Friday, Jan. 29th, 7 – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 30th, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 31st, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Participants must commit to attend entire workshop.
$50 deposit required, nonrefundable after Jan. 15, 2010.

Sponsored by the Coalition to Overcome Racism and facilitated by the Peoples Institute for Survival and Beyond, the workshop moves beyond a focus on the symptoms of racism to an understanding of what it is, where it comes from, how it functions, why it persists and how it can be undone. The core of the workshop’s systemic approach emphasizes learning from history, developing leadership, maintaining accountability to communities, creating networks, undoing internalized racial oppression and understanding the role of organizational gatekeeping as a mechanism for perpetuating racism.

$180 early registration, $200 after Jan. 4th. Some scholarships available. We are reserving space for students at half price – $100 – scholarships are available.

Contact Barbara Hayes for registration forms and info, at 423-1626 X105 or barbara@greybird.com.

Duty called Fisk to cover the elections in Iraq, but possible reschedule in September, 2010. Watch for date. Robert Fisk brings incomparable insight, encyclopedic knowledge of history and current events, keen analysis of Western imperialist adventures, engaging story-telling and renowned razor-sharp wit to bear on events in the Middle East.

Fisk has lived in and written about the Middle East for more than thirty years. He is the Middle East correspondent for The Independent of London and the author of five books, including Pity the Nation, Lebanon at War, The Great War for Civilization, The Conquest of the Middle East, and The Age of the Warrior: Selected Writings.

Robert Fisk is the winner of numerous journalism and human rights awards, including the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Prize from the Lannan Foundation.

Ticket prices, time and more information coming soon!

Friday, Nov. 20th, 4-6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 21st, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 22nd, noon – 3 p.m.
First Congregational Church, 900 High St., Santa Cruz

Give gifts this holiday season that support vendors who help create a sustainable economy both locally and globally.

Purchase fair trade, locally made and/or ecologically mindful products from organizations such as: Heifer International, A Greater Gift, Rising International, BeadforLife, Esperanza en Accion, Resource Center for Nonviolence, Homeless Garden Project, Ecuadorean Weavings and many more.

Thursday evenings, Sept. 10, 17 and 24
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., upstairs at the
Resource Center for Nonviolence

David Grishaw-Jones, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Santa Cruz gives an excellent perspective on the counter-culture, radical contribution of Jesus to social change for justice, peace and human rights.Jesus was an inspiration to Cesar Chavez, Dorothy Day, Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and many other key figures in nonviolent movements for social change. But the life and teachings of Jesus are seldom examined outside of a church context, perhaps because of the theological overlay or the hypocrisy of the church that so often contradicts what we understand to be the values, goals and practice of nonviolence.

This study group is intended for the “unChurched,” for non-Christians and secular people as well as Christians who haven’t studied, or would benefit from a refresher course, on the tremendous impact that the life and teachings of Jesus have had on the understanding and practice of active nonviolence. David Grishaw-Jones, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Santa Cruz, will lead this three-week study group. Readings of biblical texts and the perspective of scholars and activists through video presentations will augment discussion. A sliding-scale donation of $15 – $25 is suggested for the series (no one turned away for lack of funds) and includes written materials and supports RCNV’s study series. Preregistration recommended. Contact RCNV at 831-423-1626 or Scott at 831-457-8003.

Wed. Oct. 7, 2009 7:00 p.m.
Vets Hall, 846 Front St., S.C.
Speakers: Stephen Zunes, worldwide authority on the Middle East
and Shamsia Razaqi, just returned from Kabul
Music by the Raging Grannies and Reggae for Peace by Tomas Gomez and Friends
Sliding scale $10 to $25, no one turned away for lack of funds

Oct. 7th marks the 8th anniversary of the day that the U.S. and British launched a military offensive in Afghanistan. President Obama has expanded the U.S. military presence in Aghanistan by 21,000. His military advisors want to send even more troops and there is no exit strategy in sight. What is really needed in Afghanistan? Has the U.S. presence there helped to halt the resurgence of the Taliban or to fuel it? Stephen Zunes will put the conflict in Afghanistan in historical perspective and speak to the issues involved. Shamsia, who works with orphans in Kabul, will talk of the conditions and needs of the civilians. There will be a question and answer period after Stephen’s talk.

Local artist Elijah Pfotenhauer will paint a picture of the event as it occurs, to be sold by auction right after the speeches.

Sponsored by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and the Resource Center for Nonviolence.