WEEKLY PEACE CALENDAR
June 25, 2024
Monterey County
Quote of the Week:
“Every War in the past 50 years is a result of media lies. If wars can be started by lies, peace can be started by truth.” ~ Julian Assange, WikiLeaks founder
All events are Pacific Time. New items are in blue.
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.
Fridays, 4:30 pm - 6 pm, Vigil For Peace: Gaza Ceasefire Now, outside the office of Congress person Zoe Lofgren, 142 W. Alisal St. in Salinas. Phone MacGregor Eddy at 831-206-5043 for more information. Sponsored by MPJC.
Sundays, 1 pm - 2:30 pm, Vigil For Peace: Salinas Gaza Ceasefire Now, at the Star Market parking lot, corner of S. Main and Blanco Rd., in Salinas. An open, inclusive discussion circle on Kingian Nonviolence will be held at 2 pm. Phone MacGregor Eddy at 831-206-5043 for more information. Sponsored by MPJC.
Sundays 3 pm - 4:30 pm, CEASEFIRE in Gaza Rally at Window on the Bay, 717 Del Monte Ave in Monterey. Organized by Monterey Palestine Solidarity. More info at montereypalestinesolidarity.com
Now through - July 29, every other Monday, 5 pm - 6:30 pm, virtual series on Zoom, Study & Action for Palestine. Late registration is open. Six live sessions, June 17- July 29, every other Monday, + Aug 5 and Aug 19. Register HERE. Suggested registration fee: $175-325. NO ONE WILL BE TURNED AWAY FOR LACK OF FUNDS. Proceeds beyond operating costs will be donated to the Middle East Children's Alliance's Gaza Emergency Fund. Sessions will be recorded. Live attendance is not mandatory. Co-sponsors: US Campaign for Palestinian Rights; Adalah Justice Project; Jewish Voice for Peace; Rabbis for Ceasefire; Showing up for Racial Justice; Catalyst Project; Highlander Center. Questions: info@whiteawake.org
Wednesday, June 26, 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm, in person and on Zoom, Accelerate Your DEI Efforts, a workshop at Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Ave. in Seaside. National Coalition Building Consultants Sue Parris and Tasneem Mohamed will help you uncover the most vital next steps to take in the months and years ahead to advance your organization’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts. This workshop is intended for Executive Directors, Board Members, Personnel Directors, Program Directors, and Program Managers. NAMC Members: $10.00; Non-Members: $20.00. More details and Reserve Tickets HERE.
Wednesday, June 26, 3 pm - 3:45 pm, in person, Concert: Juan L. Sánchez will perform at Jewell Park, Pacific Grove, as part of the Pacific Grove Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. Sponsored by PGPL Friends and Foundation, the Joe Rock Fund, and California State Libraries. Born in Málaga, Spain, Sánchez is a singer/songwriter, educator, and artistic director. He studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid and has released three albums. Co-founder of Palenke Arts, he has been its executive director since 2016.
Thursday, June 27, 10:30 am – 12 pm, virtual event on Zoom, Inclusive Storytelling for Nonprofits. Join the Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) for this free, interactive online workshop to sharpen your skills as an ambassador for your nonprofit mission. Facilitator ileana Ortega Brunetti will help you develop storytelling skills that are inclusive, uplifting, and empowering for organizations and the community. Brunetti has extensive experience working in the nonprofit sector and previously facilitated CNE’s Board Roundtable and Tune in to Your Leadership Voice series. She is a past LEAD Institute participant and a Central Coast native. Register HERE.
Thursday, June 27, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, in person, The Women who Saved Monterey Bay, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1000 Aguajito Rd., Monterey. Speakers Stephen Palumbi, former Director of the Hopkins Marine Lab, and Fionenza Micheli, current Co-director of Hopkins, will share the inspiring journey of saving Monterey Bay's ecosystem. The work of dedicated community leaders and scientists, including Julia Platt, Frances Clark, Isabella Abbott, Julie Packard, Nancy Burnett, and Violet Sage Walker will be highlighted. Make online Reservations HERE, or send a check ($40 for members, $45 for non-members, $25 Low Income/Students) to DWMC, P.O. Box 408, Monterey, CA 93942. Note: Reservations must be received by Tuesday, June 25.
Thursday, June 27, 6 pm, virtual on Zoom, Safe Ag Safe Schools Meeting. Topics include AB 1864 (Connolly) bill and the July 2 hearing in Sacramento; Upcoming DPR Hearings; Farm Bill updates; and a 1,3-D Hearing update. Join directly by ZOOM HERE. Meeting ID: 916 6105 8625. Note: No SASS meeting is scheduled for July.
