UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR BY DANCEWATER
12/12/16 DAILY VIGIL UNTIL DECEMBER 14:
This local vigil is in solidarity with the Sacred Stone Camp call for a Global #NoDAPL Month of Action in December. The purpose is to raise awareness and build support for the Standing Rock resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Location is Vance Monument from 4 - 5 PM each day. This was restarted because Standing Rock protectors asked people to stay vigilant and continue showing support.
12/12/16 TRANSITION ASHEVILLE SOCIAL
Topic is “Poyodoshi: A Contemporary Wisdom Language & A Philosophical Framework For Change.” This talk will focus on methods to educate our youth (and ourselves) for the world to which we are rapidly transitioning. New tools will be presented that bring traditional wisdom into our modern context. A broad understanding of our current transition into a post-fossil-fuel economy and into an era of community resiliency will be developed by examining several short-term and long-term paradigmatic shifts that we are concurrently facing. Tools for aligning personal change & social change & response to environmental crisis will be introduced through lecture, learning activities, and discussion. Basil Savitsky, Ph.D., is an educator and futurist. His first career focused on ecological mapping, international park conservation, and sustainability science. His second career has focused on positive youth development, with an emphasis on leadership skills & emotional intelligence. Time is 6:30 to 8 PM. Location is the Parish Hall at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at 337 Charlotte Street in north Asheville (parking in the lot next to the church off Evelyn Alley…north of the church or on the street). Contact Rebecca at 812-334-0176 or palmtree747@gmail.com for more information.
12/13/16 VETERANS FOR PEACE MEETING
On the second Tuesday of each month, Western North Carolina Veterans for Peace meets to coordinate group activities and programs.Veterans For Peace is a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices. We inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars. Our network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide whose work includes: educating the public, advocating for a dismantling of the war economy, providing services that assist veterans and victims of war, and most significantly, working to end all wars. Time is 6:30 PM and location is the Center for Art and Spirit at Saint George, address is One School Road in west Asheville. For more information, contact Gerry at gwerhan@gmail.com.
12/13/16 OCCUPY WNC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Occupy WNC General Assembly will be at the Sneak E Squirrel Community Room. Dinner from 5:30 to 7 PM, meeting from 7 to 8:30 PM. The Sneak E Squirrel is located at 1315 West Main Street (on left side) in Sylva -- past Watson Park. For more information, contact Lucy at (828)743-9747 or lucy.christopher42@gmail.com.
12/13/16 ELDERS FIERCE FOR JUSTICE
We seek to reclaim the traditional role of Elder in the service of a more just, healthy, and compassionate community by partnering with engaged citizens in Western North Carolina working for social and environmental justice. In the service of this question Elders Fierce for Justice, will convene three forums on Tuesdays, December 6, 13, & 20 at the Edington Center, Livingston Sreet in Asheville. Time will be from 12 to 1:30 PM. No lunch provided. Bag lunch encouraged. Stimulation promised. At each forum an elder will present their particular engagement in some aspect of local social, economic, racial and environmental justice. Following each brief presentation will be dialogue for collaborative learning and friendship along with specific opportunities for further elder involvement. If these forums provoke sufficient interest, these Elder Forums will continue into 2017. For further information or to let us know you intend to participate in one of these forums in December contact Mahan Siler at eldersffj@gmail.com.
12/13/16 WE STAND TOGETHER MEETING
We Stand Together – Love Trumps Hate will be on the second Tuesdays of the month from 5:30 to 7 PM. After the “United Against Hate” vigil on November 9th, we decided to meet on a monthly basis. Please join us as we stand together in love and unite against hate. Location is The Block Off Biltmore at South Market and Eagle Streets in downtown Asheville. Call 828-254-9277 for more information.
12/13/16 EMPATHY CIRCLE
Free empathy circle with Nonviolent Communication trainers Roberta Wall and Cathy Holt. In the wake of deepening divisions in our country, and the life challenges we face day to day, join this free circle for some compassionate listening. We will present some principles and guidelines and then everyone will have the opportunity to give and receive empathy in small groups or one on one, and learn skills for offering empathy to others. Free. There are many benefits to receiving empathy on a regular basis, such as greater self-acceptance, community and connection, better ability to respond to challenging situations in your life, increased compassion for others, having an experience that you matter, are seen and are known, mourn losses that you have experienced in your life, and celebrate successes. Time is 5 to 6 PM and location is The Block off Biltmore at the corner of South Market and Eagle Streets in downtown Asheville. For more information, contact Roberta at info@steps2peace.com.
