March 16, 2010
Event Calendar
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Noted Journalist John Nichols Offers 3rd Annual Zeidler Lecture
Location: Centennial Hall, 733 N. 8th St.
"The Promise of Good Journalism" -- its frequent failure in the public arena and suggested remedies to restore its reputation -- will be explored by noted journalist, author and commentator John Nichols at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 23 (doors open at 6:30 p.m.), at the Milwaukee Public Library''s Centennial Hall, 733 N. 8th St.
This will be the third annual Frank Zeidler Memorai Lecture created to celebrate the ideas and service to the citizenry of the public official and activist who served as mayor of Milwaukee from 1948 to 1960. Socialist Zeidler (1912-2006) devoted his life to peace, democracy, economic progress and environmental advances.
Nichols, who knows Milwaukee well, has been a provocataive voice in the analysis of print and electronic journalism (and is no slouch at exploring both national and Wisconsin politica realities as well).
He has achieved a national reputation as regular columnist for The Nation, the Madison Capital Times, and as co-author of books on politics and US foreign policy, as well as serving as a regular guest on national TV and as a progressive voice in journalism.
His new book with Robert McChesney, "Death and Life of American Journalism," will be availabe for signing and purchase at the lecture.
With Nichols, the Zeidler series continues its reputation for eminent speakers on major social issues. Previous lectures were provided by author Jeremy Scahill and historian John Gurda.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Notable March Speakers Spark Interfaith Schedule
Location: First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, 1342 N. Astor St.
The public is invited to the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee’s annual Tuesdays-in-March lecture series, which this year has the theme “people of faith sustaining the future” and is titled, “The Times, They Are a’Changing. Looking Beyond the Headlines.”
Topics will include pastoral challenges in the 21st century, greed in the economy, international hunger, transitions of returning war veterans, and the moral challenges of cutting-edge technology.
The first are noon luncheons and the last is a 5:30 p.m. dinner, all with a catered, simple vegetarian meal at the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, 1342 N. Astor St. The cost is $12 per session. For information and reservations, go to www.interfaithconference.org or call (414) 276-9050.
March 9 – Beyond the Greed Economy: Matt Rothschild, Editor of The Progressive.
March 16 – Enough to Go Around: Searching for Hope: Chip Duncan, Milwaukee-based, award-winning documentary film maker, photographer and author talking about his latest book and presenting audio-visuals from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Darfur.
March 23 – Transitioning War Zone Skills to Home: “Understanding Readjustment”: Psychologist Catherine Coppolillo and Registered Nurse Andrew Hendrickson, coordinator of team for returning service members at Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee.
March 30 – Entering Sacred Digital Space: Richard Thieme – a futurist, ethicist, consultant on Internet security, and former pastor – talking on new technological challenges.
This annual series is organized by the Interfaith Conference’s Peace and International Issues Committee. Sessions run about an hour and a half, including the meal and a brief reflection.
Conference Explores Labor History in Schools
Location: IBEW Training Center, Wauwatosa
Years of efforts to teach labor history, warts and all, in Wisconsin’s public high schools bore fruit last year when the legislature approved and Gov. Doyle signed a historic law including such basic educational history as part of the public school curriculum.
But what will that be and how is it voluntarily implemented? The Wisconsin Labor History Society, an organization that has devoted years to making the history law a reality, will dedicate its 29th Annual Conference to discuss how teachers and the community can direct effective efforts.
The conference, 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, April 17, will be held at the IBEW Joint Apprenticeship Training Center in Wauwatosa, 11001 W. Plank Court. Entitled “Linking Students to Labor’s History,” the conference explores how educators, labor and community members can implement Wisconsin’s “Labor History in the Schools Law.”
Andrew Kersten, from the history department at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, will open with a keynote address on the critical needs to teach labor history. A panel discussion will follow on “Linking Teachers and Students with Labor History,” including discussions by representatives of the state Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Historical Society, as well as classroom teachers.
