Socialist Reading Group: Happy Birthday, Karl Marx!

Cafe Express River Oaks 1422 West Gray Street, Houston, United States

Karl Marx has achieved a lasting global impact, one that is greater and wider than any other philosopher before or afterwards. The Smithsonian Magazine published an article titled "Karl Marx Is the World's Most Influential Scholar". The article is based on a study and paper in Nature. Several information scientists from Indiana University Bloomington came to that conclusion based on how often Marx's work was cited plus the number of works.

After the global financial crisis of capitalism in 2008, Marx was often cited to help explain the crisis. Marx is relevant because his work is based on science and an advanced method of critical analysis in philosophy and economics.

“Abacus: Small Enough to Jail”

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

The Center for the Healing of Racism will celebrate Asian-Asian Pacific Islander Month with a screening of “Abacus: Small Enough to Jail” on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 from 7 to 9 PM. The 2016 documentary film by Steve James relates the story of Abacus Federal Savings Bank,a family-owned community bank located in Manhattan’s Chinatown in New York City. Because it was deemed "small enough to jail" rather than “too big to fail”,Abacus became the only financial institution to actually face criminal charges following the subprime mortgage crisis. The film premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival where it was firstrunner-up for the People’s Choice Award. It was also nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 90th Academy Awards.

Free. Donations encouraged. RSVP required.

ReThink Houston Sustainability Happy Hour

JOIN US as we REBUILD Houston as a center for sustainability! Meet the leaders behind Houston’s environmental repurposing movement.

An opportunity for attendees to discuss collaboration as a network of like-minded businesses, mutually supporting one another, for one goal.

Living Compassionately From the Inside Out (a NVC event led by Bren Hardt)

Country home outside of Brenham

Bren Hardt invites you to a day-trip in Brenham for a workshop (4th annual FUNfest) on the basics of Compassionate or Nonviolent Communication.  If you want to  1) Reclaim our empathic facilities to recognize and honor the common ground we share in all our relationships AND 2) find and empower our voices by aligning what we deeply value with our words and actions, join us.  All proceeds benefit a scholarship fund for a October Texas International Intensive.  Donation requests range from $50 to $85.  Includes lunch. PRE-REGISTRATION PLEASE at website and Flyer there.

Houston Mennonite Church Grand Opening

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

Houston Mennonite Church has a new home!
Our official grand opening will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018 and we would love for you to join us.

Plan to drop by between 10am and 2pm and see our lovely new space for yourself. The official opening ceremony will start at 11:30am and finish around noon.

Meet our sister churches, Amor Viviente and the Korean Vision Church (who share our space), take a tour of the new building, enjoy musical performances, sample food from both our Mennonite heritage and our multicultural present...

Craft activities for kids, face-painting, piñata, yard games, and more!

Free

ACLU Presents Screening of Death Row Stories: Family Lies

14 Pews Arts Theater 800 Aurora, Houston

In 2010, Anthony Graves walked out of prison a free man after serving 18 and 1/2 years for a crime he did not commit.Today, he shares his story with people around the country to bring meaningful change to Texas’ justice system. Hear Anthony’s story at a free screening of the CNN documentary, "Family Lies."

Free

A New Agenda & Bipartisanship for the Americas & the U.S. (panel)

A.D. Players Theatre 5420 Westheimer Rd., Houston

The past two decades have provided great successes and collaborations between the U.S and Latin America, especially in the areas of: economic integration and trade; combatting organized crime and narcotics trafficking; strengthening collaboration on anti-corruption efforts; expanding and improving educational exchanges; and addressing the opportunities and challenges of actors from outside of the hemisphere.

In 2017, Global Americans convened a High-Level Working Group on Inter-American Relations and Bipartisanship to discuss cross-regional ways the current U.S. administration can build and improve upon the achievements of the past twenty years of inter-American cooperation.