12/13/16 LET IT SHINE EVENT IN ASHEVILLE
Asheville-Buncombe Branch NAACP will not have its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 13, 2016. Instead on that day members will join “Let it Shine: Celebrating the Light of Community!” In light of the recent divisive election, our Branch along with approximately 30 other organization (including ABCCM, Building Bridges, Carolina Jews for Justice, Center for Diversity Education Center for Participatory Change, and the YWCA) will join together to celebrate our community’s commitment to support people of every creed, ethnicity, religion, background, gender and orientation. This gathering is to remind us of our power to bring light and warmth into the world as we work to create a future where all people are welcome and safe. Please join us at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 1 Edwin Place in Asheville at 7 PM.
12/13/16 ASHEVILLE -BUNCOMBE NAACP MEETING - CANCELED, SEE ABOVE
Join the local branch of NAACP for our regular monthly meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM at Hill Street Baptist Church at 135 Hill Street in Asheville. Now through the General Election in November we will discuss the issues facing voters locally, in NC and the country. We educate and engage on these important issues. The U.S. Supreme Court denied a request from NC to allow provisions of its controversial voting rights law to go back into effect. In a 4-4 split, justices left undisturbed the July 29th opinion of the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals that the restrictions “target African Americans with almost surgical precision." The three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the law was adopted with “discriminatory intent” despite NC lawmakers’ claims that the ID provision and other changes were designed to prevent voter fraud. Contact the local branch of NAACP for more information.
12/14/16 JUST PEACE ISRAEL/PALESTINE MEETING
This meeting will be at 9:30 AM at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church at 117 Montreat Road in Black Mountain. Contact Suchi at suchi1025@bellsouth.net for more information
12/14/16 SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE EVENT
What's Up with Whiteness/Calling In: Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 6:30 PM at UU congregation (corner of Edwin Place & Charlotte Street), downstairs main building. This is part of Asheville SURJ's educational series. Part of ongoing ASURJ educational series endeavoring to dismantle white supremacy. Have you decided to wear a safety pin as a sign that you are a ‘safe’ person to people who are, now more than ever, faced with harassment, bullying, and worse? This session will especially be focused on interrupting potential scenarios including some conversation/idea sharing on de-escalation techniques. Like all Asheville SURJ meetings, this session is open to anyone who wants to participate and is interested in anti-racism work and supporting the movement for Black Lives. Session takes place downstairs in the main building at the UU congregation. Led by David Greenson. Contact Art at arthur@lainschell.com for more information.
12/14/16 VOLUNTEER WITH RIVERLINK
RiverLink invites those interested in becoming volunteers to attend a monthly volunteer information session on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 10 AM and 5:30 PM. The sessions are held in the conference room of the RiverLink office at 170 Lyman Street in the River Arts District. Volunteers can fill out and print a volunteer application ahead of time or get one at the meeting, meet the RiverLink staff and find the best fit for donating their time and efforts. The 5:30 session will feature the presentation “Who was Wilma Dykeman?” by Jim Stokely, one of Dykeman's sons. This is a great way to find out more about RiverLink's work in the watershed and on the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay, a 17-mile greenway following the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers. To attend, RSVP by Tuesday, Dec. 13 to (828) 252-8474, ext. 11 or via e-mail at volunteer@riverlink.org.
12/14/16 SPEAK UP: USE YOUR VOICE TO STOP RACISM
Join us for an opportunity to improve communication skills and learn strategies for speaking up in moments when you witness racist statements or actions and feel ready to stand up in that moment. As privileged members of society, even if that privilege was not requested or is difficult to understand, the burden of making change is upon us, not the oppressed. As White community members in a racist society, we must act now to increase safety for Black community members side-by-side with us in a nation plagued with racism. A big way that we can work against racism is to speak up and act against racist words, behaviors, and actions every time we witness them. Every. Time. Yes, you may need to assess safety (though remember it is your privilege to already be safe in the social context of our society, Black people do not have that same privilege), and you will need to learn how to confront racism effectively. But imagine a world in which a White person spoke out or took action EVERY time a racist act occurred, from acts of invisibility, such as your company not including diverse images in your marketing materials, to racial slurs and racist jokes at a party, to racist violence. How long would these behaviors be able to continue if we always worked to stop them? We need to be prepared to take immediate action, in the moment when we witness racist actions taking place. These actions may be as (seemingly) small as an inappropriate comment on Facebook, as awkward as a racist joke told at a party, as uncomfortable as a cashier in the check out line treating a Black customer differently than the White customers, or as frightening as the threat of violence against a person of color. We will all have different thresholds for when and where we feel empowered to speak up, and one way we can increase our ability to work against racism in action is to practice and to learn more about effective practices for speaking up in potentially confrontational or emotionally uncomfortable situations.
