http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org Most recent posts at Harriet Tubman Center News & Updates posterous.com 42.368137-82.993141HarrietTubmanCenterBloghttp://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesSubscribe with PlusmoSubscribe with The Free DictionarySubscribe with Bitty BrowserSubscribe with Live.comSubscribe with Excite MIXSubscribe with WebwagSubscribe with Podcast ReadySubscribe with WikioSubscribe with Daily Rotation Thu, 24 May 2012 09:00:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/B4zUZjfjh14/a-call-to-action-detroit-night-walks http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/a-call-to-action-detroit-night-walks <p> <p>Source: <a href="http://detroit2020.com/2012/05/24/a-call-to-action-detroit-night-walks/" target="_blank">detroit2020.com</a></p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile6.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-05-25/FonFBDDrtvpFzidEuyawkznmGwxBwvhDislmmtBydupwcoadalifCBztHwlI/night-walks-ff.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Night-walks-ff" height="300" src="http://getfile1.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-05-25/FonFBDDrtvpFzidEuyawkznmGwxBwvhDislmmtBydupwcoadalifCBztHwlI/night-walks-ff.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> Photo: detroit2020.com</p> <p>More than 30 clergy members are teaming up with law enforcement with a call for a cease fire in Detroit. It&rsquo;s called Detroit Night Walks.</p> <p>After months of ongoing violent crime, the clergy members are calling for calm and asking for others to join them in upcoming trainings for Detroit Night Walks.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">The clergy team, led by Bishop Edgar Vann of Second Ebenezer Church and Pastor James Warfield of Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, have already committed to Detroit Night Walks in targeted areas of the city.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">&ldquo;We have churches in all corners of Detroit, but we want to fill in as many neighborhoods as possible with a peaceful, but powerful presence,&rdquo; Pastor Warfield said.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Detroit has 468 crimes per square mile. The national average is 39 crimes per square mile.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Both clergy and lay people are invited to two trainings on Friday, May 25th and Friday, June 15th. In addition, prayer rallies to end the violence are planned at five churches on Saturday, May 26th.</p> <p><strong>Friday, May 25th</strong></p> <p>Phase 1 of Detroit Night Walks Training</p> <p>6-7:30 p.m.</p> <p>Second Ebenezer Church</p> <p>14601 Dequindre</p> <p>First Night Walk:</p> <p><strong>Friday, May 25th</strong></p> <p>7:30 p.m.</p> <p>Solomon&rsquo;s Temple</p> <p>2341 E. 7 Mile</p> <p><strong>Saturday, May 26th</strong>:&nbsp; Youth Prayer Rally at five Detroit Churches at 2pm, with prayer at exactly 3:13 p.m.</p> <p><strong>-Eastern Region</strong>: Second Ebenezer Baptist Church</p> <p><strong>-Northwest Region</strong>: Lighthouse Community Church, 15820 Wyoming, Detroit</p> <p><strong>-West Region</strong>: Third New Hope (West Campus), 5439 West Warren Ave., Detroit</p> <p><strong>-Midtown Region</strong>: Citadel of Faith Covenant Church, 1419 West Warren Ave., Detroit</p> <p><strong>-Southwest Region</strong>: Grace In Action, 7725 West Vernor, Detroit</p> <p style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/a-call-to-action-detroit-night-walks">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/a-call-to-action-detroit-night-walks#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=B4zUZjfjh14:1rBgLXIaNj0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=B4zUZjfjh14:1rBgLXIaNj0:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=B4zUZjfjh14:1rBgLXIaNj0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=B4zUZjfjh14:1rBgLXIaNj0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=B4zUZjfjh14:1rBgLXIaNj0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=B4zUZjfjh14:1rBgLXIaNj0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/B4zUZjfjh14" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/a-call-to-action-detroit-night-walks Thu, 24 May 2012 04:16:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/LCztRgvNZyQ/detroit-clergy-launch-prayer-walks-youth-rall http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/detroit-clergy-launch-prayer-walks-youth-rall <p> <p><a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20120524/NEWS01/205240444/Detroit-clergy-la" target="_blank">Gina Damron/Detroit Free Press</a></p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile8.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-05-25/bHogxxrCoGsioFynJpyjeJDJuncJeAmnxskErrrcAcyElfJqatJjrDFjkDry/freep_night_walks.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Freep_night_walks" height="281" src="http://getfile5.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-05-25/bHogxxrCoGsioFynJpyjeJDJuncJeAmnxskErrrcAcyElfJqatJjrDFjkDry/freep_night_walks.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr., joins Detroit clergy to announce a new crime-fighting initiative Wednesday called Detroit Night Walks. Godbee said the program will address intervention and prevention when it comes to dealing with crime in the community. / Photos by BRIAN KAUFMAN/Detroit Free Press</em></span></p> <div class="content-wrap" style="float: none;"> <div class="gel-content"> <div class="gel-pane gpagediv"> <p>Detroit's clergy is sending a message to criminals in the city: Enough.</p> <p>Church and law enforcement leaders announced on Wednesday the launch of an initiative called Detroit Night Walks, in which local clergy will hold peaceful walks through neighborhoods across the city.</p> <p>"Too many people in our neighborhoods and in our communities are being preyed upon," said the Rev. Jerome Warfield, a member of the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners. "We want to reverse that trend, and pray for and pray with our various neighborhoods."</p> <p>The first walk is expected to be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday after Night Walks training, which begins at 6 p.m. at Second Ebenezer Church on Dequindre. On Saturday, five Detroit churches will hold youth prayer rallies.</p> <p>More than 30 churches already have joined the effort.</p> <p>The initiative is a component of Operation Ceasefire, which started years ago in Boston and is expected to soon be implemented in Detroit. The effort focuses on meeting with young offenders to talk about and provide resources on alternatives to crime.</p> <p>U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said Ceasefire aims to drill down on individuals to identify those most responsible for gang violence and violent crimes.</p> <p>"Say, 'We know who you are, we care about you, we want you to be successful, here are some services that might be helpful to you, but if you become part of the problem and if you victimize people in our community, we the collective are not going to tolerate it, and you will be prosecuted and put in prison,' " she said.</p> <p>Quentin McKinnon, a junior at Cody Detroit Institute of Technology and a member of the Youth Voice Clergy Team, said he is happy for the launch of the initiative. Two years ago, he was robbed at gunpoint while waiting at a bus stop.</p> <p>"That was my first time being robbed, and I didn't know what to do," he said. "It was a scary experience for me."</p> <p>Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr. said Night Walks will address intervention and prevention when it comes to dealing with crime in the community.</p> <p>Earlier this week, he said, three teenagers were shot. One was killed. They were gang members, Godbee said. With the help of a local religious leader, police were able to talk to other gang members to prevent retaliation.</p> <p>Meaningful interventions, Godbee said, are important.</p> <p>"Today's shooting victim in a gang is tomorrow's shooter," he said.</p> <p><em> Contact Gina Damron: 313-223-4526 or <a href="mailto:gdamron@freepress.com">gdamron@freepress.com</a> </em></p> </div> </div> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/detroit-clergy-launch-prayer-walks-youth-rall">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/detroit-clergy-launch-prayer-walks-youth-rall#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=LCztRgvNZyQ:erih48BF6-Q:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=LCztRgvNZyQ:erih48BF6-Q:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=LCztRgvNZyQ:erih48BF6-Q:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=LCztRgvNZyQ:erih48BF6-Q:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=LCztRgvNZyQ:erih48BF6-Q:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=LCztRgvNZyQ:erih48BF6-Q:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/LCztRgvNZyQ" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/detroit-clergy-launch-prayer-walks-youth-rall Wed, 23 May 2012 12:39:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/C3J9AYhWfs8/clergy-wants-detroit-cease-fire-kicks-off-cri http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/clergy-wants-detroit-cease-fire-kicks-off-cri <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile5.