This is the Grand Rapids Activist Calendar’s bi-weekly events mailing. For more information on any of these events, visit http://calendar.diygr.org.
Stop the Kent County Sheriffs Bag A Fag Policy
December 13th 2011, 9:30 am at Kent County Building
It has been known for the past year that the Kent County Sheriff’s Department has been targeting gay men at public parks in the area and arresting them. The ACLU became involved earlier this year requesting documents from the Sheriff’s Dept. The ACLU has discovered that no formal complaints have been filed against men wanting to meet other men. The Sheriff’s Department had agreed months ago to meet with the ACLU to discuss this matter. However, to date, the Sheriff’s Dept has failed to make themselves available for that meeting.
Therefore, we are asking as many people as possible to join us this Thursday, December 8 at 8:30 am at the Kent County Commission meeting to voice our opposition to this policy of harassing and arresting gay men.
The Kent County Commission meets in the County building, room 310. Everyone has an opportunity to speak about this issue during public comment.
Occupy Grand Rapids Wednesday Night Discussion
December 14th 2011, 7:00 pm at Fountain Street Church
Occupy Grand Rapids will be hosting a “Wednesday Night Discussion” event to address the following questions:
“Why are you occupying?” “Do you see a problem with our current government, economic system, way things are run, etc.?” “How does this effect us locally?” “What can we do to change locally?” “What would you like to see Occupy change nationally/internationally?”
*Dress WARM** It’s OUTSIDE [Note: I’m considering moving this discussion to either inside GRCC, or to the Library].
Who: EVERYONE please come but particularly I’d like this to be a way to get new people involved [there will be introductions at the beginning and those who have not been will get a chance to share/ask questions/suggest topics they’d like covered, etc. if they would like-- they can also decline]
What: Weekly Wednesday night discussion groups– that are moderately facilitated [only to keep the conversation and respect flowing, and on topic of occupy]. Topic suggestions are welcome.
Class War Kitchen #1
December 27th 2011, 6:00 pm at Bartertown Diner
Since the start of Bartertown Diner one of the main goals has been doing cooking classes. We did one and it was a huge success, but when we opened, things got crazy and the idea took a back seat. So now we feel it’s a good time to begin this project. The idea is to discuss, teach and learn from each other on how to make good food at a reasonable price, and in a responsible fashion. The smartest thing you can do is arm yourself with the knowledge of food.
The first class will be addressing the local food movement along with the slow food movement. For a lot of us these new trends seem to be targeted towards the upper class. If you can afford it then you can be a part of it. Also what is local? Do you really know what you are buying? Many don’t and get fooled everyday. We will be preparing a meal and having an open discussion.
Cost is free, but we will have a tip jar set up for those who feel inclined to donate.
A People’s History of the LGBTQ Community in Grand Rapids
January 8th 2012, 6:00 pm at Plymouth UCC
Following the model of radical historian Howard Zinn, this project involves the documentation of the history of the LGBTQ movement in West Michigan. By doing interviews and collecting archival material, this project has produced a documentary film and an online archive of material about the struggle for equality and justice by the LGBTQ community in West Michigan. The screenings of “A People’s History of the LGBTQ Community in Grand Rapids” will allow for continuing dialogue about the LGBTQ movement and provide a forum for current and future organizing. This is a project of the Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy. The LGBT Resource Center is proud to be a co-sponsor along with GVSU’s Kutsche Office of Local History.
Compassion in Fashion – Second Annual!
January 14th 2012, 8:00 pm at GVSU – Kirkhof Center
Humane Society of Grand Valley and GV Fashion Club are excited to announce the second annual Compassion in Fashion show!
This year’s show will once again feature a cat walk of clothing and accessories made exclusively from non-animal sources (no fur, leather, wool, silk) as offered by local businesses and original pieces from the GV Fashion Club.
Info tables abound!
Our speaker this year is Jill Fritz, Michigan State Director for Humane Society of the United States. She will be speaking about the practice of using animals for cosmetic testing purposes, and what this means for us as consumers. There will also be time to ask questions, and speak with her one-on-one.
We will once again have a raffle of wonderful items from local businesses, and we have added a silent auction as well! All proceeds will benefit West Michigan Critter Haven and Kent County Animal Shelter.
