Events and Trainings worth checking out

So I have lots of information to share today, there are so fabulous events and trainings going on this city. A few of these are today but others are in the next few weeks!

These folks below are happy because they are out and involved, why not you?

The Middle East: The Recent Past, the Likely Future, and the Challenges Facing the New Administration An Evening with Imad Mostepha, Syrian Ambassador to the US and Edward Peck, Former US Ambassador and Middle East Expert Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 7:00 PM; Registration begins at 6:15 PM Location: University of Washington: Kane Hall 220 (Seattle) What is the future of Iraq as the U.S. elects a new administration? What is Syria’s role in advancing peace and security in the region, and what are the impacts of Syria’s recent peace efforts? Is a U.S. war with Iran inevitable, or is there still room for diplomacy? To register please call 206-441-5910 or visit http://www.world-affairs.org/calendar.cfm

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Seattle Public Forums on the Digital TV Transition featuring FCC Commissioner JONATHAN ADELSTEIN Thurs. Oct 23, 6-7:30pm at Asian Counseling and Referral Service (3639 Martin Luther King Way S, Seattle) * with Congressman Jim McDermott * or Thurs, Oct 23, 3-4:30pm at Seattle Downtown Library info: http://www.reclaimthemedia.dtv/

Digital Television is coming soon. On Feb. 17, 2009, all over-the-air broadcast TV will switch to a new digital format. Millions of viewers will need to install a special digital DTV converter box in order to keep watching free TV. Now is the time to get the information you need to make the switch. Who will be affected by the transition? If your TV is more than two years old, and is connected to an antenna instead of cable or satellite, you will need a digital TV converter box. What do I need to do to get ready? Order a free coupon from the government, good for $40 off the price of a DTV converter box (most boxes cost between $40 and $80). Order coupons online at http://www.dtv2009.gov/ or by calling 1-888-DTV-2009. Get your coupon as soon as possible it will take three weeks for the government to respond. Also, order an extra coupon even if you don't need it they're free (limit 2 coupons per household). You can donate your extra coupons to elders, shut-ins, group home residents, prisoners or others who may have special difficulty time preparing for the Feb. 17 transition. How can I get more information? Attend a public meeting on Oct. 23, when FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein will come to Seattle to answer our questions about the transition (details above). News and information about the DTV transition, links to the best online resources, and media-related issues and events in the Seattle area, can be found at http://www.reclaimthemedia.org/dtv. Call 1-888-DTV-2009 with any questions about coupons or the Feb. 17 DTV transition. -

Earshot Jazz Festival 2008 at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center http://www.earshot.org/ :: (206) 547-9787 http://www.earshot.org/Festival/festival.html

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - 8 PM Priester's Cue / Hadley Caliman Quartet For over half a century Julian Priester has worked in a broad range of musical settings, from Muddy Waters to Herbie Hancock to Sun Ra. The trombone legend is accompanied here by pianist Dawn Clement, drummer Byron Vannoy, and bassists Geoff Harper. Sharing the bill is the tenor saxophone great, Hadley Caliman. $14 general Special Email Promotion: Save $4/ticket, buy online3 <http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producerevent/42933?prod_id=9678> , discount code = Jazz_at_Hughes

Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - 8 PM Peter Apfelbaum & New York Hieroglyphics featuring Abdoulaye Diabate Apfelbaum's tentet performs the original piece Aural Histories, composed with a Chamber Music America/Doris Duke Charitable Foundation grant. In each of the piece's sections, a band member improvises over a composed background while Malian griot Abdoulaye Diabate sings a narrative of that particular musician's life. Not to be missed! $18 general Special Email Promotion: Save $4/ticket, buy online4 <http://www.brownpapertickets.com/producerevent/42935?prod_id=9678> , discount code = Jazz_at_Hughes

Invitation to Bobbie and Jerome from the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center Runs now through October 26 The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center presents the world premiere production of Bobbie and Jerome, by Daniel W. Owens. Set in the stone yard of a gothic Harlem cathedral, this drama opens a lens into the lives of two men struggling to save the Stone Yard and settle a past score. Directed by Jacqueline Moscou. Tickets $15-$24 Special HALF PRICE Earshot Jazz Discount: buy online5 <http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/43790> , discount code = Jazz_at_Hughes

