Audio and Video Production
CLICK HERE: eWeekly June 23, 2025 - submitted by Mary Sprunger Froese
- The Justice & Peace eWeekly is a weekly survey of upcoming events, local news and activism opportunities. Feel free to forward this to anyone you know who might be interested.Is this email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser.
June 23, 2025
U.S. Enters War to Aid Israeli Strikes on Iran
On Saturday evening, June 21, the U.S struck Iranian nuclear sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan in Iran. Israel had asked for help specifically with the underground enrichment complex at Fordo, the attack on which required U.S. GBU-57 bunker-buster conventional bombs. It is believed the bombs may have been delivered by Stealth B-2 bombers, as the U.S. ordered a new B-2 fleet to be sent to Guam Saturday afternoon, to augment B-2s from Whiteman AFB that participated in the raid. (B-2s are the only bomber capable of carrying the GBU-57.) Ironically, B-2 bombers from Dyess AFB stopped at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs on Saturday for a “pet the jet” PR stunt. Trump no doubt was surprised to find adamant opposition to U.S. involvement from key supporters like Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson, and Marjorie Taylor Greene.
B-2 Bombers Hit Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan
Earlier last week, PPJPC issued the following statement to press and social media:
Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission is unconditionally opposed to attempts by the Trump administration to escalate Israel's assault on Iran. On June 17, Trump called for the "unconditional surrender" of the Iranian people, and said that Supreme Leader Khameini must be removed. It is unacceptable for any world leader to provoke escalation of conflict, violence, and destruction in a volatile region, even in regard to nations considered adversaries. One Democrat and two Republicans have called for a War Powers Act hearing, but that is a very weak response to a president who constantly breaks the law by claiming "emergency” conditions.
Last week, Trump tried to pretend that he was cautioning Israel against strikes against the Natanz uranium enrichment plant, saying he wanted to continue negotiations with Iran. Actions in the last 72 hours suggest this was a complete ruse, and that the U.S. was likely involved in planning the initial assaults from the very beginning. WIth U.S. battle groups moving to the Persian Gulf this week, it appears obvious Trump always planned for the U.S. to support and enable Israel's assault on Iran. PPJPC says "not in our name," and calls for a halt in further violence and provocation, and a return to the negotiation process.
We are working with Indivisible and other partners for actions early this week.
Juneteenth Festival to Cover Three Days This Coming Weekend
The Juneteenth festival honoring the POC community is still going on this Sunday, June 22 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 
Peak Environment Podcast 139 Looks at Housing Affordability
“Colorado Springs and El Paso County aren’t building enough homes that typical buyers can afford, while smaller houses and other types of housing options are needed to make housing more attainable for many people, including young adults… and seniors….” That’s the conclusion of a recent report by the Pikes Peak Housing Network.
Jill Gaebler, Executive Director, tells us about how the PPHN is meeting the challenge of supporting “innovative and collaborative solutions to promote housing affordability, access and production” in the Pikes Peak Region. The Network’s mission involves advocating for sustainability principles like infill and redevelopment and access to transportation options, employment and living wages, cultural activities, green space, and more.
Affordable, accessible housing is key to the establishment of a regional culture and resilient, sustainable built environment essential to a healthy economy, quality of life, attractive workforce environment, and personal health now and in the future.
LINKS:
Pikes Peak Housing Network
2024 State of Housing Report
This episode was recorded at the Sustainability in Progress (SIP) virtual event on May 21, 2025. Sustainability in Progress is a monthly program of the Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future. Join us (free) the third Wednesday of every month. The next event is:
Regional Transportation Planning Update
John Liosatos, Transportation Director of Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments
Jacob Matsen, Planning and Operations Supervisor for Mountain Metropolitan Transit
June 18, 2025
Noon to 1 p.m.
Virtual. Register here to get link
The episode can be found on the web HERE.
And be sure to check out Podcast 138 on Air Quality
Examining Air Quality in Colorado’s Pikes Peak Region
Ever stopped to wonder what’s in the air you breathe? From invisible pollutants to visible smog, air quality affects us all—whether we realize it or not. Host Ally Richardson from Pikes Peak Permaculture sits down with activist and Peak Environment cohost Konrad Schlarbaum, alongside Pikes Peak Area Council of Government’s Air Quality Outreach Specialist Kenzie Courtney, to discuss air quality in the Pikes Peak region.
Podcast listeners can find this episode by searching for Peak Environment on their podcast app.
The episode can be found on the web HERE
Please like and share the Studio 809 Podcasts post about this episode on Facebook, and/or share in your own way. Help people find it!
