Laura Bush at the Landmark Tomorrow Night

The Richmond Forum is presenting Laura Bush at the Landmark Theater tomorrow night.

From the website:

The role of First Lady has been called the “highest unofficial office in the land.” Over the years, the roles and duties of the American First Lady have remained officially undefined, leaving each lady since Martha Washington to create her own role, often including hostess, campaigner, public face, and most recently, policy advocate. Laura Bush was one of the most popular first ladies in American history, and she will be the first to address The Richmond Forum. From her time in the White House to her continuing personal commitment to education, women’s health and human rights, Laura Bush has a unique and wide-ranging perspective.

Her memoir is scheduled for release in May.

Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association Kicks Off A New Year

From announcement:

Who: All residents of Oregon Hill, eligible for membership in OHNA

Where: William Byrd Community House (Library)
224 S. Cherry Street

When: Tuesday, January 25th
7 pm to 8 pm

Agenda Items:
Pot Luck (Bring a favorite dish), OHNA will provide the basic set up and supplies.
Annual Elections of the OHNA Officers – President, one or more Vice-Presidents, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Discussion regarding the future of the 5 Standing Committees (Beautification Committee, Resident Assistance Committee, Community Relations Committee, Housing Committee, Public Safety Committee). Membership signup for Committees.
Update from on the Holly Street Playground Committee.
Open Discussion
Bylaws of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association are posted here https://www.oregonhill.net/oregon-hill-neighborhood-association-ohna/ You may want to print out a copy to bring to the meeting.

All positions are open and available. Announce your intention to run for an office via email to the Yahoo Oregon Hill Group oregonhill@yahoogroups.com or at the January OHNA meeting. All positions will be voted on at the January meeting.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there! Please forward this email and pass the word…..

Sincerely,

Debbie Anderson
OHNA Secretary

SATURDAY RALLY & MARCH FOR JOBS, PEACE & JUSTICE

The following is not particular to Oregon Hill, but this event is close by in downtown where I am not sure there is another community blog to cover it. Besides, this neighborhood does have a history of activism

From announcement:

On Saturday, Jan. 15, the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., community advocates and supporters from across Virginia will gather in downtown Richmond to tell the 2011 General Assembly:

Reform the prison laws!
Equal rights for immigrants!
Reclaim Richmond’s African Burial Ground!
Don’t balance the budget on the backs of Virginia’s working people!
Money for jobs & education, not for wars & occupations!

1 p.m. – RALLY – Kanawha Plaza, 8th & Canal streets, Richmond, VA
2 p.m. – MARCH – to the Virginia State Capitol and the African Burial Ground

Next Saturday: “Party In The Park” – Monroe Park That Is

From Monroe Campaign press release:

Richmond, VA—On Saturday, January 15, starting at 12 p.m. in Monroe Park, the All the Saints Theater Company will host Party in the Park in support of the Monroe Park Campaign. It will be open to all ages and completely free of charge. Families are encouraged to attend.

Party in the Park is an afternoon-long festival. The Campaign has received its 1000th petition signature in its quest to keep the park open during renovations. All the Saints plans on celebrating by throwing a party the likes of which the old park hasn’t seen in years. Like all good parties, there will be plenty of food and music but most importantly, there will be a very tangible sense of solidarity. Groups and businesses from all across Richmond have come together to support the Campaign as well as to celebrate spending a nice afternoon in the park. All the Saints will set the scene by parading around with their iconic larger-than-life puppets, boats and dragons, while a diverse mash-up of local artists perform a series of powerful unplugged sets. A face painting station and a market offering tons of free clothing, toys and books will also be available. While old man winter may not be so accommodating, attendees can expect a delicious spread of warm food and drinks to keep them going during the course of the day.

The Monroe Park Campaign is a coalition of churches, feeding groups, radical organizations, as well as concerned citizens that have come together upon hearing about the Monroe Park Advisory Council’s plans to shut down Monroe Park during renovations. For a period of 9-18 months, the council plans on fencing off all 8 acres of the park making it inaccessible for students, homeless people currently living and socializing there, weekly feeding programs as well as anyone else who may use the park. The Campaign is working to keep at least 25-50% of the park open during the entire duration of construction and to prevent the hiring of any private security task force to police the park after renovations, especially since the master plan calls for reducing the “apparently homeless population” as one of its goals. Ultimately, the Campaign hopes to influence the type of renovations that are being planned for the park, in the hopes of making it a friendlier place for everyone.

The All the Saints Theater Company is an experimental art and theater group, responsible for puppet parades, spaghetti dinners, circuses and endless subversive street theater in Richmond.

DATE & TIME: Saturday, January 15 • 12 – 4 p.m. − Suggest coverage between 1:00 and 3 p.m.

LOCATION: Monroe Park
620 W. Main Street
Richmond, VA 23220

Bands/Artists that will perform at the event include:
No BS Brass, Dave Watkins, Pedals On Our Pirate Ships, Diamond Center, Gull, Julie Karr, Lobo Marino, Better Not Makeouts, Alison Self, Canary O’ Canary, Cmilk and Reeverb Collective, Just Plain Sounds Hip Hop Collective and more

Companies that have donated food/supplies to the event include:
Lamplighter’s Roasting Company, Crossroad’s Coffee and Ice Cream and Café Gutenberg

Also got an update:

just wanted to update you on the band list, if you do plan on posting all the bands that will be performing at PITP. Canary O’ Canary will not be performing but Gandhi’s Gunmen will be. If you could make those changes, it would be very much appreciated.

