In the Community from ACEH April 23

"Dialogue is the means by which we maintain our focus on the humanity of others, even when, or perhaps especially when, we strongly disagree with their ideas.  Finding commonalities amidst radical difference is a proven strategy for peaceful coexistence among people who largely disagree." … Author Jill Carroll, in "A Dialogue of Civilization," about the contemporary Turkish Islamic teacher, preacher, and scholar Fethullah Gülen.

 

Herb and Ann

This information is provided by the Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony (ACEH).  If you do not wish to receive it in the future, please contact hpweller@comcast.net or editann@aol.com.  Events List is also posted on the ACEH website, www.harmonyalliance.org.

Tues, Apr 24, 7 pm: League of Women Voters forum for West Ottawa school board candidates Jill Cooper, Bill Kangas, and Mike Lacy.  At West Ottawa High School North, 3685 Butternut, Holland.

 

Thurs, Apr 26, 9 am to 2 pm (registration 8:15 am): 3^rd annual "Youth Leading Change" middle school and high school leadership conference, with student-led workshops, Miss Michigan, peer-to-peer networking, networking, live entertainment, food, and fun.  $30 per person for contributing chapters; $45 per person for non-contributing chapters. (248) 706-0757. At Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, 13565 Port Sheldon Rd., Holland.

 

Sat, Apr 28, 8 am: 27th annual Holland-Zeeland CROP Walk to raise money for hunger relief efforts nationally and for several area agencies. Food will be collected for local food banks. Call 396-3445 to register or www.churchworldservice.org and click on CROP Walk link.  Starts at Holland Christian High School, 950 Ottawa Ave., Holland.

 

Sat, Apr 28, 10 am to 5 pm: Public opening of New Dutch Galleries at the Holland Museum, including 55 17^th- to 19^th-century paintings and more than 150 other cultural objects—furniture, Delftware, silver, original Dutch costumes—that show the history of the Netherlands and the Dutch immigrants to this area. Free; refreshments served. At Holland Museum, 31 West 10^th St, across from Centennial Park, Holland.

 

Sun, Apr 29, 2 pm: 27^th annual Holland-Zeeland CROP Walk.  See registration information from Saturday entry above.  Starts at Beechwood Reformed Church, 895 Ottawa Beach  Road, Holland.

 

Thurs, May 3, 7 pm: League of Women Voters forum for Holland school board candidates Susan DeJong, Al Friend, Steve Grose, and Mary Yedinak. At the school administration building (Washington School), Maple Ave at 11^th St., Holland.

 

Fri, May 4, 7 pm: Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony members and friends meet in front of the Holland Civic Center to attend the opening night of Fiesta, sponsored by Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP).  Music by the bands Latino Cuatro from 6 to 8 pm and Cabildo, from 8 to 10 pm; food, too! At Holland Civic Center, Pine Ave between 8^th and 9^th Sts., Holland.

 

Sat, May 5, 9 am to 5 pm: LAUP Fiesta (Un Pueblo, Un Futuro; One People, One Future) continues.  9 am to noon: 2007 Queen and King contest and coronation; noon to 5 pm: varied Latino entertainment, including salsa, tango, mariachi, Caribbean, Tex-Mex, cumbia, and more; ethnic food vendors; lowrider car show; carnival.  At Holland Civic Center, Pine Ave between 8th and 9th Sts., Holland.

 

Sat, May 5 through Sat, May 12: Tulip Time Festival, with three parades, concerts, performances, food booths, children's activities, Klompen dancing, Dutch market, art and craft fair, trolley tours, fireworks, and more.  Check the schedule and locations on the website www.tuliptime.com or in the Holland Sentinel. 1-800-822-2770 or (616) 396-4221.

 

LOOKING AHEAD:

Thurs, May 31, 7:30 pm: The Akapoma Group, featuring traditional music and dance from Ghana, West Africa. Ensemble led by Kwabena Osei Appiagyei, former master musician and Ghana Dance Ensemble, University of Ghana-Legon.  Sponsored by Grand Rapids Sister Cities International.  Tickets $20 (nonrefundable); (616) 245-3815; credit card purchases at (616) 459-2787. At St. Cecilia Music Society, 25 Ransom NE, downtown Grand Rapids.

