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.

Freethought Cafe field trip to Jim Crow Museum of Racial Intolerance

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Freethought Cafe Field trip to the Jim Crow Museum of Racial Intolerance

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Carpool to Big Rapids (less than an hour drive) and tour the museum at Ferris State. We will meet to discuss what we saw and felt in two weeks on October 9.
Please RSVP to me, Laura email hidden; JavaScript is required  for the museum’s sake! We may or may not qualify for a special tour.
Meet at 11 a.m. in the lot on the corner of Ann NE and Monroe NW. We will want to get to the museum before the homecoming football crowds come in.

Vision For Black Lives: Discussion & Action Group

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Vision For Black Lives: Discussion & Action Group

Thursday, September 29 at 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

at Institute for Global Education, 1118 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI

Centering Black voices, let’s come together to review the incredible document “A Vision for Black Lives”, a massive collaborative effort initiated by The Movement for Black Lives.

Let’s discuss how this could work in Grand Rapids based on priorities and goals of local Black leadership, and collaboratively work towards creating an action plan.

Please review the demands document at https://policy.m4bl.org/beforehand.

IMPORTANT: White SURJ participants: come to listen, bring a snack to share, drinks to share, and notepads and pens to share.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1679440722375882/

Contact Marie at (616) 446-3622
or email hidden; JavaScript is required

Justice for Rasmea Odeh–September 22 update

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Justice for Rasmea Odeh–Tuesday, September 22 update, 7:00pm at IGE

Institute for Global Education is at 1118 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

Rasmea Odeh is the target of U.S. government repression because she stands for equality, freedom and justice. Rasmea Odeh is a “serve the people” leader of the Arab American community in Chicago, an icon of the Palestinian liberation movement, and a determined activist for equality and justice for women and all oppressed peoples.

Two years ago the U.S. government raided and arrested her, put her on trial for a minor immigration paper work problem, and is attempting to imprison and deport her. In an unfair trial where she was not allowed to talk about being tortured by the Israeli Military, she was found guilty and sentenced to 18 months in prison and then deportation to a country other than her own. This trial was overturned by an appeals court in Cincinnati.  A victory for the movement in solidarity with Rasmea Odeh.

At 69, Rasmea Odeh embodies the life long struggle of the Palestinian people to be free from colonization and occupation. We ask you to come here a report on her case, build the solidarity movement with Rasmea Odeh, and attend her next court hearing in Detroit on Tuesday, November 29 in front of Judge Drain.

Tom Burke with the Committee to Stop FBI Repression at www.StopFBI.net will make a short presentation and then discuss organizing solidarity with Rasmea Odeh.

International Day of Peace Celebrations in Grand Rapids

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United Nations International Day of Peace

September 2016

Each year the United Nations International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21. It’s a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples. The theme for 2016 is Sustainable Development, through 17 interrelated goals. Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss proclaims September 21, 2016 as the International Day of Peace in Grand Rapids.

International Day of Peace on September 21st:

1. Saturday, September 10, 2016, 9am-8pm: A Peace Festival at the entrance of the Eastown StreetFair where children and adults can participate in hands on activities based on the 7 Principles of Peace.

2. September 19th-23rd, 2016: A Week of Peace Education. The Grand Rapids Public Schools will participate by a resolution in appropriate activities from our Program Guide for observing peace and celebrating people of different cultures now in its 37th year.

3. Sunday September 25, 2016, a Gathering in St. Francis Garden on the front lawn of Dominican Sisters Grand Rapids, Motherhouse at Marywood (E. Fulton and Lakeside Dr.) from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., sponsored by the Instruments of Hope. Fol- lowed by an Interfaith Peace Service from 2-3 p.m. at The Dominican Chapel at Marywood, and a reception.

UNIDP events are sponsored by The Institute for Global Education, the Dominican Sisters Grand Rapids and the Instruments of Hope

www.igegr.org • (616) 454-1642 • email hidden; JavaScript is required

Free Thought Cafe: Dunbar’s Number Theory on Sunday Sept. 18

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Dunbar’s Number Theory on Sunday from 12-2pm

Does Dunbar’s Number theory offer insights into why humans act as we do?

Are there implications for our cities, workplaces, or government? This discussion will have no formal moderator and may go anyplace! Will Free Will be pondered? You bet!

Potluck as usual!

Everyone is welcome 🙂

Dunbar’s number is a suggested cognitive limit to the number of people with whom one can maintain stable social relationships. These are relationships in which an individual knows who each person is and how each person relates to every other person.

Upcoming Free Thought events:

September 25, 2016 we will road trip to the museum in Big Rapids

We will have a discussion on Sunday, October 9, 2016 from 12-2pm

IGE Talks: How to vote…step one, register.

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IGE Talks vote

IGE Talks -Thursday, Sept. 1 at 7 pm

“How to vote… step one, register.”

This IGE Talks follows up on our popular July IGE Talks, “Meet Your Candidates for the Aug. 2 Primary

Joy Murphy of the AARP voter education program and a precinct chairperson will tell you everything you need to know about the election process. The League of Women Voters is slated to appear also. We present no candidate or proposal information, just procedural information. There’ll be time for public questions and discussion and snacks. And we will have voter registration forms.

 

            616-454-1642

            Web site: www.igegr.org

                             www.igetalks.org

            Email: email hidden; JavaScript is required                                    

            www.facebook.com/InstituteforGlobalEducation

 

 

Chris Hedges “The Algebra of Revolution”–a video showing/discussion

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Chris Hedges “The Algebra Revolution”

View this interesting talk by Chris Hedges about the times of revolution we are living in at this moment.   There will be time for discussion before and after the video.

Hedges flyer

Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016

6:30pm at the IGE Office, 1118 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49506

 

 

Freethought Cafe: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut: The History of Circumcision

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Freethought Cafe
Sunday, August 28, noon-2 p.m
1118 Wealthy St SE
Grand Rapids, MI  49506
Bigger, Longer, & Uncut: The History of Circumcision 
“Intactivist” Glen Allen presents a history of circumcision: how it is entangled with religion, how it got started in America. Learn new things about a body part near you, and how it is viewed in other cultures as well.
We will potluck a marvelous lunch (12:00-12:30) and there will be coffee.  Freethought Cafe will give you some things to think about.

Look Who’s Back (film) on Sunday, Aug. 21 at 12:15pm

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Free Thought Cafe:

 

Look Who’s Back is a subtitled German film, from the novel, 116 minutes long. Hitler returns and is universally mistaken for a brilliant comedian…at first.
Freethought Cafe is showing this movie at IGE, 1118 Wealthy St SE Sunday August 21.  We also potluck food and drink!  We will start the film at 12:15 p.m.so please plan accordingly.
See you!
Next Sunday, August 28, circumcision!  No, not you–a guest speaker will talk about it.

Free Thought Cafe presents: A Destiny Drive Life

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Free Thought Cafe presents:

A Destiny Driven Life: How to make magic in the middle of despair and have the resiliency for follow through when all seems to fail.

At IGE, 1118 Wealthy St. S.E., Sunday, August 14, noon-2 p.m.  https://www.igegr.org/

Wolfgang will present based on coaching lessons with youth and his career as anthropologist / therapist and now  the dark side of the corporate world. Formal discussion 12:30-1:30. Potluck as usual. Coffee is free.
We have ways of making you talk!