THIS WEEK'S EVENT & NEWS SUMMARY
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AAHC: The Long History of Racism and Police Violence in Chicago (and America)
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Tuesday, May 7 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
Legendary Civil Rights lawyer, Flint Taylor presents his recently published book, "THE TORTURE MACHINE: Racism and Police Violence in Chicago". In addition to describing his work to uncover the use of torture in the Chicago Police Department, Taylor will discuss his involvement in other landmark civil rights cases, including the 1969 state-sponsored murder of Black Panther Fred Hampton and the 1979 Greensboro Massacre. Taylor connects each of these cases through what one reviewer calls "a dissection of foundational racism in the [American] criminal justice system."
Taylor will be introduced by Virginia Humanities Fellow Aran Shetterly.
Books will be for sale by New Dominion Books and there will be a book signing following the presentation.
For more information about Flint Taylor go to https://peopleslawoffice.com/
The event is co-sponsored by The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center; Power, Violence, & Inequality Collective; The Virginia Center for the Book; Virginia Humanities; New Dominion Books.
The event is free and open to the public. All events in the auditorium are made possible through the generous support of Ting, Inc.
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Citizen Artist Salon: Creative Strategies for Commemorative Justice
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Thursday, May 16 | 6pm | U.S. Department of Arts and Culture
This interactive online video call kicks off a partnership with 400 Years of Inequality: A People’s Observance for a Just Future, with whom we are calling on communities across the country to engage in place-based observances of the 400th anniversary of the 1619 arrival of the first Africans trafficked across the Atlantic Ocean and sold into bondage in the U.S.
To gear up for these observances, the May 16th Salon will feature artists Arielle Julia Brown, Free Egunfemi, Havanna Fisher, and Robert Sember, offering tools, resources, and tips for Citizen Artists who want to activate place-based creative observances for truth-telling and collective healing.
This Citizen Artist Salon, hosted by the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture in partnership with 400 Years of Inequality: A People’s Observance for a Just Future, will explore how anyone can activate place-based creative strategies for truth-telling and collective healing. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the 1619 arrival of the first enslaved African ancestors trafficked across the Atlantic Ocean and sold in the U.S. Presenters Arielle Julia Brown, Free Egunfemi, Havanna Fisher, and Robert Sember will offer tools, resources, and tips for Citizen Artists interested in bringing about what Richmond-based tactical urbanist Free Egunfemi has termed “the Commemorative Justice movement” to resurrect deliberately submerged narratives through arts-based observances in their own communities.
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Saturday, May 11 | 2-4 pm | Trinity Episcopal Church, 1118 Preston Ave
Please join us for the next monthly gathering of the Charlottesville CTTT group scheduled for Saturday, May 11. We will begin by introducing a dialogue process that promotes honest and constructive conversation for each participant. Then we will use this process to share our experiences and practice listening deeply to each other. If you are ready to have the clumsy, courageous conversations on race, we hope you will join us!
Members of CTTT are committed to addressing the Legacies and Aftermaths of Slavery through
- Facing History through acknowledging, and sharing personal, family and community histories of race with openness and honesty
- Making Connections to others within and across racial lines in order to develop and deepen relationships
- Healing Wounds by exploring how we can heal together through dialogue, reunion, apology, and other methods
- Taking Action by actively seeking to heal the wounds of racial inequality and injustice and to support racial reconciliation between individuals, within families, and in communities
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The Festival of Cultures
Saturday, May 11 | 10am-4pm | Booker T. Washington Park
Come and celebrate the cultural and linguistic diversity of our local community. The Sixteenth Annual Festival of Cultures will be a day of free family-friendly fun with all-day entertainment: music, dance, song, and storytelling. Enjoy hands-on cultural crafts activities, visit cultural exhibits, food, and artisan vendors. The Festival is a gathering place whose mission it is to create a space where all can meet, share in, and learn about each others' cultures. Here you can take a passport and "travel the world in a day". The Festival if organized by the Thomas Jefferson Adult and Career Education (TJACE) Program at Piedmont Virginia Community College with the involvement and support of many other individuals and organizations. It provides an opportunity for building bridges of communication between new Americans and established residents, and between different cultures residing in our community. This year the Festival is in Washington Park on Preston Avenue in Charlottesville, near downtown and on bus line #8. This event is FREE and open to the public.