This workshop will help you to be more prepared and confident when speaking up and acting out against racism and in the face of racist behavior. We will explore the basics of non-violent communication and other helpful tools for communicating effectively in potentially tense situations, even when you are nervous or unsure of the best way to proceed. We will incorporate role-plays, both to practice speaking up live and in person, and written role-plays of the types of situations that you may find yourself in while interacting on social media. We will explore ways to be supportive to children and young people during racially tense moments. We will utilize each other’s feedback and emotional support to gain greater confidence for doing the difficult work of changing the culture. Please join us and invite others to take an important step toward increasing racial justice and safety for Black lives in our community. We have been offering these workshops for free, but we are finding that the overhead is a challenge for us to meet, so we will be requesting a suggested donation of $5 per person, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Thank you for your support! Workshop will be facilitated by Justina Prenatt, LPCA and Chama Woydak, LCCE, CD, BDT (DONA). We are White mothers and activists who are compelled to act now to do what the Black community has asked of White allies - to work against racism in our own community. We are not positioning ourselves as experts on race, though we both have extensive educational backgrounds on race related issues and are both professional group facilitators and educators. We invite you to take grassroots, imperfect action with us in a time of crisis. Please contact us directly for more information, questions, and to offer resources or support to our effort. Chama can be reached at chama@homegrownbabies.com, Justina at cloverheartconcepts@gmail.com. Time is from 6 to 8 PM and location is Homegrown Families Health and Education Center at 201 Charlotte Street in Asheville. This is a Facebook event.
12/15/16 DE-ESCALATION AND ANTI-BULLYING WORKSHOP
In the current political climate, instances of harassment and bullying in public are increasing. Now is the time to answer the question “What kind of community do we want to live in?” Let’s make our community one that does not allow this kind of behavior. Let’s support one another. This workshop will help you learn concrete strategies for managing your own reactivity, interrupting harassment and bullying, speaking up in public, and supporting those who are marginalized in our community. This will be the first of multiple workshops. Attendees will be asked to share ideas for what else they would like to learn in future workshops. The workshop will be led by Rev. Lisa Bovee-Kemper and Joy McConnell. Open to the public. All welcome. Time is 6 to 8 PM and location is Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at Edwin and Charlotte Streets in north Asheville. This is a Facebook event.
12/15/16 ASHEVILLE PRISON BOOKS EVENT
Come help sort books, respond to letters, and package books to be shipped every Thursday. Asheville Prison Books Program is an all volunteer run non-profit organization that meets weekly in order to mail free reading material to indigent inmates in facilities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. Each prisoner request is met with a package containing several books, personally selected by volunteers out of our donated library, a letter and if requested, a National Prisoners Resource List. Time is 4 to 7 PM, and location is Downtown Books & News at 67 North Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville.
12/15/16 HOMEWARD BOUND OF WNC TOUR
“Welcome Home Tour” is a tour of Asheville organizations that serve the homeless population. Registration required, free to attend. Time is 11 AM. Call 258-1695 for more information and for instructions on how to register.
12/16/16 WNC PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MEETING
Physicians, health personnel and everyone; all are welcomed at our monthly meetings held on the third Friday of each month. Bring a brown bag lunch around noon. This will be held at The First Congregational United Church of Christ, Room E205, at 20 Oak Street (just off College St. in downtown Asheville). Time is noon to 2 PM. Meeting starts at 12:30. Parking is available behind the church. Enter the church or ring doorbell at the glass doors on Oak Street. For more information contact Dr. Terry Clark, Chair, 633-0892 or Dr. Lew Patrie, 299-1242.
12/16/16 ANTI-RACISM ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP AT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST IN ASHEVILLE
A weekly group focused on Standing Up For Racial Justice core values for people beginning to wake up to the impact of white supremacy on our culture and seeking a safe place to begin to talk about it. Time is 10 AM and location is 23 Edwin Place, next to Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lainschell.com for more information.
