if you haven't noticed the need to address racism, I will be very surprised. Here are two great opportunities to be part of the community of Vermonters working to undo racism and create more justice.

Click here for the latest Peace & Justice Newsletter
Also in this issue:
Help us get $10,000!
Thanks to a generous matching donation, if you give in July, your contribution will be doubled (up to $5,000).
The work we've done since November has increased significantly and we need to increase our capacity to sustain this level of commitment for the long haul. We can only do it if we do it together. Please give here.


PJC Educational Programs and Events
Building Empathy and Addressing Racial Oppression
Wednesday, July 26, August 2 & 9. Led by Infinite Culcleasure and Kyle Silliman-Smith.  Register online or call 802-863-2345 x6. Space still available. Register now! 
 
Songs for Hope
Sunday, August 6, 7pm,
Burlington. Gather at Church and Pearl St. for group singing and a walk to the waterfront where there will be street theater, remembrance speakers, a short story telling event of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, and a traditional candle boat ceremony. Remember the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the PJC and Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.  

How to Talk with Kids about Racism
Tuesdays, August 8, 15, 22, 6-8pm,
Richmond Free Library, Richmond. Led by Isaiah Hines and Jade Walker. Includes resources, role playing, and discussion. Register online. 

Free Trade Agreements Presentation
Saturday, August 10, 12:00, PJC. Explore how U.S. Free Trade Agreements, in combination with corporate greed and developmental inequity, has led to a devastating effect on the Global South. People are encouraged to join our New Volunteer Orientation at 11:30.

Tuesday, August 22, 12-1pm, PJC. Also September 26.

Mindfulness for Activists September 28, 6- 8pm. This program focuses on ways to utilize mindfulness for nonviolent social justice and peace work. Emphasis is on developing skills in deep listening, and what Gandhi called "soul force." CVU High School, Hinesburg. Register online. 
 
For more info on these events visit the Upcoming Events page on our website or contact us at 863-2345 x6 or program@pjcvt.org
Quick Links
ACLU job posting
The ACLU of Vermont just launched a search for a Director of Development . They will begin reviewing applications August 1, but the position will remain open until filled. Click here for the full description and more information .

Center Hours 

Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm
  
Store Hours
Monday-Saturday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: 9am-4pm

Hours are subject to change. Call 802-863-2345 x2 to confirm.
  
Location
60 Lake Street, Suite 1C
Burlington's Waterfront.
(Next to Skinny Pancake)
  
If you would like an event listed, please email calendar@pjcvt.org  
Support the PJC when you shop online!




 
July 25, 2017
Racial Justice Educational Programs
If you haven't noticed the need to address racism, I will be very surprised. Here are two great opportunities to be part of the community of Vermonters working to undo racism and create more justice.
  1. Building Empathy and Addressing Racial Oppression. Three Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30, starting July 26 at PJC in Burlington. Sign up online. More info on facebook. Facilitated by Infinite Culcleasure and Kyle Silliman-Smith.
  2. How to Talk With Kids About Racism. Three Tuesdays, August 8, 15 and 22, 6-8:00, Richmond Free Library. Sign up online. More info on facebook. Facilitated by Isaiah Hines and Jade Walker.

We do these programs around Vermont in public and private settings. If  would like us to bring one of these (or any of our other programs) to your area, please be in touch. Here's a link to our Educational Program Catalog.

Clean Elections Project Special Event
Since Bernie ran for president, there has been nationwide talk about our desperate need to get Big Money out of our elections, and the need for public financing of campaigns. Ironically, back home in Vermont, the Attorney General has set back clean elections by decades.

Democracy doesn't just mean the right to vote.  It also means that the 99% can run for elected office too.  If only the wealthy, or those backed by Big Money or corporations can run competitive campaigns for office, we live in a plutocracy, not a democracy, no matter who wins....
-- by Dean Corren. Read more here

Join us at a fundraiser for the Clean Elections Project with Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, State Auditor Doug Hoffer, and Ben Cohen on Sunday, July 30th, 4:00 PM,Oakledge Park Pavilion, Burlington (rain or shine).
 
Sponsored by: Rights & Democracy, 350 Vermont,VT Progressive Party, and Peace & Justice Center - Clean Elections Project

Free Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream! 
Native Voices: A Traveling Encampment
Join the Tree of Life Educational Fund and Vermonters for Justice in Palestine for this gathering on Sunday, July 30, 2-4:00 outside of the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington.
 
A Native American Tipi and a Bedouin tent and informal greeting and gathering; followed by a 45 minute program of music and stories outside the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington. We will conclude with a brief historical portrait of the three cultures and a conversation between performers and audience. Included in the program are:
  • Lakota Hochunk storyteller, artist and Native American singer Travis Harden, recently returned from several months as Water Protector and "Super No DAPL Man" at Standing Rock.
  • Chief of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk - Abenaki Nation Donald Stevens, storyteller.
  • Palestinian percussionist Alber Baseel from Bethlehem, currently pursuing his degree at the Berkelee School of music, former music teacher at Sounds of Palestine in Aida Refugee Camp
  • Bedouin lawyer and historian Khalil Alamour from the village of Alsira in the Negev
  • Palestinian actor Saber Shreim from Jenin, formerly of the Freedom Theatre and current founding members of Palestine Laughter Liberation (pending visa approval)
Community Events
This is a partial listing. See more events in our public calendar.
 