For more, visit: http://www.festivalofcultures.org/
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Jamelle Bouie | Simply: The Black Towns
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, May 11 - Saturday, July 13 | Opening Reception: Saturday May 11, 6 pm | Artist talk: 7pm | Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
Most know Jamelle Bouie for his cultural and political criticism in Slate, The Nation, The Daily Beast and most recently, as columnist for the NY Times and political analyst for CBSNews. If you follow him on Instagram, you also know that he is a photographer, primarily of the American landscape. In his first exhibition ever, the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center presents a series of images taken by Bouie on a recent trip to Oklahoma to photograph the remains of African American towns founded after Emancipation. Oklahoma in this period boasted the largest number of such spaces with the most well known being Tulsa. In 1921, the area known in Tulsa as Black Wall Street, was burned to the ground by armed white rioters. The Cities that Bouie represents are not as infamous as Tulsa, however like Tulsa they were formed when African Americans left the South in droves to escape the oppressions of the aftermath of enslavement. There were more than fifty towns created by these people of which only 13 remain. Bouie captures the remnants of these largely agricultural places in haunting, yet stately images of buildings and streets.
The exhibition is made possible through the generous support of Robert Mosolgo and Albemarle Magazine.
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Charlottesville Regional Equity Atlas
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The University of Virginia Library seeks to work with the community to build the foundation of a collaborative Regional Equity Atlas for the Charlottesville region. Equity Atlases visualize data related to disparities in education, transportation, health, and other areas of social well-being to “illuminate a community’s geography of opportunity” – one example is the Durham Neighborhood Compass (https://compass.durhamnc.gov/). This Request for Proposals is part of the effort to support the community’s capacity to gather, use, and share data related to regional inequities.
What: Grants of $5000 to support work that will lead to open, shared information and data related to equity in our communities. Information and data may be qualitative or quantitative, current or historic. Spatial data (data that can be mapped) is of particular interest to the project, but not a requirement for this grant.
Purpose: Grants are intended to collect, contribute, document, and use community- (or organizationally-) generated data and information resources that will help citizens, organizations, activists, and decision makers promote greater equity in the greater Charlottesville region: the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle, Greene, Orange, Louisa, Fluvanna, Buckingham, Nelson, Augusta and Rockingham Counties.
Data and information might speak to racial, social, economic or environmental inequities, or any dimension that generates unfair differences in the ability of some groups of people to thrive in our communities. Community-based and non-profit organizations or independent researchers in Charlottesville and the surrounding counties are eligible to apply.
Questions and Submission: Submit proposals to cvilleequityatlas@virginia.edu by May 3rd at 5pm
More information about the Equity Atlas Project is available at https://equityatlas.lib.virginia.edu/. Applicants should send questions about potential proposals or the broader project to cvilleeqiutyatlas@virginia.edu.
Image Source: www.policymap.com
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Do you have a student who loves history? Is interested in learning more about local African American history and teaching others about it? Would be excited to be in front of a crowd?
Let them know about the Trailblazers program at the Jefferson School African American American Heritage Center! The JSAAHC seeks African American students 16 to 21 years old to train as community tour guides this summer from June 17 to August 9. Students will become knowledgeable about local and national African American history, art history, museum education, and public speaking techniques. Trailblazers will also lead activity sessions for participants (fourth through sixth graders) in a Charlottesville’s Parks and Recreation summer camp and complete a research project that will influence how two JSAAHC exhibits opening in September 2019 will be presented to the public.
