What You Can Do – What He Does

Posted on by
Reply

This is another example of action coming out of our First Thursday Coffee discussions at the Rocket Market.

 

Submitted by Dr. Barb Brock on behalf of Anthony Stevenson, aka artist Salik Seville

Just think about what you can do to help people…
Artist Salik Seville, (aka Anthony Stevenson), originally from Memphis and a Navy veteran, has been through tough times and knows what it’s like to be homeless, but now has found his place in Spokane. Salik uses his art to showcase what he’s been going through, and offers hope for others to push through. “I just want to inspire others and do my part,” he says. “You might be having hard times or come from a hard background, but you should always think about what you can do to help people.” His work has been showcased at the downtown Spokane Library during the month of February for the past two years. Here is Anthony’s statement for 2017:
“My friends, every year I start out the New Year with an exhibition. I’ve been fortunate to have several artists join me including Denise Robinson, Sage Caberllero, Rachel Dolozal and Jay Cousin, who are contributing their time and talent to help our community.
This is something that means a lot to me. When I first started doing this it was my way of speaking through art about how I see humans. If you are in the area, come check out the art and if you see something you like, all you need is a bag of fresh food and a bag of hygiene products, i.e., hand towels, deodorant, etc to acquire a piece of art. There’s no limit. Meals on wheels and health care for homeless veterans will receive the food, and Spokane county veterans will receive the hygiene products. I will also have some paintings for sale to help the YWCA at the library here in downtown Spokane.  I would like to express my gratitude to Mrs. Barb Brock – thank you for getting involved – your help is so appreciated and will never be forgotten. Here’s to good energy, art, and action. Love can change the world.”        Salik Seville

Go back

Your message has been sent

Advice for Advocates

Posted on by
Reply

 Photo by Bob Lloyd from People Rise Up! PJALS

Note from Bob Lloyd: This article was originally published by the Inlander January 26, 2017. Follow the link below to see the original post. Advice for Advocates is a regular feature  by Mariah McKay.

Tips for people looking to be the change in these unprecedented times

By

A roar breaks out as the throng takes its first steps onto the icy streets of Spokane. While no laws or elected positions changed after last weekend’s Women’s March, an era of anemic insider-driven politics officially came to an end. If you are one of the many who feel called to take back our democracy, here are six helpful hints to heed along your journey:

FIND YOUR PLACE

You know those universe maps with a tiny arrow pointing to a dot that says “You are here?” That is you in this new mass movement. Learn about the constellations of groups already working on your issues, rather than reinventing the wheel. Don’t know where to start? Try Google or the “three degrees” approach. Ask someone who knows someone who does. Think about your unique abilities and focus on a role that plays to your strengths.

EMBRACE COMPLEXITY

It is possible for two or more things to be true at once. We are so conditioned to think in “either/or” terms, we often miss out on opportunities in between. Just because your neighbor disagrees with you on one issue doesn’t mean they won’t help you on another. Remember to not see people, organizations or institutions as monolithic.

JOY LOVES COMPANY

Some think you aren’t doing enough unless you are exhausted and miserable. This culture of stress is counter-strategic. The change we seek is a marathon and not a sprint; thus, you must sustain yourself for the long haul. Balance organizing hard with celebration and rest. People are attracted to a movement that is fun and joyous!

THINK AND ACT LOCALLY

The specter of national politics has sucked many into a cycle of emotional reactivity. Turn your existential angst into real-world action in your own backyard. Resources for engaging your congressperson, like the Indivisible Guide (indivisibleguide.com), are also relevant at the city, county and state levels. If just a fraction of the energy displayed at the Women’s March were channeled into local arenas, mountains would be on the move.

PUT PEOPLE FIRST

Revolution is the business of radical relationships. Befriend those who are different from you and find ways to celebrate your common humanity. Abandon name-calling and clever insults. Be as specific and respectful with your concerns as you can be. When reaching across a political divide, don’t immediately dive into issues. Be a person first, and you may be surprised by the friendship that will follow.

In the end, all these tips are about getting outside yourself. Ego is the ultimate enemy of an effective mass movement. Enjoy the liberation that comes with knowing you are not the only one!

