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OKT tabling at Women & the Environment Service Fair

Feb22

Artboard-Copy-3-845x321The Women and the Environment  Service Fair hosts dozens of non-profits at Linc Up, 1167 Madison Ave. SE, Saturday Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to  1 p.m.  Community organizations, including OKT,  will be looking for people like you to step up and volunteer to protect our community.

The 7th Annual Women and the Environment Symposium will be spread across the community from February 19th through February 27th. Events will highlight various aspects of how women advocate for themselves, for others, and for the environment. The event will culminate with our keynote speaker and awards reception on February 27th.

This year’s multi-day symposium will deliver inspiring social and learning opportunities throughout Grand Rapids, raise awareness towards actionable environmental issues in the community, bring together a wide-ranging network of women, as well as provide connections and resources for civic engagement. Hundreds of women and men participate annually.

The Women and Environment Symposium will include:

  • A networking night
  • An advocacy workshop with skills development
  • A community organization service fair featuring local nonprofits
  • An environmental justice film with a panel discussion
  • Culminating with a keynote lecture and reception with Peggy Shepard, co-founder and executive director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, at Grand Valley State University Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium

Free ride to GR City Commission Meeting

Jan8

January 9, 2018 | LINC Up Gallery: 341 Hall St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
5pm | Dinner Served
6:30pm | Departure
7pm | City Commission Meeting Begins
RSVP on Facebook

Tuesday Jan. 9, LINC Up is partnering with Grand Rapids Homes for All to host a free dinner and discussion around the affordable housing policies that will be voted on during the City Commission meeting. After dinner, free transportation will be provdied to the City Commission meeting.

Happy Holidays!

Dec21

coexistOKT wishes you and yours a happy holiday and a New Year that brings us all closer to a just and sustainable world! #Peace #Love #Justice

 

Southeast Area Farmers’ Market Canceled Oct. 14

Oct12

13099808_GFor the second week in a row, OKT is canceling the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market. Construction continues to block access to our market site at MLK Jr. Park. We were not informed in advance that construction was to take place. We apologize for not being able to bring you fresh local produce. We are working to make sure the market can take place at MLK Jr. Park or at another location on Oct. 21.

Meanwhile, you might want to shop these markets for your fresh fruits and veggies:

Fulton Street Farmers Market 

  • 1145 Fulton SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
  • 8AM – 3PM, TUE WED FRI & SAT
  • WIC, Project Fresh, SNAP/Bridge Cards, Market FRESH, Double Up Food Bucks & Hoophouses for Health

 

Urban Roots Community Market

  • 1316 Madison Ave. SE 49507
  • 12 – 7PM WED. 9AM – 1PM  SAT
  • WIC, Project Fresh, SNAP/Bridge Cards, Sr. Market FRESH, Double Up Food Bucks

Deadline tomorrow! Place your order for bulk whole foods via OKT

Oct9
  • Country-Life-Natural-Foods-shopping-trip.jpgPlace your whole foods order by 5 p.m. Oct. 10!
  • Pick-up Oct. 21 at Southeast Area Farmers’ Market.

The Southeast Area Farmers’ Market offers its patrons and OKT constituents monthly opportunity to purchase bulk whole foods, e.g. dry beans, whole grain flours, nuts and seeds, pasta, rice and more. Items are ordered from Country Life Natural Foods, a supplier to Michigan food co-ops. View the entire PDF Catalog here. Place your order by email, seafm@OKTjustice.org, or in person at
the market.

As the Southeast Area Farmers’ Market accepts Bridge card/SNAP/EBT,you can use these to buy bulk food items at the market along with fresh, local fruits, vegetables and herbs. The market also offers some bulk foods for direct purchase.

 

SPLC releases guide”Ten Ways to Fight Hate”

Aug15

Reposted from Southern Povery Law Center, August 14, 2017

Ten Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Response Guide

Hate in America has become commonplace. What can we do to stop the hate?

DOWNLOAD THE PDF

A presidential candidate wins election after denigrating Muslims, Latinos, women and people with disabilities. A young white man opens fire and kills nine African Americans who welcomed him into Bible study at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, telling his victims, “I have to do it.” A Muslim woman is seated on a bench in front of a coffee shop in Washington, D.C., when a woman begins screaming anti-Muslim epithets. A swastika and other anti-Semitic graffiti appear at an elementary school in Stapleton, Colorado. A lone gunman carrying an assault rifle and a handgun storms a well-known gay club in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 people and wounding 53 others.

​Bias is a human condition, and American history is rife with prejudice against groups and individuals because of their race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or other characteristics. As a nation, we’ve made a lot of progress, but stereotyping and unequal treatment persist.