This is a paid position and a great opportunity for motivated students to gain experience with public history institutions and research methods. Please direct any questions to education@jeffschoolheritagecenter.org or 434-260-8723.
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2019 Western States Center Defending Democracy Fellowship
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We are thrilled to announce our 2019 Defending Democracy Fellowship program for seven fellows to gain training in organizing and research strategies to counter white nationalism throughout the country. Click here to learn more and submit your application!
As white nationalism continues to endanger democracy here and abroad, we must prepare our movements to fight back. Each day, we need more leaders to take action to counter these threats and defend communities from bigoted ideologies. We created this fellowship because we know that educating and training leaders to better understand white nationalism helps our communities to organize more effectively to respond to the rise of hate-driven movements.
Read more about our 2019 Defending Democracy Fellowship on our website!
Open to experienced student organizers, early-career professionals, or mid-career professionals making a shift to justice work, this six-month fellowship will involve approximately ten-to-fifteen hours of work per week as well as a $2,500 stipend for each fellow. We’ll also cover fellows’ travel, lodging, and registration costs for this year’s Activists Mobilizing for Power (AMP) convening in September. To apply, please submit your résumé, work samples, and answers to application questions by May 3. Click here to get started!
Together, we’re building a movement to fight for an inclusive democracy where everyone can live, love, work, and worship free from fear and intimidation. With your support, we’ll keep up the fight.
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One Shared Story – Summer Intern Opportunity – Spatial Data and Digital Archives
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One Shared Story is a new non-profit organization working in the central Virginia area to reveal hidden histories. We are seeking part-time, temporary student workers to help us establish our technology systems. We are developing a digital archive using the Omeka S platform and are looking for someone who can help us configure sites for our cooperators and to develop guidance documents for users of the sites that will be uploading and tagging items. We also maintain an ArcGIS Online organizational site and are looking for help curating existing datasets, georeferencing historic maps, and assistance with implementation of a Hub site.
These internships are supported through Heal Charlottesville grant funds at a rate of $10 per hour. This work will be primarily independent and accomplished through remote access. Periodic meetings with the project director will be held in Charlottesville.
Interested students do not have to demonstrate experience specific to the tasks required but should be interested in digital archive and/or spatial data platforms and show proficiency in researching and applying technology to solve problems. This internship offers the potential to develop new skills while advancing the work of a local non-profit.
Interested parties should contact Robin.Patton@onesharedstory.org or call 540-894-1049.
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By Samantha Baars | Original Publication: CVILLE Weekly | Published April 2019 | Photo by Martyn Kyle
"To the list of racial disparities in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, we can add arrest rates: According to a new study, African Americans are booked at significantly higher rates than whites at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, and the greatest disproportionality occurs during felony arrests.
This is a national problem—black adults are 5.9 times more likely to be incarcerated than whites, according to The Sentencing Project, and racial disparities exist in every stage from arrest rates to the lengths of sentences. But to address the problem locally, City Council hired an independent consulting firm to collect data on both the city and the county, solicit community feedback, and make recommendations for change. While it’s mostly being funded by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, the city is picking up $10,000 of the $100,000 tab..."
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San Carlos Apache Tribe, Rev. William Barber II and Rev. John Mendez, Request Meeting with President Ryan
San Carlos Apache Tribal Chairman Tao Etpison and former Tribal Chairman Wendsler Nosie, representing over 16000 San Carlos Apache tribal members, and Revs. William Barber II and John Mendez of the Poor Peoples’ Campaign asked for a meeting with Univ. of Virginia President Ryan in an April 23 letter. The mtg would be to discuss UVA’s ongoing participation in the Mt. Graham observatory and the impact that the observatory is having upon Dzil nchaa si’an (Mt. Graham) and the San Carlos Apache people.
On Oct. 3, 2002, in spite of concerns expressed by the Western Apache and others, UVA joined the Mt. Graham telescope project as a partner.
