Fresno Peace and Social Justice Calendar : Indybay

THE PEACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE CALENDAR

The Peace and Social Justice calendar is a free service of:
The Community Alliance newspaper
To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserv and receive an updated calendar by email every week, send a message to AllianceEditor@Comcast.net
Web site: http://www.fresnoalliance.com/home/
Phone: (559) 978-4502 Fax: (559) 226-3962
To subscribe to the Community Alliance newspaper send $35 (regular) or $10 (low income) to: P.O. Box 5077, Fresno, Ca 93755.

Thursday, February 8
7 PM
Chris Eacock, Project Manager, at the Bureau of Reclamation will speak to the basics of water. He has given this talk to high school students and those requiring background to understand the impact of State and Federal Water Projects. Chris Eacock will review geography and the science as it pertains to water distribution in California- which is a huge system. Both the natural and man made flows will be explained. Chris Eacock has been with the Bureau of Reclamation 24 years. He holds a degree in Agriculture. This is a great opportunity to fortify ourselves to be better able to decide how we need to store, use and share water to prepare for the future. This will be background material needed to make some decisions when the state and federal projects come up. Water is not only a local issue but a state issue. Event is free and open to the Public. Child care upon request

The presentation will take place at the UU Church of Fresno, 4144 North Millbrook Avenue, 1/2 block south of Ashlan. It is open to the public. Child care provided upon request. Information: Lydia Flores 435-7360

Thursday, March 8
7 PM
Help Stop the Femicide in Juarez Mexico on March 8th ( 7pm) C.A.F.E Infoshop, 935 F st. (between Tulare and Kern) Cost: 15, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. This event is organized by P.O.W.E.R. (people organized for Womn's Empowerment and Representation) a Women's Studies organization.

Thursday February 8
8 PM
Full Circle Brewing Co. Presents Steve Ono's Jazz Workshop & Jam.$5.-cover. 620 F St.
Downtown Fresno 559-264-6323 www.fullcirclebrewing.com

Friday, February 9
5 PM and 8 PM
Fresno Filmworks presents "Family Law" at the Tower Theatre. This tender-hearted comedy about parenting is Argentina's official entry for the Academy Award's Best Foreign Language Film. In Spanish, with English subtitles. Tickets can be purchased at the Tower Theatre Box Office, 815 E. Olive Ave., The Movies, 1435 N. Van Ness Ave., WineStyles in Fig Garden Village, and at the door, for $10; $8, for students and seniors. For more information call the FFW info line, 221-0755, or go to www.fresnofilmworks.org

Friday, February 9
6 PM
Venceremos Brigade community report back will be held at the SEIU-UHW Office at 1279 Wishon Avenue in Fresno. This event is a great opportunity to learn more about what is going on in Cuba and find out how you might be able to go this summer.

The Venceremos Brigade is a political education project that since 1969, has directed its efforts toward developing solidarity with the Cuban Revolution. Despite the U.S. blockade against Cuba, the Brigade has sent more than 9,000 people from the U.S. representing community and student groups, political organizations and trade Unions. The purpose of this trip is cultural exchange, work and civil disobedience.

Friday, February 9
6:30 - 8:30 PM
The Reedley Peace Center presents: Speaker: Tesfa Dallelew, co-director of Mennonite Central Committee's Africa Section. Topic: HIV/AIDS – The violence of this pandemic has devastated peoples lives, communities and degraded the quality of life. Unless there is world community's cooperation, Africa is not able to overcome this pandemic. He will also speak about MCC work in Africa in peace making and peace education.

Light potluck at 6:30. Program begins at 7 pm. This event is sponsored by the Reedley Peace Center and will be held at the Fellowship Hall of First Mennonite Church, on 'L' street between 12th and 13th streets in Reedley. Admission is free. Contact Don Friesen by email at dfriesen0@gmail.com

Friday, February 9
9 PM
Venceremos Brigade fundraiser will be held at Tokyo Gardens 1711 Fulton St. Entertainment by 3 Bags Full and Dj cojak

Saturday, February 10
9:30 AM
The Fresno Center for Nonviolence board meeting and annual retreat will be held at Margaret Hudson Big Barn and Garden, 4247 N. Thorne. Board Meeting will be from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon; Potluck at 12 noon -1 p.m.; Retreat at 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. At the retreat we will be talking briefly about programs for the coming year, but most of the time will be spent on a discussion about "Coming out for peace: facing up to our reluctance to show the depths of what we truly believe to our family, neighbors and coworkers." Call 237-3223 for more information and directions to Margaret's if you need them. The public is invited to attend.

Saturday, February 10
11 AM - 9:30 PM
Expression Not Suppression is a FREE conference for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, and straight ally youth ages 13-21, sponsored by GSA Network. This conference will help you be comfortable with who you are, how you want to express yourself, who you want to be, and the world around you. The day features workshops and speakers. Workshops will include topics such as "how to do drag," "trans 101," and "gay families." After the workshops, we will have free dinner and a dance and drag show! 1343 E Barstow Ave, Fresno. For more information, call 559-268-2780.

Saturday, February 10
3:30 PM
The Central Valley Progressive PAC meets at the Center for Non Violence, 1584 North Van Ness at Mc Kinley. Newly elected Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims will attend the meeting and discuss the "Keep them in Jail" ballot initiative she and author of the "Three Strikes and your Out" legislation, Mike Reynolds, are promoting. Questions from the CVPPAC will be followed by an opportunity for meeting attendees to discuss the ballot initiative with Mims. For more information www.cvppac.org

Saturday, February 10
6 - 9 PM
Freedom to Marry Panel & Community discussion "Putting a Face on the Issue: Then & Now,"is being sponsored by Central California Alliance(CCA) an LGBT not for profit group. It is being hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno. Go to www.ccafresno.org for more information.

