Guidance for the Health Care Perplexed

Boomtown Coffee Downtown 300 S. Main St., Houston, TX, United States

We all know what a huge rip off our health care system is.  But aside from just the extortion level pricing, the system is rigged so well it is nearly impossible for even a prudent and well informed consumer to navigate and avoid nasty billing surprises.  Just a few examples: You make an effort to go to an in-network hospital and receive one or more out-of-network bills from doctors or other hospital staff, often for astronomical sums of money, and were given no warning of such.  You receive over a dozen different bills from one hospital stay in our fragmented system, and they keep you in limbo for months, sometimes even a year or longer, after your procedure/discharge, not knowing if you will receive another unexpected bill.  It is rare that any medical provider will disclose prices for a procedure, etc. beforehand, and often will not make clear whether or not it is covered by insurance.   Come to our gathering, vent your frustrations, and tell your horror stories, or those of a family member or friend, in dealing with the shenanigans of our health care system, and then lets discuss how we can fight back.

Free

Invisible City movie screening – Houston Cinema Arts Society

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

Arguably, James Blue’s most ambitious project, this complex documentary was originally made in five one-hour episodes as an interactive public television series. The sixth episode, which summarized the series, will be screened. Blue and renowned architect Adele Santos take us on a tour of 1970s Houston, a divided city, growing in the midst of an oil boom. Skyscrapers going up, unemployment going down. One thousand new residents were arriving per week. But the filmmakers see two cities. Visible Houston is populated by well-educated citizens earning high wages with no state or income taxes. Invisible Houston, for whom the most basic city services did not exist, was inhabited by poorly educated citizens earning low wages. Blue was founder of Rice University Media Center and a leader in the movement to democratize media access and production across America, including Houston’s Southwest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP), a media arts organization founded in 1977. 

$12.00

2018 HPJC Peacemaker Awards Dinner & Auction

Crowne Plaza River Oaks 2712 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX, United States

Please join us as we celebrate our National and Local Peacemaker Award Recipients!

Our National Peacemaker Award will be awarded to Chuck Collins, author and co-founder of Wealth for Common Good. Our Local Peacemaker Award recipients are Dr. Gerald Horne, Children's Prison Arts Project, and the Houston chapter of United We Dream.

$100

Film Screening of the Documentary “True Conviction”

University of Houston Downtown One Main Street, Houston, TX, United States

On behalf of the European Union, the German Consulate General Houston, and TCADP, you are cordially invited to attend a special screening of the documentary film, “True Conviction,” followed by a panel discussion featuring Dallas County exonerees, Christopher Scott and Steven Phillips.

Free

SOA Watch Border 2018 Encuentro

Ambos Nogales tbd, Nogales

Join indigenous communities, migrants, human rights activists, torture survivors, union workers, veterans, community organizers, faith communities, students and educators from across the Americas.  More info coming soon.  Keep an eye on http://www.soaw.org/border/

Free

2018 Houston Gaza 5K + Dabke Party

Cullen Park 19008 Saums Road, Houston

In light of the UNRWA funding crisis and the deteriorating humanitarian conditions, we're fundraising to provide emergency assistance, including employing 25 UNRWA counselors -- refugees themselves -- to provide psychosocial support to Palestine refugee children and families in the Gaza Strip who suffer from trauma due to repeated Israeli military assaults and the continued blockade.

Varies

Cracking the Codes: The System of Inequity

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

The Dominican Sisters of Houston invite you to join us as we continue and deepen the conversation around race.

Free

Fall 2018 Interfaith Environmental Stewardship Event

Japhet Creek Park 4600 Clinton at Emile, Houston

Calling people of all faiths, or no faith at all, to care for our shared environment! We will perform hands-on stewardship at Japhet Creek Park in Houston. This is a great activity for youth, but all ages are welcome. Tools/supplies will be provided.

Free

Quaker Barter Fair

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

Black Friday offers the challenge to BUY NOTHING!  The Quaker testimonies of Simplicity, Community and Stewardship encourage Friends to find creative ways to care for the earth and each other, and we want to extend this opportunity to others in the community.  Creating a space to practice thinking together in a new way about how we place value on objects and services within our community seems like a worthwhile way to observe the day after Thanksgiving.

