WEEKLY PEACE CALENDAR

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Wednesday, March 11, 12:30 pm, in person, Water 101:  Who’s in Charge? with Janet Brennan, League Board member and Chair of the Board of the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency; George Riley, Chair of Board of Directors of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, and Gail Morton, President of the Board of the Marina Coast Water District.  Free talk presented by the League of Women Voters of Monterey County at their monthly “Lunch & Learn” meeting at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 490 Aguajito Rd. in Carmel.  Lunch reservations have closed.

Presentation starts at 12:30 pm. Find more details HERE. Recording will be posted on the LWVMC website, under Videos.

Thursday, March 12, 2:45 pm – 4 pm, in person, Operation North Star, a monthly action at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, Sloat Ave Gate, organized by Veterans For Peace Chapter 46 to call on Naval officers to follow their conscience and reject unlawful orders. Bring signs of encouragement, support, and education. For more info, visit www.vfp46.org or contact Justin Loza, Justin.Loza.vfp46@gmail.com

Thursday, March 12, 6 pm - 8 pm, in person, CA Gubernatorial Debate with candidates Secretary Xavier Bacerra, Ian Calderon, Mayor Matt Mahan, Tom Steyer, and Betty Yee.  Reserve tickets HERE. Co-sponsored by the Democratic Women of Monterey County, the Democratic Women's Club of Santa Cruz County, and the San Benito County Democrats.

Starting Thursday, March 12, in person, the 14th Annual Watsonville Film Festival. This year’s theme, Art as Resistance, affirms that film and storytelling are vital forces for truth, representation, and cultural resistance.  Find tickets and scheduling HERE.

March 12-15, Cinelux Green Valley Cinemas, 1125 S Green Valley Rd, Watsonville

March 19-20, Maya Cinemas, 153 Main St., Salinas

March 21, The 418 Project, 155 River St., Santa Cruz

Friday, March 13, 3 pm – 4:30 pm, in person and on Zoom, Monthly Meeting of Veterans For Peace, Monterey County Chapter 46.  Members and allies are invited to attend the meeting in person at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., in Seaside.  Or join via Zoom, directly HERE. Passcode 678017.  For more info, contact Chapter President Justin Loza at justin.loza.vfp46@gmail.com. Chapter 46 meets on the second Friday of each month at 3:00 pm at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center in Seaside (Optionally on Zoom).  Visit the website and blog at vfp46.org. Follow on Facebook JohnSteinbeckIV and on BlueSky Social vfp46.bsky.social

Friday, March 13, 6 pm - 7:30 pm, in person, Getting Out the Vote Panel Discussion at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula (UUCMP), 490 Aguajito Rd., Carmel. This month’s MC Million Rising gathering is a special collaboration with Indivisible Monterey Bay and the UU Social Justice Committee. RSVP HERE. Stay informed about MC Million Rising actions and resources by reviewing their running notes.  Connect by emailing your name and how you heard about the group to mcmillionrising@gmail.com.

Thursday, March 14, 10 am – 12 noon, in person, Aromas Highway 101 San Juan Road Overpass Event. A new message each week! Sign up for details about the location. Help display a 50' long sign visible to thousands of motorists on Highway 101.   Organized by the Aromas Tri-County Indivisible. 

Saturday, March 14, 6 pm, in person, screening of Fruits of Labor (2021), followed by a discussion with filmmaker Emily Cohen Ibañez, Ph.D., at JACL Hall, 424 Adams Street, Monterey. Filmed in Watsonville, this lyrical documentary follows a Mexican-American teen striving to graduate from high school as increased ICE raids force her to become her family’s main provider. RSVP by March 10th with an email to jacl93940@gmail.com. Seating is limited to the first 100 persons.  More details HERE.

Monday, March 16, 7 pm – 8:30 pm, virtual on Zoom, Aromas Tri-county Indivisible (ATI) General Membership Meeting.  Learn about ATI’s work, ask questions, and help plan future actions, such as the No Kings III activities in Aromas and San Juan Bautista on March 28.  Find more details and register on Mobilize.  

