dancewater: Upcoming events for the week of February 4, 2018

UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER

02/05/18 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE SOCIAL

Transition Asheville Monthly Social: Energy Savers Network. Looking for a way to do something tangible to help the climate and help people? Come learn about the Energy Savers Network at the February 5th Transition Asheville social. We’ll meet from 6:30pm – 8:00pm at the First Congregation UCC, 20 Oak St. Asheville, NC (parking in rear).You might become a volunteer to help lower the energy burden of some of our most vulnerable communities and make a dent in our national energy footprint. Please note: this event was previously postponed and was rescheduled. Contact: Rebecca Mahan (812-334-0176) or palmtree747@gmail.com.

02/05/18 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.

02/05/18 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.

02/05/18 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.

02/05/18 DINNER WITH PROGRESSIVES

Next Dinner with Progressives is this Monday, February 5, 2018 from 5:30-7pm. Location is the Green Sage Cafe, Westgate, next to Earth Fare. We hope you will join fellow progressives at the Green Sage Cafe this Monday because now more than ever we need to be together, learn together and work together. All are invited who wish to move forward and embrace all people. There is no membership fee but we ask that attendees purchase dinner, a beverage and/or dessert and RSVP so we can give our gracious friends at Green Sage a headcount. Invite your friends and neighbors to join us! Thank you. Anyone is invited to give an announcement or ask for signatures on a petition. Please give Cheryl and Sam a quick email to let us know how much time you will need. Our speaker this Monday is Jeff Rose, the new chair of the Buncombe County Democratic Party. During the 2016 election year Jeff served as a dedicated volunteer to the Sanders campaign and encouraged participation in the Democratic Party. He introduced many volunteers to the local party by holding events at party headquarters. As chairman, Jeff hopes to broaden the participation in the Democratic Party and will speak about this 2018 election year and answer questions. We hope to see you on Monday evening. Contact Cheryl Orengo at ctorengo@gmail.com for more information.

02/06/18 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. This month’s selection is “Rules for Revolutionaries: How Big Organizing Can Change Everything” by Becky Bond and Zack Exley. Time is 7 PM.

02/06/18 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.

02/06/18 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.

02/06/18 BOOK DISCUSSION AT WEAVERVILLE LIBRARY

Book Discussion on “The Human Stain” by Philip Roth on Tuesday Feb. 6, 7 p.m. From the book’s synopsis: “It is 1998, and in a small New England town an aging Classics professor, Coleman Silk, is forced to retire when his colleagues decree that he is a racist. The charge is a lie, but the real truth about Silk would astonish even his most virulent accuser.” Contact Weaverville Library for more information.

02/06/18 SOCIALISM - A READING GROUP

Tuesday, Feb 6th @ 6:30pm. Socialism! The Reading Group is a monthly discussion group for people interested in learning from and reflecting on the past, present, and future of socialism-inspired theory and practice. Every month participants draw relevant reading material from across the spectrum, but each meeting is rooted in at least one essay from Jacobin Magazine, whose mission is to facilitate a vision for the future of left organizing. This is not your “Grandpa Joe's socialist reading group”... we don't seek to promulgate any ideological dogma, but to challenge it in all its forms. There is no substitute for action, but reading groups help align our directions and thereby align our actions. Time is 6:30 PM and location is Firestorm Coffee & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.

02/06/18 WORLD AFFAIRS GREAT DECISIONS SERIES

World Affairs Council Great Decisions Series at UNC Asheville Begins February 6th with a “Talk on Turkey.” 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. Feb. 6 – Turkey, a Partner in Crisis, with Thomas Sanders, retired Brown University professor of religious studies who speaks Turkish and has visited Turkey many times. 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.

02/07/18 REPORT FROM HONDURAS

Description: Ken Jones has just returned from Honduras after taking part in a 50 person international accompaniment delegation there. He will describe the conditions he witnessed in the country immediately after the recent electoral coup. He will show some pictures and encourage discussion. This presentation will happen at THE BLOCK on Wed, Feb 7 from 6:30 to 7:00 PM. The Honduras police and military are coming down hard on those in the streets protesting against the recent electoral coup. And our country is behind it, of course. Please come discuss if you can. Contact Ken Jones at jonesk@maine.edu for more information.

