dancewater: Upcoming events for the week of February 18, 2018

Image by Feral78 via Flickr.

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

02/19/18 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.

02/19/18 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.

02/19/18 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 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.

02/19/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ WEEKLY MEETING

Asheville SURJ Weekly Monday night meetings: 6:30-8:30pm at the UU Congregation (1 Edwin Place, corner of Edwin & Charlotte), downstairs main building. Every Monday, all are welcome to gather with others seeking to stay accountable in the work of dismantling white supremacy within themselves and the spheres they work, play, and live in. First Mondays are focused on exploring SURJ's Core Values and how we go about the work of moving from ally to accomplice in this work. Second Mondays are focused on a Calling In session where we brainstorm and role-play difficult situations and conversations around confronting racism and white supremacy, in ourselves and others. Third & Fourth Mondays are focused on Education with each topic being looked at nationally one week and then local impacts the following week. We are beginning this series with a focus on issues relating to Housing. For more details on any and all ASURJ meetings, email avlsurj@gmail.com. Specific dates & topics below:

Feb. 19: Redlining (big picture/national history)

Feb. 26: Redlining (local Asheville history)

02/20/18 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.

02/20/18 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.

02/20/18 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 ASHEVILLE SURJ DO!SCUSSION

ASURJ Do!scussion: Tuesdays, 10-11:30am in the backroom of Firestorm, Road in Asheville. A safe space to come together and talk about issues relating to dismantling white supremacy and confronting racism with a focus on what we can do to make a change, in ourselves, our communities, and beyond. All are welcome. Led by Matilda Bliss. ASURJ Do-Session: Tuesdays, noon-2pm, at a member’s residence. Meet us at 11:45 at Kairos West (right below Firestorm) and walk with us down there. This is a weekly space to do something to support accountability partners in their work. Letter-writing, list-making, social media work are just a few examples of what we will do to show up for racial justice Tuesday at the Do-Session. Bring your laptop and phone and help us out. For more details on any and all ASURJ meetings, email avlsurj@gmail.com.

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.

02/20/18 “RIVER WEBS” DOCUMENTARY FILM IN SALUDA

Feb. 20 - RiverWebs documentary film at The Purple Onion at 16 East Main Street in Saluda. Join MountainTrue and the Green Riverkeeper for RiverWebs, Freshwater Illustrated's award-winning documentary about river ecosystems. Join MountainTrue and the Green Riverkeeper at the Purple Onion in Saluda on February 20th from 5:30 to 7:30 as we screen “RiverWebs” Freshwater Illustrated’s award-winning documentary about river ecosystems and the science that explores them. This film follows the life and work of Dr. Shigeru Nakano as he attempted to understand how streams and forests depend on each other, and his team who carried on this work after his tragic death. RiverWebs illustrates how the movements and behaviors of insects, in both the stream and the forest, influence their predators, like fish, bats, birds, and spiders. Stick around after the screening for a presentation about how we monitor for stream quality in WNC and how you can get involved in our Stream Monitoring Information Exchange (SMIE) program. We will wrap up the evening with a Q&A with the Green Riverkeeper MountainTrue’s Water Quality Administrator and some current SMIE volunteers. This event is free and open to the public. Contact Gray Jernigan at 828-692-0385 or gray@mountaintrue.org for more information.

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

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.

02/22/18 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 COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON HEALTH CARE IN MARION

West Marion Community Forum - “Health Care and Your Community” is on Thursday, February 22, 2018 from 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Location is Addies Chapel United Methodist Church at 201 Ridley Street in Marion. Please join staff from the North Carolina Justice Center for this important discussion. Health care discussion topics include the Affordable Care Act, North Carolina’s Medicaid Program, and ways to become a health care advocate. Reserve your seat today. Email: Nicole Dozier, NC Justice Center — Nicole@ncjustice.org— or leave a message here: (919) 856-2146. Please include the names in your party, so we may be prepared with the proper amount of food and meeting materials.

02/22/18 EXHIBITION AT MARS HILL UNIVERSITY

Curator Ann Miller Woodford discusses 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.” Free. Time is 6 to 7 PM. Held in the Ramsey Center at Mars Hill University at 265 Cascade Street in Mars Hill.

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

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.

02/23/18 “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.

