July 2018 Events Calendar
Monday, July 9 •
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth
Chapter Meeting
Thursday, July 12 • Louisville Grows presents a screening of
Resilience
Friday, July
13 •
Creatures of the Night
: Luna Moths & Chuck–Will’s–Widow
Friday, July
13 and Sunday, July 15 •
Compassionate Communication
for Parents and Kids
Saturday, July 14 •
BreakFEST!
at
Iroquois Farm
Tuesday, July 17 •
West Jefferson County Community Task Force
Monthly Meeting
Saturday, July 21 •
Soundwalking in the Arboretum: A Listening Workshop
Tuesday, July 24 •
Greater Louisville Sierra Club Potluck Picnic
Sunday, July 29 •
Braden Center Open House
Tuesday, July 31 •
LSURJ Meeting on
the Injustices of a Cash Bail System
Summer Camps for Youth
July 11 - July 13 • Peacecasters'
Making Social Media That Matters Camp
July 12 - July 13 •
Little Peacemakers
Camp Days
July 16 - July 20 •
Compassionate Kids
Peacemaking Camp
Save the Date - September 8th
Rise for Climate Jobs and Justice
Statement on the Disruption of the June 30 Immigration Rally
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Monday, July 9, 6:30 pm
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth
Chapter Meeting
First Unitarian Church
809 S. Fourth St, 40203
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Join the Jefferson County Chapter of Kentuckians for the Commonwealth at their monthly meeting!
If you are looking for a growing base of fun-filled committed community leaders to share your talents with, look no further! The Jefferson County Chapter hosts over two thousand members from all over Louisville, Oldham County and across the bridge in southern Indiana. Our chapter hosts both the young and experienced from many different walks of life. While actively supporting all of KFTC’s statewide campaigns, members in our chapter also have work on local campaigns around air quality, economic justice, and more.
Since the chapter formed in 1983, we have supported and worked with allies on issues that affect you and me, including affordable housing, police abuse, sweat shops, hazardous waste reduction and recycling. Our doors are open to anyone who wants to fight for justice while building a compassionate, connected, and fun community here in our great city.
First Unitarian Church is wheelchair accessible, and this meeting will be potluck style so bring a dish to share if you're able! If you have any further questions about the space, or if there is something else we can do to make these meetings accessible for you, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
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Thursday, July 12, 6 - 8 pm
Louisville Grows Film Series:
Resilience
Louisville Grows
1641 Portland Ave, 40203
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Back by popular demand! The July Edition of the Louisville Grows Film Series is Resilience. Researchers have recently discovered a dangerous biological syndrome caused by abuse and neglect during childhood. As the new documentary Resilience reveals, toxic stress can trigger hormones that wreak havoc on the brains and bodies of children, putting them at a greater risk for disease, homelessness, prison time, and early death. While the broader impacts of poverty worsen the risk, no segment of society is immune. Resilience, however, also chronicles the dawn of a movement that is determined to fight back. Trailblazers in pediatrics, education, and social welfare are using cutting-edge science and field-tested therapies to protect children from the insidious effects of toxic stress—and the dark legacy of a childhood that no child would choose.
On the second Thursday of each month, Louisville Grows opens our doors to the community and present an enriching film meant to inspire thought and actions. After the screening, a panel of local advocates and professionals pertaining to the subject matter of the film will lead a discussion with members of the audience. Louisville Grows is working to provide educational resources and opportunities for residents in some of the most ecologically and economically wounded neighborhoods in Louisville through this film series. Our supporters and the communities we serve have demonstrated they are receptive to this idea and engaged to the degree that we feel the Louisville Grows’ Film Series will become a core program in 2018 and beyond. The Louisville Grows’ Film Series is proud to be sponsored by Ale8 One..
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Friday, July 13, 9 - 11:30 pm
Creatures of the Night:
Luna Moths & Chuck–Will’s–Widow
Bernheim Forest, Clermont, Ky
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Summer is an opera, complete with throaty vocals, high pitched vibratos, and an expert cast of creatures, each playing its part in this ancient drama. Creatures of the Night programs provide opportunities to experience the sights and sounds of natural phenomena that often go unnoticed.
Journey with Bill Napper and fellow Volunteer Naturalists on a driving tour into sections of Bernheim where crepuscular and nocturnal creatures are most active. Program includes a small amount of hiking through easy terrain.
