WEEKLY PEACE CALENDAR

April 6, 2024

Monterey County

Quote of the Week:
“When you talk about food and water, people don't want a solution one week from now, one month from now. The solution has to be now.” ~ Chef José Andrés, restaurateur, philanthropist, and founder of World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit that “uses the power of food to heal communities and strengthen economies in times of crisis and beyond.

All events are Pacific Time. New items are in blue.

Saturday, April 6, 1 pm, in person, Commemorate Palestinian Child’s Day. Join Palestine Solidarity Central Coast (PSCC) in flying hundreds of kites over Main Beach next to the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz! Bring a kite! Kites are a symbol of hope and resistance in the face of violent occupation. Kite flying honors the children of Gaza, who in 2011 broke the world record for the most kites flown simultaneously. Learn more about PSCC HERE.

Tuesday, April 9, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, in person, Letter & Postcard Writing, at the PG Juice n’ Java (enter 599 Lighthouse Avenue at 16th Street). Swing Left Monterey Peninsula invites participants to help increase voter turnout by writing Vote Forward letters to low-propensity voters in targeted states. All materials will be provided. RSVP HERE.

Wednesday, April 10, 12 noon, virtual, live-stream only, The League of Women Voters of Monterey County will present this free "Lunch and Learn" talk, Election Options--Ranked Choice Voting. Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) is a different way to tally voter preferences. It allows second, third and lower choices to be counted as lower ranked candidates are eliminated. RCV is currently used in general elections in 16 states. Co-speakers Arash Sayadi (Executive Board Member and Head of Operations of Cal RCV) and Steve Chessin (President of Californians for Electoral Reform) will explain RCV and how it can change elections. To attend, send a message to LWVmryco@gmail.com requesting an invitation. This talk will be recorded and posted on the LWVMC website (under Videos): lwvmryco.org

Friday, April 12, at 3 pm, hybrid: in person and virtual on Zoom, Understanding Your RMD, a free talk by a financial advisor from U.S. Bank of Monterey. Veterans For Peace Chapter 46 is sponsoring this event to help bolster contributions to our organization as we prepare to implement a financial assistance program in the form of scholarships for veterans completing their higher education. All are welcome to come and gain tips about your retirement income while learning about "Smart Giving" using the Required Minimum Distribution from your retirement accounts (pensions, 401k, IRAs, and SEPs) to support causes you believe in. This is a regularly scheduled chapter meeting. In person at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., in Seaside, CA. Or join virtually with the direct Zoom link HERE. VFP Chapter 46 meets the second Friday of each month at 3:00 pm PT at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center in Seaside (Optionally on Zoom.) VFP is open to all veterans and supporters. For more info, visit vfp46.com. For more info, contact Chapter President Michael Dempsey at mikedevfp46@gmail.com.

Saturday, April 13, 9 am - 1 pm, Citizens for Sustainable Marina (C4SM) invites the public to their 18th Annual Earth Day Volunteer Service Day at 190 Seaside Circle near the Marina Library. Volunteers are invited to sign-up at 8:30 am to help with Pollinator Garden Planting, Native Plant Transplanting, Seed Sowing, Litter Pickup, Weeding, French Broom Bashing, Garden Bed Planting, and other service project activities starting at 9 am. Find more info HERE or contact Bruce Delgado at bdelgado62@gmail.com

Saturday April 13, 7 pm - 10 pm, in person, 2024 Women’s Ball! at the Carmel Woman’s Club, located at the corner of Eighth and San Carlos in Carmel, across from Sunset Center. Tickets are $50 and include food, wine and other beverages, one raffle ticket, and dancing. All proceeds benefit the Casa de Noche Buena, a shelter in Seaside for homeless, single women and families with children. Purchase tickets HERE.

Thursday, April 18, 5 pm - 6 pm, hybrid: in person and on Zoom, The Importance of Translation and Interpretation for Achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, presented by Lori Thicke, 2024 William H. and Susanne S. Tyler Visiting Fellow in Residence at Middlebury Inst. of International Studies. Q&A follows. Free public event. Registration required. MIIS Campus, Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce Street, Monterey, CA. Zoom option available. Zoom details will be provided upon registration. Register HERE.

