Virginia and DC events

On Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, hundreds of activists from the labor, civil rights, immigrant, prisoner advocacy, student, health, anti-war movements & more will meet & march & rally to tell the new governor & the Virginia General Assembly:
(1) Don't balance the budget on the backs of Virginia's workers!
(2) Raise Virginia's income tax on large corporations – the 2nd lowest in the country!
(3) Enact an immediate moratorium on layoffs, cutbacks, evictions & foreclosures!
(4) No scapegoating of immigrants! Equality for people of color, women & the LGBT community!
(5) Money for jobs & education, not for prisons, wars & occupations!

On Jan. 13, the VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY will be back in session, determined to balance the budget by laying off more state workers, cutting services & aid to the cities, raising fees, fines & university tuition.

IT'S TIME TO TELL THE POLITICIANS:

No More Budget Cuts or Layoffs!
Make the Big Corporations Pay Their Fair Share!

Part of THE BIG READ.
Co-author (and Ivy resident) Laura Anderson recounts her
experience as teacher, friend, and finally spiritual advisor to the last juvenile offender executed in Virginia.

On behalf of the Mahatma Gandhi Center for Global Nonviolence at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, CCPJ members, families and friends are invited to come see and hear former President Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter.

They will be receiving the Mahatma Gandhi Global Nonviolence Award, given annually by Dr. Sushil Mittal and the Gandhi Center to those who have contributed to global peace and nonviolent conflict resolution.

Tickets can be purchased at http://www.jmu.edu/gandhicenter/, or call 540.568.3853
The costs are $10 for the lower level and $5 for the upper level.

*** Reserved seating for the event is now sold out but $5 general admission seats are still available.***

The Family Peace Festival will feature performances from the Latin Ballet of Virginia; Ezibu Muntu; Spoken Word & Hip-Hop by Rasul Elder; and Falun Gong, a Chinese dance.

There will be interactive children's crafts and games, a variety of ethnic foods, and an interfaith worship service. The festival will also include many exhibitors and vendors from the greater Richmond area.

The Family Peace Festival is a celebration of peace that originally began in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. The mission of the annual event is to provide an opportunity for children, youth, and adults of the greater Richmond area to gather to celebrate peace and diversity. The organizers hope to foster a growing sense of community among the participants. The day is intended to encourage mutual collaboration and appreciation among Richmond's diverse communities of faith. Sponsoring organizations include Richmond Peace Education Center, The Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond and other faith-based and nonprofit organizations.

Spaces for nonprofit organizations and vendors are still available. For information about reserving a place for a display, please contact the vendor coordinator at tables@familypeacefestival.org

For more information about the Festival: www.familypeacefestival.org

For general information: info@familypeacefestival.org or call 232-1002.

For information on exhibit tables or vending: tables@familypeacefestival.org.

The time is now for healthcare reform, counteract the influence of big money on the issues.
A rally is being held at Patrick Henry Park in Richmond, 11:00-12:00 on July 15. The Change that Works Campaign will be sending a bus leaving from Azalea Park, meet up at 9:00 a.m. Back in Charlottesville before 2:00

Two-day training in nonviolent conflict resolution techniques, for educators and other interested adults.

Tuition of $150 includes the cost of a 100+ page training manual. Lunch and snacks will be provided each day.

Educators will also be eligible to earn recertification points for state licensure.

For more information or to register, call the Richmond Peace Education Center at 232-1002 or email rpec@rpec.org.