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Category: Events

  • Four California Bills to Punish Free Speech and Academic Freedom at Schools and Campuses Are About to Become Law

    Being heard in California State Assembly and Senate Appropriations Committees Today

    Silenced

    By Scott Steward

    Three of the four bills are unbalanced and likely to increase the punitive environment (and the cost) of our California universities, state universities, and community colleges and send a "shut up or else" message to about 2.5 million mostly young adults, their instructors and administrators.

    Unfortunately, Dodd already voted to pass the two Senate bills to the Assembly, which is very sad for our college campuses.  Aguiar Curry already voted to pass the assembly bills, which is sad for our high schools.  I'll assume that Democratic majorities are all in on these bills. The bills are now being heard by the appropriations committees of the opposite houses today. Floor votes for the AB bills are likely in the Senate and floor votes are likely for the SB bills are likely in the Assembly soon. 

    That said – I would propose you let Dodd and Aguiar-Curry to recommend

    For Aguiar-Curry:

    NO on senate bills SB 1277 Pupil instruction: genocide education: the Holocaust.

    NO on senate bills SB 1287 Equity in Higher Education Act: prohibition on violence, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination.

    For Dodd:

    NO on assembly bill AB 2918 Pupil instruction: ethnic studies.

    And a "not encouraged by" AB 2925.  AB2925 Equity bill was more balanced, but there is concern over the vague nature of who would be implementing anti-discrimination training and what guardrails would be put in place to make sure that anti-discrimination training was developed inclusively – specifically that training included Palestinian voices along with other voices.

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  • Fight for Our Future: A Yolo-Wide Election Kickoff

    Sunday, August 25, 4-5 p.m., Veterans Memorial Center in Davis

    Vota
    Volunteers canvassing in the Central Valley earlier in 2024 will be returning as election nears

     (From press release) Local progressive activists are saying, “We’re not going back!” 

    Winning the White House, restoring a House majority, and holding the Senate and key State House races will be front and center Sunday, Aug. 25 at 4  p.m. when Sister District Yolo and Indivisible Yolo, along with Democratic Party partners, host a Yolo-wide election rally. 

    Speakers include Michael Tubbs, former mayor of Stockton and candidate for California Lieutenant Governor, and Rep. Jasmine Clark, a top target for the GOP in the critical swing state of Georgia.

    Co-sponsoring groups include the Yolo County Democratic Party, West Sac Democratic Club, and Davis College Democrats.

    “It’s time for Yolo County to step up our voter outreach to elect President Kamala Harris and give her a Congress she can work with. We are delighted to have Michael Tubbs as our featured keynote speaker not just because of his outstanding work on behalf of populations often left behind, but also his Central Valley roots,” said Steve Murphy of Indivisible Yolo. “Come learn how you can take action, no matter how much time or resources you have.”

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  • SF Mime Troupe’s AMERICAN DREAMS – A New Musical – comes to Davis

    Poster for e mailiing American Dreams SFMT summer 2024 1(From press release) The Tony Award-Winning San Francisco Mime Troupe Opens their 65th Season with: AMERICAN DREAMS – A New Musical – Was Democracy Just a Dream? July 4 – Sept. 8, 2024. They will be appearing for one show on Thurs. July 25, 2024 at  7:00 pm (Music starts at 6:30pm) at the Davis High School, Richard Brunelle Performance Hall (Indoor show) – 315 W 14th St., Davis. Ticket are FREE – but RSVP for tickets required / RSVP: sfmt.org/rsvp-davis

    ($20 suggested donation)


    The San Francisco Mime Troupe (SFMT) are pleased to announce the full cast and creative team for their new show for Summer 2024 – AMERICAN DREAMS – A New Musical. – Was Democracy Just a Dream? – written by Michael Gene Sullivan, Music and Lyrics by Daniel Savio, Directed by Velina Brown, Music Director – Dred Scott.

    SFMT American Dreams Summer 2024 group shot 1AMERICAN DREAMS – A New Musical features a four-person cast that includes veteran SF Mime Troupe collective members: Andre Amarotico (Oliver, Harold); Michael Gene Sullivan (Gabriel Pearse, Chancellor Quisling); and features Lizzie Calogero (Meliae Higgins, Emma); Mikki Johnson (Paine Pearse).

    SFMT Band: Caroline Chung (Bass); Daniel Savio (Keyboards); and Dred Scott (Drums, Percussion, additional keyboards).

    The American Dream. It used to mean a job, a house, a car, a spouse, 2.5 kids, and a .4 dog. But what does it mean now? For Gabriel Pearce, a Black man tired of liberal failures, on the day after the presidential election it means victory! Giving up on progressivism wasn’t easy, but casting his vote for a Conservative who promises to be grateful could mean a dream come true. However, for his daughter Paine – a teacher at a university caught between protesting students and threats to funding – it’s a nightmare! Or was the lost election just a dream? Or will A.I. catch fire, like Paine’s boyfriend Oliver sees in his nightmares? Do androids dream of electronic voting? Can we create the utopia of justice activist student Emma hopes for, or is the present just a dream within a dream within a dream? But whether you’re asleep or Woke what some see as nightmares others see as… American Dreams.

