Houston Democrats

Today, 2pm - Art for Life's Sake: An Evening of Music, Poetry, Dance, and Fine Art

"Art for Life's Sake: An Evening of Music, Poetry,
Dance, and Fine Art"

Benefiting the Mayor's State of Emergency Task Force
Against HIV and AIDS

Saturday July 16, 2005
@ the Historic Eldorado Ballroom
2310 Elgin @ Dowling

Doors open for art viewing at 2 p.m.
Event/Performances begin at 6 p.m.
Auction closes at 9:30 p.m.

Confidential HIV Testing Available

Refreshments provided Courtesy of Niko Niko's and This
Is It

Over 100 Artworks from emerging and established
artists nationwide will be showcased

Performances include members of the Houston Poetry
Slam Team, Poetess Marie Brown, Members of the
Blackout Arts Collective, Jazz Band Signature, Dance
performances & more!

July 19, 7pm - Houston Kickoff Party for Campaign for a National Majority

Houston Kickoff Party
for
Campaign for a National Majority

Tuesday, July 19
7:00pm

At the home of Kathy Dreyfus and Jim Grotta
4555 Elm Street, Bellaire, Texas

Invited speaker:
Former Congressman Nick Lampson

Light refreshments will be served.

Please RSVP by Thursday, July 14 to Elizabeth Cohen at 713-664-5055 or Courtney Weiner at weiner@nationalmajority.org. If you have any questions about the organization or the event, please contact Courtney Weiner at weiner@nationalmajority.org or 646-825-0319.

Though the organization appreciates donations, this event is not a fundraiser.

Campaign for a National Majority is a pragmatic political action committee that supports Democratic candidates for State Executive offices across the country. Our candidates are viable in tough races and show promise as contenders for progressively higher offices. Our goal is to build a "farm team" of Democrats who can win statewide and national elections. It is no secret that governors consistently make the best presidential candidates. The best governors are typically elected from other State Executive offices, such as lieutenant-governor or attorney-general. We believe that a focus on winning state executive elections for Democrats is one of the best ways to strengthen the party in the long run. CNM is a registered 527. Please visit www.nationalmajority.org for more information.

Updcoming events from Houston Peace & Justice Center:

Unless otherwise noted, all the listed events are free and open to the public.

REGULAR VIGILS

Weekday sunrise vigil for peace. Live Oak Friends Meeting continues this vigil beginning half hour before sunrise at its meeting house, 1318 West 26th St. Monthly vigil opposing the death penalty. Amnesty International Group 23 holds this vigil on the first Wednesday of each month. 6-7:15 p.m. at the Mecom Fountain (where Montrose and Main meet).

Monthly walking meditation for peace sponsored by the Department of Peace Campaign - Houston Chapter. Participants will walk 20-30 minutes, and then enjoy a simple tea ceremony. Location varies. Suspended during July and August, but resuming September 17 at 6 p.m. as part of International Peace Week observance. For more information, call Carondelet Dember, 713/522-7279.

Death watch vigils. These are held from 5:30-6:20 p.m. on the day of each state execution. Currently the vigils are being held at St. Stephens Episcopal, 1805 W. Alabama. For upcoming execution dates, contact Lynn Furay at 713/726-1266, lfuray33@sbcglobal.net.

EXHIBITS

Now through August 28

"Unlikely Liberators" is a photographic exhibit documenting the story of Japanese-American soldiers who served their country with honor during WWII, despite prejudice at home, and helped liberate the concentration camps of Europe. Accompanying it is "Sugihara: Japanese Righteous Gentile." Chiune Sugihara was the Japanese ambassador to Lithuania during WWII, and was responsible for saving the lives of thousands of Jews from the Nazis by issuing them exit visas. His story is told with rare documents and artifacts. The exhibits are sponsored by Holocaust Museum Houston and Japan-America Society of Houston, Inc. Viewing is from 9 to 5 during the week and from noon to 5 Saturday and Sunday. The museum is at 5401 Caroline.