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Friday, July 13 and again on Sunday, July 15, 9am - noon
Compassionate Communication for Parents and Kids
Earth and Spirit Center, 1924 Newburg Road, 40205
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Communicating with your middle school child can be a bit of an art. In a time when talking over, interrupting, and aiming to prove someone wrong are common communication models in the public sphere, how can we foster connection and empathy in our personal interactions with our children?
This workshop facilitated by Cory Lockhart is for both parents and their child(ren) to help them to learn an approach to communication that “fosters respect, attentiveness and empathy and engenders a mutual desire to give from the heart” (Marshal Rosenberg).
Participants are introduced to the foundations of Rosenberg’s Compassionate Communication allowing parents and children opportunities to practice these skills.
In this workshop, parents and children will:
Learn the basics of compassionate communication
Increase mindful awareness of their own feelings and needs
Increase their awareness and capacity for empathetic listening to self and others
Leave with communication tools they can practice in their personal relationships with each other.
Cost is $55.
For Friday Morning July 13, 9 am register
here.
For Sunday Morning July 15, 9 am register
here.
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Saturday, July 14, 10 am
BreakFEST!
Iroquois Farm
1400 Bicknell Ave, 40215
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Join The Food Literacy Project at Iroquois Farm for our FREE monthly BreakFEST events! Each event is free & open to the public.
Address: 1400 Bicknell Avenue Louisville, KY 40215
On-site activities include:
- Free farm-fresh food samples
- Free coffee provided by Heine Brothers' Coffee
- Activities for families and children
- Tasting tours of our Truck Farm
- Seed planting activities
- Service learning opportunities
If you have any questions, feel free to message us on Facebook, reach out over email at info@foodliteracyproject.org, or give us a call at (502) 491-0072.
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Tuesday, July 17th, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
West Jefferson County Community Task Force Monthly
Community Meeting
2900 W Broadway, Suite 218, 40211
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On the third Tuesday of each month (except December), the West Jefferson County Community Task Force (WJCCTF) brings concerns and important information to residents and businesses about environmental, health and wellness and issues that impact our communities. Topics vary each month and refreshments are provided from 5:30 – 6:00 PM followed by informative presentations from 6 – 7:30 pm. Join the conversation. Let your voice be heard and get the answers you need. Monthly topics are posted on the WJCCTF Facebook page for your information.
Follow this
link to our Facebook event!
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Saturday, July 21, 10 am
Soundwalking in the Arboretum:
A Listening Workshop
Bernheim Forest, Clermont, Ky
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It’s easy to see the beauty of the flora and fauna at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. But what do we find when we close our eyes and use our ears to explore our surroundings?
Join SONICBernheim co-curator and Kentuckiana Sounds creator Aaron Rosenblum on a soundwalk around the arboretum. Aaron will guide participants to points of aural interest, seeking out man-made and natural sounds and pausing to discuss the history of sound art and the soundwalking practice, and introducing new ways of thinking about the soundscape of Bernheim and our region. He will also illustrate and discuss the practice of making audio recordings in the field.
The walk will take place at an easy pace, rain or shine, but wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing just in case of unanticipated adventures. Suitable for adults and children ages 12 and up.
This event is free, but weekend entrance to Bernheim is $5 per vehicle, or free for Bernheim members.
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Tuesday, July 24, 6:00-8:00 pm
Annual Greater Louisville Sierra Club Potluck Picnic
Featuring a discussion about our local foods systems
Louisville Nature Center
3745 Illinois Avenue, 40213
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Enjoy communing with Sierra Club members at our annual potluck picnic. Greater Louisville Sierra Club will provide the meat from Momma's Mustard Pickles & BBQ. We ask you to bring some food of your choosing to share. Also, we request you bring your own reusable eating/drinking ware. Sorry, alcoholic beverages are not permitted.
As a special after-dinner treat, we’ll have Shannon Connelly and Bree Pearsall in a discussion on the state of local food systems in Kentucky. Shannon works for Metro Louisville’s Farm-to-Table initiative. She will talk about her day-to-day work, including recent wins and ongoing barriers in local food marketing and distribution, and about her work with farmers to find innovative ways to attract new consumers. Bree will provide insight into the work and life of an organic farmer, and how she and her husband were able to turn their aspirations into a vibrant family business. Both speakers will address how community partners have helped build a food system that is strong and growing. The program will examine the challenges and opportunities for family farms in Kentucky and offer steps consumers can take to support them.