MLK Program featuring Speaker Bakari Kitwana
January 16th 2012, 12:30 pm at GVSU – Kirkhof Center
The GVSU campus community is invited to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Week by attending the MLK Program, featuring speaker Bakari Kitwana.
Bakari Kitwana, journalist and author, will be a keynote speaker during the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at Grand Valley.
Kitwana will lead the silent march on campus on January 16 and give an afternoon presentation in the Kirkhof Center. He will also be the evening speaker that day at the community event hosted by Grand Rapids Community College.
The author of four books, Kitwana is a senior media fellow at the Jamestown Project, a Harvard Law think-tank; and CEO of Rap Sessions, a company that conducts townhall meetings around the country on difficult topics facing the hip-hop generation. Kitwana’s latest book is 2010Hip-Hop Activism in the Obama Era.
Occupy Wall Street: Lessons From the Front Lines
January 23rd 2012, 7:00 pm at GVSU – Kirkhof Center
Author, activist and native New Yorker, Sherry Wolf will provide an eyewitness account of the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement to discuss how we are living through a period of profound social, political and economic transformation. OWS has become a touchstone for a vast array of grievances. As an active participant in the OWS movement with many years’ experience as an organized leftist, Wolf will challenge students to think through their own preconceived notions of how our society operates and can change. Wolf will explore how this movement came about and is evolving to challenge corporate power and inequality in ways not seen for 40 years.
Up From the Bottoms: The Search for the American Dream
February 1st 2012, 6:00 pm at GVSU – Cook DeWitt Center
he Community Reading Project Contextual Presentation will feature a showing of the film, “Up From the Bottoms: The Search for the American Dream.” It will contextualize the main topics of the 2012 CRP selection “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson.
“Up From the Bottoms: The Search for the American Dream” tells the story of the massive migration of African Americans from the rural south to the prosperous north during the World War II years and beyond. More information about the film can be found here: http://www.upfromthebottoms.com/
Not Just a Game: Politics and Power in American Sports
February 2nd 2012, 4:00 pm at GVSU – Kirkhof Center
At this inaugural “Intersections” event, John Carlos, winner of the bronze medal in the men’s 200-meter race at the 1968 Summer Olympics, will tell us his story.
Carlos entered the Olympic Games with one thing in mind – to reach the platform in order to send a message. And, along with Tommie Smith, his teammate and winner of the gold medal, the message was sent, reverberating throughout the world. Smith and Carlos raised black-gloved fists crowning bowed heads to humbly reflect the strength of the black power and human rights salutes.
In addition to Carlos, renowned American sportswriter Dave Zirin, will be a part of the program and will show segments of his documentary movie, Not Just a Game: Politics and Power in American Sports. The two will also discuss their recently completed book, The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment That Changed the World.
That Takes Ovaries: Bold Women, Brazen Acts Performance
February 10th 2012, 7:00 pm at Wealthy Theatre
That Takes Ovaries!: Bold Women, Brazen Acts is a play co-written by Rivka Solomon and Bobbi Ausubel. The play offers an exciting collection of real-life stories from women and girls about the gutsy, outrageous, courageous things they have done. The stories are multicultural, funny, sassy, and touching true tales of estrogen-powered deeds. The play also includes true stories submitted by our own GVSU campus and community!
Naomi Wolf
March 14th 2012, 7:00 pm at Fountain Street Church
Author of seven books, including the New York Times best seller The Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf focuses on gender equality, pervasive inequities in
society and politics, the defense of liberty in America and internationally, and body image. She is the cofounder of the Woodhull Institute for Ethical
Leadership, which teaches ethics and empowerment to young women leaders. In Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries, Wolf argues that
breathtaking changes take place when ordinary citizens engage in the democratic system the way the founders intended, through civic engagement.
Lakeshore Region Summit on Race & Inclusion
June 5th 2012, 7:30 am at Hope College
The Lakeshore Region Summit on Race & Inclusion gathers hundreds of individuals to a day-long conference focused on the effects of racism and designed to stimulate a year of action. Join us to learn from nationally-recognized experts in the field and best practices that contribute to creating a vibrant, inclusive region.