http://www.earshot.org/Festival/festival.html

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Local Female Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Speak at Community Cinema LIONESS event at SIFF Cinema – The new documentary, LIONESS, screens for free at SIFF Cinema this Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM (doors at 2:00 PM). The film will be followed by a discussion featuring Lourdes E. "Alfie" Alvarado-Ramos, Deputy Director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and Jan Buchanan, Women Veterans Program Manager for VA Puget Sound. Female soldiers from the 4th Stryker Brigade at Fort Lewis will also share their personal stories. On the Federal side, a benefits expert from the VA Puget Sound Health Care System Women's Clinic will be tabling in the lobby to help local vets on a more personal basis. Students from the UW ROTC will also be on hand to answer questions. SIFF Cinema is located in the Nelsholm Family Lecture Hall on the lower level of Marion Oliver McCaw Hall at Seattle Center in the heart of Seattle's theatre district.

LIONESS, a new film by Meg McLagan and Daria Sommers, tells the untold story of a group of female Army support soldiers who became the first women in American history to be sent into direct ground combat. These women are rarely —if ever— mentioned in news accounts of those battles. Community Cinema Seattle was named "Best Film Series In Seattle" by Seattle Metropolitan magazine in July 2008, and we're still 100% free. PLEASE INCLUDE IN YOUR Special free screening of LIONESS with discussion WHEN: Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 2:30 PM (doors at 2:00 PM) WHERE: SIFF Cinema, 321 Mercer Street (McCaw Hall) Seattle, 98109 WHO: ITVS, KCTS, KBCS FM, SOCR, WA VA, VA, & SIFF HOW: Free. For more information visit http://communitycinema.org/ ___________________________________________________

2008 Latino Community Fund Summit Working across sectors (business, academic, government and non-profit) to strengthen community leadership The Latino Community Fund (LCF) in partnership with WA State Commission on Hispanic Affairs (CHA) and the University of Washington College of Education Invite you to the 2008 Latino Community Fund Summit Working across sectors (business, academic, government and non-profit) to strengthen community leadership Saturday October 25th, 2008 8:00 am to 2:30 pm Spirit of Washington Event Center 233 Burnet Ave. S Help to guide cross-sector efforts in: 1. Early Childhood Education and Childcare 2. Criminal Justice 3. Education 4. Employment/Job Training 5. Healthcare 6. Housing 7. Immigration 8. Safe and Healthy Communities Time and space are running out. Do not get left behind! Hurry and register! http://www.latinocommunityfund.org/summit08/ ________________________________________________ .

...VOTE, THEN WHAT? YOU ARE INVITED TO TWO CONVERSATIONS WITH CYNTHIA MCKINNEY 12 YEAR CONGRESSWOMAN, LEADER OF THE 2008 GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL TICKET AND ADVOCATE FOR A BLACK LED RECONSTRUCTION PARTY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26TH 3 PM UMOJAFEST PEACE CENTER 2314 E SPRING ST (JUST EAST OF THE 23RD AND UNION POST OFFICE) Strategies for community organizing, greening and reconstruction: What do we do the day after the election? MONDAY, OCTOBER 27TH 11 AM BROADWAY PERFORMANCE HALL AT SEATTLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (HOSTED BY THE BLACK STUDENT UNION) The power of student movements for change: How to use your campus as a tool to change the world! votetruth08.com legacy.runcynthiarun.org mckinney2008.com rosaclemente.com aahmcc.org *Power To The People Campaign *Green Party *Umojafest Peace Center *SCCC Black Student Union *Lagniappe Caravan/Seattle Common Ground *The Organizer Newspaper *AAHM&CC _______________________________________________________ LADIES FIRST, NOVEMBER 1, 2008 @Hidmo (20th & Jackson) 8pm - open mic // 9pm – features * INVINCIBLE (Detroit, IL) * GOOD SISTA/BAD SISTA (Portland, OR) * CRISTINA ORBE * DJ B-GIRL More information on artists: http://www.emergencemusic.net/bgirlmedia.com http://www.myspace.com/goodsistabadsista http://www.myspace.com/cristina http://www.cristinaorbe.com/ For more information about Ladies First: http://www.cara-seattle.org/ladiesfirst.html http://myspace.com/seattleladiesfirst * For more information about Hidmo Entertainment: http://www.hidmo.org/ __________________________________________________

