dancewater: Upcoming events for the week of February 11, 2018

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UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

02/12/18 TO 2/27/18 EXHIBIT AT UNCA RAMSEY LIBRARY

The Blowers Gallery in UNC Asheville's Ramsey Library will host the touring exhibit, “Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future” from Jan. 12-Feb. 27. The exhibition is free and open to everyone and will be on view during regular library hours. The exhibit focuses on Cherokee language and culture, using sound recordings as the basis for presenting a coherent story in words and text. The exhibit was developed with the assumption that language shapes thinking. In creating the exhibit storyline, the project team foregrounded the Cherokee language, believed to reflect inherent community values. “Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future” was conceived of and designed to include community input as a way to develop its content. Rather than present historical outcomes, the team favored a thematic approach. Major themes include Cherokee Homeland, Heritage Sites, Tourism, Family, and Community Celebrations. The result is an exhibit that tells a more personal story and provides insight into Cherokee identity. Rather than translating from English into Cherokee, as is often done, much of the exhibit text was excerpted from conversations originally recorded in Cherokee. A Cherokee speakers group, organized in cooperation with the Cherokee Language Program at Western Carolina University, met weekly at the Kituwah Academy, the language immersion school on the Qualla Boundary. There, members were shown historic photographs and asked to comment on them. Their conversations were transcribed, translated, and included on the fifteen panels that make up the exhibit. Re-recorded by language instructor Tom Belt, these conversations are digitally archived. The exhibit panels use smart phone technology and QR codes to link to conversations in the archive. By hitting the on-screen play button, a visitor can listen to the Cherokee syllabary as it is spoken. The touring exhibit was funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Eastern Band of Cherokee in partnership with the Chief Joyce Dugan Cultural Arts Center at Cherokee Central Schools. The exhibition is presented at UNC Asheville by its Center for Diversity Education and Ramsey Library. For more information, contact the Center for Diversity Education at dmiles@unca.edu or 828.232.5024.

02/12/18 TO 02/27/18 EXHIBIT AT UNCA RAMSEY LIBRARY

Blowers Gallery in UNC Asheville’s Ramsey Library is now featuring the exhibit “14 Black Classicists: A Photo Installation” on black scholars of the post-Civil War era. This exhibition is free and open to everyone during regular library hours, through Feb. 27. The exhibit features photos and information about black scholars, largely neglected in modern histories, who taught Greek and Latin at the college or university level and whose academic accomplishments helped pave the way for future generations of African-Americans entering American universities. “With them,” says Ronnick, “begins the serious study and teaching of philology (the study of language) by African-Americans.” Among those featured are William Sanders Scarborough, the first black member of the American Language Association and author of a Greek textbook, and two North Carolina natives – Wiley Lane, who became the first black professor of Greek at Howard University, and Helen Chesnutt, who, as a high school Latin teacher in Ohio, helped inspire her student Langston Hughes. She also was the daughter of novelist and essayist Charles Waddell Chesnutt. The exhibition’s creation was funded by the James Loeb Classical Library Foundation at Harvard University. The exhibition is presented at UNC Asheville by its Center for Diversity Education and Ramsey Library. For more information, contact the Center for Diversity Education at dmiles@unca.edu or 828.232.5024.

02/12/18 PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY MEETING

Monday, February 12, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at Buncombe County Democratic Party HQ, Old Fairview Road, Asheville. Our goal is to further progressive ideals. We work to get big money out of politics and bring power to the people--not just corporations. We believe higher education needs to be available to anyone willing to do the academic work. We stand up for single-payer health care. Come and join us--make these ideals a reality! Contact: Kris Kramer at pdobPRESIDENT@gmail.com.

02/12/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ WEEKLY MEETING

Asheville SURJ weekly evening meeting: Monday, 6:30-8:30pm at Asheville Unitarian Universalist Congregation (downstairs main building). Accountability group for folks seeking to focus on anti-racism work. Meetings include opportunities such as discussion, educational opportunities, or role-playing difficult conversations, and building connections. For more info email avlsurj@gmail.com.

02/12/18 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE COUNTY EVENT

Voter Engagement Coalition meeting on February 12, 2018 from 3 - 4:30 PM. Location is 50 South French Broad Avenue in Asheville. Contact the League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County at 828-333-0893 or info@lwvab.org for more information.

02/13/18 DISCUSSION BOUND BOOK CLUB

Hosted by the Asheville Art Museum, this monthly discussion is a place to exchange ideas that relate to artworks and the art world. Bring your book and a brown-bag lunch to make the most of your midday break! This month’s pick is “Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power” by Mark Godfrey. Time is 12 PM. Call Malaprop’s for more information.

02/13/18 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.

02/13/18 ASURJ DO!SCUSSION

The Do!scussion is a weekly safe space in which to talk about what we see that encourages us to continue to create multi-racial coalitions in Asheville while working to dismantle white supremacy. Feel like you're struggling with the how? Come on over and we'll talk about it. Then, we'll get to do!ing. Do!scussion presently runs on Tuesdays from 10-11:30 AM followed by Do!session from 11:30-1:30 PM during which we working with accountability partners on a particular project or issue. The seven organizing principles of SURJ are: 1) accountability through action, 2) mutual interest, 3) take risks and keep going, 4) calling in more, 5) enough for everyone, 6) growth is good, and 7) centering class. Time is 10 AM and location is Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

02/13/18 RECEPTION FOR EXHIBIT ON CHEROKEE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Understanding Our Past Exhibit at Ramsey Library. The exhibit “Understanding Our Past, Shaping Our Future” will be on display in the UNC Asheville Ramsey Library January 26 - March 2 during library hours. The exhibit focuses on Cherokee language and culture, using sound recordings as the axis for presenting a coherent story in words and text. A reception for “Understanding Our Past” will take place on Tuesday, February 13 at 6:30 PM in the Ramsey Library. At 7 PM, Barbara Duncan, Education Director of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian and adjunct faculty at UNC Asheville, will speak followed by a performance of Aniyvwiyahi Analsgisgi, which is a youth dance group from Cherokee. Contact for this event is theCenter for Diversity Education at dmiles@unca.edu or 828.232.5024.

02/13/18 OCCUPY WNC MEETING

OccupyWNC's next meeting is February 13th, 7:00 pm at The Sylva Market and Signature Brew Coffee Co., 552 W Main St, Sylva, NC 28779. (Supper beforehand @6:00pm at Mad Batter Food and Film) . OccupyWNC, a non-partisan group, has worked for economic and social justice in WNC since 2011. They typically meet every 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Newcomers and visitors welcome. Contact Lucy Christopher at (828)743-9747 for more information.

02/13/18 WORLD AFFAIRS GREAT DECISIONS SERIES

World Affairs Council Great Decisions Series at UNC Asheville continues on February 13th with a report on “Global Health: Progress and Challenges” with John Stewart, M.D., who since retiring from private practice in 2012, has served in Africa for at least a month each year with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders. The World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina will begin its Great Decisions 2018 series, with six talks at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights in February and March at the Reuter Center at UNC Asheville. This series is part of the national Great Decisions Program, America’s largest grass-roots discussion program on world affairs. The Great Decisions Program, which began in 1954, is the flagship program of the non-partisan, non-governmental Foreign Policy Association. The program’s goal is to discuss, debate and learn about international affairs, national security and U.S. foreign policy. These lectures are presented in partnership by the World Affairs Council, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville (OLLI), and the university’s Department of Political Science. Admission to World Affairs Council presentations at UNC Asheville is $10 for the public; free to members of the World Affairs Council and UNC Asheville students. For more information, contact olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.

