 Inspired by the legacy of Dr. King, America’s Sunday Supper invites people from diverse backgrounds to come together to share a meal, discuss issues that affect their community and highlight the power each one of us has to make a difference. Join us at Trinity United Methodist Church (4001 Speedway) on January 19, 2014 from 6 – 7:30 pm, for A Frank Dialogue on Race – an open conversation and guided discussion on racial dynamics and how to combat racism in our community here in Central Texas. Dr. Kazique Jelani Prince and Jeremy Solomons will provide thought-provoking questions and activities, and will create a safe space for conversation. We will also have a potluck Peace Through Pie Social – bring a pie (savory or sweet) to share.
Dr. Kazique Jelani Prince – Acclaimed leader with a distinguished and accomplished career, carving out a reputation as a dynamic and comprehensive communicator and trusted adviser. Governed by a focused vision for the future and fueled by a passion to make a difference in the new global economy. Considerable experience in the areas of Project & Program Management, Diversity & Inclusion Management, and Cross-functional Leadership Development. Owns a powerful understanding of people and what motivates them, drawing upon unique skill set to effectively sell, counsel and encourage others towards meaningful, lasting change. Inspired change agent who seeks the broader view in all situations, drawing upon resources and deep knowledge base to assist others in utilizing their own strengths and capabilities. Trailblazes through opposition, spearheading forward-thinking, cutting-edge initiatives and programs while successfully uniting team members behind common goals. Jeremy Solomons – Jeremy Solomons is an independent facilitator and passionate advocate for human rights and racial equality. Based now in Austin, Texas, he has felt the personal sting of prejudice, bias and discrimination when growing up as an Orthodox Jew in his native England and since then he has pledged his life to bringing everyone into a constructive dialogue and sustainable action to address and eradicate the evils of inequality, injustice and racism. Austin’s Sunday Supper & Peace Through Pie Social Community Partners
America’s Sunday Supper Info and National Sponsors |
The Red Tent….an Obstacle to Education?
January 9, 2014 — Rio Texas MFSA|
Sat, Jan 11th 9:30am, Bethany UMC Ministry Center, 10010 Anderson Mill Rd, 78750 |
Join us as we explore a subject not often discussed. As a middle school girl, how would your life have been impacted without access to feminine hygiene products? In addition to educating ourselves about this issue for girls in developing countries, we’ll also hear from a local group of Bethany UMC women (including some WOVers!) who are exploring how to do something to help! Bethany’s Ministry Center is Room # D105 on the ground floor of the “Disciple B” Building. See here for a map of the campus. We’d love for you to join us! http://wovtexas.org/#/austin/events
Interfaith Environmental Network of Austin (IEN)
January 9, 2014 — Rio Texas MFSA
Green Shepherds Launch & Potluck!
When: MONDAY, 1/13/14 Potluck & Fellowship: 6:30pm to 7:15pm Symposium: 7:15pm to 8:45pm
Where: First Baptist Church (map) “Fellowship Hall” (Ground Floor) 901 Trinity Street, Austin, TX 78701 512-476-2625 (no cost to attend, free parking) please bring vegetarian-friendly dishes all are welcome!
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In 2012 and 2013, ClimateBuddies.org led our Energy Action Team to accomplish some amazing things: helping local congregations eliminate 1,000,000 lbs of CO2 pollution and releasing our climate action manual, “Becoming Carbon Positive” – to name just two.
The culmination of their work is a new program for houses of worship, Green Shepherds. The Green Shepherds program helps Austin congregations understand exactly where their most effective investments can be made in response to the climate crisis and provides support for getting things done. |
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Economic Crisis & Cooperative Solutions with Gar Alperovitz
January 9, 2014 — Rio Texas MFSA Gar Alperovitz, http://www.garalperovitz.com/ a leading scholar and activist in the movement to build a new economy, will speak on “The Quietly Deepening Political and Economic Crisis: Possibilities for an America beyond Corporate Capitalism” on Friday, January 24, at 7 p.m. at University United Methodist Church. He also will participate in a conference on local efforts to build that new economy on the morning of Saturday, January 25, at the “5604 Manor” community center.
