UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER
Please note: The most amazing thing has happened this past week! There is a peace treaty to end the long-standing Korean war (declared a truce in 1953) between North and South Korea. Please join me in carefully watching our corporate media, US agencies and their agents, and US politicians to make sure they do not mess this up. Speak out is you see any moves or comments in this direction. This peace treaty includes the decision to remove all nuclear weapons from the Korean peninsula, which includes US nuclear weapons in the region. US troops will have to leave South Korea and this is a very good thing. This is the most amazing step towards peace that I have seen in my lifetime! And, the US “defense” industries lost $10 billion dollars in stock value just last Friday, which is also promising.
04/30/18 EARLY VOTING CONTINUES
Early voting for North Carolina's May Primary Elections has started. The main site for Buncombe County is Wesley Grant Southside Center, 285 Livingston Street in Asheville. It is open every day 10 am - 6 pm except Sundays. Last day of early voting is Saturday, May 5, all sites 8 am - 1 pm only. Library sites at Black Mt, Enka-Candler, North Asheville, West Asheville are available Saturday, April 28 to Saturday May 5, 10- 6 pm, including Sunday, April 29 1-6 pm. Weaverville Town Hall is available April 28--May 5, but not including Sunday April 29. One-Stop Voting, including voter registration, can take place during early voting at any of these voter registration sites. Election Day is Tuesday, May 8. On this day, you may only vote at your assigned precinct.
04/30/18 ASHEVILLE SURG WEEKLY MEETING
Asheville SURJ Weekly Monday night meetings: 6:30-8:30pm at the UU Congregation (1 Edwin Place, corner of Edwin & Charlotte), downstairs main building. Every Monday, all are welcome to gather with others seeking to stay accountable in the work of dismantling white supremacy within themselves and the spheres they work, play, and live in. First Mondays are focused on exploring SURJ's Core Values and how we go about the work of moving from ally to accomplice in this work. Second Mondays are focused on a Calling In session where we brainstorm and role-play difficult situations and conversations around confronting racism and white supremacy, in ourselves and others. Third & Fourth Mondays are focused on Education with each topic being looked at nationally one week and then local impacts the following week. We are beginning this series with a focus on issues relating to Housing. For more details on any and all ASURJ meetings, email avlsurj@gmail.com.
04/30/18 VIGIL FOR JUSTICE AND CHANGE
Asheville, NC: Vigil to Demand Justice and Change is from 6:30 to 9:30 PM on Monday, April, 30th. Location is Pritchard Park. Come and join The People’s Congress of Resistance, in conjunction with the Western North Carolina Aids Project (WNCAP), in downtown Asheville at Pritchard park to hold a vigil in solidarity with those affected by the opioid epidemic and the war on drugs. We must make our voices heard. We demand justice for those who have been deemed criminal or have had their lives stolen from them and their families; and to demand accountability from big pharma. Hosted by People's Congress of Resistance. No contact information.
05/01/18 MAY DAY COALITION CELEBRATION
Asheville May Day 2018 - Hosted by Asheville Mayday Coalition. Join us Tuesday, May 1st as we celebrate International Workers’ Day in downtown Asheville. Únete a nosotros el martes 1 de mayo para celebrar el Día Internacional de los Trabajadores en el centro de Asheville. Location: Pritchard Park. 4pm: Pre-rally/setup; 5pm: March; 6pm: Rally. No contact information.
05/01/18 CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY EVENT
First Tuesday: May 1,from 6 - 8pm. Perspectives on Climate over a Pint at New Belgium at 21 Craven Street in Asheville. Time to talk over a pint of pale ale! First Tuesday to support a local brewer (who signed CCL's Leaders Letter) - no agenda; just good conversation. No contact information.
05/01/18 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 4:30 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.
