Saturday, November 3rd at 10 a.m. Fresno Center for Nonviolence Board meeting, 1584 N. Van Ness Ave., Fresno, CA 93728 (SE corner Van Ness and McKinley). For more information call the Center at 559-237-3223 Mon-Fri 11-3.
Monday, November 12th at 5:30 p.m. Community United Church of Christ, 5550 N. Fresno Street Reclaiming Armistice Day. .Mitch Jeserich from KPFA will be the guest speaker. Hosted by Fresno Veterans for Peace. For more information call Joshua Shurley at 559-512-9469.
.Wednesday, November 14th 3 to 3:30 p.m. The Fresno Center for Nonviolence monthly “Stir it, Up” radio show on KFCF 88.1 will be hosted by Angela Price and her guest will be Michael Black Bull talking about Native American issues, in particular the myths and history of the First Thanksgiving. This is a call-in show so if you have any questions call 559-266-8888.
Thursday, November 15th at 1:30 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. at the Fresno Center for Nonviolence, 1584 N. Van Ness Ave., Fresno, CA 93728 (SE corner Van Ness and McKinley) Brave New Films: Healing Trauma Series: The War on Drug Addiction and Beyond Gangs and Prisons. (“All the possibilities for renewal, for an open horizon, for an undreamed of good and happy life for gang members who break the cycle of violence, are glimpsed in the miracles worked daily at Homeboy Industries. To witness the achievement of the people in this film – some therapists, some volunteers, some former gang members turned counselors – is to witness God’s work on the ground; it gives us real and practical hope for the future.” ~ Meryl Streep; “A compelling film proving the redemptive, healing power of humanity.” – Michael Douglas) Run time 40 minutes. Open to the public and free admission. Wheelchair accessible.
“The War on Drug Addiction, we look at alternatives to punishing those struggling with substance use through a treatment model that can be scaled nationwide. This successful solution based in Seattle, Washington: Post Prison Education Program (PPEP), provides wrap-around services and treatment that address day-to-day needs as well as the root cause of addiction — childhood pain and trauma. Through the narration of renowned physician & addiction specialist, Dr. Gabor Maté, we follow the journeys of PPEP graduates, Shelly Klier and Keith Whiteman, who work daily to maintain their sobriety through confidence-building postsecondary education following years in and out of prisons and jails.
“Beyond Gangs and Prisons” dives into the inner struggles of former gang members whose abusive childhoods and untreated traumas led to behavior that landed them in prison. Upon their release, these former gang members found their redemption with Los Angeles’ Homeboy Industries and its many therapeutic and support services. Healing Trauma follows the transformation of some of these former gang members as they share stories of their childhood mental and physical abuse, growing up in gangs and poverty, and the hope they now have through the healing power of therapy and community. Homeboy Industries’ Father Greg Boyle summarized their work by saying the organization has “helped [individuals] to envision an exit ramp off the ‘freeway’ of violence, addiction and incarceration.”
