We work to engage and train new community leaders to organize campaigns for racial, economic, environmental and social justice. Current programs serve the diverse needs of impoverished communities and address the root causes of injustice in Memphis and the Mid-South. We believe the most effective response to the challenge of violence and discrimination is to address the interrelated causes of injustice, such as poverty, racism and unequal access to basic human resources. We have worked throughout our history to take such action on issues identified as important by our community.
We believe that the basis of a truly democratic society is an engaged and informed electorate. One indicator of this engagement is voter turnout, which in Memphis has averaged between 17% and 62%, with the lowest turnout for local and the highest for presidential elections. People are disenfranchised and therefore disengaged from the political process, particularly in low-income and marginalized communities. But it is not just our communities that have disengaged; our elected officials themselves have disengaged from the democratic process. Simply put, whether looking at race or class, the interests and needs of low-income and marginalized communities are given little to no attention by those in power.
The Military Abroad
The U.S. military's presence abroad and at home is oftentimes accepted without question. Public interest in the military's role in the Middle East is waning, and public awareness of the military in our schools is all but nonexistent. The MSPJC seeks to change this through its anti-war work and the Alternatives to the Military Project.
Since the U.S.-Iraq Status Forces Agreement began t
he withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, many Americans have grown complacent about the presence of the United States military abroad. We must remember, though, that from 2003 to 2011, almost 4,500 troops were killed in Iraq according to the Iraq Index. By 2011, the number of troops in Afghanistan was three times higher than when Obama became president. Just as in Iraq, it is unknown how many civilians have died in Afghanistan, but the number is in the tens of thousands. From 2001 to 2011, over 1,700 American troops have been killed in Afghanistan and another 13,000 wounded.
The U.S. launched cruise missile and air strikes against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in March 2011—in direct violation of the Constitution and the War Powers Act. Additionally, the U.S. continues to launch air strikes in Yemen using unmanned Predator drones, an action that similarly contravenes the War Powers Act. The MSPJC seeks to enforce more responsibility on the government when it comes to deploying troops and putting lives at risk.
The federal government says affordable housing should take no more than 30 percent of a person's income. In reality, no one earning minimum wage in any state can afford a one- or two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent. In 1999, the national two-bedroom housing wage was $11.08; in 2011, the national housing wage was $18.46, a 66 percent increase. The lack of affordable housing is widely considered to be the main cause of homelessness in the United States today.
Homelessness is growing at an alarming rate locally and nationally, and many cities’ solution to the crisis is to criminalize poverty by passing constitutionally dubious laws crafted to harass the homeless. Sadly, Memphis is no exception to this. Such efforts are not only inhumane and immoral, but have been legally challenged as violations of the First, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. More to the point, these efforts are ineffective, counterproductive and fiscally irresponsible.
Homeless Organizing for Power and Equality (H.O.P.E.) is the name of a Mid-South Peace and Justice Center sponsored organization who's members are exclusively people who are currently or have formerly experienced homelessness.
H.O.P.E is currently working very hard to organize around issues of core concern in this year's Shelby County Commission budget proceedings.
The Road Home is the umbrella name give to three specific funding requests that H.O.P.E. is making before the Shelby County Commission addressing housing and the intersections between homelessness and criminal justice.
A proposal coming before the Shelby County Board of Commissioners could muffle opposition to controversial land developments. Child impact statements currently provide a comprehensive means to communicate—to the county commission and city council—the concerns of children, families, and entire neighborhoods over new land developments that could affect their health, safety, education, and physical environment. Right now, the county commission and city council cannot consider any proposed resolution or ordinance involving safety, health, education, or land use without first receiving a child impact statement. The land use requirement could be lost if a proposed change to the Commission's rules of order is passed.
The training started with one of the most successful slogans in the past 40 years: “We are the 99%!”
But who are the 99%? Have you ever thought that you were part of the 99%? What does it mean to be part of the 99%? Who are the 1%? Those and many other questions were answered after sharing in the 99% Spring Action Training, Dozens of trainings took place all around the country, getting together approximately 100,000 people concerned about the issues happening in our country. This included people who already are involved in some kind of social action or people who only want to know what this 99% concept is about.
Homeless Organizing for Power and Equality (H.O.P.E.) is the name of a Mid-South Peace and Justice Center sponsored organization who's members are exclusively people who are currently or have formerly experienced homelessness. Over the past few months our members have been hard at work not only planning, mobilizing and organizing a movement for justice on our streets but also building community through mutual emotional support within the group itself.
Melissa is a native Memphian who is a product of Memphis City Schools and attended Treadwell High located in the Highland Heights area. Melissa attended college at State Technical Institute and Christian Brothers University studying paralegal through the National Academy of Paralegal studies. Melissa’s work skills were in Legal and Executive Administration until June 4, 1994. Her life changed and has lead her to work strongly in the community with grassroots organizations which also inspired her to start her own non profit outreach organization known as S.O.L.I.D.s Inc. (Scope Of Life Illuminates Destiny), a ministry working with the people, for the people of our communities.
"I grew up in the Highland Heights community and find it appalling to see the decline of the community from drugs, vacant houses, lack of businesses and absence of leaders. In the zip code of 38112 /38122 the citizens have many concerns about the crime and the lack of trust with law enforcement in the area.
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