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-05-23/FcqxgwlatuHsvqlqDzxFlofvtslDJuHEflspdzrGfwcjIDznqjhkqEyDxHpE/YV_Clergy_press_conf_posterous.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Yv_clergy_press_conf_posterous" height="298" src="http://getfile1.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-05-23/FcqxgwlatuHsvqlqDzxFlofvtslDJuHEflspdzrGfwcjIDznqjhkqEyDxHpE/YV_Clergy_press_conf_posterous.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p>Photo: Harriet Tubman Center</p> <p><a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120523/METRO01/205230416/1361/Clergy-wants-cease-fire--kicks-off-crime-prevention" target="_blank">BY ORALANDAR BRAND-WILLIAMS / THE DETROIT NEWS</a></p> <p>Detroit&mdash; Ministers representing about 30 local churches called for a cease-fire of violence in the city and officially unveiled a crime prevention program today at a news conference at Detroit Police headquarters</p> <p>The community program, "Detroit Night Walks,"will involve pastors and church members walking parts of the city in an anti-crime effort.</p> <p>Training for the program will begin as early as Friday, said Rev. Edgar Vann II, one of the key organizers of the program and pastor of Second Ebenezer Church in Detroit. There also will be a youth-led, anti-violence rally Saturday at five participating churches.</p> <p>Detroit Night Walks is a component of the Cease Fire program used in other cities with crime problems.</p> <p>"We want this to become like a new Neighborhood Watch," said Vann, referencing the nation-wide crime prevention program usually facilitated by a local law enforcement agency. Vann and the other pastors were joined by Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade and other local law enforcement officials.</p> <p>"We're calling for a cease-fire in the city, said Vann today.</p> <p>The program, said Vann, is also aimed at "changing hearts, changing minds and changing lives."</p> <p>Godbee said the input of community organizations is very important to dealing with the crime issue in the city and that "we need to level every community organization," in the fight against crime.</p> <p>"This is community commitment," Godbee said about the Detroit Nights Walks and Cease Fire programs. "This is community driven."</p> <p>Brazen and burgeoning crime incidents in many of the city's neighborhood have residents worried what the summer will bring.</p> <p>Last week, the city made national headlines after Rev. Marvin Winans, a Grammy Award-winning gospel artist and pastor of Perfecting Church was carjacked and assaulted at a CITGO gas station on Linwood and Davison.</p> <p>McQuade praised the group's efforts saying, "we will not let Detroit be defined by violence."</p> <p>"We're going to be part of the solution," said McQuade, who met with Vann and others a year ago about community programs aimed at reducing crime in the city.</p> <p>McQuade said cities such as Chicago, Boston and Memphis have used the Cease Fire program, which is funded by the U.S. Justice Department as part of community groups' efforts to stamp out violence.</p> <p>Cody High School junior Quentin McKinnon, a member of the YOUTH VOICE Clergy Team, said he is happy to see the churches getting involved.</p> <p>McKinnon, 16, said he was attacked two years ago at a bus stop on the way home from school.</p> <p>"I was startled and scared," said McKinnon, who said he began to "switch up" his routes to get to and from school to avoid being attacked again</p> <p>"People are still being (attacked)," said McKinnon. "How many more people are going to be jumped? How many more people are going to be hurt?"</p> <p><a href="mailto:bwilliams@detnews.com">bwilliams@detnews.com</a></p> <p>(313) 222-2027</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/clergy-wants-detroit-cease-fire-kicks-off-cri">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/clergy-wants-detroit-cease-fire-kicks-off-cri#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=C3J9AYhWfs8:4qowBBVi05o:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=C3J9AYhWfs8:4qowBBVi05o:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=C3J9AYhWfs8:4qowBBVi05o:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=C3J9AYhWfs8:4qowBBVi05o:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=C3J9AYhWfs8:4qowBBVi05o:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=C3J9AYhWfs8:4qowBBVi05o:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/C3J9AYhWfs8" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/clergy-wants-detroit-cease-fire-kicks-off-cri Wed, 23 May 2012 04:36:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/_NMb_spdChM/clergy-broker-partnership-with-law-enforcemen http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/clergy-broker-partnership-with-law-enforcemen <p> <p>LAUNCH INCLUDES A WEEKEND OF TRAINING AND PRAYER DEDICATED TO<br />ENDING THE VIOLENCE</p> <p>Follows the nationally renowned &ldquo;Boston TenPoint Coalition&rdquo; Strategy</p> <p>Detroit, MI &ndash; In just two months, more than 30 clergy and their congregations have answered the call to work with law enforcement on an initiative called &ldquo;Detroit Night Walks.&rdquo; &ldquo;Today&rsquo;s press conference is a call to action for more to join us. We have churches in all corners of Detroit, but we want to fill in as many neighborhoods as possible with a peaceful, but powerful presence,&rdquo; said Detroit Police Commissioner Pastor James Warfield of Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church. &ldquo;We are not evangelizing, yet we are sending a spiritual message and hopefully opening up the lines of communication in the neighborhood,&rdquo; said Bishop Edgar L. Vann II of Second Ebenezer Church. The two joined forces to launch &ldquo;Detroit Night Walks,&rdquo; as a strategy to help build community engagement and community trust. &ldquo;Organizing to help prevent crime and stabilize our neighborhoods,&rdquo; are the words of Minister James Booker, an organizer of the newly formed YOUTH VOICE Clergy Team of the Harriet Tubman Center. The reasons are obvious &ndash; according to the F.B.I., Detroit has 468 crimes per square mile and the national median is 39 crimes per square mile. &ldquo;Too many are living in fear. Too many vulnerable are being preyed upon. Everyday counts, we have a sense of urgency around Detroit Night Walks,&rdquo; said Vann.</p> <p><br />Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee understands the community plays an integral role in crime prevention, and has consistently asked them to be the eyes and ears in their neighborhoods. &ldquo;Night Walks takes this concept one step further and adds the presence of clergy with lay people. Clergy have the ability to broker trust in the community and their presence will be welcomed,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Night Walks,&rdquo; is a component of the CEASE FIRE gun violence prevention strategy endorsed by the U.S. Department of Justice. &ldquo;We are implementing CEASE FIRE in Detroit, which includes prevention, intervention and enforcement. We are most grateful to the clergy who are organizing Detroit Night Walks,&rdquo; said U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade. &ldquo;We need the community to work with law enforcement and this program exemplifies the prevention side of CEASE FIRE,&rdquo; she said.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">YOUTH VOICE Chief of Staff of the Executive Board, Quentin McKinnon, a junior at Cody Detroit Institute of Technology, is especially happy about Detroit Night Walks launching. &ldquo;We really need CEASE FIRE now. People are getting jumped, robbed and beaten at my school&rsquo;s bus stop. It is one thing to talk about crime prevention, but we really need to do something now,&rdquo; he said.<br />Two trainings for &ldquo;Night Walks,&rdquo; will take place in May and June and a youth-led prayer rally will take place at five churches on May 26 (see information below).</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Clergy and laypeople are invited to the following programs to launch Detroit Night Walks:</span></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>- May 25: Phase I of the Detroit Night Walks Training called &ldquo;Violence as a Disease,&rdquo; presented by Pastor Michael McBride, Director of PICO CEASEFIRE/Lifelines in Oakland, California. Presented by YOUTH VOICE &amp; THE YOUTH VOICE CLERGY TEAM.</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Friday, May 25<br />6pm-7:30pm<br />Second Ebenezer Church<br />14601 Dequindre<br />Followed by the first &ldquo;Night Walk&rdquo; at Solomon&rsquo;s Temple @ 7:30pm<br /><strong>2341 E. 7 Mile Road</strong></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><strong>- May 26: 313 Youth Prayer Rally at five Detroit Churches at 2pm, with prayer at exactly 3:13pm. More than 2,000 youth are anticipated across the five churches.