What Makes Us Houston Strong?

The Briar Club 2603 Timmons Lane, Houston

Hurricane Harvey brought historic challenges to Houston.  Compassionate responses from so many reveal our city's hidden strengths. How can we continue to be a compassionate city for those who are still impacted by Harvey and beyond?

Jill Carroll, PhD is a scholar, writer, and expert on World Religions and public life. For many years she has taught and provided religious diversity and global skills training for corporations and non-profits. She has published numerous books and articles on world religions, interfaith relations, and public life.
 
Join us for a compelling presentation where Dr. Jill Carroll will enlighten us on how our city of diverse faiths, backgrounds, and perspectives helped us all rise and respond with compassion in the wake of Harvey.

Free

Art & Activism: An Evening with Peter Sellars

Rothko Chapel 3900 Yupon St, Houston

The arts play an important connecting role in society in ways that other sectors cannot. Artists can move through a variety of environments using music, performance, visual arts and other media to address difficult topics, challenge cultural stigmas, bring diverse people together, and provoke new ways of thinking that can lead to powerful social and political changes. In a time of censorship, political bullying, and polarization between people, where do the arts stand today, locally and nationally? What is the role of the arts as commentator and catalyst for social justice? And what is the responsibility of cultural institutions and patrons for preserving the arts as a voice for the public?

In partnership with Houston Grand Opera and in conjunction with their initiative Seeking the Human Spirit, join the Rothko Chapel for a conversation exploring arts and activism in society today from the perspectives of the artist, cultural institution and funder.

The conversation participants include Peter Sellars, renowned opera and theater director and professor at UCLA; Debbie McNulty, Director of Mayor Turner's Office of Cultural Affairs; and Patrick Summers, Artistic and Music Director of Houston Grand Opera; moderated by the Rothko Chapel’s Executive Director David Leslie.

$20

Houston Green Film Series: Before the Flood

Rice Media Center Rice University Entrance #8 University and Stockton, Houston

If you could know the truth about the threat of climate change — would you want to know? Before the Flood, presented by National Geographic, features Leonardo DiCaprio on a journey as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, traveling to five continents and the Arctic to witness climate change firsthand. He goes on expeditions with scientists uncovering the reality of climate change and meets with political leaders fighting against inaction. He also discovers a calculated disinformation campaign orchestrated by powerful special interests working to confuse the public about the urgency of the growing climate crisis. With unprecedented access to thought leaders around the world, DiCaprio searches for hope in a rising tide of catastrophic news. March 21, 2018, at Rice Media Center. 6:30 PM conversation, networking, and a light meal; 7:00 PM screening. Free to the public, though donations are kindly appreciated.

Free

Pax Christi Texas 2018 State Conference

Dominican Sisters of Houston Spirituality Center Meeting Room 6501 Almeda Rd, Houston

"When people in a democracy are not educated in the art of living --- to strengthen their conscience, compassion, and ability to question and think critically --- they can be easily manipulated by fear and propaganda.  A democracy is only as wise as its citizens, and a democracy of ignorant citizens can be as dangerous as a dictatorship."

$40 – $50

Building Healthy Soil Saves Time and Money Now!

online not applicable, not applicable, United States

Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church invites you to a monthly environmental education web meeting series whose theme in 2018 is Stewardship. At the March web meeting, we welcome John Ferguson, soil scientist & owner of Nature's Way Resources, a Houston-based composting, mulch & recycling firm.   John's talk is an introduction to a new model of soil science and fertility management called the “Soil Food Web”.  It explains how biological (organic) methods work and how they save you time and money in your gardening projects by preventing many problems. The biological methods are sustainable; greatly reduce water requirements, prevent problems, eliminate air and water pollution, sequester carbon, and lower total management costs from property management to erosion control. Learn from the man whose personal garden has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens and several gardening books. After John’s talk, there will be time for Q&A.

Free

Repro Power Houston Speakout!

City Hall 901 Bagby, Houston, TX, United States

Join us to kick off our campaign for abortion access and reproductive justice in Houston and Harris County. Houstonians will share their experiences accessing abortion and being faced with reproductive oppressions through personal storytelling.

Together, let's envision a Houston and a Texas in which there is widespread public support for abortion access, racial, economic, and gender justice, equitable pay & leave policies, justice for undocumented people, and more!

