Category Archives: Intentional Communities

Building a communitys inclusive innovation economy is hard work, but cities across the state can learn from Greensboros lead.

Nearly two years ago, a small team from Greensboro responded to a request from the Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) at N.C. State University to participate in InnovateNC, a first-in-the-nation effort to spark innovation statewide.

If selected, they would join other cities from across the state in a cross-city learning collaborative from September 2015-June 2017.

The catch: They had to have at least some entrepreneurial and innovation assets already in place, and they had to be willing to form a diverse innovation council committed to the idea of inclusion. Inclusivity occurs when the local innovation economy actively recruits and engages what are traditionally under-connected individuals such as women and minorities in ways that build social capital across diverse networks.

Greensboro earned its place in the InnovateNC program, along with Asheville, Wilson, Pembroke, Wilmington and the Carolina Coast. These communities came together eight times over the two-year program for meetings and community-hosted site visits. They also advanced the work in their communities, meeting monthly as a council to drive data collection, strategic planning and policy efforts, and communicate the innovation stories of their communities.

An executive committee of public and private partners led the work locally. Mayor Nancy Vaughan was committed to the initiative from the outset, and Councilwoman Nancy Hoffmann actively participated on the councils executive committee. She joined Robin Coger, N.C. A&T; Cindy Thompson, Boundless Impact; Paul Jeffrey, Cone Health; Sudakar Puvvada, VF Corp.; and Lou Anne Flanders-Stec, Launch Greensboro. Deborah Hooper of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce and Bryan Toney, formerly of UNC-Greensboro, provided critical leadership as council co-chairs.

Stephanie Walker and Ditra Miller were brought on to facilitate the work of the council. A complete list of council members is available at innovategso.org.

Greensboro has focused its efforts on purposefully engaging under-connected populations to unleash design innovation for economic growth. Under-connected populations college students, people of color, immigrants, millennials, encorepreneurs (boomers looking for a next gig), retirees, scientists, artists, academic professionals and international visa holders lacking those key relationships and connectivity to the people, information and resources necessary to successfully launch and sustain new businesses Greensboro aims to change that. The vision is to create a design destination that attracts, develops and retains diverse creative talent and enterprises.

While the work has not been easy, it has been rewarding.

InnovateGSO has enabled honest, thoughtful, and intentional conversations about the connection between Greensboros economic aspirations and our communitys inclusive innovation capacity, said Robin Coger, dean of the College of Engineering at N..C A&T. This would not have occurred without the engagement of the diverse group of people (and perspectives) of our projects Innovation Council. It is a wonderful time to be a part of Greensboro.

Ten public-private partners committed in-kind tools, services and support to help build capacity within these communities. The partnership included the RTP Foundation, Forward Impact, the N.C. Department of Commerces Board of Science, Technology & Innovation, RTI International, UNC-TV, CED, the UNC system and programs at N.C. State University, UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University.

One key tool communities used was the InnovateNC Community Innovation Asset Map, a first of-its-kind, turnkey tool for communities of all sizes who wish to assess the quality and inclusiveness of their innovation ecosystems. The Asset Map proved to be the communitys critical first step in helping them to develop a concrete road map to growing their innovation economies in a meaningful way. As such, the Asset Map was refined for a broader audience and made available to all communities across the state on June 8. Communities are encouraged to take advantage of these unique resources by visiting InnovateNC.org to learn more about the initiative, download the Asset Map, and begin putting this tool to work in their innovation economies.

On behalf of the statewide partners, Id like to share that its been a pleasure working with such a motivated and forward-thinking Greensboro team. While InnovateNC is coming to a planned end, the work in Greensboro is only just beginning.

We are confident in their success and believe their efforts will become an inspirational case study and model for other communities across the nation seeking to fuel their economic engines by building inclusive innovation.

Sarah Langer Hall is a policy manager at Institute for Emerging Issues at N.C. State University, and leads the InnovateNC initiative.

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Sarah Langer Hall: Innovate GSO is only beginning - Greensboro News & Record

Lori Peek started in January as director of the Natural Hazards Center, Institute of Behavioral Science at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Peek has been at the fore of researching how disasters affect populations, especially children. She co-wrote Children of Katrina, which received the 2016 Best Book Award from the American Sociological Association Section on Children and Youth Distinguished Scholarly Research Award .

We asked Peek about the future of emergency management as it pertains to evolving social issues and about her favorite subject, children.

You just became the director of the Natural Hazards Center; how has that gone so far and what prepared you for this challenge?

Its been a busy few months settling into the position, and really exciting.

