The following meeting information concerning local news, activities, and events organized by groups other than the CCSJ is updated at the beginning of each calendar month. Please check with the originating organization because of likely cancellations or changes since they were originally posted here. See Regional News for news, activities, and events activities not organized by the CCSJ taking place outside the Morgantown area.
MORGANTOWN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
The Morgantown Human Rights Commission meets monthly on the third Thursday of each month (March 19th this month) at 6:30 p.m. in the Public Safety Building (300 Spruce Street) conference room. You can get copies of the agendas and minutes for the commission meetings here and a calendar of annual human rights observances here.
March 15 - Monthly GMIA Meeting: This will be from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 429 Warrick St., Morgantown.
April 2 - Celebrating Jewish Composers: GMIA and Tree of Life Congregation of Morgantown are sponsoring this concert by Frostburg State University and Mount St. Mary’s University.
April 19 - Monthly GMIA meeting: This will be at 3:00 p.m. at the Islamic Center of Morgantown, 434 Harding Ave.
You can follow GMIA on Facebook or on the web. The email address is morgantowninterfaith@gmail.com.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
The League of Women Voters is working with the state-wide West Virginia Women Vote project and the local group, West Virginia Women Vote-Morgantown, to begin planning for the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which gave all women in the country the right to vote in 2020. If you are interested in participating in the planning, please contact Vicki Conner at vicki_conner@msn.com.
Equali-Tea is April 5th: This will be at 2:00 p.m. at E. Moore Hall on the downtown WVU campus. Ilene Evans will portray African American suffragist and activist Coralie Franklin Cook. The tea will be catered by The Tea Shoppe with 2 types of tea, iced tea, and tea sandwiches. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the Tea Shoppe or, reportedly, on their web site. The money will help fund other centennial-related events. The West Virginia Humanities Council is helping to sponsor this event.
The Century of Struggle over the Right to Vote Lecture is April 18th: Dr. Atiba Ellis of the Marquette University School of Law will discuss voter suppression since the passage of the 19th amendment. This will be in the Milano Room of the WVU Downtown Library at 6:00 p.m.
MORGANTOWN NOW CHAPTER
Progressive Potluck: This event will be March 29th at First Presbyterian Church, 456 Spruce Street, Morgantown, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. “Join Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic, the First Presbyterian Church, Morgantown NOW, Morgantown Pride, and more for a progressive potluck and community bonding event! Our purpose is to all join together for an act of community care post-legislative session - to eat, drink, and take care of one another! Stop by at any point to share an open, welcoming, and loving space with local progressive community members!”
Follow this group on Facebook. You can follow Morgantown NOW’s 2020 legislative initiatives as they are developed here.
PFLAG MORGANTOWN
Monthly Meeting is March 10: The general meeting will be from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. From 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., Dr. Kristina Hash will present: “Supporting LGBTQ Elders in our Community.” The meeting will be at First Presbyterian Church 456 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
March Social Gathering is March 21: This will be at 9:00 a.m. at the new location of Terra Café 425 Industrial Ave, Morgantown.
See their Facebook or website pages for information.
MORGANTOWN PRIDE
This group “provides social and educational resources for the LGBTQ+ Community, Friends and Allies in Mon. County.” Follow this group’s activities on their Facebook page.
March 1 - Pride Meeting: This will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Terra Café.
Roaring Twenties Soiree is March 14th from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Monongalia Arts Center, 107 High Street, Morgantown: “This is an 18+ event ---
“We’re turning the MAC into a Speakeasy for the night! Come out in your spiffy roaring 20’s attire and come to be fully entertained with Dancing Elephant’s Trunk Show and a special Morgantown Pride Board Who Dunnit? performance.
"The evening will include drinks, a photo booth, some mystery coming together for one ritzy night affair. ‘A little party never killed anybody... or did it?’
“This event benefits organizations supporting the community and local arts. We are hoping to raise money for a PR system so we can truly be ROARING at our events.
“There will be a lot of opportunities to spend dough, so bring some cash and support Morgantown Pride!
Tickets for this event are available here.
The 2020 Morgantown Pride Parade will be from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. on April 18th: “This year's theme pays homage to West Virginia Cryptids, so dress up and come on out as we celebrate Cryptid Pride! This is a family-friendly event, and all are welcome to participate!” If interested in participating in the parade, please register here.