Repro Power Houston is part of a multi-city initiative led by the Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity, the Texas Equal Access Fund, the West Fund and NARAL Pro-Choice Texas to build a groundswell of support for abortion access and reproductive justice in local communities.

Free

Academy Award Winner Sean Penn: ‘Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff’

The Ballroom at Bayou Place 500 Texas St., 2nd floor, Houston

The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston and Brazos Bookstore present Sean Penn, discussing his new novel, Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff. This is a ticketed event. Doors open at 6:45pm and the event begins at 7:30pm. This event will take place at The Ballroom at Bayou Place. There will be a cash bar.

From legendary film icon Penn comes a scorching, darkly funny novel about Bob Honey—a modern American man, entrepreneur, and part-time assassin. Tickets are $27.00 plus tax to admit one person. and include entry for one and a hardcover copy of Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff. You must have a ticket in hand or held at Will Call in order to enter. You may pick up your copy of Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff after release date March 27 or at the event on April 4. If you cannot attend the event, please pick up your unclaimed book by two weeks from the event date (April 18). Books will be pre-signed with book plates; there will be NO SIGNING AFTERWARD.

$27.00

Amnesty Houston welcomes special guest speaker Dr. Dawn McCarty

Central Market Community Room 3815 Westheimer, Houston

Free and open to the public, Amnesty International Houston welcomes special guest speaker Dr. Dawn McCarty of the University of Houston School of Social Work. She will discuss, from  her experiences at Casa Juan Diego, working with the immigrants of Houston, their mental health struggles and their struggles of being indigent.

First Wednesday, April 4th ,7:00 to 8:00 PM in the Central Market Community Room.

Free

Foreign Policy Town Hall Meeting

University of St. Thomas - Jones Hall 3910 Yoakum, Houston

Here in the middle of Congressional primaries and election season, the University of St. Thomas sits within a mile of four different Congressional Districts. This Town Hall meeting will provide an opportunity for voters and perhaps even a few candidates to listen to a range of viewpoints on Foreign Policy issues.

A panel of foreign policy experts, practitioners, and citizen activists representing a wide range of viewpoints will discuss and take questions and comments from the public covering all manner
of Foreign Policy challenges which face our country today.

Free

Race, Film and Reconciliation

Hines Center for Spirituality and Prayer 500 Fannin Street, Suite 100, Houston

Race, Film and Reconciliation
A look at our culture from 1968 to 2018

Movies play a vital role in documenting history in the United States. For years, such films have sparked controversy and conversation.

Join Dr. Greg Garrett and guest panelists for this challenging and enlightening two-day event: Friday – Saturday, April 6 and 7, at the Hines Center in Downtown Houston. We are thrilled to host an event that will highlight culture and ignite dialogue for months to come.

This two part event will feature three notable movies addressing race and reconciliation in America, interspersed with commentary by Dr. Garrett and guest panelists to be announced. Refreshments and lunch on Saturday are included in the price for this event.

$25 – $30

Two Houston Quakers Visit Israel / Palestine

Clear Lake Islamic Center 17511 El Camino Real, Clear Lake

Two Quakers have recently returned from an interfaith delegation to Palestine and Israel. They will share photos and stories from their experiences after staying with families, meeting with Israeli and Palestinian peace activists and non-governmental organizations and experiencing life on both sides of the separation barrier.

Free

Solarize Houston for Houses of Worship (& Their Members)

Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church 1900 Bering Dr., Houston

The Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston invites you to learn how you and/or your house of worship can go solar for less by leveraging the Solarize Houston program. Solarize Houston is a program of the Houston Renewable Energy Group, a local non-profit dedicated to promoting renewable energy solutions and businesses. Solarize Houston is a group purchasing program for rooftop solar, which achieved discounts of 20 percent on rooftop solar purchases for participants when it was held in 2016 & 2017.

Free

RACE CARDS: SELINA THOMPSON

MATCH (Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston) 3400 Main Street, Houston

Selina Thompson is a UK based artist, performer, and writer. Her practice is primarily intimate, political, and participatory, with a strong strand of public engagement that then leads to joyous, highly visual work that seeks to connect to those often marginalized by the arts.

