COMMUNITY CONVERSATION SERIES . . . Tuesday, October 27, 2009, “Black-White Dialogues” will end a series of six conversations meant to increase mutual understanding and respect between Black and White members of the OMAHA community. This week’s Dialogue, 7:00 to 9:00pm, at First Central Congregational Church, 421 South 36th Street, is “How to Be an Effective Agent of Change,” a workshop presented by Dr. Franklin Thompson. For more information, click here.

CREATIVE WAYS TO FUND YOUR NON-PROFIT . . . There will be a Workshop on How to Start Your Own Non-Profit Organization on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 5:30 to 8:30pm, at the Omaha Public Schools TAC Building Board Room, 3215 Cuming Street. E-mail Willie Hamilton, willzzway2 [at] yahoo [dot] com with questions, and to register before Wednesday, October 28th.

LINCOLN PEACE VIGILS . . . Lincoln peace vigils continue at the Federal Building, 15th and O streets, every Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00pm. Contact Mark at 402-499-6672 or e-mail mark [at] weddleton [dot] com for more information.

LINCOLN GREEN DRINKS . . . Green Drinks will meet in Lincoln on Wednesday, October 28 2009, 5:30pm until close, at Lazlo’s Brewery & Grill, in the Haymarket at 210 North 7th Street. Green Drinks is an informal social network now active in 630 cities around the world. Everyone interested in environmental issues is welcome.

LEGALIZATION FOCUS . . . “Heads vs. Feds: The Debate Over Legalization of Marijuana” is an hour-long interactive forum featuring former High Times editor-in-chief Steve Hager and a 25-year federal drug enforcement veteran, Robert Stutman. The free event will be Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 12:00 noon, at the UN-O Milo Bail Student Center Nebraska Room. Students, faculty, staff and members of the community are invited to attend.

HOPE FOR DARFUR . . . Wednesday, 28 October, 2009, 7:00pm, The Leonard and Shirley Goldstein Lecture on Human Rights Series will host Brian Steidle, co-author of The Devil Came on Horseback: Bearing Witness to the Genocide in Darfur, and Executive Director of HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere)  at the Un-O Thompson Alumni Center, 6705 Dodge Street, OMAHA.

OMAHA PEACE VIGILS . . . Omaha peacemakers vigil every Wednesday, 4:30-5:30pm, at StratCom/UN-O, 6801 Pine Street, east of the Scott Technology Center on the Un-O campus. Free parking is available at the NE Corner of 67th Street and Pine in a student lot. For more information, phone Jerry Ebner, 402.502.5887. Every Saturday, 1:00-2:00pm, there is an Anti-War and Peace Vigil at 72nd and Dodge Streets. Contact Steve Horn at 402.426.9068.

OMAHA PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL . . . There is a People’s Film Festival every Wednesday evening, 7:00pm, at McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Harney in Omaha. The event is always free and open to the public. This week’s film is Rethink Afghanistan.  Food and drink is available. A lively discussion follows each showing. For more information, click here. The People’s Film Festival – Expanding Political Consciousness Since 2004.

SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS FORUM . . . The second Building Sustainable Partnerships Forum will be Friday, October 30, 2009, 1:00 to 6:00pm, at Hardin Hall on the UN-L East Campus, 3310 Holdrege Street, Lincoln. Sponsored by the School of Natural Resources, the Mayor’s Office/Mayor’s Environmental Task Force, and the Nebraska Rural Initiative, the Forum will focus on three key sectors: Business, Higher Education, and Community. Click here for information about speakers, the tentative agenda, and to register for this free event.

CENTRAL NEBRASKA PEACE WORKERS . . . Central Nebraska Peace Workers will meet on Sunday, November 1, 2009, 3:00pm, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 511 North Elm Street, GRAND ISLAND. Use the east basement door. All are welcome.

THEATER OF THE OPPRESSED . . . Sunday, November 1, 2009, 1:00 until 6:00pm, EveryOne who loves theater, ACTivistm, making a difference, or just having a good time is invited to the UN-O Milo Bail Student Center for a THEATRICAL DAY OF FUN with Theater of the Oppressed  –theater to enact change. Click here to learn background information about this form of interactive theater. Omaha’s Doug Paterson, current Nebraska Green Party Chairperson, will lead the day’s ACTivism. For more information, e-mail Colleen, codoherty [at] unomaha [dot] edu; or Doug, dpaterson [at] mail [dot] unomaha [dot] edu.

KNOW YOUR FARMER, KNOW YOUR FOOD . . . Sunday, November 1, 2009, 5:30pm, Energy Rescue, Inc. is supporting the First Community Dinner at “All About You Catering,” 6109 Maple, in OMAHA’s Benson Neighborhood nestled between The Benson Grind and Petals by Janet. Only local foods will be prepared. For more information, e-mail tward2u [at] yahoo [dot] com. One People, One Planet, One Purpose.

BUY FRESH. BUY LOCAL . . . . Join the local food revolution by shopping farmer’s markets and eating fresh foods grown in or very near your own community. Eating locally grows family farming, grows the local economy, and is thousands of miles fresher. Click here for Nebraska Buy Fresh. Buy Local. information. Lincoln’s current Markets are as follows:

Old Cheney Farmers Market, 55th Street and Old Cheney Road, 10:00am to 2:00pm, Sundays through November 1.
Havelock Farmers Market, north parking lot behind businesses between 62nd and 63rd streets and Havelock Avenue, 3:00 to 6:30pm, Wednesdays through October 28.
Piedmont Farmers Market, 1265 South Cotner Blvd., parking lot of Piedmont Shopping Center, 8:00am to noon, Saturdays through September/October.Click here for a map of local Community CROPS gardens.

We are no longer the alternative; we are the imperative. –Rosa Clemente