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In this issue
Upcoming Events
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, Monday, January 18, 12:30-4. Volunteers will meet at Village Commons. See article at left for more information.
UAMS College of Public Health Community Meeting on Racial Health Disparities, Tuesday, January 26, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. For more information, email Kerri Sernel, kmsernel@comcast.net.
Sustainable Systems At Work, Wednesday evenings starting Feb. 3 through Mar. 3, 6-8 p.m. $35 per person for course materials. To register, contact Shelley Green at (501) 213-5388 or shelley@arkansasearth.org.
Southside Main Street Project Mardi Gras Celebration, Saturday, February 13, Time TBA. Bernice Garden, Corner of South Main and Daisy Bates, Little Rock. www.southsidemain.org
Audubon Arkansas Backyard Bird Event – February 13, 8am-3pm at Audubon Center in Little Rock. Learn how native plants, garden features, and smart planning can make your yard a healthy habitat for birds, butterflies, and beneficial wildlife. Featured experts include Mary Ann King, Lori Spencer, Jim Allen, Dan Scheiman, and Mary Smith. Cost: $50 for workshop & organic lunch. For more information, contact Mary Smith at marysmith@audubon.org.
Just Communities of Arkansas Gathering of Friends, Tuesday, March 2, 5:30-7 p.m., Darragh Center, Main Library. $50 per person. For more information, call 372-5129.
SAVE THE DATE!
Village Commons St. Patrick's Day Party, Wednesday, March 17, Village Commons and Bernice Garden
Music...Food...Drinks
Proceeds benefit Village Commons' community programs.
Wear your green while going green!
More details to come. Make plans to attend - this will be a great time for a great cause!
Become part of our village! Give your time or make a tax-deductible contribution. To find out how to get involved, contact Kerri Sernel at (501) 765-5853 or kmsernel@comcast.net.
Village Commons
1423-C South Main Street
Little Rock, AR 72202
www.villagecommonslr.com
villagecommonslr@gmail.com
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Follow us on Twitter @vlgcommonslr
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Village Commons Volunteers Honor Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. During Day of Service, Monday, January 18
Faculty and students from UAMS as well as volunteers from the Arkansas Minority Health Commission will take up shovels, rakes and hoes to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy from 12:30-4 p.m. at Village Commons and the Bernice Garden in downtown Little Rock on Monday, January 18.
The day of service will include cleaning, raking and preparing the Bernice Garden, a private garden available for public use on the corner of Daisy Gatson Bates and South Main, as well as to foster community among generations.
Anyone is welcome to volunteer, and garden tools such as rakes, hoes, shovels and wheel barrows will be needed during the clean-up. For more information or to sign up, contact Dr. Creshelle R. Nash at 501-683-4956 or email silvia.fernandez@arkansas.gov.
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Gerald's Green Thoughts
Balance and Hope!
For me, 2010 begins with both good and bad news.
A young friend who had worked with me for a good number of years was killed in a car accident over the New Years weekend. She was sensitive, caring and too young to leave us so early in life. I know well the grief and issues that go with early loss of life and I yet it is always tough for me to see others who have to go through this time in their lives.
On the other side I had the opportunity to be with a number of our children and grandchildren during the holidays. I spent time with my Florida grandchildren, DeAnne, Dale, Dolan, and Daniel, on the beach druing our visit. I watched them as they ran, jumped, and played, and enjoyed the natural beauty of the area. Sharon and I spent time with our new grandchild Max in Memphis, and our grandson Jerry in Chattanooga. Before we left, Jerry got into our laps and asked if there was anything we could do to stay two days longer to hunt rocks. Everybody who knows me knows that I have never found a rock that I didn’t like, so to spend time with one of my grandchildren looking for rocks? You can’t beat that offer!
All of this helps to put balance in perspective!
During our travel time I met a struggling artist that was producing a simple but unique work that has two sticks, a couple of rocks, a bottle of sand and a feather to turn the stick. He puts these together so that one of the sticks balances on the other with the feather and rocks attached. I bought the piece and put it up on a table on our patio. Completely exposed to the elements and yet so far with all the weather the balanced stick has fallen only once. What a great example of balance.
On the bottle he wrote “With balance there is hope”. I believe that is true for all of us and for Mother Earth!
My wish is that we can live quality lives with decreased emphasis on quantity, but with increased balance and hope. That is my goal for this new year, and one we will emphasize as we continue to develop Village Commons. We have many opportunities and challenges as we move into our second year, and there will be much we can accomplish together, as long as we stay balanced and focused in our journeys. Thanks to all for your involvement.
Gerald
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AEI Hosts Discussion Series on Sustainable Systems at Work
The Arkansas Earth Institute is presenting a discussion course on Sustainable Systems at Work from 6-8 p.m. at Village Commons, 1423-C South Main Street, every Wednesday from Feb. 3 through March 3, 2010.
The Sustainable Systems at Work five-session discussion course is designed to further organizational sustainability initiatives in the workplace. Participants will evaluate the current economic model and consider the case for change, examine the concept of sustainability from an organizational perspective, evaluate principles and frameworks for guiding a vision, identify tools and strategies for implementing a framework, and develop an action plan to advance organizational change.
“The small group discussion experience provides a unique framework for exploring personal values, attitudes and habits while addressing the relevant issues of our times,” said Shelley Green, executive director and board chair of the Arkansas Earth Institute. “Each program is a participant-led series of discussions held over a four-to-nine week period. Participating groups meet for an hour to an hour and a half each week to discuss readings included in the discussion guide.”
Cost for the course is $35, which covers the cost of the study guide. Space is limited and advance registration is requested. To register or for more information, contact Shelley Green at 501-213-5388 or email shelley@arkansasearth.org.
Just Communities of Arkansas to Honor Gerald Cound at Annual Gathering of Friends Dinner
Village Commons' own Gerald Cound is one of three individuals tapped to receive Just Communities of Arkansas' annual Father Joseph Biltz Award, presented to outstanding individuals or groups who work for social change. The 2010 recipients of the Biltz Award also include Beverly Divers-White, Ph.D. and Pat Lile. The awards will be presented at JCA's annual Gathering of Friends Dinner, to be held Tuesday, March 2nd from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. in the Darragh Center at the Main Library (100 S. Rock Street) in Little Rock. Tickets to this JCA "friend raiser" and awards ceremony are $50 per person and can be purchased by calling the JCA office at 372-5129. Reservations are highly recommended. Dress is business attire.
Just Communities of Arkansas' mission is to advance diversity, challenge the assumptions we often make about people whose lives and backgrounds are different from our own, and promote understanding and respect through educational programs and advocacy. The awards' namesake, "Father Joe" Biltz, was a passionate, and often controversial, leader for peace and justice. He worked with an array of people on many issues, including the poor and the elderly, for the repeal of the death penalty and the reduction of nuclear arms. He was chair of the Urban League and a member of the Arkansas Peace Center. His commitment to social justice inspired the awards given by JCA to individuals who embody his ideals and have worked for justice and peace.
On behalf of all at Village Commons, we congratulate Gerald and all of the 2010 honorees, and encourage all who can attend the Gathering of Friends dinner to call JCA and reserve your seats. More information about JCA, its mission, and its work in the community can visit their website, www.arkansasjustcommunities.org.
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