02/07/18 BOOK DISCUSSION AT WEAVERVILLE LIBRARY

Book Discussion on “The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead, Wednesday Feb. 7, 3 p.m. Contact Weaverville Library for more information.

02/07/18 LIVE STAKING WITH FRENCH BROAD RIVERKEEPER

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

02/07/18 LETTER WRITING DROP IN

Beer & Politics Letter-Writing Drop-In on February 7 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.

02/07/18 BLACK HISTORY MONTH LECTURE SERIES AT AB TECH

Community Voices Lecture Series 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.

02/07/18 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE COUNTY EVENT

Forums Committee planning meeting on February 7, 2018 from 5:45 pm - 7:00 pm. Location is Brixx Wood Fired Pizza at 30 Town Square Blvd in Asheville. Planning meeting for 2018 candidate forums - The 2018 Candidate Filing Period begins at noon on February 12, 2018 and ends at noon on February 28, 2018. Contact the League of Women voters at 828-333-0893 or info@lwvab.org for more information.

02/07/18 ASHEVILLE SOCIALISTS MEETING AT UNCA

Please join the Asheville branch of the International Socialist Organization at our campus kickoff meeting to discuss how we can build a socialist movement to beat back Trump and change the world. The meeting is on UNCA campus, Rhoades Robinson Hall 106, from 6:30-8 PM. Our agenda follows: 6:00— Arrivals, informal time. Please sign in at the literature table when you arrive. 6:30—Year one of Trump: Building a socialist left & fighting back. One of our members will give a short talk leading into the discussion of the current political moment and how the left should organize. 7:00—Announcements, refreshments, informal small group discussions. Stick around, have some snacks, and keep the conversations going. 8:00—End of meeting. Many of us will be going out for pizza & a drink afterwards at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co., 675 Merrimon Ave. Please feel free to join us there even if you can't make the meeting. For more information, contact Asheville Socialists at asheville.socialist@gmail.com.

02/07/18 AUTHOR SPEECH AT MALAPROPS

Dorje Dolma will speak this Wednesday at 6 pm at Malaprops about her book, “Yak Girl: Growing Up in the Remote Dolpo Region of Nepal.” It's about her experience growing up in Nepal. This unusual memoir of a spirited girl in the remote region of Nepal described in Peter Matthiessen's The Snow Leopard vividly portrays life in her primitive mountain village in the 80s, her struggles in bewildering Kathmandu, and her journey to America to receive life-saving surgery. An inspiring story of an indomitable spirit conquering all obstacles, a tale of a girl with a disability on her way to becoming a dynamic woman in a new world. Contact Malaprops for more information.

02/07/18 DOCUMENTARY SCREENING IN ASHEVILLE

There will be a screening of “Democracy For Sale” on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at West Asheville Library on Haywood Road. Time is 7 PM. The documentary follows NC native Zach Galifianakis throughout his home sate as he investigates its transformation at the hands of political spending. Free. Sponsored by West Asheville Democrats. No contact information.

02/08/18 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 mountaintrue dot org for more information.