02/13/18 RACE RELATIONS STATION ORIENTATION

6:00pm – 8:00pm. Race Relations Station Orientation. Helping ove come racism and assisting racial healing through relationships and sharing stories. To register or to get further information, contact Meta Commerse at wordmedicinewoman@yahoo.com. Time is 6 PM and location is Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

02/13/18 DEMOCRACY NC EVENT IN ASHEVILLE

Messaging Our Movement 2018. “What's wrong with needing identification to vote? Why should we care about judicial or other gerrymandering, when everybody does it? Why should I get involved when my lawmakers don't listen to me anyway?” A key part of advocating for issues we care about is framing them in a way that can answer tough questions, sway public opinion, generate media coverage, and demands policymakers respond to constituents’ needs. Whether you're interested in engaging lawmakers, leading community events, or even educating family and friends at the dinner table, we'll provide the latest ways to talk about our state's most pressing democracy issues — voting rights, redistricting reform, judicial independence — in ways that can help frame our movement for the inevitable fights ahead in 2018. This will take place at Hill Street Baptist Church Sanctuary at 135 Hill Street in Asheville on Tuesday, February 13 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Please RSVP. Contact Carmen Ramos-Kennedy at 4ward2getherCall2Action@gmail.com with questions and for instructions on how to register.

02/13/18 EMPOWERING OUR YOUNG LEADERS PANEL AT AB TECH

Empowering Our Young Leaders will be at 3:00pm at Ferguson Auditorium at A.B.Tech. Everything Falls On Leadership: Empowering Our Young Leaders. Conversations that matter in our work, homes, schools, and society. Bruce Waller, Quest Green, Dr. Antonio Black, J. Hackett, and Jason Muhammad will discuss the importance of leadership and their journeys to becoming the leaders they are today. This event is open to the public and available for professional development credit. For more information email msla@abtech.edu.

02/13/18 BUILDING ON THE WOMEN’S MARCH

Building on the Women’s March event will be on February 13 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm. Building on the Women’s March, learn Progressive Social Theory and Activist Skills taught by Dada Maheshvarananda and Mirra Price. Location is The Block off biltmore at 39 South Market Street in Asheville. Call 828-254-9277 for more information.

02/14/18 DEMOCRACY NC EVENT IN HENDERSONVILLE

Please join us for the Hendersonville Voter Engagement Coalition Meeting on Wednesday, February 14 at 3 PM. Location is True Ridge at 110 Edney Street, Suite A in Hendersonville. We'll provide an introduction to Democracy North Carolina - who we are, what we do, and how you can help in 2018. We'll also discuss upcoming events in the area, including a voter registration training and film screening. Please RSVP. Contact Edward Peters at 336-601-9534 or edwardpeters@democracy-nc.org with questions and instructions on how to register. What is the Hendersonville Voter Engagement Coalition? Our Local Coalition brings together organizational representatives and individuals who agree to work together to change and use the political system so it equips people to take action, promotes grassroots leadership, and serves “the good of the whole.” We want an elections process that is accessible, fair, and secure. And we want a government “of, by, and for the people” that fosters equity, solidarity, and justice.

02/14/18 MOUNTAIN TRUE AND SIERRA CLUB ISSUES & ACTIONS MEETING

Join Mountain True and the Sierra Club to discuss concrete action for environmental issues at the state, local and national levels on the second Wednesday of every month. Time is 6 PM and location is The Wedge at Foundation. Call 828-258-8737 for more information.

02/14/18 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.

02/15/18 LIVE STAKING WITH FRENCH BROAD RIVERKEEPER

The French Broad Riverkeeper and Mountain True are combating sediment pollution by planting live-stakes along eroding river banks. Time and location TBD. Sign up at mountaintrue dot org for updates or to register.

02/15/18 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HENDERSON COUNTY MEETING

Thursday, Feb. 15 at 4:00 PM. February Program - Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy. The National LWV has developed recently this succinct mission statement. How can we build a common framework for advocacy and achieve this mission right here in Henderson County? As members, we came to the League on different paths but have shared goals. Please join us as we explore our mission in small group discussions. As always, our meetings are free and open to the public. Water is available, but if you would like a drink or snack, please bring your own or support the Co-op for offering this space to us. The Self-Help Credit Union next door has additional parking behind their building. Hendersonville Community Co-op 60 South Charleston Lane, Hendersonville.

02/15/18 CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION SERIES

Continuing the Conversation Kicks off Black History Month at Pack Memorial Library. Last summer, Buncombe County Community Engagement Team created a four-part Lunch and Learn series on African-American History in our community. It featured prominent guest speakers Marcell Proctor, Dr. Darin Waters, Commissioner Al Whitesides, and Dr. Sharon West. The presentations gained a tremendous following and though they took place last year, the conversations will continue in 2018. This February, to kick off Black History Month, join us for Continuing the Conversation, at Pack Memorial library every Thursday at noon. The Community Engagement Team and Pack Library invite everyone to attend to watch the videos of the previous presentations and afterward continue the conversation with special guest speakers. All events will take place in the Lord Auditorium at Pack Memorial Library. Thursday, Feb. 15, noon – 1:30 p.m. “The Wage Gap and Historical Wealth Disparities” - Video and Discussion. These events are free and open to the public. Since they take place at noon, you are welcome to bring your own lunch while you enjoy the video presentations. Call Pack Library for more information. These presentations are done in partnership with the Buncombe County African-American Commission.

02/15/18 BECOMING A COMMUNITY REPORTER

Thu, Feb 15 and Feb 22 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm. Becoming a Community Reporter - Get tips and tricks about how to become a community reporter, how to document an event and how to create reports on video and with pictures. Time is 7 PM and location is Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

02/15/18 NOTORIOUS HISTORIC BOOK CLUB AT MALAPROPS

Notorious HBC - Join host and Malaprop’s bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across different periods of history. We’re creating a book club that tackles the challenging subjects, hence “NOTORIOUS.” This month’s pick is “Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program to Bring Nazi Scientists to America” by Annie Jacobsen. Event date:Thursday, February 15, 2018 - 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Call Malaprops for more information.

02/16/18 SPEECH ON RACISM AT UNCA

Bruce Mulkey will speak on “I Am a Recovering Racist.” Date: 2/16. Time: 2:00 pm. Location: Reuter Center. Free. Bruce Mulkey, essayist and author, will offer this free public presentation as part of OLLI at UNC Asheville's More Than a Month series. 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 OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140 for more information.

02/16/18 BOOK DISCUSSION AT NORTH ASHEVILLE LIBRARY

Book Discussion on “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander, is Fridays at 10 a.m. (Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23). “Now and then a book comes along that might in time touch the public and educate social commentators, policymakers, and politicians about a glaring wrong that we have been living with that we also somehow don't know how to face. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander is such a work.” — The New York Review of Books. Contact North Asheville Library for more information.

02/16/18 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MEETING

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

02/16/18 LUNCH AND LEARN AT UNCA

Fab Friday Lunch & Learn - “American Meets Arabia” with Larry Wilson. Fab Friday lunch & learn lectures at OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville - are free and open to everyone. Socialize and enjoy stimulating presentations and dynamic questions. Date: 2/16. Time: 11:30 am. Location: Reuter Center - Manheimer Room. Free. Purchase lunch in our Reuter Café or bring your own brown bag. Larry Wilson will share his experience of the United Arab Emirates, where he worked for nearly 20 years while living there for more than a decade. In 1998, Wilson was invited by His Excellency, Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak al Nahyan, the Minister of Higher Education in the United Arab Emirates, to be a part of a three person team to design and launch Zayed University, a new government university for Emirati female students. He served as its deputy vice president and provost for 12 years, and also spent a year designing, launching and directing reform of public schools in the UAE. Wilson also is former provost and interim chancellor at UNC Asheville. He will discuss Arab culture and traditions, the education system, the status of women in the Arab world, impact of extremism and lower oil prices on the social and political system, some features of Islam, how views of the West are changing, and assess the accuracy of American views of the Arab world. Contact for this event is OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.

02/16/18 PHOTO PROJECT OPENING IN ASHEVILLE

The CDC 7 Photo Project Opening. February 16 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. A set of seven portraits personifying the seven words that the US Department of Health and Human Services have “suggested” removing when writing to the Center for the Disease Control to improve the chances of getting funding. While not a ban, make no mistake, this is censorship. It is a yielding of power and control veiled as suggestion to insure much needed funding. The event will also include fantastic live music and the ability to connect and take action with various non-profit groups in the area. Join us. Help create positive change. This will be at The Block off Biltmore at 39 South Market Street in Asheville. Call 828-254-9277 for more information.

