Spokane in Action: How Can I Get Involved?

Click here for Opportunities to organize, protest, make your voice heard

New First Thursday Coffee and Discussion Group

There are now three First Thursday Coffee and Discussion groups meeting this Thursday March 1. 

  • Original Group 10:00 am Rocket Market 726 E 43rd 
  • First Thursday Evening at 6:30 pm Rocket Market 726 E 43rd
  • Perry Street discussion usually held at The Shop at 10:00 am but this week being held at the organizer’s home so they can write letters to legislators as well as share resources and updates on what is happening. If you are interested in this group message Susan Hales on Facebook.

Possible discussion topics:

  • President Trump’s State of the Union speech
  • Youth Incarceration
  • 13th The Movie
  • Black Lunch Table
  • Oscars: Moonlight/Hidden Figures/Fences
  • Local Actions
  • …….And anything else you have on your mind

First Thursday Coffee and Discussion March 2, 2017

There are now two First Thursday Coffee and Discussion groups: 

  • Original Group 10:00 am Rocket Market 726 E 43rd 
  • First Thursday at 6:30 pm Rocket Market 726 E 43rd
  • Third discussion group to be announced

Possible discussion topics:

  • Youth Incarceration
  • 13th The Movie
  • Black Lunch Table
  • Oscars: Moonlight/Hidden Figures/Fences
  • Local Actions
  • …….And anything else you have on your mind

PJALS on the Forefront

Join PJALS!  Sign up for notifications of what’s going on in Spokane and the world.

Our 8th Annual Peace & Justice Action Conference will be held February 24-25th at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane.Friday,

Feb. 24 6-9pm Rise Up! Opening Reception

Saturday, Feb. 25 9am-5pm All Day Action Conference               Register Now!

Rave reviews about our Action Conference:

 “Great variety of programs and the opportunity to meet new people!”

“It gave me inspiration and hope.”

“Surrounded by the energy of like minded people, rare in Spokane!”

“Open discussions, amazing positive energy, and equality.” Read more »

Location: Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane, 4340 W. Ft. Wright Drive

Friday, February 24th: Opening Reception

6:00-9:00 Join us for tasty nosh, wine & more, and performances from local musical & spoken word artists:

Saturday, February 25th: Conference 

Join us for a full day with three workshop sessions, a fantastic keynote, breakfast, lunch, and lots of opportunities to connect with like-minded folks who are putting their values into action!

8:00-9:00 Registration and Networking Breakfast

8:45-9:00 Opening Performances

9:00-9:30 Welcome and Dedication

9:30-9:45 Mixer Break

9:45-11:15 “Education for Action” Workshop Session 1 (90 min)

Mobilizing for Justice and Community: How-To’s for Powerful Actions and Campaigns Liz Moore, Peace & Justice Action League of Spokane

Challenging Oppressive Statements Shar Lichty, Peace & Justice Action League of Spokane

No Discrimination Spokane: Defeating Spokane’s Anti-Immigrant Proposition
Erin Williams Heuter, Lutheran Community Services NW, Breean Beggs, City Council member, and John Lemus, City of Spokane Human Rights Commission

Developing Skill in Compassionate Communication: Alternatives to Judging,Shaming, and Blaming Mark Hamlin, Carol Bryan, & Susan Burns – Nonviolent Communication Facilitators

Impacts of Military Occupation on our Communities
Hollis Higgins, Ray Thorne, Mike Edwards, Larry Shook, Mary Kay McCollum, & George Taylor,  Veterans for Peace, Spokane Chapter #35

Friar Tuck Faith
Liv Larson Andrews, Pastor, Salem Lutheran Church

Wake Up and Work: Anti-Racism for White People
Taylor Weech, PJALS Steering Committee

11:15-11:30Mixer Break

2:45-4:15 “Education for Action” Workshop Session 3 (90 min)

Building a Unified Movement: Power, Identity, & Solidarity Stina Janssen, Board member, Tenants Union of Washington, and Ingrid Chapman, United Auto Workers

Bystander Intervention Tara Dowd,  Red Fox Consulting

A Lesson on Privilege for Progressives: Why are People of Color So Angry?
Sandy Williams, Black Lens News

How to Advocate for Justice in the State Legislature Liezl Rebugio, ACLU-WA

More than Just Malice: the Most Dangerous Law in America Gabe Meyer & Reynelle Warren, Not this Time

4:15-5:00 Closing Plenary: Going Forward Together!