</strong></p> <ol> <li>Second Ebenezer Church, Bishop Edgar L. Vann II, Senior Pastor (Eastern Region) &ndash;</li> <li>Lighthouse Community Church, Rev. Lemar A. Tabb (Northwest region)</li> <li>15820 Wyoming Detroit, MI 48238</li> <li>Third New Hope (West Campus), Dr. E. L. Branch, Senior Pastor (West region)</li> <li>5439 West Warren Detroit, MI 48210</li> <li>Citadel of Faith Covenant Church, Rev. Harvey Carey, Senior Pastor (Midtown region)</li> <li>1419 W. Warren Ave., Detroit, MI 48208</li> <li>Grace In Action, John Cummings, Senior Pastor (Southwest region) 7725 West Vernor Detroit, MI 48209</li> </ol> <p><strong>- June 15: Phase II of Training for Detroit Night Walks &ndash; Location and Times TBD.</strong></p> <p><br />For information on the YOUTH VOICE CLERGY TEAM and trainings, contact Minister James Booker at 313.401.9661 or email <a href="mailto:james.booker@tubmanorganizing.org">james.booker@tubmanorganizing.org</a>.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/clergy-broker-partnership-with-law-enforcemen">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/clergy-broker-partnership-with-law-enforcemen#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=_NMb_spdChM:yoXIVVBaSSw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=_NMb_spdChM:yoXIVVBaSSw:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=_NMb_spdChM:yoXIVVBaSSw:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=_NMb_spdChM:yoXIVVBaSSw:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=_NMb_spdChM:yoXIVVBaSSw:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=_NMb_spdChM:yoXIVVBaSSw:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/_NMb_spdChM" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/clergy-broker-partnership-with-law-enforcemen Wed, 09 May 2012 07:26:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/4XLaoOcXaX0/street-court-to-start-in-june http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/street-court-to-start-in-june <p> <p><span class="pp"><a href="http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20120508/NEWS01/305080015/Street-Court-start-June-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Cimg%7CFrontpage&amp;nclick_check=1" target="_blank">Trace Christenson/The Enquirer</a></span></p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Battle_creek_2" height="453" src="http://getfile0.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-05-17/xHEJxEztspheeDcgqealBpHwBzlhEyInGyHIjztuiknskuwjlkqyrCeyJexd/battle_creek_2.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="300" /> </div> </p> <p><em>Angel Mosby said a program like Street Court might have helped her years ago. / Trace Christenson/The Enquirer</em></p> <p>Street Court might have helped Angel Mosby.</p> <p>&ldquo;If it would have been there, I would have had options,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I could have had options for community service.&rdquo;</p> <p>Mosby, 40, said she believes the new Street Court Battle Creek program means others can avoid jail and find ways to solve other problems.</p> <p>&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t have structure and no one to go to and talk to,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;There are so many options with Street Court.&rdquo;</p> <p>The program, proposed months ago for Battle Creek, is expected to begin in June with an initial caseload of about 30 people, officials said this week.</p> <p>&ldquo;We have a lot of people who have worked really hard,&rdquo; said Rev. Colleen Nelson, president of Creating Change. &ldquo;We are ready to start.&rdquo;</p> <p>&ldquo;We are going to do this thing,&rdquo; Calhoun County District Court Judge John Holmes added at a meeting Monday about the beginning of Street Court.</p> <p>The program is designed to help low-income people resolve non-violent misdemeanors and reduce or eliminate fees and costs. As part of the program, the participants must work with a service provider, like the Woman&rsquo;s Co-Op, S.A.F.E. Place or Haven of Rest, to eliminate offending behavior.</p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Battle_creek_1" height="513" src="http://getfile9.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-05-17/IanJDIIhfbgwystravzwABqmfAqEppvckumdmGyAbtqnFotrmtaIDnvthsDu/battle_creek_1.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="300" /> </div> </p> <p><em>Teresa Phillips, left, of the Woman&rsquo;s Co-Op and Rev. Colleen Nelson of Creating Change. / Trace Christenson/The Enquirer</em></p> <p>Teresa Phillips, executive director of the Woman&rsquo;s Co-Op, said some people just do bad things and will continue no matter what help they receive and so are not candidates for Street Court.</p> <p>&ldquo;But some of the people are good folks who do things because they are desperate,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If we can get to folks and the underlying cause of why they commit crimes, we can help.&rdquo;</p> <p>Some people will be identified by prosecutors when their cases are sent for review but others will surface as they seek help from social agencies.</p> <p>Phillips said a woman who was convicted of a minor crime and placed on probation completed it but because of her poverty was unable to pay her fines. The court then issued another warrant.</p> <p>Many of the people who qualify for Street Court are caught in the system because they are poor, Holmes agreed.</p> <p>&ldquo;This is aimed at poor people who can&rsquo;t deal with the system,&rdquo; Holmes said. &ldquo;They will have deferred prosecution or get them to do community service for their fines.&rdquo;</p> <p></p> <p>It also is designed to ensure that people are given some help for other problems, like poverty, education or mental health.</p> <p>&ldquo;We want to deal more with the person rather than the crime,&rdquo; he said.</p> <p>But Street Court can also save the courts and police money by eliminating jail time for minor crimes and time spent by police officers arresting offenders on warrants issued because of unpaid fines.</p> <p>Mosby, now employed full-time and with plans to work with the elderly and with youth who have drug problems, said she was charged with a felony for drugs as a teenager, a circumstance which would disqualify for Street Court. For people who might have a drug problem but are caught early on a shoplifting or other minor crime, it could be the signal of bigger problems and they can receive help.</p> <p>&ldquo;If they have Street Court for a misdemeanor, it will give them the ability to make the right choice. It would have given me a chance to sit back and consider the options,&rdquo; Mosby said.</p> <p>She said the program will allow low-income people to move out of the legal system.</p> <p>&ldquo;If they can&rsquo;t get their fees paid and they don&rsquo;t have a job, the court system is just enabling them to be failures. I think this will be a very powerful thing.&rdquo;</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/street-court-to-start-in-june">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/street-court-to-start-in-june#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=4XLaoOcXaX0:oVDrRexepP8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=4XLaoOcXaX0:oVDrRexepP8:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=4XLaoOcXaX0:oVDrRexepP8:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=4XLaoOcXaX0:oVDrRexepP8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=4XLaoOcXaX0:oVDrRexepP8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=4XLaoOcXaX0:oVDrRexepP8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/4XLaoOcXaX0" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/street-court-to-start-in-june Wed, 02 May 2012 10:27:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/rs7LnTSE108/michigan-clergy-members-discuss-ways-to-reduc http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/michigan-clergy-members-discuss-ways-to-reduc <p> <p><a href="http://www.michiganradio.org/post/michigan-clergy-members-discuss-ways-reduce-youth-violence" target="_blank">Steve Carmody/Michigan Radio</a></p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile7.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-05-02/eDFkyvBJpHpksbspiEfvmdpucwvgFoufeEouHhhmeDejuAmEondgqCJdCyaf/potpurri042612_004.JPG.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Potpurri042612_004" height="375" src="http://getfile3.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-05-02/eDFkyvBJpHpksbspiEfvmdpucwvgFoufeEouHhhmeDejuAmEondgqCJdCyaf/potpurri042612_004.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p><em>Photo by Steve Carmody/Michigan Radio</em></p> <p>A new group is trying to organize clergy members statewide to address the problem of youth violence in Michigan.</p> <p>The group Prophetic Voices gathered a Christian, Muslim and other religious leaders to a meeting in Lansing this past week.&nbsp;</p> <p>Reverend Ira Edwards is the spokesman for Prophetic Voices. &nbsp; He says youth violence is hurting more than just young people in Michigan.</p> <p>"Cause every time you have one youth kill another one&hellip;that&rsquo;s two families that have been destroyed," says Edwards, &nbsp;"And if we don&rsquo;t do something to stem the tide&hellip;then we&rsquo;re going to lose our youth. &nbsp; And when Satan can destroy the youth&hellip;he can destroy the nation.