The radio show of the Defenders for Freedom, Justice & Equality, "Talk to the Editor," will air today from 2-3pm on WCLM 1450 AM. Your host is Phil Wilayto, editor of the Virginia Defender, and this month's special guest will be Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Detroit-based Pan African News Wire. Azikiwe will speak about the U.S. role in Africa.
The call-in number is 804-231-7685. You can tune in worldwide via this link.
I'm a member of the Defenders, and this is going to be a great show; check it out!
Monday, February 6, 2017
Sunday, February 5, 2017
Friends of Side by Side Fundraiser for LGBTQ Youth at Helen's Restaurant
Sunday, February 19th 2017, from 6-9pm, at Helen's Restaurant (2527 West Main Street, Richmond VA), Friends of Side by Side is holding a fundraiser. Side by Side (formerly ROSMY) is an organization supporting LGBTQ youth locally.
$10 at the door for unlimited beer and pizza (while supplies last). 21+ only. Street parking only.
For more info and to RSVP, see this link.
$10 at the door for unlimited beer and pizza (while supplies last). 21+ only. Street parking only.
For more info and to RSVP, see this link.
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Screening of Ava Duvernay's "13th"
Saturday, February 18th 2017, from 2:30-5pm in Room 1107 of the VCU Academic Leaning Commons (1000 Floyd Avenue, Richmond VA), there will be a screening of Ava Duvernay's documentary film, "13th." From the event description: In this thought-provoking documentary, scholars, activists and politicians analyze the criminalization of African Americans and the U.S. prison boom."
Free, open to the public. The venue is wheelchair accessible with accessible bathrooms.
For more information and to RSVP, see this link. To add this event to your Google Calendar, click here.
Free, open to the public. The venue is wheelchair accessible with accessible bathrooms.
For more information and to RSVP, see this link. To add this event to your Google Calendar, click here.
Friday, February 3, 2017
VALHEN's Encuentro 2017: latinXchange Conference
Friday, March 3rd 2017, from 9am-6pm, at Virginia Commonwealth University (111 West Broad Street, Richmond VA), the Virginia Latino Higher Education Network (VALHEN) is holding their annual latinXchange conference. From the event description:
"Join VALHEN for our Encuentro 2017: latinXchange, our annual conference/meeting to highlight and share the issues affecting our Hispanic/Latino communities, to network with outstanding Latinx professionals and college students, and to foster conversations on important educational issues in the Commonwealth."
You must register to attend. I do not know details of registration costs at this time.
For more info, see this link. Contact Elda Stanco Downey at elda@valhen.org with questions. To add this event to your Google Calendar, click here.
"Join VALHEN for our Encuentro 2017: latinXchange, our annual conference/meeting to highlight and share the issues affecting our Hispanic/Latino communities, to network with outstanding Latinx professionals and college students, and to foster conversations on important educational issues in the Commonwealth."
You must register to attend. I do not know details of registration costs at this time.
For more info, see this link. Contact Elda Stanco Downey at elda@valhen.org with questions. To add this event to your Google Calendar, click here.
Richmond Doula Project Interest Meeting
Monday, February 13th, from 7-10pm, at Studio Two Three (3300 West Clay Street, Richmond VA), the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project's Richmond Doula Project will be holding an interest meeting for people who are interested in full-spectrum doula work for all reproductive outcomes.
The Richmond Doula Project provides free emotional, spiritual, and physical support and education to all pregnant people, no matter the outcome of the pregnancy. For more info, see the link. The Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project is an all-volunteer private abortion fund serving Virginia.
The venue has no stairs and a single-stall unisex bathroom. Childcare and carpool help available upon request. Email doulaproject@rrfp.net with comments or questions.
For more info and to RSVP, see this link.
The Richmond Doula Project provides free emotional, spiritual, and physical support and education to all pregnant people, no matter the outcome of the pregnancy. For more info, see the link. The Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project is an all-volunteer private abortion fund serving Virginia.
The venue has no stairs and a single-stall unisex bathroom. Childcare and carpool help available upon request. Email doulaproject@rrfp.net with comments or questions.
For more info and to RSVP, see this link.
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Showing of "Liberty and Slavery: The Paradox of America’s Founding Fathers"
Thursday, February 16th 2017, from 6:30-8pm, at the Virginia Historical Society (428 North Boulevard, Richmond VA), there will be a screening of the film "Liberty and Slavery: The Paradox of America's Founding Fathers," followed by commentary from the director, Troy Thomas.
Free, open to the public. This event is part of the annual "Created Equal Film Series".
For more info, see this link. To add this event to your Google Calendar, click here.
Free, open to the public. This event is part of the annual "Created Equal Film Series".
For more info, see this link. To add this event to your Google Calendar, click here.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
ART 180's Black Lives Matter Exhibit
Friday, February 3rd, from 5:30-8pm, at the First UU Church of Richmond (1000 Blanton Avenue, Richmond VA), ART 180 will unveil the works of 30 multicultural Richmond artists, which address racial justice and equality.