Training of Trainers What: Popular Education Methodology Where: Camp Brotherhood Mt. Vernon, WA When: Thurs, 11/13/08 - Sun, 11/16/08 Training of Trainers Institute in Washington This TOT Institute prepares people to design and lead engaging and interactive workshops and presentations which support efforts to reduce economic inequality. It is right for you if you are: An educator, activist, organizer, trainer, or teacher seeking to improve your skills in designing, leading, or facilitating workshops and presentations; Engaged in raising awareness & moving people into action for economic justice and want to learn from others and share what you know. This Institute will give you the opportunity to: Practice designing presentations, workshops, activities and materials that will engage, teach, and motivate your audiences; Practice and receive constructive feedback on how to lead, facilitate, & manage participatory activities & discussion; Network and build movement and solidarity with others working for economic justice. Schedule and Program: Participants should arrive at Camp Brotherhood on Thursday, November 13, between 3:00 and 5:00 pm; the program begins after dinner on Thursday and concludes after lunch on Sunday. Sessions will be conducted in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings in English and Spanish. Breaks will be provided during the day to allow participants to relax, catch their breath, and network with other participants. The program includes: Exploration of key principles and practices of popular education; Time for small teams of participants to plan and practice presentations and activities that they've brought with them; Opportunity for constructive feedback; Sessions on how to respond to challenging questions and difficult participants; Problem-solving discussions on how to adapt popular economics education workshops and materials for your communities; Demonstrations of activities from UFE workshops. Portions of the program, including practice presentations and feedback, will be conducted in separate Spanish and English tracks. REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS OCT. 31st Click here to register or e-mail Adrian Boutureira at adrian@faireconomy.org or call 617-423-2148 x118. Scholarships are available (must complete registration first) for participants representing community and grassroots organizations with limited financial resources. We also welcome contributions and sponsorships from well-funded organizations and individuals to help facilitate the participation of less well-funded groups. Follow the link below and be sure to select for your donation to go toward the Training of Trainers Institute. http://www.faireconomy.org/tot/waes08

Volunteer in New Orleans, Volunteer in Seattle :)

Hey Hey, hope folks are having excellent mornings with the sunshine and all. Below are two opportunities to volunteer... mostly outside and to make a difference in communities that need help.

Hands On New Orleans is a very cool organization that works with volunteers to support disaster response efforts and meet community needs as a result of hurricanes that have hit the gulf coast, check them out!

Volunteer with Hands On New Orleans Greetings from Hands On New Orleans!Hands On New Orleans inspires and motivates people to meet critical community needs, by encouraging active citizenship through meaningful service. Since March 2006, Hands On New Orleans has engaged over 10,000 volunteers in service activities throughout the city of New Orleans.Hands On New Orleans continues to house up to 40 visiting volunteers a night, in a city still recovering from the nation's worst natural disaster. We have immediate availability through the middle of December for visiting volunteers. Volunteers are provided with three meals a day and internet access. We ask our volunteers to contribute $25/night towards our housing program (a fraction of the cost of a hotel). We also help to connect you with important volunteer efforts in the city. Volunteers have been a critical part of the recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast and will continue to lead the recovery moving forward. Come be a part of revitalizing a great American city!For more information, please visit our website at www.handsonneworleans.org or contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Heidi Mallis, at volunteer@handsonneworleans.org.

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If you are looking to do environmental service, the Seattle Parks and Rec organize great volunteer parties where you can work at all different sites in Seattle doing park restoration, ivy removal, beach clean up etc. just to name a few. It is a great opportunity to meet like minded folks that like to volunteer and they have events almost every weekend!

Seattle Parks and Recreation Opportunities for environmental service abound! Please visit the Seattle Parks and Recreation website for a full listing of community work parties in your neighborhood:http://www.seattle.gov/parks/volunteers/workparty.htm

Politics,debating and cool community stuff

Ok dok, its been a crazy week, lots of exciting political action on the local, state and federal level. If you want to check out more about candidates for all elections, check out the Secretary of State's website on elections where you can see the a video voter's guide and the online voter's pamphlet, pretty nifty! http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/2008.aspx
You can also check the status of your voter registration and watch some cool videos including instructions for how to run for office. Get involved!

Don't be Speechless in Seattle.

Come on, that's lame!

