Stay woke: A round-up of educational and social justice events this week in Pittsburgh

Is your radio always pre-set to talk radio? Always asking how you can make a difference in the world? Are you just hungry for some learning? Peruse our curated list of educational and social justice events this week in Pittsburgh.

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Green New Economics:
Modern Monetary Theory —
Theory Into Action

1-4 p.m. Sat., Sept. 7. Carnegie Library Lecture Hall, 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland.

What is Modern Monetary Theory? In short, it's a leftist economic idea that believes budget surpluses are harmful and that countries should issue their own currencies. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told Business Insider earlier this year that it "absolutely" needs to be "a larger part of our conversation." But there's so much more involved. Learn more at this lecture and panel with economics professor Fadhel Kaboub, and Steven Larchuk, a Pittsburgh attorney, historian, author, and speaker for "urgent action to address the impact of America's 40-year money famine."

If you don't want to show up to the lecture blind, study up by reading this thorough explanatory story Vox put out earlier this year.

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Turning Anguish Into Action:
Decreasing Gun Violence, Next Steps

6:30-8 p.m. Tue., Sept. 10. Jeron X Grayson Community Building, 1852 Enoch St., Hill District.

If you agree that "thoughts and prayers" aren't working, join CeaseFirePA and Squirrel Hill Stands Against Violence for a meeting detailing what steps need to be taken to make sure that our state legislature passes stricter gun laws.

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Power of the Pen:
Protect Access to SNAP

6-8 p.m. Tue., Sept. 10. Human Services Building, 1 Smithfield St., Downtown.

Join Pittsburgh nonprofit group Just Harvest for its monthly public-action series, which coordinates letter-writing to address public concerns to lawmakers. This month, the Power of the Pen meet-up is encouraging folks to write letters against a new Trump proposal which threatens to remove access to food stamps from thousands of people in Allegheny County.

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The Power of the System:
Entrepreneurship and Civic Engagement

6-8 p.m. Tue., Sept. 10. CKV Suites, 528 North Homewood Ave., Homewood.

The ACLU Campaign for Smart Justice is aiming to end mass incarceration across the country by bringing new criminal justice-reform bills. In Pittsburgh, learn more about #SmartJusticeSeptember with presentations from State Rep. Jake Wheatley, Khamil Scantling of Black-owned business directory Cocoapreneur, Vernard Alexander of Minority Network Exchange and CKV, and Hamila Thompson from T3 Consulting and T3 Media. A panel discussion on entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and how to utilize those tools to make an impact and affect change follows.


If you have a news-worthy event you'd like us to consider in a future Stay Woke round-up, email [email protected].