In the final push before Vanderbilt’s Thanksgiving break, it’s seemingly impossible to think about anything except the comforts of home and family. However, between Lambda’s Queersgiving, “The Art of Resistance,” Vandy Cooks and more, there are plenty of opportunities to head home feeling centered and in the right seasonal mindset. Explore below to see what campus and Nashville have to offer in the next five days.

Disclaimer: Source of event information is Anchor Link and Facebook 

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What: Vanderbilt SPEAR Food Waste Symposium
When: Tuesday, November 14 at 6:00 PM CST to  8:00 PM CST
Where: Commons Center MPR
Why: Vanderbilt SPEAR, in conjunction with OACS, VIVS and VFJ, will host a food waste symposium. This event will feature a food tasting from restaurants participating in Mayor Barry’s Food Waste Challenge. It will be followed by a panel made up of NGO representatives, government personnel, corporate employees and restaurateurs, each talking about their role in food waste reduction.
Who: Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility

What: China Talk Series: U.S.-China Relations: A Personal Perspective
When: Tuesday, November 14 at 7:00 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Wilson Hall 115
Why: There will be a talk with former diplomat Morton Holbrook III, who helped establish the first American embassy in the People’s Republic of China. He will also touch on contemporary issues in U.S.-China relations.
Who: Global China Connection

What: Erin Schrode on Activism
When: Wednesday, November 15 at 6:30 PM CST to 7:30 PM CST
Where: Vanderbilt Hillel (Grins) 2421 Vanderbilt Pl, TN
Why: “Erin Schrode is a citizen activist, social entrepreneur and writer that ran an unprecedented campaign for US Congress in California. Since co-founding Turning Green in 2005, she has developed eco education and action platforms to inspire, educate, and mobilize millions of students and the global public. This community organizer champions civic leadership, conscious living and environmental stewardship worldwide.”
Who: Dores for Israel (DFI)

What: International Education Week: Beyond Borders: Global Citizenship and Feminism in the 21st Century
When: Wednesday, November 15 at 6:30 PM CST to 7:30 PM CST
Where: Kissam Multipurpose Room
Why: Join Feminism 101 in a discussion on transnational feminism: what it is, how it applies to Western feminists and how to make your feminism transnational. Bring your dinner, there will be desserts.
Who: Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center

What: A Night in Nashville: The Homeless Experience
When: Wednesday, November 15 at 6:00 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Sarratt Cinema
Why: Alpha Phi Omega has partnered with Nashville’s local street newspaper, The Contributor, to bring a night of reflection and service to Vanderbilt’s campus. The Contributor‘s currently and formerly homeless vendors will share the poetry they’ve written about their life experiences and discuss what it’s like to be homeless in Nashville. There will be free food and great conversation.
Who: Alpha Phi Omega

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What: Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball at Belmont
When: Monday, November 13 at 6:30 PM CST
Where: Curb Center
Why: Take a quick trip down the road to Belmont to see the Commodores take on the Belmont Bruins

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What: The Art of Resistance
When: Monday, November 13 at 7:00 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Kissam Hall Multipurpose Room
Why: In honor of Native American Recognition Month, “The Art of Resistance” will feature American Indian artists/performers who celebrate their indigenous cultures in traditional and modern forms. As part of a three-part event, the event will feature: a Tohono O’odham (Papago) activist/poet, professional singer with a song in Diné (Navajo) and traditional indigenous dancers.
Who: Vanderbilt Warren and Moore Colleges; Native Americans in Tennessee Interacting at Vanderbilt (NATIVe); Vanderbilt American Indian Science and Engineering Society (VAISES)

What: 2017 OACS Global Service Symposium
When: Thursday, November 16 at 3:30 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where: Alumni Hall 100
Why:In partnership with International Education Week, Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff are invited to the second annual OACS Global Service. This is an opportunity to speak with students from the 2017 OACS Global Service cohorts about their six week summer engagements with community partners in Rabat, Morocco; Port Elizabeth, South Africa; London, England and Quito, Ecuador, where they learned about inequities and systemic injustice within the context of issues such as human rights, education, public health and community development through direct service and capacity-building initiatives.
Who: Active Citizenship and Service

What: Through Her Eyes: Women’s Role in Native American Society
When: Friday, November 17 at 12:00 PM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where: Sarratt 216/220
Why: Native American Pazetta Mallette will speak about the history and heritage of the Choctaw Indian Tribe to give a new perspective to Vanderbilt students. Traditional Thanksgiving samples will also be provided for the audience.
Who: Inclusion Initiatives & Cultural Competence

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What: Fall Faculty Appreciation Luncheon
When: Monday, November 13 at 11:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Student Life Center Ballroom
Why: The Greek Community & Order of Omega Honor Society are hosting the Fall Faculty Appreciation Luncheon to extend gratitude toward professors and to recognize students’ academic achievements. There will be lunch and opportunities to interact with professors outside of the classroom.
Who: Office of Greek Life

