Maya Angelou at UC
The University of Cincinnati´s celebration of African-American History Month features poet and author Maya Angelou speaking at 7 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Great Hall of Tangeman University Center. The event is free, though priority seating will be given to UC students, faculty and staff. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. For more information, call Student Activities and Leadership Development at 513-556-6115.
Deliberative Democracy
Join policy makers, elected officials, community leaders and the region´s higher education leadership and faculty to explore the potential of deliberative democracy to enhance public discourse, policy making, regional cooperation and civic engagement. The general session runs 9:30-11:45 a.m. Feb. 9 in the Great Hall of Tangeman University Center on the UC campus. To make your reservations and learn more about the general and special afternoon sessions, go to www.uc.edu/events/democracy.
Precinct Captains Wanted (Twice)
Did you ever wonder what it means to be a precinct captain?
The Warren County Democratic Party will host a discussion about the role and privileges of precinct captains at 7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 9 and 9-10:30 a.m. Feb. 11 at party headquarters, 113B Mulberry St., Lebanon. Assistance with filing a petition to serve as a precinct captain by the Feb. 16 deadline will also be provided. Call 513-228-2410.
A Family Thing
A Family Thing, a drama starring James Duvall and James Earl Jones, explores the conflicts that arise when a man raised by white parents discovers his birth mother was black and that he has a brother. The film will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at Northern Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Admission is free; pizza and beverages are available for $5. For more information, call 513-931-6651 or visit www.uunhf.org.
Cincinnati´s Racial Divide
How were Cincinnati race relations affected by the 2001 uprising and civil rights boycott? Donna Jones Stanley, president of the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, speaks on the topic at 3 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Northern Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. For more information, call 513.931.6651 or visit www.uunhf.org.
Spanish Bilingual Coffee Hours
Share some caffeine with Spanish speakers at the Bilingual Coffee Hour at the Price Hill Branch Library at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 13 and every other Monday after that. Spanish speakers practice their English, and the English speakers practice their Spanish. The head librarian speaks both, and she facilitates. Call Price Hill Will for more information at 513-251-3800.
Heart-to-Heart Racial Justice Breakfast
The YWCA presents the YWCA Racial Justice Award and keynote speaker John Payton, one of the nation´s leading civil right´s attorneys, on Valentine´s Day. A question and answer session with attorney Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney will follow. Breakfast is at 7:30 a.m. and the program 7:50-9:30 a.m. Feb. 14. Tickets are $20 for students, $40 for the general public and $400 for a table of 10. To make reservations, call 513-361-2119.
The Chair Recognizes. . .
Anyone interested in the Newly Revised Robert´s Rules of Order can get a practical how-to lesson on limiting or extending the time of debate at the next meeting of the Queen City Unit of the National Association of Parliamentarians. The meeting begins at 10:15 a.m. Feb. 17 at the Oakley Library, 4033 Gilmore Road. For more information, call George Gore at 859-442-9050.
Council Election Revision
What are the options for electing members of Cincinnati City Council? How will proposed changes in the electoral system impact the city´s neighborhoods and residents? Find out at this nonpartisan discussion including panel members from Charterite, Democratic, Independent and Republican authorities on the subject. Progressive Alliance of Southwest Ohio hosts the event at 9 a.m.-12 noon Feb. 18 at the IBEW Hall, 1216 McMillan Ave., Walnut Hills. The event is free, but donations are welcome. For more information, visit http://www.paohio.org or call 513-781-8151.
Power, Perception and Prejudice
Activist Jane Elliott is a former Iowa elementary school teacher who became famous for creating the ´Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes Project´ in her all-white, all-Christian third-grade classroom after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She´ll speak at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 presenting her sensitizing exercise that labels participants as superior or inferior based on the color of their eyes. Xavier University hosts this Black History Monday event on campus in the Cintas Center banquet room. For more information, call Angie Kneflin at 513-745-4998.
Ask the School Superintendent
Come ask questions of Cincinnati School Superintendent Rosa Blackwell. This is a unique way for parents and other concerned citizens to directly address the school superintendent with questions, concerns and suggestions. Forums run 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Riverview East Academy in the East End and March 28 at Roll Hill School in North Fairmount.
Challenge Student Aid Ban
The American Civil Liberties Union´s Drug Law Reform Project will soon file a lawsuit challenging the federal law denying student aid to people with drug convictions. If you are, or next year will be, ineligible for student aid due to a drug conviction, the ACLU would like to hear from you immediately. Contact them at [email protected] or 866-4-HEA-FIX.
Salute Leading Women
Former Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls is the keynote speaker for the 12th Annual Celebration of Women Luncheon March 2. Cincinnati Leading Women hosts the luncheon to honor women who have become role models and mentors to others. Tickets are $50 per person or $450 for a table of 10. The program is at the Grand Ballroom of the Millennium Hotel, downtown. Call Joyce Tull at 513-509-1775.
City Council Works Nights (Sort of)
Cincinnati City Council will meet at least three nights in 2006, with scheduled meetings at 6 p.m. May 10 and Sept. 20. Citizen forums begin at 5:30 p.m. Those wishing to address council must fill out a request card prior to the beginning of each Citizen Forum.
Concentration Camp Poetry
The Xavier Players present I Never Saw Another Butterfly, poetry written by children in the Nazi concentration camp Terezin, at 7 p.m. May 11 at the Krohn Conservatory. For more information, call 513-745-3939.