All donations are
indeed donations and voluntarily submitted.
No one will be turned
away from an event for lack of money alone.
Sunday,
October 1 at 7:00 pm
Queer Activists Report Back from
Palestine
Presented by
Tory
Becker
510-434-1304
Queer activists
Dunya Alwan
and
Judy Greenspan,
from
Queers Undermining Israeli
Terrorism
(QUIT), report on groundbreaking work in Palestine.
Dunya is cofounder and principal organizer of
Birthright Unplugged/Replugged,
which works with international activists and Palestinian refugee
youth to challenge the Zionist narrative through unique travel
encounters. QUIT has been one of the most consistent Bay Area
voices for divestment from, and boycott of, Israel.
Judy participated in the historic
Viva Palestina caravan to Gaza
last summer, along with Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. Dunya
and Judy will speak and show their video and slides
─ and there will be lots of
time for discussion as well.
Bay Area Spark
Collective Workshops and
Chanting Circle
Presented by
James
Bianchi
415-824-4220
Come enjoy the FireDance
community and find another home in the Bay Area for
your heart songs, your dance, your poetry, your
music. You do not have to be a good singer. You do
not have to know a
single chant. Just bring your enthusiasm and your spark. The
Bay Area Spark
Collective is a new flame, kindled from embers carried home from
fire circles around the country
─ an intentional
community group that meets monthly to celebrate spirit, community,
and each other. Pot luck
supper begins at 4:00 pm. The sacred circle opens the doors at
6:30 pm. Participants introduce themselves and share their
magic; the four directions are called in; a chant is sung; and a
sacred play begins. From here on out, anything can happen:
drumming, a song, a poem, dancing,
magic, drawing, writing, massage, deep trance. As participants take their turns
around the circle, they stir the container and mix in their magic to create a
synergistic miracle in the space. Everyone listens to what the moment needs. Around 9:30 pm the energy of the circle rises to a fever pitch and then sweetly
winds down. The circle is closed with a chant, an "Om," that releases the four
directions
─ and plenty of hugs!
This performance is the final
American show for 2009 of
8 GATES' Metamorphic Ritual
Theatre and
Protea
in collaboration with
Orryelle Defenestrate-Bascule.
Part play, part shamanic underworld journey, this theatre piece
concerns past
lives, atavistic resurgence, mists, ravens, and the density of
matter. San Francisco's Protea is
Serena Toxicat’s thorny, sharp-clawed, 21st
century brainchild. An intensely personal, dark experimental
project. A priestess of Bast, Sekhmet, and Isinephthys
ordained in the Fellowship of Isis at Isis Oasis temple and ocelot
sanctuary, Protea celebrates the Ancient Egyptian pantheon with
gnosis and devotion in a matrix of ether and artful "noise."
For this performance Serena will present material from her new CD
"Going Forth by
Night," collaborating with a thereminist and
Orryelle on violin. Orryelle will also be performing some of his own
recent musickal material from his "rehctaWatcher" CD with related
Egyptian themes, in collaboration with Protea.
The
Mutation Parlour began as a physical place, where physical
mutations (tattooing, piercing and other body arts) were undergone,
and strange artwork (sculpture, collage, puppetry, painting,
drawing, video, photography) was created.
Mutation Parlour became a musical and theatrical endeavour,
originally a "band" which used the place as its "Change Room" where
performers mutated themselves and each other before going onstage. The original place called the
Mutation Parlour was razed to the ground by "developers" and the
band became their mobile heirs.
As a musical and theatrical venture, Mutation Parlour has evolved
from what was basically a rock band (albeit a very strange one,
incorporating elements of classical, thrash and world music) into a
more amorphous collective of musicians and sound sculptors, an
ever-expanding and diversifying chaos orchestra which blends ancient
instruments with modern technological and techno-illogical
soundscapes. Metamorphic Ritual Theatre group
─ who weave together
threads of different ancient mythologies and universal magical
symbols
─ have merged with Mutation Parlour to create a balance of
visual and aural weirdness, with physical mutations and body arts
still a major element of live performances.
The
Cherokee Society for the Greater Bay Area
(CSGBA) presents an evening of
America
Meredith's
ancient and historical Cherokee art. America Meredith is
not only a bone fide Cherokee, but an artist and educator.