Free

International Conference on Obesity and Diet Imbalance

Fairfield by Marriott Bali Legian Jl. Sri Rama No.8C Legian, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung Bali 80361, Indonesia, Bali, Indonesia

Obesity Diet 2018 is a worldwide stage to examine and find out about Weight Management, Childhood Obesity, Anti-obesity drugs, Obesity & Cancer, Genetical Obesity, Obesity and Diabetes, Advanced medications for Obesity, Health Behavior and Environment, Basic nourishment and diet, Bariatric treatment, Scientific gatherings and meetings and the field of Obesity.

$175

All Earth is Waiting – An Advent Retreat

Cramer Retreat Center 1800 Meadow Edge Lane, Spring, TX, United States

Escape from the frenzy of the start of the “Christmas shopping season” on an intimate, 24-hour retreat in the beauty of God’s good creation at the Cramer Retreat Center in Spring.  This retreat invites you to get ready for the coming of Christ by exploring familiar Advent themes: hope, preparation, joy and peace, with the reconciliation of heaven and earth in mind. Consider how all creation longs for the coming of Christ, and how we are called to witness the Incarnation in our care of all God’s created world and all God’s creatures.  Enjoy a time of renewal, reflection, recreation, and restoration on this retreat.  The retreat is open to adults, and to youth 10+, when accompanied by an adult.

$60

World AIDS Day Observance

Rothko Chapel 3900 Yupon St, Houston

In commemoration of World AIDS Day, the Rothko Chapel will host a morning observance to show support and solidarity with the millions of people living with and impacted by HIV/AIDS. This program is offered in partnership with The oH Project: Oral Histories of HIV/AIDS in Houston, Harris County, and Southeast Texas.

The morning program will include live music, personal testimonials, and guided reflection. Gregory Hamilton, a community educator and advocate working at ASP Cares Pharmacy will share information on the state of the battle against HIV in Houston and Texas. Isis Torrente, member of the Latino HIV Task Force, Greater Houston chapter of the Positive Women's Network, and Ryan White Planning Council will speak on her experience within the HIV community in Houston. Moments of reflection will be led by Reverend Diane McGehee, Senior Pastor of Bering Memorial UMC, and music will be performed throughout by John Edward Ross on acoustic guitar.

Free – $15

HPJC Quarterly Board Meeting

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

Please join us for the last board meeting of the year:

Saturday, December 1, 2018 - 1-3 PM
Bering Memorial United Methodist Church
1440 Harold St. 

SugarLand95 Community Meeting

Buffalo Soldiers National Museum 3816 Caroline St, Houston

Join Reginald Moore and the Convict Leasing and Labor Project for a community meeting about the future of the #SugarLand95. The CLLP and the National Black United Front of Houston strongly believe the remains should be reburied in the sacred ground where they were found. Fort Bend ISD is doing everything it can to block that from happening.

We need to show FBISD, Houston and the world this isn't just a "black" issue. They can't just plan a quick "Black History Month" presentation and be done with it. This is one of the most important local issues of our time and the outcome is going to shape our awareness of racial history for decades to come.

Free

Traffic Stop: A Routine Encounter Takes a Bad Turn

The Hobby School Civitas Project presents this award-winning HBO Documentary on the story of Breaion King, a 26 year-old African-American school teacher from Austin, who is stopped for a routine traffic violation that escalates into a dramatic arrest.

Free

HPJC Holiday Gathering

TBD Houston

Please reach out to your favorite member of HPJC for information on our Holiday Gathering!

Free

Healthcare for All Holiday Party

Star Pizza 2111 Norfolk St., Houston

Come mingle with Healthcare for All Texas members, newbies welcome! Watch funny videos of comedians mocking U.S. Healthcare system and related social justice issues and try your hand at trivia for prizes.  Learn about actions, meetups and activities we are planning for next year and enjoy fabulous pizza!

Free