The panel will include representatives from many community groups from Fresno and throughout California and they will be discussing the varied aspects of marriage equality. Some of the groups represented will be FORGE which will disuss the relevance of marriage for same sex senior couples and Shelly & Ellen will be sharing how it felt to be married the first day of the weddings at San Francisco city hall and then later have them invalidated by the courts; Belinda (from Wales) and her partner Wendy from Out 4 Immigration will discuss the ramifications of immigration issues for bi-national same sex couples; Blue Riggs will be discussing the issues facing transgender individuals and marriage; other issues to be addressed are those of gay soldiers and how the denial of marriage, and one soldier's coming out story changed her military career; and Laura will share her experiences growing up gay in the hispanic culture both in Mexico and the US.

Dolores from Spectrum will be discussing issues related to race and discrimination and her experiences in marrying couples at San Francisco city hall, many panelists will discuss the issues surrounding children and same sex marriage; Ellis Vance will be representing Lambda Letters Project, and Rev Carroll will be there to discuss the UU churches position on supporting the union of same sex couples. We plan to have the panelists share their perspectives and then open this up for a community discussion.

The panelists are dedicated grassroots activists, many invovled in multiple social justice groups on varing issues. Nine of the panelists traveled on, helped organize, and raised over $100,000 to fight for their rights and to sponsor the 2004 Marriage Equality National Caravan that traveled from San Francisco to Washington DC, carrying 44 Freedom Riders, for 8 days, stopping in many cities from San Francisco, Sacramento, Reno, Laramie, Cheyenne, Denver, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Columbus, Akron, OH, Pittsburgh and onto Washington, DC to hold protests, panels and other events. CSPAN covered their National Marriage Rally in DC on Oct 11, 2004. It was a time when the country was in an intense debate over same sex marriage, something very personal and intimate to each of them, the Constitutional Amendment, and all of it concerned their rights... "Then & Now". These folks were in the thick of it and not backing down for a minute! See their photos and hear their stories.

www.ccafresno.org
www.uulmca.org/main.html
www.uufresno.org
www.out4Immigration.org
www.lambdaletters.org
www.spectrummarin.org

Wednesday, February 14
Valentine’s Day
Did you know that the original Saint Valentine was an anti-war priest engaged in Civil Disobedience? Read more here:

http://www.pictureframes.co.uk/pages/saint_valentine.htm
http://wilstar.com/holidays/valentn.htm

Wednesday, February 14
12 noon and 6:30 PM
The film "Who Killed the Electric Car?" will be shown. The 12 noon showing will be at Fresno Center for Nonviolence, 1584 N. Van Ness; the 6:30 p.m. showing will be at the Fresno Central Library, 2420 Mariposa Street (488-3195) (doors opening at 6 p.m.)

Dr. John Dunning, one of the inventors of the electric car worked with General Motors for 30 years, will be introducing the film both at mid-day and in the evening. He will lead a discussion after the evening showing. The film is 93 minutes long. Call 237-3223 for more information.

This story couldn't be more relevant or important. The foremost goal in making this movie was to educate and enlighten audiences with the story of this car, its place in history and in the larger story of our car culture and how it enables our continuing addiction to foreign oil. This is an important film with an important message that not only calls to task the officials who squelched the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, but all of the other accomplices, government, the car companies, Big Oil, even Eco-darling Hydrogen as well as consumers, who turned their backs on the car and embrace embracing instead the SUV. The documentary investigates the death and resurrection of the electric car, as well as the role of renewable energy and sustainable living in our country's future; issues which affect everyone from progressive liberals to the neo-conservative right.

Wednesday, February l4
2:30 PM
FresCAMP (Fresno Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides) meeting. Call Joan Poss at 227-6134 for location.

Wednesday, February 14
2:30 PM
Take a stand by joining a demonstration for marriage equality at Fresno's County Clerk Office. Same sex couples will be applying for marriage licenses. LBGTQ and straight allies are welcome and encouraged to participate. This event will take place at the office of Victor E. Salazar, Fresno County Clerk-Recorder, 2221 Kern Street, Fresno. Questions? Call 323-4283 Ext. 10 or fresno@marriageequality.org . For more information see: http://www.gayfresno.com/content/view/211/79/

Thursday, February 15
Deadline for articles and calendar items to the March, 2007 Community Alliance newspaper. Send information to AllianceEditor@Comcast.net

Thursday, February 15
12 Noon - 1 PM
For Justice. Against War. Please join us for a silent vigil Protesting all forms of militarism! CSUF Free Speech Area, Speakers' Platform. Wear black, bring a sign, women only. Co-sponsored by: Campus Peace & Civil Liberties Coalition, POWER & WILPF, Women's International League for Peace & Freedom. Please call 278-4593 for more information.

Thursday, February 15
5:30 - 7:30 PM
Poets & Writers Roundtable. An informal meeting to provide information about Poet's &Writers's Readings/Workshops and grant program. P&W's will discuss issues affecting the literary arts in the Central Valley; and will encourage writers and others working in the arts to connect with each other. RSVP to cklein@pw.org no later than Feb. 1. If you cannot come to the meeting, any questions about Readings/Workshop program and application process can be found on their website: www.pw.org/rw/ or call 310-481-7195. This event will be held at Arte America, 1630 Van Ness in downtown Fresno.