Thursday, June 27, 7 pm, in person and on Zoom, General Meeting of the Monterey County branch of the NAACP at the Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Ave in the Seaside Room. Members will automatically receive a Zoom link. The meeting will feature guest speaker: Andreas Pyper, Director of Human Resources, Monterey County. Visit the NAACP website HERE for more information.
Peace Pick of the Week!
Friday, June 28, 7 pm – 8:30 pm, in person only, Reflections on Student Movements: From the Vietnam War to the Assault on Gaza, with Dr. Sharat G. Lin. Student protesters have historically played a pivotal role during times of sociopolitical crises. Dr. Lin will explore the legacy of campus activism and how these and other movements have shaped public discourse, influenced policy, and championed global solidarity. Sharat G. Lin is with the San Jose Peace and Justice Center. He writes and lectures on global political power, social movements, and human rights issues. He is also affiliated with the Initiative for Equality and Human Agenda, and is a movement artist. Free event at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. Sponsored by MPJC, the Peace Coalition of Monterey County, VFP Chapter 46, and WILPF Monterey County Branch.
Saturday, June 29, 11 am (parade), 12 pm (celebration) until 3 pm, in person event, 2024 Monterey Peninsula Pride Parade and Celebration sponsored by Monterey Peninsula Pride to celebrate the local LGBTQ+ community in collaboration with friends, family, allies, and supporters. The parade starts at 11:00 am from Alvarado Street and Polk Street in Monterey. Afterward, celebrate with speakers, entertainment, and tabling organizations at Custom House Plaza, starting at 12:00 pm. Find more details HERE. Contact the event organizers by emailing info@peninsulapride.org.
Saturday, June 29, 7 pm and Sunday, June 30, 2 pm, in person, The Mountaintop at the Western Stage Studio Theater, 411 Central Ave. in Salinas. Playwright Katori Hall and Director Rebecca Haley Clark have crafted a gripping reimagining of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s last night on earth. It takes place entirely in Room 306 of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis on April 3, 1968, the eve of his assassination. King had just delivered his most memorable speech, "I've Been to the Mountaintop." Drawing some criticism from the Black community for depicting King in a flawed light, Hall's play presents him as an ordinary man who accomplished extraordinary things. Her aim is to humanize King and inspire ordinary people to see themselves as capable of continuing his legacy. Purchase tickets HERE.
Tuesday, July 2, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, in person, Letter & Postcard Writing, at the PG Juice n’ Java, 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.
Tuesday, July 2, 4 pm - 5 pm, virtual on Zoom, Hands Off Haiti! Against Imperialist Intervention Everywhere - Teach In. Haiti's current situation results from over 200 years of foreign intervention designed to disrupt Haitian political stability. Krys Cerisier will examine the ongoing crisis in Haiti and discuss why imperialist intervention is NEVER the answer. Krys Cerisier is the NYC organizer and War Is Not Green campaign coordinator for CODEPINK. Free event. RVSP HERE to obtain the Zoom join link.
Thursday, July 4, 10 am – 10:45 am, in person, Walk with the Peace Coalition of Monterey County (PCMC) in the July 4th Parade hosted by the City of Monterey. A strong turnout will show that peace activism is alive and well in our community! Please wear white clothing as a symbol of peace and unity. Assemble between 9 am and 10 am in the parking lot behind the Hartnell Professional Center, 576 Hartnell Street (across from the Post Office). Please be in place by 9:45 am. The Parade starts rolling at 10:00 am. Peace symbols and dove signs will be provided -- or bring a sign that promotes peace and justice, but please, no politically divisive messages. Note: Traffic is expected to be heavy. Carpool, walk, or bike if you can. For questions, email PCMC co-chair Sidney Ramsden Scott HERE. Stay and enjoy music, food, and festivities 11 am - 4:30 pm at Colton Hall Lawn at Pacific Street. Find afternoon program details HERE.
Friday, July 12, 3 pm – 4:30 pm, the Monthly Meeting of Veterans For Peace, Monterey Chapter 46. In-person and live-streamed on Zoom. Members and supporters are invited to attend the meeting in person at the Monterey Peace and Justice Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd., in Seaside, CA. Or join directly with NEW 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.
Friday, July 12, 9 am - 3:30 pm, in person, 2024 Monterey County Race Relations Summit Meeting hosted by the Black Leaders and Allies Collaborative (BLAAC). This is a day of important discussions and networking. Hear from guest speakers and community leaders. Be part of the conversation and make a positive impact on our community. Participate in critical discussions and breakouts. Share ideas and new resources for making effective change. Embassy Suites by Hilton Monterey Bay Seaside, 1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Seaside, CA. Reserve tickets HERE. For more information: 831-337-8995 or email thomas@BLAAC.org or admin@blaac.org
Sunday, July 14, 12 noon - 5 pm, in person, 76th Annual Monterey Obon Festival at the Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple, 1155 Noche Buena Ave. in Seaside. Japanese foods, entertainment, ikebana and bonsai exhibits, games for children, and Japanese goods and crafts for sale. Entertainment features martial arts demonstrations, tea ceremony, and Taiko drumming. Later in the afternoon, the colorful Obon Odori, or community Japanese folk dancing. Free event. Donations are gratefully accepted. More details HERE.
