Assistance for Refugees: Where We Are, Where We’re Going, and How You Can Help

U.S. Southern District Federal Courthouse 515 Rusk St., Third Floor, Houston

Please join the Honorable Keith Ellison, the Anti-Defamation League, and American Constitution Society for a conversation with Rebecca Heller, director and co-founder of the International Refugee Assistance Program.

Rebecca will be discussing the legal framework for refugee and asylum applicants, the current policies and laws surrounding this issue, and ways the legal community and others can help.

Dialogue on: “Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong”

Center for the Healing of Racism 3412 Crawford Street, Houston, TX, United States

School textbooks have played a key role in reinforcing and maintaining white supremacy and racism in the United States. James W. Loewen’s bestselling book Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook got Wrong, explores how historical myths continue to be perpetuated about everything from Columbus’s historic voyages to an honest evaluation of U.S. foreign policy. Please join us for one or both of two dialogues to discuss the issues presented in Loewen’s book: Tuesday, July 17, 2018 — Noon to 2:00 PM and/or Wednesday, July 18, 2018 — 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

Free. Donations encouraged. RSVP required.

VegFest 2018

Stafford Centre 10505 Cash Road, Houston, TX, United States

The 6th Annual VegFest Houston is an exciting Vegan Expo! The Expo features include: superb vegan restaurants, exciting vegan and abolitionist animal rights organizations, 'Kids Zone' Makerspace with crafts, vegan food demos, our popular "Ask a Vegan" booth and panels, free product samples, yoga and meditation, like-minded community booths and green businesses, plus raffle prize giveaways. Join us at the luxurious Stafford Centre Convention Hall on Saturday, July 21, 2108!

Our family-friendly annual festival is open to the public. Admission is Free!

Free

Book Review: The War on Science

Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church 2353 Rice Blvd., Houston

You are invited to attend a talk reviewing the book, The War on Science:  Who's Waging It, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do About It.

Free

Peace Camp 2018 – Week Four

Cameron Retreat Center 2402 Holcombe, Houston, TX, United States

“Justice” is the theme this summer for Peace Camp 2018. This is an alternative day camp from 9am -3pm, for children ages 5-18. The focus will be on developing inner peace and building problem solving skills. Yoga, gardening, special guests, using puppets co-operative games, and cooking are some of the activities planned. Youth who are 13 and older will have a curriculum that deals with gun control, racism, LGBTQ issues, PTSD, and other more mature topics. Although several sessions are at churches, the camp is not religious.

With violence permeating our culture, let’s make teaching peace a priority!

Week Four takes place July 23rd-27th at the Cameron Retreat Center, 2405 Holcombe Blvd. Houston 77021

Event Series “Waking (Let’s Talk) News!”

“Waking (Let’s Talk) News!”

Center for the Healing of Racism 3412 Crawford Street, Houston, TX, United States

Come to the Center for the Healing of Racism and share an article with us!  Bring a bag lunch and your articles clipped from newspapers, magazines, journals or online sources - anything relating to discrimination, oppression and all forms of racism.  Join us in a lively discussion and contribute your ideas and materials to the Center’s toolkit.  We meet on the last Wednesday of each month from 12:00 to 2:00 pm.  3412 Crawford Street (corner of Holman), Houston, TX 77004.  Free parking across the street at HCC Lot 9.  RSVP: 713-520-8226 or [email protected]. Website: http://www.centerhealingracism.org/

Free. Donations encouraged. RSVP required.

Youth Justice Visioning Session

United Way-Greater Houston 50 Waugh Dr., Houston, United States

The Houston community is greatly impacted by youth incarceration, as Harris County commits the highest number of youth to Texas' state secure youth lockups. Additionally, local Harris County officials plan to build a new juvenile detention center at an estimated cost of $65-70 million. Kids do not belong in prisons, and the voices of Houston residents- particularly those most affected by youth incarceration- must be heard if a youth justice transformation is to take hold and be successful in Texas. Join us for a visioning session to answer this question: What do young people need to avoid justice involvement and lead successful lives?

Free

2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla Presentation

Live Oak Friends Meeting House 1318 W. 26th, Houston, TX, United States

Come see Col. Ann Wright who was with the Gaza flotilla in Sicily and Alex McDonald who was crew member on one of the boats as it was harassed by police in Paris do a presentation on the story of the 4 boats, their stops, the reception in different ports and their crews.

Free

Houston’s Green Building Resource Center

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Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church invites you to a monthly environmental education web meeting series whose theme in 2018 is Stewardship. On Sunday, July 29 at 6 p.m., we welcome Steve Stelzer, Program Director for Houston’s Green Building Resource Center. Steve is an architect with 30 years’ experience who is focused on making Houston a greener place to live and work. He will discuss the center’s work to educate the public on healthy and energy/water/material-conserving design & construction. This mission is accomplished in a number of ways: a showroom highlighting building components, water conservation, site, and energy efficiency, monthly educational seminars on a wide variety of topics, and plan review services to suggest strategies to conserve energy and water, save money, & create a healthier building environment.

