Naked City

The ProTex Statewide Conference "Building a Better Texas: Mobilizing Progressive Power in Our State" is billed as a one-of-a-kind opportunity for social, environmental, and economic justice advocates from all over Texas to unite. The event, to be held Jan. 24-25 at St. Edward's University, is sponsored by Consumers Union, Center for Public Policy Priorities, ACLU of Texas, Gray Panthers, and Texas Alliance for Human Needs. Info: www.protex.org/conference. To learn about volunteer opportunities (and get free pizza), go to the ProTex office at 1506 S. First on Friday, Jan. 10, at 5:30pm -- RSVP at 441-3003 by 3pm today (Thursday) or e-mail ssmith@protex.org.

The citizens of Webberville will vote Feb. 1 on whether to incorporate the eastern Travis Co. settlement; on Saturday, Jan. 11, the Village of Webberville community group will hold a fundraiser and forum at Big Webberville Park on FM 969, 12:30-4pm. Candidates for Webberville's three prospective City Council seats will speak, along with Travis Co. officials. Visit www.webberville.org to learn more.

Austin's 10th annual celebration of Martin Luther King Day kicks off at 6pm Sunday, Jan. 12, at the Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez, with a keynote address by former UN ambassador and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young and a performance by the Boys Choir of Harlem. Tickets are $5-15. Other events, coordinated by the Austin Area Heritage Council, will include a Youth Legacy Awards ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 19, and a march and rally, beginning at Huston-Tillotson College, on MLK Day itself, Monday, Jan. 20. To learn more, call 498-4MLK (498-4655) or visit www.mlkday.com.

Austin Police Monitor Iris Jones will hold community forums on racial profiling, featuring multimedia presentations, speakers, and breakout sessions on how to define, recognize, and respond to the banned police practice. The first event will be Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 6pm at the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex, 1156 Hargrave. Call 974-9090 for more info.