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Progressive Action Roundtable: A forum for progressive groups in the Greater New Haven Area where actions and ideas may be publicized so that others are aware of peace, health, justice, energy, environmental and other issues for the common good.

Archive for category Events

Wheel-A-Thon fundraiser seeks volunteers, teams and sponsors

Aug 31

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by Christopher Zurcher, for CDR

The Center for Disability Rights 2010 Wheel-A-Thon to Benefit Young People with Disabilities is a fundraising and community awareness campaign to benefit the youth programs and activities of the CDR and its partners. It takes place from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sun., Sept. 19, at the Savin Rock Conference Center, 6 Rock St., West Haven.

All money raised goes to support:

  • College scholarships for students with disabilities;
  • Advocacy with students to improve their education;
  • Communication access services for youth with hearing loss involved in peer support programs;
  • Facilitation services for youth groups; and
  • CDR youth transition services.

The top fundraising team last year raised $2,600. The minimum team registration is $200 and the minimum individual registration fee is $25. There are various levels of sponsorship outlined on the website at www.wheel-a-thon.org.

“The Wheel-A-Thon is the only source of funding for the Center for Disability Rights programs for young people with disabilities,” according to CDR Executive Director Marc Anthony Gallucci.

In addition to challenging members of the community to navigate around obstacles and barriers faced by over 240,000 Connecticut people with disabilities every day, the Wheel-A-Thon is a fun, important and eye-opening event for able-bodied people and people in wheelchairs.

Participants navigate their way through an easy course past Savin Rock on West Haven Beach, across Ocean Avenue, and back to the Savin Rock Conference Center, which takes about 45 minutes.

Participants receive a t-shirt and other items donated by sponsors and local businesses. Participants and sponsors also receive recognition in various media, an increased awareness of the difficulties faced every day by wheelchair-bound individuals in our community, and an overall feeling of having done something good for the community.

An awards luncheon after the event recognizes key individuals, sponsors, and top fundraising teams.

Founded in 1988, CDR promotes empowerment and self-reliance for people with disabilities in Connecticut.

For more information about participating, becoming a sponsor or to download a brochure, visit www.wheel-a-thon.org.  For more information about the Center for Disability Rights, visit www.centerfordisabilityrights-ct.org, or call (203) 934-7077.

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CT Folk Festival And Green Expo

Aug 31

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by Anne Killheffer, CT Folk

“One Planet, Many Choices”: New Haven’s Edgerton Park is the place to be September 10-12 for music and green ideas

Legendary folk and country singer Nanci Griffith will headline the Connecticut Folk Festival and Green Expo’s main stage concert on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010, in New Haven’s Edgerton Park. The 5 p.m. concert under the stars will also feature acclaimed singer-songwriter Susan Werner, The Kerry Boys, Connecticut State Troubadour Lara Herscovitch, and the mesmerizing “musical circus” of Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams.

The CT Folk Festival and Green Expo kicks off on Friday Sept. 10, with the Grassy Hill Song Circle, a unique evening of collaborative entertainment. Four of the hottest musicians on the indie/Americana scene will play solo work and then accompany each other in a jam-session atmosphere: Trina Hamlin, Reed Waddle, Seth Glier, and Marc Von Em. For the first time, the Grassy Hill Song Circle will also be held in the magical atmosphere of Edgerton Park, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Ticket information: www.ctfolk.com.

FREE: Saturday afternoon, Edgerton Park will be the site of CT Folk’s fifth annual Green Expo, a free afternoon event (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.) featuring 75 exhibitors, demonstrations and activities to promote sustainable lifestyles, as well as a free family concert and activities for kids. This year, the Connecticut Green Expo will explore the theme “Local is green.” Local food, local farming, local services, local transportation options and local musicians will all be highlighted.

As part of its annual family programming, CT Folk’s World Stage will offer a free family concert during the Green Expo on Saturday afternoon. The Expo’s World Stage will feature the top five artists from CT Folk’s 2010 songwriting contest in a competitive showcase.

