Baltimore Activist Alert -- June 21, 2023

39] World Peace and Prayer Day – June 21

40] The Cost of Billionaire Philanthropy – June 21

41] Deep canvassing – June 21

42] Water accessibility & Maryland's Pathway to Real Climate Solutions – June 21

43] Returning Citizens Task Force meeting – June 21

44] Vatican ambassador at Pratt – June 21

45] Superwomen Wednesday – June 21

46] Optimist’s Guide to Fixing America – June 21

47] Letter to an Editor party – June 21

48] Department of Peacebuilding Campaign Call – June 21

49] Protect Broadband Access – June 21

50] Critical moment in Palestine – June 21

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39] –  On Wed., June 21, it is World Peace and Prayer Day, established in 1996 and created on the initiative of Chief Arvol Looking Horse of the Sioux Nation. It first gathered native people of North and South America, but spread to the rest of the world. Email info.wppd@gmail.com. It is an international and intergenerational celebration that encourages people of all nations and faiths to pray for the planet. Visit https://www.worldpeaceandprayer.com/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=be687642-d134-4067-a7bf-6e8e5a878283.

40] – The Patriotic Millionaires [info@patrioticmillionaires.org] are doing a Great Economy Project online, a series of five webinars. On Wed., June 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM ET.  Check out The Cost of Billionaire Philanthropy with Chuck Collins of the Institute for Policy Studies. Unfortunately the economy is rigged against working people in favor of the rich. RSVP at https://americanagenda.com/online?link_id=2&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-youre-invited-to-the-great-economy-project&email_referrer=email_1944272&email_subject=youre-invited-to-the-great-economy-project.

41] –The People's Action Institute [info@peoplesaction.org] wants you to get involved in  deep canvassing on Wed., June 21 from 6 to 7:30 PM ET. Learn how you can help heal the deep divisions in our democracy, connect better with people, or just move your family and friends on polarizing issues. Are you an organizer, a community leader, or an activist looking to engage with your community around deeply polarizing issues? Are you an individual hoping to understand how to have compassionate, non-judgmental conversations across lines of difference?

Join The Deep Canvass Institute for a 60-minute virtual info session at https://www.mobilize.us/peoplesaction/event/561254/?link_id=1&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-join-us-for-the-march-deep-canvass-training-2&email_referrer=email_1963781&email_subject=deep-canvassing-whats-that.

42] – On Wed., June 21 from 6 to 6:30 PM, Food & Water Watch s holding a virtual meeting: Water Regionalization & Maryland's Pathway to Real Climate Solutions. Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/567950/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_closest. Join an important conversation about organizing to keep Baltimore's water accessible and affordable. Also discuss how Maryland's Department of the Environment could be gearing up to support more false climate solutions.  The conversation will also highlight language from the Department of the Environment's recent report on pathways to Greenhouse Gas reduction, which includes problematic language suggesting investment in nuclear and carbon capture projects in the state. RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/567950/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_closest.

43] – The Returning Citizens Task Force met on June 13 for a discussion of ways of developing concrete activity that would be small in scope but meaningfully for individuals. The key will be to find ways to engage in community activity that could help give returning citizens a sense of purpose and connect them to services. Also the plan is to develop a network of coalition partners so that the various groups in Prince George’s and around the state can pool resources to support people after release from prison. The next meeting is on Tues., June 20 from 6:30 – 7:30 PM ET.  Email for more info at kurt@progressivemaryland.org.

44] – On Wed., June 21 from 7 to 8 PM ET, Ambassador Kenneth Hackett, author of The Vatican Code, will reflect on his tenure as the U.S. ambassador to the Vatican (2013-2017).   The author will discuss the inner workings of American diplomacy, the day-to-day duties of the position, and the relationship between the U.S. Embassy and the Vatican. He was nominated for the post by President Obama in 2013 and served until 2017.   Prior to his ambassadorship he was president of Catholic Relief Services, a global humanitarian organization. Register at https://calendar.prattlibrary.org/event/writers_live_ambassador_kenneth_hackett. You can also participate virtually by visiting the Enoch Pratt Free Library's Facebook page --https://www.facebook.com/theprattlibrary/ or to the YouTube page -- https://www.youtube.com/user/enochprattlibrary/videos.