&rdquo;</p> <p>The religious leaders hope to expand their membership in the year ahead&hellip;and come up with ways to lessen youth violence in Michigan.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/michigan-clergy-members-discuss-ways-to-reduc">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/michigan-clergy-members-discuss-ways-to-reduc#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=rs7LnTSE108:H_6YtpMH_dg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=rs7LnTSE108:H_6YtpMH_dg:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=rs7LnTSE108:H_6YtpMH_dg:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=rs7LnTSE108:H_6YtpMH_dg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=rs7LnTSE108:H_6YtpMH_dg:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=rs7LnTSE108:H_6YtpMH_dg:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/rs7LnTSE108" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/michigan-clergy-members-discuss-ways-to-reduc Mon, 23 Apr 2012 05:00:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/DbzVj3w5oSo/mcc-training-launch-faith-into-action http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/mcc-training-launch-faith-into-action <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile3.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-04-24/wHGwktseHvoualbCBznjyIrAnwFzwtxcydjvEAmDfBkBEdgnlElHDipEDGih/DSC08016.JPG.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Dsc08016" height="375" src="http://getfile4.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-04-24/wHGwktseHvoualbCBznjyIrAnwFzwtxcydjvEAmDfBkBEdgnlElHDipEDGih/DSC08016.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://getfile9.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-04-24/DklgoaIfmuEGyuiDGxdvAEeECAlqgaBttutgnbDJyejtretjigICHmlIziIk/DSC08027.JPG.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Dsc08027" height="375" src="http://getfile7.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-04-24/DklgoaIfmuEGyuiDGxdvAEeECAlqgaBttutgnbDJyejtretjigICHmlIziIk/DSC08027.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://getfile3.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-04-24/iCocqItcwrzvdizgAdkeFisGEnyEaqtIrjEFrkuFvglgceuafjEGlmFIilsG/DSC08052.JPG.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Dsc08052" height="375" src="http://getfile7.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-04-24/iCocqItcwrzvdizgAdkeFisGEnyEaqtIrjEFrkuFvglgceuafjEGlmFIilsG/DSC08052.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://getfile7.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-04-24/hpxgicdponbshkkcfyekofuidDmuqsHbrvsebzgdojyvdjrCGpyxkmJwfhwB/DSC08085.JPG.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Dsc08085" height="375" src="http://getfile8.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-04-24/hpxgicdponbshkkcfyekofuidDmuqsHbrvsebzgdojyvdjrCGpyxkmJwfhwB/DSC08085.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/mcc-training-launch-faith-into-action">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p> <p>The Metro Coalition of Congregations (MCC) trained and commissioned over 65 key lay leaders from faith communities across metro Detroit on Saturday. The leaders gathered at Central Woodward Christian Church in Troy, Michigan, to be trained to lead their own congregations through the process of congregation-centered community organizing. Tubman organizers Luke Allen and Bill O'Brien led the group through discussion of key organizing concepts, and Tim Lilienthal of the PICO National Network gave a presentation on what congregations have accomplished through organizing across the United States. The leaders were then blessed and commissioned by the clergy of the MCC including Chairperson Pastor Ben Sandin, and Vice Chair Pastor John Harvey. The leaders will build a listening team within each congregation and return on May 19 to launch a listening campaign.</p> <p>For more information contact Luke Allen, Lead MCC Organizer, The Harriet Tubman Center: 313-870-7654, <a href="mailto:luke.allen@tubmanorganizing.org">luke.allen@tubmanorganizing.org</a>.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/mcc-training-launch-faith-into-action">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/mcc-training-launch-faith-into-action#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=DbzVj3w5oSo:FzuRm0y-Tg4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=DbzVj3w5oSo:FzuRm0y-Tg4:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=DbzVj3w5oSo:FzuRm0y-Tg4:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=DbzVj3w5oSo:FzuRm0y-Tg4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=DbzVj3w5oSo:FzuRm0y-Tg4:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=DbzVj3w5oSo:FzuRm0y-Tg4:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/DbzVj3w5oSo" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/mcc-training-launch-faith-into-action Sun, 15 Apr 2012 05:24:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/MUSA_eKhrHg/youth-voice-in-washington-dc http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-in-washington-dc <p> <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile7.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-04-24/cbBmFkJFzvwvDIvxsBGAAqvklcJfeueyfJodcFdqapdCosJwjIxfrehiJcHl/YV_DC_Trip.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Yv_dc_trip" height="250" src="http://getfile6.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-04-24/cbBmFkJFzvwvDIvxsBGAAqvklcJfeueyfJodcFdqapdCosJwjIxfrehiJcHl/YV_DC_Trip.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p>YOUTH VOICE President Lawrence Williams and Vice President Nicole Lassiter joined a delegation of Detroit officials in Washington D.C. for the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention earlier this month. Because of the city&rsquo;s struggle with youth violence, Detroit is one of six cities selected by the Department of Justice to be a part of the federal youth violence prevention plan.&nbsp;</p> <p>City representatives, including Detroit Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (YVPI) chair and former Deputy Mayor Saul Green, the Mayor&rsquo;s Chief Service Officer Annie Ellington, US Attorney Barbara McQuade, Chief of Police Ralph Godbee Jr.and other Detroit leaders, gave an update on the city&rsquo;s efforts to reduce youth violence and listened to presentations from federal officials and other city representatives.</p> <p>Williams and Lassiter were invited to attend the forum by the Detroit Youth Violence Prevention Initiative because of YOUTH VOICE&rsquo;s leadership on this issue.</p> <p>&ldquo;I was really glad we were there,&rdquo; Lassiter, who is also a junior at Cass Technical High School, said. &ldquo;Even though it was a youth violence forum there weren&rsquo;t very many youth there. I felt responsible to make sure my voice was heard and my perspectives were taken into account.&rdquo;</p> <p>The two-day event was packed with presentations and panel discussions of what other cities are doing to prevent youth violence. Williams, a senior at Southwestern High School, said the presentations put good pressure on the Detroit delegation to implement the programs Detroit has been discussing.</p> <p>&ldquo;It felt encouraging and inspiring to see the progress other cities have made in this issue,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It made me feel as if Detroit is not alone in this effort. With the data, and experience from other cities, we can all build a platform to end youth violence.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p> <p>After the trip, Detroit&rsquo;s YVPI is now tasked to take what they learned from the forum and apply it to their efforts. This past week, the group met to de-brief and discuss action steps to expand the work the group has accomplished.</p> <p>The two days in Washington were packed, but YOUTH VOICE and youth from other cities still got a chance to see some of the city and monuments.</p> <p>&ldquo;We, of course, didn&rsquo;t get a chance to see as much as I would have liked,&rdquo; Williams said. &ldquo;But it&rsquo;s ok because I&rsquo;ll be working in the White House soon enough so I&rsquo;ll get to see it all every day!&rdquo;</p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-in-washington-dc">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-in-washington-dc#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=MUSA_eKhrHg:1xKWcxERMUQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=MUSA_eKhrHg:1xKWcxERMUQ:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=MUSA_eKhrHg:1xKWcxERMUQ:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=MUSA_eKhrHg:1xKWcxERMUQ:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=MUSA_eKhrHg:1xKWcxERMUQ:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=MUSA_eKhrHg:1xKWcxERMUQ:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/MUSA_eKhrHg" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-in-washington-dc Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:40:00 -0700 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/hurOcc6sUtA/eastern-european-organizers-hosted-in-michiga http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/eastern-european-organizers-hosted-in-michiga <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile2.