Friday, March 19, 2010

The Tenant Resource Center is seeking donations for its Housing Crisis Fund. The fund makes small grants to individuals and families who are at risk of losing their housing due to a temporary loss of income or large unexpected one-time expense. Donations to the fund can be made online at tenantresourcecenter.org or by calling 257-0143. Free counseling for tenants and landlords at 257-0006.

On Sunday, a Building Hope for the Children vegetarian Arabic dinner and silent auction will take place from 4:30 to 9:00 pm at First United Methodist Church, 203 Wisconsin Avenue. All proceeds support West Bank playground and the Gaza water filters project. The event is sponsored by Madison-Rafah Sister City Project and Playgrounds for Palestine-Madison. To make a reservation call 235-7870. More info at 238-1227.

This weekend, residents of 19 Wisconsin communities will be joining with their neighbors in events that call for peace and mark the seventh year of the Iraq war. The events include roadside vigils, marches, public prayers and a teach-in at the University of Wisconsin-Madison involving a half-dozen UW faculty. For Madison, meet at the UW Library Mall Saturday at Noon. For more info or other locations check the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice website wnpj.org or call 250-9240.

A benefit for the Al Ringling Theatre Restoration will be held Sunday at 2 pm and 6 pm at 136 4th Street in Baraboo. The Silent film andVaudeville event is sponsored by ART friends. More info at 608-356-8080.

Friday at 7 pm, the Immigrant Workers Union will hold its Fundraising Banquet at the Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa Street. Jorge Mujica, one of the organizers of the mega-marches for immigrant rights in Chicago, will be the guest speaker. Food, live music and a silent art auction from local artists are also on the agenda. Tickets are available at iwubanquet.eventbrite.com

Sunday March 21 at 2 pm, Professor Michael Zimmer of UW-Milwaukee will discuss the Failures in Self-Regulation in Online Privacy at Brocach Pub (7 W. Main St.). Professor Zimmer will answer questions about data privacy, what Google knows, and the longevity of Facebook. The event is co-hosted by the ACLU. More info at michaelzimmer.org