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."

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.