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-04-27/ErocxytGyHxIGoEqwbioFbnxHiDhJnllzshzhnFayewhJaqIjFguEjCuowsn/553339_235586739873074_145023818929367_446065_1574329001_n.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="553339_235586739873074_145023818929367_446065_1574329001_n" height="375" src="http://getfile7.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-04-27/ErocxytGyHxIGoEqwbioFbnxHiDhJnllzshzhnFayewhJaqIjFguEjCuowsn/553339_235586739873074_145023818929367_446065_1574329001_n.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://getfile5.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-04-27/ujfujbdihGDBzkwBifCBuEghcvnkpovawzqsGtjImmIHgpyAjImtBlhCHsdt/565014_236167179815030_145023818929367_447481_1333678305_n.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="565014_236167179815030_145023818929367_447481_1333678305_n" height="375" src="http://getfile0.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-04-27/ujfujbdihGDBzkwBifCBuEghcvnkpovawzqsGtjImmIHgpyAjImtBlhCHsdt/565014_236167179815030_145023818929367_447481_1333678305_n.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/eastern-european-organizers-hosted-in-michiga">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p> <p>Source: Elizabeth Balint</p> <p>Sixteen community organizers from Eastern Europe were hosted in Detroit last week by Harriet Tubman Center staff. &nbsp;They met with leaders and organizations across Metro Detroit including YOUTH VOICE, The Metro Coalition of Congregations, Detroit Action Commonwealth, ACCESS, and Second Ebenezer Church.</p> <p>The organizers were in Detroit for 3 days as part of an extended visit to the United States to learn about community organizing in America. &nbsp;Their goal is to learn tools and concepts that they can use to organize communities in their home countries, where organizing is in its infancy.</p> <p>Two of the organizers, Lavina Chiburte of Romania, and Ester Nagy of Hungary, will be staying in Detroit for 3 weeks, and working with Tubman Organizer Luke Allen and the Metro Coalition of Congregations, as well as Vicki Kovari and the Michigan Organizing Collaborative.</p> <p>In July 2012, Luke Allen will represent the Harriet Tubman Center on a 3-week reverse delegation to ECON in countries of Central and Eastern Europe. &nbsp;Congratulations, Luke!!</p> <p>This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs&rsquo; Office Professional Fellows Exchange Program.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/eastern-european-organizers-hosted-in-michiga">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/eastern-european-organizers-hosted-in-michiga#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=hurOcc6sUtA:T9_PcuYXAd0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=hurOcc6sUtA:T9_PcuYXAd0:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=hurOcc6sUtA:T9_PcuYXAd0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=hurOcc6sUtA:T9_PcuYXAd0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=hurOcc6sUtA:T9_PcuYXAd0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=hurOcc6sUtA:T9_PcuYXAd0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/hurOcc6sUtA" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/eastern-european-organizers-hosted-in-michiga Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:16:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/JZ8cimSwYSY/dianas-journey-month-1 http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/dianas-journey-month-1 <p> <p><em>Our intern Diana Alvarez will be updating us every month about her expereinces community organizing with the Harriet Tubman Center in Detroit. &nbsp;Here is her first installment:</em></p> <p>I always knew that I wanted to be a community organizer&mdash;even before I knew what that meant. I had been to protests in Detroit with my mom as a kid and walked on picket lines in support of jobs and unions. I had been on Youth Council in high school, whose primary focus was on funding grants written by adolescents and teens in the Ann Arbor community. I knew that somehow I wanted to address community needs and work towards creating a socially just world &ndash; I just had no idea what that would look like or where I would fit in. At that point, I believed that I was aware of the majority of injustices faced by marginalized groups. Specifically I knew that I wanted to be a part of change&mdash;and that it would be possible to be a contributing member and force in the change process. However, one month ago when I started my internship at the Tubman Center I was unsure what I was going to be walking into and unsure of my own role and corresponding responsibilities. I had no idea what community organizing meant, or what I would be doing. I could not have imagined that within one month I would have been to a City Council meeting advocating to have a house torn down, or met with the Department of Transportation on two separate occasions regarding changing the bus schedules or that I would have met with 16 people involved in youth organizing in Detroit and Ann Arbor.</p> <p>So far I have learned a lot. One of the most important things I have learned so far is the importance of building rapport and building relationships with people. I am increasingly seeing the value in making connections with people in the community. It is much less effective to ask someone for help, or to get on board with a project or issue you are working on when you have not established a relationship with them. Even after just one month of doing this work I have made connections with people in the community who I think I could call on for help and they would be on board. This is true because they know me now; they know where I am coming from and understand that my intentions are good.</p> <p>Another important thing I have learned is that the government is much more accessible than most people think. For instance, I had no idea that City Council meetings were open to the public. I also was unaware that I could call the Department of Transportation and request a meeting &ndash; this is a well-kept secret.</p> <p>Up to this point, the primary challenge that I have faced is having such limited time. I am currently working as an intern and unfortunately am only in field for 16 hours a week, which is a short amount of time to dedicate to this work. I have found myself sitting in class planning my sessions for the following weeks for the YouthVoice chapters. It is hard to put this work down, transition back to the classroom, and not become completely enmeshed in the projects I am involved with at Tubman. I am cognizant of the vast amount that I must learn to become a more effective organizer, as well as the great number of people to meet with to discuss the work that they are doing. I am really looking forward to my next ten months at the Tubman center. I know that I will learn so much and make so many meaningful connections. I can&rsquo;t wait!</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/dianas-journey-month-1">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/dianas-journey-month-1#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=JZ8cimSwYSY:OtxbNSJYuqs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=JZ8cimSwYSY:OtxbNSJYuqs:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=JZ8cimSwYSY:OtxbNSJYuqs:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=JZ8cimSwYSY:OtxbNSJYuqs:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=JZ8cimSwYSY:OtxbNSJYuqs:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=JZ8cimSwYSY:OtxbNSJYuqs:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/JZ8cimSwYSY" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/dianas-journey-month-1 Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:38:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/ojwFbGDHJp0/youth-voice-meets-national-ceasefire-champion http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-meets-national-ceasefire-champion <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile7.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-02-21/kdgaqAAgrxIGqtrkAfxCorxrfkktHdgCmhApldrusGiGixgzFlzrJpbqHjoe/Kennedy.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Kennedy" height="375" src="http://getfile8.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-02-21/kdgaqAAgrxIGqtrkAfxCorxrfkktHdgCmhApldrusGiGixgzFlzrJpbqHjoe/Kennedy.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> It started with a YOUTH VOICE discussion about teen deaths in Detroit.</p> <p>It spread to YOUTH VOICE building relationships and sharing stories with the community and public officials.</p> <p>It spread even further to engaging clergy and other strong community stakeholders to help YOUTH VOICE do research on violence reduction initiatives.</p> <p>It took a rally, a march and countless hours of research and discussion.</p> <p>And finally, after nearly two years of working on the campaign, YOUTH VOICE had an evening of celebration - David Kennedy came to town.