Alperovitz’s latest book is What Then Must We Do?: Straight Talk about the Next American Revolution, in which he argues for a new-economy movement that can democratize the ownership of wealth, strengthen communities in diverse ways, and be governed by policies and institutions sophisticated enough to manage a large-scale, powerful economy. http://whatthenmustwedo.org/# He is also the author of America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth, Our Liberty, and Our Democracy, which diagnoses the long-term structural crisis of the American economic and political system, and Unjust Deserts: Wealth and Equality in the Knowledge Economy (with Lew Daly), Making a Place For Community (with Thad Williamson and David Imbroscio), Rebuilding America (with Jeff Faux),Atomic Diplomacy and The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb. Alperovitz is a founding principal of the University of Maryland-based Democracy Collaborative, http://democracycollaborative.org/ a research institution developing practical, policy-focused, and systematic paths towards ecologically sustainable, community-oriented change and the democratization of wealth. The Saturday morning gathering will begin at 8:30 am with coffee and a light breakfast. The first panel at 9:15 am, “Worker Cooperatives 101,” will feature Cooperation Texas staff and worker/owners on the basics of worker cooperatives. The second panel at 10:45 am will feature Alperovitz in conversation with Don Baylor (the Senior Policy Analyst on Economic Opportunity for the Center for Public Policy Priorities) on “The Way Forward,” discussing challenges and opportunities in building the new economy. The events are sponsored by the University United Methodist Church and Cooperation Texas, http://cooperationtexas.coop/ an Austin-based non-profit committed to the creation of sustainable jobs through the development, support and promotion of worker-owned cooperatives. More information online https://www.facebook.com/events/668747903160142/?source=1 or contact Robert Jensen,rjensen@austin.utexas.edu. Location (Friday): University United Methodist Church, 2409 Guadalupe St., Austin, 78705 (free parking available; see map at http://www.uumc.org/?q=node/76) Location (Saturday): 5604 Manor, 5604 Manor Road, Austin, 78723 http://www.5604manor.org/ |
Adult Choral Workshops with Mark Miller
January 9, 2014 — Rio Texas MFSA
Local church choirs and individuals gather to look at new worship music, improve vocal skills and praise God in song. Join the mighty chorus of small church and large church choral groups, ensembles, and individual participants. Sponsored by the Conference Board of Discipleship Music and Worship Team.
January 31 & February 1, 2014 First UMC Corpus Christi
Clinician:
Mark A Miller Minister Of Music Christ Church Summit, NJ
For information contact: Rev. David Miron, Design Team Chair
Brad Kisner, Site Coordinator |
Dr. Carl Hart To Speak On February 6
January 9, 2014 — Rio Texas MFSA
Carl Hart on “We Got Hoodwinked: The Problem Is Drug Policy, not Drugs”Date: February 6, 2014 Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Hart teaches in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at Columbia University, and is a Research Scientist in the Division of Substance Abuse at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He is a member of the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse and on the board of directors of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence and the Drug Policy Alliance. A native of Miami, Hart earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in experimental psychology and neuroscience at the University of Wyoming. Hart’s talk will draw on his 2013 book, High Price: A Neuroscientist’s Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know about Drugs and Society, in which he writes not only about his academic work but life growing up in one of Miami’s toughest neighborhoods and how it led him to his pioneering work in drug addiction. Hart escaped neighborhoods that were dominated by entrenched poverty but has not turned his back on that world since becoming Columbia University’s first tenured African American professor in the sciences. Determined to make a difference, he applies his science to help save real lives. The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by St. James’ Episcopal Church, the Third Coast Activist Resource Center, and the University of Texas Department of Psychology, Warfield Center for African and African American Studies, and Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. For more information, contact Robert Jensen at rjensen@austin.utexas.edu. If you need accommodations for this event, please contact Betty Jeanne Taylor at bjwtaylor@austin.utexas.edu at least five days in advance. Location: St. James’ Episcopal Church, 1941 Webberville Road, Austin, 78721 |
– See more at: http://www.thirdcoastactivist.org/events/carl-hart-on-we-got-hoodwinked-the-problem-is-drug-policy-not-drugs/#sthash.qT38Orkd.dpuf
Ride For Refuge – February 8
January 9, 2014 — Rio Texas MFSA On February 8, 2014, RST Austin will partner with Ride for Refuge to raise funds for refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking most in need. This is a great opportunity to become involved in the work that Refugee Services of Texas does to help families from around the world who now make Austin home. The time you give and money you donate will directly affect the lives of hundreds of displaced people in Austin. Our community is a great city for welcoming the displaced and giving to local causes that matter, so we hope that you will join us for the ride on February 8th, 2014!
