UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER
01/16/17 PEACE MARCH AND RALLY FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY
On Monday, Jan. 16, the official King Holiday, a Peace March and Rally takes place beginning at 11:30 AM at St. James AME Church at Martin Luther King Drive and Hildebrand Street in downtown Asheville, followed at noon by a march to City-County Plaza and rally and peace speeches. Everyone is invited. Please bring signs and banners. The theme of this year’s MLK celebrations, “Stand up – Speak out – Unfold the Dream for Today!” focuses attention on the issues that Dr. King fought so hard for during his life, including social and economic justice and affordable housing. That theme will remain the focus of the Peace March and Rally, and the annual Candlelight Service the same evening. The Peace March and Rally commences at St. James AME Church, emceed by Dr. Elizabeth Colton. Uplifting gospel music energizes attendees for the short march to City-County Plaza. Musical selections will be provided by the Redemption Praise Team, under the direction of Mr. Antoine Crawford, and the St. James Praise Team, as well as by Mr. Michael Davis, a student at the University of North Carolina Asheville and winner of the 2015 MLK Scholarship award. Dr. Douglas Luke, Director of Academic Budgeting at UNC Asheville, will explain the purpose of the annual Peace March and Rally, with “marching orders,” by tradition, from MLK Association founder and chairperson Oralene Graves Simmons. Dr. Joseph Fox, MLK Association Board Vice-chair, will serve as Master of Ceremonies at the City-County Plaza rally. Following a welcome by Dr. Luke, three speakers will briefly address issues of interest and concern: Ms. Johnnie Grant, publisher of the Asheville-based monthly, The Urban News; Ms. Deborah Miles, Executive Director of the Center for Diversity Education at UNC Asheville; and Mr. Brandon Priester, Event Technology Support Technician at A-B Technical Community College and a student at UNC Asheville. The popular local group WestSound, led by Randy Westin, will delight the crowd with its signature music stylings. For more information about the Peace March and Rally, contact Dr. Joseph Fox at foxmgtavl@gmail.com.
01/16/17 SERVICE TO HONOR SOCIAL JUSTICE CITIZENS AND ORGANIZATIONS
There will be a candlelight service at Central United Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall to honor area citizens and organizations that have dedicated themselves to the cause of social justice. Time is 6 PM. The church is at 27 Church Street in downtown Asheville. The service will also feature a PowerPoint presentation with vocal performance by Asheville native LaQuanna Hines Edwards, and a solo performance by local singer Damien McDay. Students from Christ School and Francine Delany New School for Children will jointly serve as ushers for the evening. The 2017 Award recipients will be DeWayne Barton, Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Rev. Jazz Cathcart, Melissa Murphy, and Willie Vincent—an inspirational group of citizens who have chosen, in the words of the 2017 MLK Celebration theme, to “Stand Up! Speak Out! and Unfold the Dream for Today!” For more information or details about the Candlelight Service, contact committee chair Karen Cowan at (828) 768-8599.
01/16/17 MEMOIR AS MANIFESTO: REFLECTIONS FOR THE NC BLACK PANTHER PARTY
7th Annual Kenilworth celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is on Monday, January 16 at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church at 123 Kenilworth Road in Asheville. Potluck from 5:30 to 6:30 PM at Kenilworth Center, 4 Chiles Avenue (directly behind church) and the program will begin at 6:30 PM in the Church Sanctuary. Experience an evening with Hazel Mack, Founding member of the Winston- Salem Chapter of the Black Panther Party. The evening’s topic is “Memoir as Manifesto: A Push for Social Justice through Community Service.” Hazel Mack, JD will reflect on her experiences as a member of the Black Panther Party (BPP), her career as a civil rights attorney, and the modern Black Power movement. The Winston-Salem BPP implemented life-saving social programs for the poor and was the first and most prominent BPP chapter in the south. The evening will be hosted by Marvin Chambers a founding member of A.S.C.O.R.E. (Asheville Student Committee on Racial Equality) and an icon of the Civil Rights Movement in North Carolina. DJ Profe$$ah G. will be spinning great tunes, there will be craft projects for children and lots more. Join us as we explore different ideologies and learn about this fascinating chapter in the fight for civil rights in North Carolina. For more information, contact Katie Adams 828-273-3747 or email kenilworthpresbyterianchurch@gmail.com. This is a Facebook event.
01/16/17 GREENWORKS MLK JR DAY OF SERVICE
Join us for a cleanup of Martin Luther King Jr Drive. Meetup at MLK Jr Park for your cleanup supplies. Time is 10 AM to noon. Please e-mail volunteer@ashevillegreenworks.org to sign up.
01/16/17 MOMS DEMAND ACTION MEETING
Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America general meeting. Free. Time is 4:30 PM and location is St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at 337 Charlotte Street in Asheville. No contact info, but they do have a website.
01/16/17 SWANNANOA VALLEY MLK MEMORIAL CORPORATION MEETING
Our meetings are open to the public. We encourage you to join us on the third Monday of each month at the Carver Community Center at 101 Carver Avenue in Black Mountain. Time is 5:30 PM. Check their website for further details.
01/17/17 STANDING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE EVENT
David Greenson will lead this event/meeting at Kairos West at 742 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Time is 7 to 9 PM. Contact David at davidgreenson@gmail.com or (718)809-2132.
01/17/17 DOCUMENTARY “FREEDOM RIDERS” SHOWING AT UNCA
The 2010 documentary film ‘Freedom Riders’ will be screened and discussed at UNCA Highsmith Union in the Grotto at 6 PM. Free. This film examines the role played by more than 400 black and white Americans who risked their lives Challenging Jim Crow laws in the south in 1961.
01/17/17 WNC 4 PEACE MEETING
Time to reconnect and refocus. Let’s begin 2017 with a conversation of how we want to impact peace in our area. Time is 6 PM and location is Earthfare Cafe in Westgate in Asheville. Contact Craig at 561.603.8691 or herbzone@gmail.com for more information.