There have been five directors in the history of this hazards center. The founding director was the wonderful Gilbert White, the esteemed geographer; followed by Bill Travis and Dennis Mileti, the sociologist; and then Kathleen Tierney. Dennis was actually my adviser and was a student of Gilberts. In some ways, its as if Gilbert was my academic grandfather and Dennis was my academic father; its like coming back home in some ways.

I went to grad school here at the University of Colorado and did my Ph.D. in sociology. I feel really fortunate to have known all four of the previous directors of the center. That, along having had the opportunity to work here as a graduate student, was so instrumental in my understanding of the history, mission and vision of the center. That connection and my enduring respect for all that the center stands for in terms of its mission within the broader hazards and disaster community has really helped facilitate the transition.

What do you see as the biggest challenges for emergency managers in the coming decades?

As a sociologist, a lot of times were thinking about the big social and economic challenges, but we also might see them as opportunities. For example, rising social inequality the increasing number of people who are living insecure lives in this nation of opportunity and affluence. We have more children living in poverty, more people in food-insecure households. As those social and economic challenges increase, the jobs of emergency managers get more difficult because getting someone who doesnt know where their next meal is coming from to focus on putting together their emergency evacuation plan or their hurricane go-kit, for example, those challenges are really amplified.

I also think something that is both a challenge and opportunity is whats happening in this nation with demographic change. As we are becoming not just racially and ethnically diverse, but also religiously more diverse and diverse on a whole range of indicators, thats a challenge for emergency managers. How do you serve what some sociologists say is the most racially and ethnically diverse country in the world?

Its a challenge but also an opportunity when I think about workforce development and bringing new voices and perspectives into emergency management because we know that these diverse people living in the most populous and most vibrant cities in the United States continue to draw immigrants as they did 100 years ago, and those are also the places that are the real disaster hot spots. So how do we get these new generations in Los Angeles and New York City and Miami and San Francisco interested in emergency planning? It is a real challenge, but also a real opportunity.

Can you elaborate on that? How do we reach these diverse populations?

Are you aware of the Bill [William Averette] Anderson Fund that is entirely dedicated to diversifying the emergency management practice and disaster research? He was a sociologist who unfortunately suffered an untimely death, but he was a leading researcher. He had long been this voice in the disaster research community saying we need more women, more people of color, both in research and practice, because those are the communities were studying and serving, but the research and practice arent reflective of those communities. When Bill passed away, his wife started the fund, which is in its third year, where there are Bill Anderson Fund fellows who are masters and doctoral students, and the fund is dedicated to changing the face of emergency management.

We need more programs, scholarships and mentoring space in emergency management and in higher education to really bring into the fold these diverse people and perspectives, but I also think there are other opportunities that open up, like FEMAs Youth Preparedness Council. I look at that and think those teenagers are reflective of the diversity of the United States today. We know youth are more diverse than older cohorts.

I also think emergency managers are out in the community all the time giving lectures, working with community groups trying to get people engaged. If they can be intentional and aware, and think, Im going to X, Y and Z organizations, but what if I went to A, B and C organizations? Im going to extend my reach into new and different communities. So being intentional and talking about it as an opportunity to get new people engaged is really important.

We know that if people do not see themselves reflected in materials, if you go to a website and all you see are people that are of a different race and ethnicity, a different age demographic, different gender, you say, Oh, this isnt for me. But if we can be intentional with our materials and with the ways we are speaking, those things speak volumes.

How do you see emergency managers and their jobs evolving in the coming decades?

Its sort of like how teachers today say, Wow, my job has evolved. I am no longer an educator from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. delivering curriculum through the textbook. Im also caregiver and a social worker. This ties back to what I was saying about rising inequality, rising insecurity within our families. I know this is a sociology-biased answer, but I think that emergency managers can no longer think in that way that you need to get a family reunification plan and your emergency supplies in place. Emergency managers know that when they go in to give those talks, people look at them wide-eyed, saying, I dont know where my next meal is coming from, Im not even in secure housing. I dont know where my family is. Im an immigrant, and weve been separated. The complexity of the job expands, and its going to test emergency management to develop new partnerships.

Emergency managers are going to have to partner with not just the local police department, but also social workers and the schools, because when something unfolds, parents are going to go to the schools. The 21st-century emergency manager has to be aware of the changing social demographics of rising inequality because all of those things are influencing their ability to do their jobs and do it to their capacity.

Its a challenge and a real opportunity to think in more complex and holistic ways. Not only are we facing social and economic changes, but were doing all this in the context of real environmental change, the speeding up of disaster losses. In Louisiana, they are still dealing with three disasters back, where people havent recovered from three disasters ago and then they get hit by another flood or tornado.