Free, open to the public.
For more info and to RSVP, see this link.
Free, open to the public.
For more info and to RSVP, see this link.
"Standing Together: One Community, One Nation" with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities
Sunday, February 5th 2017, from 3:30-5pm, at the Islamic Center of Virginia (1241 Buford Road, Richmond VA), the Islamic Center of Virginia, Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, and Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy are holding a solidarity and unity program. From the event description:
"The program will include speakers, testimonies, and calls to action. Note that this is not a political or partisan event, but will focus on our common values and commitment to standing together." The position of solidarity with communities under attack by Trump's administration, like immigrants and Muslims, is itself political, so take this as you will, I'm just relaying it.
Free, open to the public. Free parking is available on site but carpooling is encouraged.
For more information and to RSVP, see this link.
"The program will include speakers, testimonies, and calls to action. Note that this is not a political or partisan event, but will focus on our common values and commitment to standing together." The position of solidarity with communities under attack by Trump's administration, like immigrants and Muslims, is itself political, so take this as you will, I'm just relaying it.
Free, open to the public. Free parking is available on site but carpooling is encouraged.
For more information and to RSVP, see this link.
Doing Political Work: the 3 Things You Need
In the wake of the presidential election, I'm seeing a lot of people at a loss about how to practically do politics. You can protest and petition and appeal to your public representatives alone, but that isn't all you can do.
Broadly speaking, there are three things you need:
1. Politics. What is your ideology? How should the world look? What analytical lens do you bring to the table? What are your goals? What are your principals? Solid politics helps you decide what needs to be done and find a path to action. Without a firm grip of this,
2. Program. Political organizations that want to have a base in their community need to provide something, like a service, for a couple of reasons. It's a way to practice your politics, by making them real in the world. It's a way to gain trust, to prove that you're legitimate and worth joining up with. And it's a way to build your organization; people want to do something when they feel helpless, something that affects the world in a tangible way.
3. Organization. Who does the work of making all this happen? Who decides what to do, and how? How do people join up? Who's answering the phone, storing the supplies, collecting the dues, staffing the office, arranging the carpool?
So to use a famous example, the Black Panther Party for Self Defense had all three of these things. Their politics were revolutionary socialism, Black liberation, anti-imperialism— this was articulated in the Ten Point Program. They had a bunch of programs guided by those politics, among them the neighborhood patrols to protect from racist police and vigilantes and the breakfast program for schoolkids. And finally, they had an organizational structure— a party with elected officials and regional chapters operating in different cities.
Working together is crucial. You can get some things done as an independent actor, but barring extraordinary ability or circumstances, you're most likely to be the most effective if you're working in a group of some kind. Having a base is crucial; historically, the most powerful organizations are the ones based out of workplaces or neighborhoods: unions, block associations, religious congregations, tenant's organizations.
It's hard, but people have done it before.
Broadly speaking, there are three things you need:
1. Politics. What is your ideology? How should the world look? What analytical lens do you bring to the table? What are your goals? What are your principals? Solid politics helps you decide what needs to be done and find a path to action. Without a firm grip of this,
2. Program. Political organizations that want to have a base in their community need to provide something, like a service, for a couple of reasons. It's a way to practice your politics, by making them real in the world. It's a way to gain trust, to prove that you're legitimate and worth joining up with. And it's a way to build your organization; people want to do something when they feel helpless, something that affects the world in a tangible way.
3. Organization. Who does the work of making all this happen? Who decides what to do, and how? How do people join up? Who's answering the phone, storing the supplies, collecting the dues, staffing the office, arranging the carpool?
So to use a famous example, the Black Panther Party for Self Defense had all three of these things. Their politics were revolutionary socialism, Black liberation, anti-imperialism— this was articulated in the Ten Point Program. They had a bunch of programs guided by those politics, among them the neighborhood patrols to protect from racist police and vigilantes and the breakfast program for schoolkids. And finally, they had an organizational structure— a party with elected officials and regional chapters operating in different cities.
Working together is crucial. You can get some things done as an independent actor, but barring extraordinary ability or circumstances, you're most likely to be the most effective if you're working in a group of some kind. Having a base is crucial; historically, the most powerful organizations are the ones based out of workplaces or neighborhoods: unions, block associations, religious congregations, tenant's organizations.
It's hard, but people have done it before.
Rally Against Trump's Supreme Court Nominee
Today, Wednesday February 1st 2017, from 6-7pm, at the Main Street SunTrust Building (919 East Main Street, Richmond VA), ProgressVA is holding a rally to ask Virginia's U.S. senators, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, to reject Trump's Supreme Court nominee.
For more info and to RSVP, see this link.
For more info and to RSVP, see this link.
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