator Amena Elashkar, the great granddaughter of other Nakba survivors. She and her parents were born as stateless refugees in Lebanon and have never lived in their own country. Khawla and Amena want to meet you. They have a different message from other Palestinians. They do not live in Palestine, under Israeli occupation. Israel does not allow them to visit their homes, much less live there. Amena first met an Israeli during last year’s tour, and Khawla not since 1948. They have a different perspective from Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza and the part of Palestine that became Israel. When: Saturday, Oct 28, 3-5 pm. Where: Block Off Biltmore at 39 South Market Street in downtown Asheville. This local event is supported by Asheville Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 and the Peace & Earth Committee of the Asheville Friends Meeting. The North America Nakba Tour is operated under the fiscal sponsorship of the Association for Investment in Popular Action Committees, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation. The project is administered by a committee of Al-Awda Right to Return Coalition, Free Palestine Movement, Black 4 Palestine and the International Solidarity Movement – Northern California. Contact Ken at jonesk@maine.edu for more information.

10/29/17 WNC SOLIDARITY CONCERT SERIES 
The final Sunday of each month in 2017, two groups of WNC-based musicians and their ensembles will each perform a benefit concert to raise funding for WNC nonprofits. The music performed each week will fluctuate between jazz, rhythm & blues, soul, jazz funk, jazz fusion, and swing. Each event will host two groups, playing, consecutively between 3 and 5 PM with a brief intermission. All of proceeds go to the nonprofit organization. The nonprofit for today is Helpmate. Act I is Rita Hayes Quartet and Act II is Jonathan Pearlman Quartet. Location is The Block Off Biltmore at Eagle and South Market Streets in downtown Asheville. Suggested donation is $10, and are available the day of the event. Please call The Block Off Biltmore for more information.

10/31/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON
Every Tuesday, Veterans for Peace Chapter 099 holds a vigil at Vance Monument in downtown Asheville. Time is 5 PM. This has been happening since 2002. No matter the weather, no matter if it falls on a holiday, they are out there standing for peace. Last year, our former president dropped 26,000 bombs on seven different countries. The current president seems to be trying to match or beat that horrible record. Meanwhile we are banning refugees from those countries we have destroyed. Show you are publicly against our country's endless wars and occupations by standing with Veterans for Peace. From Veterans for Peace newsletter:  “The president’s speech at its core is more of the same disastrous policies that we have seen for sixteen years, except this administration wants to completely abandon pursuit of a political solution and shroud the war in a cloak of secrecy.  Veterans For Peace, once again, calls for a different direction other than war.  We call for U.S. troops to leave Afghanistan and a robust pursuit of a political solution to end the war.”

10/31/17 SURJ - DO!SCUSSIONS
10:00:00 AM to 12:00:00 PM. Location:Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Rd, Asheville. Focused 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. Meetings facilitated by Matilda Bliss. 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 standard time kicks in, they meet at 4:30 PM. 
Showing Up for Racial Justice Do!scussion at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. 10 AM-11:30 AM. Followed by Do!sessions from 11:30-1:30 PM.
Rally at historic Courthouse in Hendersonville at 5 PM on the first Tuesday of the month. Organized by the Progressive Organized Women. 

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 Drinks meets at 6 PM at The Block Off Biltmore on the third Wednesday of the month.
Sierra Club meets at 7 PM at Unitarian Universalist in Asheville on the first Wednesday of the month.
Indivisible Asheville does political letter writing at 5:30 every Wednesday at The Block Off Biltmore. 

THURSDAY
Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 6 PM on first Thursday of the month. Materials provided.
Welcome Home Tour by Homeward Bound on the third Thursday of the month at 11 AM. Call 258-1695 for more information.
Asheville Prison Books Program is held at Downtown Books & News from 4 to 7 PM. 

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

SATURDAY
French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org. 
Mountain True holds urban forest workdays on the second Saturday of the month at Richmond Hill Park from 9 AM to 1 PM. Call 258-8737 for more information.
Citizen’s Climate Lobby meeting at 12:30 PM at Kairos West Community Center on second Saturday of the month.
Food Not Bombs serves free vegan/vegetarian food every Saturday at noon at Pritchard Park.
Dances of Universal Peace on the third Saturdays at 7:30 at 1 School Road in Asheville. 

SUNDAY
Asheville National Organization for Women meeting at 2:30 PM at YWCA of Asheville on second Sunday of the month.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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Announcing the Community Rapid Response Mini-Grant Program!

The Southern Vision Alliance (SVA) is excited to announce the launching of our Community Rapid Response Fund (CRRF).We'll start accepting applications for mini-grants of up to $500 starting on Sept 18, 2017 until all funds have been allocated.
The CRRF was created to allow grassroots groups and organizations to access resources in the aftermath of incidents of hate or violence in our schools, communities, or at the workplace. The fund seeks to help communities respond in ways that uplift the voices of those directly impacted. The main goal of the fund is to influence and counteract incidents of hate and violence while strengthening ties across communities and demonstrating our commitment to solidarity.
Fund Priorities:
Must be by led by those directly impacted by hate crimes in North Carolina, particularly against Muslims, immigrants, Black students, and LGBTQ people, in particular K-12 and college students.
Must be in response to something new, a specific incident, initiative, or proposed policy. Responding to an incident or violence or hate in school, community, or workplace. Responding to a new regressive legislation at local, state, or federal level. Or a proactive intervention utilizing common strategies to organize.
All groups applying must have an organizational budget of less than $100,000 annually.
Priority will be given to groups with limited access to traditional non-profit funding streams.
Priority will be given to groups that center community responses
We will look for applications that demonstrate social justice values that do not take away from the broader struggle.
We value applications that demonstrate a willingness to stay involved in movement work.
Note: The Community Rapid Response Fund is a project of the Southern Vision Alliance, a 501c3 organization. All proposals must be 501c3 compliant. All funds used for any non-compliant activities must be returned.
Questions? contact Juan at juan@southernvision.org

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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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