FREE: Sunday, September 12 at noon is the Dava Hoot, an informal community sing-along hosted by Connecticut’s own Pierce Campbell, at noon in Edgerton Park (the Dava Hoot will not take place in case of rain).

For information, contact Alice-Anne Harwood, director, at| aliceanne@ctfolk.com, Anne Killheffer, marketing chair at annekillheffer@yahoo.com, or www.ctfolk.com.

  • All CT Folk Festival & Green Expo events will be held in Edgerton Park, on Whitney Avenue. In case of rain, we move to indoor venues:
  • Friday: Grassy Hill Song Circle moves to Lyman Center, SCSU, 501 Crescent St.
  • Saturday day: The Green Expo moves to the City-wide Field House, 480 Sherman Parkway.
  • Saturday evening: Concert featuring Nanci Griffith moves to Lyman Center, SCSU, 501 Crescent St.

Resist racial profiling from Arizona to Fair Haven

Jul 25

Posted by admin in Events, Human Rights, Workers | No Comments

(contributed)

Resist racial profiling from Arizona to Fair Haven. Protest the enactment of SB1070.

There will be a rally at 6 p.m. July 28, in front of the Federal Courthouse at 141 Church St., in New Haven, CT.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s racist law, SB1070, has ignited a firestorm of protests around the country at the very time when immigrants, people of color and workers are standing up for justice. In addition to SB1070, which legalizes and enforces racial profiling and is aimed at all people of color in Arizona, the state has pased SB 2281, which bans ethnic studies from public classrooms and punishes critique of the American government and its international policy.

Other states reportedly are considering sililar moves. Many states and municipalities are seizing this opportunity to push through 287g, ‘Secure Communities’ and other ICE programs that destroy communities, tear apart families and intimidate workers.

These attacks come at a time when all people are suffering from the wave of budget cuts and mass unemployment that makes racism and anti-immigrant xenophobia so dangerous.

On July 29, 2010, the bill will be enacted. In solidarity with Arizona, coordinated actions throughout the country are being planned to show support for Arizona and to highlight local struggles of immigrants, people of color and workers.

For more information contact ulaccion@yahoo.com.

This issue dedicated to Ruth Emerson

Jun 1

Posted by admin in Events, Memorial | No Comments

This issue is dedicated to Ruth Emerson, long-time New Haven activist and humanitarian, who passed away on April 25 at Connecticut Hospice in Branford. The PAR Planning Committee gives our sincere condolences to her family and friends. In addition to being a PAR subscriber, for many years she was a PAR proofreader. All who knew Ruth will greatly miss her. Her intelligence coupled with her fierce sense of justice and sense of humor made her a most remarkable activist and a wonderful friend and colleague in the struggle for a more peaceful and just world.

Please join family and friends for a memorial service on June 26 at 2 p.m. at The People’s Center,

37 Howe St. New Haven. For information, contact Sherman Malone (203) 675-4770. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Haiti Marycare, Inc., 55 King St., Danbury, CT 06811 or Defending Dissent, 1100 Wayne Ave. #1020, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Fight The Hike: Gov Vetoes Energy Bill, U.I. To Buy 3 Gas Companies

Jun 1

Posted by admin in Events, Fight the Hike | No Comments

by Paula Panzarella

On May 25, the same day that United Illuminating announced it intends to buy three gas companies for $885 million, Gov. Rell vetoed S.B. 493, the energy legislation that would have helped lower electric rates, promote renewable energy and call for corporate accountability of the electric companies.

It’s imperative that the politicians call for a special session and override Gov. Rell’s veto. Please call your representative and senator (see page 3). If you don’t know who they are, go to http://votesmart.org and enter in your zip code on the upper left portion of the screen.

