ICE EVENTS
ERIE
Sat. January 10th from 11am to 1pm 12th & State sidewalks in Erie "Bring your signs and flags." @50501eriepa.bsky.social
MEADVILLE
Saturday January 10 Noon to 1:30pm Diamond Park in Meadville PA frenchcreekindivisible@gmail.com
JAMESTOWN NY
Saturday January 10 Dow Park, Jamestown NY 11am to 2pm Organized by Jamestown Justice Coalition.
Saturday January 10 Noon to 1:30pm Diamond Park in Meadville PA frenchcreekindivisible@gmail.com
JAMESTOWN NY
Saturday January 10 Dow Park, Jamestown NY 11am to 2pm Organized by Jamestown Justice Coalition.
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Erie reacts to Minneapolis ICE shooting, new mayor gives statement (YourErie) "Following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a federal ICE agent in Minneapolis, residents in Erie gathered for a vigil on January 8 to reflect on her life and express their concerns about ICE operations...The vigil took place in Perry Square and was organized by the local activist group Erie Bridge Brigade." See Vigil photo album
ACTIVISM
Erie County PA Activism Comprehensive list of local actions, resources, and groups. all in one easy-to-search place. Updated often!https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GQMvq8gAOiFI9niSPC0PkE5tdwzbdwhZS_L_FEsHn88/edit?tab=t.0
ARTS & READS
Design And Social Justice: Lecture And Workshop With Shelle Barron February 7, 2026 from 1 PM to 4 PM Erie Art Museum, lecture & workshop, sliding scale, register online, materials included.
Single Voice Reading Series - Christopher Bakken Feb 19 at 7pmAllegheny College, Tippie Alumni Center/Cochran Hall 520 N. Main St., Meadville, PA.
Living Voices schedule at Robert H Jackson Center Now through May. "Using historical perspectives based on real people and events, Living Voices combines live performance with audio/video, visual aids, and discussion."
"Ohio" as performed by the Kent State University Choir (May 4 Commemoration) Recorded in 2020, in remembrance of the events of May 4, 1970 (ie, Kent State shootings). This stunning acapella version was requested and approved by Neil Young, who wrote the song days after the shootings.
BLACK HISTORY
Wednesday Morning Book Club: The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Jan 28 at 11 AM Werner Books 3608 Liberty St, Erie, PA
Digitizing History: A Smithsonian–Buffalo Collaboration The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture is partnering with with and other communities around the country to preserve local stories and family histories. Here they discuss their efforts with Buffalo’s Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor. Dr. LaGarrett King on Black History Education following his “Black Boy Joy, Black Girl Magic” conference, which brought together nearly two hundred attendees to examine the history of Black childhoods and the creativity and resilience of Black youth. (both interviews from What's Next/WBFO
BLASCO
Settlement reached in lawsuit over Gannon's lease at Blasco Library (YourErie) Quick backgrounder. Statement from Keep Our Library Public
ELECTIONS & GOVERNANCE
Malcolm Kenyatta Unleashes On PA Republicans (TYT Investigates)
Stock ban: Kelly, Thompson, Fetterman, McCormick comments (Erie News Now)
FOOD
Erie Food Policy Advisory Council newsletter
Feeding Our Community: Local Farms & Food Access with Linnea Haskin (My CHQ Podcast) "Linnea Haskin of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County to explore how CCE is strengthening our local food system and increasing access to healthy, affordable food for families across the region."
Erie Habitat for Humanity responds to ‘vitriol’ surrounding latest project (YourErie)
Pennsylvania
Nuns, sisters bring ‘moral authority … in spades’ to anti-ICE actions (Public Source) "The Sisters of St. Joseph, Pax Christi and Casa San Jose have been hosting prayer vigils outside Pittsburgh’s ICE facility every Friday morning since August. They invited religious leaders from different faiths across the city, and plan to continue their weekly demonstrations for as long as they can."