02/17/18 WNC GREEN PARTY MEETING

Charlotte and WNC Green Party Collaboration on Saturday, February 17 from 2 - 3:30 PM. Location is Habitat Tavern and Commons at 174 Broadway Street in Asheville. We are holding our next meeting on February 17, a Saturday, from 2-3:30 pm. We will have the Charlotte Green Party joining us for this meeting to discuss how to build our party and how to have strong monthly meetings. We hope to grow our relationship with Charlotte chapter and other Greens around the state so that we can be a stronger state party. Contact Camile at camillm@g.clemson.edu for more information.

02/17/18 JACKSON COUNTY BRANCH OF THE NAACP MEETING

Jackson County Branch of the NC NAACP Membership Meeting. The Jackson County Branch's February Membership Meeting will convene at 10 AM on Saturday, the 17th at Liberty Baptist Church on Scotts Creek Road in Sylva. The program presentation is “The Poor People's Campaign, Part I.” Contact Lucy Christopher at lucy.christopher42@gmail.com for more information.

02/17/18 VOTER REGISTRATION TRAINING

It's not too soon to prepare for the 2018 elections. Join us for a Voter Registration Training on February 17 at 10 AM in Asheville. This will be a non-partisan voter registration training. We'll review how to register someone to vote and send you home with your own Voter Registration packet. Trainings are free and open to any group. Light snacks and coffee will be provided. Wednesday, February 17 at 10 AM at the YWCA of Asheville (185 South French Broad Avenue in Asheville). For more information, including how to register, please contact Darlene Azarmi at (828) 216-3430 or darlene@democracync.org.

02/18/18 FILM SCREENING IN HENDERSONVILLE

Dinner & A Movie “Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin” Come have dinner and learn about Bayard Rustin, often called ‘the unknown hero’ of the civil rights movement. A tireless crusader for justice, a disciple of Gandhi, a mentor to Martin Luther King Jr., and the architect of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Rustin also dared to live as an openly gay man during the fiercely homophobic 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The film and potluck dinner will begin promptly at 5:30pm, and a discussion on the film will follow at 7:00pm. Providence Baptist Church at 1201 Oakland St, Hendersonville, North Carolina. No contact information. This was rescheduled from January due to weather.

02/18/18 ETHICAL HUMANIST SOCIETY MEETING

“Accountability, Equity and Inclusion” will be presented by Deborah Miles at the Sunday, February 18, 2018 meeting of the Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 2:00-3:30 PM, at Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC. All are welcome to attend. Join Deborah Miles for a presentation and discussion on "Accountability, Equity and Inclusion." Deborah will pose interesting questions on accountability - individually and as a society. What do we mean by "equity?” How do we ensure others are included? When is exclusion appropriate? Deborah Miles is the Executive Director of the Center for Diversity Education at the University of North Carolina – Asheville. The Center helps build relationships across differences to create a more inclusive and equitable community and to foster conversation and respect among cultures. It does this through exhibits, road shows, a lending library, and direct and indirect programming to over 20,000 students, teachers, and citizens throughout WNC. Informal discussion and refreshments will follow the presentation. The Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville is a non-theist alternative to traditional religion, a member of the American Ethical Union and an affiliate of the American Humanist Association. We endeavor to nurture the capacity and responsibility of human beings to act in their personal relationships and in the larger community to help create a better world. We are inspired by the ideal of working to create a more humane society, recognizing each person’s worth and dignity, and helping to bring out the best in him or her. We join together to assist each other in developing ethical ideas and ideals, to celebrate life’s joys, support each other through life’s crises, and to cultivate ethical behavior in our community. For more information: call 828 687-7759 or email EHSAsheville@gmail.com.

02/18/19 ASHEVILLE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA MEETING

February 18 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm. Location is The Block off biltmore at 39 South Market Street in Asheville. Call 828-254-9277 for more information.

02/19/18 NOTORIOUS HBC* (*HISTORY BOOK CLUB)

Join host and Malaprop’s bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across different periods of history. We’re creating a book club that tackles the challenging subjects, hence “Notorious.” This month’s pick is “Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program to Bring Nazi Scientists to America” by Annie Jacobsen. Time is 7 PM. Contact Malaprop’s for more information.

02/19/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ WEEKLY MEETING

02/19/18 DEMOCRACY ASHEVILLE COALITION MEETING

Please join us for the next Democracy Asheville Coalition Meeting on Monday, February 19, at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center at 285 Livingston Street in Asheville. We'll provide an overview of what's happening at the state legislature, what we are thinking will happen in 2018, and of upcoming opportunities you can plug into. Please also bring a potluck dish to share if you are able and email us if you plan on doing so. What is the Democracy Asheville Coalition? Our Local Coalition brings together organizational representatives and individuals who agree to work together to change and use the political system so it equips people to take action, promotes grassroots leadership, and serves “the good of the whole.” We want an elections process that is accessible, fair, and secure. And we want a government “of, by, and for the people” that fosters equity, solidarity, and justice. Democracy Asheville Coalition Meeting will be on Monday, February 19, from 6:00 - 7:30 PM. Please RSVP below to let us know you're coming. Contact Darlene Azarmi at 828-216-3430 or darlene@democracy-nc.org with questions and instructions on how to register.

02/19/18 BLACK HISTORY MONTH PLAY AT MARS HILL UNIVERSITY

“Ain’t I a Woman!” is the name of the play that will be done on February 19 at 7 PM. Location is the Owen Theatre, 44 College Street in Mars Hill. Actress Shayla Simmons and pianist Mikael Darmanie present “Ain't I a Woman,” a musical theatre work celebrating the lives and times of four significant African American Women: ex-slave and fiery abolitionist Sojourner Truth renowned novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston exuberant folk artist Clementine Hunter, and fervent civil rights worker Fannie Lou Hamer. This production is sponsored by the Women's Studies Program, the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, and the Visiting Artists and Lecturers Committee. Call (828) 689-1508 or email ahackett@mhu.edu for more information.

02/20/18 BUILDING ON THE WOMEN’S MARCH

02/20/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

02/20/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING

On the third 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 5:45 PM and location is the Block Off Biltmore at Eagle and Market Streets in downtown Asheville. For more information, contact Gerry at gwerhan@gmail.com.

02/20/18 ASURJ DO!SCUSSION

02/20/18 WORLD AFFAIRS GREAT DECISIONS SERIES

World Affairs Council Great Decisions Series at UNC Asheville continues on February 20th with a talk on “The Waning of Pax Americana?” with Jonathan Tetzlaff, founder and president of Tetzlaff Risk Management, who, as a consultant, has worked with major corporations on risk/threat analyses and travel security programs. The World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina will begin its Great Decisions 2018 series, with six talks at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights in February and March at the Reuter Center at UNC Asheville. This series is part of the national Great Decisions Program, America’s largest grass-roots discussion program on world affairs. The Great Decisions Program, which began in 1954, is the flagship program of the non-partisan, non-governmental Foreign Policy Association. The program’s goal is to discuss, debate and learn about international affairs, national security and U.S. foreign policy. These lectures are presented in partnership by the World Affairs Council, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville (OLLI), and the university’s Department of Political Science. Admission to World Affairs Council presentations at UNC Asheville is $10 for the public; free to members of the World Affairs Council and UNC Asheville students. For more information, contact olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.

02/21/18 LETTER WRITING DROP IN

Beer & Politics Letter-Writing Drop-In on February 21 from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm. Beer & Politics is an informal letter-writing drop-in open to everyone, held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. Drop by the Westville Pub at 777 Haywood Road in west Asheville after work on any B&P Wednesday, any time between 5:30 and 7:00, and make your voices heard. We provide the Fact Sheets, stationery, cards, pre-addressed labels, and stamps. If you can’t make it to Beer & Politics this week, be sure to call and write your elected representatives about issues that matter to you.