01/17/17 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE EVENT
Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national network of groups educating and organizing white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice. Asheville SURJ hosts a weekly discussion group on risk-taking, accountability, mutual interest and how to call more white people into racial justice work. Anyone with a passion for working with white people on racial justice is welcome. Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
01/17/17 EQUITY MANAGER POSITION COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING IN ASHEVILLE
As part of the City of Asheville’s effort to expand equity in City services and programs, a new position of Equity Program Manager is being created. This position will be dedicated to helping the City achieve meaningful progress by evaluating delivery of programs and services and its decision-making on how to expand equity. The City has been conducting a series of public meetings to ask for residents’ help in identifying specific skills necessary for an Equity Manager position to be successful. Two meetings have been held to discuss this position and a third is scheduled for 6 to 7:30 PM on January 17 at the Grant Center on Livingston Street. In addition, residents have the option of providing input two other ways until January 18 by logging onto the City’s online engagement platform Open City Hall Asheville to register your feedback or bringing your written input to one of the City’s recreation centers. Center directors will collect the written comments and forward those to be included with information gathered during public meetings and through Open City Hall. Models already exist for creating meaningful equity in local government. In 2006, the City of Seattle implemented what is seen as the first practical effort for a municipality to address institutional racism with its Racial Equity and Social Justice Initiative. North Carolina municipalities that have followed their lead to promote racial equity include Durham, Greensboro and Raleigh. The plan is to have the Equity Manager position filled by May.
01/17/17 NON-MAINSTREAM PERSPECTIVES ON RUSSIAN HACKING
The Topic: All the stuff being said about Russia hacking of the election. About 70 minutes of video commentary/interview recorded from RT (Chris Hedges, Glenn Greenwald) regarding the questionable allegations of Russian hacking will be shown. Time is 6:30 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Barbara at 828-620-5949 for more information.
01/18/17 THE NEW JIM CROW BOOK DISCUSSION
A continuing discussion of Michelle Alexander's book the "The New Jim Crow." Anyone is welcome to jump in anytime. Led by Eryka Lynn Peskin. Time is 6:30 to 8:30 PM and location is Firestorm Books & Coffee at 620 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information. This is a Facebook event.
01/19/17 DEFUND DAPL STRATEGY MEETING
Defund Dakota Access Pipeline (Defund DAPL) strategy meeting. The divestiture movement from South Africa helped bring down apartheid. This pipeline can't be built without millions of dollars from banks. Goal: facilitate people moving their money out of the big banks (Wells Fargo, Bank of America, SunTrust, TD, PNC, Citibank) and into local banks or credit unions. Want to help stop the destructive Dakota Access Pipeline and protect the drinking water for 17 million people? You don't have to go to North Dakota and freeze! Join the #DefundDAPL movement, help us plan next steps. Many folks have no idea where their money is going and are willing to move their account to a credit union or local bank. Time is 5:30 to 7:30 PM and the location is the Block off Biltmore (corner Eagle & Market Streets in downtown Asheville). More info from Cathy at cathyfholt@gmail.com.
01/19/17 EVENING OF DISCOURSE AND COMMUNITY
Asheville Creative Arts and The Magnetic Theatre Announce a Conversation as part of “The Ghostlight Project.’ The Ghostlight Project is a national movement inspired by the tradition of leaving a ‘ghost light’ on in a darkened theater, and on the eve of the presidential inauguration, marks a moment wherein organizations and artists will hold conversations about theatre’s role in sustaining values of inclusion, participation, and compassion for everyone--regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The evening will include a moderated discussion followed by informal conversation around the mission of this movement, its relevance to Asheville artists, and if and how to incorporate these values into our theaters’ work and operations. Time is 5:30 PM and location is Magnetic 375 at 375 Depot Street in Asheville. For more information, please contact Abby Felder at 914/830-3000 or abby@ashevillecreativearts.org.
01/19/17 MLK WEEK KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT UNCA
“Where Do We Go From Here? Chaos or Community.” Free and open to the public. No tickets required. Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough, president of Dillard University in New Orleans, known for his writings on African-Americans and higher education, will provide the keynote address for Martin Luther King Jr. Week activities at UNC Asheville. Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough is the 7th president of Dillard University in New Orleans, and has served in the role since 2012. He previously served as president of Philander Smith College in Little Rock from 2004 until 2012. A native of Atlanta, Dr. Kimbrough was his high school salutatorian and student body president in 1985, and went on to earn degrees from the University of Georgia, Miami University in Ohio, and Georgia State University. He has enjoyed a fulfilling career in student affairs, serving at Emory University, Georgia State University, Old Dominion University, and Albany State University. Kimbrough has been recognized for his research and writings on HBCUs and African American men in college. Kimbrough also has been noted for his active use of social media. Dr. Kimbrough has forged a national reputation as an expert on fraternities and sororities, with specific expertise regarding historically Black, Latin and Asian groups. Time is 7 PM and location is Lipinsky Auditorium at UNCA.
01/19/17 AMBASSADOR TRAINING FOR PISGAH LEGAL SERVICES
We will be hosting our next Ambassador Training on Thursday, January 19th from 12 noon to 1:30 PM to provide our board members, volunteers and supporters with an overview of key information about Pisgah Legal Services' programs, plans and fundraising. This is a great opportunity for new board members and volunteers, and anyone interested in learning more, to get an insiders "snapshot" of Pisgah Legal Services. You don't have to be new to attend though!. Ambassador trainings are also a wonderful opportunity for Pisgah Legal staff to hear your insights on how we communicate our messages to the community. We appreciate your participation. Location is Pisgah Legal Services Asheville office at 62 Charlotte Street. Please RSVP to Brent at brent@pisgahlegal.org or 828.210.3405 to let us know if you plan to attend and if you would like lunch. Please let us know if you have a lunch preference or dietary restrictions (vegetarian, salad, etc).