What: Queersgiving
When: Tuesday, November 14 at 7:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: K.C. Potter Center 312 West Side Row, Nashville, TN
Why: Queersgiving is the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving Lambda-style with found family and cozy community. The dishes will be prepared by Lambda members themselves, and food will marked with appropriate dietary information. Lambda will purchase all ingredients needed and provide a space to make a dish. If you’d like to cook for this event, fill out this form: https://goo.gl/forms/2wCSflPpwkSFLtwY2
Who: Vanderbilt Lambda Association

What: Latin Vibes at HardRock Cafe
When: Wednesday, November 15 at 8:00 PM CST
Where: Hard Rock Cafe Nashville
Why: This event is the most anticipated and largest monthly salsa event in Nashville. It is sure to be a night filled with great music, good food and plenty of dancing. Whether your best moves are salsa, bachata or merengue, this party is the time to show off your skills. The Latin Vibes Rooftop Party has a $5 cover to enter.

What: Vandy Cooks-Fall, a Time for Sharing the Harvest
When: Friday, November 17 at 12:00 PM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Vanderbilt Recreation & Wellness Center-Teaching Kitchen 2700 Children’s Way
Why: Sous Chef Austin Irvin will lead November’s free cooking demonstration, Vandy Cooks. Chef Irvin is the chef for the Vanderbilt University Campus Dining and is passionate about sharing his culinary expertise with the Vanderbilt community. November’s healthy cooking demonstration is “Fall, a Time for Sharing the Harvest.” The featured recipe is Roasted Fall Squash with Freekeh and Kale. Take away ideas and recipes for foods to share at all of your upcoming gatherings with family and friends.
Who: Vanderbilt Recreation and Wellness Center

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What: Les Misérables
When: Tuesday, November 14 to Sunday, November 19
Where: Tennessee Performing Arts Center
Why: “Les Misérables” is a special Broadway at TPAC season in TPAC’s Andrew Jackson Hall. Cameron Mackintosh presents the new production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, “Les Misérables,” direct from an acclaimed two-and-a-half-year return to Broadway. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, “Les Misérables” tells an unforgettable story of heartbreak, passion, and the resilience of the human spirit. This epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.

What: Faculty Dinner: Professor Korn
When: Wednesday, November 15 at 5:45 PM CST to 7:15 PM CST
Where; Branscomb Quadrangle
Why: Stapleton House will be hosting a faculty dinner with Professor Mitchell Korn, a professor at the Blair School of Music. Professor Korn has been described by the Wall Street Journal as a “one-man arts education industry.” He plans to share his experience in community service through the arts, cultural strategic planning and his various faculty positions.
Who: Branscomb Quadrangle

What: WHO KNEW Presents: An Evening with Music Supervisors
When: Thursday, November 16 at 5:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: City Winery Nashville
Why: WHO KNEW is back with the “pitch” style event featuring eight artists, which will perform one song each before a panel of A-List music supervisors. It’s “Shark Tank” for music sync and promises to be very entertaining and informative. Tickets can be bought here: http://www.citywinery.com/nashville/whoknew111617.html
Who: Music Row Search

What: Coffeehouse
When: Thursday, November 16 at 8:30 PM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: McGill TV Lounge (Downstairs)
Why: All are welcome to McGill’s open-mic night. McGill empowers guests to enjoy and share poetry, music, improvisational theatre, artwork, narratives and any other creative endeavors. There will be free snacks, good company and good vibes.
Who: McGill Project

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What: International Relations: Creating Healthy Relationships Across Cultures
When: Tuesday, November 14 at 5:30 PM CST to 6:30 PM CST
Where: Buttrick 102
Why: Relationships that are formed in college can be life changing, introduce us to new perspectives, and can open our eyes to different cultures.  But what happens when relational expectations do not align? In the first half of the presentation Project Safe will discuss cross cultural differences in dating/intimate/romantic relationships. The second half of the presentation with focus on the importance of boundaries, communication and expectations in relationships. This presentation discusses the importance of healthy boundaries across different types of relationships, particularly when immersed in other cultures. Participants will learn to think about what their own boundaries are, how to understand someone else’s boundaries and how to navigate relationships when their own boundaries are not being respected.
Who: Project Safe

What: Meditation on the Lawn at Alumni Lawn
When: Wednesday, November 15 at 12:00 PM CST to 12:45 PM CST
Where: Alumni Lawn
Why: This class will incorporate techniques aimed at relaxing the nervous system. It uses slow gentle movements that are aligned with your breathing. This on campus event is open to the Vanderbilt community, and mats will be provided.
Who: Vanderbilt Recreation and Wellness Center

What: Transgender Day of Remembrance in Nashville
When: Thursday, November 16 at 7:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Scarritt Bennett Center
Why: Since 1999, International Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) has occurred annually on Nov. 20 as a day to memorialize those who have been killed as a result of anti-transgender violence and transphobia. TDOR brings attention to the continued violence endured by the transgender community and our resilience throughout difficult and demeaning times. This special day also allows for the transgender leaders of Nashville to come together and share space with our communities and loved ones. A reception with light refreshments and community organizations/organizers will follow the ceremony.

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