COLLECTION OF SUPPLIES

The Pastors for Peace Friendship Caravan to Cuba will come through Houston July 16. From now until then, donations can be brought any time to either the SHAPE Center or the Shrine of the Black Madonna. Needed are medical supplies, medicines, and educational supplies. Suggested items are vitamins, antiseptics, reading glasses, walking canes, wheel chairs, text books (in Spanish and in good condition), pens and pencils. No clothing or food. Blankets or linens must be unused and packaged in their original wraps. For more information, call Gloria Rubac, 713/503.2633 or Ernest McMillan, 713/523.4483. See July 16 below for caravan reception.

EVENTS

Saturday, July 16

Last day to donate supplies to Pastors for Peace's Friendship Caravan to Cuba (see COLLECTION above). There will be a potluck reception to welcome the caravanistas from 3-7 p.m. at the Chancery of St. Dominic, 2403 E. Holcomb just west of Highway 288 (note: this is a change from the El Dorado Ballroom). Enjoy music, African drumming, spoken word, and more. For more information, call Gloria Rubac, 713/503-2633 or Ernest McMillan, 713/523-4483.

Saturday, July 16th

A protest against police brutality will be held in Galveston in front of the Galveston City Hall at 823 Rosenberg (25th) Street from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Progressive Workers Organizing Committee, along with local community activists, is sponsoring this demonstration. Please call 832-692-2306 or 281-935-9248 if you would like more information or need directions.

Saturday, July 16th

There will be an event to support the Service Employees International Union’s (SEIU) Justice for Janitors Campaign with key Houston elected officials, community leaders, and religious leaders. Speakers will include: Janitors, U.S. Rep. Gene Green, State Reps. Jessica Farrar and Senfronia Thompson, Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia, City Council member Adrian Garcia, Richard Shaw with Harris County AFL-CIO, Representatives from ACORN, TMO and other community and religious organizations. This support rally will be held at the St. Anne's Catholic Community Church, Saint Basil Hall, 2140 Westheimer Road at 2 p.m. For more information, visit www.houstonjanitors.org.

Tuesday, July 26

The Rothko Chapel will present guest lecturer Dr. Philip Kreyenbroek, head of Iranian studies at the University of Goettingen in Germany, and leading specialist on the Kurds and the Yezidis of Turkey and northern Iraq. The program is called The Zoroastrian World View and its Echoes in Christianity and Islam and will be held at Rothko Chapel, located at 1409 Sul Ross, beginning at 7:30 p.m. For more information or to RSVP go to www.rothkochapel.org.

Thursday, July 28

The Houston Global Awareness Collective is putting out a call to all activists and concerned citizens to attend a town hall meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Shape Family Community Center located at 3815 Live Oak. There'll be activities and discussion focused on corporate media, militarization, and people power. This event is free and open to the public, although donations are always appreciated. Visit www.HoustonGlobalAwareness.org for more details or call 832/607-0375.

Monday, August 1 - Sunday, August 7

Student/Farmworker Alliance National Encuentro in Immokale, Florida. Join students and youth from around the country for a week of skill sharing, reflection, community-building, trainings, and a two-day national strategy session on the next phase of youth activism after the historic and precedent-setting victory of the Taco Bell boycott. Also informal networking, live music, film screenings, silkscreening, and other hands-on art. Some of the organizations involved are United Students Against Sweatshops, Student-Labor Action Project, Young Workers United, School of the Americas Watch, National Youth and Student Peace Coalition, and the Ruckus Society. To register, call 239/657-8311. To register by mail or to donate, write Student/Farmworker Alliance, P.O. Box 603, Immokalee, FL 34143. For more information, visit www.sfalliance.org.

Sunday, July 31

A Criminal Justice and Prison Issues Forum will be held in Stafford, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Thoreau Unitarian Universalist Congregation, which is located at 3945 Greenbriar in Stafford. Panelists will include Dean Becker, Host, Producer, and Director, Cultural Baggage and the 4:20 Drug War News on KPFT 90.1 FM; Wanda Redding, Program Administrator, Texas Department of Criminal Justice; Paul Kieniewicz, Death Penalty Coordinator, Amnesty International – Houston; and Mary V. Alexander, Texas Inmates Families Association. The moderator will be Dr. John Speer, Co-founder and Teacher, Thoreau UU Creative Writing Workshop Inside the Prison. The general public is invited and light refreshments will be served. Childcare is available with advance reservation. To reserve childcare, leave voice mail for Brenda or Karma at (281) 277-8882 by July 29; please provide parent’s name and names/ages of children. For directions, go to www.tuuc.org or phone 281-277-8882.