02/08/18 PLAY AT BEBE THEATRE IN ASHEVILLE

Censorship, Racism, and “Sepia Toned” Leadership. Different Strokes! Performing Arts Collective presents A North Carolina Premiere of “Alabama Story” by Kenneth Jones. Directed by Stephanie Hickling Beckman. Runs from February 8 - 24, 2018 (Thurs - Sat) at 7:30PM. Online tickets are $18 in advance, and $21 at the door. Location is the BeBe Theatre at 20 Commerce Street in downtown Asheville. Features: John Mendenhall, David Mycoff, Molly Graves, Daniel Henry, Sonia D'Andrea, and Bjorn Goller. “Alabama Story” is based on a true event from 1959, in Montgomery, AL. When Alabama Senator E.O Eddins Sr. (renamed E.W. Higgins in the play) learns that a children's book called “The Rabbits' Wedding” featuring the marriage of two rabbits - one white, one black, is among the books available for check-out in Alabama libraries, he determines to have it banned. Calling it subliminal propaganda for interracial marriage, Eddins engages Emily Wheelock Reed, the director of Alabama's Public Library Service, in a conflict that becomes known as the “bunny book crusade.” A secondary storyline involves the chance meeting of two childhood friends separated by a traumatic incident. Their role in the play is best described by Jones, himself - “Lily and Joshua, a black man and a white woman who were once childhood friends in that small town, reunite in Montgomery the same year that the library battle is being waged. They are meant to suggest the private heart of the public controversy… the quality of their character will be challenged in their 30 exchanges.” Contact BeBe Theatre for more information.

02/08/18 TOWN HALL FOR THE POOR PEOPLE’S CAMPAIGN

The Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, sponsors its first Town Hall in Asheville 7-9 p.m. Feb. 8, at Hill Street Baptist Church. The campaign originated in December 1967, created by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated before he was able to organize and carry out his stated mission of changing public policies that keep people in poverty. The current national campaign is organized by North Carolina’s Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, former president of the NC NAACP and current head of Repairers of the Breach, and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, of the Kairos Center at Union Theological Seminary in New York. The campaign’s actions are slated to begin in May and last 40 days, and will include civil disobedience, education about issues of poverty, contact with elected officials and protest rallies. The Feb. 8 Town Hall here will include information on issues such as healthcare, hunger, the environment and justice reform, among others. Speakers include people whose lives are impacted by poverty, plus Rev. Amy Cantrell of Be Loved Asheville; Richard Fireman, M.D., Community Roots, Alliance for Energy Democracy; Rev. Shannon Spencer, Asheville Poverty Initiative; Carmen Ramos Kennedy, president, Asheville-Buncombe NAACP; Mirian Porrras Rosas, Nuestro Centro and Leslie Boyd, health care activist. The program also will include music by the Be Loved Justice Band. Participants will learn how they can support the Poor People’s Campaign in a number of ways. Come hear what the campaign is all about, learn how you can become a participant and hear how poverty affects people and communities. The event is free and open to the public. Contact Richard Fireman at richard.fireman1@gmail.com or (828) 645-0469h or (828) 206-8877c for more information. (Rescheduled because of bad weather on January 16.)

02/08/18 HOMEWARD BOUND OF WNC TOUR

“Welcome Home Tour” is a tour of Asheville organizations that serve the homeless population. This will cover how Homeward Bound is working to end homelessness and how the public can help. Registration required at tours@homewardboundwnc.org, free to attend. Time is 11 AM. Call 258-1695 for more information.

02/08/18 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. 8, noon – 1:30 p.m. “Access and Availability of Health Care” - 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.

02/08/18 RECEPTION AND LECTURE FOR GALLERY EXHIBIT AT UNCA LIBRARY

02/09/18 ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM SCREENING AT UU IN ASHEVILLE

Our next film, “Whose Streets” a film about the killing of Michael Brown and the subsequent Ferguson uprising will be screened Friday, February 9th. The film premiered at the 2017 Sundance film festival. This will be shown at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Edwin and Charlotte Streets in Asheville. Time is 7 PM. Told by the activists and leaders who live and breathe this movement for justice, Whose Streets? is an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising. When unarmed teenager Michael Brown is killed by police and left lying in the street for hours, it marks a breaking point for the residents of St. Louis, Missouri. Grief, long-standing racial tensions and renewed anger bring residents together to hold vigil and protest this latest tragedy. Empowered parents, artists, and teachers from around the country come together as freedom fighters. As the national guard descends on Ferguson with military grade weaponry, these young community members become the torchbearers of a new resistance. Filmmakers Sabaah Folayan and Damon Davis know this story because they have lived the story. Whose Streets? is a powerful battle cry from a generation fighting, not for their civil rights, but for the right to live. By the way, most of you missed the December film, “The Hunting Ground” rescheduled from 12/8 to 12/15 due to the winter storm. I wanted you to know that this outstanding film about college campus sexual assault can be streamed online on Netflix. (Also available at the public library.) All high school and college students, and their parents should see this film. For more information, contact Charlie Wussow at 612-860-6628.