02/21/18 ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS

Informal networking focused on the science of sustainability. Free to attend. Held at The Block off biltmore at 39 South Market Street. Time is 6 PM. No contact information.

02/21/18 SOCIAL JUSTICE BOOK CLUB

Social Justice Book Club is reading Jodi Picoult's book “Small Great Things.” Time is 2 PM - 4 PM and location is Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

02/21/18 VOTER REGISTRATION TRAINING

It's not too soon to prepare for the 2018 elections. Join us for a Voter Registration Training on February 21 at 6:30 PM in Asheville. This will be a non-partisan voter registration training. We'll review how to register someone to vote and send you home with your own Voter Registration packet. Trainings are free and open to any group. Light snacks and coffee will be provided. Wednesday, February 21, 6:30-8 PM at the YWCA of Asheville (185 S. French Broad Avenue in Asheville). For more information, including how to register, please contact Darlene Azarmi at (828) 216-3430 or darlene@democracync.org.

02/22/18 BECOMING A COMMUNITY REPORTER

02/22/18 SPEECH ON ORIGINS OF MODERN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AT UNCA

“The Appalachian Origins of the Modern Civil Rights Movement in the USA” is the title of a talk by William H. Turner. Appalachian studies scholar William H. Turner will discuss the local and regional roots of the Civil Rights Movement in a free public talk at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22 in UNC Asheville’s Humanities Lecture Hall. Free. Appalachian studies scholar William H. Turner will discuss the local and regional roots of the Civil Rights Movement in a free public talk at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22 in UNC Asheville’s Humanities Lecture Hall. Turner’s talk, “The Appalachian Origins of the Modern Civil Rights Movement in the USA” will explore several key spaces, places, people and events in Appalachia that sparked and nourished the movement, and to focus locally, he will draw upon the 2016 master’s thesis, The Civil Rights Movement in Asheville, N.C., by Patrick S. Parker at Appalachian State University. Turner was a research associate to Alex Haley, author of the Pulitzer Prize winner Roots, and was described by Haley as the man who “knows more about black people in the mountains of the American South than anyone in the world.” Now on the faculty at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, Turner is research scientist leader of the university’s Social Systems and Allied Research unit, established in 2015 to bring together the analytics on underserved groups of Texans including the economically insecure and long-term impoverished. A native of Harlan County, Kentucky, Turner earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology and anthropology at Notre Dame University. He then held post-doctoral appointments through the National Academy of Sciences, sponsored by the Ford Foundation at the Center for the Study of Civil Rights and Race Relations at Duke University; the Robert R. Moton Center for Independent Studies at the University of Pennsylvania; and the National Center for Education Statistics, hosted by the Institute for Educational Leadership at The George Washington University. Turner was inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame in 2007 and was given Kentucky’s Martin Luther King Jr. Citizenship Award. In 2009, the Appalachian Studies Association gave Turner its highest honor – the Cratis D. Williams/James S. Brown Service Award. For more information, contact Rene Smyle in UNC Asheville’s Department of History at rsmyle@unca.edu or 828.251.6415.

02/22/18 CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION SERIES

Continuing the Conversation Kicks off Black History Month at Pack Memorial Library. Last summer, Buncombe County Community Engagement Team created a four-part Lunch and Learn series on African-American History in our community. It featured prominent guest speakers Marcell Proctor, Dr. Darin Waters, Commissioner Al Whitesides, and Dr. Sharon West. The presentations gained a tremendous following and though they took place last year, the conversations will continue in 2018. This February, to kick off Black History Month, join us for Continuing the Conversation, at Pack Memorial library every Thursday at noon. The Community Engagement Team and Pack Library invite everyone to attend to watch the videos of the previous presentations and afterward continue the conversation with special guest speakers. All events will take place in the Lord Auditorium at Pack Memorial Library. Thursday, Feb. 22, noon – 1:30 p.m. will cover “The Historical Effects of Redlining and Gentrification” - Video and Discussion. These events are free and open to the public. Since they take place at noon, you are welcome to bring your own lunch while you enjoy the video presentations. Call Pack Library for more information. These presentations are done in partnership with the Buncombe County African-American Commission.

02/22/18 BLACK APPALACHIAN EVENING AT MARS HILL UNIVERSITY

On Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 6 p.m. Ann Miller Woodford will discuss her exhibition, “When All God’s Children Get Together: A Celebration of the Lives and Music of African-American People in Far Western North Carolina.” On loan from the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University, the exhibit will be displayed at the Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies at Mars Hill University until March 9, 2018. Curated by Ann Miller Woodford, an author and founder of the community development organization One Dozen Who Care, the exhibit looks at the role of church, spiritual music, and hymns in the African American population in western North Carolina. The exhibit is based on Woodford’s book of the same name, which examines musical traditions of African Americans as practiced at home, work, churches, and schools. The Andrews native has conducted extensive research, historical documentation, and interviews on African American history, life, and traditions in the mountains. This event is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, please call (828) 689-1115 or email lweinstein@mhu.edu.

02/23/18 BOOK DISCUSSION AT NORTH ASHEVILLE LIBRARY

02/23/18 “TROUBLE” SCREENING AT FIRESTORM

Friday, Feb 23rd @ 7:30 pm. “Trouble” Screening - sub.Media offers Trouble, a brand-new monthly show offering an in-depth anarchist analysis of current struggles, tactics, and movement dynamics. Trouble broadcasts first-hand accounts and perspectives from organizers on the ground, with the aim of cutting through the fog of misinformation that often clouds our understanding of the world, and provoking people into taking bold, collective action. This monthly, half-hour film on topics of interest to people fighting the settler colonial capitalism is hosted by Blue Ridge Anarchist Black Cross and will include a discussion of the film with questions provided by the filmmakers. Time is 7:30 PM and location is Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

02/24/18 TALK AT PACK LIBRARY ON ASHEVILLE BLACK HISTORY

EW Pearson’s grandson, Cliff Cotton, will host a talk on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. in Lord Auditorium. “Edward W. Pearson Sr. was one of the most energetic and creative forces for positive change that Asheville has ever known. From Pearson’s arrival in Asheville in 1906, until his death in 1946, he worked tirelessly to improve the fortunes and the quality of life of his family and his community. Facing many barriers to advancement in a strictly segregated society, he saw not obstacles, but opportunities.” - Excerpt from Pack Library archives. Contact Pack Library for more information.

02/24/18 PRESENTATION ON HISTORY OF LOCAL BLACK BUSINESS INNOVATORS

Celebrating African American Entrepreneurship. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County will celebrate Black History Month by featuring the past and future of African American entrepreneurship in Asheville. On the evening of Saturday, February 24, 2018, a group of young men known as the Altitude Accelerators will make a special presentation about the history of local black business innovators. Musical accompaniment will be provided by the Community Outreach Choir. The event, which will be free and open to the public, will take place on the second floor of Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Center for Graduate Studies of Asheville, 36 Montford Ave. Refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m., and the event will begin at 6 p.m. Oralene Simmons, President of the MLK Association, stressed the importance of honoring African American contributions to Asheville and beyond. “We want to extend an invitation to everyone to join us as we remember and honor the lives of African Americans who continue to have a positive and significant impact on our society,” she said. The Altitude Accelerators is comprised of young men who will be forming their own businesses through a Buncombe County grant-funded program. Part of their training is to research the history of African American entrepreneurship in the Asheville area. The nine minority males have been hand-selected for the Altitude Accelerators program. In addition to presenting about local black business pioneers, they will tell attendees about the businesses they will be creating during their time in the year-long program. For more information about this event, contact Michael Dempsey, Chair of the MLK Association’s Community Outreach Providing Empowerment (COPE) program at michael.dempsey@lr.edu or (828) 407-4269.

