Emergency Demonstration Against SWK’s Child Detention Center

On February 14, Mayor Turner announced the elimination of the most important obstacles to the opening of Southwest Key's new child detention center at 419 Emancipation Avenue. His media advisory was misleading--it did not mention that a federal judge ruled against the City of Houston two months ago on the question of which permit is required. And now the administration's previous expression of concern about sexual crimes, abuse, neglect, and hundreds of other violations at SWK facilities seems to have disappeared!

In view of its awful record, Southwest Key should not be allowed to house migrant children. The people of the most diverse city in the country have been opposing this facility since last June. And we must continue this struggle. We need to stop SWK from putting children at risk! The Free Los Niños Coalition will hold an emergency demonstration against SWK's child detention center on Monday, February 18, at 5 pm. This will be the Coalition's twelfth protest during the past eight months. The broadest possible participation is strongly encouraged.

Black History Month Event: “Talk With Us”

Energy Institute High School 3501 Southmore Blvd., 2nd Floor "Ted Talk" Room, Houston

What are the origins of racism?  Can a person stop being racist?  How can we make talking about race easier?  These are just a few of the topics to be discussed during “Talk with Us,” an event hosted by the African American Culture Club of Energy Institute High School on Wednesday, February 20th from 6:00 to 8:00PM, 3501 Southmore Blvd. (Ted Talk room), Houston, TX 77004.  The event will feature a discussion led by Ms. Cherry Steinwender, co-founder and executive director of the Houston-based Center for the Healing of Racism.  Ms. Steinwender’s talk will be followed by a Q & A and an Open Mic session.  This free event is open to the general public.

Free
Event Series Dialogue: Racism

Dialogue: Racism

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

The Center for the Healing of Racism will present Dialogue: Racism, a two-day intensive workshop that educates participants about racism and facilitates the process by which they can begin to counter the effects of racism on their lives, empowering them to interrupt the cycle of racist attitudes. The workshop provides a safe, respectful and loving atmosphere for a diverse group of people to learn new information, share experiences, dispel fears and guilt, and get to know each another.

In Their Footsteps: An American Muslim Civil Rights Journey

Bay Area UU Church 17503 El Camino Real , Houston, TX, United States

In Their Footsteps: An American Muslim Civil RightsJourney” follows some 30 American Muslim civil rights leaders as they journeyed through Alabama in April 2018 to learn about the history of slavery, lynching, segregation, and about present-day racial injustice.

During the journey, the Muslim leaders attended the inauguration of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery and learned from experts at the historic 16th Street Baptist Church, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Civil Rights Memorial. Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion of the film and related topics.

Free

Climate Change & What You Can Do

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 2019 is environmental issues and what you can do. In February, Dan Cohan, associate professor at Rice University, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, will speak on climate change. Climate change has been deemed one of the most significant environmental issues facing North America by the U.N.'s Global Environmental Outlook, the U.N.'s flagship environmental assessment.

Free

Climate Change & What You Can Do

Dan Cohan, associate professor at Rice University, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, will speak on climate change. Climate change has been deemed one of the most significant environmental issues facing North America by the U.N.'s Global Environmental Outlook, the U.N.'s flagship environmental assessment. Professor Cohan will educate on the latest research and reports on climate change, so that you thoroughly understand the issue. He will also explain the actions you can take to combat climate change.

Free

FCNL Advocacy Training

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

Change in Washington starts with you.

Please join FCNL for an advocacy workshop:

-Influence your members of Congress and their staff through face-to-face conversations
-Drive the media coverage you want to see
-Build a strategic team in your community that lobbies as part of a powerful national advocacy network
-Join our 2019 Advocacy Team campaign to stop endless wars by urging Congress to reassert its constitutional authority. We are supporting legislation to repeal the AUMF and encourage public debate on all issues of war and peace.

Free

Teaching Peace Literacy: A Two-Day Workshop

Dominican Center for Spirituality 6501 Almeda Rd, Houston

Learn about Peace Literacy* and why we need it to bring healing in our world of challenging and ever-changing traumas. AND learn how to TEACH Peace Literacy.
Be prepared for a hands-on learning experience for developing curriculum and activities that will provide skills for and resiliency in future peacemakers.
This is a two-day event. To get the most out of the training, please plan to attend both days. Registration covers both days and includes lunches.

$40

Do-It-Yourself Energy Audits for Houses of Worship & Their Members

Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church & online 1900 Bering Dr., Houston

The Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston invites you learn how to conduct a DIY energy audit at your house or worship or in your home to figure out how to lower energy costs. Our speaker, Colby May, has performed professional energy audits at more than 2000 facilities, specializing in houses of worship, educational institutions & government buildings. Learn from an expert!