05/01/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ DO!SCUSSION
ASURJ Do!scussion: Tuesdays, 10:30 AM to 12 PM in the backroom of Firestorm, Road in Asheville. A safe space to come together and talk about issues relating to dismantling white supremacy and confronting racism with a focus on what we can do to make a change, in ourselves, our communities, and beyond. All are welcome. Led by Matilda Bliss. ASURJ Do-Session: Tuesdays, noon-2pm, at a member’s residence. Meet us at 12:30 PM at Kairos West (right below Firestorm) and walk with us down there. This is a weekly space to do something to support accountability partners in their work. Letter-writing, list-making, social media work are just a few examples of what we will do to show up for racial justice Tuesday at the Do-Session. Bring your laptop and phone and help us out. For more details on any and all ASURJ meetings, email avlsurj@gmail.com.
05/01/18 HEALTHCARE FOR ALL EDUCATIONAL EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
Healthcare for All-WNC is hosting Physicians for a National Health Program leader Dr. Ed Weisbart who will speak on “What Does ‘Medicare for All’ Mean for Medical Practice, Physicians, Patients and the USA?” on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 from 12:30 – 1:30 PM at All Souls Cathedral Assembly Hall, 9 Swan Street, Asheville. Dr. Weisbart has published articles in both national medical journals and local media regarding the healthcare needs of the uninsured. A question and answer time will follow at this free brown-bag lunch event. Visit healthcareforallwnc dot org for more information.
05/01/18 FOR PROFIT HEALTHCARE EDUCATIONAL EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
Friends of the East Asheville Library and Healthcare for All – WNC are co-sponsoring Dr. Ed Weisbart, Chair of the Missouri Chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program, who will be speaking on “For-Profit Healthcare: Is It Healthy?” on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, 7:00 – 8:30 PM at Beverly Hills Baptist Church, 777 Tunnel Road, Asheville. This free special program has relevance in light of the proposed acquisition of Asheville’s Mission Health by Hospital Corporation of America. Visit healthcareforallwnc dot org for more information.
05/01/18 STAND AGAINST RACISM EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
Tuesday, May 1, 5:30 - 7:00 pm. Location: Arthur R. Edington Education & Career Center. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres from Southside Kitchen, libations from local companies, connect with member organizations from WNC Diversity Engagement Coalition, experience storytelling as an anti-racism response, and sign the Stand Against Racism Pledge.
05/01/18 PUBLIC LECTURE AT UNCA
The Challenges of Long-Term Humanitarianism: Lessons from the Palestinian Experience – World Affairs Council Talk by Ilana Feldman. The World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina will present a talk, The Challenges of Long-Term Humanitarianism: Lessons from the Palestinian Experience, at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1 at the Reuter Center at UNC Asheville. Admission is $10 for the public; free to members of the World Affairs Council and UNC Asheville students. The speaker, Ilana Feldman is professor of anthropology, history and international affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. A cultural and historical anthropologist, Feldman focuses her research on the Palestinian experience, both inside and outside of historic Palestine, examining practices of government, humanitarianism, policing, displacement, and citizenship. She is currently working on a project tentatively titled Life Lived in Relief: Palestinian Experiences with Humanitarianism since 1948, which involves fieldwork in and about Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza. Feldman is the author of three books, Police Encounters: Security and Surveillance in Gaza under Egyptian Rule; In the Name of Humanity: The Government of Threat and Care, co-authored with Miriam Ticktin; and Governing Gaza: Bureaucracy, Authority and the Work of Rule, 1917-1967. Her visit to Western North Carolina is sponsored by the Institute for Middle East Studies at The George Washington University. The World Affairs Council lectures at UNC Asheville are presented in partnership with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville (OLLI), and the university’s Department of Political Science. There is an admission fee. For more information about OLLI programs and events, Events in this series: China on Screen: Politics, Commerce and Identity - World Affairs Council Talk by Jinhua Li. Contact for this event: OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140
05/02/18 PUBLIC LECTURE AT UNCA
Topic is “Housing and Race in Asheville.” Andy Barnett, executive director of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity will offer this free public talk as part of OLLI at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors Hot Topics series. Date: 5/2/18 and Time: 11:30 am. Location: Reuter Center - Manheimer Room. Free. Andy Barnett, executive director of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity will offer this free public talk as part of OLLI at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors Hot Topics series. As part of the College for Seniors theme term on race and ongoing initiatives to create relevant and timely programming, we present a series of lectures and events to supplement the courses offered this spring. The lectures are free and open to everyone, and all are scheduled for the Manheimer Room. Events in this series: The History and Legacy of Lynching in North Carolina, part one: The Past is Not Past and The History and Legacy of Lynching in North Carolina, part two: A Game Called Salisbury. Contact for this event is OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville. Contact them at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140 for more information.