  • Sierra Club Hosts Summer Potluck and Wetlands Talk

    Image 573(From press release) Join the Sierra Club and YoloSol Collective on Wednesday, June 26 for a summer potluck and panel presentation on “Restoring Cache Creek Wetlands.”

    For this free, public event, we are pleased to welcome Native Californian cultural practitioner Diana Almendariz, Cache Creek conservationist Jim Barrett, and UC Davis entomologist Geoffrey Attardo in a discussion of how the lower Cache Creek’s watershed ecosystem functioned in the past before agriculture and mining changed its current condition. Panelists will share their ideas for a restorative, climate-resilient future for the creek and its plant and animal wildlife.

    Almendariz is a naturalist, educator and practitioner of Maidu/Wintun, Hupa/Yurok culture, heritage and experiences. Following the teachings of renowned Wintun basket weaver and culture bearer Bertha Mitchell (1936-2018), Almendariz has been working for more than twenty years to bring to life a Tending and Gathering Garden in a reclaimed mining pit at the Cache Creek Nature Preserve.  She is a frequent lecturer at UC Davis, Sacramento State, museums and nature centers. She leads workshops on cultural burning on place-based traditional ecological knowledge.

    Jim Barrett, a retired physician, conservationist and proud grandfather, has lived alongside lower Cache Creek near the home of Yolo County settler pioneer William Gordon for 24 years. As a board member of Cache Creek Conservancy and the Sierra Club Yolano Group, he envisions a role for reclaimed gravel mines in the restoration of lower Cache Creek.

    Geoff Attardo, Associate Professor of Entomology at UC Davis, is passionate about mosquitos, marshes, and teaching science.  He specializes in the study of arthropod disease vector biology and the role of bio-diverse ecosystems in public and environmental health. Geoff is currently partnering with Almendariz on a project to demonstrate the benefits of traditional tule and cattail wetlands management.

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  • Service for Delaine Eastin

    Greetings friends and colleagues,

    Join us in downtown Sacramento for a tribute to the life and legacy of Delaine Eastin. Through reflection, remembrances, music, and community, we will honor her contributions to California and generations to come. A reception will follow the formal program.

    The fifth woman in California history to be elected to statewide constitutional office, Delaine remains the only woman to serve as Superintendent of Public Instruction empowering six million K-12 students in more than 10,000 schools. Delaine's legacy lives on in each of us through her mentorship and friendship, and her courageous leadership in local, state, national, and international realms, which still sets the foundation for public policy in our state.

    To RSVP and receive full details, please visit the link below.

    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebration-of-life-for-the-honorable-delaine-eastin-tickets-915820442597?aff=odeieiemailshare&utm-campaign=social%2Cemail&utm-content=attendeeshare

    Sincerely,

    Family and Friends of Delaine Eastin

  • Tenth Davis Pride kicks off on June 1

    DragCrowd 1

    A drag queen interacts with a young festivalgoer at the 2023 Davis Pride Festival. (Wendy Weitzel/Courtesy photo)

    By Wendy Weitzel

    The rainbow crosswalks are being painted Sunday in downtown Davis, signaling the path to a month full of Davis Pride celebrations ahead in June.

    This is the 10th year of Davis Pride activities, organized by the nonprofit Davis Phoenix Coalition. For 2024, highlights include the Davis Pride Community Fair and Music Festival, an after party, a fun run, skate night, comedy night, and plenty of drag.

    This year’s theme is “Davis Pride – Because Yolo County is for Everyone!” It follows the Davis Phoenix Coalition’s recent lawn sign messages “Davis is for Everyone” and “Yolo County is for Everyone,” to counter the far-right actions experienced in the community.

    The 10th annual Davis Pride Community Fair and Music Festival has a new location this year: Civic Center Park, at Sixth and B streets. The community-focused, family-friendly event includes a music festival, resources, vendors, food, drinks and more – from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 1.

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  • Past honored in 10th year of Davis Pride

    FourLeap2023

    Gloria Partida, left, Jessica Uzarski, Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs and Mily Ron jump for joy after volunteers complete the rainbow crosswalk painting in downtown Davis on May 30, 2023. This year’s painting will be from 6 to 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 26 around Central Park in Davis. (Courtesy photo)

    By Wendy Weitzel

    As the Davis Phoenix Coalition marks its 10th year of Davis Pride activities next month, its members also want to honor those who painted that rainbow road.

    Pride celebrations in Davis go much deeper than a decade. Every June from 1996 to 2006, local LGBTQ+ activists Shelly Bailes and Ellen Pontac coordinated the Yolo County Lesbian and Gay Picnic Day. After it took a hiatus, the event was revived in 2015 by the nonprofit Davis Phoenix Coalition, which rebranded it as Davis Pride. Rising from its origins as a single-day event with 500 participants in the 1990s, it has become a monthlong June celebration, drawing close to 10,000 people. These participants come from all segments of the local population, happy to gather in support of LGBTQ+ rights.

