The Jamaica Plain Forum begins its autumn season with a rousing series of free lectures, discussions and events at First Church in Jamaica Plain, Unitarian Universalist at the Monument.
Nancy Davies will talk about the Popular Movement in Oaxaca, Mexico on Tues., Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.
For the last 15 months, a powerful popular movement in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca has challenged the corrupt and repressive government of PRI Governor Ulises Ruiz, according to Davies. Davies, a journalist and resident of Oaxaca, has covered the rebellion and the rise of the popular assembly movement. Davies will be sharing stories from the front lines in her only US appearance this year. Her new book, “The People Decide: Oaxaca’s Popular Assembly,” will be available for purchase.
Local heroes will talk about the “Local Food” movement and attendees can share a potluck dinner on Wed., Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.
“Local Food” is considered by many to be food that has been grown and/or produced within 100 miles of your home. Enthusiasts claim that local foods have higher nutritional content and may be sprayed with fewer pesticides. Critics, however, say that locally produced foods can be prohibitively expensive, and the availability of many foods is only seasonal.
The discussion will be about the benefits and challenges of eating, growing and selling locally grown and produced foods in the first of an ongoing food-related series, “Food For Thought.”
Attendees are asked to bring a dish to share at 7 p.m., then listen, at 7:30 p.m., to the home-grown experts: Mark Smith of Roslindale, Campaign Manager for Farm Aid and co-founder of Brookwood Community Farm in Milton; Danielle Andrews of JP, urban grower for The Food Project; and David Warner of JP, owner of City Feed and Supply on Boylston Street.
Other autumn events at the Jamaica Plain Forum will include “Twenty Myths About Immigration” with Aviva Chomsky (Oct. 4) and Frances Moore-Lappe on her new book “Getting a Grip” (Nov. 1).
The Jamaica Plain Forum is a series of public conversations, lectures, documentary film screenings and events about the great issues of the day. The JP Forum is sponsored by the First Church, Unitarian Universalist, in Jamaica Plain, and the Institute for Policy Studies. All JP Forum events are wheelchair- accessible and open to the public. Donations are requested.
For more information, and to sign up for a secure e-mail list of events, visit the JP Forum website at www.jamaicaplainforum.org.
Submitted by Jamaica Plain Forum organizers.