05/02/18 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at 10 AM at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church at 117 Montreat Road in Black Mountain. Contact Beth at elizakeiser@aol.com or 828-707-4271 for more information.
05/02/18 CITIZENS-POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
This group meets on the first floor conference room at the Public Works Building at 161 South Charlotte Street in Asheville. Time is 5 PM. Free. For more information, contact City of Asheville at 251-1122.
05/02/18 INDIVISIBLE COMMON GROUND - WNC MEETING IN SYLVA
General meeting, free to attend. Held at St. David’s Episcopal Church at 286 Forest Hills Road in Sylva. Time is 6:30 PM. Held on the first Wednesday of the month. No contact information.
05/03/18 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Sierra Club May 3: Wildflowers, Trees & Critters. The Sierra Club has an outstanding program planned for May: “Wildflowers, Trees and Critters,” featuring guest speaker Scott Dean. A walk leader and featured speaker for the UNC-Asheville Wildflower Pilgrimage from 1995 until 2015, Dean has led wildlife and wildflower walks at the Western North Carolina Nature Center, where he worked for a year building the cougar and bobcat habitats. Scott Dean offers a program that focuses on “Wildflowers, Trees & Critters” and how they work together in the natural environment. He’ll look at three seasons in the southern Appalachians, previewing what will be happening out in the woods over the course of the next six months. Date: Thursday, May 3, 2018. Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Location: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place in Asheville. This event is free and open to the public. A walk leader and featured speaker for the UNC-Asheville Wildflower Pilgrimage from 1995 until 2015, Dean has led wildlife and wildflower walks at the Western North Carolina Nature Center, where he worked for a year building the cougar and bobcat habitats. A former First Vice President of the Friends of the Nature Center, he developed curricula and teaches field classes for the Blue Ridge Naturalist program at the N. C. Arboretum. For more information, contact Judy Mattox, judymattox@sbcglobal.net, (828) 683-2176.
05/03/18 SAVE OUR VETERANS ADMINISTRATION STANDOUT
From Bruce Macdonald, member of Veterans for Peace, Chapter 099: A Save Our VA standout at Charles George VA Medical Center, 1100 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC, has been scheduled for Thursday, May 3, from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in front of the hospital.Rep. Mark Meadows, NC-11, is a co-sponsor of the Veterans Empowerment Act (H.R. 4457) which will dismantle the Veterans Health Administration and move the VA toward an insurance-based system. The Save Our VA standout at Charles George VA Medical Center, 1100 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC, has been scheduled for next Thursday, May 3, from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in front of the medical center/hospital. These are the times when I think we will get the maximum traffic in and out of the hospital - and Tunnel Rd is a busy street. I met today with Christine Surrette, President of AFGE Local 446, the union that represents Charles George employees. She is very happy we are doing this and will encourage her members to join us. AFGE (American Federation of Government Employees) is a partner with VFP in conducting these Save Our VA demonstrations around the country. Plus we will have a banner from Carolina Veterans Peace Coalition, a new veterans group that has formed in Hendersonville. To hold the banners and flags (US, NC and VFP) we will need a critical mass of 9 people. Of course, the more the better. We have flyers to hand out. And if you can't make both morning and afternoon standouts, I hope that you can make one of them. Of course, friends and supporters are welcome and appreciated. Rep. Mark Meadows is a co-sponsor of the Veterans Empowerment Act (H.R. 4457) which will dismantle the Veterans Health Administration and move the VA toward an insurance-based system. This action on May 3 is our first salvo. I think it will be a real morale boost for VA employees. For more information, contact Bruce Macdonald at bmacd47@gmail.com.