Its the intersection of all these forces. The 21st-century emergency manager has to be thinking at the intersection of all the different phenomena that are unfolding in peoples lives.

How do you see the degree programs being offered as addressing the needs of the future?

The emergency management degree programs have exploded over the past two decades. Were living in a time where we have our first emergency management high school at the Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management in New York City, and then we have the growth and professionalization of emergency management, so the programs are quite variable.

But when we consider the lessons that have been learned in terms of how to communicate risk, how to think about vulnerable populations, I absolutely think that social science findings have infused emergency management practice.

I just had a conversation with some very high-ranking Ph.D.s and they said, Lori, isnt population exposure the same as social vulnerability? And I said no, because population exposure might be that the 10 million people in Los Angeles are all exposed to seismic risk at some level, but if we ignore social vulnerability then what we dont have on the table is that of those 10 million, many are likely to suffer far worse consequences because of their economic circumstances, because of the buildings they occupy, because of their family status. I think the new emergency manager thinks of that social vulnerability, and thats exciting to me.

You chronicled the plight of children during and after Katrina. Talk about how devastating disasters can be for children.

Children are coming of age in a world that is more turbulent than ever before. Children on the Gulf Coast, for example, have experienced already an average of 3.4 disasters in their lives. What does that mean for children in some of our most vulnerable areas coming of age in a place that is being struck by disaster? What does that cumulative disaster experience mean in their lives?

Much of my work has focused on two big things. One, what renders children vulnerable to disaster? In what ways may children be psychologically vulnerable and when might they be physically at risk of death or other forms of physical harm? We know that childrens biological mechanisms may put them more at risk in situations like an oil spill where they are literally closer to the ground and inhaling oil particles. That could have more of an effect than on adults. Second are educational vulnerabilities.

One of the things that our research from Katrina revealed is that the disruption caused by that disaster led to more than 300,000 children out of school a year later. If a childs one job is to get an education and a disaster is disrupting that pathway, what does that mean for kids?

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Lori Peek of the Natural Hazards Center Discusses Effects of Disasters on People - Government Technology

Like many urban centers in the United States, the Milwaukee region faces large issues that have roots in many causes. Decades ago, the city of Milwaukee The Machine Shop of the World was heralded as one the best places for African Americans in the country. In the decades since, deindustrialization in the American Midwest, the appeal of cheap labor in the union sparse South, the opening of opportunities for businesses to operate on a global scale in places with little if any regulation or standards of living, the retreat of diversity and wealth from the city to surrounding communities to be replaced by the concentration of poverty, disinvestment of schools, and poor transit connectivity have led to a complete reversal of Milwaukees reign as a key place for building a solid middle class life for African Americans.

The perfect storm of these occurrences has resulted in some neighborhoods in American cities, Milwaukee not excluded, to witness an environment where violence particularly gun violence has become all too common. The Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission reports that in 2015, 119 of 145 people slain in Milwaukee were killed by gun and another 633 people suffered non-fatal gunshot injuries. We must be intentional about our efforts to address violence in our community no matter the form in which violence is presented.

I believe that this is important for a number of reasons. Chief among these reasons is that the Office of Violence Prevention is housed within the Milwaukee Health Department. With renewed focused bolstered by the Mayor and Common Council in 2016, this office is playing a critical role in identifying and pursuing meaningful solutions to the root causes of violence in our city from a public health perspective.

Next, too many homicides occur in Milwaukee over arguments, disagreements and minor scuffles that should never result in the loss of life. Then, while we lean on institutions like police for public safety, the department is not and cannot function as the be-all-end-all for each concern that we have in our neighborhoods. While police serve as an essential asset to security in our neighborhoods, no amount of officers alone will reverse the adverse effects of segregation, racial disparities, the educational achievement gap, the income gap between Milwaukees central city and its suburbs, nor the outsized contribution that Milwaukee makes to support other communities around Wisconsin via state shared revenue.

Lastly and again, I think that we should be intentional about not only how we work to solve problems like violence but we should also be intentional in what we call our institutions that are charged with addressing these issues.

In City Hall, the Public Safety Committee served as the Common Councils intersection between police and fire but those entities alone dont represent the totality of the approach needed. Public health is also a critical component to these efforts. The new name of the committee now reflects that fact.

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What's in a name? An intentional shift - urbanmilwaukee (press release)

Propelled by an ever-changing job market and the advent of new technologies, the coworking trend continues to grow worldwide, with some experts predicting that half of the US workforce will be self-employed by 2020. To stave off the isolation from working alone at home, many of these intrepid professionals will probably work out of a coffee shop or coworking space at one time or another.