If you want to get involved a different way and learn about the Seattle Non-profit community, there is the idealist.org career fair next week, check it out:

*WEDS OCT 22, 11 am - 3 pm, at Seattle University,Campion Hall Building, 914 East Jefferson Street, mainentrance via East James, Seattle; Please join us for theIdealist.org NONPROFIT CAREER FAIR. Our nonprofit careerfairs are a place for everyone who wants to make adifference in the world (including recent undergraduate or grad school students, experienced nonprofit professionals,and those wishing to transition to a nonprofit career fromother sectors) and we encourage you to consider the widerange of opportunities to move forward in your nonprofitcareer. To register, free for jobseekers info including schedule, directions, anda list of registered organizations, http://snipr.com/seattlecf or idealist.org

Some other interesting events coming up this weekend and they early part of next week that will energize you and give you the opportunity to learn something new are:

**SAT OCT 18, 9:30 pm, at Cinerama, Seattle; LangstonHughes African American Film Festival is proud to be theCommunity Copresenter of Noah's arc: Jumping the Broom,Dir. Patrick Ian Polk (US 2008 102 min), part of the 13thAnnual Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Picking upwhere Logo's landmark African-American ensemble televisionseries left off, Alex, Ricky, and Chance join Noah and hispartner Wade on a cross-country trip for Noah and Wade'swedding on Martha's Vineyard. Instead of a weekend ofrevelry, secrets and lies are exposed, hearts arechallenged, and friendships are turned upside down. Asassy, sexy look at the lives of a CLOSE-KNIT QUARTET OF GAY MEN who discovered their real family when they foundeach other. info http://www.threedollarbillcinema.org/

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**MON OCT 20, 7 - 9 p.m., at Kane Hall, Room 130,University of Washington, Seattle; Free, but advanceregistration is requested. UW Forum on the FINANCIALCRISIS: How Did We Get Here, and What Does it Mean?Panelists include: Richard Bennion - Executive VicePresident and Residential Lending Director, HomeStreetBank; Alan Hess - Professor, Foster School of Business;Lew Mandell - Visiting Professor, Foster School ofBusiness; Dick Zerbe - Professor, Evans School of PublicAffairs; Eric Zivot - Professor, Economics. Steve Scher -KUOW Host. Registration and info 206-543-0540 or 1-800-AUW-ALUM
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TUES OCT 21, and subsequent 3rd Tuesdays, but pleaseconfirm, 6 - 8 p.m., at Boards & Commissions room, FloorL2, City Hall, 600 4th Avenue, downtown Seattle; PublicMeeting on POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY held by the Office ofPolice Accountability Review Panel (OPARB), info 206-684-8146 or opareviewboard@seattle.gov, Listen to meetings inprogress on the Boards & Commissions Listen 206-684-4718

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TUES OCT 21, 7:30 pm, at Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8thAvenue at Seneca Street, Downstairs, enter on Seneca,Seattle; Antonia Juhasz on 'THE TYRANNY OF OIL.' Aleading expert on international trade and finance, AntoniaJuhasz is a fellow with Oil Change International and theInstitute for Policy Studies. Author of The Bush Agenda,Juhasz returns to Town Hall to talk about her upcomingbook, The Tyranny of Oil: the World's Most PowerfulIndustry, and What We Must Do To Stop It. Presented by theTown Hall Center for Civic Life, with Elliott Bay BookCompany. Tickets $5 available athttp://www.brownpapertickets.com/, 800-838-3006 and at thedoor beginning at 6:30. Town Hall members receive priorityseating. info http://www.townhallseattle.org/

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Also, an interesting TV show worth tuning in for on the local community access channel:

TUES OCT 21, and subsequent 3rd Tuesdays, 6 - 6:30 pm, onSCAN, the Seattle Community Access Network TV, cablechannels 77 (Comcast) and 29 (Millennium) and streamingvideo at http://www.scantv.org/ ; The Abe Keller PeaceEducation Fund is sponsoring a new cable program seriesentitled THINK PEACE: PEACEMAKING IN A TROUBLED WORLD.This month's program TBA. Sponsored by American FriendsService Committee in collaboration with the Abe KellerPeace and Education Fund. [confirmed 10/10/07]

And for those of you who have kids and want to learn how to talk with your children about multiculturalism, which is super important, check out:

SUN OCT 19, and subsequent 3rd Sundays, 1 - 3:30 pm,email for location and agenda; P.E.A.R. PRESCHOOLEDUCATORS AGAINST RACISM. How to teach young children toreject bias and embrace differences requires deep study andreflection of our own teaching practices. Are you trulylistening to children? Come join this conversation. infoMollypeach@hotmail.com [added 5/22/05]

Rainy, Wack Economy, Debates, Non-profits and Volunteering

Howdy,

Everything in the title is actually in this blog post.... wild I know, read on.....

Tommorrow is the second presidential debate starting a 6p.m. PST. A couple of places to watch the debates that I know of are: Shoot me an e-mail if there are some other places I should let people know about!

