Wellesley Women’s Initiatives in partnership with the World Of Wellesley invites the community to join them in celebrating International Women’s Day 2020. There will be music, dance, art activities and speakers to inspire girls and women of all ages. This year’s theme is to celebrate women and support equity, inclusive of divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, socio-economic or political, and acknowledge that all women must gain full and equal participation in global development. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact Rama K. Ramaswamy, Darlene J Howland or Melinda Arias-Voci at wellesleywomensinitiatives20@gmail.com.

Many young families, seniors, and people of middle, moderate, or fixed incomes are unable to move to — or stay in — our town. What does this mean for Wellesley’s future? Our expert panelists will provide an overview of the challenges and benefits of creating diverse housing. Bring your questions and comments and join us to discuss how we can develop a
broader range of housing choices for the long-term health of our community. Panelists include:

• Eric Shupin, Director of Public Policy, Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA)—Describing the state of housing in MA.
• Amy Dain, Consultant, Dain Research—Reporting on two years of research into the regulations, plans and permits in the 100 cities and towns surrounding Boston.
• Shelly Goehring, Senior Program Manager, Massachusetts Housing Partnership—Sharing the benefits and challenges for our community.
• Rebecca Winterich-Knox, Net Zero Organizer, Massachusetts Climate Action Network—Focusing on sustainable considerations and impact on climate.

Presented by League of Women Voters of Wellesley and Wellesley Free Library. This event is free and open to the public.

In response to the hurtful expressions that have recently wounded members of our middle and high school communities, ALL are invited to participate in a healing and compassionate community response.

From 11:45-1:00 pm on November 6 (public school half day), Wellesley Village Church (2 Central St) invites you to come and make posters as expressions of care and of commitment to creating the kind of community we desire. PIZZA, music, and supplies will be provided. At 12:45 a group photo of participants and their posters/signs will be taken on the Washington St. steps, and then individuals are invited to take their posters and signs and put them anywhere in Wellesley they wish.

WHS and WMS youth, community members, and families with children of any age are invited. Join us in peppering Wellesley with SIGNS OF LOVE!

All are welcome for light refreshments beginning at 6:30 PM. The speaker will start at 7:00 PM.

Claude Kaitare was born in the early 80’s in Rwanda. He spent his childhood primarily in Kigali until the Rwandan president was assassinated on April 6th, 1994. This provided the catalyst for what is known as the genocide against Tutsi.

Claude’s began an odyssey that separated him from his family in an orphanage, led him to live with an aunt and some family members in Portland Maine. He went on to attend high school and graduated from Clark University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in History in 2005. In January, he complete graduate level Holocaust and Genocide Studies certificate program at Salem State University. Claude has travelled extensively through Eastern Europe and most recently visited Rwanda with Salem State University in 2015, 16 and 17.

Claude continues to testify about the tragedies that he witnessed in the genocide to different high schools and universities in collaboration with Facing History and Ourselves for whom he has been a resource speaker since the early 2000s. He aims to educate others on genocide and war crimes since unfortunately history does repeat itself. His objective is to continue raising awareness in hope of minimizing ignorance about the human catastrophe of genocide.

This is a joint meeting with the Rotary Club of Wellesley.