01/20/17 CREATION CARE ACTION FOR THE FIRST 100 DAYS
Will you join us for music, prayer, intention-setting and refreshments? The Creation Care Alliance recognizes that this season, particularly in light of our national politics, does not bode well for God's creatures. The first 100 days of any administration is a time period in which policy and practice are laid out. We are inviting people and communities of faith to initiate 100 acts of creation care in the first 100 days of the new administration as part of a national campaign with GreenFaith. The campaign runs from Inauguration Day on January 20 to April 29. The 100 days will end on April 29th with the People's Climate March in Washington, DC. The Creation Care Alliance and MountainTrue are offering many opportunities during this time, but we also want to hear about your intentions, so we can reach our goal of 100 experiences, events, prayers, advocacy letters/calls, actions. Also, you can share your events and stories publicly on the Facebook group page. Join us as we mark the beginning of these 100 days with a gathering time of words, ritual, and commitments while the sun is setting. Time is 5 to 7 PM and location is Lenior-Rhyne University at 36 Montford Avenue in downtown Asheville. For more information, contact Scott at scott@creationcarealliance.org.
01/20/17 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, 299-1242.
01/20/17 INAUGURATION PROTESTS / GENERAL STRIKE
We cannot mark the occasion of President Trump's inauguration by just going about business as usual. We need a day of intentional resistance to Trump's reactionary agenda, and a demonstration of OUR power as regular people: students, workers, participants in our communities and economies. All day long, we will resist the ‘peaceful transfer of power’ and reject normalization of racism, misogyny, homophobia, corporate dominance, and intensified state repression; we will celebrate and deepen connections between and across our communities, share knowledge and resources, and offer support and solidarity to those most under threat from the incoming administration. January 20 is only the beginning. We are kicking off ongoing resistance and building our communities and networks for the struggles to come.
**Tentative Schedule of Events**
10 AM - Gather at Pritchard Park. Bring signs. Dress for the cold.
1 PM- Free lunch at Kairos West (610 Haywood road, downstairs) hosted by 12 Baskets
2-7 PM - Workshops, tabling, community-building at Firestorm (610 Haywood Road, upstairs). Check back later for full schedule of workshops & activities. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
5-6 PM - Potluck dinner at Kairos West, sponsored by Food Not Bombs.
9 PM-Midnight - Dance party benefit w/ DJ Malinalli @ the Lazy Diamond. 21+, $5-$20 sliding scale.
01/20/17 FORWARD TOGETHER ASHEVILLE
We are planning, with friends around the country, to gather in our respective capitals and larger metropolitan areas on January 20th, 2017. Together we will take a stand on behalf of common decency. The event will be a “PRO” event. Pro- LGBTQ+, people of color, women, people with disabilities, people of all faiths/religions or none, our environment, our civil liberties, our humanity. The march / sit-in will stand as a peaceful statement that we are the people that have been attacked and their allies, and we will not be intimidated. This day is not about politics. This day is about humanity. This day is about inclusion, love, tolerance, and peace. This day is about being heard. We will be heard. We will not be marginalized. Human rights are for every American and we will ensure every American has the same rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This day is not about politics. We will move forward together on this day and every day. We will be heard. Time is 11 AM to 4 PM and location is Pack Square. This is a Facebook event.
01/20/17 ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM AT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST IN ASHEVILLE
Environmental & Social Justice Film “Seed: The Untold Story” will be shown on Friday, January 20th at 7 PM. Location is the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at the corner of Charlotte and Edwin Streets. This is open to the public. No charge, donations are welcome. Few things on Earth are as miraculous and vital as seeds. Worshipped and treasured since the dawn of humankind. “Seed: The Untold Story” follows passionate seed keepers protecting our 12,000 year-old food legacy. In the last century, 94% of our seed varieties have disappeared. As biotech chemical companies control the majority of our seeds, farmers, scientists, lawyers, and indigenous seed keepers fight a David and Goliath battle to defend the future of our food. Contact Charlie at 612-860-6628 for more information.
01/20/17 GET WORK, STAY WOKE
This is a weekly safe space offered by the UU congregation of Asheville for people who are seeking to center the movement for Black Lives and seek support on the journey. All are welcome, regardless of where you are on your journey, as long as you are supportive of the movement for Black Lives. Time is 10 AM to noon and location is UU Congregation of Asheville at Charlotte and Edwin Streets. For more info about this weekly group, contact the UUCA office or Elizabeth Schell: elizabeth@lainschell.com.
01/21/17 WOMEN’S MARCH ON ASHEVILLE
In solidarity with the Women's March on Washington, community members will march peacefully to show our new administration that we stand with our families and friends for the protection of our rights, safety, and health. We recognize that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our democratic society. All who support the march's goals are welcome to join this peaceful gathering. Our mayor of Asheville, Esther Manheimer, will be opening our Women's March on Asheville. Other speakers will join us. Time is 11 AM to 1PM. Meet at Pack Square (Vance Monument). For more information, email WomensMarchAVL@gmail.com or call/TXT 828-338-3028. This is a Facebook event.
01/21/17 WOMEN’S MARCH ON WASHINGTON GALA
Let’s all gather in Asheville in support of The Women's March on Washington on the day after the inauguration. Time is 1 to 3 PM and location is Jubilee at 36 Wall Street in downtown Asheville. Intention: let's gather being mindful, prayerful, peaceful, non-violent, and lawful. We gather bringing our light and our love, standing in our power while sending light and love locally and throughout the United States and the world. Please bring sage, tobacco, sweet grass. Annelinde and the Sahara Peace Choir will lead us in song. For questions or more information please email Nancy at nancydetw@aol.com.
01/21/17 DOCUMENTARY SCREENING OF ‘THE BURDEN’
“The Burden” tells the story from the perspective of our military forces of how our dependence on fossil fuels creates a long-term national security threat, and how the military is leading our transition away from oil. Panel discussion to follow film. This is presented by Citizen’s Climate Lobby. Tickets are $10. Time is noon and location is the Grail Moviehouse at 45 South French Broad Avenue in downtown Asheville. Call 828-239-9392 or email grailmoviehouse@gmail.com for more information.