02/23/18 VAGINA MONOLOGUES PERFORMANCE IN BREVARD

This performance takes place at 8 PM at the DFR Room at 36 East Main Street in Brevard and benefits SAFE. This play addresses the fact that one in three women will be raped or beaten in her lifetime around the globe. This impacts everyone. Play is written by Eve Ensler. $25 general admission, $35 on day of show. Go to etix dot com to get tickets.

02/24/18 VAGINA MONOLOGUES PERFORMANCE IN ASHEVILLE

This performance takes place at 8 PM at the Orange Peel in downtown Asheville and benefits Helpmate. This play addresses the fact that one in three women will be raped or beaten in her lifetime around the globe. This impacts everyone. Play is written by Eve Ensler. $25 general admission, $35 on day of show. Go to etix dot com to get tickets.

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 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.

02/26/18 DOCUMENTARY ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY IN BLACK MOUNTAIN

Our Movies and Meanings film series continues with “Brother Outsider.” As we celebrate African-American History month, the life and work and words of Bayard Rustin are as important as any other in celebrating the history of African-Americans and the valiant leaders of the Civil Rights Era. This film does a brilliant job of telling his story. “Brother Outsider” captures the full extent of Rustin's complex, 60-year career as an activist. The film contains rare archival footage, including impassioned debates between Rustin and Malcolm X as well as Rustin and Stokely Carmichael. In later years, Rustin continued to champion human rights — including gay rights — in campaigns around the globe. As King aide and former U.N. ambassador Andrew Young recalls in the film “His commitment to justice was always very strong and very consistent. It was easier when he had allies like Martin Luther King and A. Philip Randolph, but when they were gone, he didn't stop.” The film “Brother Outsider” relies on Rustin's extensive FBI records as a form of narration, which become chilling commentaries on the government's political surveillance programs. In a 1948 FBI report, for example, American diplomats suggested that “a prominent American Negro should tour India to counteract the unfavorable impression made by Rustin.” Whatever the circumstance — beaten, accused, shunned or celebrated — Rustin embraced the struggle with fearless dignity. “Brother Outsider” is an exuberant film about a passionate and tireless human being. Date is Monday February 26th. Pot luck at 6:30pm and film screening: 7:30pm. Suggested donation is $7 - $10. Location is White Horse, Black Mountain in Black Mountain, NC. For more information, call (828) 669-0816 or email whitehorseblkmtn@gmail.com.

02/26/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ WEEKLY MEETING

Feb. 26: Redlining (local Asheville history)

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

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.

02/27/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ 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.

02/27/18 VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE IN WAYNESVILLE

We have a *delicious* opportunity to support voters. We'll be attending ‘Pancake Day’ on Tues., February 27, at First United Methodist Church (566 Haywood St., Waynesville, N.C. 28786) to help voters take the first step to the ballot in 2018 — making sure they're registered to vote. Served between 6:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Don't miss this chance to enjoy pancakes and help voters! If you have questions, call Edward Peters at 828-216-3430 or email edward@democracy-nc.org.

02/27/18 HEALTHCARE FOR ALL - WNC EDUCATIONAL FORUM

Healthcare for All-WNC presents an educational forum: “Healthcare for All – Good for Business.” Tuesday, February 27, 2018 7:00 – 8:30 PM at A-B Tech Ferguson Auditorium, 340 Victoria Road in Asheville. Admission is free. Doors open at 6:30 PM. Four speakers will discuss the benefits of universal healthcare from business and medical perspectives. For more information visit healthcareforallwnc.wordpress.com. Business leaders speak on benefits of universal healthcare. David J. Steil -- CEO MicroTrap Corporation, former Republican PA state legislator and Gus Vickery,MD -- Owner Vickery Family Medicine and Vijay Kapoor -- Member Asheville City Council, Owner The Kapoor Co. Special guest appearance by Dr. Carol Paris, President of Physicians for a National Health Program. Contact AB Tech for more information.

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. This event is sold out.

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 6 pm. 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, at 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.

03/01/18 DISABILITY DAY OF MORNING AT UNCA

Disability Day of Mourning - March 1, 2018. As part of a nation-wide Day of Mourning, disability rights advocates in the local community and UNC Asheville will be holding a vigil on Thursday, March 1st, 2018 to honor the lives of disabled people murdered by their families and caretakers. Please join us. This event is open to all members of the UNCA and local community. Time is 10 AM to 1 PM.

