Nigerian-born poet and photographer Kole Ade Odutola will read from his personal poetry collection at the Civic Media Center. In his poetry, Ade Odutola combines choice Nigerian words and phrases with the English language.

Ade Odutola is a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors and a founding member of the Coalition of Nigerian Artists. He has worked as a photojournalist and has coordinated the film forum for the Goethe Institute in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city. His first volume of poetry, The Poets Fled, was published in 1992. His second book, The Poet Bled, appeared in 1998.

When: Wednesday, November 29 @ 7 PM
Where: The Civic Media Center, 1021 W University Ave.
For more information, call 352-373-0010
This event is open to the public. Donations appreciated.

The Civic Media Center will be hosting a speak-out with Veterans of the War in Iraq. Find out what folks in our community really experienced while overseas. Veterans wishing to participate are welcome to come and share their stories.

When: Friday, December 8, 2006 @ 7:30 PM
Where: The Civic Media Center, 1021 W University Ave.

Donations are appreciated.
For more information, contact the CMC at 352-373-0010.

The CMC will be offering professional hair cuts to anyone in the community wanting to improve their look but on a tight budget. One of Gainesville’s top stylists will be volunteering her time and skills to help folks from around town get the cuts they want.

When: Sunday, December 3 @ 2 PM - 4 PM
Where: The Civic Media Center, 1021 W University Ave.
Price: $3-10 sliding scale

For more information, contact the Civic Media Center 352-373-0010.

Renato Antonio Areiza is a leader of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó. Founded in 1997, the community has declared itself neutral in the war and is committed to non-violently demanding its right to justice and peace. Throughout its existence, the Peace Community has taken an extraordinary stand against violence at the very center of a war zone, refusing to support any armed group. Born in San José de Apartadó, Renato has been involved in the peace community since its foundation. He is the current Coordinator of the Community Council, a position he was promoted to after serving as the Peace Community’s Coordinator of Education. Renato’s sister, Deyanira Areiza, was among those killed in the February 2005 massacre, while he lost another sister to guerrilla violence.

Renato Areiza will be speaking at the Civic Media Center on Tuesday, November 21 @ 7:30 PM.

This event is free and open to the public.

Dear Friends and Members of the CMC,

On behalf of the volunteers, board members and coordinators, I’m pleased to invite you to the Civic Media Center’s 13th Anniversary celebration and dinner extraordinaire on the evening of Wednesday, October 18th at the Thomas Center, located at 302 NE 6th Avenue. Thanks to the continued support of CMC and community members, this year has been one of our most successful ever. We wish to honor our history and recent successes with a party at the Historic Thomas Center in Downtown Gainesville. I hope you will attend.

The celebration will kick off at 7:00 in the evening, featuring dinner, drinks, and piano jazz in the beautiful Spanish Court. Tickets are available in advance or at the door for $15-$20. In addition, guests can enjoy an art display chronicling some of our favorite CMC events. The display will include photographs, posters, and artwork from the past thirteen years. If you would like to take part in this project, we ask you to please look through old albums and scrap books for photos to contribute. Memorabilia can be brought by the CMC in the weeks leading up to the celebration.

The party will also feature a screening of the new CMC promotional video. The video, created for student and community outreach, includes interviews with current volunteers, as well as a tour of the newly renovated space.

Dinner will be catered by the CMC Board and local restaurants. Your ticket to this special event includes dinner, wine, music, and entertainment, while benefiting one of the most successful alternative libraries in the country. Your contribution allows the CMC to continue providing Gainesville with non-corporate media and a space for activists and friends to meet, network, and make a difference. Join fellow members in celebrating the Civic Media Center and 13 years of local and national involvement!

If you have any questions, please call (352) 373-0010, or email coordinator@civicmediacenter.org.

Singer, song writer and outstanding guitarist Sam Pacetti will be playing at the Thomas Center as a benefit for the Civic Media Center, with guest performer Verlon Thompson. At the Thomas Center, 316 NE 6th Ave.

Advance tickets will be available at Omni Books, Wild Iris, and Hyde & Zeke’s Records on March 1st.

Join us at the Hippodrome Cinema for this acclaimed documentary about the GI movement against the Vietnam War. “Sir, No Sir!” is the story of one of the most vibrant and widespread upheavals of the 1960’s–one that had profound impact on American society, yet has been virtually obliterated from the collective memory of that time.

Tickets are $3 to $10, and available in the lobby 30 min before each show.