05/03/18 BENEFIT FOR CHILDREN FIRST/COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS
Proceeds from the trivia contest “are you smarter than an elementary student?” will benefit Children First/Communities in Schools. $300-420 per team of 4 to 6 people. $30 cheerleader ticket. Held at New Belgium Brewery at 21 Craven Street in Asheville. Time is 6:30 PM. No contact information.
05/04/18 DOCUMENTARY AT UNCA
“Beneath the Veneer,” a documentary about opportunity, success and inequity which focuses on the local program My Daddy Taught Me That, will be screened as part of OLLI at UNC Asheville's More Than a Month series. Date: 5/4/18 and time: 2:00 pm. Location: Reuter Center. This is a free event, open to everyone. The series is organized by OLLI's Inclusion Committee, which promotes inclusion of people from diverse backgrounds in all OLLI programs and partners with people from diverse backgrounds to offer culturally rich programs, activities and events. The committee has planned “More Than a Month” programs to address issues of race and inclusion locally and nationally, with the understanding that we want to address these issues more than once a month. These programs are designed to provide meaningful ways to understand and respond to the issues of race that continue to divide us and to define our civic and political discourse. Contact for this event is OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.
05/04/18 PRESENTATION AT UNCA
OLLI More than a Month series - Tranzmission Presentation. Date is 05/04/18 and time is 2:00 pm-5:00 pm. Location is the Reuter Center. Free. The More Than A Month series created by members of OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville, who have come together to promote and celebrate inclusivity at OLLI, develop partnerships with people of all backgrounds, and raise awareness among fellow OLLI members and the greater Asheville community of issues of concern to minority communities. Contact for this event is OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.
05/05/18 RIVER CLEAN UP WITH SIERRA CLUB
River Clean Up Saturday, May 5, 1 pm. Contact: Richard Kark at karkra@uwec.edu. Canoes & equipment provided. We will be cleaning an area of the French Broad River near New Belgium brewery for roughly 2-3 hours, and then celebrate Cinco de Mayo! All you need is a water bottle and suitable clothes/shoes for the river & mud.
05/06/18 FORUM ON FOSSIL FREE LIVING
Sunday, May 6, 3 - 5:30 pm, Habitat Tavern, 174 Broadway: “Go Fossil Free!” - 350 Asheville, our local chapter of 350.org, invites the public to a free forum, with speakers from local solar companies and weatherization specialists on how to go renewable. Also learn about “NC CleanPath 2025” a blueprint for getting NC off fossil fuels; updates on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline; and the movement to get the city of Asheville's money out of fossil fuel investments. For more information, contact Cathy at cathyfholt@gmail.com.
05/08/18 PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IN NORTH CAROLINA
05/08/18 PRESENTATION AT UNCA
The History and Legacy of Lynching in North Carolina, part one: The Past is Not Past, presented by Seth Kotch,is a free event open to everyone. Date: 5/8/18 and time: 9:00 am. Location is the Reuter Center. The History and Legacy of Lynching in North Carolina, part one: The Past is Not Past, presented by Seth Kotch,is a free event open to everyone. Seth Kotch is assistant professor of digital humanities in the Department of American Studies at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He and Professor Elijah Gaddis direct The Red Record project that, with undergraduate historians, creates a web-based record of lynching in the South. This Hot Topics presentation is part of OLLI at UNC Asheville's Race in Black and White programming for the spring term 2018. As part of OLLI's College for Seniors theme term on race and ongoing initiatives to create relevant and timely programming, we present a series of lectures and events to supplement the courses offered this spring. The lectures are free and open to everyone, and all are scheduled for the Manheimer Room. Contact for this event is OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.
05/09/18 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND ACTIONS MEETING IN ASHEVILLE
Want to learn more about local, state and national environmental issues? Join us for our monthly Environmental Issues & Actions Meetings, the second Wednesday of each month from 6:00 – 7:30 PM, upstairs at The Wedge Foundation Brewery, 5 Foundy Street, next to 12 Bones Restaurant in the River Arts District in Asheville. Contact Ken at kenbrame10@gmail.com or 828-423-8045 for more information.