Not surprisingly, in this brave new world where one's roster of officemates can change daily, the rules for good neighbourly behaviour aren't necessarily that clear, especially if one prefers to hop around and work out of more than one coworking space. You might think these would be obvious, but as Henry Alford over at the New York Times points out:

One theory of etiquette holds that manners are best in communities with fixed populations: If you know that youll see Tina again tomorrow (and Tuesday and Wednesday), youre less likely to surreptitiously scarf down the rest of the half-eaten boysenberry yogurt she left in the office fridge, because daily exposure to her yogurt-based wistfulness will start to gnaw at you, and ultimately turn you into a Munch painting.

It's a pretty good point, since not all coworking spaces are going to operate like small-scale intentional communities where everyone knows each other. The cardinal rule is to be considerate -- and if you don't know, then ask. All is takes is one or two careless individuals to spoil it for others, so it's useful to know some basic rules for etiquette in these kinds of situations where somewhat unfamiliar people end up sharing the same space.

SelgasCano

This is a big one, especially in places that are designed as open offices. Sound carries, and not everyone wants to hear your phone conversations with clients, or listen to backpacks and equipment banging around as newcomers settle in. Of course, each space will have its own attitudes of tolerance toward noise levels, so if you're new to a space, ask the host what the noise policy is, find out where in the office you can take calls, or take the time to get a feel for what your neighbours can abide.

Friends Work Here

One big perk of coworking spaces is having access to conference rooms where you can hold business meetings, brainstorm with your team, or just have a quiet space to cram in some work without any interruption. But it's a nuisance when when people overstay their allotted time in the conference room -- if you know that time's up, try your best to vacate the room in a timely manner so that the next people up don't spend ten minutes waiting.

Another big problem is that sometimes members will overbook conference rooms "just in case," or forget to cancel their reservation when a client cancels the meeting -- resulting in the room being empty, rather than being used by someone who actually needs it. Everyone is guilty of forgetting to do something as simple as cancelling a room reservation, but it may make the difference in someone else's day if one take a few minutes to do just that.

Imagen subliminal

Another perk of coworking spaces is having access to shared office equipment, such as printers, scanners, or maybe even more specialized things like power tools in a coworking space that doubles as a DIY makerspace, or exercise equipment in a shared office space that offers a gym in-house.

The point is, the keyword here is 'shared'. If you know you're going to print a truckload of pages, perhaps let people know beforehand, just in case someone else needs to print a small job, and let them go first out of courtesy. Considerate behaviour is like a meme: it lives and spreads if someone keeps it alive.

The kitchen is most likely the heart of any coworking space, a communal place that everyone can share meals or chat over a cup of tea or coffee. So it's easier if everyone tries to do their part in keeping it tidy as much as possible, perhaps by putting things back where they belong, and washing the cups and utensils you've used whenever possible. Some spaces may offer free snacks, but make sure you don't accidentally end up eating other people's personal food --especially stuff with someone else's name on it or what's stored in the fridge. Once again, if you don't know, ask. Refrain from microwaving fish for lunch -- it's an olfactory no-no.

SelgasCano

This may seem like a common-sense thing to do in a coworking space -- after all, if you want to be anti-social, you can do it alone, at home. While it's understandable that work can get really busy at certain times, during those slower periods it does make a difference to the overall atmosphere when one makes an effort to introduce oneself and interact with your coworkers, as well as attending events being hosted on-site.

Of course, one of the main advantages of being part of a collaborative office space is that facilitates networking; one might never know what opportunities, connections or mutual sharing of skills could crop up from a simple hello to your neighbour. On the other hand, don't interrupt if someone is clearly busy. It's this open attitude that makes coworking spaces vibrant, creative and welcoming.

Temps Libre

If you're having a good experience with a coworking space, make sure to spread the word. Many of these spaces rely on getting people in through the doors to help them stay in business, so letting others know what you think, or promoting the space through your social networks online will do much toward that end.

In the end, these are just general guidelines, as each coworking space will have their own set of unique ground rules established. It might not be possible to remember all the rules of a particular shared space, but you can't go wrong if you are mindful and considerate of your fellow coworkers, and treat them as you'd like to be treated yourself. When done consistently over time, it'll go far in creating something that feels quite like a supportive community.

Continue reading here:

6 essential etiquette rules for great coworking spaces - Treehugger

Rachel Leslie has launched a new bi-partisan advocacy firm, and its located in the heart of downtown Terre Haute for a reason.

RJL Solutions LLC will be located in space once occupied by Modern Charm and Millie and Maude, just south of Wabash Avenue. The location was very intentional, said Leslie, the firms managing partner.