The Race Cards installation is a room containing 1,000 questions about race, written by Selina Thompson. In this constantly evolving installation and archive, Thompson invites participants to supply their own answers to the many facets of race and racism in modern society by answering one of the questions. Up to four people may access the installation at once, and are invited to spend some time experiencing it at their own pace.

On April 14 at 3pm, Selina Thompson will ask all 1,000 questions in a durational performance in MATCH Box 1. Audience members may come and go throughout the performance, arriving anytime between 3pm and 7pm. While at the MATCH, audiences are encouraged to interact with the Race Cards gallery installation.

Free

Zikaron BaSalon – Memories in the Living Room

TBD Houston, TX, United States

Zikaron BaSalon is an annual event, which takes place on Israeli Holocaust Memorial Day. Zikaron BaSalon started in Israel, in a living room where a few friends gathered in 2010 and experienced an extraordinary and meaningful event. The idea was born from the understanding that the connection between us and the memories of the Holocaust, has significantly deteriorated. Today, the program operates in more than 50 countries around the world.

 

Alongside formal events, Zikaron BaSalon offers a new, meaningful and intimate way to commemorate this day and address its implications through discussions at home among family, friends and guests. It is a unique and authentic tradition of people gathering together to open their hearts to the stories of the survivors, sing, think, read, talk and most importantly- listen.

 

Zikaron BaSalon happens in the living room space of a home with 15-40 people. The event consists of three parts: testimony, expression part and open discussion. Light refreshments will be served.

Free

Uniting Our Communities & Countering Hate

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church 1805 W. Alabama St., Houston

Please join Transgender Education Network of Texas and Texas Freedom Network for this interfaith panel discussion examining the relationship between the faith and trans communities.

While the relationship between these two communities is often painted as contentious in the media and proposed policy by extremist elected officials, more than ever we are seeing affirming faith organizations stand up against discrimination for the LGBTQ+ community. This panel will explore that relationship with various voices of leadership within the faith community.

Free

JED Talks Featuring Author Stephanie Wittels Wachs

Rec Room Houston 100 Jackson St #130c, Houston

Join Emanu El Young Professionals on April 12th for the next installment of our award winning JED Talks series. We are so pleased to be featuring Stephanie Wittels Wachs, Owner and Executive Director of Rec Room Houston, actress, and most recently author of Everything Is Horrible and Wonderful: A Tragicomic Memoir of Genius, Heroin, Love, and Loss. Wachs recently appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, was interviewed on NPR, and was featured as one of Houstonia magazine’s “10 Women Making it Happen.”
 
Come enjoy dinner (on us!) and drinks as we share in Stephanie’s journey. Dinner will be served at 6:30if you’d like to join us early, and the program will begin at 7. There is no cost for this event.

Free

Houston Young Women’s Political Leadership Summit

Rice University 6100 Main St., Houston

Join IGNITE for an action-oriented conference focused on strategies for stepping up and owning your political power. Elected leaders and politically ambitious young women, like you, will share how to best position yourselves as public leaders. You will leave inspired, activated, and ready to run!

Free – $125

RACE; THE POWER OF ILLUSION

Dominican Sisters of Houston Spirituality Center Meeting Room 6501 Almeda Rd, Houston

Is Race for Real? 

We all know that people look different.  Anyone can tell a Czech from a Chinese.  But are these differences racial? What does race mean? Come learn the answers to these and other questions as we explore the Power of Illusion. 

Free

When Presence is Penalized: Homelessness in HTX

UH Graduate School of Social Work 3511 Cullen Blvd, Room 110J, Houston

Please join us on Thursday, April 19th to learn more about the current Houston's ordinances that are negatively impacting the lives of the homeless community in Houston.

Free

Medicare for All Town Hall and Campaign Kickoff

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church 1805 W. Alabama St., Houston

The time has come to stand up and demand full health coverage for everyone in this country!

As part of our national strategy, the Houston DSA chapter will be kicking off their local campaign efforts with a Town Hall event on April 21st at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. You're invited you to come listen to our great guest speakers, learn more about the national campaign, and find out how you can get involved to fight for health justice here in Texas!

The event is free and open to all who may be interested in learning more or figuring how they can participate.

Free