05/11/18 HABITAT FOR HUMANITY EVENT
For the 11th year, Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s are engaging women nationwide to work together to build Habitat homes during this year’s National Women Build Week from May 5-13, 2018. On Friday, May 11th Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s will host a special volunteer work day where volunteers will work alongside future homeowner Ashley Blankenship on Women Build House #13 and then celebrate together. At 12noon, they’ll share a potluck lunch and there will be a short speaking program, which will include remarks from renowned cookbook author and homesteader Ashley English of Small Measure. Ashley’s messages relating to the power of home, sustainable living, and self-reliance, echo the work of Habitat and the belief that home is the key to building strength, stability and self-reliance. The media is invited to attend.
05/11/18 ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM NIGHT IN ASHEVILLE
On Friday, May 11th, we are screening an important environmental documentary “The Age of Consequences,” at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville. “The Age of Consequences” investigates the impacts of climate change on increased resource scarcity, migration, and conflict through the lens of US national security and global stability. Through unflinching case-study analysis, distinguished admirals, generals and military veterans take us beyond the headlines of the conflict in Syria, the social unrest of the Arab Spring, the rise of radicalized groups like ISIS, border walls, and the European refugee crisis - and lay bare how climate change interacts with other socio-political factors to exacerbate societal ten- sions and spark conflict. Environmental & Social Justice Film Night Friday, May 11th, at 7 PM. Location is the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at One Edwin Place in north Asheville. There is no charge for viewing the film. Donations are welcome. Contact Charles Wussow at 612 860-6628 for more information.
05/12/18 MOTHERS DAY FOR PEACE GATHERING
Mothers' Day for Peace Gathering - Proclaiming the Original Meaning of the Holiday. Sponsored by Veterans for Peace, Chapter 099. “Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience” by Julia Ward Howe - poet, author, abolitionist, advocate for women suffrage (1819-1910). Date is Saturday, May 12th at 11 AM. Location is Veterans’ Memorial at the Northeast Corner of Pack Square Park. A gathering to proclaim and remember the original meaning of Mother's Day and to unite/empower women in their efforts to eliminate war and the causes of war. In 1870, Julia Ward Howe, an abolitionist and the poet who wrote the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” worked to establish a Mother's Peace Day dedicated to the eradication of war. Her proclamation calls on all women to arise, demanding disarmament and an end to war. Today, many parts of the world are engulfed in wars. Since the founding of the United States in 1776, our country has been at war during 214 out of its 242 calendar years. All humanity is in dire need of better ways to resolve conflict. Militarism is killing us and the interdependent web of all life on Earth. The program will include: Reading of the original Mother's Day proclamation; Reflections of a mother whose two sons served in the U.S. Infantry; Presentation of the “Lost Children Project,” honoring children around the world who have been victims of war; and thoughts of a father striving to instill peacemaking skills in his children and a call to action – what each of us can do to end the scourge of war. Join with others who dream of and work for a more just and peaceful world. Mothers, wives, sisters and daughters have a powerful love for humanity, a strength Julia Ward Howe understood more than a century ago. The event is free and open to the public. In case of rain, the observance will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak Street in downtown Asheville. Signs and banners promoting peace are welcome as are hand outs about local efforts for justice and peace. Bring your own folding chair if seating is needed. For more information on this event, contact Rachael Bliss, VFP member, at 828-505-9425.
05/14/18 AUTHOR EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
John Dear will present “They Will Inherit the Earth: Peace & Nonviolence in a Time of Climate Change.” May 14, 7-8:30pm at First Presbyterian Church at 40 Church Street in Asheville. Gather with others to hear John Dear discuss his new book. Books will be sold and signed at the event - no tickets required. Co-sponsored by FPCA & Creation Care Alliance of WNC. In this landmark work, author, activist, and Nobel peace prize nominee Father John Dear connects the way of active nonviolence with solidarity with Creation, and shows how our global epidemic of violence and war could only lead to catastrophic climate change. He cites Jesus’ third Beatitude as the basis for his meditation: “Blessed are the meek, they will inherit the earth.” Thomas Merton said “meekness” was the biblical word for “nonviolence” (in the Gandhi/King sense), so Dear reflects how Jesus connected nonviolence with oneness with creation, how he practiced nonviolence and lived at one with creation, and how we need to do the same. For more information, contact Scott Hardin-Nieri at Scott@creationcarealliance.org.
