[GreenNotes] GreenNotes - 4/9/2008

[Tom Brown]

Please circulate widely. Contact us to include your announcement in 
GreenNotes.

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PROGRESSIVE CALENDAR

* Apr 09 - Town Hall on Obama speech on race relations
* Apr 09 - Barack Obama speaks at Washington High School
* Apr 10 - Save Darfur Campaign
* Apr 12 - Green Michiana Recycling Fair
* Apr 13 - Portage Avenue salon
* Apr 14 - St. Joe Valley Greens meeting
* Apr 18 - Next Step in Math and Science Education
* Apr 18 - Jobs With Justice educational forum
* Apr 20 - Progressive Town Hall
* Apr 21 - Sustainable Michiana study group
* Apr 22 - Bridging the Gap: Reaching Pay Equity in Indiana
* Apr 26 - 3rd Annual Community Forum on Economic Development
* Apr 28 - Earth Day

Ongoing Events:

* YouTube video - GreenTV
South Bend's commemoration of the US's 5th year at "war."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=L5tD-6ZJmSg

* MPJC peace vigil
Mondays, 5-6 p.m.
Jefferson and Main St. South Bend
574-289-2126 or http://www.michianapeacejustice.org.

* South Bend Equality Meeting (gender equality, human rights amendment)
1st and 3rd Monday of each month, 7pm
Unitarian Church on Northshore Blvd in South Bend

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:: TOWN HALL ON BARACK OBAMA'S SPEECH ON RACE RELATIONS

Town Hall Meeting
Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
McKenna Hall Auditorium, University of Notre Dame
 
Please join in a town hall discussion on the recent Barack Obama speech 
on race relations in the United States.

The panelists, including Monica Tetzlaff, Director of the IU South Bend 
Civil Rights Heritage Center, will discuss the historical trajectory of 
race and its implications on "creating a perfect union" in America. How 
far have we come on race relations? Where are we going? Can we create a 
racially united America?

We encourage you to come to this town hall meeting to voice your 
opinions and concerns on the issue.
 
Free and Open to the Public
 
Moderated by:
 
Richard Pierce, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Africana Studies

John Cardinal O'Hara, CSC
Associate Professor, Department of History
University of Notre Dame
 
Sponsored by the Department of Africana Studies, Notre Dame Africana 
Studies Club, the University of Notre Dame, and the Indiana University 
of South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center.
 
http://africana.nd.edu/townhallmeeting.shtml
 
:: BARACK OBAMA SPEAKS AT WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL

Presidential candidate Barack Obama is scheduled to speak at 10 pm this 
evening, April 9, at Washington High School.

The South Bend Community School Corporation once again deprives its own 
students of an opportunity to participate in an historic political event 
by slotting the appearance at 10 pm. Has anyone recently tested the 
water at the SBCSC administration building?

:: SAVE DARFUR CAMPAIGN

Save Darfur Campaign: April 10th 6pm-9pm in room 1001 of Wiekamp Hall
Indiana University South Bend.

Featured will be the documentary "Darfur Now."

This call to action to help end the crisis of genocide in Sudan's 
western region of Darfur uses the struggles and achievements of six very 
different people to bring attention to the situation. Included in this 
group are a UCLA graduate in L.A., a Darfurian woman who joins rebel 
forces, a UN humanitarian in Sudan, and actor and activist Don Cheadle.

We will also have a guest speaker and African drumming group. 
Refreshments will be available for a donation to the Save Darfur 
campaign and a free will donation will be also be accepted.

This program is sponsored by the Political Science Club, American 
Democracy Project, Environmental Justice League, Sustainable Communities 
Committee, and International Programs at Indiana University South Bend. 
For more information, please contact Robin Beck at beck_robin at att.net.

:: GREEN MICHIANA RECYCLING FAIR

A Sustainability Fair: Home, Garden and Road
Saturday, April 12, 10 am - 4 pm, Grille, Administration Building

Learn about innovative local businesses, find local resources for 
increasing the energy efficiency of your home, green decorating tips, 
gardening, and transportation. Try out the commuter bicycles, electric 
cars, and enjoy the live music.

Bring your bags and styrofoam. Find out how to recycle or safely dispose 
of TVs, batteries, paint, and more.