What: 10, 35, and 60 mile bicycle fundraiser to raise funds for refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking in Austin When: February 8, 2014, 8:00AM Where: Yellow Bike Project, 1216 Webberville Rd, Austin, TX 78721 |
Click here for more information and to sign up!
Also, check us out on Facebook!
My Ground Rules, by Senator Kirk Watson
January 9, 2014 — Rio Texas MFSA| (December 17, 2013)
For years, I’ve been asked about, and have enjoyed talking about, what I call “my ground rules” – a dozen principles that have generally guided the way I try to approach governing. They’re always fun to talk about. I think that’s at least partly because they speak to things that bring us together and bring out the things we admire about government, not the stuff that divides us and drives us crazy about politics. 1. Be willing to throw away labels. I believe we label each other — whether it’s friends or acquaintances — far too readily. Too often, labels become an excuse not to hear what someone may really think, and to pretend people are a lot more shallow than they really are. My goal is to work with whomever I can, without regard to labels. I’m hopeful — with good reason, I think — that others will approach me the same way. 2. Listen carefully and speak plainly. The key is to really listen and openly state a position. Politics is filled with people talking past one another or regurgitating platitudes. The best work comes from speaking openly, really listening, and avoiding pre-packaged talking points. 3. Follow the “84 Percent Rule”. If I can come up with something that 84 percent of the public would look at and say, “That’s not exactly how I’d do it, but it’s pretty good and it’s progress,” then I’m probably going for it. I know I won’t always get unanimity, and if I wait to act until I get 100 percent support, there likely will be no action. Also, I try to not demand my concept of perfection. If I can get 84 percent of what I want, I’ll take it and run. (Why 84 percent? I made it up. And because that’s what I was reelected as Mayor of Austin with in 2000.) 4. Be biased toward action. Too often in politics, people seem to fear failure, or the possibility that they’ll be upstaged by the next idea that comes along. I’d rather make a mistake trying something than make a mistake missing an opportunity. 5. Never forget that hope matters. Public service should have goals of assuring hope and creating opportunity for happiness. 6. Have a short-term focus with a long-term vision. One of the “gifts” of cancer was the knowledge that there may not be a tomorrow. So I try to focus on achieving results right now, but in a way that benefits the long-term. Both of those — the moment, and the future — are important, but too often people lose track of one or the other. 7. Know core values and assets, and be willing to admit weaknesses. I try to assess my values, assets, and weaknesses routinely. It’s not always fun, but it’s necessary. 8. Avoid the nitpickers, naysayers and know-it-alls (OK, so maybe there are a few appropriate labels). We all know those folks who kill good ideas by picking them to death, folks who love reminding us how much smarter or holier they are. It isn’t called “negative energy” for nothing. 9. Create new and different constituencies, and avoid creating unnecessary enemies. Even when I disagree with someone, there’s no reason to do it in such a way that they never want to work with me on something we’d agree about. I also try to look at an idea or policy position from another person’s point of view. It’s worth it when you can tweak a proposal to bring everybody — or, at least, 84 percent of everybody — on-board. 10. Focus on the positive, even in situations that are difficult. 11. Don’t take yourself too seriously, even when the bull is really good. 12. Enjoy the service. Too many people in public service today seem angry. I guess it’s probably easy to get cynical. But the motivation for service shouldn’t be anger. Service ought to be fulfilling and not a burden (at least not most of the time). |
League of Women Voters’ Guide
January 9, 2014 — Rio Texas MFSA|
League of Women Voters’ Guide for the March 4 Primary will be available February 16
It’s time to start thinking about spring primary elections. The League of Women Voters’ Voters Guide for the Primary election on March 4 will be a pullout section in the Sunday, February 16 Austin American Statesman (two days before early voting begins on Tues., Feb. 18). It will feature elections in the five counties included in the Statesman’s distribution areas (Travis, Hays, Williamson, Bastrop, Caldwell). The LWV-Texas will be covering all the statewide offices and the Austin League will cover all the local elections in the five counties. The political parties covered are all those who hold a primary, the Democratic and Republican Parties. The General election in November will cover all parties who filed for offices.
http://lwvaustin.org/voter/january2014.pdf
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Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action 