Local
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.
Friday, February 4, 7:30-9pm, this event will be live-streamed on “Facebook Live”
Serious love songs, humorous trivia questions, and surprises will highlight the 13th annual Valentines concert by Bill Cohen and friends from 7:30pm to 9pm on Friday, February 4.
With guitar and piano, Bill will sing favorites from the 1940s through the 1980s, made famous by John Denver, the Everly Brothers, Sam Cooke, Bette Midler, James Taylor, Bing Crosby, the Shirelles, the Eagles, the Beatles, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, and others.
While the songs will reflect the ecstasy, warmth, heartache, and pain that love can bring, there will be a lighter side too, as Bill poses trivia questions about famous and infamous couples and love songs throughout the decades.
The online concert is free, but if you appreciate the music, memories, and fun, we’ll welcome donations to help produce the upcoming Central Ohio Folk Festival in May.
Smedley Butler is generally left out of U.S. history. If you bring up a guy who prevented a Wall Street coup against FDR, you do real damage to the tale of peaceful respect for government from the beginning of time up through January 6, 2021. If you mention the scandal that erupted when he recounted how Mussolini had run over a little girl with his car, it’s hard to leave out the U.S. government’s friendly relations with Mussolini.
Interestingly, it was Cornelius Vanderbilt IV, who had been in the car with Mussolini and who had told his friend Smedley Butler about it, who later recounted in his autobiography a second Wall Street coup plot that he said he had exposed to Eleanor Roosevelt and thereby her husband, and successfully put a stop to. For some reason we never celebrate Vanderbilt as the savior of the U.S. government in the way that those of us who’ve heard of him do Smedley Butler, even though Vanderbilt turned against oligarchs as Butler turned against warmakers.
Friday, February 4, 2022, 12:00 PM