Local Direct Action

What’s your burning issue?  What are you doing about it? There are lots of opportunities locally and nationally to make your voice heard and be part of making positive change. Scroll down to check out some options.

Spokane Indivisible                                    Together for Washington 

PJALS Peace & Justice Action Leaque      First Thursday Discussion

SURJ Showing Up for Racial Justice          Black Lens News

NAACP Spokane                                        NAACP National

Something We Can All Do: Life Under Trump #3

 

Defend an institution. Follow the courts or the media, or a court or a newspaper. Do not speak of “our institutions” unless you are making them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions don’t protect themselves. They go down like dominoes unless each is defended from the beginning.

Let’s Commit Ourselves

Martin Luther King Day Celebration 2017

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OK, we had our celebration with speeches and the march.

Now Let’s Commit Ourselves

Since 2008 news and social media have done nothing but complain about what politicians did and did not do. If they have not accomplished goals and objectives it is no one’s fault but your own.  If you are not satisfied with the 2016 election I suggest that you step up and do something about it.

From the list below, choose the issue you feel needs action,  list the issue and the name of an organization that works on that issue in the comment box below and fill in your contact information. If you do not know of an organization, volunteer to start such an organization. I will pass your contact information on to the appropriated organization. Also I will collate the information everyone contributes and post the results at this site 4comculture.com. To stay aware of current posts at this site in the right hand side bar SUBSCRIBE to receive an email notifying you of new posts (a couple per week).

What Will You Commit To

Protest (Civic Disobedience, Non-violent direct action, Go to jail), Government service, Social justice, Political action, Political parties (Democratic, Republican, Independent, Progressive), Employment (Jobs and training), Housing, Healthy food production, Education (K12, College), Environment (Climate change etc.) Community organizing, Social justice, Community service, Social services, Health and safety, Drug abuse prevention, Community security, Reproductive rights, Hunger, Homelessness, Race relations, Human relations, Art and culture, International affairs, Belief systems (Humanism etc.).

 

Something We Can All Do: Life Under Trump #2

 

Do not obey in advance. Much of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then start to do it without being asked. You’ve already done this, haven’t you? Stop. Anticipatory obedience teaches authorities what is possible and accelerates unfreedom.

 

 

Something We Can All Do Life After Trump

Peace and Justice Action League Joins Showing Up for Racial Justice

Spokane PJALS joins SURJ Show Up for Racial Justice

SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals organizing White people for racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves White people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability. We work to connect people across the country while supporting and collaborating with local and national racial justice organizing efforts. SURJ provides a space to build relationships, skills and political analysis to act for change.

Our Vision for PJALS

The Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane engages everyday people to build a just and nonviolent world

Everyday people are together advancing peace, economic justice, and human rights, through campaigns grounded in the intersections of these values. We are:

  • Engaging youth, cultivating youth leadership and long-term involvement.
  • Nurturing strong relationships & active partnerships with communities of color, LGBT+ communities, faith communities, and other progressive bases.
  • Sharing our messages, setting the frame of debates, and engaging everyday people.
  • Delivering high-quality work through robust volunteer involvement and leadership, appropriate staffing, strong organizational systems, and a funding base that’s expanding, stable, and sufficient.

Something We Can All Do: Life Under Trump #1

Each week 4comculture.com will post you a reminder of what we can do to build the community we want to live in. The First Thursday of the month we will have coffee and discuss what it is we are doing and what we would like to see done in our community. See you at The Rocket Market 726 E 43rd Ave on January 5 at 10 am.

Something We Can All Do: Life Under Trump #1

Republished at Reddit.com:  https://m.reddit.com/r/lostgeneration/comments/5faksb/historian_holocaustthird_reich_expert_and_yale/?ref=search_posts

1st-thur-1Professor Snyder’s homepage:  http://history.yale.edu/people/timothy-snyder

Americans are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism, or communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience. Now is a good time to do so. Here are twenty lessons from the twentieth century, adapted to the circumstances of today.