01/21/17 FRENCH BROAD RIVER CLEAN UP
If you have ever boated on section 8, you know what an amazing stretch of the French Broad lies between Redmon Dam and Barnard, unfortunately the Redmond Dam public access is almost always completely trashed. This is the first known clean-up at Redmon Dam, and it's happening on Saturday January 21 at 10 AM. RiverLink is leading a cleanup of litter on the banks of the River near Redmon Dam (map). RiverLink will provide all materials. Volunteers are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get dirty. We will meet at Blue Heron Whitewater at 35 Little Pine Road in Marshall at 10 AM and caravan to the worksite. This event should wrap up around 1 PM. Contact RiverLink's Dave Russell with questions at 828-545-9099 or dave@riverlink.org.
01/21/17 GREENWORKS ROADSIDE AND GREENWAY CLEANUP
Join us for a roadside cleanup of Lyman Street, Riverside Drive and the new French Broad Greenway in the River Arts District in Asheville. Meet at 30 Riverside Drive (Parking lot across from Jean Webb Park). Time is 10 AM to 1 PM. We will provide gloves, bags, and water. Please e-mail volunteer@ashevillegreenworks.org to sign up.
01/21/17 TRANSFORMATION HAS BEGUN
The transformation has begun. Maitreya, the world teacher, is in the world. Rise of people power. Economic, social, environmental justice. Signs/miracles. Free presentation. Time is 2 PM and location is Asheville Friends Meeting House at 227 Edgewood Road in Asheville. Call 398-0609 for more information.
01/22/17 BOOK CLUB MEETING
Beginning in January 2017, Christians For A United Community will sponsor a monthly Book Club and discussion series. The book used will be “The Third Reconstruction” by Dr. William Barber, which focuses on the justice movement in our current times. The Book Club will meet once per month on the fourth Sunday of each month from 2:00-3:30 at St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at 135 Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. The Book Club is open to anyone interested in being a part of the discussion. Participants are asked to supply their own copy of the book. Persons interested in joining the Book Club are asked to register at cucasheville@bellsouth.net , at the CUC Facebook page, or by calling 828-254-4884. Deadline for registration is January 15th.
01/22/17 DOCUMENTARY SCREENING OF ‘WE THE PEOPLE 2.0’
Join us for a screening of the groundbreaking documentary, “We the People 2.0” followed by discussion with a representative of CELDF (Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund), in collaboration with Tree Media. The story unfolds through the eyes of rural people who have faced decades of toxic dumping, drilling and mining in their communities. We learn with them that the reason why, in spite of all their efforts, they “get what they don’t want, again and again,” is because the community doesn’t have the legal authority to say “No.” The US has become an oligarchy, run by the corporate few who ignore the rights and will of the people. In this documentary, meet the people are frontally challenging our corporate state; thereby saving nature and themselves. Donations for the screening are appreciated and will help pay for speaker’s mileage expenses. Time is 5 to 7:30 PM and location is The Block Off Biltmore at the corner of Market and Eagle Streets in downtown Asheville. Call 828-254-9277 for more information.
01/23/17 DOCUMENTARY SCREENING OF ‘DEMOCRACY FOR SALE’
North Carolina — perhaps more than any other state in the Union — has been transformed by the new and growing tidal wave of political spending. America Divided travels with Zach Galifianakis, the comic star of the Hangover movies, back to his home state to investigate how North Carolina has become a bellwether for how the money of a few has come to dominate our democracy. Galifianakis investigates allegations that the current state government was put in power by moneyed interests and has thus carried out a program that only benefits its backers: cuts to education, healthcare spending and environmental protection; lowering of taxes for the wealthy and corporations; and the passage of laws designed to roll back access to the ballot. Join us for a free screening of this important film. This film investigates why NC has had so many cuts to education, healthcare and environmental protections. Time is 7 PM and location is the A K Hinds University Center at WCU in Cullowhee. Contact Amy at amy@appvoices.org for more information.
01/23/17 BUILDING BRIDGES
This winter 2017 session of Building Bridges will take place on Monday nights beginning January 23rd at MAHEC’s campus at 121 Hendersonville Road in Asheville. This series is offered to people on the waiting list from previous session. To add your name to the waiting list, go to their website. Contact info@buildingbridges-ashevillenc.org for more information.
01/24/17 ASHEVILLE STANDING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE MASS MEETING
This will be an open meeting where we will be introducing working groups and planning for the coming year. SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals organizing White people for racial justice. Time is 6 to 9 PM and location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at Edwin Place and Charlotte Street in north Asheville. This is a Facebook event.
01/24/17 OCCUPY WNC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Occupy WNC General Assembly will be held at 7 PM at The Sneak E Squirrel Community Room at 1315 W Main Street in Sylva. For more information, contact Lucy at (828)743-9747 or lucy.christopher42@gmail.com.
01/24/17 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE EVENT
Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national network of groups educating and organizing white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice. Asheville SURJ hosts a weekly discussion group on risk-taking, accountability, mutual interest and how to call more white people into racial justice work. Anyone with a passion for working with white people on racial justice is welcome. Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
01/24/17 LUNCH AND LEARN WITH NAACP CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE
Ian Mance, Criminal Justice Attorney, Southern Coalition for Social Justice Durham, NC will disseminate Asheville Traffic Stop Data compiled by the N.C. Dept. of Justice, on January 24 from 12 Noon to 2:30 PM at the Edington Center, 133 Livingston Street in Asheville. To register call (828) 275-6217. For questions and NAACP membership information, call (828) 255-4453, or send an email to 4ward2getherCall2Action@gmail.com.