Thursday February 15
8 PM
Full Circle Brewing Co. Presents Inner Ear Poetry Jam. $5.-cover. 620 F St. Downtown Fresno
559-264-6323 www.fullcirclebrewing.com

Friday, February 16
4:30 - 5:40 PM
Rally for universal public health insurance (SB840), in Madera. Meet at the Madera Unified Teachers Association at 120 Dwyer Street Suite A, Madera, CA 93637. Health Care for All - Central California chapter. OneCareNow campaign. Information Devin Carroll, 439-6368, devinc@sbcglobal.net

Friday, February 16
5:15 PM
Life and Debt

Stephanie Black. 2001. Jamaica/USA. 80 min. Spanish w/English subtitles.

Set to a beguiling reggae beat, Life and Debt takes as its subject Jamaica's economic decline in the 20th century. The story has reverberations in the plight of other third-world nations blindsided by globalization, like Ghana and Haiti. After England granted Jamaica independence in 1962, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) stepped in with a series of loans. These loans came with strings attached--the kind that would eventually plunge the country $7 billion into debt, stranded without the resources to dig themselves out. The soundtrack features some of the "imports" with which this island nation remains mostly closely associated: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Mutabaruka, who performs the title track. Audience Award at the Prague One World Film Festival 2002. Post-screening discussion facilitated by Tanya Crabb (CSUF staff, University Outreach Services).

Cineculture continues to be a film series provided as a service to the Fresno State campus students, faculty, and staff at no charge. However, anyone interested in taking Cineculture for academic credit for the Fall semester, please sign up through Continuing and Global Education: tel. 278-0333. For further info., contact Dr. Denise Blum dblum@csufresno.edu . This film will be shown in McLane 121 on the CSUF campus.

Friday, February 16
6:30 - 8:30 PM
The Reedley Peace Center presents: Current issues and letter writing. Several of our members will highlight current issues: Troop Surge in Iraq; Pending Attack of Iran; Campaign Finance Reform; Government Spending on the Military; Immigration; Health Care; Israel / Palestine; etc. The entire group will have a chance to respond and time will be allocated for writing letters to representative about these issues

Friday, February 16
7 PM
Alternatives to Violence Program (AVP). Mark Koenig, an AVP facilitator, will be telling of his experience going into the California State Prisons with the Alternatives to Violence Program. The AVP and the off-shoot youth program called Help Increase the Peace Program (HIPP) are all about changing our responses to violent situations. A high school principal who brought the program into his school said: The results of the program far exceeded our expectations. By the end of the school year, none of the students [who had been suspended repeatedly for violent or aggressive behaviors] had engaged in any further violent or aggressive acts. Twenty students who participated in the basic workshop were so enthusiastic that they pleaded with us to provide them with the two additional workshops.

A local teacher was skeptical of the benefits because too many of her students "know only fighting", but AVP originated in maximum security prisons bringing murders, rapists, and drug addicts into circles of trust. Witnessing a 6 foot African American hugging a muscle-bound Mexican American in a workshop and knowing that they are in different gangs "on the yard" is truly a breakthrough experience. Recently, Principal John Davis' Pinkham Peace-Keepers starred in a video enactment called "I Messages", a core AVP technique used in non-violent communication. Principal Davis and his staff have committed to learning, teaching and practicing alternatives to violence skills right from the start.

The AVP workshop goes to the core of what peace keeping is all about - affirmative relationships, community-building and non-violent conflict resolution. An AVP workshop is NOT therapy, NOT religion, NOT lecture and NOT boring! So, come find out what AVP has to offer your school, your club, your community and best of all YOURSELF.

This event will be held at the Visalia Friends Meeting, 17208 Ave 296, Visalia.(One mile east on Mineral King from the Farmersville ext on Hwy.198).

This presentation is one of a continuing monthly film and lectures series sponsored by the South Valley Peace Center. www.svpc/info

Mark Koenig, AVP Facilitator
Visalia, Ca
559-592-4253
QuestionMarkFarm@gmail.com

Friday February 16
7 PM
Fund raiser to support the Cucapa Camp. It will be just one of many fundraiser events going on throughout Mexico and the United States to support the efforts of the Cucapa Camp, which is

part of La Otra Campana. Where - C.A.F.E. 935 Fresno St. Fresno, CA 93706 (downtown Fresno, in Chinatown, off of Tulare St.). What - Photo Exhibit, Info from La Otra L.A., Music, and Food. For more information see: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/02/07/18359118.php

Saturday, February 17
3:30 PM
Rally for universal public health insurance (SB840), in Madera. We will have a booth from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the health fair at Pan American Park (indoors), on Lake Ave. north of Cleveland. At 3:30 we will gather at the park and march to Cleveland for a rally. Information Devin Carroll, 439-6368. devinc@sbcglobal.net Details at http://www.healthcareforall.org/central_valley.html

Saturday February 17
8 PM
Full Circle Brewing Co. Presents Songbirds & Spoken Word a women’s collaborative. $5.-cover 620 F St. Downtown Fresno 559-264-6323 www.fullcirclebrewing.com

Sunday, February 18
1 PM
Tower District Grand Mardi Gras Parade (Olive & Wishon Avenues). Themed floats, bands, and all sorts of merriment and revelry! Celebrations throughout the Tower District. For more information contact: (559) 497-8362

Monday, February 19
7 PM
The movie: The Yes Men will be shown at Javawava, 1940 N Echo (across the street from Fresno High). This is a benefit for The Undercurrent newspaper.

