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Christmas at the Jail 5

Harris County Jail San Jacinto St. at Baker St., Houston, TX, United States

Having a parent behind bars is traumatic enough for children, but to a young child at Christmas time it may be an emotional disaster.  When children go into a jail to see their mother or father during the holidays, the very real potential for psychological scarring exists.  A group of men, women and children since 2013 have taken these kids, the most innocent victims of mass incarceration, into their hearts and their arms at Christmas time at the jails in Houston.  They have donated time, money and energy to ensure these little humans receive at least a little glimmer of happiness when they emerge from the repressive atmosphere of the Harris County Adult Detention Center.  Walking out of the doors there, they see a crowd of smiling faces standing behind Santa Claus and a huge pile of presents.  To see the transformation on these small faces from sadness and confusion to wonder and pure joy changes the lives of all who experience it.

You are cordially invited to join us at the jail on Christmas Eve this year as we carry these children a message of hope and love. To Volunteer contact:  Rebecca Lavergne: [email protected]

If you cannot make it but still want to help, please go to www.hpjc.org and note that the donation is for the Christmas at the Jail event.  Snail mailers can send tax free donations to Houston Peace and Justice Center, PO Box 66234, Houston Texas 77266. 

There is much wrong in the world today, this is an opportunity to be a part of something which is clearly good and positive. 

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Free

Faces, Places

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 1001 Bissonnet, Houston

On the Oscar short list for this year's Best Documentary Feature!

Agnès Varda, who turned 89 in May 2017 and received an honorary Academy Award the following November, is one of the leading figures of the French New Wave. She codirects this enchanting documentary/road movie with acclaimed 33-year-old French photographer and muralist JR. Kindred spirits, Varda and JR share a lifelong passion for images and how they are created, displayed, and shared. In Faces Places, they travel together around the villages of France in JR’s photo truck—meeting locals, learning their stories, and producing epic-size portraits. The photos are prominently displayed on houses, barns, storefronts, and trains, revealing the humanity in their subjects and themselves. Faces Places records the heartwarming encounters as well as the unlikely, tender friendships created along the way.

“Magnificently moving, funny, and altogether wonderful! Agnès Varda and JR are a screen duo for the ages!” —indiewire.com

$7 – $9

Alternatives to Violence Project Basic Workshop January 12 – 14, 2018

TBD Houston, TX, United States

The Basic AVP Workshop is fun and empowers personal growth—an interactive, intensive,

2½-day experience that hones interpersonal conflict-resolution skills. Experiential exercises, small groups, and one-to-one interactions build community and trust around the themes of:

Affirmation & Self Esteem

Communication & Cooperation

Creative Conflict Resolution

$75

The Other Side of Hope (Toivon tuolla puolen)

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 1001 Bissonnet, Houston

This wry, melancholic comedy from Aki Kaurismäki—whose films the MFAH has premiered for more than three decades—speaks to the current refugee situation. Khaled (Sherwan Haji), a displaced Syrian, lands in Helsinki as a stowaway. Meanwhile, middle-aged salesman Wikström (Sakari Kuosmanen) leaves behind his wife and job and improbably buys a seafood restaurant. Despite being denied asylum, Khaled remains in Finland, and the paths of the two men cross fortuitously. A bittersweet tale of human kindness, The Other Side of Hope is as deadpan as the best of the director’s work, with a deep well of empathy for its down-but-not-out characters—many of them played by members of Kaurismäki's ever-reliable stock company.
A bittersweet tale of human kindness, The Other Side of Hope is as deadpan as the best of the director’s work, with a deep well of empathy for its down-but-not-out characters—many of them played by members of Kaurismäki's ever-reliable stock company.

$7 – $9

An Introduction to DRAWDOWN

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

What is Drawdown? A research based book on the top 100 actions we can take to reduce carbon most quickly. http://www.drawdown.org/ Some of the top methods are refrigerant management, wind turbines, reduced food waste, plant-rich diet, keeping or growing tropical forrests, educating girls & family planning, solar farms & rooftop solar, having trees and farm land together.

At this event, you will learn about the DRAWDOWN concept and then choose your breakout session, where you will have a chance to explore one way you can work to reduce carbon in conversation with others.

