Dear Thomas Merton Center Members and Friends,
On behalf of the staff, board and volunteers of the Thomas Merton Center, we hope that you, and your family and friends, have enjoyed a warm and hopeful holiday season! In this last week of 2012, we ask you to remember the important mission of the Thomas Merton Center, which works to champion peace and justice in a courageous and nonviolent manner for the benefit of all people and the planet that nurtures us.
You can help us promote this important mission by making a tax deductible donation that will support our important work! Please consider making a year end donation at: Donate to the Thomas Merton Center. In January - there are two important Center activities that we hope you will choose to support and participate in as activists dedicated to building a more peaceful and just world: ___________________________________________________________________________
The first activity is organized within our local New Economy Working Group - which is being led by Molly Rush - as part of the Economic Justice efforts of the Thomas Merton Center. Along with local organizers, the Center is working to reframe the national economic policy debate to address the social and environmental imperatives and opportunities of the 21st Century. You can become more involved in this effort by attending the coming Resilience Circle training to learn how to be a facilitator of this national initiative. Information is detailed below:
What: Resilience Circle: TMC New Economy Working Group
When: Sat, January 5, 2013, 9 am - 3 pm
Where: Resilience Circle - First United Methodist Church
Description: A Resilience Circle is a small group of 10 - 20 people that works together to increase resilience during these challenging times. Circles have three purposes: learning, mutual aid, and social action. Formerly known as "Common Security Clubs," these circles promise to move us beyond the good work we're doing in our own backyards and into effective group actions that help us all navigate the future more successfully. In this one-day session, Resilience Circle trainers will lead us through the basics of creating and supporting a group, the available materials for working with a group, and ideas for moving forward. Attendees will go home with greater confidence in their ability to convene and "hold space" for a small local group to work together on mutual support and resilience-building.
Cost is $15 per person for the day but no one is turned away for lack of funds; contact info@localcircles.org if this fee is a hardship.
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Not to be missed by those who are committed to Community Empowerment for a Sustainable Future. Space is limited to 35 maximum. Sign up early and please forward this to people you know who would find this a really useful.
What: Community Rights Workshop When: Friday evening, January 4, 6pm to 9pm to Saturday, January 5, 9am to 6pm Where: Friends Meeting House, 4836 Ellsworth Avenue in Oakland Wondering why corporations have more power than those of you living in your community? Wondering why Harrisburg licenses and permits corporations to harm your community? Wondering why Harrisburg routinely prevents you from making decisions that are in the best interests of your community? The Pennsylvania Community Rights Workshop takes an in-depth look at how Pennsylvania's political and legal structures have been set up to protect the interests of an elite minority, at the expense of the majority of Pennsylvanians. We'll look at how Pennsylvania's constitution has continually evolved since the American Revolution to protect wealth and privilege over community self-government; we'll look at how corporations in Pennsylvania have received more rights and protections than those of you living in your community; and we'll look at how Pennsylvanians have pushed back against these oppressive structures to reclaim democracy in their communities. Finally, at the workshop participants will consider what it would take to create a Pennsylvania constitution that protects the rights of people, communities, and nature by securing our inalienable right to local self-government, free from corporate and state interference. ___________________________________________________________________________
To conclude, we look forward to working with you in the goal of creating a more peaceful and just world through awareness raising, education opportunities, network building, and collaborations through activist actions in the new year. The time for action is now!
Please consider becoming a member, or renewing your membership to make it so. Members receive weekly eblasts listing local activist events and a copy of the New People, the Center's activist newspaper. Members also receive special invitations to activist potluck dinners, events, rallies, actions, trips, and to our awards dinner.
Thomas Merton Center | 5129 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224 | (412) 361-3022 "Alive with the Spirit of Peace and Justice" |