Tuesday, February 20
4 PM
THE MAYOR, THE BROADCAST AND THE TRUTH

The Tenth Annual Homelessness Marathon will originate from Fresno, California starting at 4 p.m., PST, on Tuesday, February 20th and ending at 6 a.m., PST, Wednesday, 2/21/07. The Homelessness Marathon is the world's leading radio broadcast focusing on homelessness and poverty. The 9th Marathon, which originated from Atlanta, was on more than 110 stations coast-to-coast, while another 30 or so stations across Canada carried a parallel Canadian Homelessness Marathon. "We picked Fresno," explains the Homelessness Marathon's director,

Jeremy Weir Alderson, "partly because of the extraordinary cruelty with which homeless people are being treated there." Allegedly, in the course of making sweeps, the City of Fresno has thrown away the meager possessions of homeless people, including their IDs, money, sleeping bags and tents as well as a list of items Alderson calls "particularly shocking," including someone's false teeth, a cane, a wheelchair, the ashes of someone's dead grandchild and a tent thought to have kittens inside (the kittens were never seen again). In response to a lawsuit filed by a group of volunteer lawyers, including the ACLU and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, U.S.

District Judge Oliver W. Wanger issued a preliminary injunction ordering the City of Fresno to stop throwing away the possessions of its homeless citizens. In his decision, Judge Wanger characterized the City's arguments as "disingenuous" and "dishonest." Fresno's mayor, Alan Autry, responded by calling Wanger's ruling "cavalier" and "veracity challenged," suggesting that the judge, "enter the real world and find out the real truth." He didn't stop there.

In a radio appearance, Autry insisted that one homeless encampment had to be cleaned up because kids in the neighborhood were "watching [homeless] people have sex," and because the encampment was "a disease factory." "This mattress that the judge says we should have gave back was riddled with everything from e. coli to hepatitis... something that it would take a hazmat suit to give back to that person." But Mike Rhodes, editor of Fresno's Community Alliance newspaper and the only reporter to attend the entire court hearing, points out that

"the evidence at the hearing was clear - the City of Fresno was violating the constitutional rights of the homeless. They were taking the property of homeless people and immediately destroying it. There were no bizarre allegations, like the mayor made, about sex in the street or mattresses with e. coli and hepatitis at the hearing. These continuing lies and attacks on the homeless are just more evidence that this city has a long way to go in understanding how to treat the homeless with dignity and respect."

Additionally, the city has based it's estimate of how many homeless people are in the area partly on a statistic attributed to HUD. But HUD disavows the statistic completely, and no one associated with the city will explain where it really came from. Fresno's mayor, police chief and city manager were the first people invited to be guests on the 10th Homelessness Marathon (but so far they have not responded). The broadcast will be available free to stations over the NPR satellite, the Pacifica satellite and a webcast. It will be hosted by local community radio station KFCF and an ad hoc committee of activists on poverty and housing issues. "Mayor Autry says he wants the truth to come out," says Alderson, "and we're going to help him with that, but unlike the mayor, we're going to see to it that the homeless people of Fresno -- and across the country -- get their say too."

Additional information about the Homelessness Marathon, can be found at the Marathon's web site: http://www.homelessnessmarathon.org Additional information about the court case can be found at: http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/14787.html http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/11/23/18332519.php

Tuesday, February 20
Fat Tuesday in the Tower District (Olive & Wishon Avenues). Over a dozen Mardi Gras themed parties. Live music, Cajun and Creole food, drink specials, and beads galore! For more information contact: (559) 497-8362.

Wednesday, February 21
6:30 PM
Do you want the Fresno Police Department to be accountable to the community? Want an Independent Police Auditor? If so, then you should attend the next meeting of the Central California Criminal Justice Committee, which will be held at the Center for Non Violence, southeast corner of Van Ness and McKinley. For more information email ellieb28@sbcglobal.net or see: http://cccjc.org/home/

Wednesday, February 21
7 PM
Bob Merrill, Emeritus Professor of Geology, CSUF, will address the Sierra Club on the topic of Global Warming. Present, Past and Future, facts and impacts will be explained. The longer taking action is postponed, the worse the outcome and the greater the cost will be. The Sierra Club meets at the UC Center on Shaw across from Fashion Faire. For information: 229-4031

Friday, February 23
5:15 PM
Surviving Abyssinia

Liz Jackson. 2000. Ethiopia. 57 min, No Rating.

The film chronicles life in Ethiopia and the tumultuous events following years of war and revolution, especially its impact on women. Jackson spent a year in Ethiopia, researching, interviewing, and filming, under extraordinary conditions. Surviving Abyssinia was named Best Documentary Film at the Hollywood Black Film Festival 2000. Post-screening discussion by Dr. Elizabeth Jackson (film director/TV & video producer/professor from CSU Bakersfield).

Friday, February 23
6:30 - 8:30 PM
The Reedley Peace Center presents the documentary: An Inconvenient Truth. Director Davis Guggenheim eloquently weaves the science of global warming with Mr. Gore's personal history and lifelong commitment to reversing the effects of global climate change. A longtime advocate for the environment, Gore presents a wide array of facts and information in a thoughtful and compelling way. An Inconvenient Truth is not a story of despair but rather a rallying cry to protect the one earth we all share.