</p> <p>YOUTH VOICE has been working with city officials to implement the violence reduction program Ceasefire&mdash;a model that has proved to reduce gun violence in cities across the country. David Kennedy, Director for the Center for Crime Prevention and Control at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, is the creator of the Ceasefire model and his team has partnered with cities across the country for over 15 years to implement Ceasefire.</p> <p>This month, Mr. Kennedy and his team met with the Detroit Youth Violence Prevention Initiative and YOUTH VOICE to discuss bringing the model to Detroit.</p> <p>&ldquo;It feels so good to see that our call to action towards the city actually worked,&rdquo; YOUTH VOICE President, and Senior at Southwestern High School, Lawrence Williams said. &ldquo;It took meeting after meeting and rally after rally to get the city&rsquo;s attention, but it worked. Having Mr. Kennedy at our meeting was an inspiring experience and it was so great to see so many city officials and members of the community there to support us and this cause.&rdquo;</p> <p>Mr. Kennedy met with the police department, city officials and YOUTH VOICE to discuss what a partnership with the Center from Crime Prevention and Control could look like in Detroit and how the community could support the initiative.</p> <p>If the recommendation from the Youth Violence Prevention Initiative Task Force is approved by the city, Ceasefire implementation could start in a matter of months.</p> <p>&ldquo;This is it!&rdquo; Williams said. &ldquo;I think this is finally it for Ceasefire. We&rsquo;re really excited and proud to have accomplished this month. It feels fantastic. I know the city will agree to work with Mr. Kennedy and his team so we can start making this city safer for everyone.&rdquo;</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-meets-national-ceasefire-champion">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-meets-national-ceasefire-champion#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=ojwFbGDHJp0:bYKeDtA1FxY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=ojwFbGDHJp0:bYKeDtA1FxY:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=ojwFbGDHJp0:bYKeDtA1FxY:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=ojwFbGDHJp0:bYKeDtA1FxY:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=ojwFbGDHJp0:bYKeDtA1FxY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=ojwFbGDHJp0:bYKeDtA1FxY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/ojwFbGDHJp0" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-meets-national-ceasefire-champion Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:33:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/cGGneksjdn8/mcc-continues-work-on-financial-justice http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/mcc-continues-work-on-financial-justice <p> <p>The Metro Coalition of Congregations continues its important work on the issue of the foreclosure crisis in Metro Detroit. &nbsp;About 15 clergy preached to their congregations on "faith, foreclosure and financial justice and began engaging their congregants in the organizing process.&nbsp;</p> <p>Additionally, the MCC is planning two exciting meetings. The first is a meeting with the Director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, to discuss how federal hardest hit funds can best be used to keep our congregants, friends, and neighbors in their homes. The second is a "Faith and Financial Justice" event targeted to leaders in the Catholic church. The event is being co-sponsored by the South Oakland Vicariate Peace and Justice Committee, and will take place Saturday, March 24th from 10-1 at St. James Catholic Church in Ferndale (Woodward at Pierson).&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/mcc-continues-work-on-financial-justice">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/mcc-continues-work-on-financial-justice#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=cGGneksjdn8:-wPlBC9VDGg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=cGGneksjdn8:-wPlBC9VDGg:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=cGGneksjdn8:-wPlBC9VDGg:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=cGGneksjdn8:-wPlBC9VDGg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=cGGneksjdn8:-wPlBC9VDGg:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=cGGneksjdn8:-wPlBC9VDGg:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/cGGneksjdn8" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/mcc-continues-work-on-financial-justice Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:58:05 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/tyHH_Uo9eqc/meet-youth-voice-leader-alonja-smith http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/meet-youth-voice-leader-alonja-smith <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile7.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-01-23/sxEGIrlwAbruubvFscInbozmcjzqhixoxGrtxBCaDBCziCIIeylJJqnyykvt/alonja_phoenix_YV.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Alonja_phoenix_yv" height="375" src="http://getfile4.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-01-23/sxEGIrlwAbruubvFscInbozmcjzqhixoxGrtxBCaDBCziCIIeylJJqnyykvt/alonja_phoenix_YV.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> Alonja Smith may be young but she certainly could teach some adults about community organizing. She's only 12 (13 in March!) and is a 7th grader at Phoenix Academy where she is also the YOUTH VOICE Chapter President. &nbsp;With her fellow YOUTH VOICE members Alonja is working on making some big changes in her school and community.</p> <p><strong>Why did you join YOUTH VOICE?</strong></p> <p><em>I wanted to make things better. There's a lot of bad stuff going on in our community and I wanted to make our school better. We talk about stuff that's going on but then we actually solve them.&nbsp;</em></p> <p><strong>What do you like most about being in YV?</strong></p> <p><em>Meeting other leaders and working on stuff is really fun. We work on different topics, we solve problems and then we celebrate. YOUTH VOICE showed me that I can be a leader.&nbsp;</em></p> <p><strong>What have you learned from being a part of YV?</strong></p> <p><em>I've learned a lot of people skills and how to communicate with people without arguing if we have a disagreement. I've learned how to schedule and run a meeting and how to plan ahead. Probably the most important thing is how to problem solve. When we were meeting with our principal we had to come up with solutions to some of the problems we were having in our school. If we want a say in what's going on, we have to be able to come up with some solutions.&nbsp;</em></p> <p><strong>How has YV helped you grow?</strong></p> <p><em>I'm a lot more confident. It makes me feel like I can do it-- like I can achieve anything I would like to.&nbsp;</em></p> <p><strong>What are the next steps for the YV chapter at Phoenix?</strong></p> <p><em>We just made it so we wouldn't have to buy new school uniforms. All of the girls were going to have to wear skirts and spend a lot of money on a new outfit but we met with the principal and he decided not to make any changes in the uniform this year.</em></p> <p><em>So now we're talking about things outside of the school we want to change. We were talking about the streetlights being out and the parks being unsafe and stuff like that, so I think our meeting next week we're going to decide on one thing to work on.&nbsp;</em></p> <p>Alonja plans to be a part of YOUTH VOICE all of next year and throughout high school. After high school she wants to go to college and study law enforcement or entrepreneurship.&nbsp;</p> <p /> <p>&nbsp;</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/meet-youth-voice-leader-alonja-smith">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/meet-youth-voice-leader-alonja-smith#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=tyHH_Uo9eqc:MzFMtclwe5g:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=tyHH_Uo9eqc:MzFMtclwe5g:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=tyHH_Uo9eqc:MzFMtclwe5g:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=tyHH_Uo9eqc:MzFMtclwe5g:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=tyHH_Uo9eqc:MzFMtclwe5g:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=tyHH_Uo9eqc:MzFMtclwe5g:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/tyHH_Uo9eqc" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/meet-youth-voice-leader-alonja-smith Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:16:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/k4qcKwunsdk/looking-to-the-year-ahead-battle-creek-block http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/looking-to-the-year-ahead-battle-creek-block <p> <p>During their first meeting of the new year the block captains established an official board, set meeting rules,<span>&nbsp; </span>and brainstormed projects to improve their neighborhoods this year.<span>&nbsp; </span></p> <p>The Block Captains want to reach out more to their neighbors and have come up with unique ideas to do this. Marilyn Smolsky went door-to-door and<span>&nbsp; </span>collected neighbors&rsquo; names and phone numbers and used the information to create neighbor profiles.