AMHERST — Teenagers concerned with the influence of President-elect Donald Trump on the world, and how his administration might affect their lives, will gather on the Town Common Wednesday, Nov. 23.
“The Great Chalk Out for Hope and Healing,” being organized by Viseth Loeung Rinehart of Amherst and sponsored by the Youth Action Coalition, starts at 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving eve.
“I hope to set an example to inspire other youth to make their own healing sessions to relieve stress, especially in this time of need,” Loeung Rinehart said in an email.
The event will allow youth to talk about where they see themselves under a Trump presidency, express their views about the election and then draw or write their expressions of hope and healing, Loeung Rinehart said.
A 10th-grader at the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts School in South Hadley, Loeung Rinehart observes that as a youth of Cambodian and African-American descent, he wanted to do something positive and help think “about how America got to this point” of being impacted by fear, racism and Islamophobia.
A Black Lives Matter banner and a rainbow flag will both be installed at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Amherst, 121 North Pleasant St.,Sunday afternoon.
At 12:30 p.m. a ceremony will be held to replace the original Black Lives Matter banner, which was stolen in September.
The community is invited to the event, which will recognize a commitment to fighting injustice and inequality.
“During this time when people are divided, we aim to promote a message of unity,” said Joe Flueckiger, president of the Unitarian’s board of trustees.
The annual Amherst area Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will be held at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 98 North Maple St., Hadley, Tuesday at 7 p.m.
“Thanksgiving as Radical Hospitality” is the title of the service, which will have representatives from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Unitarian Universalist and Buddhist groups in attendance.
The designated offering will go to Not Bread Alone, the community meal program that offers free hot meals and groceries to those in need.
For more information about the service, contact the Rev. Cynthia Frado of the Unitarian Universalist Society at 253-2848.
Books for children, teenagers and adults, along with compact discs and DVDS, will be available at the holiday book fair put on by the Friends of the Jones Library Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The sale is held at the Jones Library, 43 Amity St.
In addition to the books, library-specific items, including Sammy the Owl T-shirts, library totes, a library blend tea from the Tea Guys, mugs and Christmas ornaments, will be available for sale.
MONDAY: Amherst Housing Authority Executive Director Search Screening Subcommittee, 3 p.m., Jean Elder Community Room; Select Board, 6 p.m., Band Room, middle school; Town Meeting, 7 p.m., middle school auditorium.