12/17/16 NIA JAM FOR STANDING ROCK IN HENDERSONVILLE
You are cordially invited to join us as we dance, party, and jam out to lend our support for the courageous water protectors at Standing Rock! Join us for a good old-fashioned, rabble-rousing Nia Jam and dance party. Join with us as we continue the movement, music, and magic at our sister jam in Hendersonville on Saturday, December 17th from 4 to 5:15 PM at the Hendersonville Athletic and Activity Center, 708 Grove Street, Hendersonville, with all proceeds going to the same great cause of Standing Rock. Suggested donation is $20 (donations of any amount welcomed and appreciated). RSVP to Annie at DreamDancinAnnie@aol.com. This is a Facebook event.
12/18/16 NUESTRO CENTRO CELEBRATION
Hello dear compas! I hope you are doing fine! It’s been quite a rough end of the year, but we are here to stand together for justice.We know that we are about to face probably one of the most critical battles for justice in the modern times. For that reason, I ask you to support Nuestro Centro to enable our people to fight back against injustice and oppression. We are having our end of the year celebration, “La posada” this coming December 18 from 4-9 PM at Emma Elementary School at 37 Brickyard Road in Asheville. The event will be both celebration and a fundraising event, and is open to everyone. We would like to elevate our motivation to keep fighting; it is important for us to recognize our victories and the amazing job our community does to achieve such a successes. That’s why we are inviting you to be part of it and to come to join us. Also, the event seeks to fundraise for Nuestro Centro's annual utilities and rent fees. Please feel free to share all this info through your networks and to encourage people to support us. I would like to mention that the event is lead by our Central committee, RAICES committee, and Eblen committee, who are the core of the grassroots fundraiser to Nuestro Centro. They have coordinated from food, raffles, performances, and music. Any donations can be made by check to Nuestro Centro and send by mail to 441 N. Louisiana Ave, Suit E, Asheville, NC, 28806. For more information, contact Mirian at 828.273.6823 or nuestrocentro.info@gmail.com.
12/18/16 NON VIOLENT COMMUNICATION IMMERSION
“Creating Authentic Connection and Understanding at Our Holiday Tables: An All Day NVC Immersion.” This is for people already familiar with the basics of NVC. This day we will focus on empathy skills (real practice with coaching) and making requests (how to ask for what you really want). Join us for a special day where we will gather in a community of learners, seekers and practitioners to support each other and deepen how we are living and practicing Nonviolent Communication. Time is 10 AM to 4 PM. Location is in Kenilworth neighborhood, with exact location given on upon registration. The requested fee is $100. Scholarships and sliding scale are available. Please contact eryka@eryka.com for assistance. The prerequisite for this day is completion of an NVC training course either online or in person with Roberta Wall or any other NVC trainer. Note that scholarships are available by inquiring at eryka@eryka.com
12/19/16 DISCUSSION ON MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE
“After the Wildfires: Mitigating Climate Change and Adapting to the New Normal” is the topic of the discussion. Jim Fox, Director of UNC Asheville’s National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center, and Josh Kelly, Public Lands Field Biologist at MountainTrue, will discuss how climate change is impacting Western North Carolina at the Climate Collider on Monday, December 19 at 4 PM. In the wake of a historic wildfire season that has burned more than 150,000 acres throughout the Southeast, forced residents from their homes and cost the lives of 14 people in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the two speakers will address how climate change is affecting our region as well as strategies for mitigation and better management of our forests to reduce the threat of wildfires to human development. After their presentations, speakers will take questions from the crowd. Time is 4 to 6 PM and location is Collider at 1 Haywood Street, Suite 401 (4th Floor Wells Fargo Building) in downtown Asheville. For more information, contact Mary Kate Dodge at 828-258-8737 or marykate@mountaintrue.org.
12/19/16 LIBERATION STITCH NIGHT
Whether you've helped make squares for our Liberation Stitch blanket or not, you're welcome to come help us with adding crochet edges to squares, stitching together, and coordinating how we will sell raffle tickets and display. Or you can come and work on squares you still have in process. Or you can come and work on whatever you're working on. As long as you're open to conversation about liberation for all, especially in relation to the movement for Black Lives, then you are welcome! Time is 6 to 8 PM and location is Purl’s Yarn Emporium at 10 Wall Street in downtown Asheville. This is a Facebook event.
12/20/16 TRANSIT COMMITTEE MEETING
Asheville Transit Committee meeting will be from 3:30 to 5:30 PM. Location is the 4th floor police/fire training room at the Municipal Building at 100 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville. Contact City Hall for more information.