Saturday, February 24
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Liberal Voices in a Conservative Landscape, The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry, CA and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno will co-host this annual event for first time in Fresno. The conference is open to the public. Topics will include global warming solutions, how to interact more effectively with the media , marriage equality, health care issues, reclaiming democracy and ways to have fun while tackling difficult problems and making a difference in the world. Please see the registration form (attached and below) for information about speakers and registering. There is a fee of $20.00, payable to UULM Action Network, to include the cost of lunch and a morning snack. Register online at www.uulmca.org or mail to 717 K St., #514, Sacramento, CA 95814. Register by Monday, February 19, 2007. More information: Carolyn Nolan at 559 673-4659.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno: 4144 N. Millbrook Ave., Fresno, CA 93726

• Glenna Matthews, Historian and Biographer of Thomas Starr King
• Helen Acosta, Professor of Communication, Bakersfield College
• Jessica Rothhaar, Health Access California
• Rev. Lindi Ramsden, Executive Director, UU Legislative Ministry, CA
• Mike Becker, and Mark Soma, PhD, Fresno State political science & environmental policy
• Tina Stidman, Marriage Equality Cottage Conversation Trainer, UU Legislative Ministry, CA
• Susan Lerner, CA Clean Money Campaign
• Jeanelyse Doran Adams, InterPlay Body Wisdom

Join us for a day of worship, interactive learning, fellowship and fun. Build skills to involve your whole congregation in meaningful justice ministries. Get the latest news from the State Capitol. Learn UU justice history as noted historian,

Glenna Matthews, shares her original research on California hero, the Rev. Thomas Starr King.

Action Workshops will focus on: Health Care, Marriage Equality, Global Warming, & Reclaiming Democracy.

Cost: (payable to UULM Action Network)
$20 – regular admission - includes lunch and morning snack
$5 for high school or college students

Friday night home hospitality available by advanced request

**Childcare for young children kindergarten and under, available by advanced request (no walk-ins)

Sunday, February 25
2 PM
The Village It Takes To Raise a Child, a free talk by national educator, Parenting in Community author and mother Neshama Abraham Paiss of Boulder, CO. Please call La Querencia Fresno Cohousing at 866-246-7717 or visit www.FresnoCohousing.org for more info and to reserve a space. Location: Mommy Matters, 1010 E. Perrin at Champlain (northwest corner).

Monday, February 26
Attorney Lynne Stewart will be in Fresno. Ms. Stewart will be touring the Bay Area in late February, under the auspices of The Lynne Stewart Defense Committee and other organizations including "Free Mumia Abu Jamal." The event will be a fund raiser for Lynne's defense fund; she is out on bail, and needs to raise funds for her ongoing appeal.

Event details will be posted soon.

Tuesday, February 27
7 PM
The Fresno Free College Foundation Board of Directors will hold it's regular meeting in the Social Hall of the Unitarian Church of Fresno located at 4144 N. Millbrook Avenue, just south of Ashlan Avenue, in Fresno. Agenda items should be sent to the Secretary or the President. For more information go to www.kfcf.org . FFCF board meetings are normally on the 3^rd Tuesday of the month and will return to that schedule in March.

March 1 - 10
Rogue Performance Festival 2007. For more information see: http://roguefestival.com/

Friday, March 2
5:15 PM
Peace x Peace

dirs. Lisa Hepner and Patricia Smith Melton. 2003. Afghanistan, Burundi, the United States, Argentina, and Bosnia. 86 min. No rating.

In the past, soldiers constituted most of war casualties, but in today's conflicts, civilians comprise 90 percent of war casualties, the majority of whom are women and children. This documentary profiles women peace builders in places of conflict. For one year an all-women camera crew followed women in action in Afghanistan, Burundi, the United States, Argentina, and Bosnia. The film includes the devastating violence each country suffered, but it is suprisingly and effectively hopeful. Post-screening discussion: Jan Slagter (Professor, Women's Studies Program)

Friday, March 2
6:30 - 8:30 PM
The Reedley Peace Center presents Speaker: Michael Hubbart. Topic: Israel / Palestine Conflict

March 3 - 10

A Yellow Rose From Texas, a play written & directed by Agustín Lira, prod uced by Patricia Wells Solórzano.

Labor organizer and Civil rights leader Emma Tenayuca helped Mexicans achieve a sense of unparalleled confidence and group pride as racial minorities in the 1930s. Her legacy is that she challenge an important enterprise, the power structure of San Antonio city government, called for equal pay for equal work during a difficult time of wage differentials - the Depression era, an she articulate the integral issue of Mexican American identity.

Writer/ director Agustín Lira an producer Patricia Wells Solórzano http://home.earthlink.net/~almas2/ tell Emma's story through drama, music and narrative. Join us as we, the actors & musicians of ‘Teatro Inmigrante - Immigrant Theater', take you through a journey about the life of an extraordinary woman: a firebrand for social justice, Emma Tenayuca defended the people and community that she loved, against all odds and all enemies.

Saturday, March 3
6 PM
Big Red Church (1^st Congregational) 2131 N Van Ness Blvd

Sunday, March 4
4 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church at 4144 N Millbrook

Friday, March 9
6 PM
Big Red Church (1^st Congregational) 2131 N Van Ness Blvd

Saturday, March 10
6 PM
Big Red Church (1^st Congregational) 2131 N Van Ness Blvd

Saturday, March 3
9 AM
The Kennedy Club will discuss jail overcrowding and the Sheriff's plan to address this issue. Kennedy Club meetings are held on the first Saturday of every month at Denny's on Abby & Divisadero. For more information contact Patsy Montgomery at (559) 360-4309.

Saturday, March 3
10:30 AM
1st annual Social Justice March. African American Marching for Justice! This event will take place at the Justice Corner (Fresno & C Street) March will conclude at Free A.M.E. Church Located at: 803 Collins St. Fresno, CA 93706. Daylong program to follow:

Activities will include: Food, Poetry, Choir Performances, Community Speakers, Concession Booths, Launching of New Civil and Human Rights organization " National Network In Action " (NNIA )!

