Dear Herb,
In the Community, December 16, 2020
A Weekly Listing of Diversity and Multicultural Events
From the Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony:
"Diversity, Unity, and Justice Are at the Heart of ACEH"
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ACEH was founded in Holland in 1999 and is committed to justice, equal opportunity, cross-cultural understanding, and appreciation for diversity. Members work together to make West Michigan a place where all people are welcomed and respected. "In the Community" is also on the ACEH website www.harmonyalliance.org Check us out under Groups on Facebook, at ACEH – Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony.
Our "Half-Year Annual Report: Looking Back and Moving Forward" can be found here: ACEH Report,
Dear Readers, your financial support will help us publish "In the Community" next year, provide various kinds of resources, present programs, and--we hope--host our two diverse community gatherings that create connections and friendships in West Michigan. Will you join us as a first-time member? We'll warmly welcome you! If you've been a member in the past, will you consider renewing with ACEH? We would greatly appreciate it.
Dues are $20 ($35 for 2 years) for an individual; $30 ($50 for two years) for a couple or family; $40 for a nonprofit group, and $75 for a business. ACEH is a 501(c)3 organization. Please go to www.harmonyalliance.org and click on Membership.
Thank you to renewing members Carol and Brian Carder and Gloria Godwin!
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Events
Fri, Dec 18, 2:30 pm: Live-streamed investiture ceremony for Juanita Bocanegra, the first Latina judge (58th District Court) elected in Ottawa County. Click here for the link.
Fri, Dec 18, 7 pm: Virtual meeting of PFLAG Holland/Lakeshore to hear Grand Rapids attorney Christine A. Yared discuss her new book, "Private Lives Public School--Gay Teacher Under Fire," the story of the late Byron Center band director Gerry Crane. To receive a link to this program, email info@outonthelakeshore.org
Mon, Dec 28, 6:30 pm to 8 pm: Town Hall Meetings on Race and Racism: "Racism and the Educational System," Part 1: Panelists Calvin Terrell, founder/director, Social Centric Institute, and Rebecca Bush, OAISD curriculum consultant, followed by Q&A period and Community Conversation. Presented by (Anti) Racism Task Force; hosted by Momentum Center. Questions? Contact Barbara@MomentumCenterCH.org. Click here to Register (required)
Fri, Jan 1 - Thurs, Jan 14, 2021: Live-streamed documentary, "Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey." Part of the Holland International Relations Commission's Reel Time series, film "weaves ancient Buddhist spiritual traditions, global environmentalism, and Tibetan and Himalayan culture, as 700 people trek across the Himalayas with a call to save the planet's '3rd Pole,' a glacial region devastated by the climate chaos associated with global warming." Running time 70 minutes. Here's the link to sign up. A wrap-up discussion Q&A with filmmaker Wendy J.N. Lee is scheduled for Mon, Jan. 11 at 7 pm.
SAVE THE DATE: Sun, Jan 17, 2021, 3 pm to 6 pm: In honor and recognition of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, this will be the first of a series of virtual meetings in 2021 on Racism as a Public Health Crisis: Let's Talk About It." Panelists and breakout sessions will cover the impact of racism in several sectors, concluding with "The Way Forward" toward proposed solutions. Among these sectors will be health care disparities, mistrust of health care, reproductive health education, elder care, mental health, alternative options, and education of our youth. Presented by the Alliance for Cultural and Ethnic Harmony (ACEH) in collaboration with the 1Cor13Project and in partnership with the Holland Museum's Cultural Lens series. More information in the next "In the Community."
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Community Opportunities
(1) Good Sam Seeks Allies for Circles Program: Are you interested in doing something that will make a real difference, both for yourself and someone else? Good Samaritan Ministries' Circles program is based on transformational friendships that cross social boundaries and create space for individuals to pursue their goals. Without supportive, empowering relationships, it's difficult for people to make profound life changes.
Circles matches program participants who are walking the path from surviving to thriving (called Leaders), with encouraging community members (called Allies). Each pair—one Leader and one Ally—meets weekly for 18 months for about two hours per week. (Because of social distancing guidelines, Circles currently uses a hybrid virtual/in-person model.) Right now, Good Sam needs 20 new Allies to begin training by February 2021 so that we can start a new Circles class.