Free – $35

Race + Justice Houston

The Houston 3118 Harrisburg Boulevard, Houston

Houston, Texas is a microcosm of national trends in criminal justice. In one of the most diverse cities in the country, institutional stakeholders are seeking to address tensions between police and their communities, manage the intersection of immigration enforcement and the criminal justice system, reduce local jail populations, and reform prosecutions. Meanwhile, the Houston community grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

What is the path forward for creating a justice system that works for all who call Houston home?

Free

Break Free From Plastics US Grassroots Tour: Houston

EARTHWORKS, one of #breakfreefromplastic member orgs in the US, has organized a speaking tour with communities and stakeholders in the frontline affected by plastics pollution in key places i.e. Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. The tour seeks to dig deeper into the various processes where plastic pollution should be mitigated starting with extraction to production.

Together with Tejas Barrios and Texas Campaign for the Environment, we are hosting a discussion panel on "closing the loop, linking plastic production to fossil fuel extraction and the shale gas boom in the US. Plastics don’t just pollute the ocean, they pollute from cradle to grave starting with the communities impacted by oil & gas extraction from which plastics are made.

Kaz Tanahashi Live Calligraphy and Auction

Houston Zen Center 1605 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX, United States

A live calligraphy demonstration, and sale of the art by renowned artist and teacher, Kaz Tanahashi! All proceeds benefit Houston Zen Center and Kaz' peace work.

Kazuaki Tanahashi, born and trained in Japan, is an artist, writer, and peace and worker. As a painter and calligrapher, Kaz has had solo exhibitions of his brushwork, performed, and taught worldwide. He has created a genre of one-stroke paintings and multi color Zen circles. As a calligrapher in East Asian style, he creates works of large single ideographs. He has translated the writings of Dogen, a great Zen master of 13th century Japan and he has produced over forty books in English and Japanese.

Free

Guided Birding Outing to Brazos Bend State Park

The Nature Center at Brazos Bend State Park 21901 FM 762, Needville, Texas 

Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church invites you to join a guided bird walk with “birders extraordinaires”, Mike & Joyce Bradshaw.  Meet at the Nature Center at Brazos Bend State Park in Needville on Saturday, May 19 at 8:30 a.m.  Bring binocs if you have them.  We’ll spend a couple leisurely hours on trails in the park looking for birds and other wildlife.   If you are planning to join us, please contact Steve Long at [email protected], as space is limited.

small fee to enter the park, payable at the park entrance

Inspiring the Great Transition Tour by Sailesh Rao

Jain Society of Houston 3905 Arc St, Houston

Ahimsa is an essential response to climate change. The great transition is the metamorphosis of the global industrial civilization from its current domination relating "caterpillar" phase to the partnership relating "Butterfly" phase.

Please join a talk by Sailesh Rao who is the Founder and Executive Director of Climate Healers, a non-profit dedicated towards healing the Earth’s climate.

EMPOWERED COMMUNICATION: Skills for Life

This is a 5 part series Workshop (total 12 hours) based on Nonviolent Communication, the world acclaimed practice changing lives;  offered in West Houston (77077) beginning on Sunday, May 20.   Time each date: 2 to 4:15pm If you want a brief, FREE introduction, Come on MAY 20 or JUNE 3 at 1:00 pm.  The topics each day will be Choose Self-Compassion, Choose Empathy,  6/17 Transforming Anger into Compassion, 7/1 Choose Honesty, and 7/15 Putting It All Together.  This will be the last public workshop by Bren in 2018. Extremely important to PRE-REGISTER for free intro or workshop.

$25

Care & Stewardship of the Wildlife & Ecosystems in Our Communities

At the May web meeting, we welcome Anja Machado, Executive Director, and Victoria Hepburn, Education/Outreach Coordinator, of the Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (TWRC), who will discuss Care and Stewardship of Wildlife & EcoSystems in Our Communities.