12/20/16 ELDERS FIERCE FOR JUSTICE
We seek to reclaim the traditional role of Elder in the service of a more just, healthy, and compassionate community by partnering with engaged citizens in Western North Carolina working for social and environmental justice. In the service of this question Elders Fierce for Justice, will convene three forums on Tuesdays, December 6, 13, & 20 at the Edington Center, Livingston Sreet in Asheville. Time will be from 12 to 1:30 PM. No lunch provided. Bag lunch encouraged. Stimulation promised. At each forum an elder will present their particular engagement in some aspect of local social, economic, racial and environmental justice. Following each brief presentation will be dialogue for collaborative learning and friendship along with specific opportunities for further elder involvement. If these forums provoke sufficient interest, these Elder Forums will continue into 2017. For further information or to let us know you intend to participate in one of these forums in December contact Mahan Siler at eldersffj@gmail.com.
12/21/16 GREEN DRINKS
Come early for community connections and green drink specials. This is the third Wednesday of each month from 5:30 to 7 PM. Location is The Block Off Biltmore at 39 South Market Street in downtown Asheville. For more information, contact The Block Off Biltmore.
12/22/16 ASHEVILLE PRISON BOOKS PROGRAM
Come help sort books, respond to letters, and package books to be shipped every Thursday. Asheville Prison Books Program is an all volunteer run non-profit organization that meets weekly in order to mail free reading material to indigent inmates in facilities in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. Each prisoner request is met with a package containing several books, personally selected by volunteers out of our donated library, a letter and if requested, a National Prisoners Resource List. Time is 4 to 7 PM and location is Downtown Books & News at 67 North Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville.
12/23/16 ANTI-RACISM ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP AT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST IN ASHEVILLE
A weekly group focused on Standing Up For Racial Justice core values for people beginning to wake up to the impact of white supremacy on our culture and seeking a safe place to begin to talk about it. Time is 10 AM and location is 23 Edwin Place, next to Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lainschell.com for more information.
12/26/16 NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
The Committee consists of nine members, all appointed by City Council, with representation from specific community sectors. Members shall be residents of the City or the City’s extra-territorial zoning jurisdiction, and shall reflect the socio-economic diversity of Asheville. The term of office is three years. The Committee was established to advise the City Council on neighborhoods within the City of Asheville’s zoning and planning jurisdiction. The Committee shall have the following powers and duties: (1) Develop rules and by-laws for the conduct of its business, including but not limited to meeting schedules, officers, voting, sub-committees; (2) Develop a plan to strengthen neighborhood identity and resilience, and to facilitate communication and cooperation between Asheville’s neighborhoods and City offices; (3) Develop benchmarks and standards by which progress towards implementing the plan can be measured; and (4) Work on special projects that are consistent with the goals of the committee, as assigned or directed by Council. The Committee meets on the 4th Monday of each month at 6:30 PM in Room A109 of the Public Works Building, located at 161 S. Charlotte Street in Asheville. The normal length of the meeting is 2 hours. Contact the City of Asheville for more information.
12/28/16 THE NEW JIM CROW BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
This is a monthly discussion group of Michelle Alexander's book “The New Jim Crow.” This is on Wednesday from 6:30 - 8:30 PM at Firestorm Bookstore & Cafe at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. This monthly discussion group of Michelle Alexander's book the "The New Jim Crow" will discuss a chapter a month. In September we will cover Chapter One. This group will meet September 28, October 26, November 23, December 28, and January 25, 2017 and maybe one more in February. Anyone is welcome to jump in anytime. Led by Eryka Lynn Peskin. Time is 6:30 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
12/30/16 ANTI-RACISM ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP AT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST IN ASHEVILLE
A weekly group focused on Standing Up For Racial Justice core values for people beginning to wake up to the impact of white supremacy on our culture and seeking a safe place to begin to talk about it. Time is 10 AM and location is 23 Edwin Place, next to Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville. Contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@lainschell.com for more information.
01/05/17 POLITICAL PRISONERS LETTER WRITING
This happens on the first Thursday of the month. Time is 6 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
01/12/17 DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION ON MEN DOING OPPRESSION, MEN DOING OPPRESSED, MEN DOING ALLY
This is a recurring discussion / presentation at Firestorm. Sexism. Queerphobia. Racism. Who are you doing it to? Who's doing it to you? Who's saving whom? Who's doing nothing? Who are you allying with? What's happening when you act in any and all the roles of persecutor, victim, rescuer, bystander and ally with others in our world of white male privilege and domination? We gather as men to explore interpersonal, structural, economic and institutional systems of injustice and the ways each of us is the oppressed and the oppressor, and learn to serve as allies, being responsive and accountable for what we choose to brave in our own lives, and with and for all our relations. Who's welcome: all men – White, Cis, Indigenous, Queer, of Color, Trans, and Those called to do Ally. Facilitated by Duncan Tam. Time is 7 PM and location is Firestorm Cafe & Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. Contact Firestorm at info@firestorm.coop for more information.