As she works to build stronger relationships with state and federal officials, she plans to invite them to Terre Haute to tell our story more effectively, she said. When they come here, I want to say, this is downtown, this is the front door to our community. I think downtown shows some of the best growth and possibilities weve had in this community for a very long time.

The official launch date for RJL Solutions is July 1, and Leslie hopes to move into her new downtown office once minor renovation work is complete within a few weeks. The grand opening is slated for Aug. 11, and the event will be open to the public.

What was formerly Modern Charm will be the office space, and the former Millie and Maude space will be a conference area. The address is 9 S. Seventh Street.

The upgrade includes fresh paint, new lighting, addition of a small kitchen and new technology.

Window dressings will show the Indiana Statehouse, U.S. Capitol and Vigo County Courthouse.

Leslie plans to staff the firm with a full-time office employee and a paid college intern. Terre Haute businessman Greg Gibson is a partner in the firm, she confirmed.

The new business will partner with communities, government entities, corporations and organizations, and she hopes to work with the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce.

Services will include relationship-building, lobbying, advocating and educating on specific issues, promoting public/private partnerships and general external relations business services.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Leslies recent employer, will be one of her clients, she said. While working at the Woods as vice president for external relations, she was involved with some really unique projects at the state and federal levels, which she plans to continue.

Shed also be available to advocate for the communitys other higher education institutions, as long as it didnt conflict with her advocacy on behalf of the Woods.

Through her work at the college, shes seen the opportunities including grants that are available, not only to government, but also to business and industry. Her role will be to help better tell West Central Indianas story and help land some of those grants.

Working within the community development, higher education, and political framework for the last 13 years, my eyes have been opened to new opportunities for our area, Leslie said. This business concept doesnt exist in the region, yet its a vital tool for winning. I am confident the West Central Indiana region can benefit from such services.

She adds that competition is fierce ... You cant win the game if you dont play the game. She hopes the firm will provide the region with a new, competitive edge.

Currently, those locally who want such advocacy often must hire someone out of Indianapolis or Washington, D.C. to represent them. Through RJL Solutions, local clients now have an advocate who not only understands how to maneuver and be competitive in that market, but uniquely understands the community, loves the community and wants to live here, she said.

If she cant meet the needs of a particular client, shell connect them with those who have the necessary expertise. Im only going to take on what I know I can win and be good at, she said.

Leslie previously was employed at the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce in several capacities, including executive vice president, and more recently, she served as vice president for external relations at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com Follow Sue on Twitter @TribStarSue.

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Ready to showcase Terre Haute, Valley - Terre Haute Tribune Star

Last year,more than 146,000 people in the U.S. died from preventable causes, such as car accidents, drug overdoses among several others.

And according to a new report from theNational Safety Council, states just arent doing enough to protect their residents or to improve safety on the roads, in the community and home or in the workplace.

Analysts determined state-by-state grades for road, home, community and workplace safety and found no state was deserving of an overallA grade.

Eleven states (Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, South Dakota, South Carolina, Mississippi, Missouri and Wyoming)received failing grades.

Using data from multiple sources, including the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census and more, of all the estimated preventable deaths in 2016, the council found 40,200 fatalities occurred on the roads; 121,904 in homes and communities and 4,836 in workplaces.

We are in the midst of the deadliest spike in roadway fatalities in 50 years, report writers wrote. And according to 2015 data, road fatalities are also the leading cause of death in 16 states.

Accidents involving drunk driving account for about one-third of all roadway deaths, according to the report.

In 2015, the U.S. also saw the highest number of workplace fatalities since 2008.

Top fivecauses of preventable death

1. Poisonings: 44,970 fatalities in 2015

Themajor culprit behind the sharp increase in the nations drug poisonings is Americas opioid crisis, which takes approximately 60 lives every day.

Drug poisonings include deaths from drugs, medicines, other solid and liquid substances, gases and vapors.

NSC recommendations for states: prescriber education and guidelines, patient education, overdose prevention programs, access to treatment.

2. Firearms: 35,486 fatalities in 2015

Accidental gun deaths are relatively low, but firearms are involved in approximately 35,000 intentional deaths and 80,000 injuries.

In addition, half of all suicides involve guns -- and nearly two-thirds of all U.S. gun deaths are due to suicide.

NSC recommendations for states: gun safety laws and programs, background checks on gun buyers, training for gun retailers to better identify customers at risk.

3. Older adult falls: 28,400 fatalities in 2015

Adults 65 and older are experiencing falls now more than ever. In fact, older adult falls have increased 168 percent since 1999, according to the report.

These falls, often caused by medication side effects, muscle weakness or cluttered/poorly lit areas, largely contribute to traumatic brain injury and are the leading cause of death in 10 states.

