CAR E-News Blast

 

 

****ACTION ALERT*****

 

DEFEAT THE HEINOUS FOSTER PARENT AND ADOPTION BALLOT PROPOSAL

 

This past week the AR Family Council has collected 5,037 signatures.  They have approximately 40,537 in their office. 

 

Total they must collect 61,975 valid signatures to be approved for the November ballot.  They have 21,438 more signatures to collect within 26 days.

 

HELP TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T COLLECT THE SIGNATURES!!

 

The 2008 ballot initiative is an act "providing that an individual who is cohabiting outside of a valid marriage may not adopt or be a foster parent of a child"

 

SPREAD THE WORD "DECLINE TO SIGN!!" spread this email with EVERYONE encourage them to DECLINE TO SIGN

 

This ballot initiative limits the number of loving permanent homes for children who need them.

This ballot initiative will codify traditional families (Man, Woman and child) as the "moral' standard, thus placing non-traditional families as less than or second class. Each placement should be determined on a case by case basis as is already the existing standard in the state.

 

ALL MAINSTREAM NATIONAL CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSE THIS TYPE OF RESTRICTIONS ON FOSTER PARENTING AND ADOPTION.

 

 

U MATTER!  WE MATTER!!  ALL FAMILIES MATTER!!!

 

CAR Announces Our

"ALL Families Matter Project"

A Progressive Dialog and Illustration of Arkansas' Non-Traditional Families

 

Non-traditional families include: Single parent households, Blended families/step families,

Grandparent's raising their grandchildren, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender parents,

Families with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ) children, Co-habiting,

unrelated people not in a sexual relationship who are living together and caring for one

another, and Foster, adoptive or group home families

 

One of our primary tools will be a series of community gatherings across the state that will feature the faces, stories, creative works, values, cares and concerns of the many "non-traditional" families residing in Arkansas. 

 

All Family Matters has 3 components:

 

-Share your story- We will collect the stories of Arkansas' non-traditional families utilizing audio/video, audio only or written story gathering techniques.  Share your thoughts on values, cares, concerns and community. 

 

-Create a visual art piece:  Create a visual art piece that reflects the state "ALL FAMILIES MATTER!!".  Deadline for works is August 25^th at 5pm.  Early submissions are encouraged and welcome and will be used in series of community gatherings across Arkansas. Please check out the Call to Artists and Artist Release links Insert hyperlink here for call to artist and artist release

 

-Voter Registration/Get out the Vote Community Gatherings: Register over 500 new voters, specifically People of Color, YOUTH and YOUNG ADULTS and LGBTQ communities in Arkansas. If we want to be heard, if we want to create real concrete changes that ensure Fairness & Equality for ALL Arkansans, then we have to present the power of our votes to support our voices.

 

YOU ARE NEEDED!:  We need volunteers to help register voters and to help with outreach. Do you want to volunteer? Do you have an idea for a registration location? Then give us a call or drop an email.

 

 

DYSC-Diverse Youth for Social Change

"Tomorrow's Leaders, Leading Today!"

 

DYSC is open to ALL youth/young adults between the ages of 14-23. This includes youth of all races, ethnicities, income levels, gender identity/expression, religious beliefs, ability, etc.

 

DYSC summer program meets Monday 2-4pm, Wednesday 2-4pm and Friday 6:30-8:30pm.

800 Scott St.,(inside the First Presbyterian Church) Little Rock. Current activities include filming a set of videos for community viewing that reflect the issues important to the group's membership. 

 

A Youth Pride summer picnic for the group's members and allies will be held June 14, 2008 from 2-8pm at Reservoir Park in Little Rock off Cantrell and Reservoir Rd.  The event will feature food, games and music. The park is located on off Cantrell Rd. between Mississippi and Reservoir Rd. Going West on Cantrell it will be on the left side. Look for the rainbow sign.

 

 

5^th Annual Conway Pride Parade – June 22, 2008

Co-sponsored by John Schenck and Robert Loyd and the

Center for Artistic Revolution, CAR

 

Line-up begins at the "Pink House" (1605 Robinson, Conway, AR) at 2pm and the parade begins at 3pm. Vendors and Entertainment at the parade's end at Simon Park on the corner of Front and Main St.

 

Vendors welcome! For-profit $25.00 and Non-profit $15.00

 

Bring chairs and sunscreen!

 

CAR Newsletter Team Meeting – June 24, 2008 6:00pm

Join CAR's staff in mapping out and writing the next edition of CAR's newsletter, Velocity. Interested in writing a column for the newsletter, or a feature article? Then come out and help put this issue together!

 

CAR's office 800 Scott St., (Inside First Presbyterian Church) Little Rock.

 

 

Same Sex Parenting Episode on FX's Thirty Days Program –

June 24, 2008

Check local listings for time

 

A California adoptee (and mother of two adopted sons) who opposes same-sex parenting spends a month with a gay Michigan couple who have four adopted sons. She attends church with the family, travels to state capital Lansing for a rally promoting adoption rights for gay and lesbian couples, and meets with a group of lesbian mothers. She also meets with former foster children, who discuss growing up without parents or a permanent home.

 

Signature collectors wanted:

 

CAR has joined the efforts of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP) in asking the governor to declare a moratorium on the death penalty in order to assess its impact upon the state. Since 1973 126 death penalty cases across the nation have been exonerated; clearly demonstrating the very real danger of executing innocent people.

 

If you are interested in helping to collect the signatures being gathered to present to the governor please contact CAR's lead on this: Janis Walters at: janisw10@...

 

"A Star Studded Night"

2^nd Annual Gala for the NWA GLBT Community Center

 

Friday June 27, 2008 7:00pm

Clarion Inn – 1255 S. Shiloh Dr., Fayetteville, AR

 

Tickets are $50.00 each or $400.00 for a table for eight. Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.nwaglbtcc.org/ Proceeds will support the efforts of the NWA GLBT Community Center.

 

Speakers for the evening include:

Rev. Lowell Grisham of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Fayetteville

Shawn Coker the Chairperson of the NWA Diversity Council and the Vice-President of Diversity Business Practices for Tyson Foods

Other Speakers Include:

Michael Walsh – Eureka Springs / DPR

Joney Harper – NWA Pride

Chris Hannon – NWA Positive Links Buddy Program

Eric Reece – Center for Artistic Revolution, CAR

Joe LaFontaine – Stonewall Democrats

 

This evening promises to be a great community building event with great food, dancing and music provided by Dance Enhance Entertainment.

 

NWA Pride Parade & Picnic – June 28, 2008 Fayetteville, AR

 

Line-up begins at 10:00am on Meadow Street next to Arvest.

 

Come out and show your pride. Just remember, make sure its kid friendly and appropriate for public locations.

 

This year the NWA GLBT Community Center is hosting the Annual Gay Pride Picnic.  The Buddy Program will be preparing and serving Burgers, Veggie Burgers, and Hot Dogs with chips and a drink for a very low cost to help raise funds for the Community Center as well as the Buddy Program Fund.

 

The picnic will be held just after the NWA Gay Pride Parade in Veteran's Park, Fayetteville, AR starting at 2pm - 6pm on Saturday, June 28th.  Pot Luck sides are encouraged to go along with the main course.

To apply for table/booth space  email your application to our Event team. Here is a Google Map Link for Directions to Veteran's Park.

CAR needs volunteers in the Fayetteville area to help with our voter registration project during the pride parade and picnic…Let us hear from you! Get involved! Get in on the CHANGE!

 

For more information, or to sign up for any of these items:

Please call: (501)244-9690

Or e-mail: artchangesu@...