There’s unexpected Democratic opposition to entrenched incumbent Congresswoman Joyce Beatty this year for Ohio’s 3rd district House seat. The Sunrise Movement’s local hub announced Friday that they’re endorsing lesser-known progressive Matthew Meade as the candidate who has better positions on climate issues and working class values.

Sunrise Movement is a U.S. based youth movement to “stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process.” Launched officially in 2017, Sunrise was started by climate activists and members of other climate organizations like the Sierra Club. They have local chapters called “hubs” in all 50 states, including 9 in Ohio.

Bol Aweng, now of Hilliard, Ohio, is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. At the age of six, he was forced to flee his village and travel 1,500 miles on foot to a refugee camp in Kenya. Bol eventually came to the United States. He graduated from The Ohio State University, majoring in fine art, and was awarded the Robert Duncan Alumni Citizenship Award for starting the Buckeye Clinic in South Sudan.

Bol lives in Hilliard, Ohio with his wife and five children. He speaks to thousands of students each year, sharing his story and raising funds for his clinic.

 The following is his chapter “The Journey of Hope” from Far From Their Eyes: Ohio Migration Anthology, edited and published by our friend Lynn Tramonte of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance.

Featured speakers for Gift To Be Simple include: 

Here’s what happened at the October Free Press Second Saturday Cyber-Salon on October 9.

Watch the salon video here

Free Press Board member Mark Stansbery kicked the salon off by announcing it was the Free Press’ annual “Libby” award ceremony.

Free Press volunteer Suzanne Patzer explained who Libby Gregory was – she was aformer 70s and 80s era Free Press Editor and tireless activist for environmental, peace and women's issues. She was also an entrepreneur -- starting the first vegetarian restaurant in Columbus, the King Avenue Coffee House; Tradewinds (one-time home of the Free Press); and Byzantium, colubus’ premier bead store. She was tragically killed in a 1991 plane crash. The Free Press honors her memory by giving the Libby award each year to honor our local community heroes, who promote alternative paths and are helping to give birth to a better world.

Saturday, October 9, 7-8pm