01/25/17 DOCUMENTARY SCREENING OF ‘DEMOCRACY FOR SALE’
North Carolina — perhaps more than any other state in the Union — has been transformed by the new and growing tidal wave of political spending. America Divided travels with Zach Galifianakis, the comic star of the Hangover movies, back to his home state to investigate how North Carolina has become a bellwether for how the money of a few has come to dominate our democracy. Galifianakis investigates allegations that the current state government was put in power by moneyed interests and has thus carried out a program that only benefits its backers: cuts to education, healthcare spending and environmental protection; lowering of taxes for the wealthy and corporations; and the passage of laws designed to roll back access to the ballot. Join us for a free screening of this important film. This film investigates why NC has had so many cuts to education, healthcare and environmental protections. Time is 7 PM and location is the Grail Moviehouse at 45 South French Broad Avenue in downtown Asheville. Call 828-239-9392 or email grailmoviehouse@gmail.com for more information.
01/25/17 CITIZENS LOBBYING WORKSHOP IN ASHEVILLE
The Canary Coalition will conduct this valuable workshop, useful for any grassroots advocates interested in introducing and/or promoting legislation in the North Carolina General Assembly. Learn about legislative procedures, the importance and functionality of committees, the role of legislative leadership, the significance of deadlines. Learn the best methods of approach to legislators and how to build support to help influence their decisions. This workshop will use two bills being proposed in this legislative session (2017) as examples of how to approach legislators: (1)The Efficient and Affordable Energy Rates Bill (will create a progressive utility rate structure and an Energy Efficient Bank in North Carolina) and (2) The We The People Act (will create a ballot measure allowing voters to tell Congress to pass a Constitutional Amendment declaring that money is not speech and corporations are not people). This workshop is FREE to the public (a service of The Canary Coalition, a 501c3 non-profit, grassroots organization). Time is 1 to 3 PM and location is 56 Ravenscroft Drive in Asheville. Please RSVP to info@canarycoalition.org or call 828-631-3447.
01/26/17 FILM SHOWING AND DISCUSSION IN BLACK MOUNTAIN
The Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Swannanoa Valley is sponsoring a film showing and discussion of “Equal Means Equal” in anticipation of the ERA being introduced in the NC Legislature this session. “Equal Means Equal” offers an unflinching look at how women are treated in the United States today. Examining both real-life stories and precedent-setting legal cases, director Kamala Lopez uncovers how outdated and discriminatory attitudes inform and influence seemingly disparate issues, from workplace harassment to domestic violence, rape and sexual assault to the foster care system, and the healthcare conglomerate to the judicial system. Along the way, she reveals the inadequacy of present laws that claim to protect women, ultimately presenting a compelling and persuasive argument for the urgency of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. Roberta Madden will lead the discussion. Time is 7 PM and location is 500 Montreat Road in Black Mountain, NC. For more information, please call 581-0564.
01/27/17 JUST PEACE FOR ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at 3:15 PM at Brooks-Howell Home on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville. Meet in the media room. Contact Suchi at suchi1025@bellsouth.net for more information.
01/27/17 ANTI-RACISM ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP
A weekly group focused on Standing Up For Racial Justice core values for people beginning to wake up to the impact of white supremacy on our culture and seeking a safe place to begin to talk about it. Time is 10 AM and location is 23 Edwin Place, next to Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lainschell.com for more information.
01/28/17 MOUNTAINTRUE - SAVE OUR ASHES
Save Our Ashes - Preserve Our Ash Tree Populations for Future Generations. The Emerald Ash Borer is spreading rapidly across our region, destroying ash trees in their wake! To meet the challenge, MountainTrue is launching a “Save Our Ashes” program, and is currently training teams of volunteers to survey and collect data that will help prioritize the preservation of ecologically and culturally significant sites for ash in our area. If you're interested in participating in this valuable survey and helping us with a very important project, be sure you attend the date you sign up for to be properly trained! There you will be taught about the project, how to identify ash trees, and how to use a GPS unit. Trainees will then have the opportunity to survey some of the greatest trails in the region with a team. This day will cover the Bertram Trail in the Nantahala Gorge. Time is 11 AM to 4 PM. Please email forestkeeper@mountaintrue.org with any questions and to register.
01/28/17 COTHINKK ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE EVENT
CoThinkk is proud to announce its Annual Membership Drive Kickoff Event to our friends and neighbors! Please join us for a meet and greet to continue to introduce CoThinkk, a giving circle dedicated to collectively investing time, talent, and treasure to address some of the most critical social and community issues affecting African-American and Latinx communities in Asheville and Western North Carolina. This event marks an important milestone as we gear up for the new year and provides a unique opportunity to hear more about CoThinkk, what’s ahead for our collective work, learn more about how to become a member, and meet CoThinkk members that have been involved over the past two years! Please RSVP by January 19th and please like us on FB (CoThinkk) and Twitter@mscothinkk. Thank You,Tracey Greene-Washington & The CoThinkk Team. Time is 3 to 5 PM and location is The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design at 67 Broadway in downtown Asheville. Go to this link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cothinkk-annual-membership-drive-kickoff-event-tickets-30522375246?aff=efbnreg
01/28/17 SANCTUARY MEETING
“Sanctuary: a Partnership Between Immigrant Communities and Faith Communities” English/Spanish translation provided. Childcare provided. Join us for discussion of sanctuary’s: role in the larger immigrant rights movement, its history and its objectives and goals. Help us explore crucial questions: Who is seeking sanctuary? Who leads sanctuary? How do faith communities declare sanctuary? What are the logistics of sanctuary? What are the legal risks of sanctuary and who is taking them? Co-conveners: BeLoved Asheville, CIMA- Compañeros Inmigrantes de las Montañas en Acción, Circle of Mercy Congregation, Land of the Sky United Church of Christ, Nuestro Centro, Saint Eugene Catholic Church and The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit. Time is 2 to 4 PM and location is Grace Episcopal Church at 871 Merrimon Avenue in north Asheville. For more information and to RSVP call or email Bill Ramsey at 828-319-7652 or billramsey3@gmail.com.