PA immigration news in PennCapital Star Stories from around the state
Nuremberg - Film Screening & Author Conversation Jan 30, 2026 Reg Lenna Center for the Arts 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM 116 East 3rd StreetJamestown, NYFilm followed by a live conversation with Jack El-Hai, author of "The Nazi and the Psychiatrist"
CROWN Act Becomes Law in PA: New Protections Against Hair Discrimination (Ogletree Deakins) "The CROWN Act broadens the definition of 'race' under the PA Human Relations Act to include traits historically associated with an individual’s race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles. As a result, individuals are shielded from discrimination based on natural hairstyles or protective hairstyles commonly linked to their race."
DOJ upends civil rights unit, why that matters to us all | Opinion Signed by Kyle Stock, of Erie, a former trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, and 200 other former employees of the division. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News.
MLK
Jan 19 - Annual Martin Luther King Day March Perry Square Erie PA Begin assembling at 11am 11am-11:30 at Perry Square (meet at corner of 6th & State Street) March from Perry Square to MLK Center (312 Chestnut St, Erie- about a 5-blocks march) A program (optional) will be held at the center following the march.
MEADVILLE
Interview with Brian Johansson, CEO of the Erie City Mission (Joel Natalie/TalkErie)
Design And Social Justice: Lecture And Workshop With Shelle Barron February 7, 2026 from 1 PM to 4 PM Erie Art Museum, lecture & workshop, sliding scale, register online, materials included.
Single Voice Reading Series - Christopher Bakken Feb 19 at 7pmAllegheny College, Tippie Alumni Center/Cochran Hall 520 N. Main St., Meadville, PA.
Living Voices schedule at Robert H Jackson Center Now through May. "Using historical perspectives based on real people and events, Living Voices combines live performance with audio/video, visual aids, and discussion."
BLACK HISTORY
Wednesday Morning Book Club: The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Jan 28 at 11 AM Werner Books 3608 Liberty St, Erie, PA
Digitizing History: A Smithsonian–Buffalo Collaboration The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture is partnering with with and other communities around the country to preserve local stories and family histories. Here they discuss their efforts with Buffalo’s Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor. Dr. LaGarrett King on Black History Education following his “Black Boy Joy, Black Girl Magic” conference, which brought together nearly two hundred attendees to examine the history of Black childhoods and the creativity and resilience of Black youth. (both interviews from What's Next/WBFO
Settlement reached in lawsuit over Gannon's lease at Blasco Library (YourErie) Quick backgrounder. Statement from Keep Our Library Public
Some of the settlement terms listed (Keep Our Library Public blog)
Legacy of Leadership: Remembering James C. Sherrod's Impact on Erie (NEXT:with Marcus Atkinson) "Host Marc Blount leads a solemn and reflective conversation on the recent passing of James C. Sherrod, a pillar of the Erie community and former director of the Martin Luther King Jr Center for 18 years. Joined by a guest whose life was directly shaped by Sherrod's mentorship, Mr Kevin Arrington"
Making a Small City Smaller: Mutual Aid and the Ongoing Attack on our Social Safety Net (Dave Tamulonis /Erie Reader)
Donations still needed. Visit Keep Our Library Public website for information on how to make a donation for legal expenses.
COMMUNITYLegacy of Leadership: Remembering James C. Sherrod's Impact on Erie (NEXT:with Marcus Atkinson) "Host Marc Blount leads a solemn and reflective conversation on the recent passing of James C. Sherrod, a pillar of the Erie community and former director of the Martin Luther King Jr Center for 18 years. Joined by a guest whose life was directly shaped by Sherrod's mentorship, Mr Kevin Arrington"
Making a Small City Smaller: Mutual Aid and the Ongoing Attack on our Social Safety Net (Dave Tamulonis /Erie Reader)
DEMOCRACY
Video: Philly DA shows us what we must do (Parkrose Permaculture) Philly DA Larry Krasner "If any law enforcement agent, any ICE agent is gonna come to Philly to commit crimes, then you can get the F out of here. Because if you do that here, I will charge you with those crimes. You will be arrested. You will stand trial. You will be convicted." (see video for complete remarks)
Philly DA Krasner vows protections against ICE for city residents, and prosecution for ICE agents who break the laws (KYW Newradio) "Philadelphia officials promised new policies and laws to protect residents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as they denounced the ICE killing of a 37-year-old mother of three in Minneapolis...City Councilmembers hinted they’ll introduce anti-ICE legislation when council resumes Jan. 22. Rue Landau seemed to chide Mayor Cherelle Parker — who has refused to criticize the Trump administration...Sheriff Rochelle Bilal critiqued ICE techniques, noting near-universal regulations that bar standing in front of or shooting at moving vehicles. 'I call them made-up, fake, wannabe law enforcement because what they do is against not only legal law but moral law,' she said."
