Get Involved
International Human Rights Award: Deadline Sep 20: Nominee must be an N.C. resident who has made a significant contribution to international human rights. Send nomination statement of 300 words or less (supporting materials OK) with your name, address and phone to The Human Rights Coalition of N.C., c/o Joyce Scapicchio, 5400 Neuse Forest Road, Raleigh 27616. 876-0501 (phone/fax), joyce.scapicchio@oracle.com.
Big Box Block: An effort is underway to stop Wal-Mart from opening in Chatham County. Internationalist Books (405 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill) will be stocking opposition bumper stickers, books and T-shirts. For more info about how to stop Wal-Mart: 933-1461, mbarroso@mindspring.com (Mark Barroso).
Gawad Kalinga: GK (“to give care and hope” in English) and its nonprofit U.S. arm, ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor), reach out to the poor and marginalized in the Philippines and other developing countries with the goal of “no more slums.” There are several thousand Filipino Americans in the Triangle, and a new GK support community: 858-0905, 624-6173, jdlreyes@yahoo.com (Josephine de los Reyes). www.gawadkalinga.org, www.ancopusa.org.
Datebook
Blood Drive: Wed, Aug 24, 3-6 pm: Co-sponsored by Gingerbread LittleVersity, a family-owned childcare facility, and Rex Blood Center. Uptown Gingerbread LittleVersity, 1521 N. Main St., Fuquay-Varina. 552-9185.
Christian Social Justice Group Forming: Wed, Aug 24, 6 pm: Watts Street Baptist Church is putting together a discussion group for Duke students who want to explore social justice and racial reconciliation issues from a Christian perspective. You don’t have to be Baptist to attend this kick-off dinner. 800 Watts St., Durham. RSVP attendance/interest to ken4@duke.edu.
Blood Drive: Thu, Aug 25, 11 am-4 pm: OWASA, 400 Jones Ferry Road, Carrboro. 968-4421 x223.
Democratic Women of Wake County: Thu, Aug 25, lunch 11:30 am, meeting noon: Monthly meeting with speaker Caroline C. Valand, executive director of the N.C. Democratic Party. N.C. State University Club, 4200 Hillsborough St., Raleigh.
Protest at Cary Town Council Meeting: Thu, Aug 25, 5:30-6:30 pm: Members of the New Hill Community Association will picket at Cary Town Hall (101 Wilkinson Ave.) prior to the meeting. At issue is the location of a regional wastewater treatment facility. NHCA protests that alternative sites deemed most suitable by the engineers were not included in the Environmental Impact Statement. 362-1090, tpforbes@bellsouth.net.
Conversation Cafe: Every Thursday, 6 pm: A facilitated, drop-in conversation about things like globalization, consumerism, faith, morality, poverty, physical beauty, community, etc. Bring someone who disagrees with you! Jump’N Java Cafe, 2945 S. Miami Blvd., Durham. RSVP 384-1668, jimullman@odconsortium.org.
Jennifer Harbury: Three local events with author Jennifer Harbury, a human rights activist, attorney and national campaign director of STOP (see article at right). Fri, Aug 26, noon: Press conference and rally. Capitol grounds, downtown Raleigh. North Carolinians Opposed to Torture: 233-9685. Fri, Aug 26, 7 pm: Reading. Quail Ridge Books, 3522 Wade Ave., Raleigh. 828-1588. Sat, Aug 27, 6 pm: Rice and beans dinner, talk/reading. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3313 Wade Ave., Raleigh. 233-9685.
Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Commission’s Public Hearings: Fri, Aug 26, 2-9 pm and Sat, Aug 27, 9 am-4 pm: Second public hearing at A&T University, Greensboro. For location details, contact GTCRC: 336-275-6462, www.gtcrp.org. For info, contact the Beloved Community Center: 336-230-0001, www.belovedcommunitycenter.org.
Hillsborough Historic District Commission: Fri, Aug 26, 7 pm: Presenting annual awards to 11 citizens for outstanding work in preservation, renovation, design and public service; during Last Fridays. Downtown.
Durham County Democratic Women: Fri, Aug 26, midnight to midnight: Celebrating Women’s Equality Day with a nonpartisan 24-hour marathon voter registration drive. 384-1292, moorecathy@msn.com.
NC Warn Music Benefit: Sat, Aug 27, 8 pm: Jon Shain Trio, Cyril Lance & The Outskirts and Saludos Compay donate their talent to support NC WARN, the Durham-based nonprofit working for a transition to safe, economical energy for N.C. Cat’s Cradle, 300 Main St., Carrboro. NC WARN: 416-5077, www.ncwarn.org. $10.
Blood Drive: Sun, Aug 28, noon-4:30 pm: Orange County American Red Cross. New Sharon UMC, 1601 New Sharon Church Road, Hillsborough. 732-5144.
Snowflake Animal Rescue: Many ways to help: Adopt-a-thon: Sun, Aug 28, 1-3 pm at PetsMart in Wake Forest. Raffles: Dale Earnhardt life-size cardboard stand-up and Crabtree Valley Mall shopping sprees; drawings are Oct 3. Volunteer, or donate something on their wish list: www.snowflakerescue.org, 990-2478.
Blood Drive: Wed, Aug 31, 11 am-4:30 pm: Orange County American Red Cross. Red Cross Club, Student Union Great Hall, UNC Campus. unc.givesblood.org.
Triangle Empowerment Center: Wed, Aug 31, 3-6 pm: Open house for center supporting Durham County residents with a current or previous mental illness. Center activities include self-help groups, weekly/ monthly socials, relaxation (7 days, 10 am-10 pm). 353 W. Main St., Durham. 358-1983, www.dacinc.org.
Rep. Price Town Hall Meeting: Wed, Aug 31, 7-8:30 pm: Talk to David Price about the issues. Fuquay-Varina Town Hall, 401 Old Honeycutt Road. 859-5999.
United Nations At 60: Past Accomplishments, Future Prospects: Registration deadline Sep 1 for Sat, Sep 10, 9 am-3 pm event: Conference includes concurrent workshops on Peace and Security; Human Rights: Women, Children and Health; Sustainable Development, Poverty and Hunger; plus keynote address by Wenyan Yang of the UN. Exploris Museum, 201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh. Info: un60.una-wake.org, 523-0937. $25 (including box lunch), $10 students.
Strictly Voluntary
Special Olympics Orange County: Applications due Aug 26: Recruiting volunteer coaches for fall sports programs, Aug 28-Nov 6. 968-2787 x204, clanigan@townofchapelhill.org.
Orange County Rape Crisis Center: Accepting applications (deadline Aug 31) for mid-Sep volunteer training class; answer 24-hour crisis/response line and present educational programs. Info and app: www.ocrcc.org. 968-4647, info@ocrcc.org.
Seeking Performers: For Send the Youth to D.C., Not Iraq, a fundraising gala for N.C. Peace & Justice Coalition on Fri, Sep 16, 8 pm at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro. kangaroo@email.unc.edu.