02/24/18 VOTER REGISTRATION TRAINING IN CULLOWHEE

It's not too soon to prepare for the 2018 elections. Join us for a Voter Registration Training on February 24 at 10:00 AM in Cullowhee. This will be a non-partisan voter registration training - learn this important skill with an emphasis on how to connect with and motivate people. We'll review how to register someone to vote and send you home with your own Voter Registration packet. Trainings are free and open to any group. Light snacks and coffee will be provided. Saturday, February 24, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Location is the Natural Science Building, WCU Campus (111 Memorial Drive, Cullowhee 28723) RSVP below to let us know you'll be there. For more information including how to RSVP, please contact Darlene Azarmi at (828) 216-3430 or darlene@democracync.org.

02/26/18 DOCUMENTARY SHOWING AT NORTH ASHEVILLE LIBRARY

Documentary screening of “13th” will be on Monday Feb. 26, 6 p.m. This Oscar nominated documentary is described as “Powerful, infuriating, and at times overwhelming … and will get our blood boiling and tear ducts streaming” by the New York Times. Contact North Asheville Library for more information.

02/26/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ WEEKLY MEETING

02/26/18 COFFEE AND CONVERSATION ON SLAVE SPIRITUALS TO CIVIL RIGHTS AT MHU

Around Here: Coffee and Conversation, which begins Monday, February 26 at 3:30 p.m. Complimentary coffee and cookies will be provided. The first conversation will be “A History of Spreading the Gospel through Music: From Slave Spirituals to Civil Rights,” with professor David Gilbert, author of “The Product of Our Souls: Ragtime, Race, and the Birth of the Manhattan Music Marketplace” (UNC Press, 2015). This event is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, please call (828) 689-1115 or email lweinstein@mhu.edu.

02/27/18 INDIVISIBLE ASHEVILLE MEETING

At this month’s general meeting we welcome Kelly Garvy, founder of ‘Kill The Bill’, who’ll speak with us about what’s going on in the NC General Assembly (NCGA) in Raleigh and what we can do to get involved and help ensure that our legislature works for the citizens of North Carolina, not against us. Indivisible general meetings are held on the last Tuesday of the month. Each month we’ll give updates on recent and future actions and highlight opportunities to get involved, and we’ll also focus on learning more about our elected representatives in Raleigh and Washington, or hearing from candidates who are seeking election, or learning more about a particular issue, or sharing tools for active engagement. Hope to see you there. General meetings are open to all. If you have suggestions for future meetings, let us know: email info@indivisibleavl.org. Time is 6 to 7:30 PM and location is Pack Memorial Library Auditorium at 67 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville.

02/27/18 LIVE STAKING WITH FRENCH BROAD RIVERKEEPER

02/27/18 ASURJ DO!SCUSSION

02/27/17 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

02/27/18 LUNCH AND LEARN ON THE HOUSING CRISIS

Lunch & Learn:Housing Crisis. Pisgah Legal Services is dedicated to alleviating poverty in Western North Carolina. We see clients everyday who don't have access to affordable, safe, or stable housing. Join Pisgah Legal's Housing and Community Economic Development teams for a lunch session to learn more about the housing crisis and landlord/tenant law. We will share ways that Pisgah Legal staff and volunteers are affecting change and impacting lives, and how you can plug in. February 27th, 2018 from 12 - 1:30 pm at Tuton Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church at 60 Church Street in Asheville. Suggested Donation: $10/person. RSVP to nora@pisgahlegal.org. Lunch from Green Opportunities will be provided. Space is limited, please RSVP to Nora Frank by February 20th.

02/27/18 WORLD AFFAIRS GREAT DECISIONS SERIES

World Affairs Council Great Decisions Series at UNC Asheville continues on February 27th with a talk on “Media and Foreign Policy” with Jake Greear, adjunct instructor in Western Carolina University’s Political Science and Public Affairs Department. The World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina will begin its Great Decisions 2018 series, with six talks at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights in February and March at the Reuter Center at UNC Asheville. This series is part of the national Great Decisions Program, America’s largest grass-roots discussion program on world affairs. The Great Decisions Program, which began in 1954, is the flagship program of the non-partisan, non-governmental Foreign Policy Association. The program’s goal is to discuss, debate and learn about international affairs, national security and U.S. foreign policy. These lectures are presented in partnership by the World Affairs Council, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville (OLLI), and the university’s Department of Political Science. Admission to World Affairs Council presentations at UNC Asheville is $10 for the public; free to members of the World Affairs Council and UNC Asheville students. For more information, contact olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.

02/28/18 AUTHOR EVENT FOR ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION

Nikole Hannah-Jones: “Ending Racial Inequity in Our Schools: What Actually Works.” Time is 7:00 pm-8:30 pm and location is Lipinsky Hall - Auditorium. Writing for The New York Times Magazine, investigative journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones has won the Peabody, George Polk and National Magazine Awards for her reporting on segregated housing and schools, the black experience in America and racial inequality. Her current project is a book on school segregation titled The Problem We All Live With, and her talk will be titled “Ending Racial Inequity in Our Schools: What Actually Works”. Proceeds of this event will benefit for the Asheville City Schools Foundation. Tickets are $25; $75 for the talk and a 6 PM special reception. To purchase tickets over the phone, please contact Rebecca Abide at 828 - 350 - 6174. For information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Copland Rudolph at 828 - 350 - 6139 or by email at copland@acsf.org.

02/28/18 BLACK HISTORY MONTH LECTURE SERIES AT AB TECH

Community Voices Lecture Series Beginning at A-B Tech. A-B Tech is launching a Community Voices lectures series that will be kicked off with Black History Month presentations. Black History Month lectures will include presentations by Oralene Simmons and Nicole Townsend in February. Simmons will discuss the work of the Martin Luther King Jr. Association at 3 p.m. on February 7. Townsend will discuss colorism and its implications for the African American community at 3 p.m. on February 28. Future lectures include topics for Women’s History Month in March and other issues impacting our community throughout the academic year. All Community Voices events are free and open to the public. Location is Ferguson Auditorium at the Asheville campus of AB Tech. Contact AB Tech for more information.

02/28/18 WOKE WEDNESDAY EVENT

The lowdown - Mark your calendars. It is time for Woke Wednesdays. Hosted at The Block off biltmore (39 South Market Street in Asheville) and co-curated by Asheville’s own Cynde Allen and Cortina Jenelle, we hope to create an event that brings together local artists, activists, leaders and changemakers to share about their human experience and build conscious community with creative mediums such as spoken word, improv, music and visual art. Woke Wednesdays was specifically created to highlight voices from the black, brown, and LGBTQ communities. We begin the night by honoring our youth voices with an opening performance by youth Slammer. Then a spoken word, poetry or theater showcase by a local artist. Following that hour set, the floor opens up for open mic for those that want to share (calling on the elders) – sign up available at the beginning of each event. Then, dance your heart out with DJ Phantom Pantone playing the latest in electronic dance music from around the world. Doors open at 7 PM. First ten early birds get in free. $4 cover, all proceeds go to the artists. Call 828-254-9277 for more information.

