Calendar of Events

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Monthly peace vigil: Second Thursday of every month from 4:30pm to 5:30pm at the south approach to the Hill to Hill Bridge, 3rd and Wyandotte Streets, Bethlehem 18015; contact Vince Stravino, 610-216-8103.

Weekly peace vigil: Fridays from noon to 1pm at the Federal Courthouse, 5th and Hamilton Streets, Allentown, 18101; contact John Clint Fowler, 610-746-5013.

Weekly peace vigil: Fridays from 4:30pm to 5:30pm outside the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory, 15th and Allen Streets, Allentown, 18104.

Weekly peace vigil: Saturdays from 10am to 11am at Center Square, Easton, 18042; contact Reggie Regrut, 908-859-5632.

Weekly peace vigil: Saturdays from 10am to 11am at the corner of Main and Noble Streets, Sellersville, 18960; contact Angela Nez, 215-257-1300.

Weekly peace vigil: Sundays at 12:30pm in Kings Plaza parking lot, Rt. 73, Oley, 19547.

Monthly peace vigil: First Sunday of every month from 5pm to 6pm at Bally Mennonite Church, Bally, 19503; contact Greg & Ellen Bowman, 610-845-2436.

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Friday July 3rd, 2009, 7pm, Popcorn and Politics Film Series: "Sophie Scholl: The Final Days" (2005). The true story of Germany's most famous anti-Nazi heroine, follows her involvement with the underground student resistance group, The White Rose. Closely following interrogation records and court transcripts, the film covers the White Rose's activities, arrest, interrogation, trial, and sentence in 1943. Passionate champions of freedom and personal responsibility, Sophie Scholl and fellow members of the White Rose have become synonymous with civil courage and peaceful struggle against the rule of violence and oppression. Directed by Marc Rothemund. In German with English subtitles. 117 minutes. Projected on the big screen at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Thursday July 9th, 2009, 7pm, Lehigh Valley Veterans for Peace meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Sunday July 12th, 2009, 6pm, Potluck and Politics: "Personal Reflections on Five Days in a War Zone" with Joyce Ravitz at the Lehigh Valley Friends Meetinghouse (on route 512, a half mile north of route 22) in Bethlehem. Joyce Ravitz, a retired school teacher and an activist for peace and justice for 50 years, will report on the 13 member Code Pink delegation to Gaza that she was part of May 23rd - June 1st. Two of her fellow travelers will join her in the presentation. Please bring some food to share for the potluck dinner at 6pm. The presentation and discussion will begin around 6:30pm. Call 610-691-8730 for more information.

Monday July 13th, 2009, 7pm, LEPOCO Action Meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Thursday July 16th, 2009, 6pm, 2009 Young People Making Peace Summer Day Camp Training at First Presbyterian Church (Cedar Crest Boulevard and Tilghman Street) in Allentown. Food and refreshments will be provided at this important training session for leaders, volunteers, and helpers for this years Peace Camp. Please click here for a printable volunteer interest form to send complete and return to LEPOCO (313 West 4th Street, Bethlehem, PA, 18015) before the 16th. For more information please call 610-691-8730.

Friday July 17th, 2009, 10:30am, Economic Crisis Committee meeting in the home of Susie Ravitz in Easton. Please call 610-691-8730 for directions.

Sunday July 19th, 2009, 6pm, Potluck and Politics: "Potluck Fundraiser for Joe DeRaymond" at the Lehigh Valley Friends Meetinghouse (on route 512, a half mile north of route 22) in Bethlehem. In late July through August frequent visitor to Latin America, Joe DeRaymond, will head to El Salvador and Colombia to work with CIS (Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad) and visit the Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado. This potluck dinner will be an opportunity to learn about the important work being done in South and Central America, hear some of Joe's anecdotes from prior trips, and help with the expenses of this upcoming journey. Please bring some food to share for the potluck dinner at 6pm. The presentation and discussion will begin around 6:30pm. Sponsored by the Americas Solidarity Group of LEPOCO. Call 610-691-8730 for more information.

Thursday July 23rd, 2009, 7pm, Lehigh Valley Peace Coalition/Middle East Peace Committee meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Monday July 27th - Friday July 31st, 2009, 9am - noon, 2009 Young People Making Peace Summer Day Camp at First Presbyterian Church (Cedar Crest Boulevard and Tilghman Street) in Allentown. Five mornings of stories, songs, games, crafts, and learning activities related to the broad topic of peace and justice. For children ages 5 - 12 who have completed kindergarten to 6th grade. Sliding scale fee of $5 - $35 per child for the week. Scholarships are available. To register campers please click here for a printable registration form. Volunteers are needed for all or part of the week. Please click here for a printable volunteer interest form. Sponsored by the LEPOCO Peace Center and the Center for Humanistic Change. For more information please call 610-691-8730.