The 25th Houston Iranian Film Festival

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 1001 Bissonnet, Houston

This year marks the 25th anniversary of this festival, established by The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Rice Cinema. Screenings will take place at both venues and at The Asia Society Texas Center. Following last year’s screening of Asghar Farhadi’s The Salesman, which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, this year's selections include Breath, Iran’s 2017 Oscar submission. It is one of several narratives by and about young Iranian women, and, like Tehran Taboo, features the innovative use of animation. 24 Frames, the mesmerizing, experimental last film by the internationally celebrated Abbas Kiarostami (1940-2016) will be shown at both the Museum and Rice Cinema.

$8 – $10

March against Trump, Sexism, Racism,Class Exploitation, and War

A march against Sexism, Racism, Class Exploitation, and War will be held on Saturday, January 20. We will assemble at 1 pm (after the Houston Women’s March is over) in Hermann Square, 900 Smith St., between the Reflecting Pool and the mid-block exit to Smith St. Beginning at 1:30 pm, we will march down Smith St. to the Leland Federal Building at 1919 Smith St. The rally at the Leland Federal Building will include speakers, musicians, spoken word artists, a Trump piñata, chants, and more.

This action is being organized by Brown Berets de TejAztlan, Houston Socialist Movement, Justice 4 All, Party for Socialism and Liberation, and Refuse Fascism (list in formation). If your organization would like to help with this event or if you would like more information, please call 832.692.2306 or 832.438.3785. We hope to see you on January 20. All power to the people!

Event Series Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour

Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour

River Oaks Theatre 2009 West Gray, Houston

For the fourth year, the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition (CEC) brings The Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour, one of the largest environmental film festivals in North America, back to Houston for two nights—January 24 and 25, 2018—at the historic River Oaks Theatre!

$15 – $20

HPJC Annual New Member Orientation & Planning Retreat

351 Lakeside LN #310, Clear Lake, TX (Home of Joe and Laura Marcinkowski) 351 Lakeside Lane #310, Houston, Texas, TX, United States

Houston Peace and Justice Center will be having their annual new member orientation and planning retreat, and YOU are not only invited, you are needed.  In this new year when our president has already announced we should have no more refugees from “shithole countries”, but instead more (implied) blue eyes blond white people from Norway, it is more important than ever that we use our collective resources!  If you are an individual member, a board representative from a member organization, or a wannabe activist, now is the time to pick up your resolve and participate in our annual planning retreat.  Come be a part of the solution!  We need your help in planning our direction and energy resources so we can have an impact on our neighborhoods, our city, and our world.  If not you, then who?

Free

Caring for the Plants that Care for Us

online not applicable, not applicable, United States

At the January web meeting, we welcome Jaime Gonzalez, Community Conservation Director, Katy Prairie Conservancy, who will address Caring for the Plants that Care for Us.  He will discuss the importance of native plants for biodiversity, water absorption, carbon sequestration, the economy, and creating a sense of place.  He will link the well-being of eco-systems to human well-being. Jaime will also discuss the work of Katy Prairie Conservancy to restore native prairie, "re-wild" Houston with pocket prairies, offer citizen conservation opportunities and a new initiative to encourage residents to plant the "nine natives" in their yards. Jaime will give details on using these native plantings on your property, will provide resources and outlets for getting native plants, and will even delve into the ethics of saving wildlife by providing native plant habitat. After his talk, there will be time for Q&A to answer your native plant questions. A generous donor has pledged a donation to the Katy Prairie Conservancy if at least 10 people sign up for and attend Jaime’s talk. Please register for this talk, and you will receive an invitation to the web meeting. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at [email protected] with any questions.

Free

On Belonging: A Multidisciplinary Performance by Sehba Sarwar

Cy Twombly Gallery 1501 Branard St., Houston, TX, United States

On Belonging is a performance by writer/artist Sehba Sarwar, whose work contends with issues of displacement and identity. Born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, Sarwar grounds her work in her home city even as she moves between Houston, Los Angeles, and Karachi. Sarwar will perform new writings and launch a site-specific installation containing community responses to the question of belonging. The performance/installation will be held by the oak tree near the Cy Twombly Gallery on the Menil Collection campus. Sehba's performance tackles critical issues at a time when walls are being raised and border crossings are being restricted.

Amnesty International Houston with special guest speaker!