Her research area is Cherokee iconography. She will also
display images of early Cherokee beadwork, basketry, pipes,
ceramics, moundbuilder gorgets, copper repousse, wood carvings,
and textiles. Her presentation will provide an opportunity
for thoughtful discussion about the meanings and stories behind
the imagery. Following her presentation, all participants
are invited to stay for a potluck supper and the opportunity to
meet others interested in Cherokee and Native American Studies
and to learn more about the CSGBA. Please bring a dish to
share!
Enjoy an evening of art,
crafts, and stories from the Cherokee Nation!
From Columbus to Bush and Obama and beyond,let's explore prospects
for a better world!
This will be an educational evening with
James Cosner,
MA. For centuries, a collection of profound lies have been
peddled as fact regarding the discovery of America and the origins
of our nation. As yet another “Columbus Day” passes while
Columbus' mentality rages on in the form of U.S. policies in Iraq
and Afghanistan, throughout the “third world,” and at home, come
hear the telling stories of who Columbus truly was, his deeds, and
how his legacy lives today in the former Bush doctrine and yes,
sadly, Obama’s administration as well. More importantly, let's
all take part in an inspiring presentation and discussion for our
prospects at a better world for our children and their children.
$12 Donations Accepted
Friday,
October 16 at 8:00 pm
Magic Jester
Improvisation
Presented by
Michael
Davenport
510-827-2660
TheMagic Jester Theatre presents an evening of improv theater, music, and standup comedy
─an amazing, high energy show,
full of heart, and emotionally expressive!
And everyone is welcome to participate by suggesting story lines for
the actors. The performances will be entirely inspired
by YOU, the audience. This is community theatre at its best!
You, theatre guests of the evening, suggest a
brief story and the Theatre will create an improv play around it. And you
will be serenaded by
Stormy,
one of the East Bay's finest singer-songwriters, or
Mugg
who can really play the oldies on his guitar.
Don't miss this unforgettably
delightful and funny evening like
none other!
$12 Donations Accepted
Saturday,
October 17 at 10:00 am
Resilience for
All: Anti-Oppression Workshop
Presented by
Aaron
Lehmer
510-834-0420
This is a six-hour
workshop of Bay
Localize based
on the belief that anti-racism can be a catalyst for building
powerful, effective, multi-racial movements that can create real
justice in this country. The workshop has been designed by
the Catalyst
Project to
support white social justice activists in building an analysis
of white supremacy and white privilege and developing
anti-racist and pro-justice organizing skills. Looking at
historical and current institutional racism and how white
privilege impacts social justice activist work, the workshop
will introduce us to anti-racist organizing principles that we
can bring into all of our efforts to build a healthy,
sustainable, and just society. We will connect these
topics to the challenges and prospects of building a truly
inclusive movement for regional self-reliance that's centered in
social justice.
The
San Francisco Bay Area
Chapter of Big Moves
continues their beloved annual dance showcase and chocolate
tasting, and this year they're doing it up Halloween style.
They have new pieces by the
Phat Fly Girls,
amazing guest artists, and the evening will be emceed by the
always-flabulous
Marilyn Wann.
There will also be a raffle and a costume contest with excellent
prizes, plus a mass dance lesson to a Halloween classic.
Slap on your Richard Simmons costume and subversively enjoy our
lavish chocolate buffet (no crying in the chocolate, please)!
This evening combines
dance performances and celebrations with chocolate tasting!
Stop U.S. colonial
wars at home and abroad!
Stop police murder and brutality against African people!
Help Uhuru
build solidarity with the U.S. African community and
oppressed peoples around the world.
Starting this
evening, let's bring local unity to the Bay Area based
on economic and social justice for the African community!
There's no
solution to the U.S. and global economic crisis at the
expense of African people. The U.S. attempts to
solve its deep economic crisis through colonial wars
from Afghanistan and Iraq to the streets of Oakland.
The city of Oakland spends half of its people’s
resources on a war budget that funds police containment,
prisons, and courts, while spending nothing on economic
development. This means we have a
counterinsurgency war going on right here in Oakland!
