MORGANTOWN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Human Rights Commission Awards. The Human Rights Commission will be honoring its 2023 award recipients at a program on Sunday, December 10th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Monongalia Arts Center (MAC), 107 High Street, Morgantown. There will be light refreshments and beverages and an opportunity to view an exhibit entitled “Poster, Flag, and Artwork” that will be up from about Wednesday, December 6th, until Wednesday, December 20th. All are invited to the reception and to see the exhibit when the MAC is open. According to the MAC website, the building is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and during classes and events, but please call the MAC at 304-292-3325 to confirm the hours it will be open when planning your visit.
Vacancies on Human Rights Commission. There are currently four vacancies on the commission. According to the City of Morgantown’s website, “Appointments of to the Commission are made by City Council, and all must be residents of the City. All seats are non-ward specific. Upon formation in October 2012, terms are to be staggered: 4 shall serve two-year terms, 3 shall serve one-year terms in the first year. Thereafter, all terms will be staggered two-year terms. All new appointments and reappointments will need to be interviewed at the end of their term.” Information on applying for the commission is available here.
You can get information on the commission, including information on filing complaint forms here and copies of the agendas and minutes for the commission meetings here. You can find a calendar of annual human rights observances here. Observances for the current month are included here.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS of morgantown / monongalia County (LWV-MM)
The League of Women Voters is a constituent member of West Virginia Women Vote (WVWV).
The League of Women Voters of WV (LWVWV) has a Legislative Scorecard which can be found here. The scorecard is searchable and provides information for all legislators, not just Mon County.
Before the start of each legislative session, LWVWV adopts a set of legislative priorities. Bills that fall within these priorities tend to be the ones we follow most closely during the legislative session and were an obvious focus for this scorecard.
Follow this group on Facebook and contact them by email at lwvmorgantown@gmail.com. Interested in joining the League of Women Voters? Join online. The state League of Women Voters has a new website. “The League of Women Voters of West Virginia is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots civic organization that encourages informed and active participation in government.”
GREATER MORGANTOWN INTERFAITH ASSOCIATION (GMIA)
You can follow GMIA on Facebook or on the web. Their email address is morgantowninterfaith@gmail.com.
MORGANTOWN NOW CHAPTER
Holiday party / Welcome the 2024 officers (Courtney Boland as president, Devon Brand as vice president, Sarah Hutson as treasurer) / Trivia / Period product donation / Invite your local representatives. What period products would be most helpful? They are going to middle and high school-aged menstruators. Organic products are great, but not necessary. There is an Amazon wish list of period products here.
NOW has also announced its 2024 Schedule:
Tuesday, January 9: Meeting at Friends Meeting House, 648 E. Brockway, Morgantown, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 13: Mixer: TBA, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 12: Meeting at Friends Meeting House, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 9: Mixer: TBA, 7:00 p.m.; RDVIC Event TBA
Tuesday, May 14: Meeting at Friends Meeting House, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 11: Mixer: TBA, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 9: Meeting at Friends Meeting House, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 13: Mixer, TBA, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 10: Meeting at Friends Meeting House, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 8: Mixer: TBA, 7:00 pm; Annual Ping Pong Fundraiser, Tentatively on Sunday, October 17.
Tuesday, November 5: VOTE (Election Day)
Tuesday, November 12: Meeting at Friends Meeting House, Annual Meeting / Officer Elections, 7:00 p.m.
December: Mixer: TBA
Email this group at morgantownnow@gmail.com. Follow the group on Facebook or their website.
Morgantown-Kingwood Branch of the NAACP
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, December 19th at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. Contact the NAACP at 3241naacp@gmail.com for more information and to learn how to participate.
The branch has a Readings on Race and Rights group and does its work with a variety of committees, including Education, Political Action, Legal Redress, Criminal Justice, and Health.
You can also access the program via the Facebook Link here.
The branch will be partnering with the Red Cross to sponsor a blood drive at the Morgantown Elks Lodge, 1138 Chestnut Ridge Road, on Wednesday, December 13th , from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can register to donate here.
Follow the NAACP on Facebook.
Morgantown Civilian Police Review Advisory Board Needs Two Members
There are two vacancies on the board at this time. The City of Morgantown is currently accepting applications and you can get a link to the application and more information by going here. “The Board shall consist of nine members appointed by the City Council. Each member shall be a resident of the city or an active member of an organization that works within the city to promote purposes consistent with the purpose of the Board.” For links to agendas and minutes of past meetings, go here.
MORGANTOWN CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-MENNONITE
Morgantown Church of the Brethren, a peace church, announces plans for Advent and Christmastime. Each Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. service, children will be included in a brief impromptu play.
On the second Sunday, December 10, after the morning service there will be a Cookie Exchange. Bring cookies, eat cookies, take cookies home.
Neighborhood caroling will be Sunday, December 17, starting at 7:00 p.m. If you want to join, just show up at Morgantown Church of the Brethren-Mennonite, and the group will walk from there. If you would like the group to come sing for you, email Pastor Wes Bergen at morgantowncob@gmail.com . Of course, there will be hot chocolate and cookies afterward.
December 21, 7:00 p.m., will bring the "Longest Night Service," where we confront the dark places and rejoice in the returning of the light. Afterwards, cross the street and make s'mores by the bonfire in the parsonage garden.
December 24, 7:00 p.m., will celebrate Christmas Eve with song and story. There will be no December 24 morning service, so congregants consider visiting other churches.
The church has a Blessings Box outside the church at 464 Virginia Avenue, where you can drop off extra food you may have or take some if you need it, or swap food. Feminine hygiene products are also welcome.
Sunday services are held at 10:30 a.m. in person and via Zoom, except for the dates noted below, with the link available here.