Central Market Community Room 3815 Westheimer, Houston, United States

Amnesty International Houston and  special guest speaker Gislaine Williams from the Refugee Council USA (RCUSA)
 
A coalition of 23 national organizations that work to protect refugees and asylum-seekers and advocate for human rights in the United States. She has previously worked with the American Civil Liberties Union
Immigrants’ Rights Project and the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services in Houston.

Free

“America Beyond The Color Line”

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

In commemoration of Black History Month, The Center for the Healing of Racism will screen “America Beyond The Color Line (Episode 1)”  on February 19, 2018 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.  The series, written by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., examines the legacy of the Civil Rights movement since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  In Episode 1: “South: The Black Belt,” Gates assesses changes in the racial climate of the southern United States.  Among others, Gates interviews Morgan Freeman and Maya Angelou.  The screening will be following by a discussion.

Free. Donations encouraged. RSVP required.

Roy Zimmerman Concert-Potluck Fundraiser for Peace Camp Houston

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

What can one person do about climate change, torture, racism, xenophobia, gun violence, fracking, Congressional ineptitude, ignorance, war and greed?  Write funny songs, says Roy Zimmerman , master satirist, songwriter, and performer.

HPJC is bringing Roy Zimmerman back to Houston in a benefit to raise funds for Peace Camp Houston.

$20

Stewardship of Water

online not applicable, not applicable, United States

Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church in Houston invites you to a monthly environmental education web meeting series whose theme in 2018 is Stewardship.

At the February web meeting, we welcome Bruce Bodson, President/Executive Director of Lower Brazos Riverwatch, who will address Stewardship of Water.  Water is a uniquely versatile medium, functioning as a vital resource, a habitat, a recreation venue, and a waste conveyance.  As we have often seen in Houston, it is also a destructive force of nature.  Stewardship of water entails balancing these functions and our management of the hazard in a manner that allows for protection of the resource, for all the human benefits to be obtained, and still leave a reasonably unimpaired habitat for other species.  Here in Houston, the Bayou City, we are blessed with an abundance of waters, but we struggle with maintaining the balance of uses that allows us to enjoy this abundance without causing irreparable harm to the resource.  This presentation will examine the resources we have, and consider the effects of the ever growing demand placed on them.  It will also look at some examples of local programs that strive to bring balance to our consumption and regulation of the resource.  After Bruce’s talk, there will be time for Q&A.  Please register for this talk, and you will receive an invitation to the web meeting.  Contact Lisa Brenskelle at [email protected] with any questions.

Free

Healing America Together

Houston Baptist University, Dunham Theater 7502 Fondren Road, Houston

Free and open to the public:

You are invited you to a special Healing America Together event in Houston on March 3:
If you have even a slight interest in learning about the health virtues of a plant-based diet, the health of our planet, or how diet can promote peace, please consider attending.
Promotion of this event is largely through local grass-roots volunteer efforts. Please forward this invitation to others for us.
Healing America Presenters: Dr. T. Colin Campbell (author of the China Study and the father of “nutritional science”) and his son Nelson Campbell (Founder and CEO of Plantpure Nation)

Free

Amnesty Houston with guest speaker Judge Mike Fields

Central Market Community Room 3815 Westheimer, Houston

Amnesty International Houston welcomes special guest speaker Judge Mike Fields; of Harris County Criminal Court 14, who will discuss the drug war, bail reform, mass incarceration, indigent defense, mental health services for defendants and overcriminalization.

Free

“The Threat of Fascism in the Age of Trump–Why We Must Fight It”

This special program  will be held this Saturday, March 10, 7-9 pm, in Room 114 of The Montrose Center, 401 Branard St., Houston. The program will include two presentations on the danger of fascism and how the masses of people can overcome this danger. The program will also include plenty of time for discussion and dialogue. This event is being organized by Houston Socialist Movement and Refuse Fascism Houston.  Light refreshments and adult beverages will be served.

Transition Houston Meeting: Houston at Risk – The Issue of Climate Change and Steps for Local Action

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

Join us at our upcoming Transition Houston meeting. Socializing starts at 6:30pm and the meeting begins at 7:00pm at the Haven’s Center, 1827 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098. The Houston Climate Movement is leading the way for local action on climate change. Texas, and Houston particularly, faces unique risks and challenges due to the […]