01/29/17 COMEDY FOR A CAUSE
A Benefit for Read To Succeed Asheville. Join Read To Succeed Asheville (R2S) on January 29th at 2 PM for an afternoon of laughs and entertainment with local stand-up comic, Randy Robins. Randy is a native New Yorker who teaches comedy writing and performing classes, as well as film classes that feature some of the comedians that have influenced him (including Mel Brooks, Sid Caesar, Woody Allen and Billy Crystal). Randy regularly performs for companies, schools and camps throughout Western North Carolina and New York and is donating his time and talents to Read To Succeed. This event will be held at the Reuter Center (OLLI) on the UNCA Campus in room 102. Read To Succeed is a local non-profit committed to tackling the serious issue of Asheville’s Achievement Gap. R2S provides trained volunteer tutors to at-risk children in our public elementary schools who struggle to read. Read To Succeed’s proven results offers these students hope for a productive future through one-on-one intervention and phonics- and multisensory-based instruction. Admission is free, but donations at the door are welcome and encouraged.
01/30/17 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE
In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis asks, “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” Moving beyond scientific consensus on climate change, Pope Francis invites us to recognize “the rich contribution which the religions can make towards an integral ecology and the full development of humanity.” Despite disturbing ecological news, daunting challenges presented today by technology and excessive self-centeredness, as well as growing injustices visited upon the poor analyzed in this encyclical, Francis nevertheless threads a heartening message of hope through the entire document. Join the Creation Care Alliance’s Chas Jansen and Susan Presson as we read the Pope’s Encyclical Laudato Si’ — On Care for Our Common Home, one chapter at a time with discussion questions available in advance. Six Monday evening classes will focus on climate science, creation gospel, humanity’s role, “Integral Ecology,” policy directions, and changing within. The last class will be March 13th. There is no cost. For more information, contacts are Chas Jansen at Chas.Jansen@mtsu.edu and Susan Presson at 4pressons@gmail.com. Mondays starting January 30 for six Mondays from 7 to 8:30 PM. Location is Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Conference Room at 789 Merrimon Avenue in north Asheville.
01/31/17 COMMUNITY MEETING FOR WALTON POOL
This meeting is not actually being hosted by ASURJ, but we are sharing as a Facebook event in order to help get the word out. The event is one that the city is holding in order to hear from residents about reports and potential changes to the plan for the Walton Street pool. The Walton Street pool is at risk of losing the funding it was promised by the citizens and city of Asheville. This community meeting is being held from 6 to 7:30 PM. Light refreshments served at 5:30 PM. It will be held at the Arthur R. Edington Center; 133 Livingston Street. We are asking people to help get the word out about the meeting and to show up and listen and help hold the city accountable to its commitments to the community. For more information contact:
parks@ashevillenc.gov. This is a Facebook event.
01/31/17 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE EVENT
Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is a national network of groups educating and organizing white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice. Asheville SURJ hosts a weekly discussion group on risk-taking, accountability, mutual interest and how to call more white people into racial justice work. Anyone with a passion for working with white people on racial justice is welcome. Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
02/01/17 STEM LECTURE AT UNCA
The STEM series of lectures is an interdisciplinary program that covers a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. Each lecture provides the lecturer with the opportunity to share his/her work, present new ideas for feedback, learn new ideas that participants can use, and introduce students to exciting areas to explore. The lectures are all scheduled in the Reuter Center, room 102A, from 4:30 to 6 PM, and are free and open to the public. The lecture is “The National Centers for Environmental Information and Climate Change”, by David Easterling, NCEI.
02/04/17 SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Sierra Club presents Drew Jones of Climate Interactive on February 4 at 7:00 PM. Recently returned from the UN Climate Summit in Marrakech, Drew will use simulations to focus on how various regional actions are combining for success. This talk is called “Grounded Hope for the Climate.” This event is free and open to the public. Location is the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at 1 Edwin Place in north Asheville (Charlotte Street and Edwin Place). For more information, contact Judy Mattox, 828-683-2176, judymattox@sbcglobal.net.
02/05/17 HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE ALLY - IN BLACK MOUNTAIN
The Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Swannanoa Valley (UUCSV) at 500 Montreat Road in Black Mountain invites the congregation and the community to an hour-long conversation and exploration of ‘How To Be An Effective Ally’, Sunday, February 5, from 12:30 to 1:30 PM in the church's sanctuary. With the recent spike of harassment and hate-activity experienced here and around the country, the need is great for folks to stand by those targeted so no one feels alone in the face of a bigoted remark, workplace discrimination, or outright violence. Our conversation will be led by Monroe Gilmour who has worked with targets and victims of hate activity for nearly thirty years. Monroe will draw on his own work experiences and the Southern Poverty Law Center's Ten Ways to Fight Hate. We hope you will join us for this important, action-oriented conversation. For more information, please call 669-6677.
02/06/17 CITY OF ASHEVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Committee consists of nine members, all appointed by City Council, with representation from specific community sectors. Members shall be residents of the City or the City’s extra- territorial zoning jurisdiction, and shall reflect the socio-economic diversity of Asheville. The term of office is three years. The Committee was established to advise the City Council on neighborhoods within the City of Asheville’s zoning and planning jurisdiction. The Committee shall have the following powers and duties: (1) Develop rules and by-laws for the conduct of its business, including but not limited to meeting schedules, officers, voting, sub-committees; (2) Develop a plan to strengthen neighborhood identity and resilience, and to facilitate communication and cooperation between Asheville’s neighborhoods and City offices; (3) Develop benchmarks and standards by which progress towards implementing the plan can be measured; and (4) Work on special projects that are consistent with the goals of the committee, as assigned or directed by Council. The Committee meets on the 4th Monday of each month at 6:30 PM in Room A109 of the Public Works Building, located at 161 S. Charlotte Street in downtown Asheville. The normal length of the meeting is 2 hours.