<span>&nbsp; </span>The profiles were shared with all the neighbors to ease communication. Marilyn is also planning on hosting afternoon tea parties and<span>&nbsp; </span>a single ladies afternoon get-together for neighbors to get to know each other and build a resource network.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/looking-to-the-year-ahead-battle-creek-block">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/looking-to-the-year-ahead-battle-creek-block#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=k4qcKwunsdk:umt_dYGo7xk:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=k4qcKwunsdk:umt_dYGo7xk:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=k4qcKwunsdk:umt_dYGo7xk:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=k4qcKwunsdk:umt_dYGo7xk:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=k4qcKwunsdk:umt_dYGo7xk:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=k4qcKwunsdk:umt_dYGo7xk:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/k4qcKwunsdk" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/looking-to-the-year-ahead-battle-creek-block Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:48:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/GrUHEjj610Y/dear-governor-snyder-invest-in-education-not-94701 http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/dear-governor-snyder-invest-in-education-not-94701 <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Kids_-_jail_cell" height="284" src="http://getfile4.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-01-23/JyhpDHepcwchkcaJEuwobeufzbhlzvnoaomcGxBgpCnnnplCpAaGmyuvGsnx/Kids_-_Jail_Cell.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="450" /> </div> </p> <p>Image: <a href="http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2010/01/children-in-a-hostile-world-002484.php" target="_blank">dailyvoice.com</a></p> <p>Leaders from a dozen grassroots organizations from Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Flint met on Thursday, January 19 to discuss and plan the launch of a campaign to restore education funding in the 2012-13 State Budget. &nbsp;</p> <p> <p>Members and allies of the Michigan Organizing Collaborative are planning to hold a series of press conferences in February in at least four cities including, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Kalamazoo, and Flint, to call on the Governor to restore the $300 cut he made last year to the per pupil education allowance&mdash;cuts that had a devastating impact on districts across the state. The MOC will launch a statewide petition campaign to rally support for increasing education funding and reducing the juvenile incarceration rate in Michigan. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>The press conferences will feature local educators, elected officials and parents of public school students who will tell personal stories about the impact of cuts on their own children, including increased class sizes, insufficient numbers of text books, cancellation of art and physical education classes and more. Local faith leaders will be present to testify on our moral obligation to invest more in education than incarceration. Michigan ranks second in the nation in both the number of juveniles serving life sentences and in the annual funding spent on juvenile prisoners. &nbsp;Currently the state of Michigan pays $32,000 per prisoner each year but in 2011-12 Michigan will spend only $6,846 in State Education Aid payments per student. &nbsp;This level of education aid is less than what the State paid in 2005-06 per student. The Governor cut state school aid in spite of having a surplus in the School Aid fund last year. &nbsp;Education funds were shifted into paying for a massive reduction in the State&rsquo;s corporate income tax rate, in the name of creating more jobs.&nbsp;</p> <div>For more information contact Vicki Kovari at vikovari[at]gmail[dot]com.</div> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/dear-governor-snyder-invest-in-education-not-94701">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/dear-governor-snyder-invest-in-education-not-94701#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=GrUHEjj610Y:kG2YWaHSPG8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=GrUHEjj610Y:kG2YWaHSPG8:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=GrUHEjj610Y:kG2YWaHSPG8:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=GrUHEjj610Y:kG2YWaHSPG8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=GrUHEjj610Y:kG2YWaHSPG8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=GrUHEjj610Y:kG2YWaHSPG8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/GrUHEjj610Y" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/dear-governor-snyder-invest-in-education-not-94701 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:11:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/QWwf69q79-g/mcc-launches-preaching-series http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/mcc-launches-preaching-series <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Istock_000009864363xsmall" height="282" src="http://getfile6.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2012-01-23/lpdqhIDkkdDJEoBwtgpawClulgAnIakDcewBEnhtlvtExAqmIhjhijGdjGAF/iStock_000009864363XSmall.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="425" /> </div> The Metro Coalition of Congregations is launching a preaching series "<em>Faith, Financial Justice, and Foreclosure</em>,&rdquo; in churches and congregations across the three counties of Metro Detroit. The series of sermons, worship experiences, and faith reflections, will take place over the next month and a half. &nbsp;</p> <p>The series is designed to engage congregants and lay leaders in the fight for fair and ethical banking, and financial justice.&nbsp; The sermons and worship experiences will assist with the personal shame and guilt associated with foreclosure and highlight the injustice of big banks throwing congregants, friends, and neighbors out of their homes. &nbsp;</p> <p>The MCC will also provide resources for homeowners who are struggling with foreclosure or underwater on their homes.&nbsp;</p> <p>It is also important, as people of faith, that we are intentional about the way that our money is used, that it is used in an ethical and just way. &nbsp;To be sure of this, clergy and lay leaders have formed a team which will organize congregations and members to move money out of the worst offending banks into banks which treat our communities ethically.</p> <p>For more information contact:</p> <p>Pastor Ben Sandin, King of Kings Lutheran Church, MCC Chair: 586-566-8660, <a href="mailto:bsandin@koklc.org">bsandin@koklc.org</a></p> <p>Luke Allen, Community Organizer, The Harriet Tubman Center, MCC: 313-870-7654, <a href="mailto:luke.allen@tubmanorganizing.org">luke.allen@tubmanorganizing.org</a></p> <p /> <p>&nbsp;</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/mcc-launches-preaching-series">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/mcc-launches-preaching-series#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=QWwf69q79-g:O_GX6Ywao-E:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=QWwf69q79-g:O_GX6Ywao-E:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=QWwf69q79-g:O_GX6Ywao-E:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=QWwf69q79-g:O_GX6Ywao-E:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=QWwf69q79-g:O_GX6Ywao-E:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=QWwf69q79-g:O_GX6Ywao-E:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/QWwf69q79-g" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/mcc-launches-preaching-series Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:40:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/TiE6xslVIfw/utcc-celebrates-a-year-of-success http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/utcc-celebrates-a-year-of-success <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile2.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-12-21/GeeeHeFdxevektDwGkAeJoAHCahuqmFqrvteCCbIBhBqrdvlagfaHukrIInk/UTCC_holidays_2011.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Utcc_holidays_2011" height="375" src="http://getfile1.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-12-21/GeeeHeFdxevektDwGkAeJoAHCahuqmFqrvteCCbIBhBqrdvlagfaHukrIInk/UTCC_holidays_2011.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p>The United Tenant Council of Councils (UTCC) hosted a holiday party, December 20, to celebrate a year of accomplishments. &nbsp;UTCC President Dee Davis, Vice President Earlene Sherrer, and Secretary Denise Lee, gathered council members from Section 8 buildings across the city for the celebration. Council members from each building in attendance received awards celebrating their participation. Each spoke of what they would do in the upcoming year to continue to strengthen the UTCC. The council is looking forward to its next steps as a powerful, city-wide organization!