Sunday, July 28, 5 pm - 8 pm, in person, Democracy Depends on You! DWMC 2024 Sustainability Gala, Bayonet & Black Horse Restaurant, 1 McClure Way, in Seaside. Two incredible contributors to equity and democracy in Monterey County will be honored, Dr. Dana Kent and Chelsea Tu. Find more details and purchase tickets HERE.
Fridays, August 2, 9, 16, 23, 12 pm – 1 pm, Virtual Book Club: NATO What you Need to Know, with author David Swanson. World BEYOND War will host this weekly one-hour discussion in August. The book is co-authored by David Swanson and Medea Benjamin (who will join one of the sessions). Upon registration, you will receive the Zoom join details and an electronic edition of the book. Register and find more details about the book HERE.
Saturday, August 3, 7 pm – 9 pm, the 20th Annual Hiroshima Nagasaki Remembrance Day & Peace Lantern Ceremony at Lovers Point Cove in Pacific Grove. Beverly Bean will emcee. Keynote Speaker is Dr. Sharat G. Lin.
Program Schedule:
7:00 pm: Lantern making; Monterey’s Taiko drumming group, Shinsho-Mugen Daiko.
7:45 pm: Music, poetry, and messages of hope and peace.
8:15 pm: Launching of the peace lanterns. Tai-Chi Master Jim Scott-Behrends will play the shakuhachi flute while the lanterns float on the cove waters, pulled by kayaks.
Sponsored by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Monterey County Branch, in partnership with the Peace Coalition of Monterey County, Monterey Peninsula Friends Meeting (Quakers), Veterans for Peace Chapter 46, and the Monterey Peace and Justice Center. Event page. Download and/or share the flyer HERE. For more info and to volunteer, contact Beverly Bean at beverygb@gmail.com.
Saturday, August 10, 10 am - 12 pm, online workshop, Yoga & Nonviolence: Moving Toward a State of Inner Peace, with Carla Conde, Integrative Therapist and board member of Pace e Bene. You don't have to be a "yoga person" to enjoy this session. Discover how a moment of mindfulness can transform your entire day. Includes Q&A. $30 suggested; scholarships available. Register HERE.
Sunday, Aug 18, 11 am - 4 pm, in person, 9th Annual Pajaro Valley Pride Celebration, 340 E. Beach Street, Watsonville. Learn about sponsors and volunteer opportunities HERE. Contact: Info@pajarovalleypride.org or visit pajarovalleypride.org
Saturday, September 21, Save the Date for the NAACP Monterey County Branch’s 52nd Annual Life Membership Freedom Fund Banquet to be held at Embassy Suites by Hilton 1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd. Seaside. More details to follow. Meanwhile, the organizers are seeking help with obtaining items and services for the Silent Auction fundraiser. Volunteers are also needed. Contact MCBNAACP1049@gmail.com.
Saturday, Oct 12, 11 am - 3 pm, in person, Annual Salinas Valley Pride Celebrations at Central Park in Salinas. Sign up to host an info table or as a volunteer HERE. Find more details, sign-up for their email list, or RSVP on the Facebook event page HERE.
ACTION AND INFORMATION
Action: Tell Defense Secretary Austin and Admiral Paparo to Cancel RIMPAC. The RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) is the world’s largest international maritime military exercise. It’s held biannually 1971. More than 25,000 personnel from 29 countries will participate in the RIMPAC 2024 exercise scheduled June 26 to Aug. 2, in and around the Hawaiian Islands. Canceling the RIMPAC War Games Now & Forever will be a Peace victory for all. Sponsored by Avaaz.org
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Article: ‘Julian Assange Is Free’: WikiLeaks Founder Strikes Plea Deal With US. By the Common Dreams Staff, June 24, 2024.
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Article: ‘Draft Notice’ from the Shop of Horrors, Will the Senate put 18-26 year-olds into the Selective Service’s automatic draft registration scheme? By Dennis Kucinich, June 24, 2024 for his Substack blog, The Kucinich Report
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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 (ESL) Tutoring Assistants are needed starting in August or September. Flexible schedules are available for classes that are currently held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Even part-time or substitutes are welcome. Training and support materials will be provided. Students are mostly adults. It's an enriching experience! Please contact Susan Morse at smorse21st@gmail.com for more details. Or phone 831-899-7322.
ESL Classes are held 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. 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.
Contact us by email: montereypeaceandjustice@gmail.com
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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