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ONGOING EVENTS
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TUESDAY
Veterans for Peace have a weekly vigil at 5 PM at Pack Square, Vance Monument during most of the year, but after DST kicks in, they meet at 4:30 PM.
Showing Up for Racial Justice at Firestorm Cafe and Books at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville. 10 AM. Educating and organizing white people for racial justice. Free.
WEDNESDAY
Haywood Peace Vigilers have a weekly vigil at 4 PM at Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville
French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.
Green Grannies Book Club meets at noon at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville.
“What’s Up With Whiteness” discussion group at 6 PM at Firestorm at 610 Haywood Road in west Asheville.
Green Drinks meets at 7 PM at The Block Off Biltmore on the third Wednesday of the month.
Sierra Club meets at 7 PM at Unitarian Universalist in Asheville on the first Wednesday of the month.
THURSDAY
Political Prisoners Letter Writing at Firestorm Cafe & Books at 6 PM on fourth Thursday of the month. Materials provided.
Political documentary film and discussion at Firestorm Cafe 6:30 PM on the third Thursday of the month. Sponsored by Asheville Citizens Accountability Project.
Welcome Home Tour by Homeward Bound on the third Thursday of the month at 11 AM. Call 258-1695 for more information.
Asheville Prison Books Program is held at Downtown Books & News from 4 to 7 PM.
FRIDAY
Women in Black have a weekly vigil at noon at the City Hall in Hendersonville.
SATURDAY
French Broad Riverkeeper has a paddle-n-plant to prevent sediment erosion most Wednesdays and Saturdays. Registration required at anna@mountaintrue.org.
Mountain True holds urban forest workdays on the second Saturday of the month at Richmond Hill Park from 9 AM to 1 PM. Call 258-8737 for more information.
Citizen’s Climate Lobby meeting at 12:30 PM at Kairos West Community Center on second Saturday of the month.
Food Not Bombs serves free vegan/vegetarian food every Saturday at noon at Pritchard Park.
SUNDAY
Asheville National Organization for Women meeting at 2:30 PM at YWCA of Asheville on second Sunday of the month.
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ACTIONS AND READINGS
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Hood Tour Tickets
An interactive tour focusing on Asheville’s African American resilient history and future in the arts, environmentalism and entrepreneurship. The tour visits neighborhoods with existing and active green spaces, art, and grassroots initiatives. Tours run most Thursdays at 1 PM and Saturdays at 3 PM, and by appointment for groups by emailing info@hoodhuggers.com. Tours last approximately 1.5 hours. Cost is $25 per person. Tours begin at the Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Avenue.
Hood Huggers International, LLC offers sustainable strategies for building support pillars for resilient historically African American neighborhoods, providing a framework for community capacity building while increasing the effectiveness of existing service programs. These strategies incorporate the arts, environmental education and social enterprise.
DeWayne Barton is the founder/CEO of Hood Huggers. A sculptor and poet, Barton has been involved in community improvement and youth development for over 20 years. He serves on the African American Heritage Commission, CoThinkk, and the City of Asheville Neighborhood Advisory Board.
Please call (828) 275-5305 or email blove@hoodhuggers.com for more information including how to register for these tours.
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ASHEVILLE N.O.W. HAS A BUS GOING TO WOMEN’S MARCH IN DC IN JANUARY
Just a couple hours after we announced we would have a bus to the Women's March in Washington on Jan. 21, we have 14 of the 57 seats booked. If you want a seat, you should probably act fast. A seat on the bus is $75 each. The bus will leave Asheville at midnight on January 20, 2017 and then leave DC at about 6 PM the next day to return home. We are doing the quick up and back so no one has to pay for a hotel. You sleep on the bus and the driver sleeps while we're busy rallying. If you can't go but would like to sponsor someone, that would be wonderful. To book, please e-mail nowaville@gmail.com.
AND THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIALIST ORGANIZATION (AT UNCA) IS DETERMINING INTEREST IN A BUS FOR THE INAUGURATION:
January 20, 2017 Inauguration day protest
Resist Trump's vile agenda from day one! We are organizing buses to DC to protest the inauguration of Trump on January 20th and to stand in solidarity with the Women's March on January 21. Sign the interest form-https://goo.gl/forms/Jo2GdL8o8yQDM3uD3.
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