Events are typically updated at the beginning of each month. See also Local News, Regional News, and Calendar
Our monthly meetings are held via Zoom at present and generally occur every third Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 15; a link will be posted here closer to the date.
It is our pleasure to thank all those who contributed to the success of the Sixteenth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Celebration on January 17th. The Community Coalition for Social Justice (CCSJ) and Main Street Morgantown co-sponsored this event with support from the West Virginia University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), and financial assistance from the City of Morgantown. Our special thanks to Mayor Jenny Selin.
Our theme was “Respect.” We thank Bonnie Brown, coordinator of the WVU Native American Studies Program; Pete Giacobbi, vice president of the Morgantown Chapter of the National Organization for Women; Brad Grimes, program coordinator of the WVU LGBTQ+ Center; Rabbi Joe Hample of Tree of Life Congregation; Anitra Hamilton, president of the Morgantown/Kingwood Branch of the NAACP; Dr. Tim Nelms of the Wild and Wonderful Humanists; and Marly Ynigues, chair of the Morgantown/ Monongalia League of Women Voters Social Justice Committee for their thoughtful and wide-ranging comments on our theme.
Music is always important to our celebration. Al Anderson was our soloist. Jennifer Connoley led Mrs. Kimble’s Cheat Lake Elementary School second graders and Mrs. Kennison’s fourth graders in their songs. Alexandra Jackson conducted performances by Mylan Park third graders from Mrs. Smith’s and Mrs. Snyder’s classes. Jen Mattern conducted the North Elementary School choir. The WVU Paul Robeson Mahalia Jackson Gospel Choir, conducted by Rev. Shirley Robinson and Dr. Alton Merrell, sang the black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice.”
We appreciate the continued support of the NAACP. Dr. Florita Stubbs Montgomery presented “Let’s Respect Dr. King’s Words With Actions.” Her insightful critique of the dangers of teaching history that does not include everyone is available on the CCSJ website here. Marly Ynigues also streamed our event on the branch’s Facebook page.
Finally, we thank Barb Watkins, executive director of Main Street Morgantown, for her assistance with publicity, and the OLLI staff: Diane Cale, Jascenna Haislett, and Michelle Klishis, who managed all the technology.
Mike Attfield emailed Morgantown City Council members, stating our support for the proposed ban on conversion therapy that is now in effect in the City of Morgantown.
We support the proposal of the Morgantown Human Rights Commission (HRC) to rename October 12th as Indigenous People’s Day. The proposal was presented at the October 26th City Council Committee of the Whole meeting. According to the October 28th account of the meeting in the Dominion Post, Council members “agreed to seek more community input and work with the HRC before moving the measure to a meeting agenda.” Mike Attfield sent emails to council members supporting the proposal.
The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) has challenged our request to intervene in this lawsuit, while the City of Morgantown supported our request. We are now waiting for Judge Susan Tucker to announce her decision on this.
Please send your web site suggestions to Mike Attfield at mdattfieldo@gmail.com. Please contact any of the steering committee members to volunteer to help and to share your suggestions for our work or e-mail us at ccsjwv@hotmail.com. Please send items to share with our membership to Barb Howe at barbara.howe@mail.wvu.edu.
Please also remember to send your dues - $10 for individuals and $25 for organizations – to CCSJ, PO Box 160, Morgantown, WV 26507-0160. You can join or donate by credit card via PayPal on this web site. Go to Join Us.