 

Fight hate in your community. Download the guide.

When bias motivates an unlawful act, it is considered a hate crime. Most hate crimes are inspired by race and religion, but hate today wears many faces. Bias incidents (eruptions of hate where no crime is committed) also tear communities apart and can escalate into actual crimes.

Since 2010, law enforcement agencies have reported an average of about 6,000 hate crime incidents per year to the FBI. But government studies show that the real number is far higher — an estimated 260,000 per year. Many hate crimes never get reported, in large part because the victims are reluctant to go to the police. In addition, many law enforcement agencies are not fully trained to recognize or investigate hate crimes, and many simply do not collect or report hate crime data to the FBI.

The good news is, all over the country people are fighting hate, standing up to promote tolerance and inclusion. More often than not, when hate flares up, good people rise up against it — often in greater numbers and with stronger voices.

This guide sets out 10 principles for fighting hate in your community.

Shut Down Line 5 Rally

Jul25
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Come to Calder Plaza on July 26th to learn about Enbridge’s Line 5, the 64 year old twin oil pipelines running underneath the Straits of Mackinac that were only projected to have a 50 year lifetime, and yet they still have oil flowing through them. Knowledgeable speakers will share information about this oil line, why it is so dangerous for our ecosystem and economy, and what you can do to help. Speakers include:

💧Stephanie Mabie, founder of Kent County Water Conservation
💦Robert Vankirk, 77th District Congressional Candidate
💧Desmond Berry, Natural Resources Department Lead for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
💦Kevin Gilbert, Creator/Owner of Spark The Change
💧Lee Sprague, Tribal Leader of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
💦TJ Kimball, Senate Candidate for the 29th District

Please bring signs and friends to help raise awareness of this threat to the Great Lakes!

Our Kitchen Table is an active supporter of this campaign and is working with other local organizations to have the City of Grand Rapids pass a resolution asking that Line 5 be removed.

Southeast Area Farmers’ Market opens Saturday July 1

Jun27

13882561_1253537447998287_2460462587423020698_nThe Southeast Area Farmers’ Market kicks off its 2017 season on Saturday July 1 at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 900 Fuller Ave. SE 49506. The market will operate Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Nov. 11. Market events commence July 8 with a visit from the Grand Rapids Fire Department Residential Safety Program and an Urban Foraging Workshop (noon to 2 p.m.). A new addition to the market, once a month it will host area artists at its Arts Market tent.

“As market managers for the past seven years, Our Kitchen Table has well established the market at MLK Jr. Park,” says Lisa Oliver-King, executive director of Our Kitchen Table. “Neighborhood residents have enjoyed having access to fresh, local produce and cottage foods within walking distance.”

dufb_bridgecardThe Southeast Area Farmers’ Market warmly welcomes patrons using Bridge cards (SNAP), WIC Project Fresh, Cash Value Benefits, Summer EBT, Double Up Food Bucks and debit cards. When using the Double Up Food Bucks program, patrons purchasing Michigan produce at select farmers’ markets with Bridge cards receive $1 for each $1 dollar spent, up to $20 each market visit.

The Market has an exciting line-up of market activities on its 2017 calendar. In addition, community organizations will be on hand with information, activities and services. The following events will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Friday market and 12 to 2 p.m. at the Saturday market:

 

  • July 8 Urban Foraging Workshop
  • July 30 Fried Green Tomato Festival
  • Aug. 5 DIY Personal Care Items Workshop
  • Sept. 15 Art at the Market
  • Oct. 1 Greens Cook-off
  • Oct. 7 Greens Cook-0ff
  • Nov. 4 Fall Celebration

Cooking Demos: July 22, Aug. 19, Sept. 23, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4.

 

Arts Market Tent:  July 15, Aug. 12, Sept. 16 and Oct. 21

 

For information, email seafm@OKTjustice.org or visit http://www.OKTjustice.org/farmers-market


 

 

Free composting class June 19

Jun13

wgtw_compost_lg_textOn Monday June 19, OKT is hosting a free Composting class from 6 to 8 p.m. at Garfield Park Lodge, 334 Burton St. SE 49507. Come and learn about the true nature of compost and how to end up with the rich humus that your garden needs.

What is compost?   The term “compost” is overused and not clearly defined by those using it.  Commercial industries, backyard gardeners and community gardens say that they are composting but that’s not always the case. Commercial compost you buy at the garden shop or big box store is not regulated—and can even contain toxic industrial wastes. True composting results in fluffy humus that’s rich in carbon.  While similar to potting soil in texture and color, it is much healthier for your garden.

This is the third in a series of four food gardening classes that OKT is offering this May. Next Monday June 26, OKT will share “How to Save Seeds.”