Keep up with some of the coolest grass-roots organizing going on in Kalamazoo: Follow Occupy on facebook!
Peace Center Fundraiser With musical guests Elisabeth Pixley-Fink and Laurel Premo! 5/17
Thursday May 17th from 8 to 11pm at The Old Dog Tavern!
The Peace Center needs to raise $70k for our new building. Securing grants will be far more likely if we can illustrate the community support we have by successful fundraisers like this. Currently we have Laurel Premo and Elisabeth Pixley-Fink Lined up.
Please come out and join the fun!$5-$10 sliding scale donation
Laurel Premo shares a music full of life that draws from Appalachian, Scandinavian, Folk and Blues roots. From haunting old ballads to feverish instrumental compositions.http://www.laurelpremo.com/
Her music is made for all ears. Laurel plays a variety of instruments, including claw hammer banjo, guitar, violin, cittern and voice, with an emphasis on rhythm and a connection to traditional folk dance. Laurel has two solo albums, Stung by the Nettle (2009) and Innertwine (2008), and has supported many other artists on recording projects. Laurel’s current musical endeavors have brought her all around the country and even to Denmark. She is currently performing exclusively with the project, Red Tail Ring: a young-gun roots duo based in Kalamazoo, MI.Elisabeth Pixley-Fink is a Kalamazoo, Michigan-based singer, lyricist, composer, pianist, guitar/banjo PLAYer, and cultural worker.
www.elisabethpixleyfink.comShe grew up studying classical piano and singing harmonies with her family. Elisabeth’s playful and moving participatory performances are inspired by her work as a childhood outdoor educator, naturalist, and movement artist. Her sound is inspired by Michigan folk, Motown, songbirds, and water.
From the depths and range of her voice emerge well-crafted songs: jumpy joyful ditties, tunes for healing, aching songs that swell with unhurried intensity.
Occupy Kalamazoo
Remember: You Can Fix Racism! Tonight at the BHC Ballroom 6:30
You Can Fix Racism
Monday April 16th, 6:30pm WMU Bernhard Center Ballroom
(tea time with damali at 3:30 at the Oaklands, WMU)
damali ayo is a keen observer of culture, and has a passion for helping people grow and our world evolve. damali and her work have been featured in over 100 publications world-wide. She has been a frequent guest commentator on public radio. damali is a dynamic personality who brings energy, inspiration, and positivity wherever she goes. Her books, art, lectures, and workshops have tackled one of our culture’s toughest topics– race, and made it manageable and fun. How to Rent a Negro was acclaimed as “one of the most trenchant and amusing commentaries on contemporary race relations.” It was granted a 2005 Honorable Mention in the Outstanding Book Awards from the Gustavus Meyers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights. Her radio story “Living Flag: Panhandling for Reparations” won a Silver Reel Award from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters.
http://damaliayo.com/
There is a an interview with her on WMUK that can be found here http://wmuk.org/news/select/275971/WMU_speaker_says__You_Can_Fix_Racism__
By: Andy Robins
April 13, 2012
WMUK
damali ayo says she wants people to talk to each other and laugh together when the subject is racism. She’ll bring a multi-media program she hopes will do that to Kalamazoo on Monday, April 16th. ayo, who spells her name without capital letters, is an artist and performer of mixed-race background who has made racial issues the subject of much of her work.
ayo describes her program You Can Fix Racism! as a “fun, interactive” way to talk about racism. It has ten points: five are for white people and five for people of color. The first one for whites is: “Admit it”. But ayo says it isn’t about admitting that they are racists. The first point for people of color is: “Get real”. ayo says the lists are different because people on different sides of the issue don’t have the same needs and experiences. But she urges both groups to educate themselves about racism.
ayo is also an author of two books of satire. She published How to Rent a Negro in 2005. That was followed byObamistan! Land Without Racism: Your Guide to the New America in 2010. When asked if she believes racism can be eliminated, ayo says she prefers to “err on the side of optimism”.
You Can Fix Racism! starts at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the North Ballroom at Western Michigan University’s Bernhard Center. The event is sponsored by the Kalamazoo Peace Center and the student group College Democrats.