Program speech will address the following issues and More:

Significance of Black History in today's struggles
Ending The War in Iraq.
Police Brutality.
Environmental Racism.
The Spread of AIDS.
Decent Living Wage.
Increasing Homelessness.

For More information Please contact Mary Washington 559 477 - 2796 or Rev. Floyd D. Harris Jr. 559 803 - 0286.

Thursday, March 8
All Day
International Women’s Day. For more information see:

http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/women/womday97.htm
http://www.indybay.org/womyn/
http://www.womensaynotowar.org/

Thursday, March 8
5:30 PM
Empty Bowls began as a grassroots effort to raise money and awareness towards the fight against child hunger in the Central Valley. This year marks the 12th anniversary of the event that continues to support its original mission of feeding hungry children in the community. Today, Community Food Bank is sponsoring this event and has watched it blossom into one of the largest fundraisers fighting childhood hunger in the Central Valley. Participants will enjoy a wonderful meal served in ceramic bowls, hand-crafted by local students. The bowl is a gift to remind those who attend to never forget those children who are in-need everyday!

Join Community Food Bank in helping to create a hunger-free Central Valley. Help us Fill the Bowl!! For more information on Empty Bowls please contact Community Food Bank at (559) 237-3663 or visit www.communityfoodbank.net

Thursday, March 15
Deadline for articles and calendar items to the April, 2007 Community Alliance newspaper. Send information to AllianceEditor@Comcast.net

Thursday March 15
8 PM
Full Circle Brewing Co. Presents the Inner Ear Poetry Jam. $5.-cover, 620 F St. Downtown Fresno 559-264-6323. www.fullcirclebrewing.com

Thursday, March 15
12 Noon - 1 PM
For Justice. Against War. Please join us for a silent vigil Protesting all forms of militarism! CSUF Free Speech Area, Speakers' Platform. Wear black, bring a sign, women only. Co-sponsored by: Campus Peace & Civil Liberties Coalition, POWER & WILPF, Women's International League for Peace & Freedom. Please call 278-4593 for more information.

Friday, March 16
5:15 PM
From a Silk Cocoon

produced by the Emmy-nominated Hesono O Productions team of Satsuki Ina, Stephen Holsapple, Emery Clay III, and Kim Ina. 2005. USA. 60 min. In English. No rating.

. . . From a Silk Cocoon stretches beyond the basic facts of the Japanese-American internment experience into the dark and thorny corners of a perceived "military necessity" that is just as frightening and relevant now as it was when it happened. It is a story of war panic, racial profiling and the manufacturing of militants (a side effect of persecution that should not be ignored in the chill of post-9/11 America). The film deals with acute peer pressure, the fine line between democracy and national security, forsaken protection and shattered allegiance. It delivers all these concepts with a focus on snowballing causes and effects, rather than sensationalism . . ." - Sacramento News and Review,

Friday, March 16
7:30 PM
ROBIN & LINDA WILLIAMS & Their Fine Group. Regulars on The Prairie Home Companion Radio Show—you saw and heard them in the film. Now’s your chance to see them for real.

Tickets are available at these independently owned stores: The Movies Video Store; Patrick’s Music, National Hardware or online at www.fresnofolkconcerts.com The Museum Gift Shoppe carries tickets for the concerts at the Fresno Art Museum. Or send a check made out to FFS and send with an enclosed SASE to Pat Wolk, 6661 N. Forkner, Fresno, 93711.

Saturday, March 17
National mobilization to end the war in Iraq. For more information see: http://www.troopsoutnow.org/

Saturday March 17
Full Circle Brewing Co. Presents St. Patrick’s Day with Pipe on the hob 5:00-7:00 $5.-cover and Patrick Contreras "Violin on Fire" 8:00pm $5.-cover, 620 F St., Downtown Fresno, 559-264-6323 www.fullcirclebrewing.com

Sunday, March 18
1:30 - 4:30 PM
Peace Fresno and a coalition of valley and foothill peace and justice organizations, so far including the Fresno Center for Nonviolence, the UU Church Social Justice Committee, the South Valley Peace Center, and the Peace and Freedom Party of Fresno County, will sponsor the annual march and "Rally in the Valley for Peace and Justice: Bring the Troops Home Now". The Rally will be held at the new Eaton Plaza between the Library and the Watertower at Mariposa and 'N' Sts. Green Machine has agreed to play a set at the end. Dolores Huerta has agreed to address the Rally. We are still lining up one more speaker and more music. Put it on your calendar now. We need everyone possible to come and say: "Stop the war now!" For more information see www.peacefresno.org .

Wednesday, March 21
11 AM - 1 PM
Gender Violence on Campus panel discussion presented by The Women's Resource Center's Violence Prevention Project and P.O.W.E.R. in the University Student Union room 317. For more information contact Kaley Henry at khenry@csufresno.edu

Friday, March 23
5:15 PM
Letters from the Other Side

Heather Courtney. 2005. Mexico/USA. Spanish w/English subtitles. 74 min. (coordinated with Cesar Chavez celebrations, Critical Literacy conference, and National Multi-ethnic Literature conference).