 

In the Community from ACEH April 17

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." …  Nelson Mandela

 

Herb and Ann

This information is provided by the Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony (ACEH).  If you do not wish to receive it in the future, please contact hpweller@comcast.net or editann@aol.com.  Events List is also posted on the ACEH website, www.harmonyalliance.org.

Our deep sympathy to the families, friends, and people of Virginia Tech this morning.

 

Today, Apr 17, 9 am:  Holland Public Schools district forum on millage renewals and the special education proposal that will be on the May 8 ballot. At Washington School Administration Building, 156 West 11^th St.

 

Today, Apr 17, 7 to 9 pm:  "It's All About Me," conference on self-determination for people with disabilities and their families and caregivers.  Free.  Call 494-9972 or 396-8226.  At First United Methodist Church, 57 West 10^th St., Holland.

 

Thurs, Apr 19, Day of Dialogue. 11 am, speaker Sean Kosoksy, director of policy for the Triangle Foundation.  At Cook Auditorium, Depree Art Center, Columbia at 11^th St., Holland.  4 pm: Hope students share their stories.  At Martha Miller Auditorium, Columbia at 10^th St., Holland.  7:30 pm:  "Rent" sing-a-long.  Fundraiser for Triangle Foundation. $2.  At Knickerbocker Theatre, 86 East 8^th St., Holland.

 

Thurs, Apr 19, 6 pm: Annual fundraising dinner of Core City CDC, with speaker Gene Fisher, educational consultant and founder of the high-achieving Watts Learning Center Charter Public School in California: "Plant a Seed: Grow a Life."  Tickets $45; call 355-0071.  At West Ottawa High School South, 3600 North 152^nd Ave., Holland.

 

Thurs, Apr 19, 6:30 to 8:30 pm: "Plan Now for the Future" informational meeting on transition topics for students and parents of 8^th through 12^th grade students receiving special education services in Holland, Zeeland, and West Ottawa schools.  Mini-sessions on school and community services, job and employer expectations, college advice, self-advocacy.  Free.  At West Ottawa High School North, 3685 Butternut Dr., Holland.

 

Thurs, Apr 19, 7 pm: League of Women Voters forum for Saugatuck School Board candidates Steve Hutchins, Joan Lamb, and Vicki Rosenberg. At Saugatuck High School media center, Saugatuck.

 

Fri, Apr 20, 5:30 to 8:30 pm: Food Fiesta sponsored by Latin Americans United for Progress to raise funds for English as a Second Language (ESL) classes offered by LAUP.  Includes foods of Mexico, Central and South America, Japan, and Russia made by ESL students.  5 food tickets are $1 each; additional tickets 50 cents.  Dance performances also. Call (616) 392-5058 or laup@sbcglobal.net  At Maas Auditorium, Hope College, Columbia and 11^th St., Holland.

 

Sat, Apr 21, 2 pm: Japanese drumming group, Icho Daiko, founded by Roy and Aiko Ebihara of Oberlin, Ohio, parents of Jeff Ebihara of Park Township. Includes 20 members who build their own drums, including shime, chudaiko, and okedo drums.  Mission is to strengthen Asian American communities by instilling pride and cultural awareness and to build bridges between Asian Americans and other groups "through the dynamic cultural expression of taiko."  Sponsored through Hope College.  At Knickerbocker Theatre, 86 East 8^th St., Holland.

 

Mon, Apr 23, 10:30 am:  Rally to protest closing of Bimaadiziwin High School in Grand Rapids, hosted by Dennis Banks, co-founder of American Indian Movement.  Call Levi Rickert, (616) 299-7542 or Deb Muller, (616) 490-2256. At Martin Luther King Park, followed by rally at Grand Rapids Public Schools Administration Building, 1331 Franklin St., SE, Grand Rapids.

 

Tues, Apr 24, 7 pm: League of Women Voters forum  for West Ottawa Public Schools school board candidates Jill Cooper, Bill Kangas, and Mike Lacy.  At West Ottawa High School North, 3685 Butternut, Holland.