02/28/18 AUTHOR EVENT AT FIRESTORM BOOKS & COFFEE

“Transforming Hate” Author Event at Firestorm Books & Coffee. Wednesday, February 28th at 6pm. Location is 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Join Asheville resident, Clarissa Sligh, for a reading of her most recent book, “Transforming Hate: An Artist’s Book.” About the book: One’s life sometimes collides with moments in history, causing it to be altered dramatically by external change. Transforming Hate: An Artist’s Book sheds light on our individual roles in history, as witness and as participant, how we each influence decisions about who gets to have rights and who is marginalized in our society. Making this book, “I had to face my own terror and fear and the ways it made me feel safe if I averted my eyes or did not look too closely at our dominant narratives about our history and identity.” How can we begin to talk about what separates us? Clarissa Sligh is an internationally acclaimed and highly awarded artist, writer and educator. She is known for her compelling photo-text images, artists’ books, and text-based installations exploring richly layered concepts such as identity, politics, social justice, memory, and history. Contact Information: Firestorm Books and Coffee (828-255-8115)

02/28/18 BLACK HISTORY MONTH LUNCHEON AND SPEECH

Black History Month Luncheon Features Prof. Darin Waters. In observance of Black History Month, Leadership Asheville Forum (LAF) will present Dr. Darin Waters as the featured speaker at its Critical Issues Luncheon on Wednesday, February 28, 2018. The program at the Country Club of Asheville is open to the public; reservations are required no later than Feb. 23 (RSVP: nwilliam@unca.edu). Buffet service begins at 11:45 a.m., the program at 12:15 p.m. The cost is $25 for LAF members, $30 for non-members. Prof. Waters’s family roots in western North Carolina date back more than 150 years, and he will speak on “Life Beneath the Veneer: Reflections on the Early History of African Americans in Asheville and Western North Carolina.” An assistant professor of history and special assistant to the chancellor at UNC Asheville, Waters teaches courses in American history, North Carolina and Appalachian history, African American history, and Latin-American history. He is also a recognized expert in the history of race relations in the United States and Latin America. In addition to his academic work, Dr. Waters co-hosts the “Waters and Harvey Show” on Blue Ridge Public Radio. He currently serves as a member of the North Carolina Historic Markers Commission, and on the boards of the National Blue Ridge Heritage Area, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial of Historic Asheville, and the NC Civil War History Center. He received his doctorate from UNC-Chapel Hill. LAF’s February 28th Critical Issues Luncheon will be held at the Country Club of Asheville, 170 Windsor Road. Food Service begins at 11:45 a.m.; the program begins at 12:15 p.m. Tickets are $30; $25 for LAF members. Please RSVP by Friday, February 23 to Nancy Williams at nwilliam@unca.edu or 250-2353 (email preferred).

03/01/18 INTERFAITH PEACE CONFERENCE AT LAKE JUNALUSKA

Meeting the Other: Can We Talk? March 1-4, 2018. The Interfaith Peace Conference at Lake Junaluska strives to advance the work of reconciliation and peace. Represented by a coalition of Jewish, Christian, Muslim and other religious traditions, the event features workshops, music, prayer and lectures. At the 2018 conference we will demonstrate the art of building bridges of Godly love and participating in holy conversation. We can agree to disagree with civility and respect while upholding the core values of our various traditions. Juliane Hammer, Ph.D., serves as an associate professor and Kenan Rifai Scholar of Islamic studies at UNC-Chapel Hill. She specializes in the study of American Muslims, contemporary Muslim thought, women and gender in Islam, and Sufism. Trained in the study of Islam, languages, and pre-modern as well as modern Muslim societies, her scholarly trajectory has taken her from research on Palestinian women and diaspora and return experiences through a decade of work on American Muslim communities intersecting with women, gender and sexuality in contemporary Muslim contexts. She is the author of “Palestinians Born in Exile: Diaspora and the Search for a Homeland” (2005) and “American Muslim Women, Religious Authority, and Activism: More Than a Prayer” (2012), as well as the co-editor of “A Jihad for Justice” (with Kecia Ali and Laury Silvers, 2012) and the “Cambridge Companion to American Islam” (with Omid Safi, 2013). Hammer is one of the keynote speakers at the Interfaith Peace Conference, which takes place March 1-4 at Lake Junaluska. Program Fee: $150/person. Student Program Fee: $60/person. Contact Lake Junaluska at 828-452-2881 or information@lakejunaluska.com for more information, including how to register.

03/01/18 SIERRA CLUB MEETING

Engaging with Conservatives on a Bipartisan Climate Solution -- Thurs, Mar 1, 7 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation,1 Edwin Place in Asheville. Come learn how you can engage positively with your legislators and conservative friends and relatives on the issue of climate change. Learn what terms to avoid and what language to use to actually reach areas of agreement. The same lessons can be used to lobby elected officials who may be skeptical of climate change. Free and open to the public. Sierra Club meetings now on Thursdays. Steffi Rausch, lead organizer for the Asheville Chapter of the Citizens Climate Change Lobby (CCL) will share how you can engage positively with your legislators and conservative friends and relatives on the issue of climate change. Learn what terms to avoid and what language to use to actually reach areas of agreement. The same lessons can be used to lobby elected officials who may be skeptical of climate change. Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) is a non-profit, non-partisan international organization with 80,000 members worldwide that focuses on empowering and educating citizens to engage respectfully with their legislators on the issue of climate change as well as pushing for a bipartisan solution on the federal level. A big part of CCL’s outreach is reaching out to people with differing views to help bridge the partisan divide on the issue of climate by finding common ground between us. CCL works towards keeping a respectful bipartisan dialogue that is supported by a bipartisan advisory board that includes conservatives, liberals, scientists, and military. CCL’s proposed solution is called Carbon Fee & Dividend and has been adopted in various forms by four countries around the world, including Canada recently. It is a revenue-neutral, market-based, national alternative to regulations and the most effective, least intrusive, and government-free solution possible that will put more money back into the pockets of low to middle income households while growing our economy, jobs, and GDP. Top economists say it is the best and easiest way to fix a carbon market failure and incentivize producers and consumers to lower their carbon consumption while not regulating how they do this. For more information, call Judy Mattox at 828-683-2176 judymattox@sbcglobal.net. [There is no evidence that Carbon Fee & Dividend would actually work.- dancewater]

03/01/18 LECTURE AT UNCA

Dr. Christine Darden to deliver UNCA’s Parsons Lecture. Dr. Christine Darden, a leading mathematician, data analyst, and aeronautical engineer for NASA, will deliver the annual Parsons Lecture beginning at 7 PM on Thursday, March 1 in Lipinsky Auditorium. Dr. Darden’s story was one of the researchers whose stories were told in “Hidden Figures; The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race” (2016). She went on to become an internationally known expert in sonic-boom minimization, and an influential women of mathematicians and engineers at NASA in the mid-20th century. In 2007, she retired as a member of the senior staff at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Dr. Darden will share her personal story, From Monroe to NASA, including her growing up in Monroe, NC, attending Allen High School in Asheville, and her 40-year career at NASA. UNC Asheville’s annual Parsons Lecture is funded through an endowment from a mathematics alumnus in honor of Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Joe Parsons. The goal of the lecture is to bring to Asheville a nationally renowned mathematician able to communicate mathematical concepts and use with a general audience. Dr. Darden’s lecture is free and open to everyone. For more information, contact Sheryl Donaldson in UNC Asheville’s Department of Mathematics, at sdonalds@unca.edu or (828) 251-6556, or visit math.unca.edu.

03/02/18 INTERFAITH PEACE CONFERENCE SPECIAL SESSION AT UNCA

This year part of the Interfaith Peace Conference will take place at UNC-Asheville. Individuals who are not attending the full Interfaith Peace Conference program may attend just the Friday afternoon UNC-Asheville special session is available for a fee of only $10. UNC-Asheville students can attend the sessions for free, but online registration is requested so we have the appropriate resources available on the day. Those who have already registered for the Interfaith Peace Conference do NOT need special tickets to this event, as the UNC-Asheville special sessions are already included in the program fee. Time is 3 to 5 PM. Contact Lake Junaluska at 828-452-2881 or information@lakejunaluska.com for more information, including how to register.

03/06/18 CURRENT EVENTS BOOK CLUB

Join host Bruce Roth for a lively discussion on topics of current interest including war and peace, the economy, the environment, and other hot political topics. “When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir” by Patrisse Khan-Cullors is this month’s selection. Time is 7 PM, contact Malaprops for more information.

