Category Archives: Uncategorized

We invite you to a film screening and fundraiser to hear from and support indigenous peoples who are calling us to a different relationship with our Mother Earth.

Saturday, November 5
Maitri House, for the address contact ryan_at_notjustskin.org or kleu82_at_gmail.com

Finding compassion for the structures and systems we live in while creating the world we want

Wednesday Oct 1 7:30 – 9:30 PM At Maitri House
Before the workshop, there is also an optional potluck starting at 6:30 — no alcohol please.

As social change agents, we are longing for the world to be different. The gap between the world as it is, with the urgency of the challenges we are facing, and the world we want, can leave us burnt out and frustrated. In this workshop, we’ll build our capacity to open our hearts to the world that IS while holding dearly our vision for the world we WANT. We believe the result will be greater freedom, creativity, and peace within ourselves to do the work needed. This process is built on principles and tools of Nonviolent Communication (NVC).

Facilitated by Amanda Blaine and Ryan McAllister

For Registration and Directions:
Email ryan [put an at symbol here] notjustskin.org

If that leaves you feeling uncertain, we suggest considering what you make in an equivalent time at work (if you have a job), your access (or lack of access) to wealth, how useful what we shared was for you, the value of supporting us and our families, and the value of increasing access of others.

Notes About Accessibility
We want our house to be safe for all of us, including people with chemical sensitivities, so please no perfume or other fragranced products. We find that often guests do not understand this request, so if it is unfamiliar to you, you might read about chemical sensitivities here: http://invisibledisabilities.org/educate/chemicalsensitivities/whygofragrancefree/ .

Our house is not currently wheelchair visitable as defined by the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (we have four steps up to the front and the bathroom clearances are too small.) If any guest who uses a chair or other mobility device or has other accessibility needs would like to visit, we’re interested in discussing what we could do.

There is a dog but no other pets.

Sunday, December 9

Please join us
on Saturday, September 29, 2012
at 7 pm,
for a delicious dinner, and
to raise money for and learn about
the Diverse City Fund
at
Maitri House
in Takoma Park, Maryland

Please RSVP here by Tuesday, September 25.
(RSVPs are important for the cooks. )

The Diverse City Fund is a new grassroots foundation providing small grants to social change projects that are led by DC residents and powered largely by volunteer labor. The DC Fund is unique in that it supports work that is rarely funded by other foundations, since these groups often do not have 501(c)3 status or connections to the grantmaking world.  We’ll hear from both the DC Fund Board of Instigators and some grantees to learn more about how the DC Fund is supporting work for racial and economic justice in DC.
For more information, or to donate, see diversecityfund.org.

Join us for an exciting opportunity to learn about and support this new model of local, direct-support resource sharing.

Sliding Scale: $5-$500
All money will go directly to supporting the Diverse City Fund.
All are welcome; no one will be turned away.

the menu

Salad
Tomato Cucumber Salad with Fresh Mozzarella
Greens with Pear, Blue Cheese, Dried Cranberries and Candied Walnuts
Greens with Olives, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Hearts of Palm

Soup
Basil Zucchini Bisque
Corn Chowder

Main Course
(all made with homemade noodles, served with garlic bread)
Lasagna with Winter Squash, Sage, and Hazelnut
Roasted Red Pepper Lasagna with Broccoli
Four Cheese Lasagna

Dessert
Vegan Chocolate Cake with Ganache and optional Homemade Whipped Cream
Fruit Crisp and optional Homemade Whipped Cream

*all courses can be modified based on dietary needs

We are excited to invite you to a day of NVC social gathering! We hope to encourage a large group to join together to share presence and connection from 11am to 5pm on February 25 at Maitri House in Takoma Park, MD.

The vision of this Capital NVC social gathering:
• To have a fun, free, family-friendly social event
• To build community among those involved with ‘compassionate communication’ or ‘NVC’ in the DC area
• To be as inclusive as we can for people of varying ages, family status, chemical sensitivity, gender expressions, families of origin, socioeconomic class, and mobility.
• To support continued learning and deepening of intentions and skills while enjoying fun and warmth
• To increase the opportunities for life-affirming social change

Date and time: Saturday February 25, 2012, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm

Location:
Maitri House, a family-inclusive, NVC-inspired intentional community in Takoma Park, MD, is contributing its common space for the event.
contact ryan@notjustskin.org if you need directions
Two Blocks from the Takoma Park Food Co-Op
Walking distance from the Takoma Metro station on the Red line
Near bus stops for the Ride-On Buses 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, and the F4, F6 Metro buses.