Philly DA Krasner vows protections against ICE for city residents, and prosecution for ICE agents who break the laws (KYW Newradio) "Philadelphia officials promised new policies and laws to protect residents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as they denounced the ICE killing of a 37-year-old mother of three in Minneapolis...City Councilmembers hinted they’ll introduce anti-ICE legislation when council resumes Jan. 22. Rue Landau seemed to chide Mayor Cherelle Parker — who has refused to criticize the Trump administration...Sheriff Rochelle Bilal critiqued ICE techniques, noting near-universal regulations that bar standing in front of or shooting at moving vehicles. 'I call them made-up, fake, wannabe law enforcement because what they do is against not only legal law but moral law,' she said."
Free US from Dictatorship Jan 17 at noon Fairmount Ave in front of Chautauqua Mall, Lakewood, NY Hosted by Chautauqua Progressive Action
January 20 - Free America Walkout 2-5pm 1200 State Street, Erie (12th and State) "Walk out and meet up/Peaceful Pop-Up" Host: Erie Bridge BrigadeEARTH
Keep Our Library Public settlement If you haven't already, check the settlement agreements between Gannon and Keep Our Library Public regarding Gannon's lease for use of Blasco. See under Blasco heading above and/or visit Keep Our Library Public blog
2026 Our Woods and Waters Film Series "Free and open to the public. Begins 6:30pm. In partnership by French Creek Valley Conservancy and the Foundation for Sustainable Forests, the 2026 Film Series is sponsored by Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Jan 16-Via ZOOM , and Feb 20 - In PERSON will be in banquet hall of VFW Post 740, 10613 PA Route 98, Edinboro, PA. "variety of short films with some Q&A discussion in between. Light refreshments will be provided."
ELECTIONS & GOVERNANCE
Crawford County United 2025 Election wins (Crawford Co. United) "Congratulations to all of the wins...As a community, we re-elected Jaime Kinder as Meadville Mayor and elected Mary Moody and Andrew Herbstritt to Meadville City Council! "
Malcolm Kenyatta Unleashes On PA Republicans (TYT Investigates)
Stock ban: Kelly, Thompson, Fetterman, McCormick comments (Erie News Now)
Pa Supreme Court Rules That School Board Members’ Social Media Posts Are Not “Records” Under the Right-to-Know Law ( Tucker Arensberg, P.C.)
Erie Food Policy Advisory Council newsletter
Feeding Our Community: Local Farms & Food Access with Linnea Haskin (My CHQ Podcast) "Linnea Haskin of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County to explore how CCE is strengthening our local food system and increasing access to healthy, affordable food for families across the region."
Food Help Where to give and get help
HEALTH
2025 Erie Co Community Health Needs Assessment
Governor Hochul Reaches Agreement With State Legislature to Pass Medical Aid in Dying Act in New York (Gov Hochul) "This comes after careful reflection and deliberation with the bill’s sponsors, advocacy organizations, and most importantly, everyday New Yorkers who shared personal experiences with the Governor. The bill, with the agreed-upon amendments, will be passed and signed in January, and the law will go into effect six months later."