Materials accepted for recycling (Drop off at Administration Building 
cafeteria)

 * Styrofoam packing peanuts: collected April 8 - 12

 * White expanded polystyrene (e.g. white Styrofoam coolers,
   and Styrofoam used to package electronic equipment and
   other products, expanded polystyrene #6; styrofoam plates
   and cups CANNOT be accepted): collected April 8 - 12

 * Plastic Grocery bags (must be clean): collected April 8 - 12

 * Personal home computers will be collected by Free Geek
   Michiana on Saturday. $15 charge for all monitors.

This event is free and open to the public.

* Musical line-up for Green Michiana Fair
  
http://ifweonlyconnect.wordpress.com/2008/03/15/green-michiana-a-sustainability-fair-for-home-garden-and-road/

* Free Geek Michiana
  http://www.freegeekmichiana.org/

:: PORTAGE AVENUE SALON

Dear Friends:

Please come join us this Sunday for a couple hours of friendly 
conversation, good food, & a sense of community here at the Portage Ave. 
Salon (611 Portage Ave.) from 7-9 pm. Please BYO beverage, optional 
veggie-friendly dish to share, & friends.  

Yours, Lily & Karl

:: ST. JOE VALLEY GREENS MONTHLY MEETING

The Greens' next meeting is Monday, April 14, 7:00 pm at IUSB in Weikamp 
Hall, Rm 2187 in the Poli Sci Dept. We will prepare for the upcoming 
national Green Party  Presidential nominating convention, discuss 
political opportunities for Greens in the local 2008 general elections 
and hear reports on non-partisan movement building projects members are 
engaged in. Please join us.

:: NEXT STEP IN MATH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION: OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE

Friday, April 18, 7:45 - 1:45, IU South Bend - The Grill, Administration
Building
This event is sponsored by Indiana University South Bend, Ivy Tech 
Community College, Memorial Health Foundation, NISMEC, University of 
Notre Dame, Saint Mary's College, and Sixma Xi, The Scientific Research 
Society.

Dr. Carlos Castillo-Chavez is the keynote speaker for the event and 
breakout sessions will include topics such as The Needs of Business and 
Industry in a Changing Job Market, Strategies for Change Agents, and 
Technology in the Hood. This event is intended for parents, elected 
officials, community and business leaders as well as for educators. 
There is no registration fee and lunch will be provided. To register for 
the conference or for more information, call 574-520-5524.

:: JOBS WITH JUSTICE EDUCATIONAL FORUM

Friends of Labor and Workers

Come to our educational forum on Friday April 18 at the United Steel 
Workers hall located at 125 S.Hill Street in Mishawaka. The meeting will 
start at 6PM eastern time.

Speakers:

* Joe Carbone Vice President AFL-CIO Central Labor Council and CWA 
Congressional District Coordinator will cover the Working Families 
Agenda, and where do the presidential candidates stand on our agenda?

* Dawn Chapla the Labor Liaison for the AFL-CIO will lead a discussion 
on Health Care. She will discuss the community affects of the changes to 
state rules on Medicare, and what we can do about it.

* Congressman Joe Donnelly's field representative, Peter Gehred

* Audience questions and answers

For further information call 574-292-8137 or RSVP at 
josephcarbone at Yahoo.com

We will be providing food and beverages for the attendees. So if you can 
respond this would help with estimating the amount of food required. If 
you can't come I would be willing to provide this educational material 
to your organization.

For further information contact me at 574-292-8137 or e-mail me at
josephcarbone at Yahoo.com. In solidarity Joe Carbone CWA4900.

:: PROGRESSIVE TOWN HALL

Sunday, April 20, 4 pm to 6 pm
Fiddlers Hearth, downtown South Bend

What, as citizens, can we do to improve our areas education system? We 
pay taxes, some of have kids in school, yet we feel at a loss when high 
dropout rates, gun violence, and overuse of busing take over our lives. 
Come to the Progressive Town Hall to discuss this issue with area 
leaders and educators. This is your opportunity to ask the questions 
you've always wanted to ask and get answers.

If you have any suggestions as to speakers or questions you would like 
addressed, please email me. As usual, I will invite the "people in 
charge," in this case, the superintendents and board members of our area 
schools.

Robin Beck
beck_robin at att.net

:: SUSTAINABLE MICHIANA

The next meeting will be held on Monday April 21st from 7-8:15 p.m. at 
the Jordan International Center at IUSB.  We are studying "The Natural 
Step Story" and exploring how local citizens can apply the successful 
"TNS" approach towards sustainability in our community.
 