Concrete Couch Announces Summer Camp Programs
Concrete Couch announced its schedule for weekly summer camps at Concrete Coyote Park. The $75 registration fee will be refunded at the end of the camp. Ages depend on the class, with some taking youth down to 9 years old, and others aimed at teens 13 and above. All day camps run from 9 a.m. to noon. Classes still to come include Clay Camp, ages 9 and up, June 23-26; Creek Science, ages 9-12, June 23-26; Mosaic Camp, ages 9 and up, July 7-10; Animation Camp, ages 13 and up, July 14-17; and Cooking Camp, ages 13 and up, July 21-24. Registration is open now, and do not delay, as many camps fill up quickly! Go HERE for more information, or call Thomas Pantoja at 719-217-6933.
Beth-El “Cultivating Peace” Summer Speaker Series Continues June 22
The Beth-El series co-sponsored by PPJPC will have close to one speaker a week for the rest of the summer. On June 22, Jackie Jaramillo, founder of Faith Partners, will speak on her 40 years of developing opportunities for underprivileged communities. The following Sunday, pastor and author Joanna Shenk will speak. On Sunday July 6, Nooshin Sadeghsamimi, an anthropologist and ethnographic filmmaker in a post-doc program at UCCS will examine how discourses of religion influence inclusion and exclusion.
On July 12, a special Saturday presentation at 1 p.m. will feature Elaine Enns and Ched Myers, the authors of “Healing Haunted Histories.” Enns and Myers will speak the following day at the regular Sunday service. The series continues through July and August with such speakers as Rachel Harding, Osheta Moore, Mike Martin of RAW Tools, Michael Williams, Father John Dear, and Shane Claiborne. All events in the series will take place at Beth-El’s main location at 4625 Ranch Road, near Union and Academy. Pre-registration is important for the Saturday July 12 event. Keep an eye out for specific details on each week and send us a message with any questions!
Arts Uprise Festival Concludes at Millibo This Sunday, June 22
When this newsletter goes out, you will still have an opportunity to see Arts Uprise at Millibo Arts Theater on Sunday afternoon. Producers Warren Epstein, Kathy Paradise, and MJ Hafter are announcing the first of what they hope will be many events sponsored by Arts Uprise. The inaugural event concludes Sunday, June 22, at 2:00 pm. Tickets are available at themat.org.
Here’s how the sponsors describe this new effort:
Original theatre, art, music and spoken word, giving voice to the voiceless and standing against tyranny. A fundraiser for an arts organization facing threats to its essential grants. When the tide retreats, you know a giant wave is on its way.
Welcome to The Arts Uprise Festival, a creative tsunami of original plays, music, art, and spoken word that take on climate change, hilarious religious hypocrisy, the future of history and much more. Out of more than 30 original script submissions, judges selected five that capture the angst and insights of this twisted Twilight Zone moment in America. Some of the finest actors and directors in the region will bring these stories to life, and their work will be accompanied by original poetry by Springs Poet Laureate Ashley Cornelius, original music by singer-songwriter John Spengler and visual art curated by the Auric Gallery. This is the first of what we hope will be many Art Uprise events.
What is the Arts Uprise? It’s both a movement and an invitation – a movement to express what we feel about this moment in America, and an invitation to other creatives to make their own Uprise. Uprise began with a meeting of mostly theater people at the Manitou Art Center. It began with a collective need, a collective rage, a collective drive to DO SOMETHING. The need to channel our creative expression to both keep ourselves sane and to provide some comfort to others who feel the same way. One of the concerns at this initial meeting centered on the obvious question: “Aren’t we just preaching to the choir?” Yes we are. But you know what? Our choir has been taking a beating these past six months, and they could use some comfort, some laughs, some insights and some entertainment. We hope that this first Arts Uprise does that for you.
This production is a fundraiser for The Millibo Art Theatre, which, like so many arts organizations, faces threats to their funding from national and regional foundations. We thank you for coming and we encourage you to stop on your way out today to donate a bit more. And we thank Auric, Craft Production, and our musician, poet, artists, playwrights, actors, and directors who made this happen.
Youth Activist Training Schedule Firms Up for Five Days of Learning
In two weeks, the fourth annual Youth Activist Training will take place at All Souls Unitarian-Universalist Church and other locations throughout the city. Special programs include a “Learning About Yourself and Peace Through Music” day, featuring music therapist Lindsay Facknitz and All Souls youth coordinator Ben Wallace. Tuesday is a day of nonviolence and creativity, featuring Debra Fortenberry talking about nonviolent communications, Lenora Degen leading a yoga session, a poetry workshop with Marzia Sadat, and Evan Mahaffy speaking on housing and hunger. On Tuesday evening, a special poetry and open mic session will take place at Food to Power, featuring Pikes Peak Poet Laureate Ashley Cornelius and Inside Out’s Christopher Beasley.
Wednesday will begin with a visit to City Hall and talks by council member Nancy Henjum and Fountain water activist Liz Rosenbaum. An afternoon at Food to Power will feature Colorado College environmental leader Sarah Hautzinger. Thursday will feature a morning visit to Concrete Coyote Park and an afternoon visit to The Place. Friday is a wrapping-up day with participant projects, chalk art with Tamara Herl, and a school board panel over lunch.