State AFL-CIO President David Newby will open an afternoon discussion on “Making the Labor History in the Schools Work,” with a focus on how labor history education can help build the labor movement. State labor leaders expected to participate include Mary Bell, president of WEAC, Jim Cavanaugh, South Central Federation of Labor, Sheila Cochran, Secretary-Treasurer of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, and Bryan Kennedy, president of American Federation of Teachers – Wisconsin.
The conference will include the annual awards ceremony, including awards to those high school students who won the annual essay contest, the Zeidler Awards for graduate and undergraduate college students for papers on Wisconsin labor history, and the Lifetime Achievement award.
Lunch will be provided. The conference fee is $25, which includes lunch, or $10 for students or unemployed persons. To sign up, contact the society at 6333 W. Bluemound Rd., Milwaukee 53213, or call (414) 771-0700, extension 20,. You can also visit wisconsinlaborhistory.org
Labor Summit to Detail Community Involvement
Location: Laborers Local 113 Hall
On April 17 representatives of labor and constituency groups will be among those explaining community projects and focus within Milwaukee. Those continuing efforts are a centerpiece of the eighth annual African American Labor & Community Summit held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. that Saturday (including lunch and breakfast) at Laborers Local 113 Union Hall, 6310 W. Appleton Ave.
Sponsored by MALC, the summit is called “I Shall Not Be Moved (And I Will Achieve a Better Life and Job)” – and this year encourages all unions to join the presentations and celebration. A vital labor movement and economic justice are imperative for an improved society.
Special sponsorships are possible through Labor Community@Work, the tax-exempt nonprofit arm of the council, and registration can be made through Jay Reinke, AFL-CIO community services liaison, (414) 771-9828 or jayaflcio@sbcglobal.net. Fees for the full event are $15 regular, $10 for students.
Workers Memorial Day
Location: Zeidler Union Square Park
Some will be wearing memorial ribbons. Some will hold candles. Some will read the names of those who died on the job last year in Wisconsin, plus the names of our fallen Wisconsin military.
Many will remember the Mother Jones motto: "Mourn for the Dead, But Fight Like Hell for the Living."
The event with speakers will take place at Zeidler Union Square Park, the workers'' park, between 3rd and 4th Sts. on Michigan St.
At 5 p.m. citizens and speakers will join the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO, WisCOSH (the nonprofit worker health and safety group), and other groups for this special Wedneday, April 28.
A home-made dinner will take place afterward at the nearby American Postal Workers Union Hall, 417 N. 3rd St
For more information contact WisCOSH''s Jim Schultz at (414) 933-2338.
Fun Fish Fry Benefits APRI
Location: Laborers Local 113 Hall
The MALC is also a sponsor of a special dinner and APRI fund-raiser, “Keeping Our Dream Alive,” with food, music, cards and raffle to benefit the Milwaukee chapter of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute.
This special Friday Fish Fry ($15 dine-in includes dinner and two beverage tickets, with carryout also available at $10) will be held from 5:30 to 11 p.m. April 30 at the Laborers Local 113 Hall, 6310 W. Appleton Ave. Contact Chris Harris at (414) 397-9464 for more information.
Bay View Tragedy Remembered
Location: S. Superior St. at E. Russell Ave.
The 124th Annual Commemoration of the Bay View Tragedy is scheduled to be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, May 2, 2010 at the State Historical marker site at S. Superior St. and E. Russell Ave., on Milwaukee’s lakefront. Guest speaker will be David Newby, the president of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.
Since 1986, members of the Wisconsin Labor History Society, the Bay View Historical Society and others have been holding this event to honor the memories of the seven persons killed by the State Militia that had fired upon a crowd of workers marching on behalf of the eight-hour day. The event was Wisconsin’s most dramatic labor event, and was important in the struggle of workers and their unions to gain decent wages, hours and conditions.