Bizzarro announces state grant to address housing affordability (PA Gov) Erie has launched a long-range housing affordability plan. (Kevin Flowers/ Erie Times News) Paywall "Neighborhood meetings about the plan are expected to take place early in 2026, a consultant working on the initiative told Erie City Council on Dec. 9:
Homeless Memorial Day 2025 (YourErie) "Community honors homeless who passed away in Erie this past year "
Dr. Roché Vermaak, Executive Director of the Greater Erie Area Habitat for Humanity (Joel NatalieTalkErie)
Governor Hochul Reaches Agreement With State Legislature to Pass Medical Aid in Dying Act in New York (Gov Hochul) "This comes after careful reflection and deliberation with the bill’s sponsors, advocacy organizations, and most importantly, everyday New Yorkers who shared personal experiences with the Governor. The bill, with the agreed-upon amendments, will be passed and signed in January, and the law will go into effect six months later."
70 Years after Jonas Salk developed polio vaccine in Pittsburgh lab (The Conversation)
HOME
The Crate Escape - Crisis Comfort Program "created to provide temporary care for pets whose owners are facing challenging situations, such as mental health crises, homelessness, or rehabilitation." 4214 Main St. Erie, PA 16511 Crateescapeerie@gmail.com (814) 651-6793 Free.
City of Erie Housing Needs Study Session (City of Erie) Video of session
Bizzarro announces state grant to address housing affordability (PA Gov) Erie has launched a long-range housing affordability plan. (Kevin Flowers/ Erie Times News) Paywall "Neighborhood meetings about the plan are expected to take place early in 2026, a consultant working on the initiative told Erie City Council on Dec. 9:
Homeless Memorial Day 2025 (YourErie) "Community honors homeless who passed away in Erie this past year "
Dr. Roché Vermaak, Executive Director of the Greater Erie Area Habitat for Humanity (Joel NatalieTalkErie)
IMMIGRANTS
Immigration Vigil on second Fridays "Join us at Perry Square directly across from and facing the Federal Courthouse for this 30-minute vigil. NETWORK's Erie Chapter and Benedictines for Peace invite you to take part in this gathering: 'You Are Not Alone' Community Witness for Immigrants, Migrants, and Refugees.' We will gather on the second Friday each month for this vigil in the winter, and we hope we can expand to witness on a more frequent basis in the spring." Info: Mary Nelson at 814-746-6783.
Planned MHEDS facility for Erie's immigrants, underserved (MHEDS) gets funding boost The PA Department of Community and Economic Development's ... Erie's refugees, immigrants. The East Side Renaissance is currently ...
Erie Habitat for Humanity responds to ‘vitriol’ surrounding latest project (YourErie)
Pennsylvania
Nuns, sisters bring ‘moral authority … in spades’ to anti-ICE actions (Public Source) "The Sisters of St. Joseph, Pax Christi and Casa San Jose have been hosting prayer vigils outside Pittsburgh’s ICE facility every Friday morning since August. They invited religious leaders from different faiths across the city, and plan to continue their weekly demonstrations for as long as they can."
PA immigration news in PennCapital Star Stories from around the state
WNY
Refugees, Families, and the Power of Support (WBFO) Podcast, exploring two ways WNY communities are responding to need and opportunity.JUSTICE
DOJ upends civil rights unit, why that matters to us all | Opinion Signed by Kyle Stock, of Erie, a former trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, and 200 other former employees of the division. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News.
MLK
ERIE
Jan 17 - 15th Annual Dr. King Awards Dinner Ambassador Hotel & Conference Center 7794 Peach St. Erie, PA Guest speaker nationally recognized civil rights attorney, Benjamin Crump. Dinner will begin at 6:00 p.m. Info: Martin Luther King Center at 814.459.2761 Jan 19 - Annual Martin Luther King Day March Perry Square Erie PA Begin assembling at 11am 11am-11:30 at Perry Square (meet at corner of 6th & State Street) March from Perry Square to MLK Center (312 Chestnut St, Erie- about a 5-blocks march) A program (optional) will be held at the center following the march.
MEADVILLE
Jan 19 - The Martin King Luther Jr. Scholarship Fund celebration Service opportunities 8:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m. at the Allegheny College Lawrence Lee Pelletier Library. Noon to 2 p.m., at Schultz Banquet Hall, 549 Park Ave. Meadville. Luncheon with music, readings and a panel discussion. Concludes with tradition of Rev. Marvin Burnett’s rendition of the “I Have a Dream” speech by King Jr. Tickets for the luncheon will be $15 and can be purchased at Family Community and Children Association, 378 Chestnut St., Meadville.
