Civics 101

Thursday 7

TEXAS SUSTAINABLE FARMING CONFERENCE The Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association hosts this conference to bring practical information to consumers and producers alike, on everything from product labeling to urban homesteading. Keynote speaker is Jim Hightower. Hilton Austin Airport, 9515 New Airport Dr., 512/385-6767. $90-$165. www1.hilton.com.

FINE ARTS FACILITY MEETING Austin ISD wants the community to learn about proposed fine arts facility improvements under consideration for a potential 2013 bond package. 6:30pm. Reagan High School, 7104 Berkman, 512/414-2523.

FAITH IN ACTION NIGHT The Workers Defense Project and a seminary student group discuss how the faith community can be more involved in supporting workers and immigrants. 7-9pm. Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 100 E. 27th, 512/472-6736. www.austinseminary.edu.

INEQUALITY AND INSTABILITY: WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE WORLD ECONOMY? Economist James K. Galbraith talks about his forthcoming book, in which he argues increased inequality is a product of market deregulation and windfall profits in finance. 7pm. 5604 Manor Rd. $10 suggested donation. rjensen@austin.utexas.edu, www.5604manor.org.

Friday 8

TEXAS SUSTAINABLE FARMING CONFERENCE The Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association hosts this conference to bring practical information to consumers and producers alike, on everything from product labeling to urban homesteading. Keynote speaker is Jim Hightower. Hilton Austin Airport, 9515 New Airport Dr., 512/385-6767. $90-$165. www1.hilton.com.

CITYWIDE WORK FROM HOME DAY The Social Good Summit of Austin wants to get 10,000 cars off the road for a day to take one small step in improving air quality in our city. (Maybe run the plan by your boss first, just to be safe.)

DINESH D'SOUZA VS. ANDREW BERNSTEIN "A top Christian intellectual will debate a top Objectivist intellectual on the nature and value of Christianity." Brought to you by the Objective Standard and the UT Objectivism Society. 7-9pm. Hogg Auditorium, West 24th & Whitis, UT campus, 512/471-1444. $30 ($8, students; $5, livestream). cbiddle@theobjectivestandard.com.

Saturday 9

TEXAS SUSTAINABLE FARMING CONFERENCE The Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association hosts this conference to bring practical information to consumers and producers alike, on everything from product labeling to urban homesteading. Keynote speaker is Jim Hightower. Hilton Austin Airport, 9515 New Airport Dr., 512/385-6767. $90-$165. www1.hilton.com.

EASTSIDE MEMORIAL STAKEHOLDER MEETING Superintendent Meria Carstarphen and AISD trustee Jayme Mathias invite the community to a briefing on the status of Eastside Memorial at the Johnston Campus, and they seek input on solutions for the 2013-14 school year. 10am-noon. Eastside Memorial High School, 414-2414.

Sunday 10

TEXAS SUSTAINABLE FARMING CONFERENCE The Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association hosts this conference to bring practical information to consumers and producers alike, on everything from product labeling to urban homesteading. Keynote speaker is Jim Hightower. Hilton Austin Airport, 9515 New Airport Dr., 512/385-6767. $90-$165. www1.hilton.com.

TRAPPED IN THE SYSTEM Hear a panel discuss mass incarceration and the criminalization of communities in Texas. 2-5pm. Radisson, 111 E. Cesar Chavez, 512/478-9611. www.radisson.com.

Monday 11

AFRICAN-AMERICAN COOPERATIVE THOUGHT AND PRACTICE Scholar/activist Jessica Gordon Nembhard speaks on the "long, strong, but hidden history" of African-Americans in the cooperative movement. 6pm. 5604 Manor Rd. nicole@cooperationtexas.coop, www.5604manor.org.

Tuesday 12

THE HUMAN COST OF INDIA'S RACE FOR DEVELOPMENT Priyanka Borpujari is an independent journalist based in Mumbai who documents the human rights abuses in this "hidden civil war" through her writing and photography. 5:30-7pm. Liberal Arts Building (CLA 0.112), UT campus. www.utexas.edu.

ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PROSPECTS FOR PEACE The Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information is a think-tank that works on practical solutions to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Gershon Baskin, its co-director and founder, speaks about peace in the Middle East. 7:30pm. Dell Jewish Community Center, 7300 Hart, 826-4578. Free. charmccann@gmail.com, www.shalomaustin.org.

Wednesday 13

MICHAEL BRICK Meet the author of Saving the School, this true story from a former New York Times investigative reporter who spent a year at Reagan High. See "Where There's a Heartbeat, There's Hope," Aug. 17, 2012. 7pm. Windsor Park Branch Library, 5833 Westminster, 512/928-0333.

Ongoing

SAVE THE DATE TO SAVE TEXAS SCHOOLS Join Diane Ravitch, former TEA Commissioner Robert Scott, and Houston's Kashmere High marching band to stand up for kids and schools on Feb. 23. Say no to brutal budget cuts, a broken testing system, and looming school vouchers. Say yes to a quality education for all kids!

TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF VOLUNTEERS Victim Services Unit is seeking volunteers who are over 21 and have a reliable car and cell phone to work four four-hour shifts per month for a year. The next training session begins March 18. See website for complete details.

FREE TAX PREPARATION Go online for a list of locations, hours of operation, a list of forms to bring, and other helpful tips to prepare your tax returns with the help of a professional. Participants must make less than $50,000 a year. Through Mon., April 15 610-7374. Free.

SLOW MONEY AUSTIN SPRING PITCHFEST DEADLINE Slow Money Austin is looking for local food and sustainably minded business who are trying to raise money to grow. They have been soliciting short, two- to three-minute pitch videos from local entrepreneurs and the deadline is March 18. Go online for more info.

PARKS & REC LIFEGUARD RECRUITMENT The city is looking for a few good lifeguards, pool managers, and swim instructors. Call to find out more. 400 Deep Eddy Ave.

BUDGET IN A BOX How should Austin spend its money? Let city leaders know. Participants will be asked to decide to increase, decrease, or maintain current funding levels for common city services. Accumulated feedback will be taken into consideration as the city develops its proposed 2014 budget this summer. 512/974-2324.