The current assignment for attendees is to examine our homes and 
lifestyles and to identify those practices that are sustainable and 
those that are not.
 
The eventual goal is to search for alternatives to unsustainable 
practices and
provide a community resource for these sustainable alternatives in food, 
transportation, building, etc.

:: BRIDGING THE GAP: REACHING PAY EQUITY IN INDIANA

Tuesday, April 22, 1 - 5 PM, Saint Mary's College - Madeleva Hall, 
Carroll Auditorium

This event is sponsored by the Indiana Commission for Women, the U.S. 
Department of Labor Women's Bureau, Saint Mary's College and many local 
organizations, including the Community Forum for Economic Development.

Interactive breakout sessions will focus on:

* Best Practices: How Businesses Can Help Women Bridge the Gap
* Women in Poverty: What Our Communities Must Do
* Opening the Doors: Education as a Pathway to Non-Traditional
   And Higher Paying Jobs
* Listening to Our Future: A Dialogue with Younger Women
* A Closer Look at Pay Inequity: Why Diversity Matters.

Registration is free. Sign up at http://payequity.eventbrite.com. Call 
574-284-4061 for more information.

:: 3RD ANNUAL COMMUNITY FORUM ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

We are beginning to receive reservations for the Third Annual Forum on 
Economic Development, to be held on Saturday, April 26, from 9 - 4 at 
Indiana University South Bend, Weikamp Hall, 1001.  Pre-registration is 
requested so that we can determine the materials and lunches needed for 
participants.  To register by email, contact sjc.cfed at gmail.com.  Phone 
messages can be left at the SJVP phone, 574-287-3834.

"Uniting to Improve Our Quality of Life" is the theme of the third 
annual Community Forum on Economic Development in St. Joseph County. 
Presentations and workshops will provide opportunities for community 
members to share information and experiences in the context of our 
overall goal, the improvement of economic opportunities for all area 
residents.

Morning presentations will be given by State Representative Ryan Dvorak 
and University of Notre Dame economist Marty Wolfson. Afternoon 
workshops will focus on topics central to local economic development and 
provide an opportunity for participants to discuss and develop proposals 
for change.

Breakout Session Topics

 1. Transparency in local government: the key to effective democracy
 2. Blue-Green Jobs: creating good jobs with new technologies
 3. Cool Cities: environmental initiatives in urban areas
 4. Tax Abatements and TIFS: what are they and how do they work for us?
 5. Transforming neighborhoods: building on our strengths
 6. The poor need not always be with you: poverty solutions
 7. Minority business development/ employment issues

2008 Forum Co-Sponsors - Interim List, as of 3/19/08

 Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Eta Mu Omega Chapter
 American Association of Retired Persons
 American Democracy Project, IU South Bend
 Bethel Business Machines Inc.
 Bridges Out of Poverty Initiative
 CAP (Community Action Partners)
 Center for Social Concerns, University of Notre Dame
 Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana
 Hispanic Leadership Coalition
 Howard Park Neighborhood Association
 IBEW Local 153
 Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame
 League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area
 League of Latin American Citizens
 Lincoln Way West Gateway Association
 Masters in Liberal Studies Program, IU South Bend
 Michiana Community Currency
 Michiana Group of the Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter
 Michiana Quality of Life
 Michiana Social Forum
 Minority Health Coalition, St. Joseph County
 Neighborhood Resources Corporation
 North Central Indiana Central Labor Council, AFL CIO
 Office of Campus Diversity, IU South Bend
 Project Impact - South Bend Inc.
 REIA (Real Estate Investors Association)
 South Bend NAACP
 St. Joe Valley Greens
 St. Joseph Valley Building and Construction Trades Council
 St. Joseph Valley Project
 Summers Group, LLC
 Teamsters Local 364
 United Religious Community
 West Side Market

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KEY VALUES OF THE GREENS

1. Ecological wisdom
2. Social justice
3. Grassroots democracy
4. Nonviolence
5. Decentralization
6. Community-based economics
7. Feminism
8. Respect for diversity
9. Personal and global responsibility
10. Future focus

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St. Joe Valley Greens, South Bend, IN
http://www.sjvgreens.org/
mailto: tbrown at sjvgreens.org or khardy at sjvgreens.org