02/08/17 STEM LECTURE AT UNCA
The STEM series of lectures is an interdisciplinary program that covers a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. Each lecture provides the lecturer with the opportunity to share his/her work, present new ideas for feedback, learn new ideas that participants can use, and introduce students to exciting areas to explore. The lectures are all scheduled in the Reuter Center, room 102A, from 4:30 to 6 PM, and are free and open to the public. The lecture is “Climate Resilience in Asheville, NC - Moving from 'Did you know?' to 'What can we do about it?” by James Fox, NEMAC.
02/11/17 11TH ANNUAL MORAL MARCH ON RALEIGH
This annual mass mobilization of the HKonJ Coalition brings together justice loving people from across the state and nation to stand against the legislative attacks on the people of North Carolina and to continue to fight for our moral agenda. No information on local buses, but I think that will be organized.
02/14/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
On the second Tuesday of each month, Western North Carolina Veterans for Peace meets to coordinate group activities and programs.Veterans For Peace is a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices. We inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars. Our network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide whose work includes: educating the public, advocating for a dismantling of the war economy, providing services that assist veterans and victims of war, and most significantly, working to end all wars. Time is 6:30 PM and location is the Center for Art and Spirit at Saint George, address is One School Road in west Asheville. For more information, contact Gerry at gwerhan@gmail.com.
02/15/17 AUTHOR EVENT AT MALAPROPS
In 1955, a fourteen-year-old African American boy from Chicago named Emmett Till, while visiting relatives in the Mississippi Delta, violated racial taboos in a harmless exchange with a young white storekeeper, Carolyn Bryant. Three nights later, several of her kinsmen and family friends tortured the boy to death and threw his battered body in the river. Part detective story, part political history, “The Blood of Emmett Till” is an explosive reconstruction of the lynching, the trial, and their crucial impact on our history. Award winning author Timothy Tyson uses a range of sources—including the only interview ever given by Carolyn Bryant, along with her unpublished memoir—to tell the definitive story, in which black power and a mother's courage confronted the atrocities inherent in America's enduring racial caste system. Till’s mother’s insistence on an open casket, as well as African American self-assertion in Chicago, spurred nationwide protests that turned this local atrocity into a global symbol of American injustice; it transformed civil rights from a Southern issue into a national movement. Timothy Tyson is Senior Research Scholar at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, Visiting Professor of American Christianity and Southern Culture at Duke Divinity School, and adjunct professor of American Studies at the University of North Carolina. He is also the author of “Blood Done Sign My Name”, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, winner of the Southern Book Award for Nonfiction and the Grawemeyer Award in Religion, among others; and Radio Free Dixie: Robert F. Williams and the Roots of Black Power, winner of the James Rawley Prize for best book on race and the Frederick Jackson Turner Prize for best first book in U.S. History from the Organization of American Historians. He serves on the executive board of the North Carolina NAACP. Time is 6 PM and location is Malaprops at 55 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. This is a Facebook event.
02/15/17 ‘NEW JIM CROW’ DISCUSSION GROUP
This is the last in a series of discussions of Michelle Alexander's book the "The New Jim Crow." Anyone is welcome to jump in anytime. Led by Eryka Lynn Peskin. Time is 6:30 PM and location is Firestorm Books & Coffee at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
02/16/17 CREATION CARE ALLIANCE GENERAL MEETING
Join the Creation Care Alliance of WNC for a general meeting as we inspire one another to good work and discuss our work empowering care for creation. We will connect with one another and explore ways to care for creation. Everyone is welcome. The meeting will be held in the First Baptist Church of Asheville in Room MB306, which is upstairs. Address is 5 Oak Street in downtown Asheville. Time is 5:30 to 7 PM. If you have any questions, please contact Scott Hardin-Nieri at scott@creationcarealliance.org.
02/25/17 27th ANNUAL SWANNANOA VALLEY DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL PRAYER BREAKFAST
We invite you to join us in sharing the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as we strive to bring knowledge and awareness of his work to our Swannanoa Valley community. The 2017 speaker will be announced soon! Stay tuned. Breakfast is a 9 AM. You can purchase tickets online, or pay by check with a ticket order form. http://svmlk.org/mlk-prayer-breakfast.html. Please note that donations made above the cost of the ticket are tax deductible, however the tickets themselves are not. Location is Camp Dorothy Walls at 495 Fragment Road in Black Mountain, NC.
03/01/17 STEM LECTURE AT UNCA
The STEM series of lectures is an interdisciplinary program that covers a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. Each lecture provides the lecturer with the opportunity to share his/her work, present new ideas for feedback, learn new ideas that participants can use, and introduce students to exciting areas to explore. The lectures are all scheduled in the Reuter Center, room 102A, from 4:30 to 6 PM, and are free and open to the public. The lecture is “Accelerating Climate Innovation” by James McMahon, The Collider.
03/04/17 WALK TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLES AND PLACES WE LIVE
Walk to Protect our Peoples and the Places We Live. Join us for the walk to stop the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The walk will last about 2 weeks, and will pass through Northampton, Halifax, Wilson, Nash, Johnston, Sampson, Cumberland and Robeson Counties. (Possibly also: Scotland and Richmond Counties). More info to come. This came from Frack-free NC. For more information, for weekly updates, to register, and to donate to the Walk, please visit our website at 2017acpwalk.org or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/2017acpwalk/.You can also call of email Steven Norris, earthsun2@gmail.com All potential participants are encouraged to register early.
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ONGOING EVENTS
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TUESDAY
Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 5 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument during most of the year, but after DST kicks in, they meet at 4:30 PM.
Showing Up for Racial Justice at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. 10 AM. Educating and organizing white people for racial justice. Free.
WEDNESDAY
Haywood Peace Vigilers have a weekly vigil at 4 PM at Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville
French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.
Green Grannies Book Club meets at noon at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville.
“What’s Up With Whiteness” discussion group at 6 PM at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville.
Green Drinks meets at 7 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.
THURSDAY
Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 6 PM on fourth Thursday of the month. Materials provided.