05/15/18 NAKBA DAY COMMEMORATION AND PROTEST OF EMBASSY MOVE TO JERUSALEM
This will be from 4 to 7 PM at Vance Monument. Groups sponsoring this include Just Peace Israel/Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Palestinian Solidarity Committee. More information to come.
05/15/18 UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION - WEST NORTH CAROLINA
6:30 Socializing, 7 - 8 pm meeting. Our mission is to support the United Nations efforts working for a peaceful, inclusive and sustainable world and to promote local understanding of this important international organization. UNCA Zageir Hall 243 - parking is readily available and free. For more information contact Dot at dsulock@unca.edu.
05/15/18 PRESENTATION AT UNCA
The History and Legacy of Lynching in North Carolina, part two: A Game Called Salisbury. Date is 05/15/18 from 11:30 am-1:30 pm. Location is the Reuter Center - Manheimer Room. The History and Legacy of Lynching in North Carolina, part two: A Game Called Salisbury – with Susan Barringer Wells, author of A Game Called Salisbury: The Spinning of a Southern Tragedy and the Myths of Race; and with Dwight Mullen, UNC Asheville professor of political science, is free and open to everyone. Susan Barringer Wells, in her book A Game Called Salisbury, weaves century-old news reports and oral history into a family saga of tragic proportion. Her teenaged ancestor Addie Lyerly discovered the gruesome scene of her family’s murder. For the crime, Jack Dillingham, Nease Gillespie and teenager John Gillespie were taken from a jail cell to an oak tree in Salisbury, North Carolina, where they were lynched and mutilated. The heinous act spawned a children’s game of ropes and make believe. What actually happened on the night of August 6, 1906, may have been the game’s first folly. Come learn from the author about a relatively unknown chapter in North Carolina’s history. We will also consider the lasting legacy of lynching with special guest speaker Dr. Dwight Mullen, professor of political science at UNC Asheville. This Hot Topics presentation is part of OLLI at UNC Asheville's Race in Black and White programming for the spring term 2018. As part of OLLI's College for Seniors theme term on race and ongoing initiatives to create relevant and timely programming, we present a series of lectures and events to supplement the courses offered this spring. The lectures are free and open to everyone, and all are scheduled for the Manheimer Room. Contact for this event is OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.
05/19/18 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING
Annual Meeting Announced by LWV Admin. The League's annual luncheon is a two-fold event: There is a speaker event open to the public and then the League will hold its annual membership meeting to vote on budget, priorities and governance matters for 2018-2019. You can attend just the speaker portion. Keynote speaker is Leann Melton. Buncombe County public defender Leann Melton will speak on punishing the poor: people who remain incarcerated due to an inability to pay court fees. NC fees are among the most daunting, even with a constitution that says “there shall be no imprisonment for debt” and a prohibition against “punishing a person for his poverty.” Most states bar courts from using fees to raise revenue for government more broadly. Leann has been active in the fight to prevent the ongoing cycle of the modern day debtor's prison. Agenda- 11:30 am is Check-in/Registration & open buffet, opening remarks followed by presentation of the Yvette Wessell Award and then introduction of the keynote speaker, Leann Melton. There will be a short break and then the membership meeting starts at 12:50 pm. Event Details- Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 11:30-1:30 pm at Doubletree Biltmore at 115 Hendersonville Road in Asheville. Cost: $25. Please RSVP by emailing us at info@lwvab.org to let us know that you will be attending and pay when you arrive, or go to the website for the LWV Asheville-Buncombe and register and pay there. You do not need to let us know if you will only be attending only the speaker portion.
