Keeping gardeners

Wednesday, May 5, join the Neighborhood Parks Council and San Francisco Neighborhood Parks in a rally and press conference to save the parks. If the Board of Supervisors approves proposed budget cuts, the Recreation and Park Department will have lost 40 percent of its General Fund contribution in three years. 3 p.m., City Hall steps, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl., S.F. (415) 641-3260.

Watching the media

Wednesday, May 5, join a discussion on media reform and consolidation with Bob McChesney, cofounder of media reform group Free Press. John Nichols, Washington, D.C., correspondent for the Nation, and Jerry Mander, president of the International Forum on Globalization, join him at the event sponsored by Media Alliance, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, and other media watchdog groups. Reception 5:30-6:30 p.m., UC Berkeley, North Gate Hall Library, Hearst at Euclid, Berk. $25, $20 for Media Alliance members and students. Program 7 p.m., Wheeler Auditorium, UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph, Berk. $7, $5 for Media Alliance members and students. (415) 546-6334, ext. 300.

'Brown v. Board' anniversary

Thursday, May 6, for the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the Bar Association of San Francisco hosts speakers Jack Greenberg, an attorney on the historic case and professor of law at Columbia University, and Melba Patillo Beals, professor at the Dominican University of California and one of the nine plaintiffs in the case. Proceeds benefit BASF's Bay Area Minority Law Student Scholarship Program. Registration 11:30 a.m., program noon, Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery, S.F. $60, $50 for members. (415) 982-1600, www.sfbar.org (advance registration).

Community arts forum

Thursday, May 6, join author and founder of 826 Valencia Dave Eggers and Mayor Gavin Newsom in a conversation about the mayor's arts proposals. A reception follows the question-and-answer session. Program 6-7 p.m., War Memorial Performing Arts Center, Green Room, 401 Van Ness, S.F. Free. (415) 621-6600.

Finance the poor

Thursday, May 6, experts Bruce Wydick of the University of San Francisco, Elisabeth Sadoulet of UC Berkeley, and Barbara Lamb Hall of the Village Enterprise Fund address questions of how credit and lending have improved economic and social conditions in the developing world. Reception 6:30 p.m., panel 7 p.m., Flood Building, Room 1185, 870 Market, S.F. $5 donation. (415) 283-4873.

Be an activist

Friday, May 7, singer-songwriter and working-class champion Utah Phillips and Karen Pickett of Earth First! lead this month's installment of the series "So How'd You Become an Activist?" 7 p.m., Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar, Berk. $5, $3 for students. (415) 927-1645.

Anti-garage party

Saturday, May 8, enjoy music and raise money for the legal effort to stop the building of an underground garage in Golden Gate Park. Performers include Alan Tower, Enzo Garcia, ShotGun Diva, and others. 8 p.m., Hotel Dorland, 207 Dorland, S.F. $5 donation requested. murphy_chick@hotmail.com.

Fair-trade advocacy

Saturday, May 8, create a strong regional fair-trade advocates group at the Bay Area Meeting of the Fair Trade Minds. Join a campaign or get help with your own effort to increase fair-trade commerce in the Bay Area. 12:30-4:30 p.m., Global Exchange, Ste. 303, 2017 Mission, S.F. Free. (415) 558-6938.

Neighborhood history

Saturday, May 8, head to the Mission Branch Library for a look into the neighborhood's colorful past, as the facility transforms its walls into a community photo album. The city's public library system is undertaking similar projects in other neighborhoods to ensure historical preservation of underrepresented communities. Reception 1-5 p.m., San Francisco Public Library, Mission branch, 300 Bartlett, S.F. Free. (415) 557-4277.

Brown punditry

Monday, May 10, former mayor and speaker of the California State Assembly Willie Brown delivers a lecture focusing on national and regional issues. Check-in 5:15 p.m., program 6 p.m., Commonwealth Club of California, second floor, 595 Market, S.F. $18, free for members. (415) 597-6705 (RSVP).

Cover the uninsured

Monday, May 10, as part of Cover the Uninsured Week, staff from Chinese Hospital, Chinese Health Coalition, the San Francisco Health Plan, and other community health organizations provide information to residents of Chinatown on local resources and health coverage options. 1-4 p.m., Chinese Hospital, 835 Jackson, S.F. (510) 465-3029.

Using surplus land

Monday, May 10, San Francisco community housing groups organize to tell city officials of the need to earmark unused city property for low-income housing and to support legislation that sets aside surplus land. A procession to two city properties follows the testimonial session. 6 p.m., St. Paul's Church, 930 Gough, S.F. (415) 346-3740, ext. 313.

District Six town hall

Wednesday, May 12, city officials and residents of the Tenderloin, South of Market, and mid-Market neighborhoods are invited to attend a meeting to voice issues relevant to their district. 6 p.m., Gene Friend Recreation Center, 270 Sixth St., S.F. (415) 921-4192.