02/09/18 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.

02/09/18 POSTCARD WRITING TO OUR GOVERNMENT

Progressive Women of Hendersonville host a postcard writing to government representatives. Postcards, stamps, addresses, pens and tips are provided. Free to attend. Held at Sanctuary Brewing Company at 147 1st Avenue in Hendersonville. Time is 4 to 7 PM. For more information, go to pwhendo dot org.

02/10/18 RIDE TO MORAL MARCH ON RALEIGH - H.K. ON J.

Need a ride to the February 10th Moral March on Raleigh? We will meet in Asheville and take a bus to Raleigh for the event from 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM and then return to Asheville. Thank you to our local NAACP for sponsoring this ride. Please note that bus transportation does have a fee, but if you are unable to pay or need a discounted rate, there are different price options available. What is the Moral March on Raleigh? The Historic Thousands on Jones St (HKonJ) Coalition holds an annual mobilization called the Moral March on Raleigh & HKonJ People’s Assembly. It grew to approximately 80,000 in 2017. Each year, on the 2nd Saturday in February, thousands of HKonJ marchers from many partner organizations flood downtown Raleigh, NC where the HKonJ People’s Assembly convenes and ultimately marches to the North Carolina State Capitol. In 2007, the HKoJ Coalition sanctioned and signed a 14-Point People’s Agenda and then worked to transform this agenda into comprehensive reform bills that have been introduced in legislative sessions. What: Moral March on Raleigh. When: Saturday, February 10, 2018. Where: Bus departs from Asheville at 4 AM, returns at 7 PM. Contact Edward Peters with questions (including how to register) at 336-601-9534 or edwardpeters@democracync.org. The deadline for checks is Wednesday, February 7.

02/10/18 SWANNANOA VALLEY MLK PRAYER BREAKFAST

28th Annual Swannanoa Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Prayer Breakfast. This is on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. Location is Camp Dorothy Walls on Cragmont Road in Black Mountain, N.C. This years speaker is George Logan, a native of Black Mountain, NC, and son of Wayne Logan and lifelong Black Mountain resident Lillian Logan. Logan graduated from Owen High School in 1982 and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1986. He was commissioned as a United States Army Officer shortly after his graduation from UNC. Upon completion of his military training, he sensed God’s call to ministry and attended a school in Los Angeles at Crenshaw Christian Center Ministry Training Institute. Fulfilling his theological and ministerial studies and graduating from the program in 1992 he ministered with New Life for Old Prison Ministry, serving in jails, prisons, and youth camps in California and Nevada. Pastor Logan now resides in Morganton, NC where he pastors the church he founded in 1994 - New Day Christian Church. He has continued much involvement in the prisons and community serving on a variety of boards as well as coaching, mentoring youth, and volunteering for NC Dept. of Corrections. Adult tickets are $15. For more information, including how to get tickets, go to svmlk dot org.

02/11/18 GIRL SPEAK IN ASHEVILLE

Girl Speak. February 11 from 11 AM - 1 PM. This is the first installment of the Girl Speak series! This event focuses on body image, with guest speaker and expert Lisa Zahiya. Location is The Block off Biltmore at 39 South Market Street in Asheville. Call 828-254-9277 for more information.

02/11/18 ASHEVILLE IWW GENERAL MEETING

Sunday, Feb 11th @ 6:00pm. Asheville IWW General Organizing Meeting. Every second Sunday since September 2017. Participants will be discussing current local organizing campaigns as well as strategies for building a militant labor movement in the Asheville area. Non-members are welcome to attend. The IWW is a member-run union for all workers, a union dedicated to organizing on the job, in our industries and in our communities. IWW members are organizing to win better conditions today and build a world with economic democracy tomorrow. We want our workplaces run for the benefit of workers and communities rather than for a handful of bosses and executives. 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.