The Morgantown Pride Block Party will be from 12:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 18th in the Greenmont District, Morgantown: If you wish to vend or have a table at the event then register here. They have a few waivers available for smaller non-profits, but they are on a first come, first serve basis
“If you’re having a blast at the Block Party and you don’t want the fun to end then join us for a fun evening of local music and a Calico Art Club Fashion Show! The fashion show starts at 8.” The event will be at 123 Pleasant Street, Morgantown on March 18th.
Morgantown Pride Brunch: This will be at the Iron Horse Tavern on High Street, Morgantown, starting at 10:00 a.m. on April 19th. No other details were available at press time.
NAACP
Next meeting is March 17th: This meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. with the place to be determined. Contact the NAACP at 3241naacp@gmail.com for more information.
Father-Daughter Ball is June 12th for girls 2 to 17: “We want to provide the stage for dads, grandfathers, or that special man in her life to show her that she is a princess by hosting a Father Daughter Ball. “The Ball will be held at the Erickson Alumni Center, 1 Alumni Drive, Morgantown, WV 26504, on Friday, June 12, 2020 from 6:30 – 9:30PM. Dinner, dancing, dessert, souvenir booklet, memorable photo opportunities, and raffles are all part of this magical evening.
“Of course we could not put this event on without the help from moms or that special woman. Ladies are invited to attend so they can witness their princesses’ take their walk down the red carpet on the arms of daddy. Tickets are $30 per adult, $10 for child, and $5 per extra child. Proceeds will help send kids to the NAACP WV State ACT-SO Competitions, and to purchase items for Hope in a Suitcase to help Foster Kids in the WV Children’s Home Society.
“ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students.
“Hope in a Suitcase (Comfort Cases) is a foster care nonprofit, whose mission is to inspire communities to bring dignity and hope to youth in foster care. They do this by providing each of the thousands of youth entering the foster care system in West Virginia with Comfort Cases.
“Comfort Cases are backpacks with essential and comfort items for the first few days youth enter foster care. The cases are age- and gender-specific bags.
“For further information, feel free to contact Debbie Robinson at penda8888@gmail.com /681-214-5543, or Maria Gaddis at maria@gaddisplanning.com/ 302-322-0149.
” The deadline to purchase ads for the souvenir program booklet is May 15th. Prices are $100 for a full page, $50 for a half page, $25 for a quarter page, $20 for a business page, and $15 for a patron.
Contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions.
WVU CENTER FOR BLACK CULTURE AND RESEARCH SPONSORS ALLYSHIP PROGRAM ON MARCH 24TH: This program entitled “Intercommunal Allyship in Practice: Showing up for the Black LGBTQ+ Community” will be at 7:00 p.m. in the Monongahela Room at the WVU Mountainlair. It is a “panel discussion to discuss the challenges of the Black LGBTQ+ community and the support available on campus” and is co-sponsored by the Center for Black Culture and Research and the WVU LGBTQ Center. For more information, please go here.
WVU CENTER FOR WOMEN'S AND GENDER STUDIES
For more information, please go here.
WVU LGBTQ+ CENTER EVENTS
Every Monday: ACE Tea! @ 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. “Join Brandi for this weekly group for Asexual camaraderie and tea.”
Every Tuesday: Snacks & Cartoons @ 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. “Join Daniel for an afternoon snack, cartoons and fun.”
Every Wednesday: Genderwhat?! @ 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. “Join this weekly discussion group with Erica and friends to learn more about the gender non-binary spectrum, play games, make crafts and be yourself.”
See link for more information.
WVU NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM
See their website for information.
LILLY LEDBETTER SPEAKING AT WVU MARCH 10TH: This event will be 7:30 p.m. in the WVU Mountainlair Ballrooms. “Hear the inspiring story of the woman at the center of the historic discrimination case that inspired the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act: her fight for equal rights in the workplace and how her determination became a victory for the nation. This Hardesty Festival of Ideas lecture is sponsored by the Center for Women's and Gender Studies, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, Harriet E. Lyon Professorship in Women's and Gender Studies and WVU Leadership Studies Program.” This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are highly recommended through Eventbrite.
MONONGALIA COUNTY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER GALA IS MAY 29: “It's 80's Night. Ladies grab your leg warmers and all things neon, it's 80's night! On May 29, 2020 the Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center will be hosting our annual Girls' Night Out fundraiser. The event will be held at the Erickson Alumni Center from 6:30-10 p.m. The evening will include pampering, entertainment, food, cash bar, dancing, a live auction, and more! Come join us for a night of fun and dancing to help support children and families in our community. Who doesn't love a blast from the past? We hope to see you there! Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite.com or by check or cash mailed to the MCCAC at 909 Greenbag Rd. Morgantown, WV 26505.