05/20/18 NC JUSTICE CENTER FUNDRAISER
Join Us! May 20 4:00 to 6:00 pm. The Justice Center’s mission is a simple but daunting one: the elimination of poverty in North Carolina. The strategy is smart and comprehensive, employing a multi-issue, multi-strategy approach to ensure the creation of an economy that works for everyone. This includes education in order to increase public and political will to advance progressive, inclusive policies that advance equity and opportunity. Please join us in Asheville for a reception to support the work of the NC Justice Center. Featuring Rick Glazier, Executive Director of the NC Justice Center at the home of Senator Terry and Ted Van Duyn in Asheville, NC. Sunday, May 20, 2018 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Please contact Kim-Marie McLellan at kim_marie@ncjustice.org with any questions.
05/24/18 ACLU EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
This is on Thursday, May 24 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Location is Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College at 340 Victoria Road in Asheville. Right to discriminate? It’s about more than cake. Join the ACLU of North Carolina, the Cato Institute, and the law firm of Deutsch and Gottschalk for an important conversation about LGBTQ equality, the First Amendment, and nondiscrimination laws. ACLU of North Carolina Legal Director Chris Brook and Cato Institute Chairman Bob Levy will debate the pending U.S. Supreme Court case Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which asks whether a business open to the public has a constitutional right to discriminate. No contact information.
06/02/18 COMMUNITY BILL OF RIGHTS KICKOFF
Saturday June 2nd 2018 7pm-10pm. Community Bill of Rights Kick-Off Party. Join us to celebrate the launch of Asheville’s first Community Bill of Rights. Stand with us in taking back our power, asserting our rights for local self-governance and building a world where People and Planet come before Profits. The Community Bill of Rights is a City ordinance that will: enable citizens to prohibit the activities of corporations that pollute our water, air and soil, allow us to make ongoing decisions about where we live, without interference from the State and accelerate the equitable transition to 100% renewable energy. Join us for great music, food, drinks, silent auction and information about how you can get involved in this grassroots movement. $20 suggested donation at the door. Everyone welcome. The Wedge at Foundation. 5 Foundry Street, Asheville. No contact information, but there is a Facebook event.
*******************************************
ONGOING EVENTS
*******************************************
MONDAY
Asheville SURJ weekly meeting at 6:30 pm at UU Congregation in Asheville, downstairs
TUESDAY
Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 4:30 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument
SURJ Discussion at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. 10:30 AM-12 AM. Followed by Do!sessions from 12:30-2:30 PM Meet at Kairos West for later session.
Rally at historic Courthouse in Hendersonville at 5 PM on the first Tuesday of the month. Organized by the Progressive Organized Women.
Socialism! The Reading Group is at 6 PM at Firestorm on the second Tuesday of the month.
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. Also Tranzmission Prison Project meeting to send packages of books and zines for mailing to prisons across the US.
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.
Progressive Women of Hendersonville hold a letter/postcard writing to government representatives from 4 to 7 PM at Sanctuary Brewing Company at 147 First Avenue 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.
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.
Political Prisoner Letter Writing Night at 5 PM at Firestorm on the first Sunday of the month.
*******************************************
ACTIONS AND READINGS
*******************************************
From Will Griffin's The Peace Report:
Since the Korean Peace deal has been announced, weapons manufacturers have been losing money. America’s five largest “defense” companies lost over $10 billion on just Friday alone. Here’s a short list companies and numbers:
Lockheed Martin: -2.5%
Northrop Grumman: -3.4%
General Dynamics: -3.8%
Raytheon: -3.6%
Boeing: -1%
No one else is talking about this, certainly no corporate media outlets.
************************
Be a Leader for Racial Equity. Join the City of Asheville’s Human Relations Commission
MountainTrue is committed to advancing racial equity and we encourage eligible MountainTrue members to join the City of Asheville’s new Human Relations Commission. Download the flyer to learn about Commission duties, selection criteria and the application process. The deadline for applications is Monday, May 14 at 5:00 p.m. Applicants must submit both a regular commission application and the Human Relations Commission form. For more information contact Sarah Terwilliger at sterwilliger@ashevillenc.gov or (828) 259-5839.
************************