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Beyond Vietnam -- A Time to Break Silence A speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. on 4 April 1967, Riverside Church, New York City "I knew that America would never invest the necessary funds or energies in rehabilitation of its poor so long as adventures like Vietnam continued to draw men and skills and money like some demonic destructive suction tube. So, I was increasingly compelled to see the war as an enemy of the poor and to attack it as such." Audio and transcript.
‘Some kids don’t really have anyone to talk to or trust.’ Chill rooms fill that gap (Public Source) "This Chill Room is one of 50 in K-12 schools across Allegheny, Washington, Bedford and Erie counties The program sets up calming spaces in participating schools that evoke natural environments..." Hidden Voices: The Unheard Struggle of Students ( Jefferson Ed. Society) "JES Raimy Fellows Katie Phillips and Jacob Jones will delve into the escalating challenges confronting public school students in Erie County, Pennsylvania, grappling mental health issues."
Civil rights probes at Pa. schools appear to lag after federal cuts (USA Today Network)
Jesus as a Resistance Fighter Guest Speaker: Marcus Atkinson January 11, 2026 10:30 am AT Unitarian Universalist Coongregation of Erie 7180 Perry Hwy, Erie PA "This talk reexamines Jesus not simply as a spiritual teacher, but as a courageous social justice leader who disrupted systems of inequality and lifted the most marginalized. Grounded in both scripture and historical scholarship, the presentation invites us to consider how his radical vision of justice, dignity, and community can inspire our work today."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette owners couldn’t bust the union, so they shut down the paper (The NewsGuild-CWA)
NY minimum wage goes up (Spectrum) Meanwhile PA stays at $7.25 (Keystone Labor)
New PA law helps DV victims collect unemployment (Penn Capital Star)
NY State's new animal shelter standards raise concern for small rescues (WKBW)
SCHOOLS & YOUTH
‘Some kids don’t really have anyone to talk to or trust.’ Chill rooms fill that gap (Public Source) "This Chill Room is one of 50 in K-12 schools across Allegheny, Washington, Bedford and Erie counties The program sets up calming spaces in participating schools that evoke natural environments..." Hidden Voices: The Unheard Struggle of Students ( Jefferson Ed. Society) "JES Raimy Fellows Katie Phillips and Jacob Jones will delve into the escalating challenges confronting public school students in Erie County, Pennsylvania, grappling mental health issues."
Civil rights probes at Pa. schools appear to lag after federal cuts (USA Today Network)
SPIRIT
Jesus as a Resistance Fighter Guest Speaker: Marcus Atkinson January 11, 2026 10:30 am AT Unitarian Universalist Coongregation of Erie 7180 Perry Hwy, Erie PA "This talk reexamines Jesus not simply as a spiritual teacher, but as a courageous social justice leader who disrupted systems of inequality and lifted the most marginalized. Grounded in both scripture and historical scholarship, the presentation invites us to consider how his radical vision of justice, dignity, and community can inspire our work today."
Religion and Reform in the "Burned Over District" (Buffalo Toronto Public Media) "Religion and reform were synonymous in 19th century Western New York. This video features extended interview clips from Discovering New York Suffrage Stories, and shows how reform efforts around the anti-slavery and abolition served as a training ground for women’s rights activists. While religious groups fueled the movement, some suffragists fought to preserve the separation of church and state."
WORKING PEOPLE
NY minimum wage goes up (Spectrum) Meanwhile PA stays at $7.25 (Keystone Labor)
New PA law helps DV victims collect unemployment (Penn Capital Star)
GEMISH
Interview with Brian Johansson, CEO of the Erie City Mission (Joel Natalie/TalkErie)
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Calendar and local info sharing for people who believe "a better world is possible." Focus is local/regional. All listed upcoming events are nonviolent. Not affiliated with any organization/ Submissions, corrections etc to brynn16501@proton.me
Blog URL https://eriebluegreen.blogspot.com/
Always confirm info with the original source!