Free

Peace Camp 2018 – Week Five

First Unitarian Universalist Church 5200 Fannin St., Houston, TX, United States

“Justice” is the theme this summer for Peace Camp 2018. This is an alternative day camp from 9am -3pm, for children ages 5-18. The focus will be on developing inner peace and building problem solving skills. Yoga, gardening, special guests, using puppets co-operative games, and cooking are some of the activities planned. Youth who are 13 and older will have a curriculum that deals with gun control, racism, LGBTQ issues, PTSD, and other more mature topics. Although several sessions are at churches, the camp is not religious.

With violence permeating our culture, let’s make teaching peace a priority!

Week Five takes place July 30th-August 3rd at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5200 Fannin St. Houston 77004

Please join Amnesty International and guest speaker!

upstairs Central Market Community Room 3815 Westheimer, Houston

Free and open to the public; Amnesty International Houston, local 23 welcomes guest speaker; Melike Er.

Speaking on the issue of Human Rights in Turkey.

Free

Creating Inclusive Communities Teacher Workshop

Holocaust Museum Houston 9220 Kirby Dr., Suite 100, Houston

In correlation with the exhibition, "The Faces of Syrian Refugees," Holocaust Museum Houston will host a one-day education workshop for teachers in the Greater Houston area. In efforts to offer resources and information on refugee resettlement and awareness, refugee advocacy groups will work in conjunction with the HMH Education Department to provide activities, literature, and lessons that teachers can take back to their classrooms.

This workshop is open to educators who work directly with refugee students, educators learning more about the refugee experience, and/or how students can become active advocates.

$25

Benefit Concert for Peace Camp featuring the band Traveler

Bohemeo's Cafe & Coffeeshop 708 Telephone Rd., Houston, TX, United States

We hope you can join us for this benefit for Houston Peace Camp, a day camp for kids that fosters an understanding of peace, justice, and environmental awareness.

All proceeds go toward helping this very special program.

Suggested Donation

Grannies Respond – Houston Evening of Action

Guadalupe Plaza Park 2311 Runnels St, Houston

We are on a 2,000 mile journey to the border to protest the inhumane treatment of immigrants. And on Sunday, August 5th, we’re stopping for rest in Houston, Texas.

Come down to Guadalupe Plaza Park (or Talento Bilnguae de Houston if you need to beat the heat). Meet the grannies, learn about what they're doing and how to join the caravan, sign our nationwide petition, and more.

Free

Transition – It’s Up to You

Haven's Center 1827 W Alabama St, Houston, TX, United States

Are you feeling curious? Critical? Excited? Daunted? The Transition movement is made up of people like you who are already feeling the benefit of connecting with others to take care of themselves, their community and the planet. We hope you'll join us at the next Transition Houston meeting as we explore local issues and how […]

Get to Know the System that Oppresses Us – Capitalism

Houston Communist Party Headquarters 3100 McKinney Street, Houston, TX, United States

There is much current attention to social and economic inequality. The Occupy movement did much to highlight the inequality and framed the issues as the 1% versus the 99%. Unfortunately, the root cause of inequality is kept a deep secret - theft of surplus value created by workers.

Free Comedy Theater + Disaster Auction = The Perfect Night Out

Houston Mennonite Church 1231 Wirt Rd., Houston, TX, United States

This fun, FREE event is part theater, part auction – and all help for hurricane victims. You’ll laugh, you’ll feel hope, you’ll experience the world class comedy of Ted & Co TheaterWorks…

Come prepared to laugh out loud, to bid on auction items (part of the performance), and to lend your support to a cause close to all our hearts: All funds raised will benefit the work of Mennonite Disaster Service restoring homes and hope for those affected by natural disaster. MDS is currently working in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico, helping those affected by the 2017 hurricanes.

Free

Mayor’s Back to School Fest

George R. Brown Convention Center

The Mayor’s Back to School Fest is designed to help economically disadvantaged Houston- area elementary school students and their families as they prepare to return to school. With the help of many great partners and sponsors, backpacks, school supplies, health screenings, immunizations, and social service resources are provided to thousands of students, free of charge.

Free

Houston: Shut Down ICE

Houston City Hall 901 Bagby Street, Houston

The City of Houston is going to allow an ICE Detention Center open soon.
We need Mayor Turner to stop pretending he's powerless.
Together we an challenge Mayor Turner and Houston City Council to make an official statement to end any and all ICE contracts.

Free