NSC recommendations for states: fall prevention strategies in older adult communities, state coalitions to assist in prevention, pharmacist prescription modification.

4. Vulnerable road users: 11,324 fatalities in 2015

Pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists are at greater risk than vehicle drivers and passengers during car crashes.

In fact, between 2004-2013, motorcycle-related fatalities increased by 16 percent and bicycle-related deaths by 12 percent.

In 2015, 5,376 pedestrians died after being struck by vehicles.

NSC recommendations for states: motorcycle and bicycle helmet laws, laws requiring drivers to stop for pedestrians.

5. Alcohol impaired driving: 10,265 fatalities in 2015

Drunken driving (.08 BAC) accounts for about 10,000 traffic fatalities each year.

Impairment truly begins with the first drink, report authors wrote.

NSC recommendations for states: a state sobriety checkpoint program, ban on open containers in the car, 90-plus day license revocation for drivers above the .08 BAC or drivers who refuse the test.

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More than 146000 deaths could be avoided each year here are the 5 leading causes of preventable death - Atlanta Journal Constitution

A workshop held June 24 in Wilton Manors to, in part, help people understand white supremacy and how it hurts everyone was disrupted by a white nationalist group.

As first reported by Miami New Times, The Segu Racial Justice Institute, led by Lutze Segu, held the workshop in the Wilton Manors Gallery on Wilton Drive which is operated by the Stonewall National Museum & Archives. Segu considers herself a social justice practitioner and stated her goals include building stronger communities and eliminating racial injustice.

The white nationalist group, Identify Evropa, made its way into the event and silently held up a sign that read No Regret We Apologize For Nothing with Identity Evropa at the bottom. According to Chris Rudisill, Stonewalls executive director, the group left as soon as they were asked. We informed them to leave and that the event was private and not open to the public, wrote Rudisill in an email to SFGN.

Rudisill said he believes the group was trying to incite fear in the attendees and the general community and that Stonewall is committed to ensure the safety of patrons and community members along with the museums archives and collection. He added that this was the first instance of a protest against LGBT people of color in a Stonewall facility and that his organization would continue its tradition of standing up for the rights of all members of the LGBT community.

Hate affects all of us when it is allowed to penetrate those areas that are most openly part of a safe and affirming community. As our mission explains, we are committed to promote understanding through preserving and sharing the proud culture of LGBTQ people and our contributions to American society. While Saturdays event was not an SNMA program, we find it essential that we continue to provide space for intentional conversations around issues that affect our community and that includes dialogue around social justice for all LGBTQ people, wrote Rudisill.

The Southern Law Poverty Center, an organization that identifies and tracks hate groups, stated Identify Evropa is one of the white nationalist groups emboldened by the candidacy and presidency of Donald Trump. To join Identify Evropa, members must have European, non-Semitic heritage.

The organization, which often promotes and participates in white nationalist events, including an attempt to stop the city of New Orleans from removing its Confederate monuments, claimed that the workshop was anti-white. It took credit for the disruption on social media.

Today, Identity Evropa activists protested the Segu Racial Justice Institute, a seminar promoting anti-White rhetoric and ideas, tweeted the organization. Identity Evropa bills itself as an American based identitarian organization dedicated to promoting the interests of People of European Heritage.

Segu, under her Twitter handle @FeministGriote, also took to social media to express her anger over the disruption of her private event and her fear over what the group might have done. Yo, I really thought they were going to open fire on us. I don't wish that feeling on anyone.

In two separate tweets, Segu wrote I am still processing the event and don't have the words, but do know that this is us . . . white nationals are emboldened.

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White Nationalists Disrupt Workshop on White Supremacy in Wilton Manors - SouthFloridaGayNews.com

By JOHN PURCELL

Recorder News Staff

An investigation has concluded that last weeks fire at the Amsterdam Free Library was not intentional or suspicious, according to fire officials.

Amsterdam Fire Chief Michael Whitty said an equipment malfunction is believed to have ignited the blaze, which could be confirmed with more definitive testing by the insurance company. He said there was no evidence of suspicious activity or that the fire was intentionally set.

City firefighters responded around 2:30 a.m. on June 20 to the library to see a portable hydraulic lift fully engulfed in flames, with the fire beginning to spread to the building. Library officials said contractors working on the library had parked the machine further away from the building, but somehow it rolled forward and up the front stairs before it stopped.

I know everybody was kind of pointing at the fact that machine had started moving on its own, but its a diesel engine if you get those things turning, theyll start, Whitty said. There is battery power to that side, so once things are exposed to heat and flame, strange things happen.

The fire appeared to have ignited on the side of the hydraulic lift cab housing the fuel tank.