02/12/18 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

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

02/13/18 ASURJ DO!SCUSSION

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.

02/14/18 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.

02/16/18 BOOK DISCUSSION AT NORTH ASHEVILLE LIBRARY

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 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.

02/19/18 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.

02/20/18 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 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.

02/23/18 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.

02/26/18 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

02/27/18 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.

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]

03/02/18 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.

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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 ‘IN THESE TIMES’ WEBSITE:

The Planet Is Burning and Neoliberalism Is Not the Answer

With the Republican Party in full control of the federal government, much of the energy of the anti-Trump resistance has shifted to the state level, especially in places where Democrats hold considerable power. But when it comes to climate and energy policies, we must resist the temptation to embrace half-measures and failed market schemes. Unfortunately, these false climate solutions are being promoted from liberal strongholds from Oregon to Washington to Virginia to New Jersey, where new Democratic governors are being pushed to sign on to cap-and-trade climate incrementalism.

This misguided approach stems from a longstanding political ideology. Neoliberalism is the destructive dogma embraced by both political parties for about 40 years that privatization, deregulation and competition can fix the world’s many problems. The policies that emerged from this creed have inflicted a heavy toll on society, from the 2007 mortgage meltdown and recession to growing income inequality and—according to some—the election of Trump. So, it is troubling to find, in the aftermath of storms Henry, Irma, Jose and Maria, that climate “progressives” are adhering to the neoliberal agenda by proposing varying forms of market-based pricing schemes, like carbon cap-and-trade and taxes, as the way to address the biggest threat to life on earth.

Neoliberalism places the burden of remedying our troubles squarely on consumers, premised on the principle that market competition will create shifts in demand and —consequently —production and consumption. In the climate context, pricing proponents believe that we can reduce fossil fuel use with a simple market adjustment: a price on carbon to adequately represent the ecological costs of its use. Such a price, the theory goes, would make using fossil fuels prohibitively expensive, thus allowing renewable energy sources to better compete with oil, gas and coal. Consequently, our planet would be saved through the magic of the marketplace.

These pricing schemes started out as anything but progressive. Cap-and-trade is an anti-regulatory approach to pollution control that was boosted by Boyden Gray, an industry lawyer who served as counsel to George H.W. Bush. Gray worked with the Environmental Defense Fund to amend the Clean Air Act of 1990 to allow for the trading of pollution credits under the Acid Rain program as an alternative to strict emission control limits. Similarly, ExxonMobil was one of the earliest leaders behind carbon taxes back in 2009. Rex Tillerson, then CEO, knew he could easily manipulate these kinds of market schemes to avoid having to cut production. His company would continue to profit richly from the extraction and sale of fossil fuels for decades to come, while consumers were forced to pay increased oil and gas prices.

If industry endorsement isn’t enough of a red flag for climate progressives, then the dismal track record of pricing approaches should be. While market proponents herald the Acid Rain Program as a success, it only achieved roughly half of the reductions of non-market regulatory programs that were in place at the same time in the Europe Union and Japan, according to a comparative study released in 2004. And it’s highly questionable how many of these reductions had anything to do with the cap-and-trade system itself, as noted in an analysis produced by Food and Water Watch—the organization I work for.

Subsequent climate cap-and-trade programs—the European Union and California programs—have been absolute failures fraught with fraud, market manipulation and environmental injustice. A study released in 2016 on the California plan found that many of the covered industry sectors are using the purchase of credits to increase emissions of pollution in frontline communities of color. Yet that systemic racism didn’t stop mainstream environmental groups in California from advocating to renew the program in 2017.