    This year, highlights include the Davis Pride Community Fair and Music Festival, an after party, a fun run, skate night, comedy night, and plenty of drag.

    Gloria Partida founded the Davis Phoenix Coalition in 2013 after her son, Lawrence “Mikey” Partida was brutally beaten in an anti-gay attack. She and other organizers started Davis Pride with the idea of a fun run, and added a family-friendly festival for the whole community.

    Despite successes like the federal legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015, they knew Davis Pride would be controversial. She saw what Bailes and Pontac went through. “They had a lot of pushback when they were doing the work,” Partida said.

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  • Whole Earth Festival Sunday – Women’s Music Day – “Double Maya Rainbow! Oh, my God—it’s a Double Maya Rainbow all the way! Whoa, that’s so intense!”

    Download (1) DownloadSunday at the Whole Earth Festival has traditionally been held on Mother's Day, and for many years has highlighted women artists on Sunday.  

    This year is no exception, with the Sunday lineup on "Quad" Stage including: 

    11:20-12 SOPHIE SENG

    12:20-1 LILLIAN FRANCES

    1:20-2:20 MAYA MCNEIL AND THE SILVER APPLES

    2:40-3:40 MAYA BURNS

    4-4:50 JESSICA MALONE

    and yes, it's a DOUBLE MAYA RAINBOW from 1:20 pm to 3:40 pm !!!!

    Maya Burns first wowed WEF audiences years ago when at the age of ten she sang a perfect acapella version of "White Rabbit".  Now a Singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer she floats from Monterey to Ensenada to México City and annually visits the Whole Earth Festival in Davis.  She presents her music in English and Spanish, inspired by her cultural surroundings growing up in Mexico.

    Maya McNeil is a native of Davis who's solo music is now blossoming as she premiers her amazing band, the Silver Apples, for the first time Sunday!  Maya has a few singles online now such as "Waiting for the Light to Change" and "Main Stream", in anticipation of her first album, "Waiting for the Light to Change".  Maya was Art Space Director of the Festival years ago and has deep roots with the Festival.

    Images Maya Mc

    Do note that the Whole Earth Festival has temporarily moved to Russell Field this year, the big grassy area along Russell Blvd.  It's going to be hot this weekend and Russel Field is treeless, so bring a hat, sunscreen, water, and take advantage of the Whole Earth Misting Station between Quad Stage and the Staff Dome (teal, lavender and tan dome), as well as the 26 large shade structures towards the eastern side of the field.  Quad stage is the eastern of the two stages.

    Also, be sure to check out Maya Burn's parent's (Jim & India) tie-die booth, the colorful booth nearest Quad stage – they have shirts, hats, dresses and much more!

  • Open Discussion: Bob Dunning Terminated by Davis Enterprise Owners (an Al’s Corner Exclusive)

    Adfc46d7-dadc-4553-a16a-0777ff3b922bIn a bozo move by the owners of the Davis Enterprise, Bob Dunning was terminated without so much as a thank you after 55 years of service to the paper (and Davis).

    Shelley Dunning pays a very sweet tribute in a 7-minute video on her Facebook page:

    facebook.com/shelleydunning

    She also outlines how cold the termination was.  I doubt that will sit well with the Davis community.

    Bob's column will continue at: 

    thewaryone.com

    Please share your thoughts here in comments regarding this poorly-handled move by the owners of the Davis Enterprise.

    Full disclosure:  Bob Dunning once wrote a column about how I should be on the City Council 😐

    Note:  Pardon the pictured haircut, Bob, this is what A.I. gave me when I described the incident!

  • Estates, Wills & Trusts is topic of May 22 Soroptimist talk

    Silva

    Raquel M. Silva (Courtesy photo)

    (From press release) Estate Planning, Wills & Trusts will be the topic of the Wednesday, May 22 meeting of Soroptimist International of Davis. The free program will be from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in the conference room at University Inn and Suites, 1111 Richards Blvd., Davis.

    Soroptimist International of Davis is empowering local women by offering a series of financial literacy talks. The programs are educational and free from sales pitches. They focus on the issues females face in the financial and legal world, including a gender pay gap, smaller pensions than men, and patriarchal attitudes.

    Davis family law attorney Raquel M. Silva will share some steps people can take to make sure their estates avoid probate and other problems. This is the fourth in a four-part series that covered Women & Investing, Life & Liability Insurance, and Taxes & Accounting. Lunch is provided by the club, with donations accepted to cover meal costs. First-time Soroptimist guests are always free.

    Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. It was founded in 1921 in Alameda County. Soroptimist International of Davis was chartered in 1954. Local members join some 75,000 Soroptimists in 122 countries and territories to contribute time and financial support to community-based projects benefiting women and girls. Its core values are gender equality, empowerment, education, diversity and fellowship.

    SI Davis offers cash Live Your Dream Awards to female heads of household seeking education or training, and assists King High students through its Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls program. It also funds high school scholarships, and grants to nonprofits that align with the Soroptimist mission.

    SI Davis members meet twice a month on Wednesdays – once at lunchtime and once in the evening – and connect for other fun activities and service. Learn more at https://www.sidavis.org/.