03/06/18 WORLD AFFAIRS GREAT DECISIONS SERIES

World Affairs Council Great Decisions Series at UNC Asheville continues on March 6th with a talk on “The Defense Budget and Global Engagement Priorities” with retired Air Force Major General Richard Devereaux, who is now executive vice president for Texzon Technologies. The World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina will begin its Great Decisions 2018 series, with six talks at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights in February and March at the Reuter Center at UNC Asheville. This series is part of the national Great Decisions Program, America’s largest grassroots discussion program on world affairs. The Great Decisions Program, which began in 1954, is the flagship program of the non-partisan, non-governmental Foreign Policy Association. The program’s goal is to discuss, debate and learn about international affairs, national security and U.S. foreign policy. These lectures are presented in partnership by the World Affairs Council, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville (OLLI), and the university’s Department of Political Science. Admission to World Affairs Council presentations at UNC Asheville is $10 for the public; free to members of the World Affairs Council and UNC Asheville students. For more information, contact olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.

03/07/18 VOTER REGISTRATION TRAINING

It's not too soon to prepare for the 2018 elections. Join us for a Voter Registration Training on March 7 at 6:30 PM in Asheville. This will be a non-partisan voter registration training. We'll review how to register someone to vote and send you home with your own Voter Registration packet. Trainings are free and open to any group. Light snacks and coffee will be provided. Wednesday, March 7, 6:30-8 PM at the YWCA of Asheville (185 S. French Broad Avenue in Asheville). For more information, including how to register, please contact Darlene Azarmi at (828) 216-3430 or darlene@democracync.org.

03/08/18 LIVE STAKING WITH FRENCH BROAD RIVERKEEPER

The French Broad Riverkeeper and Mountain True are combating sediment pollution by planting live-stakes along eroding river banks. Time and location TBD. Sign up at Mountain True dot org for updates or to register.

03/08/18 HENDERSONVILLE GREEN DRINKS

Learn about current environmental issues with regional guest speakers and like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks. Guest speakers TBD. This is from 5:30 to 7 PM and held at the Black Bear Coffee in Hendersonville. Contact Mountain True dot org for more information.

03/10/18 CLIMATE ADVOCACY TRAINING IN HENDERSONVILLE

Come to our Hendersonville Climate Advocacy Training or invite someone nearby. This is on Saturday, March 10, from 10 AM-1:30 PM. Location Kaplan Auditorium at the Henderson County Library at 301 N. Washington Street in Hendersonville. Learn proven ways to speak effectively and powerfully about climate solutions to friends, neighbors, business leaders, and elected officials. The session is free and will teach citizens the nuts and bolts of building political will and affecting change in positive, constructive ways. The workshop will include a mini-lobbying training and will help start the Hendersonville Chapter of CCL. Please RSVP. Please email lucybutlerslp@gmail.com with any questions and a link to the registration website.

03/10/18 VOTER REGISTRATION TRAINING

It's not too soon to prepare for the 2018 elections. Join us for a Voter Registration Training on March 10 at 10:00 AM in Asheville. This will be a non-partisan voter registration training. We'll review how to register someone to vote and send you home with your own Voter Registration packet. Trainings are free and open to any group. Light snacks and coffee will be provided. Saturday, March 10, 10 AM - 12 PM at the YWCA of Asheville (185 S. French Broad Avenue in Asheville). For more information, including how to register, please contact Darlene Azarmi at (828) 216-3430 or darlene@democracync.org.

03/11/18 WNC GREENS BOOK CLUB MEETING

The book we will be covering is “This Is an Uprising,” by Paul and Mark Engler. It is an incredibly informative, powerful, inspiring and timely book. We’re excited to dig even deeper into the book with the chapter and like-minded individuals outside of our group. By analyzing the characteristics, including successes and failures, of contemporary non-violent social movements and actions, the book serves as an invaluable guide to individuals and groups committed to making change in today’s complex socio-political landscape. It’s approachable, relevant and immediately applicable. This year is one of growth and outreach for the WNC Greens. But…we’re also always searching for opportunities for direct action. When those opportunities arrive, we want to be educated, organized, efficient and effective. This book club is a large part of that process. We hope you’ll join us and invite friends, as we are always interested in meeting and networking with like-minded people. “This Is an Uprising” Book Club Discussion – Session #1 – Sunday, March 11, 2018 6PM – Habitat Brewing and Commons (we’ll cover roughly the first half of the book). “This Is an Uprising” Book Club Discussion – Session #2 – Sunday, March 25, 2018 6PM – Habitat Brewing and Commons (2nd half – final lessons and applications). Contact Ben at williamsonb@ashevilleschool.org for more information.

03/13/18 WORLD AFFAIRS GREAT DECISIONS SERIES

World Affairs Council Great Decisions Series at UNC Asheville continues on March 13th with a talk on “China and America: the New Geopolitical Equation” with Julie Snyder, who worked for 30 years with the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina will begin its Great Decisions 2018 series, with six talks at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights in February and March at the Reuter Center at UNC Asheville. This series is part of the national Great Decisions Program, America’s largest grass-roots discussion program on world affairs. The Great Decisions Program, which began in 1954, is the flagship program of the non-partisan, non-governmental Foreign Policy Association. The program’s goal is to discuss, debate and learn about international affairs, national security and U.S. foreign policy. These lectures are presented in partnership by the World Affairs Council, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville (OLLI), and the university’s Department of Political Science. Admission to World Affairs Council presentations at UNC Asheville is $10 for the public; free to members of the World Affairs Council and UNC Asheville students. For more information, contact olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140.

03/16/18 CLIMATE CITY IN ASHEVILLE

“Welcome to Climate City”: March 16-25. The weekends before and after ClimateCon 2018 – adding up to a full 10-day period – a community component called “Welcome to Climate City” will provide an immersive experience for all conference attendees to enjoy the soul of vibrant and eclectic Asheville, North Carolina. Expect museums, galleries, restaurants, breweries, shops, and attractions to feature climate-related events of their own, resulting in a conference experience like no other. ClimateCon 2018 includes The Business of Climate Forum, a summit for students and young professionals, an innovation showcase demonstrating climate solutions and products, and 10 days of climate-focused community events. ClimateCon is an important opportunity for forward-thinking leaders to interact directly with innovators. Collectively we can address the products, services, and information needed for better business decision-making in the face of climate change. Contact The Collider for more information.

03/16/18 WORKSHOP ON BEYOND PRIVILEGE FROM OLLI

Friday, March 16 from 1-2:30 p.m. “Beyond Privilege” is a workshop with Rev. Michael Carter, interfaith minister and anti-racism trainer. Free and open to everyone. Registration is required; call (828) 251-6188 to register or for more information. This presentation is part of OLLI at UNC Asheville's More Than a Month series. 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 OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville at olli@unca.edu or 828.251.6140 for more information. Location is probably the Reuter Center, but check with them to be sure.

03/19/18 CONFERENCE AT THE COLLIDER

ClimateCon 2018 is North Carolina's first conference on the business of climate, where business and science professionals will come together to explore innovative climate solutions and business opportunities. ClimateCon will be held in the vibrant mountain town of Asheville, North Carolina, with its developing reputation as “Climate City,” hosted by The Collider, a nonprofit center of innovation for a changing climate. The centerpiece of ClimateCon 2018 is The Business of Climate Forum, an exceptional opportunity for entrepreneurs & forward-thinking organizations. The Business of Climate Forum is March 19-21. The main event of ClimateCon 2018 is The Business of Climate Forum, where attendees can expect a collaborative experience with a wide variety of business and science professionals who come together to advance the development of data-driven products and services. We'll help you identify potential uses and needs for climate adaptation and resiliency. Tickets are $699 – $999. The Collider is at 1 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. Refunds up to 30 days before event. We’re now offering early-bird tickets to The Business of Climate Forum for $699 (a $300 savings). We hope you’ll join us this March and help uncover innovative solutions for climate change. Contact The Collider for more information or tickets.

03/19/18 NOTORIOUS HBC* (*HISTORY BOOK CLUB)

Join host and Malaprop’s bookseller Patricia Furnish to discuss a range of books across different periods of history. We’re creating a book club that tackles the challenging subjects, hence “Notorious.” This month’s pick is “The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism” by Edward E. Baptist. Time is 7 PM. Contact Malaprops for more information.