Anja will explain how the TWRC cares for wildlife brought to the center, and the role of rehabilitators who care for animals in their homes. She will also discussion volunteer opportunities at the center.

Victoria will explain how to recognize if an animal is in need, how to assist animals in need, and how to bring injured or orphaned animals to the center for assistance. She will also highlight how attendees can be true stewards of our urban and suburban ecosystems, and the importance of doing so to the health & vitality of our city.

Free

Demonstration against George W. Bush

Houston, TX, United States

George W. Bush will be honored at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award Dinner at the Hilton Americas-Houston hotel, 1600 Lamar St., on Thursday, May 24. Bush should be imprisoned for life for war crimes and crimes against humanity--not honored for moral courage.
 
As Governor of Texas, Bush approved more than 150 executions. As President, his invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 led to the deaths of over 250,000 people. His invasion of Iraq in 2003 led to the deaths of more than one million people. And U.S. troops remain in both countries today.

The Bush administration tortured and abused prisoners in these countries, in Guantanomo Bay, and in secret sites around the world. Bush promoted passage of the PATRIOT Act, which increased unconstitutional surveillance and reduced civil liberties. Bush's neglect during Hurricane Katrina contributed to the suffering and deaths of hundreds of poor people, predominantly African Americans, in New Orleans. As one commentator has remarked, "The blood on Bush's hands will never dry."

Sharing Ramadan: A Muslim-Jewish Iftar, Dinner & Dialogue

Turquoise Center 9301 W Bellfort Blvd., Houston

DIVINE PROVIDENCE AND HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY

Our Speakers:
DR. MAHMOUD EL-GAMAL - BAKER INSTITUTE RICE FACULTY SCHOLAR

RABBI STEVEN MORGEN - CONGREGATION BETH YESHURUN

Free
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.

First Annual KPFT Car-Truck-Bike Show and Benefit Raffle

Zum Barrel Sports Bar 13101 Kuykendahl Rd., Houston

First Annual KPFT Car-Truck-Bike Show and Benefit Raffle

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PRESENT TO WIN THE RAFFLE!

100% of proceeds from ticket sales will go to benefit KPFT.

SUNDAY, MAY 27TH, AT ZUM BARREL SPORTS BAR.

doors open: 10am | judging: 2pm | awards: 3pm | raffle: 5pm

1st prize: This sweet looking 1977 Chevy C10 Side Step Street Rod with an estimated value of $12,500!
This truck is all rebuilt and ready to rock, with a fresh 350 motor.

Free

A Year of Resilience Against SB4: We are Here to Stay

City Hall 901 Bagby, Houston, TX, United States

Please join United We Dream this Tuesday May 29, 2018 for a press conference at City Hall as we raise our voices on the anniversary of our Texas Capitol take over, we want to show the city of Houston that we are still resilient and fighting agaisnt SB4. There has been a 60% incrementation in deportations in Harris county making us the national capital of family separations, its time to make City Officials accountable and demand the implementations of policies that will protect our communities. No more racial profiling, no more criminalization of black and brown communities, no more deportations. Houston is our home and We are Here to Stay. #Undocumented #Unafraid #HeretoStay

Free

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper – Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence

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

When he stepped down in January 2017 as the fourth United States director of national intelligence, James Clapper had been President Obama's senior intelligence adviser for six and a half years, longer than his three predecessors combined. He led the U.S. intelligence community through a period that included the raid on Osama bin Laden, the Benghazi attack, the leaks of Edward Snowden, and Russia's influence operation during the 2016 U.S. election campaign.

In Facts and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence, Clapper traces his career through the growing threat of cyberattacks, his relationships with presidents and Congress, and the truth about Russia's role in the presidential election. He describes, in the wake of Snowden and WikiLeaks, his efforts to make intelligence more transparent and to push back against the suspicion that Americans' private lives are subject to surveillance.

A copy of DNI James Clapper's book Facts and Fears is included in the cost of every ticket.

$35