Heather Courtney is a filmmaker, cinematographer and photographer based in Austin, Texas. Her recently completed Letters from the Other Side, which uses cross-border video letters to tell the immigration story from the perspective of the women left behind in Mexico, premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in January, screened at the South by Southwest International Film Festival (SXSW), and was funded by a Fulbright and grant from the Independent Television Service (ITVS). It is currently screening all over Austin, Texas at community-based venues with support from a grant from the City of Austin. Heather spent eight years writing and photographing for the United Nations and several refugee and immigrant rights organizations, including in the Rwandan refugee camps after the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Saturday, March 31
Cesar Chavez’s birthday. There are always events organized in Fresno to honor the work of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers union. When the details of those events are available, they will be posted. For more information about Cesar Chavez, see: www.ufw.org http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Chavez

Saturday March 31
8 PM
Full Circle Brewing Co. Presents Belly Dancing with Cory Zamora $5.-cover 620 F St. Downtown Fresno 559-264-6323 www.fullcirclebrewing.com

April 13, 14, & 15
Fresno Filmworks Presents the 3^rd Annual Fresno Film Festival.

April 13-21
2^nd Central California Valley Journey for Justice. The Journey for Justice demands:

QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL, in particular for the uninsured estimated to be over 46 million Americans, 7 million in California alone.

STOP THE INSURANCE COMPANIES from setting policy as to who does and who does not received quality health care.

STOP BLAMING THE UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE for the increase of health care,

SUPPORT THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH INSURANCE RELIABILITY ACT that would created a statewide universal health care that is publicly financed, provides, coverage for all medically necessary services and controls costs by eliminating insurance company overhead and using purchasing power to negotiate better prices,

SUPPORT PROPOSALS TO SET A STANDARD FOR HEALTH BENEFITS ON THE JOB, just like the minimum wage for pay

SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN FOR HEALTH HEALTHY KIDS

For more information:

Ed Castro 559-250-2733 eduardocastrojr@sbcglobal.net
Aurora Heredia 559-803-2020 centrobellasartes1@sbcglobal.net
Gloria Hernandez 559-268-2261 iwapgh@aol.com
Sandy Perry 408-691-6153 perrysandy@aol.com
Salvador Sandoval 209 631-6461 ssandovala@comcast.net

Friday, April 20
5:15 PM
Innocent Voices.

Luis Mandoki. 2004. Mexico/Puerto Rico/USA. Spanish w/English subtitles. 120 min. Rated R for disturbing violence and some language.

Set in 1980's El Salvador, where Chava's twelfth birthday enlists him automatically in the army. Chava, spends his 11th year chasing a first love, shielding siblings from bullets, testing his mother, and taking on the role of his absent father. 2005 Seattle Int'l Film Festival- Best Picture Audience Award, 2005 Santa Barbara Film Festival - Audience Award, 2005 River Run Film Festival - Jury Best Picture Award And Best Foreign Language Film Award And Best Screenplay Award Post-screening discussants, CSUF Salvadoran students, Walter Ramirez & Maria Rivera

Saturday, April 21
The Interfaith Youth Alliance is organizing its Annual Earth Day Clean up. More information will be posted soon on www.ifya_net.org

Sunday, April 22
Earth Day
For information about the origin of Earth Day, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day

Thursday, April 26
12 Noon - 1 PM
For Justice. Against War. Please join us for a silent vigil Protesting all forms of militarism! CSUF Free Speech Area, Speakers' Platform. Wear black, bring a sign, women only. Co-sponsored by: Campus Peace & Civil Liberties Coalition, POWER & WILPF, Women's International League for Peace & Freedom. Please call 278-4593 for more information.

Friday, April 27
5:15 PM
Emmanuel's Gift.

Dirs. Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern (identical twin sisters). 2005. USA. 82 min. English. Rated G. This is the true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, a disabled athlete from Ghana, Africa, who rode a bicycle across his entire country with one leg. He became a national hero and has become a champion of the disabled for his country. Atlanta Film Festival Audience Award 2005. Post-screening discussion facilitated by Tony Molina, M.D. (Student Health Services)

Tuesday, May 1
International Workers Day
For more information see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day

Friday, May 4
5:15 PM
Latino Legacy (digital films from & about the Latino/a community made by high school students at Roosevelt HS— storytellers and high school students will make up the panel). Center for Multicultural Cooperation.

Saturday, June 23
Fresno Center for Nonviolence anniversary with guest speaker Medea Benjamin.

ONGOING WEEKLY ACTIVITIES/PROGRAMS

Every Sunday
3 - 4 PM
Sunday Food Not Bombs serves free food at Courthouse Park to anyone who is hungry. They start cooking at 1 PM and serve the food at 3 PM (meet at the Tulare side of the park). For more information see: http://cafefresno.org/

Every Tuesday
6:30 - 8:30 PM
The Fresno River Zen group meets in Horsley Hall at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4144 N. MIllbrook, Fresno. This group welcomes all who wish to seek clarity, compassion, and harmony with oneself and the world through mindful meditation. Emphasis is on bringing peaceful actions from personal experience in meditation to healing the world. Teaching and practice in the spirit of the Suzuki Roshi Lineage is led by Grace Schireson, an ordained Zen priest. For more information, call Grace at (559) 877-2400 or email her at grace@emptynestzendo.org .

Every Monday and Tuesday
7–9:30 PM
The St. Benedict Catholic Worker serves a meal to the homeless, working poor, and visitors and released inmates in front of Fresno County Jail (corner of Fresno and M streets). Volunteers are needed to help prepare and serve the meals. For more information contact Liza Apper at (559) 229–6410 or liza.apper@sbcw.org ; or visit their Web site: www.sbcw.org .

Every Tuesday
7 PM
Peace Fresno meets at the Fresno Center for Nonviolence at 1584 N Van Ness, south of McKinley. If you want to help stop Bush's endless war against the world, come to this meeting!