Follow them at their website or on Facebook. Sunday services are held at 10:30 a.m. in person and via Zoom, with the link available here. "We ask that everyone wear a mask inside the building.”
UNITARIAN-UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF MORGANTOWN (UUFM)
"We are a Welcoming Congregation and support the Community Coalition for Social Justice."
For more information on the group and their programs go to the UU website or Facebook or email UUFMWV@gmail.com or call 304-216-5535.
PFLAG
The closest chapter now is in Fairmont, with information available here. According to its website, “PFLAG Fairmont meets each month, usually on the first Thursday of the month at 7pm on the 2nd floor of the Ruth Ann Musick Library on the campus of Fairmont State University.”
DISMANTLING RACISM TOGETHER
Dismantling Racism Together (DRT) will not meet in December. On November 30th, Dismantling Racism Together and the West Virginia Coalition for Truth in History hosted a Zoom with Delegate Evan Hansen and Senator Mike Oliverio to discuss issues that night come up in the 2024 session of the West Virginia Legislature.. Join them at 7:00 p.m. by Zoom with this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88082163845#success.
At the October 16th presentation by Eli Baumwell, advocacy director and interim director of the ACLU-WV. Prospective legislation for the year was highlighted. You can watch the presentation at https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/H1gpvCOsYvj8B-w37krhYtFcB4AL_RnwImSscl8IWGw6VyoYtBWtDY5LvhXtdCMJ.7nDo83hnA5R82gnY. The recording of the meeting is available here.
For more information about the group please go to their website or Facebook or email dismantlingracismtogether@gmail.com or contact rebeccarodd@yahoo.com.
WEST VIRGINIA COALITION FOR TRUTH IN HISTORY
All are welcome to join the coalition as they get ready for the legislative session. Send your email address to ccsjwv@gmail.com, and we will pass on your information to the coalition’s leadership.
At the October 16th presentation by Eli Baumwell, advocacy director and interim director of the ACLU-WV. Prospective legislation for the year was highlighted. You can watch the presentation here. The passcode to view the linked information is Q7$#Kduw.
For more information about the group please go to their website or Facebook or email dismantlingracismtogether@gmail.com or contact rebeccarodd@yahoo.com.
MORGANTOWN PRIDE MORGANTOWN HOMECOMING OUT RESCHEDULED
This event will now be held on February 17, 2024. Stay tuned for more details.
For information on this group, go to their Facebook page or their website. Morgantown Pride has an Instagram page here.
Raising Trans Kids Community Group
The group will meet on Saturday, December 9th from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Anyone interested in joining the meeting for the first time or to get more information can email raisingtranskids@gmail.com for the call-in passcode and/or more information. All meetings are held virtually via Zoom.
The Raising Trans Kids community group is for West Virginia parents, guardians, and families who are raising transgender or gender diverse kids (of any age), or have kids who might be transgender or gender diverse. Follow Morgantown Pride on Facebook.
Empty Bowls Monongalia Fundraising Events
The Soup & Bread Luncheon will be Saturday, February 24, 2024. Go here to sign up as a volunteer.
Community Kitchen Needs Volunteers
The Community Kitchen at Trinity Episcopal Church, 247 Willey Street, Morgantown, needs volunteers. The Community Kitchen is an independent, non-profit, non-denominational organization that serves anyone needing a free, nutritious meal. Lunches are served in the church’s fellowship hall from Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Volunteers arrive at 9:00 a.m. to prepare the meals. On Thursday afternoons, volunteers work from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. to pack weekend meal supplement bags that are distributed on Fridays and include a breakfast and lunch. For more information, email morgantownCommunityKitchen@gmail.com or go to morgantownCommunityKitchen.com.
MONONGALIA COUNTY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER (MCCAC) EVENTS
“From January 2023 to October 2023, MCCAC has served 559 clients and conducted 207 forensic interviews. We have also provided 1,064 therapy sessions and 5,460 family advocacy services.”
“Join the 75 Club today! The 75 Club consists of dedicated individuals and/or businesses that would like to help MCCAC continue to provide vital mental health services to child abuse victims in Monongalia
County.
“The goal is for 75 individuals and/or businesses to commit to donating $1,000 a year for 10 years. We understand that not everyone can commit to this level of giving. Every contribution, no matter the size, is valued and appreciated.
“Please consider joining us in this important funding initiative. If interested, contact Taylor at MCCAC:tshultz@moncocac.org or (304) 598-0344.”
Girls’ Night Out is scheduled for May 17, 2024. Sponsorship information is available here.
Kroger Community Rewards support the CAC: If you already use Kroger rewards and have a digital account, simply link your Shopper's Card to your account so that all transactions apply toward the organization you choose. Choose MCCAC from the organization list, and Kroger will donate a percentage of your spending to the CAC. MCCAC's NPO number: 90621.
Follow this group here or on Facebook .
Scotts Run Community Sing
This event happens every last Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at the Scott’s Run Settlement House, 41 Ladybug Drive in Osage. You do not have to be from Scotts Run to participate. It is for everyone, from anywhere, and for all ages!
Concert at the Encore with “Those Who Came Before”
This event is Sunday, December 3: Osage resident Al Anderson and his band, including Bobby Maxon and Will Wharton, will sing at two concerts on Sunday, December 3rd, at 4:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. following screenings of the third installment of “Those Who Came Before,” described as “a documentary series showcasing Black achievement in the arts in West Virginia.” The series is written and produced by Doris Fields, known as “Lady D.” Tickets are available at theencorewv.com for $20 plus a $2.50 fee. The Encore is located at 720 Powell Avenue in Morgantown.
WVU Center for Black Culture
The WVU Center for Black Culture announced that the recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Achievement Award will be announced at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Day breakfast, on Monday, January 15, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. Note the new time for the breakfast!
