Local

Community Festival (ComFest) has announced that ComFest will return live to its home in Goodale Park on June 24, 25 and 26, 2022. 

Celebrating 50 years of community, social activism and education, ComFest will again feature live local music and other entertainment, workshops, street fair and much more.

Applications are now available for performers, workshops, speakers and more. 

More information about ComFest 50 and applications may be found at www.comfest.com.

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ComFest is an independent, volunteer-driven celebration of creativity and activism in Columbus, OH. Founded in 1972, its purpose is to build bridges between progressive non-profit organizations, artists, activists and volunteers to raise awareness and promote change within our community.

Thursday, February 10, 2022, 7:00 PM
A major Wendy’s Boycott mobilization on April 2 will bring the fight for farmworkers’ fundamental human rights to Palm Beach, hometown of Wendy’s Board Chair Nelson Peltz and the company’s largest shareholder Trian Partners.  RSVP here to learn more about how you can support the action!

By Dave Meserve, February 8, 2022

Here in Arcata, California, we are working to introduce and pass a ballot initiative ordinance that will require the City of Arcata to fly the Earth flag at the top of all city owned flagpoles, above the United States and the California flags.

Arcata is a city of about 18,000 people on the north coast of California. Home to Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt), Arcata is known as a very progressive community, with a long-time focus on the environment, peace, and social justice.

The Earth flag flies on the Arcata Plaza. That is good. Not many town squares include it.

But wait! The Plaza flagpole order is not logical. The American flag flies at the top, the California flag beneath it, and the Earth flag at the bottom.

Doesn’t the Earth encompass all nations and all states? Isn’t the well being of the Earth essential to all life? Aren’t global issues more important to our healthy survival than nationalism?

It’s time to recognize the primacy of the Earth over nations and states when we fly their symbols on our town squares. We cannot have a healthy nation without a healthy Earth.

Wednesday 2/9 at 7pm
Presentation from the Ohio Department of Commerce, Wage and Hour Division.

Today’s largely incoherent and distorted clashes over teaching about race—teaching the inclusive, factual history of the United States as opposed to a largely fictionalized version—are unusual in instructive ways.

This year’s effective nondebate over the radically distorted and misrepresented critical race theory is a stunning indictment of contemporary American print and broadcast journalism. (On the nondebate over the Second Big Lie, see links to my essays below.) The failing crosses political and ideological lines; local and national coverage; and different media platforms.

Monday, February 7, 9:30-11am, on-line event requires advance registration

The world is watching closely as Ukraine confronts the threat of escalating Russian aggression. The Ukrainian people are often overlooked by the latest headlines, despite decades of working to build an inclusive, democratic, and peaceful society.

This event aims to elevate the voices of Ukrainian women who are working on the frontlines and at the highest policy levels to promote peace. These leaders will share their urgent calls for maximum efforts by the international community to support their security.

Featuring:

• Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine

• Ambassador Bill Taylor, Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine; Vice President, Russia and Europe, United States Institute of Peace (USIP)

• Olena Suslova, Gender Expert; Chair of the Board and Founder, Women’s Information Consultative Center, Ukraine

Monday, February 7, 1-2:30pm, this on-line event requires advance registration

This event will be an insightful and intimate panel discussion with four notable African-American individuals who found their success path in the Transportation Industry.

Speakers

• Shannetta Griffin, P.E., Associate Administrator of Airports, Federal Aviation Administration

• Jack Marchbanks, Ph.D., Director, Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)

• Amy Hall, President, Ebony Construction Co.

• Tajudeen Bakare, P.E., M. ASCE, Principal / Chief Bridge Engineer / Regional Structures Transportation Manager, CT Consultants, Inc.

Moderator

• Ralonda Hampton, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement Officer, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC)

RSVP for this event by using this link.

Never have I seen/heard so many good solid people, unionists, progressives of various stripes, activists/fighters verbalizing feelings of extreme frustration, powerlessness. Between COVID, complete legislative gridlock, a conservative packed Supreme Court, Trump’s continuing influence over large sections of white people influenced by racism, it seems as though the corporate ruling class has done a tremendous job of blocking any way forward. Wide sections of our people are fighting depression growing out of feelings of hopelessness.

However, as the great John Lewis liked to say; “It’s darkest just before the dawn! We cannot give up hope!”

As well, it is important for us to understand that the undemocratic power-grab by Republicans/corporate pols, is ultimately based in weakness, fear of a rising people’s movement, not in strength.

In previous periods, progressive government economic programs which put money into worker’s pockets, combined with Union organizing campaigns, have turned these situations around, funneling funds to workers, and helping the entire economy.

Obstacles To Progress Are Formidable

People who ban books are rarely on the right side of history.

Yet, Republican extremists across the country are using lies about Critical Race Theory to ban important lessons and books written by Black authors from our public schools.

Our children deserve to have the tools they need to think critically and act with compassion.

Send an email to your legislators: Ohioans won't accept right-wing extremism! Oppose the bans!

As Adrienne Hood told the Free Press, “People really haven’t been paying much attention” to what is arguably one of Columbus’s most important leadership decisions in decades. The choice of Jacqueline Hendricks-Moore for first-ever Inspector General of the Civilian Police Review Board, which Columbus voters overwhelmingly approved for in November of 2020.

“I will say that I hope she has the boldness to stand up when necessary because that will make or break this whole review board and further damage the relationship with the community,” said Ms. Hood to the Free Press.

The Civilian Police Review Board or CPRB essentially has this main responsibility: To serve as a standing administrative jury hearing cases investigated by the Inspector General, which will be independent of the Department of Public Safety.

As for when the Inspector General will begin conducting investigations, those close to the situation predict this spring or early summer.