In the Community from ACEH March 21

 

From the Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony

In the Community: March 21, 2011

 

"Preservation of one's own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures." … César Chávez, 1927-1993), U.S.-born farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist, cofounder with Dolores Huerta of the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers.

Herb and Ann

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

CULTURAL PERFORMANCE GROUP NEEDED FOR SISTER CITY DELEGATION

The Holland International Relations Commission (IRC) is seeking a community cultural performance group to accompany an official City delegation to travel to Holland's Sister City of Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico, June 2-5, 2011, for the 4^th Foreign Communities Festival.  Lodging, local transportation, and meals in Mexico will be provided by the host Sister City; flight travel arrangements and costs are the responsibility of the group.  Performances can be musical, theatre, dance, etc.  Deadline to apply is Wed, April 6, at 5 pm.  For information, contact Al Serrano or Erin Nyholt at (616) 355-1322; a.serrano@cityofholland.com The two cities have had a very friendly, open, and prosperous relationship since 1966, with over 80 cultural, educational, governmental, and business exchanges.

 

 

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TODAY, Mon, Mar 21, 2 pm: Peacemaker and author Mark Braverman speaks on "The Path to Peace in Israel/Palestine: A Jewish American Journey."   Braverman has family roots in Israel/Palestine and is cofounder of Friends of Tent Nations North America, a nonprofit that supports Palestinian land rights and peaceful co-existence.  At CRC Headquarters, 2850 Kalamazoo, SE, Grand Rapids.

 

Tues, Mar 22, 6 pm: Housing Workshop Series: "How to Purchase a Foreclosed Home."   Pre-registration requested, but walk-ins are welcome.  Contact Erin Nyholt at e.nyholt@cityofholland.com or call 355-1328 with your name, phone, email, and workshops you will be attending.  At Holland City Hall training room, 2^nd floor, 270 South River, Holland.

 

Wed, Mar 23, 3 pm: Professionals of Color Lecture Series: "Speaking of Faith: Interfaith Dialogue in the 21^st Century," by a panel of religious leaders and scholars, including Sheldon Koppel, Brad Schoeberle, Jerome T. Glen, Ghazala Munir, and Fred Stella; facilitated by Charles Honey, religion editor at the Grand Rapids Press.  Interactive discussion follows panelists' dialogue.  Free, open to public.  Parking available in Lot K.  Sponsored by several offices at Grand Valley State University.  Call (616) 331-2177 or oma@gvsu.edu  At GVSU, Grand River Room, Kirkhof Center, Allendale.

 

Fri, Mar 25, 8 am-11:30 am: Annual Forum of Partners for a Racism-Free Community: "Expect Equality."  Focused on institutional racism, with interactive sessions led by facilitators from ERAC/CE (Eliminating Racism and Claiming/Celebrating Equality) of Kalamazoo.  $35.  Register online in West Michigan Strategic Alliance article on www.wm-alliance.org  At Goei Center, 818 Butterworth St, SW, Grand Rapids.

 

Sun, Mar 27, 5 pm-8:30 pm: 4^th annual "Strike Out Domestic & Sexual Violence" Bowling Tournament to benefit the DELTA Project.  Register by March 21; $50 per bowler.  Prizes, 50/50 cash raffle, more.  Contact Lesley Coghill, (616) 494-1741 or Lesleyc@aplaceforwomen.org  DELTA Project works to prevent dating violence and domestic violence by educating teens and adults about healthy relationships, respect, communications, and how bystanders can help; collaborative program of Lakeshore Alliance Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the Center for Women in Transition.  At Century Lanes, 478 E. 16^th St, Holland.

 

Thurs, Mar 31, 4 pm:  Annual César Chávez Lecture: "Children in the Fields—Sowing the Seeds of Change," by keynote speaker Norma Flores López, director of the Children in the Fields Campaign with the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP).  Sponsored by Hope College Dean for International and Multicultural Education, Office of Multicultural Education, Phelps Scholars Program, and La Raza Unida.  ome@hope.edu  At Hope College Maas Auditorium, Columbia Ave at 11^th St, Holland.

 

Thurs, Mar 31, 6 pm: "Raising Culturally Aware Youth," presented by Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance; exploring "how unconscious assumptions can influence the way we interact with people and how that influences our youth."  Part of Parenting for a Lifetime Series, sponsored by the Sop Child Abuse and Neglect Council and partner agencies and collaboratives.  RSVP to jleeson@pathwaysmi.org  At Second Reformed Church of Zeeland, 225 East Central Ave, Zeeland.

 

Thurs, Mar 31, 6 pm: Community Action House Poverty Simulation, in partnership with Latin Americans United for Progress and 70 times 7 Life Recovery: "An interactive experience to help you understand the realities of poverty.  With a new identity and a limited budget, you will try to acquire basic necessities and maintain housing during the course of four 15-minute 'weeks.'  A debriefing period follows to give you the opportunity to share your experiences and discuss what you learned about the lives of people in poverty."  RSVP to Rachel Ahee before Mar 31 at (616) 738-1170 x 124 or rahee@communityactionhouse.org.  Participation limited to first 75 respondents.  Sponsored by Chemical Bank.  At Midtown Center, 2^nd floor auditorium, 96^th West 15^th St, Holland.

 

COMPUTER CLASSES

Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP) will offer a new round of computer classes beginning the week of March 28.  Classes meet once a week for six weeks (2 ½ hours in length): Basic Computer Skills, Mondays 9 am to noon or 6 to 9 pm.  Advanced Class meets Wednesdays 9 am to noon.  LAUP's computer training in part of its overall employment training program, Steps to Success, which also includes GED preparation and English as a Second Language classes.  $10 donation requested but not required.  Must register at (616) 392-5058.  At LAUP Computer Lab, Midtown Center, 16^th St and Pine Ave, Holland.

 

EXHIBIT

NOW through Apr 25, M-F, 9 am-5 pm:  "330 Million Faces: Meeting Hindu's Deities," part of Culture of India Festival taking place in late March and in April.  Exhibit, on loan from Grand Valley State University, features 25 pieces of Indian art, including miniature court life paintings, sculptures of deities, and folk art from Indian villages.  Sponsored by Brooks Family Fund and Pat Sax.  For more information on the Festival, contact (269) 857-2399 or info@sc4a.org  At Bertha Krueger Reid Exhibition Hall, Saugatuck Center for the Arts, 400 Culver St, Saugatuck.

 

 

COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY

On Saturday, May 21, Holland's International Relations Commission will hold the community's third annual festival "Celebrating Our Multicultural Connections."  The free family event, to be held in Kollen Park on Lake Macatawa, will have entertainment, ethnic food booths, and children's activities from 11 am to 4 pm.  If you are interested in performing a cultural piece (dance, martial arts, vocal/instrumental performance, storytelling, etc.; maximum of 30 minutes), providing a children's activity booth, or sponsoring part of the event, please contact Erin Nyholt at e.nyholt@cityofholland.com or call 355-1321 by Wednesday, March 30 (extended deadline).