</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/utcc-celebrates-a-year-of-success">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/utcc-celebrates-a-year-of-success#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=TiE6xslVIfw:MMfpxq_Wm7E:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=TiE6xslVIfw:MMfpxq_Wm7E:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=TiE6xslVIfw:MMfpxq_Wm7E:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=TiE6xslVIfw:MMfpxq_Wm7E:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=TiE6xslVIfw:MMfpxq_Wm7E:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=TiE6xslVIfw:MMfpxq_Wm7E:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/TiE6xslVIfw" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/utcc-celebrates-a-year-of-success Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:51:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/PEdSjDGpCcI/okcf-and-den-leaders-nominated-for-governors http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/okcf-and-den-leaders-nominated-for-governors <p> <p> <p>Congratulations to Barbara Mays of Our Kids Come First and Mary Kovari of the Detroit Educator Network for their nominations to the Advisory Committee of the Governor's Council on Teacher Effectiveness! &nbsp;Barbara and Mary were nominated by Dennis Muchmore, Chief of Staff to Governor Snyder, and Amber Arellano, Director of Education Trust-Midwest, respectively. &nbsp;</p> <p>The Governor's Council, which had its first public hearing on December 7, has been charged with recommending:</p> <p>- A student growth and assessment tool;</p> <p>- A state evaluation tool for teachers;</p> <p>- A state evaluation tool for school administrators;</p> <p>- Changes to the requirements for a professional education teaching certificate; and</p> <p>- A process for evaluating and approving local evaluation tools for teachers and administrators.</p> <p>Detroit's children deserve the most effective educators and we are confident that Barbara and Mary will represent the best interests of children and the valuable experience of educators. We urge the Council to accept their nominations. &nbsp;Good luck, Barbara and Mary! &nbsp;Do it for Detroit's children!</p> <p /> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/okcf-and-den-leaders-nominated-for-governors">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/okcf-and-den-leaders-nominated-for-governors#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=PEdSjDGpCcI:ZfJKV27Ab74:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=PEdSjDGpCcI:ZfJKV27Ab74:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=PEdSjDGpCcI:ZfJKV27Ab74:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=PEdSjDGpCcI:ZfJKV27Ab74:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=PEdSjDGpCcI:ZfJKV27Ab74:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=PEdSjDGpCcI:ZfJKV27Ab74:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/PEdSjDGpCcI" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/okcf-and-den-leaders-nominated-for-governors Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:04:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/5AJprDiRa44/youth-voice-meets-with-dhs http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-meets-with-dhs <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile4.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-12-21/xmtgszsoDmBtsIvhuwyDIbsGxlFIhJsCiyJDIvzhozrycqyxIBvyworsFEAf/CIMG0050.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Cimg0050" height="375" src="http://getfile3.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-12-21/xmtgszsoDmBtsIvhuwyDIbsGxlFIhJsCiyJDIvzhozrycqyxIBvyworsFEAf/CIMG0050.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> <em>Photo: YOUTH VOICE members pose with Michigan DHS Director Corrigan&rsquo;s business card.&nbsp;</em><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><em>In photo from left to right: YOUTH VOICE President Lawrence Williams, Chair of Education Tyshauna Childress, Chief of Staff Quentin McKinnon, Member Nick Lassiter, Vice President Nicole Lassiter, Sergeant of Arms Malik Clifton.</em></span></p> <p>Reacting to the recent state cash assistance cuts on low income families YOUTH VOICE leaders took action on the Director of the Michigan Department of Human Services Maura Corrigan. YOUTH VOICE members collected pictures and stories from young people illustrating how the cuts are hurting youth. &nbsp;They delivered these stories to Director Corrigan at the Renaissance Center in November where she was recieving an award from the International Institute. YOUTH VOICE requested a meeting with Corrigan to discuss how the Governor's TANF/cash assistance cuts have negatively affected young people.</p> <p>After receiving no response from Director Corrigan, YOUTH VOICE teamed up with the Michigan Organizing Collaborative to do a rally outside of her Lansing office with posters of the youth stories.</p> <p>Finally, on December 9 Director Corrigan arranged a meeting between YOUTH VOICE members and Department of Human Services FFA West Director Patricia Smith to discuss what can be done to change the state legislation.</p> <p>Although Director Corrigan has not yet agreed to personally meet with YOUTH VOICE, members are still working to collect more stories and reverse some of the cut-offs..</p> <p>For more information on this YOUTH VOICE action or to submit a photo story, visit our campaign website at <a href="http://In photo from left to right: YOUTH VOICE President Lawrence Williams, Chair of Education Tyshauna Childress, Chief of Staff Quentin McKinnon, Member Nick Lassiter, Vice President Nicole Lassiter, Sergeant of Arms Malik Clifton" target="_blank">www.wearethe30000.tumblr.com</a>.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-meets-with-dhs">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-meets-with-dhs#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=5AJprDiRa44:DSxrnHd0j2w:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=5AJprDiRa44:DSxrnHd0j2w:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=5AJprDiRa44:DSxrnHd0j2w:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=5AJprDiRa44:DSxrnHd0j2w:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=5AJprDiRa44:DSxrnHd0j2w:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=5AJprDiRa44:DSxrnHd0j2w:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/5AJprDiRa44" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-meets-with-dhs Sat, 10 Dec 2011 12:53:00 -0800 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~3/lyfzAT4UY_8/youth-voice-co-founder-receives-award http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-co-founder-receives-award <p> <p>Edgar Gomez is a co-founder of YOUTH VOICE and was President from 2009 - 2010. &nbsp;He received the Gerald K. Smith Humanitarian Award from Black Family Development (BFD) at their Presidents&rsquo; Annual Dinner and Celebration on Dec. 8, 2011 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. &nbsp;Other awardees included Bankole Thompson, Editor of the Michigan Chronicle; Ralph Godbee Jr., City of Detroit Chief of Police; Paul Bridgewater, CEO Detroit Area Agency on Aging; Cameron Hosner, CEO of Children&rsquo;s Hospital of Michigan Foundation; and Linda Vinson, East Side Unity Association.</p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://getfile8.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-12-16/nGnnjjtJgynbAFloCtiFpwinmcxwswIwtzAcehekwylHGFvvsCklBGwqgxHI/ASC_0134.JPG.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Asc_0134" height="332" src="http://getfile5.posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-12-16/nGnnjjtJgynbAFloCtiFpwinmcxwswIwtzAcehekwylHGFvvsCklBGwqgxHI/ASC_0134.JPG.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div> </p> <p>Edgar Gomez (center) is shown receiving the award from Black Family Development&rsquo;s CEO Alice Thompson, BFD&rsquo;s COO Kenyatta Johnson and BFD Board Chair Henry Thornton. &nbsp;Also pictured is Penny Bailer, CEO of City Year Detroit where Edgar is presently working. &nbsp;Under Edgar&rsquo;s leadership, YOUTH VOICE chapters emerged in high schools, following the example he set at Chadsey High School and Cesar Chavez High School where he graduated in 2010. &nbsp;</p> <p>Congratulations to YOUTH VOICE and Edgar!</p> </p> <p><a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-co-founder-receives-award">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-co-founder-receives-award#comment">Leave a comment&nbsp;&nbsp;&raquo;</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=lyfzAT4UY_8:_av7qv8tC5U:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=lyfzAT4UY_8:_av7qv8tC5U:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=lyfzAT4UY_8:_av7qv8tC5U:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=lyfzAT4UY_8:_av7qv8tC5U:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?a=lyfzAT4UY_8:_av7qv8tC5U:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog?i=lyfzAT4UY_8:_av7qv8tC5U:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/HarrietTubmanCenterBlog/~4/lyfzAT4UY_8" height="1" width="1"/> http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/4wPB0skacPLP harriettubmancenter harriettubmancenter http://blog.tubmanorganizing.org/youth-voice-co-founder-receives-award