Saturday August 1st, 2009, 7pm - 10pm, Dance for Peace Party at the home of Mimi Lang in Bethlehem (call 610-691-8730 for address and directions). Come celebrate the 70th Birthday of resident poet and activist Mimi Lang at this LEPOCO fundraiser. DJ Evan Hoffman will spin records. Please bring a beverage or small snack to share as well as a donation of $7-70.

Tuesday August 4th, 2009, 7pm, Americas Solidarity Group meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Friday August 7th, 2009, 7pm, Popcorn and Politics Film Series: "Johnny Got His Gun" (1971). Blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo directs this film adaptation of his own classic anti-war novel. After a mortar shell leaves his body mangled on the final day of World War I, Joe Bonham lies trapped in a hospital bed, a fully conscious quadruple amputee who cannot speak, hear, or see, left to wander within his own mind between his harsh reality and memories of a happier life long gone. 106 minutes. Projected on the big screen at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Monday August 10th, 2009, 7pm, LEPOCO Action Meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Thursday August 13th, 2009, 7pm, Lehigh Valley Veterans for Peace meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Friday August 14th, 2009, 1pm, LEPOCO Newsletter Planning Committee meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Tuesday August 18th, 2009, 10am, Lehigh Valley Committee Against State Killing meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Friday September 4th, 2009, 7pm, Popcorn and Politics Film Series: "Gandhi My Father" (2007). Beautifully photographed on location in India and South Africa, this dramatic film looks at the tumultuous relationship between Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi and his troubled son Harilal. A rare glimpse at the personal struggles of the man revered in India as the "Father of the Nation" and the toll it cost his family. In Hindi, Gujarati, and English with English subtitles. Directed by Feroz Abbas Khan. 135 minutes. Projected on the big screen at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Thursday September 10th, 2009, 7pm, Lehigh Valley Veterans for Peace meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Thursday September 10th - Sunday September 13th, 2009, Creating a Culture of Peace (CCP): Basic Nonviolence Training with Janet Chisholm at the Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center in Bangor, Pennsylvania. To register or for more information see the Kirkridge website or call 610-588-1793.

Monday September 14th, 2009, 7pm, LEPOCO Action Meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Friday September 18th - Sunday September 20th, 2009, Community or Empire - Which Will We Build? with Daniel Berrigan and Elizabeth McAlister at the Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center in Bangor, Pennsylvania. To register or for more information see the Kirkridge website or call 610-588-1793.

Thursday October 8th, 2009, 7pm, Lehigh Valley Veterans for Peace meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Monday October 12th, 2009, 7pm, LEPOCO Action Meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Friday November 6th - Sunday November 8th, 2009, Love Force - The Peacemaker's Way with Richard Deats at the Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center in Bangor, Pennsylvania. To register or for more information see the Kirkridge website or call 610-588-1793.

Monday November 9th, 2009, 7pm, LEPOCO Action Meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Thursday November 12th, 2009, 7pm, Lehigh Valley Veterans for Peace meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Friday November 13th - Sunday November 15nd, 2009, Making Activism Smarter and Thriving Personally with George Lakey at the Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center in Bangor, Pennsylvania. Let's face it: the sacrifice paradigm gets old if we want to be activists for the long run. We need (and deserve) ways of working that get better results AND support abundant personal lives. We'll explore the HOW of this, with experiential exercises, probing questions, small groups, reflection and fun. George Lakey has led 1,500 peace and strategy workshops on five continents, taught at universities, founded activist organizations, and authored seven classics on nonviolent social change. His organization, Training for Change, empowered NGOs and grassroots activists in 20 countries. He currently teaches at Swarthmore College. To register or for more information see the Kirkridge website or call 610-588-1793.

Wednesday December 2nd - Sunday December 6th, 2009, Creating a Culture of Peace (CCP): Training of Trainers with Janet Chisholm and T. Michael Rock at the Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center in Bangor, Pennsylvania. Strengthen facilitation skills and the ability to use interactive and mutual learning techniques. Help others find their power for peacemaking and deepen your own. Practice presentations. Learn to offer CCP training. To register or for more information see the Kirkridge website or call 610-588-1793.

Thursday December 10th, 2009, 7pm, Lehigh Valley Veterans for Peace meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.

Monday December 14th, 2009, 7pm, LEPOCO Action Meeting at the LEPOCO Peace Center.