Saturday, April 20, 4 pm - 6 pm, in person, Artist Reception and Exhibition. The League of Women Voters of Monterey County invites the public to a reception for the young artists of the "Your Vote is Your Voice" Art Poster Contest. View the winning art entries and a selection of other art entries on display. Talk with the artists and enjoy refreshments at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd. in Seaside. The exhibit will remain on display through late April 2024, Wednesdays, from 1 pm to 5 pm. Please help us plan for refreshments and space by sending an RSVP indicating number of attendees. Email montereypeaceandjustice@gmail.com or phone 831-899-7322. It's ok to respond "probably" if you aren't sure.

Sunday, April 21, 1 pm – 4 pm, in-person event, Seaside’s 13th Annual Earth Day Celebration and Electric Vehicle Ride, Drive & Display Show. Free, community-wide event at Seaside City Hall Lawn, 440 Harcourt Ave., in Seaside. Music by Palenke Arts youth ensembles, EV Test Drive/Ride/Display Show, a Trashion Show, a tree planting & care demonstration, activities for children, over 30 exhibitor booths, tomato starts (for a small donation), and a free raffle. Find more details HERE. Be part of the Trashion Show; sign up HERE by April 10th! Seaside and Monterey high school students and college students are invited to participate in the Essay and Poetry Contest. The theme is “Healing the Earth: It’s Our Turn to Lead”. $200 cash prizes will be awarded to the best entries in each category (high school and college). Sponsored by Sustainable Seaside, City of Seaside, EVs for Everyone/EVs para Todos, and Central Coast Community Energy (3CE).

Monday, April 22 (Earth Day!), 6 pm - 8 pm, hybrid: in-person and virtual event, “SMELL OF MONEY: Film Screening & Discussion. Elsie Herring, whose grandfather had purchased a plot of land after claiming his freedom from slavery, confronts a corporate hog farm encroaching on their property, sparking a battle against a powerful company and its hazardous pollution. Standing united, her North Carolina community rallies for their rights to clean air, water, and freedom from the stench of pig waste. Stay for a short happy hour with food and drinks afterward. Free event, open to the public. Find the details HERE. Sponsored by the Center for the Blue Economy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies as part of their Environmental Justice and Sustainability Speaker Series. For more info, contact Rachel C. at cbe@middlebury.edu or call 831-647-4183.

Tuesday, April 23, 8 pm - 9:30 pm, in person and virtual, The HUMAN Edition: Essential Observations in the Accelerated Age of Everything, a thought-provoking conversation between prolific authors Douglas Brinkley and Dave Eggers. Sunset Center Theater, Carlos St at Ninth Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Proceeds go to the Carmel Public Library Foundation to support the Carmel Public Library. Purchase General Admission, VIP and Live-stream tickets HERE. More information can be found HERE or call 831-624-2811 or email info@carmelpubliclibraryfoundation.org.

April 25 through May 12. The Reel Work May Day Labor Film Festival. This annual festival takes place in various locations in Central Coast communities during the week of May 1st, International Workers Day. Reel Work presents cultural events and award-winning cinematic representations of labor that include local and international works, and world premieres as well as classics. Film submissions are open for consideration. Visit the website HERE for more details.

Thursday - April 25, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, in person, Housing 911: An Immediate Threat to Humanity, by Dr. Kim Barber and a panel of three community leaders in the forefront of dealing with homelessness. Dr. Barber, Susie Shannon (policy director for Housing is a Human Right), Evangelina Ochoa (former Program Director at Gathering for Women-Monterey), and Alexa Johnson (Executive Director of the Housing Resource Center of Monterey County), will address how the lack of housing impacts Monterey County and how their agencies are helping. The public is invited to attend. Hilton Garden Inn, 1000 Aguajito Rd., Monterey. Register by April 23 at Eventbrite HERE. Learn more HERE.