For an up-to-the-minute listing of all peace actions in the Fresno area, call the Fresno Center for Nonviolence at (559) 23PEACE (237–3223). For more information about Peace Fresno, call 487–2515 or visit their Web site at www.peacefresno.org

Every Wednesday

7:30 AM

David Bacon's Labor Journal on KFCF 88.1 FM. David Bacon's experience as a union organizer and his world-wide contacts in the Labor community makes him uniquely qualified as a journalist specializing in issues and concerns of working people. He covers a broad range of labor news and issues locally, nationally and globally. See David's web site at http://dbacon.igc.org

Every Friday
7 PM
Reedley Peace Center holds it weekly peace meeting at the Fellowship Hall at Reedley's First Mennonite Church, 1208 L Street, Reedley. Programs vary, but the focus is always on peace issues: local, state, national, international. The contact is Carol Krehbiel: (559) 637–9098 or ckrehbiel@earthlink.net . The meeting is free, open to the public, and accessible to the handicapped.

Every Saturday
1–2 PM
Food Not Bombs feeds the hungry near the Olive Ave entrance to Roeding Park. If you would like to help us prepare our meal, we meet every Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church (1343 E. Barstow) at 10am. For more information see: http://myspace.com/fresnofnb

For more information on Food Not Bombs you can contact us at fresnofnb@hotmail.com or visit the offical FNB website foodnotbombs.net

Every Saturday
1 PM until the last patient is served
Medical clinic for the homeless, actively injecting drug users, and prostitutes. You can find them near Hughes and Olive Ave. Staffed by Dr. Marc Lasher and volunteers. Accepting financial donations. Contact: 266–0444.

Every Saturday
1–3 PM
Fresno Free Bicycle Repair Clinic. Most Saturdays. Donations of bicycle parts, inner tubes, and blinky lights welcome. Volunteers needed to help with minor repairs. The bicycle clinic is near the Olive Ave entrance to Roeding Park, beside Food Not Bombs. For more info and to arrange donations, e-mail fresnofreebikeclinic@yahoo.com

ONGOING MONTHLY ACTIVITIES/PROGRAMS

1st Sunday of every month
1 - 3 PM
The South Valley Peace Center holds a demonstration for peace at Mooney and Walnut in Visalia.

1st Sunday of every month
3 - 5 PM
Fresno Stonewall Democrats meeting at Java Wava,1940 North Echo across from Fresno High is open to the public. Stonewall Democrats' focus is on social and political issues of interest to progressives in general and progressive and liberal Democrats in particular. For more information contact Jay Hubbell at (559) 292–4905, e–mail fresnostonewall@mangen.com >, or visit the Web site www.mangen.com/stonewall/

3rd Sunday of every month
10 AM–12 Noon
World Meditation Day is observed to promote peace within oneself and harmony in the world. Held at 7319 N Fourth St, Fresno. Program includes guided meditation followed by discussion and light refreshments. Call Veena Kapoor, (559) 435–2212, for more information.

3rd Sunday of every month
1 PM
Humanists of the San Joaquin Valley meet in Room 1 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno, 4144 N Millbrook. For info visit their Web site at www.fresno.humanists.net

2nd Monday of every month
1 PM
The Living Wage Committee will meet at the SEIU 250 office, 1279 N Wishon. For further information see: www.livingwage-fresno.org

3rd Monday of every Month
6:30 PM
California Prison Moratorium Project will meet at the Fresno Center for Non Violence, 1584 N Van Ness. Everyone is invited to attend this meeting. The discussion "Uncaging the Valley" mobilizing a valley wide coalition an exclusive valley focused project. Potluck is encouraged but not required. Upcoming , speakers from the anti prison movement are being scheduled. Call Deb Reyes at 559-916-4370 for more info.

3rd Tuesday of every month
7 PM
The Fresno Free College Foundation (owner and operator of KFCF 88.1 FM) Board of Directors meet at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4144 N Millbrook, Fresno. The public is invited. For more information call (559) 233–2221, e-mail kfcf@kfcf.org , or visit www.kfcf.org

1st Wednesday of every month
12 Noon–1 PM
Women in Black– Silent Vigil at the Fresno County Courthouse entrance. Show your support for PEACE and for negotiated settlements of US current military actions! Meet downtown at the Fresno courthouse, and stand silently, advocating for PEACE. For more info, call 278–7140 or 225–2850.

1st Wednesday of every month
7 PM
The Fresno County Democratic Central Committee meetings are held in the State Building Assembly Room. The address is 2550 Mariposa Ave. Call Steve Haze, Chair – 855-8844 stevehaze@psnw.com or Jay Hubbell, Secretary - 292-4905 / jayhubbell@comcast.net for more information.

1st Wednesday of every month
7:30 PM
Conservation Committee of the Sierra Club Tehipite Chapter at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4144 N Millbrook, Fresno.

3rd Wednesday of every month
6:30 PM
Central California Criminal Justice Committee is meeting at the Fresno Center for Nonviolence, 1564 North Van Ness ( Southeast corner of McKinley and Van Ness).

1st Thursday of every month
ART HOP. For more information contact Maria Franco at mfranco@fresnoarts.org or call (559) 237- 9734.

2nd Thursday of every month
7 PM
Fresno LGBTQ Social Group http://www.gayfresno.com/social/

Carrow's Fresno
1484 E. Shaw Ave
(one block south of Fashion Fair)
Get together and hang out

2nd Thursday of every month
7 PM
Monthly meeting of the Fresno County Green Party, County Council, at the California State Building in downt

Fresno Peace and Social Justice Calendar

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