 

Thurs, Apr 26, 8:45 am to 1:30 pm: 20^th annual Fair Housing Luncheon and Workshop Series, "Fair Housing—Learning, Working, Thriving, Going Places Together."  Luncheon and workshops, $45; luncheon or workshop only, $30 (see below); discounted rate for students, retirees, unemployed persons, nonprofits.  Call Fair Housing  Center of West Michigan (616) 451-2980 to register; www.fhcwm.org  At Crowne Plaza Hotel, 5700 28^th St SE, Grand Rapids.

 

The Fair Housing Center of West Michigan is offering 25 scholarships to 25 leaders of nonprofits in the Lakeshore area to attend the event described above. Contact  Jorge Gonzalez, (616) 361-5295; jgonzalez@macatawabank.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Community April 9 from ACEH

"Human diversity makes tolerance more than a virtue; it makes it a requirement for survival."… Rene DuBois.

 

Herb and Ann

This information is provided by the Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony (ACEH).  If you do not wish to receive it in the future, please contact hpweller@comcast.net or editann@aol.com.  Events List is also posted on the ACEH website, www.harmonyalliance.org.

Tues, Apr 10, 4:30 pm: "Art in Tibet," by sculptor and art historian Mac Gimse, an expert on the ways that Indian and Tibetan philosophical and religious ideas are expressed in works of art.  At Maas Center conference room, Hope College, Columbia and 11^th  St., Holland.

 

Wed, April 11, 7:30 pm: Disability Awareness Week concert with Ken Medema, a blind singer and keyboardist.  Free.  At Dimnent Memorial Chapel, College Ave at 12th St., Holland.

 

Thurs, Apr 12, 3 pm to 7:30 pm: 12th Annual Housing Fair, sponsored by City of Holland Human Relations Department.  Find out what it takes to buy a home, with information from banks, mortgage companies, realtors, local agencies, and the state housing authority.  Various presentations throughout the day on home purchase topics.  Open to all, free.  At Holland Civic Center, Pine Ave at 8th and 9th Sts.

 

Thurs, Apr 12, 7 pm: Classically trained in piano, Christian artist Fernando Ortega is from a family of weavers and farmers who for generations lived in Chimayo, a small village in Santa Fe; his music celebrates this heritage and "reverence for a tradition of life that is rapidly fading." Check www.freedombaptistschools.org or call (616) 669-2270; tickets $12 to $20. Presented by Freedom Baptist Schools.  At Fair Haven Ministry Center, 2900 Baldwin, Hudsonville.

 

Thurs, Apr 12, 7:30 pm: Gambian musician Alhaji Papa Susso, oral historian and master African harp-lute (kora) player.  He has performed throughout the U.S. and abroad.  Tickets $8 in advance from DeVos Fieldhouse ticket office (616) 395-7890; $10 at the door; $5 for under age 18.  At Park Theatre, 248 South River, Holland.

 

Fri, Apr 13, 7 pm: Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony general meeting.  Jack Hyde, long-time teacher of high school students whose challenges ranged from autism to dyslexia, will speak about his experiences and humanitarian approach to education.  He is author of "Just Another Brick or How I Survived over 8500 School Lunches," and writes a column for the Holland Sentinel and is a humorous and insightful speaker and writer.  Everyone is welcome.  The children's group, UNITY, also will meet.  Call 405-6761; website is www.harmonyalliance.org  At Center for Women in Transition, 411 Butternut, Holland.

 

Sun, Apr 15, 5:30 pm: Community potluck; bring a dish to pass, share ideas, meet new people.  At Leaf and Bean Too, Columbia Ave at 19th St., Holland.

 

Mon, Apr 16, 7 pm: New York Times travel correspondent and author ("Men of  Salt") Michael Benanev and his account of joining a 1000-mile camel caravan from salt mines in the Sahara Desert to the market city of Timbuktu.  Includes slides, reading from his book, observations on the economy and Islamic culture of the area.

At Herrick District Library, River Ave at 12^th St., Holland.

 

COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY: Continuing at the Star Theatre in the WestShore Mall:

"Amazing Grace," the story of William Wilberforce, the 18^th-century member of Parliament who tried to end the British Empire's role in the slave trade.  He "took on all the elder statesmen to bring about real justice in the world."  Rated PG, 123 minutes.  Highly recommended!