If you're interested in forming a new relationship to help someone navigate toward their goals of financial stability and relational wellness, please reach out to Julie at JMales@GoodSamaritanMinistries.com or 616-392-7179 x103 to learn more about becoming an Ally. She'll be glad to answer your questions, tell you about the value of Circles, and give you information on the training. _____________
(2) Technology Donations Needed: Fennville Public School students trying to learn online at home due to COVID-19 closures need devices to work with, and a community group is coordinating an effort to collect these for the students. You can help! Donate your old laptop, tablet, hotspot, headphone, and power cords. Drop off at Maple Avenue Ministries or Love Inc. Volunteers will wipe them clean and pass them out to students. Contacts:
Love Inc, 4621 135th Ave, Hamilton: Mon- Fri: 9 am - 3 pm
Love Inc, 943 56th St, Pullman: Mon, Tues, Thurs: 9 am - 2 pm Wed, Fri: 9 am - 3:30 pm
Maple Avenue Ministries 427 Maple Avenue, Holland: Tues, Wed, Thurs. 9am - 12:30 pm
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Links to Anti-Racism Resources
America's Interwoven Histories: The shared history of African Americans and Indigenous Americans is rarely taught. Link to magazine article
Series of YouTube videos "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man" hosted by Emmanuel Acho, who discusses race with various guests or answers viewer questions.
Here's the link.
The Anti-Racist Starter Pack: 40 TV series, documentaries, movies, TED talks, and books:
The Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia: Take a virtual tour of collections and resources in this outstanding museum, located in Big Rapids, MI at Ferris State University. www.ferris.edu/jimcrow _________________________________________________________________________
Information, Help with Evictions/Foreclosures
County and Local Pandemic Links and Resources
Click for more information about COVID-19 and Ottawa County's Response.
Mental Health Resources and Support: Organizations providing behavioral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic throughout Ottawa Co. Visit miottawa.org/cmh :
State Health Data, Governor's Info
For additional help locating food, housing, childcare, and other community services, call 2-1-1 at (844) 587-2485 or visit www.mi211.org.
If you are feeling anxious or looking for mental health and wellness resources,
National
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Jobs
Workforce Employment Specialists: Virtual hiring events: www.teamworkforce.com or (616) 396-3700.
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holland: https://bgch.org/ Click on About and the various Staff buttons, then "We're Hiring." Resource development director. Junior Room Coordinator, Elementary Program Coordinator, Health & PE Coordinator, Teen Program Assistant, Elementary Program Assistant, Youth Development Professional Sub..
Community Action House: http://www.communityactionhouse.com/jobs Program director to join strategic leadership team. Coordinator of volunteers. Outreach specialist, part-time. Food access associate. Resale logistics. Outreach specialist AmeriCorps member, full time. Food rescue logistics driver. Sunday morning help in Community Kitchen.
City of Grand Rapids: https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Jobs Public information officer. Public service director. Emergency communications director. Assistant water systems manager. Library assistant (South Region), part-time. Library office assistant. Journeyman line worker (electrician).
Grand Valley State University: https://www.gvsu.edu/jobs.htm IT services technician. Recruiter, Adult and Continuing Studies. Farm manager/educator for Office of Sustainability Practices. Custodian.
City of Holland: https://mi-holland.civicplushrms.com/careers/Jobs.aspx Police officer. Building inspector, part-time. Wrestling instructor, part-time. Youth basketball instructor, part-time. Mechanic assistant. Building inspector, part-time. Plumbing and mechanical inspector, full time. Recreation supervisor. Video internship, part-time, paid. Custodian/maintenance for Holland Police Dept, part-time. Police officer. Reserve police officer, part-time. Police cadet. On-call firefighter.
Hope College: https://hope.edu/jobs/index.html Admissions--Hope Corps, hourly, temporary. Assistant football coach and equipment supervisor. Assistant professor of social work.
LIFELine Ministries: Information on available restaurant, factory, sales, and office jobs in West Michigan. Contact Pastor Willie J. Watt Jr. at williewatt@gmail.com or (616) 335-0611.
MOKA: https://moka.org/ Residential support/direct support professionals, full- and part-time, all shifts, flexible schedules to assist persons with disabilities.
Zeeland Public Schools. https://www.zps.org/employment/ Network manager, full-time (design, development, documentation, implementation/testing and modification of all network infrastructure for the district). __________________________________________________________________________
The ACEH Board: C.J. Kingdom-Grier, Viola Jackson, Annette Manwell, Al Minert, H Bin Lim, Kim Lillibridge, Natalie Martinez, Lori Joseph Shaw.
