This month we’re delighted to bring back one of our all time favorite Films of Vision and Hope. A Convenient Truth shows how creative and forward-looking urban leaders in Curitiba, Brazil transformed their city, fashioning innovative solutions from major problems. And the work in Curitiba continues to influence urban planners around the world. It’s a good time to take a new look at the film, because one of the major innovations it highlights is bus rapid transit (BRT),  which is now a hot topic on the Peninsula. Learn what Curtiba did to make a difference, including why dedicated BRT buses and lanes are so important for increasing ridership and better serving the community. We’ll also hear from folks active in pushing for BRT locally.

Don’t miss it!

Friday February 27
7:30pm (come at 7:15 for social time)
Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Fireside Room
505 E Charleston Rd, Palo Alto, CA 

All ages welcome
$5 recommended donation – no one turned away for lack of funds

Craft nights for 2015 kicked off on January 27. Plenty of visiting, plus painting and collages made from old magazines and other almost-discarded stuff. Craft nights will be held roughly once a month – check your Transition Palo Alto email for details.

When have you felt true belonging—or the opposite—in this country or in your community? Have you had an experience that showed you something new or important about the state of our union? Is there a time you stood together with people in your community? These questions were answered with tears and laughter at the State of the Union story circle hosted by Fools Mission and Transition Palo Alto on Sunday Jan 25 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Redwood City.

The group included both recent immigrants and native born Americans. Each person shared a brief personal story that reflected on one of the questions. A common thread among the immigrants was coming to this country for a better life for themselves and their children. One woman spoke of her young daughter, recently diagnosed with diabetes, and how it is much easier for her to care for her daughter in the US. Another young woman spoke of her struggles to get an education in Mexico, and how blessed she feels to be in this country, where she has a better chance of getting an education. Others spoke of the violence in Ferguson and elsewhere, and the need for each of us to examine our own complicated feeling and actions.

More than 150 events nationwide contributed stories to a diverse group of 20 poets at the USDAC, who integrated them into a collective poem that went out on a live webcast on February 1. Check out this Fools Mission page with a link to the performance, as well as to the stories that were submitted: http://www.foolsmission.org/story-circles-peoples-state-of-the-union/

A second story circle was held on January 28 in Los Altos, with young people emerging as a common theme. One person expressed sorrow about the recent suicide of a Gunn high school student. Another spoke of his work as a teacher and the joys of connecting with groups of middle school and high school students. And another, a former English teacher, spoke about the memoirs that her students wrote and how moving they could be.

The stories circles were sponsored by the US Department of Art and Culture, an independent organization that promotes art and culture as a way to promote social change. For more information, go to http://peoplesstateoftheunion.usdac.us/.

On January 23, Fourth Friday/Films of Vision and Hope hosted the official West Coast premiere of Worse than Poop, a wonderful animated short video about CO2 pollution and climate change. Filmmaker Vanessa Warheit and the learned and loquacious Professor Elliot described the making of the film and fielded questions from the audience. The Professor was forthcoming on all topics related to the film, electric vehicles, and climate change, though he did sidestep the question of his possible secret life as a superhero. For more information about the video, go to worsethanpoop.com.

A second short film “London: the Price of Traffic,” got everyone thinking about green transportation solutions, and a spirited conversation followed with observations ranging from the need for more charging stations to the problem of helmet hair when you’re commuting to work by bicycle.

All in all, a much better-than-poop evening.

As the Peninsula grapples with how to address traffic congestion and rising carbon emissions from transportation, these two short films shed light on the problems posed by car traffic in an increasingly congested urban world. From an animated universe in which cars ‘poop out’ their CO2, to the mega-city of London where planners challenge the notion that cities should be designed for cars – these films will provide a fun and inspiring way to look at our traffic problems, and consider some radical solutions. Discussion to follow.

Worse Than Poop! (starring UUCPA’s very own Professor Elliot), with filmmaker Vanessa Warheit
plus
e2 transport – London: the Price of Traffic

Friday January 23
7:30pm (come at 7:15 for social time)
Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Fireside Room
505 E Charleston Rd, Palo Alto, CA 

All ages welcome
$5 recommended donation – no one turned away for lack of funds

Glimpse of a Transition Cafe…

What is Privilege?  Who has it?  Who does not?  Is it solely economic, or are there other factors?  Is it inherently a bad thing, or can it be used for the benefit of all?  Is “using it for the benefit of all” just a rationalization of those who have it?  Is pointing to someone else’s Privilege, however you define it, a rationalization for inaction? Transition is often painted with that same “Privileged” brush.  Does that mean we are working to solve the problem, or that we are not?  Or both?

Many perspectives shared, and much food for thought!

Thanks to William Mutch who hosts the Transition Cafe and has done a masterful job selecting a different topic each week.

On December 20, Transition Palo Alto partnered with the Ross Rd Family YMCA again to bring the spirit of sharing and fun to the holidays. Folks exchanged decorations of all kinds, and kids flocked to the craft table to make wrapping paper, button strings and other cool stuff.

The rainy night was a good one for being inside to celebrate and reflect. Folks enjoyed good food and company, took turns telling what the holiday spirit means to them, and watched and discussed the film Forest Man.

So much to enjoy at the Dec 14 holiday Share Faire at Cubberley Community Center…

Wreath making, low flow water attachments, biochar, solar cooking, massage, yoga, music, gardening, succulents, baked goods, and oodles of stuff to share.

We were saddened by the closure of Common Ground, a place where we once shared stories and goods and ducked inside to say hi or buy a little something. Alas, no more, but we have a temporary home for our sharing expos – along with a new name.

The Holiday Share Faire will be at Cubberley Community Center this year, in room H6, on the side of the Charleston Shopping Center (Piazza’s) and in the back near the Friends of the Palo Alto Library booksale, right next door to the Cubberley Artists’ Open Studios. It will be a busy afternoon, starting at 1pm.

Food and beverages will be outside, along with fun demos like solar ovens and music. Massage, yoga, garden tips, succulents, wreath-making, kids’ area, storytime, and more are on the offering from local experts who will guide you through.

If you bring or need goods, stations will hold books, clothes, crafts, garden produce, toys, and holiday decorations as well. The whole family is welcome, and we recommend taking public transportation (bus 32, 35, 88, 104) or biking to this accessible place. Rain will not cancel the indoor and covered portions.

More information about this event and others, and sponsors at transitionpaloalto.org/sharing-expos

Join us and share with us – just look up, there might be mistletoe on the door!