Saturday, April 27, 6 pm - 8 pm, in person, "Mending Clothes, Mending Hearts" Party and Social Gathering. The Pearl Works at 288 Pearl St. in Monterey will transform their coworking space into a hub of goodwill and repair. Repair your beloved garments and help raise money for Monterey County Community and Human Services houseless programs. Bring a few items of clothing needing repair and mending experts will either teach you how to mend them or else do it for you! The evening includes a raffle and other opportunities to raise money for community human services. Space is limited; reserve your spot HERE.

Saturday, May 4, 5 pm - 8 pm, in person, Together with Love Fundraising Dinner at the picturesque Club at Pasadera, 100 Pasadera Dr. in Monterey. The Monterey County Rape Crisis Center (MCRCC) invites all who believe in their mission -- supporting survivors of sexual violence, child abuse, and human trafficking. Prize bundles will be raffled at the event; prizes include gift certificates to hotels, restaurants, wine, spa services, whale watching tours, and other fun or relaxing activities. You need not be present to win. Raffle tickets may be purchased on the website even if you can't attend the dinner. Dinner and raffle tickets are on sale HERE.

Saturday, May 11, 12 noon, in person, Joan Baez: I am Noise (2023), part of the "Saturday Cinema” film series at the Carmel Foundation’s Diment Hall, located at the Southeast Corner of 8th and Lincoln Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. At the end of a 60-year career, legendary singer and activist Joan Baez takes an honest look back and a deep look inward as she reflects upon her large, history-making life. Documentary (PG-13), runtime 1hr 53min. You must be a current Carmel Foundation member to sign-up for classes and activities. Learn about membership HERE.

Sunday, May 19, 2 pm – 3:30 pm, in person and on Zoom, Steering Meeting for the Peace Coalition of Monterey County, at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., in Seaside. Join by Zoom directly HERE. Meeting ID: 862 5751-7831. Passcode: 892119. For more information, contact co-chair Sidney Ramsden Scott, sramsdenscott@hotmail.com

Saturday-Sunday, June 22-24, 6 am- 6 am, virtual event, Third Annual 24-Hour Peace Wave: No to Militarization – Yes to Cooperation 2024. World BEYOND War and International Peace Bureau (IPB) will live-stream a non-stop 24-hour rolling rally. The program includes video from protests, demonstrations, vigils, teach-ins, music, art, and live speakers. It will follow live peace actions in the streets and squares of the world, moving around the globe with the sun. There will be a live Q&A section on Zoom for the last 10 minutes of each hour. Register and find more info HERE.

ACTION AND INFORMATION

Press Release: Teachers, Community Groups, and Farmworkers File Lawsuit Challenging Toxic Pesticide Approvals Near Public Schools in Monterey County, by Jane Sellen for Californians for Pesticide Reform, April 4, 2024

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Article: World Central Kitchen’s statement about the IDF preliminary investigation, April 5, 2024

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Article: A Genocide Foretold by Chris Hedges, March 31, 2024 for ScheerPost.org.

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Action Alerts: Visit FCNL’s Action Center for a list of action alerts and pre-formatted/editable letters to members of Congress. Hosted by Friends Committee on National Legislation Action Center (FCNL).

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English Second Language Classes: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 pm – 7:30 pm at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., in Seaside. No registration necessary. Walk-ins welcome. Seeking volunteer ESL teaching assistants. More info HERE. Monday and Tuesday classes, contact instructor Carlota Andrews at siandrewso@gmail.com. Tuesday Conversation class, email Susan Morse at smorse21st@gmail.com

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Online Google Calendar! Social Justice Community Calendar, (short for Monterey County Social Justice Community Events Calendar). The primary focus is to list non-partisan social justice events in Monterey County (in-person), and virtual events from any location. It currently appears on the following websites: Monterey Peace and Justice Center, NAACP Monterey Branch, NCBI, The Caste Action Alliance, and Whites for Racial Equity. Help make this a meaningful tool for the community. Contact Anita Crawley acrawley@comcast.net about adding your organization’s events to the calendar.