Sunday, August 7

The August P-FLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) meeting will focus on vignettes of parents' "coming out". Panelists include Sue Null, Rosemary Cloud, and Bill Taylor. PFLAG meets at St. Paul's Methodist Church, 5501 S. Main St. at Binz in the Museum District from 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Small groups after the program provide an opportunity to discuss issues, concerns, and celebrations in a safe, confidential environment. All are welcome. For more information, call 713/467-3524 or visit www.pflaghouston.org.

Saturday, August 13 - Sunday, August 14

Training near Austin for those committed to establishment of a cabinet-level Department of Peace. Lynn McMullen, national coordinator of the Dept. of Peace Campaign, will be present to update people on the campaign and help attendees develop their local campaigns. The fee of $25 per person includes Saturday night dinner and Sunday continental breakfast. On-site lodging is $35-$50 per room. The workshop runs from noon to noon at the Global Relationships Center in Spicewood in the Texas Hill Country. To register and for more information, call 512/264-3333. Local contact is Kathy Kidd, 713/443-9938, kathykidd@earthlink.net.

Saturday, September 17 - Saturday, September 24

The Decade of Nonviolence-Houston is holding a Peace Week to mark the midpoint of the International 2001-2010 Decade for Building a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World. The week will begin with a conference on Sept. 17 on the Texas Southern University campus (8 a.m.-4 p.m.), and conclude with an awards dinner a week later. In between, the Decade is encouraging other groups and organizations to create peace-themed events throughout the city. For more information and to become involved, contact Carole Keene, 713/398-6785, carolekeene@juno.com or P.K. McCary, perrimac@sbcglobal.net.

Friday, September 24

Save this date for the annual banquet of CAIR-Houston (Council of American Islamic Relations).

September 10 - October 2

The Mahatma Gandhi Library will be sponsoring many programs as a tribute to Gandhi’s birthday. Activities include field trips, story telling, a Darshan exhibition, screenings of the movie “Gandhi”, speech and essay contests, and more. For more details on all the planned events, visit www.gandhilibrary.org or call 832-265-7936.

Sunday, October 23

Yoga for Peace aims to raise awareness that in order to heal the world, we need to start within ourselves by developing compassion, tolerance, respect, non-violence, and love towards ourselves, our fellow human beings, and nature. The event will have diverse speakers on the practical applications and benefits of working towards Inner Peace, as well as follow-up
information from the speakers, music, meditation supplies, t-shirts, and contact information about local Yoga studios. People of all ages are welcome to participate. Noon to 6 p.m. in the Houston Garden Center Auditorium, 1500 Hermann Dr. in Hermann Park (in the rose garden). For more information, contact Roslyn Earle, 281/435-0563, yoga4peace@earthlink.net.

Wednesday, November 16

2005 Power Tools for Nonprofits Conference. This is Houston's premiere training event for nonprofits. Its workshops cover all aspects of organizational work, including board development, fundraising, media relations, and financial management. The binder of materials is by itself always worth the registration fee. 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Reliant Center, f
Two Reliant Pkwy. For more information and registration forms, contact UH's Continuing Education Division, 713/743-1060 or visit www.uh.edu/continuingeducation.

 

Meetings and campaign events from the HCDP calendar (go to the HCDP Calendar for location information):

Sat 7/16

10:00 am-12:00 pm Chris Bell at Sharpstown Democrats Meeting
10:00 am-11:30 am West Houston Democrats Monthly Meeting
9:00 pm-12:00 am Harris County Young Democrats Party


Mon 7/18

6:30 pm-8:30 pm Peter Brown's Summer Celebration
7:30 pm-9:30 pm Fort Bend County Democratic Party
7:30 pm-8:30 pm Reminder Area 5 Democrats Meeting

Tue 7/19

5:30 pm-7:30 pm ROADWomen Meeting
7:00 pm-8:30 pm Katy Area Democrats

Sat 7/23

10:00 am-11:30 am HCDP Clubs and Orgs Meeting
12:30 pm-1:30 pm Oilpatch Democrats "Houston Picnic"

Tue 7/26

6:30 pm-8:00 pm Harris County Young Democrats

Thu 7/28

6:00 pm-8:00 pm Chris Bell Fundraising Fiesta