Mariah McKay is a fourth-generation daughter of Spokane and a community organizer campaigning for racial, social and economic justice. She currently serves as a public health advocate.

Go back

Your message has been sent

 

There’s a Storm A-Brewing Over Science

Posted on by
Reply

 

Terry Wechsler wants to share this urgent message with you:

If you haven’t been on Twitter lately, there is a climate science storm brewing there that I think you will want to follow.

Scientists across all federal agencies are furious about gag orders. There are now Alt- and Rogue Twitter pages for the Park Service, EPA, NASA, National Weather Service, and more. Administration for most has been turned over to non-government employees for obvious reasons, but the information is coming from employees. On their own time, of course! [Note: I’m not letting a cat out of the bag here. They’re not hiding what they’re doing. On the contrary. They’re taking reasonable precautions, but their motto is #resist.]

A comprehensive list of the Alt/Rogue Twitter pages can be found at  https://twitter.com/stollmeyereu/lists/twistance/members. It is maintained by an EU reporter from Belgium (!).

There is a planned March on Washington for Science, with sister marches to be coordinated a la the women’s marches.

They are aiming for March. Their FB page is https://www.facebook.com/marchforscience/

It is time for scientists, science enthusiasts, and concerned citizens to come together to make ourselves heard! This is a public page for discussion about a march on Washington by scientists and science enthusiasts in protest of the policies of the United States Congress and President Donald J. Trump.

Their website is http://www.scientistsmarchonwashington.com/ :

What is the Scientists’ March on Washington

Welcome! We want to thank you all for your incredible outpouring of support for this march. We are working to schedule a March for Science on DC and across the United States. We have not settled on a date yet but will do so as quickly as possible and announce it here. Although this will start with a march, we hope to use this as a starting point to take a stand for science in politics. Slashing funding and restricting scientists from communicating their findings (from tax-funded research!) with the public is absurd and cannot be allowed to stand as policy. This is a non-partisan issue that reaches far beyond people in the STEM fields and should concern anyone who values empirical research and science.

Their Twitter page is @ScienceMarchDC.

Using Twitter, if you don’t already, is very similar to FB. You pick which people/groups/news media you want to follow. What is streaming there is remarkable. The agencies’ rogue employees are talking to each other through their Twitter pages. It’s remarkable and exciting and they are scared to death. They need our support!!!!!

Terry

Terry Wechsler
Bellingham, Washington

Go back

Your message has been sent

Hidden Figures: A Must See for Mothers and Daughters

Posted on by
Reply

5,000+ women marched in Spokane. How many will bring their children to see this story?

Scroll down to see other posts from 4comculture.com

Go back

Your message has been sent

 

Something We Can All Do: Life Under Trump #4

Posted on by
Reply

 

Recall professional ethics. When the leaders of state set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become much more important. It is hard to break a rule-of-law state without lawyers, and it is hard to have show trials without judges.

Black Lens News Fundraiser Limited Seating

Posted on by
Reply

Showing February 21 6 – 8 pm at the Magic Lantern Theater.  To buy tickets click here.

Go back

Your message has been sent

“How I See It From the Edge”

Posted on by
Reply

Go back

Your message has been sent

How I Saw: Spokane’s 8,000 Women March by Robert Lloyd

Posted on by
1

Protester’s sign read stand up! speak up! and these protesters did it this cold Spokane winter day. Some who were lucky made it to inside halls standing and sitting in the warmth and could hear the messages from the Ballroom. Others filled sidewalks for blocks east and west and entertained each other with songs, music, chatter. The Davenport Hotel Coffee and Bar was a hit place to keep warm.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

After the March People Rose Up!

Marchers continued on to the Community Building where they shared chili, soup, music, poetry, speakers, a movie, action tables, creative activities for kids and adults, and began networking to take action.

Something You Can Do                                                    Personal Actions You Can Take

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Go back

Your message has been sent

Something We Can All Do: Life Under Trump #3

Posted on by
Reply

 

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

Posted on by
Reply

Martin Luther King Day Celebration 2017

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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.).

Go back

Your message has been sent