03/01/18 THEATRICAL PRODUCTION AT UNCA

The play “Welcome Home, Jenny Sutter” tells the story of a US Marine finding a way to heal from her war experiences, reintegrate into society and rejoin her family. The play will be performed at 7:30 PM on March 1, 2, and 3 and at 2 PM on March 4.This is at Belk Theatre at UNCA. Visit drama dot unca dot edu for more information and for tickets.

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.

03/05/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ WEEKLY MEETING

Mar. 19: Urban Renewal (big picture/national history)

Mar. 26: Urban Renewal (local Asheville history)

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.

03/06/18 DOCUMENTARY FILM ON NO DAPL PROTESTS AT FIRESTORM

Tuesday, Mar 6th @ 6:00pm. Black Snake Killaz: a #Nodapl Film Screening. Join community members for a free screening of “Black Snake Killaz” a new film from Unicorn Riot. This will be followed by a discussion, including information on resistance to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. “Black Snake Killaz" is a feature-length documentary film about the resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. This film explores actions taken by water protectors to stop the construction of the oil pipeline and highlights actions taken by law enforcement, military, and corporate mercenaries to quell the months-long protest. “Black Snake Killaz” timelines the historical events that unfolded in Standing Rock throughout 2016 and brings you the raw experience from many frontline actions to protect the water. Although the Dakota Access Pipeline is completed, the impact of the movement will be long-lasting. As fossil fuel extraction projects continue to impact some of the most vulnerable communities throughout the United States of America, the importance of the water protectors story grows. Location is Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact them for more information.

03/06/18 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PRESENTS CIVICS 101

The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County, Pisgah Legal Services, and Children First/Communities in Schools have joined together to present Civics 101. This series provides an opportunity for any community to learn about the roles and decision-making processes of our local governments and how citizens can advocate and get their voice heard. This 4 week program will take place Tuesdays in March at the Arthur Edington Center from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. Come to one or all sessions. Tuesday, March 6, 2018 will focus on Asheville City Government. Presenters are Jaime Matthews- Assistant to the City Manager; Dawa Hitch – Director of Communications and Public Engagement; and Keith Young – Councilman of City of Asheville. Tuesday, March 13, 2018 will focus on Buncombe County Government. Presenters are Kathy Hughes – Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners and Al Whitesides – County Commissioner – District 1. Tuesday , March 20, 2018 will focus on Justice Resource Center & Family Justice Center. Presenters are Tiffany Iheanacho – Justice Resource Center Coordinator; Julie Klipp-Nicholson – Family Justice Center Coordinator; and Honorable Susan M. Dotson-Smith – District Court Judge. Tuesday, March 27, 2018 will focus on Advocacy Training. Presenter will be Pisgah Legal Services. Light fare and refreshments will be provided. Spanish interpretation is available. Please contact us by February 28th for childcare services. For more information or questions, contact civics101@lwvab.org or 828-333-0393.

03/06/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

03/06/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ DO!SCUSSION

03/06/18 GOSPEL CALL TO PEACE AND RECONCILIATION

St. Eugene's Catholic Church is hosting a series of talks on Peace. The Parish Lenten Mission, “A Journey Toward Peace” will be led by Marie Dennis, co-president of Pax Christi International , the global Catholic peace movement, and previously director of the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns. Marie Dennis holds a masters degree in moral theology from Washington Theological Union. A lay woman, a mother of six and a grandmother, she is author or co-author of seven books, including Oscar Romero: Reflections on His Life and Writings and St. Francis and the Foolishness of God, as well as being a contributing editor to Sojourners magazine. Among her many accomplishments was her service on the White House Task Force on Global Poverty and Development. She will be speaking from 7-9 pm at St. Eugene Church at 72 Culvern Street in north Asheville on topics that are close to the hearts of everyone involved in seeking a just peace for the whole world. All are welcome. Contact Tricia Hynes at triciahynes@gmail.com for more information.

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.