Political documentary film and discussion at Firestorm Coffee & Books 6:30 PM on the third Thursday of the month. Sponsored by Asheville Citizens Accountability Project.
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.
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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N.C. Walk to Protect Our Peoples and the Places We Live: March 4-19, 2017
The North Carolina Alliance to Protect Our Peoples and the Places We Live (APPPL) is organizing a Walk along the 205 mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline route in NC, beginning on Saturday March 4 at the Virginia-North Carolina border in Northhampton County, and ending two weeks later in Pembroke and then in Hamlet.
Indigenous people in North Carolina call the Atlantic Coast Pipeline the DAPL of the southeast. It's a linchpin of Dominion's plans to control energy supplies in Virginia (and to export gas to Asia from Cove Point, Maryland), and of Duke Energy's plans to build 12,000 MW of gas fired electricity in NC. This $5.5 billion project will cross many rivers, tear up mountains and national forests, go under several public water supplies, impact much farmland and miles of wetlands. It will bring toxic, dangerous gas from the fracked sacrifice zones of West Virginia through many cities and towns. and into historically Afro-American and indigenous communities of eastern North Carolina. It will exacerbate global warming which just this year has contributed to one of the worst hurricanes and floods in eastern North Carolina history, and to one of the worst droughts and wildfires ever to ravage the Smokey Mountains in the west (70,000 acres burned). It will enable Duke to increase its monopoly over energy supplies in NC, skyrocketing shareholder profits, further impoverishing North Carolina ratepayers, and lead to even greater Duke control of environmental and energy policy in North Carolina, where fossil fuels are promoted and renewables discouraged. It will endanger water, homes and families, farms, schools and churches close to the pipeline route.
During the Walk, which will pass through several cities as well as through farmland and small communities, we are organizing as many educational activities as possible in schools, churches, community centers, city planning and public official's offices. At the Virginia border on March 4 we will have an orientation and training session, and then a rally, celebration and prayer ceremony to send our Walkers off. This will be led by Afro Americans, indigenous people,. church folks and activists. We plan to participate in a Clean Energy Summit in Fayetteville (Sponsored by Sustainable Sandhills) on March 11. On March 17-19 we will to join the Lumbee in Robeson County in their traditional celebration of the Spring Equinox.
How to contribute: There are various ways people can participate in and contribute to the Walk. We hope to recruit about 50 through-walkers, who will walk the entire route. Others may walk for an hour, a day, a weekend, or through their own county or town. A few participants may choose to ride a bicycle (bike riders also can help hold the Walk together when it spreads out). We also need a bus driver, and others to drive cars to shuttle short-term walkers back to their vehicles. We are identifying places to spend the nights along the way. Healthy inexpensive meals will be provided Seeds of Peace, a great group of activist cooks with a mobile kitchen
We'll raise money for this in various ways. We want participants to raise money from their friends, families, neighbors and others to support the Walk. We suggest that donors give 50 cents a mile walked. No one will be turned away however for inability to raise money.
Much other support is needed. We're looking for cultural workers and musicians; banner makers; street medics; people with counseling skills; vans and a bus; a truck that can carry a portajohn, water tank and photovoltaic array (to charge cell phones at night). Social media gurus will be essential. Photographers, videographers, storytellers too.
For more information, for weekly updates, to register, and to donate to the Walk, please visit our website at 2017acpwalk.org or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/2017acpwalk/.You can also call of email Steven Norris, earthsun2@gmail.com All potential participants are encouraged to register early.
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GREAT DECISIONS LECTURE SERIES AT UNCA AND OTHER AREA LOCATIONS
Come to the Reuter Center for these fascinating lectures and discussions that aim to advance international awareness and foster Western North Carolina's global ties. OLLI members receive a discount on WAC annual membership fee. The World Affairs Council meetings offer a lively line up of topics and compelling presenters.The Great Decision Lecture series is scheduled for the winter and spring terms on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM.
The Great Decisions Program is for anyone who desires to gain a deeper understanding of the current challenges the United States faces in the world today, from the threat of global terrorism to environmental issues, globalization, and development. Teachers, educators, students, military personnel (active and retired), business people, service organizations and clubs, political organizations, and international community groups will all benefit by gaining a greater appreciation for the complex international issues we face as a nation today.
7 February - Maria Moreno on “Latin America’s Political Pendulum”. Speaker is a MHU Professor of French and a native of Venezuela.
14 February - Jim Lenburg on “Conflict in the South China Sea”. Speaker is emeritus professor of History at MHU with wide interests and experiences in China.
21 February - Rick Devereaux on “Nuclear Security”. Speak is a career Air Force officer and student of DOD military strategy.
28 February - Larry Wilson on “Saudi Arabia in Transition”. Speaker is an Ohio and NC college provost and founder of a Women's University in UAE.
7 March - Jenn Schiff on “Petroleum and US Foreign Policy”. Speaker is International Relations political scientist at Western Carolina University.
14 March - Julie Snyder on “Trade & Politics”. Speaker is a former Commerce Department official who has had wide experience in State Department trade negotiations and monitoring.
This is free to WAC members and students, all others $10 at the door.
The Great Decision Lecture series is scheduled for the winter and spring terms on Tuesdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, April 4, May 2, 2017, at 7:30 PM. All lectures are scheduled in the Reuter Center's Manheimer Room, free to WAC members and students, all others $10 at the door. For more details about programs, consult the WAC website.
Each Great Decisions presentation is given at four separate locations (admission and membership charges differ among satellite venues):
Tuesday, 7:30 PM, Asheville (UNCA, Manheimer Room of the Reuter Center)
Wednesday, 10 AM, Hendersonville (Blue Ridge Community College, Bo Thomas Auditorium)
Wednesday, 3 PM, Brevard (Brevard College, McLarty Lecture Hall)
Thursday, 2 PM, Columbus (Isothermal Community College)
This lecture series follows the same schedule as the Asheville showings.
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