Opportunities we anticipate during the event:
• A potluck lunch and social time all throughout the event
• An empathy room to practice being fully heard and received and fully listening and receiving others
• Various short presentations or mini-workshops on the foundation of NVC. We anticipate at this time the offerings to happen between 1pm and 3pm.
• A play area for kids of all ages with NVC activities, cooperative games, arts & crafts and lots of free play
• An optional facilitated cuddle party (see more info below) – around 4pm.
• An environment that welcomes people of all ages — children are warmly welcomed
• An opportunity to meet local NVC trainers and facilitators so people can socialize with whom is leading trainings they sign up for or send others to

Potluck Lunch and Snacks:
If you would enjoy doing so, we invite you to bring a potluck lunch or snack item. The healthier the better. No alcohol, please.

Helping Out
We welcome volunteers to help setup before and cleanup after the event. Come 30 min earlier or stay 30 min later for tidying.

Other Considerations
• Maitri House intends to be a place safe for people with chemical sensitivities. So please do not bring or wear fragrances or smoke-producing products.
• Maitri House has a dog, who can be in a separate space during the event. Still, dog allergies may be an issue for some.
• While we wish it were different in this aspect, the space is not currently well-adapted for wheelchairs. If you use a wheelchair and would like to come, contact Ryan at ryan@notjustskin.org and we can describe the limitations of the space and hear from you what we can do to make it as workable/enjoyable as possible for you to attend.

Invitation to a workshop, “Toward Constructively Addressing Bias”

Saturday December 3, 4-6pm (early arrival suggested)
Followed by an optional potluck dinner for those who wish to remain after and continue hanging out and challenging oppressive systems.

At Maitri House
This workshop will last about 2 hours.  It will be interaction driven after a short discussion of principles, and will work best with everyone’s full engagement. If possible, please come 5-15 minutes early to get comfy and have already eaten and taken care of other needs.  Come with a situation in mind that you might want to role-play, or at least think about.

Toward Constructively Addressing Bias
In order to build coalitions, be effective activists, and work toward a just society, we need to constructively address the biases towards various identity groups that we, our colleagues, and our organizations have internalized. When someone makes a comment or acts in a way that we perceive as incorporating racism, classism, sexism, or other biases, or “otherizing” people, how do we react constructively? Often, our initial reaction may be internal: perhaps discomfort, upset, or a sense of awkwardness. We may remain outwardly silent or internally upset, but never come to feel resolution about the situation. Speaking up and not “otherizing” in return can feel especially challenging when we notice our own biases, encounter bias within our own coalitions, and when in dialogue with those not in support of our vision of a more just society. In this interactive workshop, we will practice explicitly addressing potentially biased actions and statements in order to move in the direction of greater confidence and ease about doing so. In this workshop, we will use role-play to explore situations from participants’ experience or imagination, and these same situations will illustrate the theory behind non-defensively addressing bias. Come with a situation in mind that you might want to role-play!

Facilitator Bio
Ryan McAllister has struggled with internalized biases and with how to react to the external systems, memes, and social habits that perpetuate biases. Ryan may also be described as genderqueer, nerdish, poly, whiteish, youngish, male-bodied, and as the co-parent of a child with what physicians have called “profound” developmental differences. He has been studying communication, relationships, and oppression/liberation theory for about 8 years.

For more info: ryan@notjustskin.org

Lighten Up Laughter Club
November 10 and December 8
7-8 PM
Maitri House
Courtesy of Inessa and John Love

Come to laugh with us just because:

* it feels good
* it relieves stress
* it improves health
* it elevates moods
* it’s great exercise
* and it’s fun!

And the best news is – attendance is FREE!!! (We would appreciate donations to support our work, but they are not required).

Come get your childlike playfulness on!

Some environmentally active Takoma Park residents are starting a Solar Power Cooperative. Join us Monday May 9 to learn more about how the financial structure works.

Potluck Dinner at 6pm. 7pm Explanation of the Takoma Park Solar Co-Op financial structure and socially responsible, local, investment opportunity. rsvp to ryan@notjustskin.org if you would like to join us to learn about this Co-Op.