IGE is a meeting place for community groups that share our concerns about human rights and education for multicultural and religious awareness. We promote peaceful conflict resolution through training, workshops with youth and adults, and ongoing community discussion.

Healthy Food for Our Neighbors

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Institute for Global Education 

 

 

 

Dear IGE Friend, 

The Institute for Global Education, a 501c3 not for profit all volunteer organization, which advances the causes of peace, justice, diversity and non violence in West Michigan, invites you to participate with us in two new  initiatives here in our community. As an all volunteer organization,  we do this work with the financial support of our friends.  

We want to offer you the opportunity to partner with us in an outreach program to the homeless. We  have joined with the St Mark’s Episcopal Church Saturday Breakfast program where we distribute, on a monthly basis, essential items to homeless people at the  breakfast. This includes masks, hand sanitizer, hand and foot warmers, and protein bars. We have learned that there is a great need for socks for men and women and would like to add them to the bags we distribute. Donations of new socks and/or funds to purchase socks and other items are needed. Sock material should be of synthetic fabric which washes easily and dries quickly. 

In partnership with AmeriCorps volunteers and the Ecosocialist Committee of the Grand Rapids Democratic Socialists of America, a special summer project, “Healthy Food for Our Neighbors ” is being launched.  Volunteers will be planting and growing vegetables to be distributed through various community venues.  Contributions of plants and gardening supplies, including manure, woodchips, and ground coverings, or the funds to purchase those items, are needed. 

Your past support is greatly appreciated and we hope that you will consider supporting these two initiatives for those in need in our community.  Donations can be made online at igegr.org. 

If you have further questions, please contact email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Sincerely, 

Kim McKeon, Chairperson

Kate Shockey, Co-Chairperson

Institute for Global Education Board

 

 

 

May Day is International Workers Day

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May Day

Join Us On May Day!  All Workers Are Essential!

 

Saturday, May 1, 2021 Noon Spirit of Solidarity Monument

(220 Front Avenue across from the Grand Rapids Public Museum)

On May Day we gather to remember the workers, both essential and retired, who lost their lives this past year due to the mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

We also honor the Haymarket Martyrs of Chicago, who along with furniture workers in Grand Rapids, fought for the 8-hour day and a new, better world. Back in 1886, the Chicago police attacked striking workers injuring and killing dozens. The State of Illinois then hung four of eight labor leaders after a rigged trial. Out of this outrage a new world-wide labor movement was born. So today in every country, May 1st is celebrated as International Workers Day!

We want safer work conditions for all workers and to build a strong labor movement. Our demands are honest and simple: 

Build Back Better with Unions! Support the AFL-CIO’s push to pass the PRO Act

Jobs or income now! Extend unemployment to 26 weeks, not 20. Make Michigan unemployment great again!

Stop racist police brutality and end police crimes. Support community control of the police.

Support the Equality Act! Fight discrimination against the LGBTQIA+

Support immigrant rights. No more kids in cages! Legalization for all!

The workers, united, will never be defeated!

Hosted by IATSE Local 26 (Stagehands), ATU Local 836 (Bus Drivers), and the Kent-Ionia Labor Council.  

“Salt of the Earth” Movie & Discussion

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Virginia Jenks Chambers portrays her involvement in the miners strike. Born November 8, 1917 in St. Louis Missouri, Virginia and her husband Tom Chambers were founding members of IGE. Virginia died February, 1990.

IGE is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.  Join us by Zoom or with limited seating in the IGE office.  We will be showing the movie on Zoom and/or you can watch in advance on YouTube (Salt of the Earth movie)  and then join our discussion.  For the Zoom link or office reservations, please leave a message at 616-259-6124.

Credit to IMDb

Non-Violence in The Present

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Non-violence is not talked about very much at this time, but it is a crucial component of human life.  It is true that humans want to maintain themselves in groups of similar people.  It feels safer and easier.  However, the fear of apparently different others eventually leads to violence against other people, property, and institutions. We must recognize that fear and bravely practice non-violence.  We may have been socialized to accept violence. It is difficult to be non-violent, especially since it is seen as cowardice and weakness, but it is absolutely necessary in these troubled times. There are very useful books, videos, and teachers who can help us change our thinking and actions. Gene Sharp has written a great deal and so has Marshall Rosenberg. Great pacifists like Dorothy Day and others struggled to promote peaceful ways of relating to others. Non-violence requires constant practice.

 

Twelve-step programs promote respect for oneself and others and ways of saying your truth in kind ways, “say what you mean, but don’t say it mean.” We begin with goodwill, acceptance, and listening to others in order to achieve conflict resolution.  The structures of humanity in families, other relationships, business, and government need to always begin with the assumption of goodwill and honesty tempered with kindness. Yes, sometimes hostile behavior requires defensive action to protect ourselves and others, but hostility should never come first.

 

Formal education and informal socialization must stress the equality of all humans. Everyone deserves to be treated equitably. Of course, babies, sick, and infirm people need extra care and attention. We must practice the cultivation of courage and patience with ourselves and others. Differences of countries of origin, color, gender, gender preference, wealth, age, intelligence, religion in people should not determine greater or lesser status. Connection with others is a necessity for all humans. Our Institute for Global Education office has some good literature on non-violence for all ages of people.

By: Kate Villaire