03/07 JUSTICE, PEACE AND THE CARE OF CREATION

03/08/18 WAR NO MORE: THE PATH TO NONVIOLENCE

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. This is from 5:30 to 7 PM and held at the Black Bear Coffee at 318 North Main Street in Hendersonville. This month Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Adam Warwick, the Fire and Stewardship Manager for the Nature Conservancy’s Southern Blue Ridge Program in Asheville. Fire has shaped Southern Appalachian forests for thousands of years and has a natural role in our forest ecosystem. However, highly effective government wildland fire suppression programs have led to a dramatic decline in fires, and in many cases, have left us with unhealthy ecosystems. We were offered a glimpse of Southern Appalachian fire potential in the Fall 2016, which culminated with the Smokies’ Chimney Tops 2 Fire that claimed 14 lives, and was one the largest natural disasters in Tennessee’s history. Land managers across the Southern Blue Ridge are working together through the Southern Blue Ridge Fire Learning Network to use controlled burning to restore and maintain natural areas that traditionally experienced wildland fire. Contact Devon Hathaway at 828-258-8737 ext 214 or outings@mountaintrue.org for more information.

03/08/18 OUR VOICE PRESENTATION IN ASHEVILLE

Join Our Voice for an evening with Elizabeth Smart on Thursday, March 8th at 7 pm at AB-Tech’s Mission Health Conference Center Tickets are $25 / $10 for Students / $100 for a VIP ticket that includes access to a champagne reception with Elizabeth Smart immediately following the public address. All proceeds benefit Our Voice, Asheville and Buncombe County’s rape crisis and prevention center. Elizabeth Smart is an internationally recognized survivor and a leader supporting all people impacted by sexual violence. In 2002, and when she was 14 years old, Elizabeth was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City and held prisoner for 9 months. Now she is an outspoken survivor, acclaimed author and advocate for victims and their families. Her Asheville address will focus on hope and healing after trauma. North Carolina First Lady, Kristin Cooper will join us for our event and take the stage to introduce Elizabeth Smart. Joining the First Lady with introductions will be N.C. Senator and Our Voice Advocate Terry Van Duyn. Special Musical Performance by Kat Williams. Doors open at 6:15, program begins at 7 PM. Location is AB Tech Mission Health Conference Center at 16 Victoria Road in Asheville. Contact Our Voice at (828) 252-0562 or their website for information on how to obtain tickets.

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.

03/10/18 RESTORE RICHMOND HILL PARK WORK DAY

Help restore Asheville’s only forested park. MountainTrue has worked for the past six years to restore Asheville’s only forested park, Richmond Hill. A favorite of dog walkers, mountain bikers and disc golf fans, the park has unfortunately become overrun with non-native invasive plants which can harm our canine companions and crowd out native species. Join us for our next Richmond Hill Restoration Work Day on March 10. We hold workdays at Richmond Hill Park on the second Saturday of every month. This is on Saturday, March 10 2018 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Other info: be sure to wear long sleeves and pants as well as closed-toed shoes to this event. Bring a snack and water. We will provide all other equipment necessary. We ask that you leave your pets at home for this work day. Contact Mountain True with any questions.

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.

03/12/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ WEEKLY MEETING

Mar. 19: Urban Renewal (big picture/national history)

Mar. 26: Urban Renewal (local Asheville history)

03/12/18 PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY

Progressive Democrats of Buncombe County will meet on Monday, March 12 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Location is Buncombe County Democratic Party HQ at 951 Old Fairview Road in Asheville. Doors open by 6:15 for sign in and conversation. Meeting begins promptly at 6:30. Join us as we host a meet and greet for Democratic County Commissioner candidates. The purpose of Progressive Democrats is to encourage candidates and motivate voters while promoting the most progressive parts of the DNC platform: campaign finance reform, clean energy policy, universal healthcare, and much more. Come join us and help to turn NC Blue. Contact Kris Kramer at pdobPRESIDENT@gmail.com for more information.

03/13/18 VETERANS FOR PEACE VIGIL - BECAUSE THE WARS STILL GO ON

03/13/18 ASHEVILLE SURJ DO!SCUSSION

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.

