Seattle shelter encourages being kind to animals

Seattle Animal Shelter is celebrating the 93rd annual "Be Kind to Animals Week" this week.

The shelter is encouraging families to spend more time with their animals. They are also encouraging people to do things to show kindness to other animals by spaying or neutering their pets, creating unique spaces for wildlife, reporting animal abuse or neglect, volunteering at your local animal shelter and speaking out on the importance of respecting animals.

More information is available at www.americanhumane.org.

Civic calendar

Rwanda Human Rights Leader to Speak

Today: Gasana Mutesi, president of the nonprofit organization Amani Africa, is visiting Seattle as part of a U.S. lecture tour to educate Americans about the current status of human rights and development efforts in Rwanda. 7 p.m. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle. (206-652-4255 or www.africagrassroots.org)

Community Partnerships Fair

Wednesday: An event to showcase the service learning efforts of students, faculty and staff at University of Washington, Bothell and Cascadia Community College. 3-7 p.m. North Creek Events Center, 18345 Campus Way N.E.(www.uwb.edu)

Discussion on Seattle Center Skatepark

Thursday: The Skatepark Design Team will present schematic designs based on input from the March meeting and from comments sent in. The team will continue to take comments, answer questions and lead attendees through the skatepark design and planning process. 6:30-8 p.m. Shaw Room in the Northwest Rooms at the Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St., Seattle. (www.vdz.ca or www.seattlecenter.com)

Here & Now is compiled by Seattle Times lead news assistant Jordan Dawson. To submit an item, e-mail herenow@seattletimes.com or call 206-464-2226.

May 6, 1968: E. J. Brisker, a leader of the University of Washington Black Student Union, presented five demands to improve recruitment and treatment of minority students. Additional demands were presented on May 17, 1968. The Black Student Union led the effort to win the establishment of several key programs at the University of Washington, including the American Ethnic Studies Department and the Office of Minority Affairs. The organization continues to be active on campus.

Source: Historylink.org