We still have room for a few registrants age 12-18, but registration will close June 30. Go to http://bit.ly/YAT2025. Scholarships to defray the $75 materials costs are available.
Youth Activist Training Podcast is Up!
Youth Activist Training 2025
Learn about an upcoming weeklong summer day camp for teens, Youth Activist Training, hosted by Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission. We hear from Marzia Sadat, co-director of Youth Activist Training 2025, and also a "graduate" of the program. She’s joined by Loring Wirbel, co-chair of Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission. Now in its fourth year, the program has proven immensely popular for the students that later became alumni.
Podcast listeners can find this episode by searching for SoapBox on their podcast app.
The episode can be found on the web HERE
Please like and share the Studio 809 Podcasts post about this episode on Facebook and Instagram on Monday, and/or share in your own way. Help people find it!
Democracy Roundtable to be Held June 26
The Democracy Roundtable, originally scheduled for May 31, has been postponed until June 26, scheduled for 5:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. Citizens Project, Colorado Common Cause, League of Women Voters, and New Era Colorado are sponsoring the round table at Penrose Library downtown. Among the speakers will be Colorado Springs Council Member Nancy Henjum, D-11 School District Director Julie Ott, State Rep. Amy Paschal,and El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Steve Schlieker. You can register for this free event HERE.
Pikes Peak Women Talks to Whitney Luckett About Ukraine Power
On this episode of Elevating Pikes Peak Women, host Mary Lou Makepeace introduces Colorado Springs to a humanitarian effort being directed from here to help the people of Ukraine who are struggling under the attack by Russia that is making everyday life so incredibly difficult. Meet Whitney Luckett, Jen Dorff, and Ukrainian immigrant Yana Malyk, the courageous women running Ukraine Power, and learn about how they're helping the people of Ukraine and what YOU can do to put your strength into this effort.
Access this podcast on Studio 809 HERE.
Or use one of these other sites to access the podcast:
Captivate HERE
Spotify HERE.
Apple HERE.
For information on how you can become involved in this effort or gain more information, contact Whitney Luckett at whitney@ukrainepower.org.
Subscribe for more Elevating Pikes Peak Women episodes, and reach out to us on Facebook HERE or Email Us and let us know what you thought of today's episode. We've got another great episode coming to you soon!
PIKES PEAK WOMEN
Mary Lou Makepeace, Marcy Morrison, Karole Campbell, Lindy Conter, Susan Davies, JJ Frazier, Moni Hernandez, Martha Johnson, Linda Morlan, Melissa Marts, Ciena Rieder, Beth Roalstad, Deb Walker
Southeast Food Coalition, Food to Power Begin Farmer’s Market
A new farmer’s market sponsored by Southeast Food Coalition and Food to Power will take place two Sundays each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Stompin’ Groundz, 2050 Jet Wing Drive, at Chelton crossroads. The next will be June 22, in July on July 6 and 20, in August on Aug. 3 and 17, in September on Sept. 7 and 21, and in October on Oct. 5 and 19. Food to Power says it’s launching it this summer to bring fresh, local, affordable food into our neighborhood. This market is about more than just produce – it's about access, equity, and creating something beautiful and sustainable for our community.
Karman Line Goes Down in Lopsided Vote
Even opponents of the southeast Colorado Springs development known as the Karman Line were surprised Tuesday night when the vote count showed greater than 80 percent of those voting opposed the project, with only 18 percent voting yes. The vote will not be ratified until absentee ballots are counted at the end of the month, but Karman is assumed dead. Many voters already had doubts about water and land use, but the massive and dirty mailing campaign conducted by the project developers turned voters off as well.
A proposed 5000-home development closer to Schriever Space Force Base, called Flying Horse East, was rejected by the county planning commission June 19. The commission said it understood the need for more housing for Schriever and Peterson personnel, but said developments must not be nearly adjacent to base perimeters. The overwhelming “no” vote on Karman no doubt influenced the planning commission as well.
Citizens Project Breakfast Set for July 12
Citizens Project will hold its annual fundraiser breakfast on Saturday, July 12, at 8 a.m. at The Carter Payne, 320 S. Weber. The theme this year is “The Work Continues.” You can register HERE.
Copyright © 2025 Pikes Peak Justice & Peace Commission, All rights reserved.
Thanks of your interest in peace, justice & sustainability. Hope you'll join us!
Our mailing address is:Pikes Peak Justice & Peace CommissionBox 2115Colorado Springs, CO 80901
Add us to your address book
Views: 3
Comment
© 2025 Created by Karl Martin.
Powered by
You need to be a member of BlackbeatProduct to add comments!
Join BlackbeatProduct