Tea with Founder of Maher Ashram 

Many progressive and liberal people today say if they were living during slavery, they would actively protest and demand change. Why then are people not responding similarly to our current system of discrimination and criminalization being waged against African Americans in the US today?

In Michelle Alexander's landmark book, she frames exactly how racism in the US evolved from slavery to Jim Crow laws to our current mass incarceration crisis. "The New Jim Crow" explains our legal system of prejudice that has more than half of black men in major urban areas living under some form of the criminal (in)justice system without using race explicitly in any laws.

The Green Mountain Amnesty International Chapter, with assistance from the UVM AI Chapter, will be hosting the "Amnesty International Concert for Human Rights" on Saturday September 6, 2014 on the waterfront in Burlington.

The event, featuring the fabulous "Ian Ethan Open Land Trio" and speaker Sowore Omoyele, will take place at Main Street Landing, 60 Lake St, in the 3rd floor Atrium at 6pm where light fare will be offered and beverages will be available for purchase. In the Atrium there will be tables with Amnesty International  information/petitions, etc. along with a table of Peace & Justice information.
 
After the social/educational hour, the concert begins at 7pm in the Black Box Theater. "Ian Ethan's Open Land Trio" will perform and generate magical energy which is a gift to experience. Sowore Omoyele, a former Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience from Nigeria and past student activist will speak in between the Trio's two performances. Sowore, who has lived in the US over a decade, is a survivor of torture and now hosts "Sahara Reports" which keeps an eye on human rights issues in Nigeria. 
 
This evening will be energizing, educational, and entertaining, so please come and find out what Amnesty International is working on to end and prevent human rights abuses. It is advised, as seating is limited, to reserve tickets through August by calling 802-793-1292 or at the Peace & Justice Store 863-2345 x2.  Reserved tickets cost $10. Tickets after August 31st are $15. All tickets can be purchased/picked up the evening of September 6th at 5:45pm at the Black Box box office. For more info. please call Carolyn Smiles at 802-888-7666. 

Program of Academic Exchange (PAX) is a Department of State designated nonprofit international high school exchange organization.The mission is to increase mutual respect among the people of the world, to foster an appreciation of our differences and similarities, and to enhance our ability to communicate with one another. We are engaged in a grassroots initiative to build respect for cultural diversity and understanding between countries around the world.

This program promotes international security and peace by teaching American and foreign participants about each other, alleviating misunderstanding, and making for a better informed citizenry able to deal more effectively with international issues. Exchange participants attend classes in an American high schools and gain familiarity with the American education system.

Students arrive fully medically insured and are responsible for all personal expenditures. During the year they attend local high schools -- the details in which we at PAX arrange. We ask host families to provide quarters for living, a suitable study environment, and participation in family meals. During the entirety of their stay, host families and students are supported by a local community coordinator.

Hosting truly is a rewarding experience that builds bridges, creates lasting friendships, and connects the world one family at a time. In fact, most host families admit that the hardest part of the exchange is saying goodbye to their new son or daughter at the end of their stay.

If you are interested in hosting or learning more about out program please have them contact Kelsey Maloney.  Additional information can also be found on our website www.pax.org