July 25, Tuesday          
  • 12-1pm Toxic Whiteness Bag Lunch Discussion Group. PJC, Burlington.
  • 6-8pm SURJ-BTV. First Unitarian Universalist Society, Burlington.
  • 6-9pm A community discussion about how activists can strengthen their ability to navigate criminal legal charges based on the book, A Tilted Guide to Being a Defendant. This event is also a fundraiser for J20 folks facing charges from the inaugural protests in D.C. For more info about their case, click here. For more information about the Tilted Scales Collective, other event locations, and to order a copy of book. At UU Church, Montpelier.
July 26, Wednesday
  • Building Empathy and Addressing Racial Oppression. 6:30-8:30 at PJC. Three part workshop. More info in sidebar above.
July 27, Thursday        
  • 12:30-2pm Burlington Women Veterans Book Group. At Burlington Lakeside Veterans Clinic, 128 Lakeside Ave, Suite 260, Burlington.
  • 5-5:30pm Peace Vigil. Top of Church St, Burlington.
July 29, Saturday       
  • 10am-12pm Caroline Fund Pro Se Legal Clinic at Lawline of Vermont, 274 N Winooski Ave, Burlington. Every Saturday.
July 30, Sunday        
  • 9-10:30am Peer-Led Mindfulness Meet-Up for Teens. Stillpoint Center, 7 Kilburn St. Suite 305, Burlington. Every Sunday.
  • 2-4pm Native Voices: A Traveling Encampment. A Native American Tipi and a Bedouin tent and a 45 minute program of music and stories. A brief historical portrait of the three cultures and discussion. Fletcher Free Library Lawn, Burlington. Sponsored by VTJP and the Tree of Life Educational Fund.
  • 4-7pm Save Public Financing of Elections Fundraiser. Oakledge Park, Burlington.
July 31, Monday         August 2, Wednesday        
  • 5-6:30pm Veterans Book Group. VA Women's Care Center, 215 N Main St, White River Junction.
August 3, Thursday        
  • 7:30-9:30pm Comedy for Change. Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform with Josie Leavitt and Autumn Engroff Spencer, and other local comics host a stand-up comedy show. $15 online or at the door. Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, 60 Lake St, Burlington.
August 4, Friday        
  • 5-5:30pm Peace Vigil. Top of Church St, Burlington.
August 5, Saturday        
  • 12:30-1:30pm Greater Bennington Peace & Justice Center Vigil at Four Corners, Bennington.
  • 6-8pm Barre Democracy Summer Town Hall. RAD is looking toward the 2018 session and next years'  elections: build momentum organizing and training to take action on issues in our local communities and to build leadership for progressive change. Old Labor Hall, Barre.
August 6, Sunday, Hiroshima Day
  • 8-8:30am Hiroshima Day Silent Vigil at corner of Main and So. Prospect St., Burlington.
  • 12-1pm Vets for Peace live call-in TV show. VCAM, Channel 15.
  • 6-7pm Songs for Hope: Remembering Hiroshima & Nagasaki. Burlington. Gather at Church and Pearl St. for group singing and a walk to the waterfront where there will be street theater, remembrance speakers, a short story telling event of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, and a traditional candle boat ceremony.
August 7, Monday        
  • 6:15-8pm Burlington-Bethlehem-Arad Sister City Committee meeting. Miller Center, 130 Gosse Ct, Burlington.
August 8, Tuesday        
  • 6-8pm How to Talk With Kids about Racism. Richmond Free Library, Richmond. Three part discussion group. More info in sidebar above.
August 9, Wednesday, Nagasaki Day    
  • 11-12 noon, Silent Vigil to Commemorate the bombing of Nagasaki, top of Church St, Burlington. Sponsored by Pax Christi Burlington.   
August 10, Thursday        
  • 11:30am-12pm New Volunteer Orientation. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington.
  • 12-1pm Free Trade Agreements Presentation. Peace & Justice Center, Burlington.
  • 5:30-7:30pm WILPF meeting at Peace & Justice Center, Burlington.
Please email events for our google calendar and enews. 
Action Highlight: Our Lives are on the Line Rallies
Thanks to the tireless efforts of thousands of Vermonters and folks across the country, the resistance to the national GOP's efforts to destroy healthcare won a temporary success. Despite this success, the fight is far from over and our lives are still on the line! McCo nnell, GOP Congressional leaders, and the Trump administration are forging ahead with various schemes to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act and make huge cuts to Medicaid and Medicare in the upcoming budget.

Join Rights and Democracy and other allied groups on Saturday, July 29 at one of two simultaneous rallies: one on the State House lawn in Montpelier and one in Bennington. This event will be part of a national day of action with groups across the country. We will demonstrate that here in Vermont we are ready to lead the nation in winning universal, publicly and equitably financed, high-quality health care for all.  
Peace & Justice Store
 
Peace & Justice Center | 802-863-2345 | rachel@pjcvt.org | http://www.pjcvt.org
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Burlington, VT 05401