The Vietnam War has been the subject of hundreds of films, both fiction and non-fiction, but this story–the story of the rebellion of thousands of American soldiers against the war–has never been told in film. 503,926 “incidents of desertion” occurred between 1966 and 1971; by 1971, entire units were refusing to go into battle in unprecedented numbers; more than 100 underground newspapers were published by soldiers around the world; local and national antiwar GI sprung up across the country; thousands demonstrated against the war at every major base in the world, including in Vietnam itself; stockades and federal prisons filled with soldiers jailed for their opposition to the war.

“Anyone waging war with American troops might want to listen carefully to the largely untold story of David Zeiger’s new documentary“ (Los Angeles Times)

“Perfectly timed with new doubts about the Iraq War.“ (Variety)

“Funky shot of counter-cultural spirit.“ (The London Times)

“Combines exceptional artistry and insightful analysis with great story telling.“ (International Documentary Magazine)

Join us at the Hippodrome Cinema for this acclaimed documentary about the GI movement against the Vietnam War. “Sir, No Sir!” is the story of one of the most vibrant and widespread upheavals of the 1960’s–one that had profound impact on American society, yet has been virtually obliterated from the collective memory of that time.

Tickets are $3 to $10, and available in the lobby 30 min before each show.

The Vietnam War has been the subject of hundreds of films, both fiction and non-fiction, but this story–the story of the rebellion of thousands of American soldiers against the war–has never been told in film. 503,926 “incidents of desertion” occurred between 1966 and 1971; by 1971, entire units were refusing to go into battle in unprecedented numbers; more than 100 underground newspapers were published by soldiers around the world; local and national antiwar GI sprung up across the country; thousands demonstrated against the war at every major base in the world, including in Vietnam itself; stockades and federal prisons filled with soldiers jailed for their opposition to the war.

“Anyone waging war with American troops might want to listen carefully to the largely untold story of David Zeiger’s new documentary“ (Los Angeles Times)

“Perfectly timed with new doubts about the Iraq War.“ (Variety)

“Funky shot of counter-cultural spirit.“ (The London Times)

“Combines exceptional artistry and insightful analysis with great story telling.“ (International Documentary Magazine)

Historian, author, philosopher, and activist Howard Zinn will be speaking in Gainesville on Feb. 28th at 8pm, at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (315 Hull Road, UF Campus).

Zinn will speak on the uses of history and the War in Iraq. He will also be available afterwards to sign books.

Free advance tickets will be available at the Phillips Center on Friday February 24th at noon. This will be the last 350 tickets available. Individuals are limited to 2 tickets per person. Ticketholders should show up early for the event, as those waiting without advance tickets will be given the remaining open seats 5 minutes before the speech starts.

Non-ticket holders do not despair. The Phillips Center is putting a large screen TV and sound system outside the enterance for those that cannot get in. Additionally a hundred or more people can be in the lobby, where the speech can also be heard. We wish wish the Phillips held 4000 but unfortunately it doesn’t, we’re sorry for any inconvience. We’ve learned the speech will be re-broadcast on WUFT Classic 89 on Saturday March 18th from noon to 1:30pm.

If you would like to help us raise money to cover the costs of bringing Howard Zinn to Gainesville, please make a donation to the Civic Media Center in the largest amount you can afford. The CMC is a 501(c)3 non-profit, and all donations are tax deductable. You can make a donation online via paypal or mail donations to 1021 W. University Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32601 (Mark “Zinn” on donations).

Please check back for updates!

Are you a corker? Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the CMC’s Irish Freedom Film Festival, dedicated to the men and women who have given their lives in the fight against British oppression. Join us for all or part of the festival.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

5pm - MICHAEL COLLINS - Liam Neeson portrays the Michael Collins, the man many credit as a hero for winning freedom for the southern 26 counties of Ireland (and whom many curse as a sellout for bartering the agreement that partitioned the island). Directed by Neil Jordan (1996).

7:15pm - BLOODY SUNDAY - On Jan. 30th, 1972 peaceful civil rights protesters in Derry, Northern Ireland were fired on by British soldiers. 13 people were shot and killed (most of them teenagers, none of them armed), and hundreds were injured by the hail of bullets. The British soldiers who murdered 13 Derry protestors were later decorated by the Queen, and to date have never been charged with a crime. The film “Bloody Sunday” depicts these events in a raw, gritty style that makes you feel like you’re right there, among the panicked, fleeing masses. Directed by Paul Greengrass (2002).