“We, the undersigned spiritual leaders of the Apache people acknowledge the central sacred importance of Dzil nchaa si’an to the traditional religious practice of the Apache. We oppose the Mt. Graham telescope project because it will interfere with the ability of the traditional Apache to practice their religion.”
“ Dzil nchaa si’an is also an essential place of religious, spiritual power and sanctity, what we describe as a church, a place for worship and prayer, a place where we communicate with our most holy spirits and our Creator God. Under Federal law, it is described as a Sacred Place and Traditional Cultural Property of and for the Western Apache people.”
“The ongoing desecration of this most sacred site and the distortion of our sacred geography occurred as a result of two legislative riders (1988 and 1996) secured by the Univ. of AZ from the U.S. Congress to circumvent all environmental, religious and cultural law for the Mt. Graham telescopes. Such an exemption does not mandate, nor does it justify, participation in the observatory project by institutions with higher morals.”
“Apache elders and cultural specialists have clearly and consistently advised all who have listened that this mountain should not be disturbed for research or commercial purpose,” White Mt. Apache Chairman Dallas Massey, Sr. reported in Charlottesville Daily Progress on January 27, 2002.
Contact Former San Carlos Apache Tribal Chairman Wendsler Nosie, Sr. at (928) 200-7762 or at apaches4ss@yahoo.com.
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Race and Place Charlottesville New Episodes
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Each weekday in February we are releasing a new episode of "Race and Place in Charlottesville," which follows UVA Professor Louis Nelson as he gives a tour of the history of race and racism in Charlottesville, starting with Jefferson's era on Grounds and leading toward the Downtown Mall, site of the August 11-12 rallies. The research-based tour is motivated by Jesus' command to love our neighbors.
Please feel free to share the tour with your community! You can use this link: https://www.studycenter.net/race-place-cville
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1st Harambee Family Events
January-December 2019 | Various Times | Various Locations
Charlottesville, VA - Harambee Family Events is a calendar that highlights African American Cultural Activities in Charlottesville and surrounding areas. The calendar, created and designed by author, award winner, Mr. Alex-Zan, presents 18 events from January 2019 - December 2019.
The Harambee (Swahili - All Pull Together) culture events objectives are to inspire and unify area citizens to communicate more effectively and create/maintain a positive environment for change and civility. The calendar also strives to strengthen family relations and culture awareness, particularly African Americans who have experienced a lack of inclusion in many area events.
The Harambee Family Event Calendar will be distributed throughout Central VA. - schools, churches, businesses, clubs/organizations and social media to name a few. The calendar sponsors are: (CAT) Charlottesville Area Transit, Wegmans, Blue Ridge Graphics and Carter Myers Automotive.
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UCARE is a coalition of community and university members, founded with the goal of understanding and addressing racial harms that may be seen in the community and at the university, in areas such as housing, employment, health, education, the justice system, and more. UCARE has connected community and university groups and individuals. We have prompted changes in how UVa understands and represents its history. We have called attention to and prompted action addressing racial disparities in student admissions and faculty recruitment as well as in conditions of workers, including support for a living wage. But we have much more to do; the quest for racial equity is a long ways from being over. We are grateful to Westminster Presbyterian Church for their financial support the last two years. And we are pleased that the W. W. Kellogg Foundation has offered us a grant for two years. Among other items, this will allow UCARE to convene Charlottesville Acts for Racial Equity (CARE). Stay tuned for ways you can be involved in 2018.
If you have community events of interest please email us at ucarestaff@gmail.com.
You will reach UCARE project manager Frank Dukes.
And, as always, if you have ideas for funding sources to support this work, please contact us at that same address.
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Submissions
Please submit information about someone or an organization that have positively impacted the community. Submit at UCAREStaff@Gmail.com.
Deadline: Every Thursday
Feedback
Please share your opinions about the new design of the newsletter to us at UCAREStaff@Gmail.com.
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