Free

Learning from the World’s Children: An Evening with President & CEO of UNICEF USA, Caryl Stern

St. Lukes United Methodist Church 3471 Westheimer Rd., Houston

Sponsored by IM’s women’s initiative, IMpower, this community-wide event will feature Caryl Stern, President & CEO of UNICEF USA, one of our world's most notable organizations working toward the day when no child dies from preventable causes.  The evening will also feature a special fireside chat with Caryl and Lisa Falkenberg, a Pulitzer Prize Journalist and now Houston Chronicle’s Editor of Opinion.  A dessert reception will follow the lecture.

$15 – $50

HPJC Executive Committee Meeting

Bering Memorial United Methodist Church 1440 Harold St., Houston, TX, United States

Taking place (usually) the first Saturday of every month, and open to the public, is HPJC’s Executive Committee meeting. However, voting only takes place at our Quarterly Board Meeting, which is also open to the public.

Free

Called to Conversion: Laudato Si’ & Catholic Ecological Awakening

Villa de Matel Convent 6510 Lawndale, Houston

Called to Conversion: Laudato Si’ & Catholic Ecological Awakening, 9-12 p.m. Saturday, March 16th, Villa de Matel Convent, 6510 Lawndale Street, Houston, TX.  The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston, host a morning of critical reflection on one of the greatest moral challenges of our time. "TEDTalk"- style presentations and a panel of local Catholic leaders will discuss the responsibility of individual Christians and the role of the local Church to Care for our Common Home. Come early for a Labyrinth Prayer Walk at 8 a.m. Free with Spanish interpretation offered.

Free

Compassion Workshop with Dr. Will Tuttle

OSO yoga 1520 Rutland, Houston

Author of World Peace Diet and internationally acclaimed speaker, Dr. Will Tuttle will conduct a workshop on veganism and spirituality at OSO Yoga on Mar. 23rd. Optional yoga class from 9-9:50 AM, followed by workshop from 10-12 Noon. Optional lunch with Dr. Tuttle afterwards.

$25

2019 Unitarian Universalist Spring Music, Peace and Justice Festival

Unitarian Fellowship of Houston 1504 Wirt Road, Houston, TX, United States

Outdoor Music, Peace and Justice Festival in a beautiful, shaded setting at the Unitarian Fellowship of Houston, with indoor space in case of bad weather. Music! Food! Information Tables! Networking! Fun!

Bring lawn chairs and picnic lunch, or food cooked by Food Not Bombs will be available on site for a donation.

Free

Rice VegFest

Rice University 6100 Main St., Houston

After a successful inaugural VegFest in 2018, the Rice Vegan Society continues on its newfound tradition of bringing communities together with their 2nd annual VegFest.

This year’s VegFest features renowned guest speakers, local businesses, education organizations, student engagement activities, festive performances, and many more activities cultivating an environment of love and knowledge.

Fourth Annual “Dialogue on the Plantations”

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

The Center for the Healing of Racism presents it’s Fourth Annual “Dialogue on the Plantations”, a tour of three historic plantations in Louisiana, the weekend of March 30-31, 2019.  Learn about the role of slavery in the southern plantation economy.  Tour includes visits to St. Joseph Plantation (sugar cane), Laura Plantation (a Creole plantation) and the Whitney Plantation Museum, which pays homage to all slaves throughout the southern United States.  

$299,

Plastic Pollution & What You Can Do

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 2019 is environmental issues and what you can do.In March, Hyun-Min Hwang, associate professor at Texas Southern University, Department of Environmental & Interdisciplinary Studies, will speak on plastic pollution in the oceans.

Free

Drawdown EcoChallenge

The Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston invites all area residents to take part in 21 days of action focused on the most substantive solutions to global warming. Join the Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston team for the Drawdown EcoChallenge, beginning April 3.  Choose from categories such as electricity generation, women & girls, buildings & cities, food, land use, transport, and materials. 

Free

Undeterred: Community Resistance on the US/Mexico Border (film showing & meet-n-greet w/filmmaker)

Dominican Center for Spirituality 6501 Almeda Rd, Houston

Undeterred is a documentary about community resistance in the rural border town of Arivaca, Arizona. Since NAFTA, 9/11 and the Obama and Trump administrations border residents have been on the front-lines of the humanitarian crisis caused by increased border enforcement build up. Undeterred is an intimate and unique portrait of how residents in a small rural community, caught in the cross-hairs of global geo-political forces, have mobilized to demand our rights and to provide aid to injured, oft times dying people funneled across a wilderness desert. The film was made by Eva Lewis, a resident of Arivaca and long time member of People Helping People in the Border Zone (PHP). Undeterred was created in close collaboration with the Arivaca community and members of PHP.   Eva Lewis and other town members will be here to discuss the film.

Donation: no one turned away