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Whites for Racial Equity eBlast. Find an online version of the e-Blast.

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IndyBay Event Calendar. Independent open-publishing newswire serving California.

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Local Advocacy: The Monterey County Branch of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) welcomes your membership in an international women’s peace organization that has advocated for peace for more than a century. Learn more about WILPF HERE. Download a copy of the WILPF membership application HERE.

PEACE COALITION INFORMATION

The Peace Coalition of Monterey County (PCMC) is a coalition of eight Monterey County organizations working for nonviolent solutions to world conflicts since 1991. If world peace is one of the concerns of your organization, consider joining the Coalition. Contact Co-chair, Sidney Ramsden Scott at sramsdenscott@hotmail.com.

The Weekly Peace Calendar is a project of PCMC. The calendar evolved in the early 2000’s to facilitate networking among Peace Coalition organizations. The Peace Calendar may be viewed on the Monterey Peace and Justice Center website at tinyurl.com/Weekly-Peace-Calendar.

Please send information about peace, nonviolence, social-justice, democracy and environmental sustainability-related events in Monterey County to Catherine at cm_crockett@sbcglobal.net.

The Weekly Peace Calendar is dedicated to the memory of Joyce Vandevere, who compiled and published this calendar for many years. Joyce died at the age of 94 on February 17, 2021. She is remembered for her lifelong peace and justice activism. Visit the Peace Center in Seaside Wednesday afternoons between 1 pm and 5:30 pm to view the memorial quilt created to honor Joyce’s memory.

Direct your questions about the Peace Coalition of Monterey County to Chair, Sidney Ramsden Scott, sramsdenscott@hotmail.com.

MONTEREY PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER

The Peace and Justice Center at 1364 Fremont Boulevard has reopened and if staffed Wednesdays, 1 pm to 5:30 pm. Wi-fi has been restored and regular cleaning services have been arranged to ensure the health and safety of guests. Contact Catherine Crockett at (831) 899-7322 to arrange venue scheduling and for any questions or concerns about using the Center.

Volunteer Opportunities: To learn about tasks for the Center, leave a message about volunteering at 899-7322 or email montereypeaceandjustice@gmail.com.

History: The Monterey Peace and Justice Center was envisioned and founded by Valori George in 2004 as a venue to support the activities of Monterey Peace Coalition organizations. Since its opening, it has been a networking center and resource center for those groups and others who were working for similar purposes. MPJC moved to its present Seaside location at 1364 Fremont Boulevard in 2008.

The mission of the Monterey Peace and Justice Center is to inspire and mobilize the people of Monterey County to cultivate peace, social justice, nonviolence, democracy, and environmental sustainability in our community and the world through education and advocacy. MPJC presents a wide spectrum of topics to stir up conversation about the issues. The MPJC board does not necessarily endorse the views of every speaker or film. Our aim is to stimulate civil discourse around the issues and encourage participants to become engaged as change makers for a just society.

Website: https://peacecentral.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montereypeaceandjusticecenter/

Donations: Thanks to the continuous generosity of caring people in Monterey County, MPJC is able (when gatherings are allowed) to provide a venue for a host of allied community groups. If you wish to support MPJC’s education and advocacy, you can do so by sending a check to MPJC at P.O. Box 1823, Seaside, CA 93955. Or you can donate securely by PayPal or credit card on MPJC’s website, PeaceCentral.wordpress.org.

Direct your questions about the Monterey Peace and Justice Center to Catherine Crockett, 899-7322 or montereypeaceandjustice@gmail.com.

For more information about events listed, contact the sponsoring organization. The events and actions listed here are not necessarily endorsed by the Peace Coalition nor any of the Coalition organizations other than the sponsor of the listed item. The listings are provided as a community service. PCMC cannot guarantee the accuracy of listed items. To ensure this Peace Calendar is not bounced, add cm_crockett@sbcglobal.net to your address book or whitelist.

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