“Great Decisions Reconvenes” AND Peace Building in OC and Beyond

Beryl Smith and Herbert Fischer, congregants at St. Marks Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, on present “Great Decisions” a series Monday nights from 7:00-8:30, starting January 25th and continuing through March 14th. The forum is open to the public at: St. Marks 2200 San Joaquin Hills Rd, Newport Beach.

During the second half, Ali Shakeri, Iranian-American peace activist comments extensively on how far recent pursuits have come bringing parties together along the Iranian and American divide. He speaks from his experience in detention at Evin Prison in 2007, as a board member of U.C. Irvine’s Center for Citizen Peace Building, and over 30 years of local and international promotion of democratic processes.

“A Battlefield of Values; America’s Left Right, and Endangered Center”

We devote the whole hour to guest Benjamin Hubbard, emeritus professor of comparative religion at California State University at Fullerton. He talks about “A Battlefield of Values; America’s Left Right, and Endangered Center,” a collaborative effort with his colleague Stephen Burgard whom Hubbard survived while completing the book. Just published by Praeger Press, it is a tome that is a very good fit for these times.

“Mad Woman in a Volvo” AND Orange Co Getting Healthier Together

Sandra Tsing Loh – writer, performer, and adjunct professor at UCI in Irvine in drama and science communication – covers the world premiere of her production, “Madwoman in a Volvo,” now playing through January 24th at the Julianne Argyros Stage at the South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa. Details are available at: http://www.scr.org/calendar/view?id=7547. She will also be participating, 1/24, 9-10 am at UCI, in a multi-disciplinary forum happening on the UCI and USC campuses, “What Cannot be Said,” running from Jan. 22-24. Information is available at: http://sites.uci.edu/freedom/.

During the second half Jane Chai, Public Projects Manager at the Orange County Health Care Agency, posts the latest on “Orange County’s Healthier Together.” She along with a cast of 100s of healthcare institutions is building a more comprehensive approach to health improvement in OC. The next Health Improvement Partnership meeting: 3/10/16, 2-4pm, Public Health Training Center, 1725 W. 17th St, Bldg 1729E, Santa Ana, CA. RSVP: JChai@ochca.com Information is abundantly available at: http://www.ochealthiertogether.org/ and http://myhealthoc.org/

Literacy Springs Throughout OC Library System AND Deconstructing Paris Climate Talks

Jonathan Cohen, literacy tutor and freelance editor gets to the CORE of his work with the adult literacy program READ/OC. Other programs include: ESL; Working for Inmate Literacy Now, and Families for Literacy; and READ Jr., (school aged children of adult learners). Tons more information can be had at the Orange County library branch nearest you, readoc.org, and 714-566-3070.

USC International Relations Professor and Citizens Climate Lobby activist, John Odell, reports back from the Paris Climate Talks. And if folks want to be a part of this CCL project: January 19, 7pm, the Canyon Democrats meeting at the Norman Murray Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo.  Special guest speaker: Craig Preston, So Cal Regional Coordinator Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Website: www.citizensclimatelobby.org.