 Mother’s Day is a holiday born in the wake of war’s carnage. It was first celebrated by the grassroots in 1870 before becoming an official U.S. holiday in 1914. With our country again engaged in devastating and costly wars abroad and many of our own communities torn apart by violence, it’s time for Mother’s Day to return to its roots as a day to reflect on the reality of war through a mother’s eyes. We can now restore the promise of this holiday in accordance with Julia Ward Howe’s original proclamation: “Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.” Join Veterans for Peace Chapter 111, the Green Party of Whatcom County, and the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center on Saturday, May 13 at 1 p.m., as we gather for an afternoon of peace and community. After brief remarks outside Saturday's Farmers Market, the holiday event will conclude with a solidarity march through downtown Bellingham, ending with a free concert at the Karate Church (Maple and High streets). The Karate Church is wheelchair accessible, with nongendered wheelchair-accessible bathrooms.
 Young and old gathered outside the Bellingham Public Library on Tax Day, April 18, to reflect on priorities we hold as residents of this place, and whether the ways our tax dollars are spent align with the needs of our people and with our responsibilities to this land. In the U.S. this year, we’re spending about $600 billion on the Pentagon, funding wars around the world that do more harm than good. And we know that the Pentagon is wasting much of that money -- in December, we learned that the Pentagon buried an internal report that showed $25 billion in waste per year over five years. President Trump is asking for an additional $54 billion for the Pentagon annually. Congress will decide this spring whether to cut programs that actually keep our communities safe in order to pour more money into the Pentagon. The Tax Day rally was organized by Veterans for Peace Chapter 111 and the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center. The groups called on Congress to start to prioritize human needs over corporate greed by agreeing not to vote for increases to military spending this federal budget cycle. Watch 2-minute video of Global Day of Action on Military Spending:Race still matters today in the United States. On Saturday, May 13, from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., a workshop focused on identity development and cultural norms will offer Bellingham families ways to go beyond the superficial notion of colorblindness to see and challenge the ways that privilege still shapes our lives. Presenters from The Well in Seattle will lead the workshop’s discussion on how narratives and counter-narratives shape our children's personal and racial identity development. Adults attending will learn how the stories we unintentionally tell our children can cause negative views of people of color that detrimentally affect both white children and children of color. ASL interpretation will be provided. A concurrent session for children will use art, music, movement, and storytelling to grow confidence and self-esteem while fostering empathy for people of color and other marginalized groups. Snacks will be provided for the children. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children. A limited number of discounted tickets are available. Get tickets at http://kidsandraceinbellingham.brownpapertickets.com. This workshop is part of a project between The Well and Columbia City Church of Hope in Seattle, Washington. In Bellingham, it will be hosted at First Congregational Church (2401 Cornwall Avenue) and is made possible by a #ProjectNeighborly grant from the Whatcom Community Foundation and in collaboration with Whatcom Peace & Justice Center and Children's CommUNITY. The workshop is especially suited for preschool through elementary aged children, their parents and their educators.
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