Whitty said destructive testing would need to be performed to confirm a mechanical failure triggered the blaze. The testing would alter the evidence, so all representatives would need to be present from respective insurance agencies. He said fire departments do not perform this extensive testing.

In the mean time, the library is still assessing the extent of the damage and the repairs that need to be made.

The library has reopened with regular hours but the second floor, which houses the Childrens Department, remains closed.

During a tour of the library with community leaders on Tuesday, Amsterdam Free Library Director Nicole Hemsley said an evaluation determined there is medium to light layer of soot on everything throughout the second floor, such as the carpet, furniture and books. She did not want to reopen the space until everything is fully cleaned or replaced.

Every book has to be cleaned, which is a huge job, Hemsley said. All the walls have to be washed down, tiles are going to have to be replaced and windows are going to have to be replaced. We are also looking at the carpet.

The librarys Summer Reading Program, which was scheduled to kick off July 5 has been pushed back to July 24 and an updated schedule will be posted to the librarys website and Facebook page.

She said the goal is to have the second floor reopened by that time but getting the interior cleaned and repaired is the primary focus at the moment.

As hard as all of this is, our main goal is just to look beyond it and make sure our doors are open and we are fully functional again, Hemsley said. Weve had a lot of outreach from the community asking how they could help and it warms my heart to see it, so we will definitely let people know how they can help.

Hemsley said library staff are waiting for insurance companies to complete their assessments before letting community members know how they can help. An overall cost of damage has not been determined to date.

Eric Trahan, executive director of the Mohawk Valley Library System, said the disaster interrupted educational opportunities the library offers every day to the community, but it would soon be back at full speed.

The Childrens Department may be closed, but programing for kids has been moved to the main floor.

Weve pulled some aspects of the upstairs to downstairs, so that when children come in they can still have something to do. We dont want them not coming for an entire month and not having something to do, Hemsley said.

Katie Stevens, childrens librarian, said the library is trying to make the best with what resources it has available during the temporary closure of the second floor. A Create Space was installed on the ground floor, so children can participate in arts and crafts projects.

Hemsley said the damage to the building could have been worse.

Our fire department came over and put the fire really quickly and saved the building, Hemsley said. It had started breaking through the upper soffit and it was minutes away from entering the attic cavity, which is lined 115-year-old wood.

Whitty had said while most damage was limited to the librarys exterior, flames started to breach wooden enclosures along the edge of the roof, some of the window frames and into the wall cavities around those areas.

Hemsley said she was heartbroken the plaster Open to All emblem which had been painstakingly scraped and repainted, was damaged,

Hemsley said the decorative front door recently installed also must be replaced. She said the metalwork, showing a scene with two children among a towering stack of books, was damaged beyond repair.

She said the artist, William Bush, of Bush Millwork, has agreed to create a replica of the metalwork. Hemsley said she would like to save the original metalwork to possibly hang somewhere in the library.

Patrons must access the library at its north entrance along Route 5 until repairs are completed at the main entrance.

Mayor Michael Villa said the community is blessed to have the library and he was thankful the building was saved.

Kelly Quist-Demars, representative from U.S Rep. Paul Tonkos office, read a statement from the local congressman about the fire and recovery efforts.

I was concerned and saddened to hear about the recent fire outside of the historic Amsterdam Free Library, Tonko stated. I am thankful for the quick response of the Amsterdam Fire Department and that the damage was mostly limited to the outside of the building. Libraries like this one are truly the hearts of their surrounding communities, welcoming young and old, rich and poor alike into their doors and sharing the gift of knowledge and learning with all who seek it.

Tonko also commended Hemsley and library staff for their dedication to work through the difficult time as recovery efforts are continued.

Hemsley said insurance should be able to cover repairs needed at the library.

See the original post:

Library fire 'not intentional'; damage still being assessed | The ... - The Recorder (subscription)

City Councilor Ayanna Pressley wants the marijuana legislation now churning its way through the State House to include language that helps minorities take part in the states nascent pot industry.

The single word is equity, Pressley said on Boston Herald Radio yesterday. If you take away the word cannabis and all that might go along with that, ultimately, this is about industry. And I want to make sure that everyone has an equitable opportunity to have full inclusion and participation in our economy, she said.

What we know is that a rising tide does not lift all boats, unless you are intentional about it. Im lobbying to ask the conference committee the equity provisions in the house and senate bill that we not have a one-off, that we include all of them to ensure that those who have been disproportionately impacted would have an opportunity in licensing, in ownership, and in workforce, and also that we have specific goals to minority business enterprise.