Wednesday, March 18, 4 pm - 5:30 pm, virtual on Zoom, Beyond ICE Watch: Building for Community Defense.  90-minute training covers the basics of ICE operations, rapid response tactics, and safety guidance to effectively protect your neighborhoods from federal enforcement incursions. Register HERE. Organized by States at the Core

Wednesday, March 18, 5:30 pm reception; 6:30 pm program, in person, Food is Medicine, with Dr. Erin O'Dwyer, Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University.  Learn how social and structural forces shape food systems and how we can transition toward models that are sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient.   Cal State Monterey Bay University Center, 100 Campus Ctr, Seaside.  Free event.  RSVP HERE. 

Saturday, March 21, 1 pm - 3 pm, in person, Never Can Say Goodbye: Book Talk & Workshop, author Darnell Lamont Walker will discuss his new book and lead attendees in a workshop creating space for connection, care, and mutual support while navigating hard conversations together, at the SandBox, 440 Ortiz Ave., Sand City.  Walker is a Death Doula, Emmy-Nominated Writer & Cultural anthropologist whose work lives at the intersection of creativity, care, and transition. Tickets HERE.

Saturday, March 21, 7 pm - 8:30 pm, in person, Rhythms of Resistance - La Mezcla in Concert, presented by Palenke Arts at the World Theater, 5260 6th Ave, on the campus of Cal State Monterey Bay.  La Mezcla is a womxn-led polyrhythmic, San Francisco-based dance and music ensemble founded by Vanessa Sanchez in 2015.  The repertoire is rooted in Chicana, Latina, and Indigenous traditions and blends Tap, Son Jarocho, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms to elevate overlooked histories and experiences of communities of color. Tickets HERE.

Tuesday, March 24 (and other dates through June 30th), 7 pm - 8 pm, Virtual Workshop:  Yes You Can(vass)!  If you've never canvassed or just need a refresher, sign up for one of these workshops. They're offered on Tuesday dates starting through June. Learn how to register voters and to have deep, meaningful conversations with voters.  Sign up HERE. For more Bay Area Coalition actions, visit https://bayareacoalition.org.

Friday, March 27, In the Wake of Gaza, West Bank Palestinians Build Self-reliance.  An in-depth conversation with Dr. Sharat G. Lin.  While global attention focuses on Gaza, the crisis in the West Bank deepens. Dr. Lin examines how the interconnected realities across occupied territories and the mounting pressures from state-supported settler expansion are being met with resistance and resilience—a free event at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., Seaside.  RSVP on Eventbrite. Sponsored by MPJC, Veterans For Peace, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Monterey County Branch, and the Peace Coalition of Monterey County.

Saturday, March 28, 2 pm – 4 pm, in person, Mass Rally: NO KINGS Monterey at Window on the Bay, 717 Del Monte Blvd., Monterey.  Rise up, take to the streets, and say it loud: No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings. We have the power and are claiming it together.  RSVP HERE.  Sign up to Volunteer at the rally. Donate to help cover Rally costs.

Mondays, April 6 through June 1, 4 pm – 6 pm, in person, Empathy in Action: Spring 2026 Series. Enroll today for the 8-week Spring 2026 cohort. Each weekly session (excluding holidays) is held at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad. Each 30-45-member cohort will meet weekly with individuals incarcerated at CTF to explore issues like societal trauma, racism, domestic violence, and drug abuse.  An initiative of the Transformative Justice Center based in Monterey.  To sign up, complete the contact form HERE or email mmcdrew@transformativejusticecenter.org

Tuesday, April 7, 5:30 pm - 6:30 (Talk and presentation); 6:30 pm -7:15 pm (book signing and reception), in person, Branding the Enemy: Terror Lists, Venezuela & the Fight Over ‘Antifa’ with Professor Jason Blazakis.  Books will be available for purchase.  McCone Building, Irvine Auditorium, 499 Pierce St., Monterey.  RSVP HERE. Co-sponsored by the Monterey Public Library Friends & Foundation and the Gerry Taylor Seminars Endowment Fund.