We call on our community to stand with the program of
the Uhuru Movement,
demanding all rights of a free people for
self-determination and liberation. We reject an
economy and jobs based on the oppression of African
people!
This evening's
benefit for Uhuru features the dynamic
Omali Yeshitela,
Chairperson of the
African Socialist
International,
the keynote speaker. Also speaking this evening
will be Penny Hess,
Chairperson of the
African People’s
Solidarity Committee,
and Shanrika Turney,
Oakland leader of the
International
People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement.
A light supper will be included in this evening's
program. Let's make reparations for African people
now!
This is the monthly meeting of
the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club (WDRC). The Club
works to renew and reform the
Democratic Party. The evening
begins with a social hour and delicious pot luck supper at 6:00 pm
─
bring your favorite healthy dish to share!
At 7:00 pm the Club begins
its program
and all guests of the evening, members and non-members alike, are invited to participate in the discussions.
This evening's
program is about a single-payer health care system for
the U.S.
Michael Lighty
is a most informative and cogent speaker who wears many
hats:
he's
the National Policy Director for both the
California Nurses
Association
(CNA) and the
National Nurses
Organizing Committee
and he's a Board member of
Progressive
Democrats of America.
On this evening he will be speaking on
Working for
Medical Security:
Medicare for All.
Michael has his finger on the pulse of the sad journey
of health care reform in Washington D.C. This
evening we can learn first hand about CNA's Twelve Step
Program toward achieving Single Payer Plus.
Michael will make compelling arguments about how and why
we must continue to fight for the right of all residents
of the U.S. to have access to affordable, quality health
care, despite the backtracking of Democrats and the
outrageous attacks of Republicans. Michael's talk
this evening will clarify all your questions and
confusions about health care.
It's Congo Week from October 18
─
24 and here's a great event for Congo Week!Building Opportunities
for Self-Sufficiency,
working with Bay
Area Friends of the Congo,
The Inga Association,
Black Dot
and African Women's
Charity Organization
are mobilizing support on behalf of the people of the Congo who are
fighting for peace, justice, and human dignity. The featured speakers
of the evening will be:Patrick Cannon, Associate Professor of Government, Cal
State University Sacramento and
Nkusu Muanza
along with other Congolese living in the diaspora reading testimonials
from the Congo. Advocacy actions will be reported by
Boona Cheema
and Muadi Mukenge.
Congolese drumming for this evening will be performed by
Okili
and Congolese singing by
Mbutshu Yindja
and The Visual Sounds of Africa Dance
Group. Come
out this evening and show your support for the people of the Congo
struggling for human rights!
This will be an afternoon of
exciting, delightful, and incredible Middle Eastern drumming, music,
and belly dancing!
Mary Ellen Donald
is a nationally acclaimed Middle Eastern percussionist, instructor,
and recording artist for over thirty years. She is the prime
mover of the gorgeous and exotic
Middle Eastern Treasures
concerts. She shines not only as an expert and thrilling
player of Persian drums and cymbals, but she is also an amazing jazz
singer. This afternoon she will perform Arabic music with a
six piece ensemble. She will play percussion along with
Angelena Kyzar Crowhurst
and Biran Nutson;Nazir Latouf will
sing and play the oud;Sarah Michael will
play the qanun;
and Yoko Abe
will play the violin. This afternoon's concert will also
feature singers from the
Aswat Choir
and
Mozaik,
a vocal ensemble that presents haunting harmonies from around the
world;
two elaborate compositions for percussion ensembles with special
guests:Rasa Vitalia
performing Brazilian dance;Peter Herbert
on the surdo drum;John Landers
on the shakeree;Darrin Barnett
on the djembe;
and Vladimir Cardema
on the didgeridoo. And this afternoon's concert will also
feature belly dancing performed to perfection by
Amira Ariana
and April Faith,
with audience dancing afterward. Come see and experience these
Middle Eastern instruments, sounds, and belly dancing. It is
impossible to have a more enjoyable afternoon at Humanist Hall!
Come and join Mary Ellen in raising the rafters of Humanist Hall as
high as the sky today!
Complementing Mary Ellen’s spectacular concert will be an
irresistible feast!
Be sure to
bring a delicious potluck dish to share!