Pressley has said that there are prohibitive startup costs in obtaining a marijuana license, and that criminal checks may prevent some in Boston neighborhoods from getting jobs at facilities that sell marijuana.

It is a very blunt tool to introduce any industry by ballot measure, as we saw with medicinal marijuana, she said.

We were not ready, and we also saw zero equity in the medicinal marijuana industry. There were 182 applicants.

There were eight provisional licenses awarded, and not one went to a person of color. In the 20-plus states that have decriminalized and legalized marijuana before us, less than one percent of those dispensaries are owned by people of color.

Pressley said she opposes giving communities the power to ban marijuana dispensaries at the local level.

Im actually not in support of city councils having the jurisdiction, the authority to ban dispensaries, she said.

Ultimately in order to ensure real equity in the industry, this needs to be state-wide. I dont think that any one industry should be concentrated. Were not looking for folks to have a monopoly. This is about equity. ... Whats exciting about this, is that we have the opportunity by being intentional, and by being proactive, and being thoughtful about this to be the national blueprint, and the model for equity in the cannabis industry. No one has been able to get this right.

More here:

Councilor: Give minorities a stake in pot biz - Boston Herald

June 26, 2017, Alex Nitzberg, Leave a comment

Combining identity politics, social justice doctrine and the concept of safe-spaces, Hampshire College allows students to self-segregate by living in Identity-Based Housing. The colleges website explains:

Residence Life and Housing facilitates the continuation of many identity-based housing communities started by students. These residential spaces give support to members of our community with social identities that have been historically marginalized in this country, and strive to counter systemic oppression. This arises from our commitment to fostering diverse, socially just, and inclusive communities.

We recognize that our societythrough its laws, institutional structures, and customshas privileged some social groups while systematically disadvantaging and disenfranchising others. Even as we struggle to end these practices, we recognize that day-to-day life for members of these disadvantaged groups can be hurtful and exhausting.

The websites explanation of identity-based housing also states:

Identity-based housing is an institutional structure designed to assist members of historically oppressed groups in supporting each other. It helps to create an added level of psychological comfort and safety for those who choose to live in those spaces, often providing the foundation for those students to be able to engage fully in the greater community.

Creating these safe spaces, in collaboration with centers on campus, will benefit the entire community. We must have the full engagement of all our community members, especially those whose experiences, ideas, and perspectives are different from those of the Colleges mainstream population. It is through these means that we, as a full community, are most likely to challenge assumptions, craft new solutions to problems, and perform to our highest ability.

The Permanent Identity-Based Mods listed include: LGBTQQIAAP, Queer, Women of Color, Students of Color and Asian Heritage.

Pan-Afrikan Diaspora, Trans Stability Mod and QPOC are designated as Not-Yet-Permanent Identity-Based Mods. Marginalized Gender Identities is categorized as On Hiatus for 2017-2018.

Under the guidelines for developing an identity-based mod, the second guideline explains: The group must be unified by a social identity (such as race, culture, gender, or sexual orientation). The third guideline says, The unifying social identity must currently experience or has historically experienced oppression within or outside the Hampshire community.

Hampshire College also offers Intentional Housing Communities which it explains, are living spaces in which the residents have chosen to come together around a particular area of interest that will contribute to and cultivate the campuss culture of learning. Some of those listed on the website include the Hampshire Basketball Mod, the Kosher Mod, the STEM Mod, the Mindfulness Mod, the Greenhouse Mod and the Middle Eastern Immersion Mod.

The intentional housing community called the Gender Justice Mod (formerly Womens Empowerment Mod), contains the following deluge of leftist lingo within part of its description: We understand our struggle against cissexist heteropatriarchy as part of a broader struggle against all systems of domination, includingbut not limited towhite supremacy, capitalism, imperialism, and ableism.

In 2015 AIA Executive Director Mal Kline documented some of the courses offered at Hampshire College.

Some of the upcoming Fall 2017 course offerings listed under the subject Critical Social Inquiry include:

White Supremacy and Appropriate Whiteness in the Age of Trump

Critical Ethnic Studies: From Settler Colonialism to Trumpism

Border Matters: Mexico and the United States

Feminist, Queer, and Trans Theories of Race

Feminisms Sciences

Autonomism, and Labor: Business Ethics for Radicals

Black Girlhood Studies

Queer Feelings: The Emotional and Affective Life of Gender, Sexuality, and Race

A course titled, A Philosophy of Tattoos and Tattoo Art is listed under the subject of Cognitive Science.

Hampshire Colleges course descriptions are available here.

Alex Nitzberg is a freelance conservative journalist and commentator and the host of The Alex Nitzberg Show podcast. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Read more here:

Hampshire College: Identity-Based Housing - Accuracy in Academia