Saturday, April 11, 5 pm - 9 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, and wineries, as well as spa services, whale-watching tours, and other fun or relaxing activities.  You won't need to be present. 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, April 18, 5:30 pm – 8 pm, in person, The Earth’s Greatest Enemy, free film screening at the Marina Library Community Room, 190 Seaside Circle, Marina.  A documentary by Abby Martin and award-winning journalist Dahr Jamail, filmed on the frontlines of U.S. Imperialism, where cities are resisting the construction of U.S. bases, dealing with the impacts of toxic military dump zones, and experiencing the hidden costs of U.S. militarism on people and the planet. Q&A after the film. More details to follow. Sponsored by Veterans For Peace Chapter 46. https://earthsgreatestenemy.com/

Tuesdays in May (May 5, 12, 19, and 26), 6:30 pm – 8 pm, virtual series, Organizing for Climate Resilience: with Cherice Bock. Help build climate resilience in our communities.  Explore how faith communities can serve as hubs for connection and steward their land to heal local ecosystems. Click to Register.  Sliding scale cost.  Offered by the Ben Lomond Quaker Center.

Saturday, May 2, 9 am, in person, NAMI Walks at Toro County Park, 501 Monterey-Salinas Highway 68 in Salinas.  It’s a day where individuals, families, and communities come together for one powerful purpose: Mental Health for All.  Every dollar raised funds NAMI’s free programs, support groups, and advocacy efforts here in our community.   Sponsorships are needed to make this event possible. Questions: contact Maria Zamudio Garcia at 831-422-6264 or mzamudio@namimonterey.org, or visit the website. 

Mondays, 6 pm – 7:45 pm, English Second Language Classes at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., in Seaside.  No registration necessary.  Walk-ins welcome. For more information, text, or phone Alex Stampher at 831-899-7322.

Thursdays, 5 pm – 7:30 pm, English and Spanish for Citizenship, ESL and español para la ciudananía at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., in Seaside.  Practice basic language skills in English and Spanish.  Conversations vary depending on level and interests of participants. No registration necessary.  Walk-ins welcome. For more information, text or phone Alex Stampher at 831-899-7322.

Thursdays, 24-hour Economic Boycott!  Let your economic power send a message to the big corporations that exploit workers, fuel militarism, suppress unions, or abandon diversity, equity, and inclusion. Demand accountability and justice. Try to shop locally, if you must spend. Resources: WagingNonviolence.org and ChooseDemocracy.us/boycott-central/

Fridays, 4 pm - 5 pm, Peace Message Fridays at Window on the Bay, 717 Del Monte Avenue in Monterey, organized by the Peace Coalition of Monterey County.  Contact Sidney Ramsden Scott at sramsdenscott@hotmail.com for more information.

Saturdays, 1 pm - 3 pm, Defends of Democracy: Protest at Window on the Bay, 717 Del Monte Ave., Monterey.  This is a nonviolent weekly action to protest the corrupt and fascist Trump Regime. We the People Will Not Be Silenced!

First and Third Sundays of each month, 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm, Vigil For Peace at the Star Market parking lot, corner of S. Main and Blanco Road, Salinas.  This vigil intends to bear witness to the prospects for peace everywhere. It is guided by Quaker testimony and Dr. King's historic Principles of Nonviolent Action: fearlessness, community-building, pursuit of direct action for the cause, aversion of internal spiritual violence, as well as external violence and injustice. Sponsored by the Live Oak Friends Meeting.  Email John Silva at roycamp39@gmail.com for more information.

Sundays, 3 pm - 5 pm, No Rest Until Liberation for Palestine, at Window on the Bay, 717 Del Monte Ave in Monterey.  Activities include information sharing, art, street protest, music, community, and food. Rain or shine. Signs are available, or bring your own. Organized by Monterey Palestine Solidarity.  More info, email montereypalestinesolidarity@gmail.com