03/24/18 COMMUNICATION THAT WORKS - WORKSHOP IN ASHEVILLE

Building Bridges Across Divides; Communication That Works! Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, Peace & Earth Committee of Asheville Friends Meeting, and Steps2peace are excited to welcome you to register for our second day-long training in living and practicing Nonviolent (Compassionate) Communication and Consciousness. Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is a communication of connection rather than division, of authenticity and honest (even scary) self-expression, not fake pretense for the sake of the appearance of harmony. It is about finding your own voice and hearing others' voices. We are creating connections that value every person's humanity. Our facilitator, Roberta Wall, is now in the Middle East for six weeks where she is diving deeply into using Nonviolent Communication to build bridges among peoples – not just between the Israelis and Palestinians, but also between religious and secular people, and different groups and political affinities within each society. Time is 10 AM to 4 PM. Location is Friends Meeting House at 225 Edgewood Road in Asheville. Refund policy is refunds up to 7 days before event. Cost is $100. We want this workshop to be accessible to everyone in the community so please don't be shy and inquire about a scholarship, if you need one, directly to Roberta at info@steps2peace.com. You can pay by credit card at the Event Brite website, contact Karen at kayzey@gmail.com for information on how to do this. Also contact Karen for more information. To pay by check: Make your check payable to EHSA. Please add a notation that it is for NVC and mail to: Jim Tobin, EHSA Treasurer, 20 Stonebridge Drive, Asheville, NC 28805. Please note: All requested fees are suggested contributions. Contact Karen at kayzey@gmail.com for more information. All donations go to Roberta’s travels to the Middle East for NVC work there. Further information will be sent after you register.

03/25/18 WNC GREENS BOOK CLUB MEETING

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ONGOING EVENTS

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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 AM-11:30 AM. Followed by Do!sessions from 11:30-1:30 PM.

Rally at historic Courthouse in Hendersonville at 5 PM on the first Tuesday of the month. Organized by the Progressive Organized Women.

Gathering of people who like to stitch and otherwise puncture the status quo at 68 Haywood Street Outdoor Space at 9 AM.

WEDNESDAY

Haywood Peace Vigilers have a weekly vigil at 4 PM at Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville

French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.

Green Drinks meets at 6 PM at The Block Off Biltmore on the third Wednesday of the month.

Sierra Club meets at 7 PM at Unitarian Universalist in Asheville on the first Wednesday of the month.

Indivisible Asheville does political letter writing at 5:30 every Wednesday at The Block Off Biltmore.

THURSDAY

Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Coffee & Books at 6 PM on first Thursday of the month. Materials provided.

Welcome Home Tour by Homeward Bound on the third Thursday of the month at 11 AM. Call 258-1695 for more information.

Asheville Prison Books Program is held at Downtown Books & News from 4 to 7 PM.

FRIDAY

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

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.

Citizen’s Climate Lobby meeting at 12:30 PM at Kairos West Community Center on second Saturday of the month.

Food Not Bombs serves free vegan/vegetarian food every Saturday at noon at Pritchard Park.

Dances of Universal Peace on the third Saturdays at 7:30 at 1 School Road in Asheville.

SUNDAY

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

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ACTIONS AND READINGS

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From a Facebook post:

Please donate your old furniture, dishes, pots and pans, towels, and old blankets to a place called The Storehouse. They help furnish homes for people that are desperately in need and have nothing to cook with/ sleep on to start their home. They are out there helping lots of folks in the community and they need donations! 828-692-8300.

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I received this email on Saturday, February 10th, from Muslim Advocates. This triple hate crime happened in the eastern part of NC. I never met Yusor, Razan, or Deah, (which was probably a great loss for me) but I had heard about them and the work they were doing for the poor in NC and refugees in Turkey. We must fight hatred, bigotry, and racism everywhere we find it. - Susan

Hello there,

Six weeks before my daughters, Yusor and Razan, and my son-in-law, Deah Barakat, were murdered, I danced with Yusor at her wedding.

Less than two months later, all three of my children were savagely shot execution style in their own apartment by a neighbor. They did nothing to warrant the attack. They did not deserve the horrific way they died. They were simply targeted by a man with hatred in his heart.

That was three years ago today. Some people now associate the names of my children with how they died, but Yusor, Razan, and Deah should be remembered for how they lived.

Yusor was 21, passionate about serving others and about to start at UNC School of Dentistry with the love of her life, Deah. She volunteered at a dental clinic in Turkey for Syrian refugees, and she helped build Habitat for Humanity houses in Raleigh, NC. She loved her school so much that she often wore her headscarf in the school colors of blue and orange.

Razan, our youngest, was 19 and loved nature, sports, music, animals and arts. She was studying architecture at NCSU. After long school days, she stayed up nights painting doves symbolizing peace, which she sold to raise money for humanitarian projects in the Middle East.

Deah was 23 and larger than life -- tall, handsome, loving, caring and passionate about community service. Deah would never brag about this himself but his professors at UNC told me later that he was following a track that would qualify him as an oral surgeon.

All three of them lived their lives with overwhelming kindness. It was quite typical for the three of them to spend many Friday nights cooking in our kitchen to deliver hot meals the next morning to the hungry and homeless.

They had all been kind to the man who went on to murder them, despite the fact that he made it clear that he did not want them in his neighborhood. He had never brandished a gun until Yusor moved in and Razan began to visit, both wearing their headscarves, as Deah looked like an average white all-American college student in sporty attire. Not long before they were killed, Yusor told me, “he told me he hated us for how we dressed and how we looked.” She believed she could win him over with kindness -- that love would ultimately win, but I wasn’t so sure. I wish I did not ignore my instincts.

I still believe that love will win in the end.

Even before officially informing us of our children’s death, the police in Chapel Hill, North Carolina told the media that their murders were most likely because of a parking dispute. They automatically ruled out hate as a motive as soon as the murderer told them the version that he wanted aired. Our families waited at the neighborhood’s clubhouse for more than four hours before an officer would tell us “They all passed, but at least it was quick, bullets to the head.”

Although the Chief of Police has since apologized to us for so quickly diminishing their murders, that apology cannot unring the bells of how the media portrayed the story in the immediate aftermath.

Any police department should know that jumping to conclusions before even talking to the victims and their families is foul and irremediable -- especially at a time when there is a ruthless, well-financed and flourishing campaign against Muslims. But our families’ encounters with law enforcement have taught us that many states do not even have hate crime laws and federal hate crime laws desperately need to be re-visited in order to be more clearly defined.

While many latched on to the “parking dispute” narrative, within hours, people around the world had decided what happened. They affirmed for us what we already believed, that this was a hate crime.

In the three years since Yusor, Razan and Deah died, hate crimes rates have continued to rise. Too many families live in fear, knowing that what happened to my family could happen to theirs. Too many families lose sleep at night, knowing the impact that hateful words from politicians, political pundits and extremist media are having across the United States and how they can incite violence. The only way that we can fight back against the violence is in the same way our children lived their lives -- with love and kindness.

Meanwhile, we can continue to hope that justice should and will be served.

For that to happen, it’s important that we report any form of violence or hate to law enforcement when we are targeted by or witness it and that we tell our stories, loudly, for the world to hear. I believe that when we show ourselves to the world, when we let them see our pain and our triumph, they will stand with us.

That’s why I am writing you today, to ask you to share your story with Muslim Advocates. They stood with our families in the wake of our pain and our loss, and they will stand with you too. If you have been the victim of hate, or if you have witnessed it, please respond to this email and share your story. No story is too small – Muslim Advocates is here, and they want to listen.

Together, we will fight back against hate and bigotry. Together, we will keep our America great.

Together, we will win.

Thank you,

Mohammad Abu-Salha

Muslim Advocates is a national legal advocacy and educational organization that works on the frontlines of civil rights to guarantee freedom and justice for Americans of all faiths.

Muslim Advocates is a 501(c)(3) charitable, tax exempt nonprofit entity that is supported entirely by private donations.

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dancewater

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Upcoming events for the week of February 11, 2018

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