03/13/18 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PRESENTS CIVICS 101

The League of Women Voters of Asheville-Buncombe County, Pisgah Legal Services, and Children First/Communities in Schools have joined together to present Civics 101. This series provides an opportunity for any community to learn about the roles and decision-making processes of our local governments and how citizens can advocate and get their voice heard. This 4 week program will take place Tuesdays in March at the Arthur Edington Center from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. Come to one or all sessions. Tuesday, March 13, 2018 will focus on Buncombe County Government. Presenters are Kathy Hughes – Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners and Al Whitesides – County Commissioner – District 1. Tuesday, March 20, 2018 will focus on Justice Resource Center & Family Justice Center. Presenters are Tiffany Iheanacho – Justice Resource Center Coordinator; Julie Klipp-Nicholson – Family Justice Center Coordinator; and Honorable Susan M. Dotson-Smith – District Court Judge. Tuesday, March 27, 2018 will focus on Advocacy Training. Presenter will be Pisgah Legal Services. Light fare and refreshments will be provided. Spanish interpretation is available. Please contact us by February 28th for childcare services. For more information or questions, contact civics101@lwvab.org or 828-333-0393.

03/13/18 ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE NAACP MEETING

Asheville-Buncombe County NAACP will hold its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Hill Street Baptist Church at 135 Hill Street in Asheville. The March program will feature Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams. Since taking office in 2014, he has been actively involved in creating the Child Advocacy Center, Family Justice Center, Justice Resource Center, Juvenile Misdemeanor Diversion Program, Veterans’ Treatment Court, Buncombe County’s first DA-led expungement clinic, and new first-offender, and drug diversion programs. All these programs focus on placing non-violent offenders on a path to employability and recovery without the stigma of a criminal conviction. For more information, email 4ward2getherCall2Action@gmail.com.

03/15/18 PANEL DISCUSSION ON FUTURE OF NANTAHALA AND PISGAH NATIONAL FORESTS IN SYLVA

March 15, 22, 27 & 29 - The Future of the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests: An Expert Panel Event Series. In the interest of ensuring that the next 15 year management plan for our national forests is one that reflects our interests and priorities, MountainTrue is hosting this panel discussion to engage in constructive dialogue about working toward the common goal of a win-win forest management plan. Join the conversation. March 15 - Sylva, NC, Jackson County Public Library at 310 Keener Street in Sylva. Time is 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Contact Susan Bean at 828.258.8737 x 216 or susan@mountaintrue.org for more information.

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.

03/17/18 MOUNTAIN TRUE STREAM MONITORING TRAINING

Mountain True stream monitoring training on Saturday, March 17, 2018 @ 9:00 AM. Location is Blue Ridge Community College, 180 West Campus Drive in Flat Rock. Bugs tell you a lot about the health and vitality of our rivers and streams. That’s why MountainTrue volunteers sample aquatic macroinvertebrates, or aquatic insects, to test for water quality. Register for our Spring training by March 15 at Blue Ridge Community College to learn how you can become a Stream Monitoring Information Exchange (SMIE) volunteer, and how to collect and identify bugs, record data and use sampling equipment. Both new and returning volunteers are welcome! Must register - contact Regina Goldkuhl at 828-692-0385 ext. 1001 or email wqa@mountaintrue.org for instructions on how to register. Also contact her with any questions.

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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.

Socialism! The Reading Group is at 6 PM at Firestorm on the second Tuesday of the month.

WEDNESDAY

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

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

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

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

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

THURSDAY

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

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.

Political Prisoner Letter Writing Night at 5 PM at Firestorm on the first Sunday of the month.

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ACTIONS AND READINGS

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Written on February 15, 2018:

I am both happy and massively sad and massively angry that I was right. I was right, along with 14 million other people around the globe, in saying that the war of aggression on Iraq was MASSIVELY evil, extremely stupid, and put the US/UK on par with the Nazis in Germany in the 1930/1940s. I am happy that I was able to figure out that there were no WMDs in Iraq (and it was not hard to do at all) and happy I stood up and spoke out. I am massively sad and angry that all that protests and speaking out did not stop the evil people around the planet that love, love, love, to kill - and that included about 70% of the adult population of the USA in early 2003.

On this date in 2003, millions of people around the planet protested this upcoming war of aggression, before it even started. The bloodthirsty US American politicians and their supporters and corporate backers, went ahead anyway with their mass slaughter.

If you were one of those people who supported this war, then you should realize that your soul and your humanity is probably beyond hope. If you believed what your TV was telling you, then you are also stupid beyond belief.

I was right about gun control too. I started speaking out on that in the 1970s. We need to get rid of the guns, just like Australia did in the 1990s.