Oh, we also put together a little teaser video for PITP if you’d like to include it or use it in any way: http://vimeo.com/18520547

Richmond City Council to begin 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting

With all of the, um, renewed interest in City Council, I thought I would post this reminder from the City:

Numerous opportunities for Richmond Citizens to learn more, provide input and participate: New Plan to be adopted by December 31, 2011

(Richmond, Virginia U.S.A) — In 2011, Richmond City Council will redraw (redistrict) the existing nine Richmond Voter District boundaries that we use to elect our local Richmond Elected Government Officials in response to results of the 2010 U.S. Census. Adjustments to voting precincts and locations may also be made at this time. New Richmond Voter Districts are to be adopted by December 31, 2011.

The 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting will be a year-long open public process that will include a comprehensive array of public information communications and numerous opportunities for Richmond Citizens to learn more, provide input and participate, which will include many Public Information Meetings, Public Council Meetings, and Public Hearings. All Richmond citizens are invited and encouraged to learn more about the process and to participate during each step of the way. Some of the many ways to engage in this process include:

1. Contacting the Richmond City Council Councilmember that represents you via phone, email, meeting or letter (contact information below)

2. Sending a letter to Richmond City Council
2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting
Richmond City Hall; 900 E. Broad St., Suite 305
Richmond, Virginia 23219

3. Attending Public Information Meetings, Council Public Meetings and Public Hearings to learn more, ask questions and make suggestions (dates, times and locations listed below)

4. Visiting the 2011 Richmond Decennial Voter District Redistricting website to learn more (to be established soon)

5. Asking questions, learning more, and sending suggestions or information by email to steven.skinner@richmondgov.com

6. Sending suggestions or asking questions by sending a fax to 804.646.5468

7. Learning more, asking questions and providing suggestions by calling 804.646.6052

8. Signing up for information and Public Information Meetings, Public Council Meeting and Public Hearings email updates/alerts, at: steven.skinner@richmondgov.com

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Generation Dream 2011

From Richmond Youth Peace Project News:

Mark Your Calendars for Generation Dream 2011:
Sunday, January 30 and Friday, February 4

The Richmond Youth Peace Project will present its sixth annual youth Educoncert, Generation Dream 2011, honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Two performances are scheduled this year. The first show will be held at the VCU Singleton Performing Arts Center, 922 Park Avenue, on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at 4 p.m. A second performance will be held at the Richmond Public Library’s main branch, 101 E. Franklin Street, on Friday, February 4 at 7 p.m. A $5 donation is requested to help defray expenses at the Sunday afternoon show. Admission to the Friday evening show–part of February’s First Fridays events–is free.

Generation Dream 2011 features youth performers from throughout metro Richmond, along with several adult professional artists. This uplifting 90-minute multi-cultural variety show is built around the themes of peace, nonviolence and social justice. The show is part of Living the Dream, Richmond’s annual commemoration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Click below for more 2011 youth opportunities:
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Flying Brick Library’s January Calendar

From Nathan of Flying Brick:

Upcoming Events in January!

– January 7th, 7pm – SPARC presentation on organizing in VA Prisons. This is to also to celebrate the release of the book, Defying the Tomb, out now on AK Press!

– January 17th, 6pm – Slingshot Hip-Hop film showing about Hip-Hop in Palestine. View the trailer by clicking here. Potluck Dinner starts at 6!

– January 23rd, 7pm – A Dirty Shame film showing to benefit LIPS, a female sexuality zine. Please bring a donation! View the trailer by clicking here. This film is Rated NC-17. Please keep this in mind. Contains sexual content. Directed by John Waters.

– In addition to our events, we are open Mondays 9-4 and Thursdays 4-9. Please come and say hi, chat, and check out some books!

Keep checking back for last minute additions to the schedule! If you have questions, would like to volunteer, or have an idea for an event, you can send us an e-mail at theflyingbrick at riseup.net. Find us on Myspace and Facebook!

All events at the Flying Brick Library are sober unless noted otherwise. Please no booze or drugs.

Richmond City Council official meeting schedule for January 2011

From COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATION NEWS RELEASE:

Richmond City Council official meeting schedule for January 2011

All Richmond citizens are invited and encouraged to attend

WHAT Richmond City Council, the governing body of Richmond, holds an average of 12 official monthly public meetings to discuss, deliberate, and act on laws, finances and policy on behalf of our community.

A summary of official Richmond City Council Official Public Meetings for the upcoming month is listed below. Meeting times and dates are subject to change and more meetings may be added as needed.

All Richmond citizens are invited and encouraged to attend all Council meetings and to contact the Richmond Councilmember elected for their voting district (by phone, in person, via email, or by mail) to learn more; provide input; and/or ask questions. Meetings include (but are not limited to) two “Council Formal” Meeting Sessions, two “Council Informal” meetings, six Council Standing Committee meetings, and Council Public Hearings/ Special Events/Commission meetings held on an as-needed basis.

Mission – The mission of Richmond City Council is to represent citizens in creating and amending local laws, providing government policy and
oversight, and approving the city budget.

Vision – Richmond City Council is committed to creating a vibrant community that is a great place to live, work, learn, play, visit and raise a family.

Parking – Free parking is available for Formal Council meetings in the lot next to Richmond City Hall on E. Broad St., between 10th and 11th Streets.

Televised – Formal Council meetings are televised live on local PBS TV Station, WVCW and replayed daily at Noon and 7:00 p.m. on Richmond Government Access TV Channel 17.

For scheduled meetings, click below
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