The Moe Bar- Debate watch party -The second Presidential debate, with Washington Bus group for a party at Moe Bar (next to Neumo's in Capitol Hill).at Moe BarTue, October 7th at 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Montlake Ale House- this is more of an organic and rowdy debate crowd, but definitely watching and enjoying the debate.

This has been a supercrazy week with the stock market and the world economy so it is a great time to learn from some folks in the community about the economy and your options. Check this out:

"IN THIS ECONOMY" Thursday, October 9, 7:00 PM Not A Number Gifts and Cards, 1905 N. 45th St, Wallingford Author Michael Tivana and Bob Xavier, a financial advisor are offering a free presentation on the economy. We live in a money-centric society and how money as we know it is changing, How do we chart our way through these turbulent times and keep our heads above water? This talk will be for people wanting to survive the looming economic crash. Free
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SIMPLICITY GATHERING: "MONEY, HAPPINESS, AND SIMPLICITY" Monday, October 20, 2008, 7:30-9:00 PM St. John United Lutheran Church, 55th & Phinney across from zoo Facilitated by Cecile Andrews: What is the source of human happiness, and what role does money have to play? The economy's troubles have many of us focusing even more on what's important to us while rejecting the false palliatives of consumerism and spending. cecile@cecileandrews.com, http://www.cecileandrews.com, http://www.phinneyecovillage.net
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And if your life is feeling crazy because of the economy, maybe you want a job in the non-profit world. If you are looking for a job in the non-profit world or you want to learn about non-profits, this is a great fair to check out!

Idealist.org Non-Profit Career Fair at Seattle University

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 from 11am-3pm. This event will take place in the Campion Hall Building at 914 E. Jefferson Street.To register (it's free for jobseekers), and for more details including schedule, directions, and a list of registered organizations, please go to: http://www.idealist.org/fairs Please note that not all organizations at the fair will have job openings on that day. Some will have jobs, while others will have internships and volunteer opportunities. Our nonprofit career fairs are a place for everyone who wants to make a difference in the world (including recent undergraduate or grad school students, experienced nonprofit professionals, and those wishing to transition to a nonprofit career from other sectors) and we encourage you to consider the wide range of opportunities to move forward in your nonprofit career. There are two great FREE workshops preceding the event:Meaningful Work for Experienced Adults: Considering a Nonprofit Encore Career?(Monday, October 20, 2008, 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Seattle University Student Center Room 160)http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Event/107365-96Making the most of the Seattle Idealist Nonprofit Career Fairhttp://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Event/107215-149
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Here is a really cool event that is bringing folks together to build community and develop leadership, two of my favorite things! I am planning to go for sure!

2008 Latino Community Fund Summit
Are you ready to make a difference in the Latino community? Are you ready to connect with and be part of Latino community and leadership? Are you ready to find cross-sector solutions to improve the lives of all Washingtonians?
The Latino Community Fund (LCF) in partnership with WA State Commission on Hispanic Affairs (CHA) and the University of Washington College of Education invite you to the:

2008 Latino Community Fund Summit
Working across sectors (business, academic, government, and non-profit) to strengthen community leadership.

Saturday Oct. 25th, 2008
8:00am to 2:30pm

Spirit of Washington Event Center
233 Burnet Ave. S
Renton, WA 98055
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This is a cool opportunity to volunteer in the U-district. Help young adults through art, you could have a big impact working with folks a bit younger than you. Definitely check it out.

Sanctuary Art Center
The Sanctuary Art Center is a non-profit art studio serving homeless youth and young adults ages 13-25 in the University District. The center operates five days a week and offers programs in Visual Arts, Theater and Music. Programs are instructed by professional and amateur artists from local community. The focus of our instruction is on creating meaningful relationships with the youth we serve as they are guided through the art making process. Most of the youth whom participate in our programs have experienced significant mental and or physical trauma. The programs we offer give youth an outlet for creative expression by which they can begin to create safety and meaning back into their lives.
We are looking for people to be volunteers for our drop in program. Volunteers are expected to come to the art center at least twice monthly for a school year. While here volunteers are responsible to help, instruct, and inspire youth in a variety of art mediums and music. Volunteers are also here to form positive adult relationships with the youth that utilize the art center.
Volunteers can choose from Tues 9am-12pm; Thurs 9am-12pm; Fri 4:30pm-7:30pm; Sat 10am-1pm
Contact: Adam Pierce
206.522.6256
volunteer@sanctuaryartcenter.org
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