Bree Pearsall and her husband have been first-generation organic farmers for fourteen years. Their Rootbound Farm is situated on 150 acres in Oldham County where they have eighteen acres in vegetable production and 100 acres dedicated to Katahdin sheep. They grow fifty different kinds of vegetables and feed 500 families per week through their CSA (community-supported agriculture) sales and pop-up market Fresh Stops.
Shannon Connelly has worked for ten years in local food facilitation and healthy food access. With professional roots in St. Louis and San Francisco, she joined Louisville Farm to Table late last year. She works to increase the capacity of the local food system by serving as a matchmaker between local family farmers and buyers such as restaurants, schools, and hospitals and by problem-solving to make “buying local” the easy choice.
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Sunday, July 29, 4 - 7pm
Braden Center Open House
3208 W Broadway, 40211
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All are welcome to the Braden Center Open House Community Celebration. The Carl Braden Center is an historic community center and meeting venue honoring Louisville journalist and civil rights activist Carl Braden, spouse of Anne Braden. This event features a BBQ cook out, music, beloved community and a celebration of Anne Braden's birthday. It is family friendly and wheelchair accessible. Your free will donation will benefit the Braden Center Renovation Campaign.
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Tuesday, July 31, 6:00-8:00 pm
Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice meeting on the
Injustices of a Cash Bail System
Central Presbyterian Church
318 West Kentucky St
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All are welcome to the July Meeting of Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice where we will present a panel and community discussion around the injustices of our cash bail system and it's disportionate impact on people of color.
We will explore the current situation, how we got here as well as actions we can take to dismantle this painful example of our racist system.
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Wednesday July 11 - Friday July 13,
10 am - 3 pm
Making Social Media That Matters Camp for Teens
Presented by Peace Education Program
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This three-day PeaceCasters workshop is for people age 12-17 who want to use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and all social media to create positive change and affect their world (and maybe make some memes while they're at it). Our focus will be on building communication skills and best practices for a respectful social media lifestyle. It will be designed and presented by other young people and is all 100% hands-on.
Session topics will include:
* Social Media Success Stories
* Going Viral - Building Followings
* Creating Messages With Meaning
* Exploring Popular Platforms
* Creating Graphics That "Pop"
* Responding to online bullying
Participants must be ready and willing to interact in small groups. The $45 fee covers lunch and snacks. Some scholarships are available. Online registration is available on our
website. Requests for additional information and general questions can be directed to mark@Peaceeducationprogram.org.
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Thursday and Friday, July 12-13, 8:30-11:30am
Little Peacemakers Camp Days
Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Compassion
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Learn terrific stories for growing hearts, first steps in mindfulness, cooperative game playing, art-making and creative crafts. Kids entering Kindergarten to 2nd Grade this August will work on expanding their natural compassion and gratitude to help build peace and understanding in our world. Cost: $45 per child includes all materials. Write to DrepungGomangCompassion@gmail.com or call 502-614-5616! Some partial scholarships are available due to a kind grant from Kosair Charities.
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Monday – Friday, July 16-20,
8:30am - Noon
Compassionate Kids
Peacemaking Camp
Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Compassion
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Using stories, art and movement, learn about being compassionate, not hurting others, and mindfulness! This morning camp is for children who are entering 3rd to 5th grades in August. DrepungGomangCompassion@gmail.com for more info. $100 per child; registration is filled at 15 children – sign up now by writing DrepungGomangCompassion@gmail.com or calling 502-614-5616! Some partial scholarships are available, with thanks to Kosair Charities.
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On September 8th, after months of organizing and movement-building, the Peoples Climate Movement will move tens of thousands of people across the country into action, joining partners from around the world, to show our elected leaders that we demand action on climate change.
Eight weeks later, millions more will take those demands to the polls, making Climate, Jobs, and Justice central issues in the mid-term elections and beyond. Will you join us?
In the past year Trump has launched unprecedented attacks on our environment, the clean power plan, and the Environmental Protection Agency. His administration has trampled on the rights of frontline communities hardest hit by climate change and deregulated protections for our precious natural resources. The good news? More than ever, people are ready to take action, to hit the streets, and fight back.
With the 2018 midterm elections fast approaching, now is the time to engage and mobilize our communities for climate, jobs, and justice.
Pledge to join tens of thousands of people taking action to demand bold climate action on September 8th, and beyond.
Our communities, our planet, and our future depend on a climate movement that reaches all corners of this country. To change everything, it takes everyone — and with your help we can build a sustainable world for generations to come.