© Copyright 2012, WMUK
Earth Week 2012
April 15 at 12:00pm until April 22 at 11:30pm
|
Earth Week is a week long celebration of this planet we all call home packed full of events about lovin the earth! (Keep checking this page as more events will be added as time goes on)*Sun 15th:
SustainabiliBASH: Mon 16th: 25% by 2025 Call to Action: You Can Fix Racism: Tue 17th: Campus Beet film night double feature: FARMAGEDDON and The GREENHORNS. 4-9pm room 213 Bernhard Center (FREE!) Jobs 21: Wed 18th: Campus Beet Weekly Wednesday Lunch: Really, Really FREE Market, Spring Edition: Wesley Wednesday: The Climate Challenge: Thu 19th: Arbor Day!: Goin’ Off Da Grid: Beyond Nuclear: Fri 20th: Invasive Plant Removal, Kleinstuck Preserve: Kalamazoo River Update: Sat 21st: Fair Farm Bill Call-in Day: Earth Day Celebration at the Kalamazoo Nature Center: Earth Day Concert: Sun 22nd: EARTH DAY!!!: Earth Day Events: Campus BEET Community Garden Earth Day Workday: Wildflower Walk Kalamazoo Nature Center: Public Tour: Earth Day – WMAS Artists Kalamazoo Institute of Arts: Kellogg Bird Sanctuary: Some events are SAF funded, through the student activity fee |
damali ayo
You Can Fix Racism
Monday April 16th, 6:30pm WMU Bernhard Center Ballroom
Tea Time with damali right before the event, 3:30pm at the Oaklands (across from the Bernhard Center)
damali ayo is a keen observer of culture, and has a passion for helping people grow and our world evolve. damali and her work have been featured in over 100 publications world-wide. She has been a frequent guest commentator on public radio. damali is a dynamic personality who brings energy, inspiration, and positivity wherever she goes. Her books, art, lectures, and workshops have tackled one of our culture’s toughest topics– race, and made it manageable and fun. How to Rent a Negro was acclaimed as “one of the most trenchant and amusing commentaries on contemporary race relations.” It was granted a 2005 Honorable Mention in the Outstanding Book Awards from the Gustavus Meyers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights. Her radio story “Living Flag: Panhandling for Reparations” won a Silver Reel Award from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters.
http://damaliayo.com/
http://damaliayo.com/
HullabaZOO : A Celebration of DIY
April 14th, 1pm-8pm
Kalamazoo and southwest Michigan in general are teeming with talented individuals who are full of knowledge and inspirational hobbies. On April 14th, from 1pm-8pm at the Wesley Foundation on Western Michigan University’s campus, there will be local vendors selling handmade crafts and goods, local community members giving free workshops, and local artists playing music for free.
Folks, this is a large part of what DIT is all about : forming strong communities that connect and sustain a culture of independence. How do we represent those things? By celebrating and demonstrating, of course!
Local vendors will be selling handmade and up-cycled crafts. Supporting these artists will help keep money local and support hard-working micro-businesses these people maintain. Buying locally helps people value their purchase more, allows them to know the maker of the product, and forms a relationship that isn’t based on consumption or profit for either party. Some handmade things that will be for sale include : quality leather-goods, recycled notebooks, zines, scarves, clothes, jewelry, buttons, and magnets. Some vintage clothing will also be for sale and Already Dead Tapes and Records will be selling items from their label.
Local and touring artists are playing music free of charge. As vendors sell their goods, mostly acoustic artists will play music to soothe your ears. Some local favorites include Arms Akimbo, Tim Tapper, and Jarad Selner. A special visit by the Grand Rapids band “Patchwork” will be sure to delight all. Touring musicians include Kyle Thomas and Brian Franklin. Several all of these artists will have merchandise to purchase in support of their project and out-of-town/touring acts will be taking donations for travel.
Workshops are free. This means that a whole handful of people are passionate enough to share the knowledge they’ve gained in certain areas to those who are interested and willing to learn it. This is a sacrifice of their time and planning beforehand, all to bring you something you can benefit from. This is because communities should provide for one another. Here is the schedule of workshops:
1:30 — 2:30 : Screenprinting with Clem.