Carbon tax programs have, likewise, failed as a climate strategy. The British Columbia tax plan implemented in 2008, held out by many tax promoters as a model for the United States, actually resulted in increased carbon emissions, while consumers with few energy options had to pay the increased costs to drive their cars to work and heat their homes. Taxing consumers for their forced dependence on fossil fuels is not only ineffective, but highly regressive and inequitable, as struggling families experience disproportionate financial strains to meet increased energy costs. With Trump signing into effect a new federal tax scam designed to shift even more of the financial responsibility off of the rich and onto working- and middle-class Americans, an ineffective but punitive carbon tax becomes even more troubling.

It’s not like we don’t know how to deal with pollution. Back in the 1970s, when faced with other environmental crises, Congress passed a series of laws that placed firm air and water emissions limits on industries for many pollutants, recognizing that economic efficiency shouldn’t take priority over human and environmental health and safety. That swift action resulted in cleaner water and air across the county. Yet now, neoliberalism has taken such an entrenched hold, even “progressives” are clamoring to implement ineffective and harmful pricing approaches that burden consumers instead of simply mandating carbon emissions reductions for all emitters and implementing a just transition to a clean energy economy.

Many progressives rightly celebrated the rejection of the discriminatory and inequitable Trump policies with the 2017 elections, where the Republican agenda was soundly defeated across the country. But just days after a Democratic landslide in Virginia, the state announced its plan to unveil a carbon cap-and-trade program that, like the California system, will allow polluters to simply buy their way out of decreasing emissions. If desperately dusting off right-wing, industry-promoted solutions to pollution control is the best we can do after the kind of progressive political shift we witnessed in Virginia, then this planet is truly doomed to suffer the worst impacts of our climate travesty.

Unleashing the force of the marketplace will do nothing to lessen the force of the storms now pounding our coastlines, nor will it extinguish the wildfires destroying large swaths of California. Pollution pricing isn’t progressive; it’s a regressive, conservative approach that will deliver the same outcomes that other neoliberal approaches have: deeper inequity and sustained corporate control. It is time to stand up and reject these pricing schemes and demand climate change policies that are actually going to promote justice and save the planet, not leave us scrambling to survive the coming decades.

Scott Edwards is an environmental attorney and co-director of the climate and energy program at Food & Water Watch and its legal advocacy arm, Food & Water Justice.

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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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From a Facebook post:

The uncritical adulation of the FBI which emerged among some Democratic online groups in the last few days reminded me of the following.

Sometime in the 1950s, during the McCarthy period, there was a concert with Pete Seeger and Big Bill Broonzy at the University of Chicago. Seeger was blacklisted so the main venues for him to perform were on college campuses. The concert at the U of C was recorded and they used to play stuff from it sometimes on WFMT's Midnight Special when I lived in Elmhurst.

So, Pete Seeger is singing a traditional English folk song that begins:

"A soldier and a sailor went a rambling one day

Said the soldier to the sailor, 'I've a good mind to pray,

For the rights of all peoples and peace for all men

And whatever I pray for let's all say "Amen!"'"

Of course, the narrator is actually addressing the audience in the last line - that's the cue for everyone to pile in with "Amen" at the end of each verse.

So, Seeger sings a few more verses of the song, with the crowd chiming in "Amen" at the end of each verse, and then he does this Pete Seeger-y thing where while continuing to play the banjo he goes into a spoken ethnomusicology digression about the song. And in the course of this digression, Seeger says, "You can add your own verses to the song. You can make up a verse for anything you want."

At which point Broonzy, off-mike, interjects: "You should sing a verse for the FBI," and everybody laughs, because everybody knows that Seeger is being chased and harassed by the FBI.

So Seeger sings:

"Well I'll sing you a verse for the old FBI

Is it you they are after or could it be I?

And could it be her, or could it be he?

I hope and I pray that it wouldn't be me."

The FBI is powerful enough. It doesn't need to be further empowered by uncritical adulation from Democrats.