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Statement on the Disruption of Immigration Rally
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Saturday, June 30th, 2018, organizers, allies and accomplices of Mijente Louisville, BLM Louisville, Stand Up Sunday, and LSURJ disrupted a rally that was organized by MoveOn.org and Indivisible KY. The coalition called for rally attendees to march with them in solidarity to the ICE building nearby. An estimated crowd of one thousand individuals pulled away from the rally and chose to join the march, taking over 6th Street and confronting the ICE office directly.
Once in front of ICE, marchers bore witness to the stories and speeches of immigrants and Black and Brown women, including State Representative Attica Scott, and heard calls for increased public action by Mijente and BLM leadership. Collectively, they dismantled the rally’s problematic theme and posture.
We chose to disrupt this event to demonstrate that urgent and radical action is needed, action that centers the voices and concerns of those most immediately impacted by the current administration, and the systemic order that allowed this administration to obtain power.
Our action was in solidarity with a national call to action by Latinx organizations such as Mijente, United We Dream, Dream Defenders and The Majority- a coalition of grassroots groups making up the Movement for Black Lives and immigration justice activists. We organize in the spirit of movement elder Audre Lorde, who reminds us there are no single-issue struggles. Black and Brown liberation work has a long history of organizing in solidarity with one another because we know, we ain’t free ‘til we all free.
Our organizing works to amplify the lives of Black migrants who are often left out of mainstream narratives about immigration. We assert, Black Lives Matter sin fronteras.
Our message:
FAMILIES BELONG TOGETHER.
FREE OUR FUTURE.
SHUT DOWN SESSIONS.
ABOLISH ICE.
“Keep Families Together” is a national series of events sponsored by MoveOn.org, an organization with three stated areas of focus - petitions, political campaigns, and events. In Louisville, the event was organized largely by Indivisible Kentucky, an organization that positions itself as a resistance force to the President and his administration. Both organizations co-opted messages designed by the National Domestic Workers Alliance and other immigrant-focused groups who put their lives and livelihoods on the line. Every day.
Our movement is older than the 2016 election, and requires more than rallies and petitions to achieve our goals. For many folks, the 2016 election opened their eyes to the horrors that marginalized communities (particularly Black and Brown communities) have been facing for centuries. This movement must be led by the communities most affected by these horrors. Rallies, in general, are not problematic. Rallies become problematic when their messaging does not facilitate the liberation of the communities they proclaim to be advocating for.
In the weeks leading up to the event, rally organizers continued to show they were not interested in allowing people of color to lead. Instead of asking Black and Brown leadership what the message of the event should be, they distributed talking points of their own. They made sure to provide an ASL interpreter, but not a Spanish-speaking one. Instead of building upon the work being done every day by Black and Brown organizers, they made sure to distance “their” rally from other events being organized and promoted in the days beforehand.
This is not the first time that Indivisible KY has co-opted action from impacted communities. The leader of the organization, Chris Rowzee, continues to center herself and Indivisible above the liberation of marginalized people. Indivisible KY has proven themselves to be disinterested in any intersectional principles, and resistant to voices of Black and Brown people if it did not serve their own political good. More importantly, Indivisible KY has a history of making space for anti-Black, anti-Brown, and Islamophobic voices, which has forced people of color on the board to leave.
We have an ultimatum: Indivisible KY should continue to organize against Mitch McConnell, or dismantle. Jumping up and centering white leadership over others is not social justice. It is ego.
We know that we must build wide coalitions to grow our work, but we will not allow our leaders to be tokenized in the process. To build a just world, our demands and vision must be out front. To ignore or minimize our voices, especially within progressive movements, becomes white supremacy disguised as “resistance,” which is toxic to our collective liberation.
Our vision of the future requires people to take direct action. We are in a state of emergency, and calls for civility, for asking permission, securing the right permits, and politely debating policies that are deemed “pragmatic” will not save us. These passive actions actually put Black and Brown communities in harm's way. Our liberation is tied to dismantling the police state, not asking permission from it.
We reiterate: People’s humanity is NOT up for debate.
We welcome you to the struggle, and if you are frustrated and want to know what to do: Listen to people of color and let us lead.
Rallies are not enough, it’s time to put our bodies on the line.
To all of those who are ready to act: The time is now.
Be the disruption you seek in the world.
All of us, or none of us.
Abolish ICE.
Black Lives Matter.
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Cultivating Connections | cultivatingconnections@twc.com | CultivatingConnections.org
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