Find out how they voted on S.B. 493 here: http://tiny.cc/046qr and here: http://tiny.cc/e9tn9. Thank them if they voted in favor, and demand they work to override the veto. If they didn’t vote for the bill, tell them you expect them to do right by Connecticut consumers and businesses and vote now for an override. Remind them that the Energy and Technology Committee worked on the legislation since mid-March, and held public hearings on the issues presented in S.B. 493 (at that time, the bills were named H.R. 5505, H.R. 5507, H.R. 5508, and S.B. 463).

Tell Gov. Rell that by vetoing S.B. 493 she betrayed the people and the businesses of Connecticut. Her phone number is 1-800-406-1527. Her e-mail is Governor.Rell@ct.gov.

United Illuminating has shown itself to be a dishonorable corporation, and its acquisition and control of gas companies will further impoverish Connecticut residents and businesses. Honest antitrust legislation should deny their request, but that may be determined by how much people are willing to take on this struggle. Fight the Hike’s next meeting is Thursday, June 17. For details, call (203) 562-2798.

Oneworld Progressive Institute

Jun 1

Posted by admin in Events, Healthcare, Human Rights, Peace | No Comments

by N’Zinga Shäni

OneWorld Progressive Institute produces educational programs and community forums for the benefit of the entire community. In 2010 our focus will be mainly on Education and Civic Engagement. Our program “21st Century Conversations” airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on Comcast, Chan. 26. Visit: www.nhtv.com/Uverse.html to find us on AT&T U-Verse. We are on all major cable systems. Viewers can order DVD copies through our on-line store. We encourage readers to browse our website.

On CTV, Ch. 26: Political Debate with Debra Hauser and Roland Lemar, Thurs., June 3, 8-9 p.m.

Mondays, 8 p.m. during summer months, watch our new Health Care Information Series with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, President Obama and leading CT health care experts. Our Education Series includes teen forums and workshops with principals, teachers and parents.

We encourage people to watch each broadcast.  Read these New Haven Independent articles about our recent programs.

The Kids Get Their Say by Zak Stone | Apr 28, 2010

Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority

Target: The “Brainwashing Thing”

by Zak Stone | Feb 19, 2010

Samples of comments posted about our April Teen Forum:

Pat on May 5, 2010: This is great! We need more opportunities for teens to show that they are good kids. The bad kids always steal the show. These kids are our hope for the future. Keep up the good work!

Mrs. Robles on May 5, 2010: I think all of these kids did a great job. Students should be asked for their input more frequently—too often, their thoughts and ideas are not taken seriously because many people think they are too young and/or immature to understand or talk intelligently about issues. Unfortunately, people usually gravitate towards the more sensational stories (the hijacked bus). However, if more stories like this are written, maybe this could change some people’s attitudes.

Harold on May 6, 2010: Why wasn’t this on the front page of the New Haven Register? We need to celebrate our good kids more and sessions like this do that. I’m glad I stumbled upon this article.

We encourage a desire for life-long learning; we believe that “21st Century Conversations” offer a unique opportunity to those who watch to learn a great deal about an array of issues. We at OneWorld are encouraging civic engagement and extolling Lighthouses of Knowledge. These can start at the kitchen tables; they can expand to the basement of churches and community centers. We welcome comments and feedback. OneWorld Progressive Institute,P. O. Box 8662, New Haven, CT 06531, (203) 407-0250, oneworldpi@yahoo.com,  www.oneworldpi.org.

Reminder Of Peace Train To NYC May 2 For Rally To Abolish Nuclear Weapons

Apr 25

Posted by admin in Events, Peace | No Comments

by Nancy Eberg, GNHPC

On Sunday, May 2, a march to abolish nuclear weapons will be held across Manhattan to a rally and festival at the United Nations. Locally, the Greater New Haven Peace Council has arranged transportation to NYC ($25 for adults, $13 for those 18 or under). The Bruce Martin Memorial Peace Train will leave Union Station in New Haven at 10:55 a.m. and return at 6:07 p.m. For reservations, register at www.stepfour.com/peacetrain. Any questions, call Henry Lowendorf at (203) 389-9547, or e-mail grnhpeacecouncil@sbcglobal.net.