2:30 — 3:30 : Tie-Dying with Rory Svekric.
3:30 — 4:30 : Bike Maintenence with T.O.A.D. Bicycle Cooperative.
4:30 — 5:30 : Community Organizing with Marlee Grace of Brave Habits.
5:30 — 6:30 : Zine Making with Karen Heerenga of Mixtapers Do It Better.
6:30 — 7:30 : D.I.Y. ’til We Die: How and Why we Create Alternatives to Mainstream Culture with Lori of Sprout Anarchist Collective.
Food is in the process of being figured out, but it is possible that Food Not Bombs will provide some food, as well as the Campus Beet providing snacks for a small fee. If nothing else, HullabaZOO planners will be sure to give you a list of places nearby that you can easily find delicious grub.
This event is a chance to make new friends, learn new things about this wonderful city, and appreciate those around you. Embrace what you have. HullabaZOO!
Eyes wide open date change because of rain.
Due to Rain, today’s Eyes Wide Open exhibit is switched to Thursday.
It will be in front of Miller Auditorium 9:30-5 Volunteers please come at 8:30 to set up, 8pm to break down.
Wednesday in front of the Bernhard Center is still on.
http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news/2012/04/001.html
Occupy WMU General Assembly
Occupy WMU-General Assembly.
Thursday 6:45pm Flagpoles WMU
Education is a right! Call to action, Call for a WMU General Assembly
High Tuition, Dept, lack of jobs for graduates.
How much debt you will be in when you graduate? How much of what you will ultimately pay for your student loan will go towards education and how much will end up lining the pockets of financial institutions that contribute nothing to education?
Higher education is the fundamental bedrock of American society. Education drives our ability to innovate, 0and is directly correlated to our future as a prosperous, successful nation. Education is the pathway for immigrants to find success and contributes to students becoming upstanding citizens and life-long taxpayers and learners.
The average cost of college has gone up by over 66% over the last 20 years(http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=76) while administrator salaries have risen considerably. (http://chronicle.com/article/Presidents-Defend-Their-Pay-as/126971/) At the same time, it has become harder for graduates to find well paying jobs. Recent graduates have seen a 10% decrease in their income since 2006, according to the New York Times. (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/business/economy/19grads.html)
It is time that we stand together and protect higher education in America. Let’s stop burdening our youth with over $20,000 in student loans by the time they graduate. We believe that everyone should have the right to an affordable, quality education without fear of financial ruin. Education for the 99% should NOT be dictated by the financial gains of the 1%.
WMU Peace Week 2012
It is that time of year again, the time of year when the Kalamazoo Peace Center hosts its annual Peace Week. This year features inspiring speakers, performers, workshops and exhibits. It runs April 2nd-April 6th with a keynote speech by damali ayo on April 16th. There will also be a great festival/workshop feturing DIY workshops, live music and lots of fun locally made items on Saturday April 14th called HullabaZOO. For more information and a schedule of events see below:
Schedule:
- April 2nd: Guided Nature Walk at West Lake Nature Preserve and Bog in Portage. Mr. Wil Reding of Rent a Rambling Naturalist will join us for the weekly SECO nature walk. He will teach us all about the native species growing and living in the preserve. Meet at the Wesley Foundation parking lot at 5pm to carpool to the preserve. The event is FREE and open to the public. If you plan on attending and will need a ride please let us know at seco.rso@gmail.com.
- April 3rd and 4th: Eyes Wide Open Exhibit to be held on WMU’s campus at the flagpoles. Eyes Wide Open is an exhibit created by the American Friends Service Committee observing the American soldiers and marines that have died in the Iraq War. It contains a pair of combat boots to represent every American soldier and marine that has died in the war, as well as shoes representing Iraqi civilians who have lost their lives during the invasion and occupation. The exhibit at WMU will feature boots from soldiers and marines from Michigan who died in the war. Come view Eyes Wide Open to get a visual sense of the human cost of war.
- April 5th: Never Alone Tour. 4-6pm, WMU, Bernhard Center, Brown and Gold room. Never Alone is a nationwide tour in April 2012, featuring Sacramento Prisoner Support and Marie Mason Support Crew speaking about long-term anarchist prisoner support. Focusing specifically on the cases of Eric McDavid and Marie Mason, the tour will mark the spots where the events of these cases unfolded, using multimedia presentations to bring the facts of these cases to light.As well as raising awareness and support for Eric and Marie, the tour will also feature strategizing about how to more effectively grow a culture of resistance that can breach the prison walls and sustain us and our friends for the long term, a security culture beyond 101 workshop (updated for 2012, now with extra tech!) and some awesome guest speakers. Truly, you won’t want to miss this.
For more information vistit: http://neveralonetour.wordpress.com/ - April 6th: Eyes Wide Open at the Kalamazoo Art Hop (Park Trades Center). 5-9pm, see Eyes Wide Open April 3-4 for more details.
- April 14th: HullabaZOO. At the Wesley Foundation. DIY is a sustainable lifestyle, a sub-culture of re-use and re-cycling, a community mindset of non-discrimination and support that gives power back to the individual and not to the corporation. Join us as we celebrate the know-hows and the whatnots of DIY! on the first floor of the building we will be having tons of local/nearby vendors selling their wares. on the second floor, we will be having workshops and live acoustic music for the duration of the event. there will also be a Really Really Free Market [take what you can use, bring what you don't need or want anymore! yes, it's really REALLY free!]. times and order are not set in stone as of this point, and may be changed!Workshops:
1:30 — 2:30 : Screenprinting with Clem.
2:30 — 3:30 : Tie-Dying with Rory Svekric.
3:30 — 4:30 : Community Organizing with Marlee Grace of Brave Habits.
4:30 — 5:30 : Bike Maintenence with T.O.A.D. Bicycle Cooperative.
5:30 — 6:30 : Zine Making with Karen Heerenga of Mixtapers Do It Better.
6:30 — 7:30 : D.I.Y. ’til We Die: How and Why we Create Alternatives to Mainstream Culture with Lori of Sprout Anarchist Collective.Some Vendors:
Marlee Grace
http://www.marleegrace.com/
Homemade is Better — Korrine Wojcik
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mynameiskorrine
Studio Night Flower — Hannah Perkins
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/studionightflower
Delanie King
http://www.etsy.com/shop/delainie
Storybook Revival — Kelsey Mansberger
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleMissBigDeal
Midnight Muse Collections — Celestina McCormick
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MrsMidnightMuse
We still have plenty of room left! If you or someone you know are interested in having a table at the event, please contact Nola at nola.c.wiersma@wmich.edu.
- April 16th: Keynote Speaker, damali ayo. You Can Fix Racism
Monday April 9th, 6:30pm WMU, Bernhard Center, South Ballroomdamali ayo is a keen observer of culture, and has a passion for helping people grow and our world evolve. damali and her work have been featured in over 100 publications world-wide. She has been a frequent guest commentator on public radio. damali is a dynamic personality who brings energy, inspiration, and positivity wherever she goes. Her books, art, lectures, and workshops have tackled one of our culture’s toughest topics– race, and made it manageable and fun. How to Rent a Negro was acclaimed as “one of the most trenchant and amusing commentaries on contemporary race relations.” It was granted a 2005 Honorable Mention in the Outstanding Book Awards from the Gustavus Meyers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights. Her radio story “Living Flag: Panhandling for Reparations” won a Silver Reel Award from the National Federation of Community Broadcasters.
http://damaliayo.com/
We have a really great line up for Peace Week this year and can’t wait to see you all there!!!
Peace!
WMU Non-Profit Fair 2012
More than 300 community partners have been invited to showcase their work and offer potential opportunities for students seeking service learning settings, internships and volunteer spots at a Nonprofit Fair scheduled for Friday, March 23,on the campus of Western Michigan University.
The fair will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Bernhard Center ballrooms, and is sponsored by the Office of Service Learning, Career and Student Employment Services, and Student Leadership and Activities Programs.
For more information, contact Shawn Tenney, WMU coordinator of Service Learning, at shawn.l.tenney@wmich.edu or (269) 387-2139.