But, the majority of US Americans love violence and guns more than they love their morality, their wealth, their self-respect, and even more than their own children.

We are a very sick society. We are very sick people. - dancewater

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Quote: "As I outlined at length in part one of this essay, the War on Dissent being rolled out currently is an expansion of the “War on Terror” narrative, the storyline of which was equally childish, and simplistic, and blatantly fabricated. Though it is fashionable these days for the politicians and corporate media propagandists who sold the “Saddam has WMDs” story, and the “Iraq is linked to al Qaeda” lie, and the “we’re fighting terrorism in Afghanistan” fairy tale, to regret how they “misinterpreted the intelligence” that led to the “unfortunate blunder” that launched the global corporatocracy’s occupation and restructuring of the Middle East (which continues unabated to date), anyone with half a brain could see what was really going on at the time. You didn’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the “War on Terror” was not a war on terrorism (the concept is nonsensical on its face), but rather, was just the official narrative that would allow the global capitalist ruling classes to (a) employ the United States military to pursue their aims throughout the world with more or less complete impunity, and (b) designate anyone opposing the hegemony of global capitalism a “terrorist.”

All these years later, knowing what we know, you might assume that all those Good Americans who rushed out to buy American flags to wave as our troops destroyed a country that posed no threat to us whatsoever (and had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001) because the corporate media and the “intelligence community” told them Saddam was going to nuke Kansas City … you might assume that all these Good Americans, ashamed at having been made fools of by a bunch of television talking heads and “papers of record” like The New York Times … you might think these folks, who, after all, are not complete idiots the corporatocracy can just hoodwink over and over again using more or less the same bag of tricks … you might naturally assume that these Good Americans would give us the benefit of the doubt this time, i.e., those of us who are challenging the narrative the corporate media has been ramming down our throats since Hillary Clinton lost the election.

But, no … nothing of the sort. No, this time, we’re not “terrorist sympathizers.” We’re “Putin sympathizers,” “Russian operatives,” or at the very least we’re “useful idiots” who are helping Russia destroy democracy by “sowing discord,” “disunity,” “division,” and other forms of dissent throughout the West. (posted by CJ Hopkins on Facebook)

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I was never called a terrorist. I was called a terrorist lover. And I have been called a Putin lover too. It is interesting to watch nearly everyone around you go bat-shit crazy over some lies their TV and government officials tell them and it would all be very amusing - if it were not for the fact that those lies killed a HELL OF A LOT OF INNOCENT PEOPLE.

Yes, if you believe that our war of aggression on Iraq or Afghanistan was a good idea, you are a very big fool and you have massive amounts of innocent blood on your hands. And if you believe that Russia/Putin interfered with the 2016 elections, you are a very big fool and you may end up with massive amounts of more innocent blood on your hands. Some of that blood may even be your own, although it won’t be innocent blood if that is the case. - dancewater

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“13 Russians” Indictment

February 16, 2018

PETER VAN BUREN, info@wemeantwell.com, @WeMeantWell

Available for a limited number of interviews, Peter Van Buren is a former State Department foreign service officer who spent time in Iraq. Now in Washington, he writes at his blog, We Meant Well. His first book, We Meant Well: How I Helped Lose the Battle for the Hearts and Minds of the Iraqi People.

He said today: "Just did a quick read of the '13 Russian' indictment. Missing are a) any connections between the 13 and the Russian government and/or Trump campaign; b) any discussion of the impact (if any) their social media efforts had. It describes them buying Facebook ads, but nothing about if it affected votes; c) no connection shown between any of this and DNC, Wikileaks, hacking of emails; d) no discussion of motive; e) assumption that anything anti-Clinton was defacto pro-Bernie and/or pro-Trump. And all indicted persons are Russians, and outside the U.S., so highly unlikely this is going anywhere further legally.

"Going forward with '13 Russian' story, keep your eye out for how quickly MSM morphs '13 people who were Russian citizens did this' into 'The Russians did this.' Also keep a look out for any information that suggests their efforts had any impact on outcome, or were just more spam.

"Two years ago, the New York Times did a feature story on the same 'Internet Research Agency' Mueller indicted today. The Times described the group as web trolls for hire. Unspecified in the indictment is who hired them, THE critical question if this is to matter."

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dancewater

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Upcoming events for the week of February 18, 2018

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