45] – On Wed., June 21 from 7 to 8 PM ET, get with Superwomen Wednesday hosted by Supermajority.  RSVP to get Zoom info at https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/547542/?followup_modal_context=nonexclusive_newsletter_most_popular_virtual. Learn about the harms of the American cash bail system and how they specifically harm women and femmes.

46] – RepresentUs [hq@represent.us] is doing its quarterly strategic call on Wed., June 21 at 7 PM ET – The Optimist’s Guide to Fixing America. RSVP at  https://vol.represent.us/a/optimists-guide-strategy-call-jun-2023?akid=205644.680940.GzYigF&ms=ak-em-accel-20230613&rd=1&t=8&utm_campaign=accel&utm_content=20230613&utm_medium=em&utm_source=ak&utm_term=. Hear from the folks on the ground who are hard at work all across the country and how they’re racking up big wins for Democracy. For example, Choose Us Coalition Campaign Director Lilly Sasse will talk about the HUGE win in Minnesota. Director Dave O'Brien will give a super timely update on the two critical democracy cases before the United States Supreme Court right now.

47] – Join the virtual Letter to the Editor Party, hosted by Common Cause and related to the Moore v Harper case before the Supreme Court on Wed., June 21 from 8 to 9 PM ET. Join Common Cause to write letters to local media outlets about issues facing our country, from voting rights to ending mass incarceration. Get tips, as well as the tools to quickly send a letter to all local news outlets. Help defend fair maps and fair elections. Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/dfadcoalition/event/418654/?followup_modal_context=organization_newsletter_custom_recommendations.

48] -- There is a Department of Peacebuilding Campaign Call on Wed., June 21 at 8 PM ET. Join monthly Department of Peacebuilding Campaign calls to learn about current activities and lobbying for the campaign along with what you can do to help. Sign up at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/464735321?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=9999d9e4-5e26-4212-a028-c834915b6d75#success. Go to www.peacealliance.org.

49] – Protect Broadband Access [causenet@commoncause.org]needs your help to protect Internet access for millions of people. That’s because if we don’t act quickly, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which helps low-income households afford home Internet is under serious threat of being defunded.  RSVP at https://www.mobilize.us/commoncause/event/565654/?link_id=0&can_id=4b9d4061aec5469758759317ac0f5285&source=email-youre-invited-rsvp-for-our-week-of-action-3&email_referrer=email_1956111___from_2465206&email_subject=youre-invited-rsvp-for-our-week-of-action. On Wed., June 21 at 8 PM ET, join the Letter to the Editor Party.  

50] – On Wed., June 21 at 8:30 PM ET, hear from Wadi Foquin about A Microcosm of the Critical Moment in Palestine, a Conversation with Rev. Don Wagner and Janet Lahr Lewis. Rev. Wagner is an ordained Presbyterian clergyperson and longtime Palestinian rights activist, scholar, and author. His recent memoir: “GLORY TO GOD IN THE LOWEST: JOURNEYS TO THE UNHOLYLAND” recounts his spiritual journey from conservative Christianity to solidarity with the poor, & anti-war, anti-racism, and Palestinian rights activism. Lewis lived and served in Palestine and Israel from 1994 to 2014.  From 2001 to 2018 she was a United Methodist missionary and the United Methodist Liaison in Palestine and Israel from 2006 to 2014.  Upon her return to the U.S. in 2014, she served as Advocacy Coordinator for the Middle East with the General Board of Church and Society in Washington D.C. until her retirement in 2018. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpcOChqzIvH9SAmyW9o7_48Jtv8GYb47TV#/registration.

To be continued.

Donations can be sent to Max Obuszewski, Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Apt. 206, Baltimore, MD 21212.  Ph.: 410-323-1607; Email: mobuszewski2001 [at] comcast.net. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/.

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs