October Announcements

author : WIP

by WIP

Port of Olympia Prosecution Announcement

Several people have been the subject of prosecution for their participation in demonstrations at the Port of Olympia in November, 2007. Three of the cases, Olympia v. Hutchison, Olympia v. Kohjima and Olympia v. Sloane have been dismissed with prejuduce. Olympia City Prosecutor Kalo Wilcox reported to defense attorney Larry Hildes that “Judge Ahlf's order to dismiss issued on Friday was based on the same facts, evidence, and law that are of dispute in City of Olympia v. Kohjima & City of Olympia v. Sloane. Therefore, the order to dismiss applies directly to Mr. Kohjima's and Ms. Sloane's cases as well.”

Coalition seeks volunteers to serve the homeless

The Close the Gap Coalition is seeking volunteers to help eliminate unsheltered or “street” homelessness. The Coalition aims to boost the volunteer base for existing programs to an extent that opportunities for capacity growth open up.

Setting a target of eighty new regular volunteers, the Coalition seeks volunteers to staff Camp Quixote’s host tent, Interfaith Work’s emergency overflow shelter, and the Family Support Center’s homeless outreach and shelter referral programs. According to a census taken of the homeless last January, 135 households went without shelter. This represents 34% of all households without housing (392 households). A shortage of shelter beds is the most common cause of people sleeping outdoors, according to Kilmoyer. Most of the unsheltered homeless make do by sleeping in cars or under tarps in the woods.

Downtown Olympia has taken the bulk of the public impacts of unsheltered homelessness, spurring the City Council to enact bans on sidewalk-sitting and overnight RV parking. The Close the Gap Coalition intends to reduce or eliminate unsheltered homelessness and its public impacts – thereby eliminating the need to pass similar laws in the future. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Phil Owen, the Family Support Center’s Outreach Coordinator, at 360 754-9297 ext 200.

Women’s Art and Work Collective

A women’s art and work collective has formed in Olympia, WA. WE are having regular “Soup and Bread” meetings once or twice a week. For more info on next meeting place and time, email esmereldamay@yahoo.com

POWER: Call to Artists

POWER will be holding our annual sale and celebration of local artists, POWER-Full Art, on November 29th and 30th. Artists can keep up to 50% of the proceeds, the rest will benefit POWER. If you would like to contribute art or crafts, please contact us at:

360-352-9716 toll free 866-343-9716

welfarerights@riseup.net,

http://www.oly-wa.us/power/

http://www.myspace.com/parentsorganizing

Support Radical Youth

Stonewall Youth Speaker's Bureau is trying to find 30 people to donate $10 a person to help enable them to get to Oakland for the Critical Resistance Conference. Stonewall Youth would like the Speaker's Bureau to have the opportunity to venture out and build community, and see themselves within a broad social justice movement. Convergences like Critical Resistance give them the opportunity to meet other progressively minded organizers, to see the state of what work is being done, and to sustain connections. If you would like to donate $10, please contact Kristyn at 360-951-0741 or send at email to speakersbureau@stonewallyouth.org.

POWER MEETING: Telling Our Stories

Monday, October 6th - telling our stories from a position of power, effective public speaking without victimization We will discuss and practice to build our skills.

POWER is an organization of low-income parents and allies advocating for a strong social safety net while working toward a world where children and care giving are truly valued, and the devastation of poverty has been eradicated.

Enjoy a night out with POWER, Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights, with childcare and a potluck meal. We meet the first Monday of each month at 5:30 at the First United Methodist Church, 1224 Legion Way SE. We end by 8 pm.

We hold volunteer meetings every Wednesday at 1:30 at our office in the Payne Room of the First Christian Church, 701 Franklin Street SE. Get involved!

For more information, contact POWER at 360-352-9716 toll free 866-343-9716

welfarerights@riseup.net , http://www.olywa.us/power/, http://www.myspace.com/parentsorganizing

"Solar Energy: Feasible and Affordable in the Pacific Northwest" with Kirk Haffner of South Sound Solar

Monday, October 13 from 7 - 9 pm, MIXX 96, State and Washington, Olympia

Haffner will address such topics as winter sun, solar orietation, passive design, costs and tax break sand tax breaks, and will answer questions.The event, which is sponsored by Olympia Climate Action, will be held

in the first floor meeting room of MIXX 96, corner of State and

Washington in Olympia.

For further information, please call Barbara at 878-9901.

Computer and Calligraphy Services Barter Fair

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 6 – 9 pm, Olympia, WA.

The Freeschool Community, 610 Columbia Street, Olympia, WA 98501

Are you a woman or women's group in need of business cards? A website? A portfolio? Flyers? Low-Price research? Or other computer work, outreach counseling or a tutor? Want to exchange products or services rather than pay fees? Tired of help from impatient people? Join us! You’re invited to our Computer and Calligraphy Services Barter Fair. We’ve helped women-owned artists, not-for-profit women's projects and feminist activist groups, homeowners renting rooms and more! Also, private presentations available by appointment for local and out-of-state folks bartering for their services or products. Free, with snacks. Love, Warmth, Kindness…Towards Creating a Better world. For details: www.theBeautyofBarter.org.

Day of the Dead Benefit: Dance for Change

Earthbound Productions and The Community Sustaining Fund of Thurston County, are presenting a “Day of the Dead” fund-raising benefit beginning at 7 pm on Saturday evening, November 1, 2008 at the Eagles Ballroom, Fourth Avenue and Plum, Olympia. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door and can be purchased at Traditions or Rainy Day Records.

We thank all the headliner bands for their generous spirit of support. Please come out and listen to a special night of music from local-area bands.

Funds will support two important community institutions in the Olympia area. The Community Sustaining Fund of Thurston County (CSF) was formed almost 20 years ago and provided its first grants in 1989. It has always been guided by a simple motivation - to raise local dollars and turn them into social change. The criteria for grantees are intended to encourage local initiatives to create more democratic, equitable, nonviolent, and environmentally sustainable communities in our communities. The all-volunteer CSF keeps administrative costs to a bare minimum and gives away the money it raises each six month grant cycle to between six and ten qualifying applicants. Earthbound Productions http://www.procession.org/index.php is about making cultural connections between communities and the natural world. Their vision is to inspire a behavior of reverence, respect, and celebration among humankind by cultivating a cultural awareness of our place and responsibility as active participants in the miracle of the natural world. They achieve their vision by advancing effective environmental action and education through creative cultural programs, civic partnerships, and public forums, including Procession of the Species.

Willie Baptist to speak on Movement Building for Economic Human Rights with a speakout and potluck to follow

Saturday, Nov. 1, Talk and Speakout: 5-6:30, potluck dinner 6:30-8

Hosted by Camp Quixote at St. John’s Episcopal Church 114 20th Ave SE in Olympia

Willie Baptist is a formerly homeless father who serves as the Scholar-in-Residence for the Poverty Initiative at Union Theological Seminary where he is responsible for the new Poverty Scholars Program training dozens of low-income leaders to become Scholars-in-Residence for other seminaries, universities, and religious institutions. Coming out of the Watts uprising and the Black Student Movement, Willie has worked as an organizer and leader of the United Steelworkers Union and the National Union of the Homeless. He is former Education Director of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union and currently serves as Coordinator of the University of the Poor.

This community event hopes to encourage dialogue on issues facing poor and low income people in Olympia and around the US and on building a movement to unite the poor and their allies to fight for an end to poverty. There is no charge to get in, but donations will be accepted. Free childcare available. For more information, contact Tony Zaragoza zaragozazaragoza@yahoo.com or (360) 705-2274

After Election Political Music: Jim Page and Teresa Tudury, Together Again After 40 Years

Saturday, November 8th at 8 p. m., Traditions Cafe, 300 5th Avenue SW, Downtown Olympia

Two outstanding and provocative singer songwriters, instrumentalists and social-political commentators share the stage again after over 40 years. In addition to the musicianship and stellar writing both artists mix great humor, strong direct performances, and connect with audiences. Los Angeles Times has called Teresa Tudury "...a star in the making" or the Hollywood Reporter stated is "...a simmering Mother Lode of singing, songwriting, acting, and madcap comedy talent." She is a consummate performer who pours out her original songs with power and passion accompanied by a bluesy guitar and can deliver social commentary, cabaret, and bluesy love songs equally well. Utah Phillips has said that “Jim Page’s songs get right to the point. He looks at the world clearly and reports what he sees with compassion, humor and a biting sense of irony. And boy! can he sing and play. If you’re ever going to get the message, this is the messenger to get it from.”

Tickets $12 General $8 student/low income, for more info, call 360-705-2819