Above written by Robert Naiman

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From DC Media Group:

NC GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OCCUPIED BY ATLANTIC COAST PIPELINE PROTESTERS

By Anne Meador

February 3, 2018

Update: At 6:45pm, police took 15 protesters into custody.

Opponents of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline filled North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s office Friday and refused to leave until he reverses course on the pipeline. About 25 people began their sit-in at about 8:30am and are still occupying the governor’s office as of mid-afternoon. They say they won’t voluntarily vacate the room until Cooper stops the pipeline by revoking a crucial permit.

The Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which would run 600 miles from West Virginia through Virginia and North Carolina, has met with strong resistance all along its proposed route. After several requests for more information from applicant Dominion Transmission, North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality just granted the project a water quality certification. Duke Energy, a major influencer in North Carolina politics, has a minority stake in the pipeline.

The sit-in was organized by NC Alliance to Protect Our People and the Place We Live (APPPL) and joined by several other groups and individuals from around the country who have resisted the pipeline and are concerned by its climate impacts. They say that with the permit approval last week, normal avenues have failed them. The sit-in marks the beginning a “new phase” to stop the ACP with tactics of disruption and obstruction.

Police officers warned that protesters were subject to arrest unless they moved their demonstration out of the building and onto the sidewalk. The Governor’s Chief of Staff Kristi Jones used all her powers of persuasion to get them to move into another room, but they refused to budge. She said she had rushed into the office when she heard of the protest and feared she was in danger of getting a parking ticket.

Steve Norris, acting as police liaison for the group, explained to an officer that pipeline opponents had exhausted other options. “We have gone through all legitimate channels,” he said.

Protesters anticipate that police will move in to arrest them about 5pm.

In the morning, they secured a meeting with Jeremy Tarr, the Governor’s Policy Advisor on energy, environment, transportation and natural resources, who listened to their concerns.

The pipeline would cross 300 waterways in North Carolina through eight counties, including 6 major rivers which are significant sources of drinking water. Many acres of wetlands will be disturbed and destroyed. For large pipelines like this one—36” in diameter—the “blast zone” is about half a mile in each direction, but some houses are located a few hundred feet away. Local fire and rescue may not receive adequate equipment and training to deal with an explosion or other emergency.

The pipeline would lock North Carolina into an outdated form of energy, they told Tarr. The pipeline will cause 15 new gas power plants to be constructed by 2030, according to Greg Yost of NC APPPL. Additionally, rate payers will experience price volatility.

They also argued that it has a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations while providing no economic benefit to the state. For some the counties involved, people of color are the majority of the population, and they are some of the poorest counties in the country. About 30,000 Native Americans live along the pipeline route in North Carolina.

Lumbee pastor Matthew Locklear of Pembroke was one of those in the governor’s office Friday. The Lumbee tribe has struggled to gain federal recognition.

“No one can promise me that the watershed of the Lumber River will be untouched, because no one has done the proper permitting, no one has done the proper test to see what the effects of this pipeline will be.”

Pembroke is the terminus of the ACP., but Locklear thinks that more pipeline will extend either south or west. “Who puts a compressor station at the end of a pipeline?” he asked.

Like Locklear, many pipeline fighters view the permit process as compromised, even illegitimate. Feelings of betrayal and disappointment are giving way to determination.

“We can’t afford to lose this. If it takes getting in the way of construction, that’s what we’re going to do. If it takes getting arrested, that’s what we’re going to do,” said Yost. “It’s not about details of regulations. It’s about stopping the continued construction of fossil fuel infrastructure.”

“Folks have been really frustrated that their voices haven’t been heard and are feeling betrayed. When the time comes to put our bodies in front of this pipeline construction, we’ll be there,” said Tim DeChristopher of the Climate Disobedience Center. “We’re delivering an injunction of the heart. Even though they’re already cutting trees for this pipeline, we’re planting seeds of resistance.”

“This pipeline cannot be built and will not be built,” Norris said. “We’re going to do everything in our power to stop it.”

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dancewater

Sunday, February 04, 2018

Upcoming events for the week of February 4, 2018

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