Archives for November 2011

People First is a Mid-South Peace and Justice Center supported partnership with residents and activists working in the Binghampton community to raise voter turn out during elections and assist in long term resident-driven grassroots community organizing after the elections end.

For the past four months our team of activists and Binghampton residents have been canvassing door to door, talking with …residents and neighbors about the issues that they care about. Moving forward People First seeks to engage and organize residents from all races and religions across the Binghampton community to collectively address the needs of the neighborhood as well as ensure all redevelopment efforts in the area have real front end resident and community input. We have already hosted a candidate forum, a neighborhood BBQ and have just finished our second monthly meeting with area residents, talking about issues of the community and planning long term organizing for positive action….but..it’s not all about meetings…it’s about building community.

Upcoming Events – People First – Blight Art Project

This committee is working to recruit artists, volunteers and seeking painting supplies to covert the vacant,boarded up house at 2514 Harvard into a beautiful  artistic expression of the Binghampton community.

This committee met met Monday November 28th and Monday December 5th to  begin the initial planning work for this project. The core idea was originally to turn the house into a mural of sorts, but later was decided that due to the subjective nature of art..that this ran the risk of alienating area residents which is the opposite intention of this project. Thus it was decided to take a simpler approach.

The core idea is to pain the exterior of the house, and use the boards over the windows and doors to paint windows looking inside a home where a family might live. To create an image replacing a blighted vacant with a house lived in by a family. Thus the artists involved would be able to focus on the various views inside this conceptual home in their own style while painting the rest of the exterior in a manner that would make the place attractive objectively to the community as a whole.

We are currently working to recruit more artists, volunteers and are seeking paint and painting supplies, ladders, scaffolding, rags and drop cloths to covert the vacant,boarded up house at 2514 Harvard into a beautiful expression of the Binghampton community.

We have set a TENTATIVE DATE for this action for Saturday Dec 10th from 10am-4-5pm. that will also involve cleaning of trash and debris from the property as well and possibly patching a gap in the rear fence.

Those interested in volunteering in this project should contact Brad Watkins, Organizing Director at brad@midsouthpeace.org   Or call at 901-725-4990. check us out on our Facebook page.

As a community this is a time that we give thanks for the gifts we have in our life. One gift that we are particularly thankful for is the gift of resistance. For almost 30 years we have given voice and cultivated power amongst those that wish to resist injustice and work for peace.

This work is featured in a cover story in this week’s Memphis Flyer. We like the title, “Peace, Justice & the Mid-South Way” because it represents the unique approach to community building, grassroots activism and nonviolent resistance that grounds our work at the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center.

If you are already a member we thank you and ask that you consider forwarding this message on to five friends. If you are not a member, I am writing to ask that you become a member and join our work. We cannot do it without you!

When our community stands together and speaks with a clear unified voice change happens. Make a difference and transform our community.

Join the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center!

There is no minimum amount for membership. We value your participation above all else.

Benefits of Membership

• A membership card and member bumper-sticker to show your commitment to the community.
• The opportunity to be heard on issues you care about; we help you connect with otherswho care about the same issues, so that you can form coalitions to become stronger.
• Assistance of trained community organizers who know how to help you win.
• Access to reputable research and the information you need to move forward on your issues.
• Leadership development opportunities; as a member you can take part in trainings and national conferences that prepare you to take action both locally and nationally.
• Newsletters, action alerts, and fact sheets on our current issues.
• A voice in setting the direction of the MSPJC. We believe in a hands-on approach to running our organization. Every member has a vote at our Annual Meeting.
• The power that comes from thousands of members standing together and fighting for justice.

Become a member now and join this movement that is engaging, organizing and mobilizing our community for the positive changes that we want to see in our community!

We know that the only way we will achieve social change is by building movements comprised of those that are most affected by social problems in our society. This is why it is so important for you to become a member. It is not just about raising money, it is about building an inclusive organization that is representative of all the communities in Memphis. While politicians argue with each other and focus their attention on everything but the needs of low-income communities, we are training and organizing grassroots leaders to lead campaigns of social, economic, and racial justice. We are working to build a movement of those that suffer the most, yet have the least input in decisions that directly affect their lives. That’s why movement building is a permanent effort: in both good times and bad, we always need to build the next push for change—leader by leader, community by community.

Become a leader, represent your community. Join the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center!

In our 2010 Program Report you will see the positive effect that your contributions have in our community. For almost 30 years we have been engaging and training grassroots community leaders to lead campaigns of racial, economic, environmental and social justice.

Will you become a member and join our work building a movement for positive social change in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee and across this nation?

Peace in the struggle for justice!

Jacob Flowers
Executive Director

Today marks one month since members of the 99% began the occupation of Memphis. We at the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center have stood in solidarity with this movement and have offered resources, training and our personal support to this inspiring movement. Unfortunately as those occupying Civic Center Plaza prepared to celebrate the 1% in New York began evicting thousands at Occupy Wall Street. In response, the 99% will rally today at 5pm at Civic Center Plaza (map) and march at 6pm.

You are us, we are you, we are the 99%! Join us as we raise our voices and voice our discontent with the systems that allow 1% of Americans to  have undue control over the rest of us.

What follows is an official statement from Occupy Memphis:

In light of the overnight police raid on Occupy Wall Street, the 99% of Memphis is coming together today in solidarity to show support.

We, the Occupy Memphis General Assembly, are repulsed by the direct infringement on First Amendment rights granted to the American people by the Constitution. We are disgusted with the repressive tactics used by the New York City Police Department. Citizens were assaulted and arrested for practicing their rights. Journalists were blocked by police. Personal property valued at thousands of dollars has been destroyed.

Occupy Memphis will have a rally today at 5 p.m. in Civic Center Plaza to express our anger and disgust with these actions from law enforcement in an effort to stand in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street. While the City of Memphis has stated publicly the right for protesters to assemble as long as they are peaceful, other cities are not as fortunate.

Following our rally at 6 p.m., we will march to the Civil Rights Museum as a tribute to preceding generations who have fought for our rights; the same rights which have been ignored. While we understand the need for peace and safety, it is unlawful to suppress the voice and assembly of citizens who strive for political and social change.

“We need to speak out for people who tried to be silenced,” said Becky Muehling, one of the protesters with Occupy Memphis. “We need to band together, so that we can show the people trying to suppress our free speech: we will fight.”

“We cannot sit idly by as the livelihood and culture of our country is being trashed,” said Tristan Tran, another occupier who watched the Occupy Wall Street raid live online.

If you believe that the First Amendment rights of freedom of assembly, press, and speech exist always and not just between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., stand with us.

If you feel that your voice as a citizen has been suppressed by the power of lobbyists and self-serving politicians, speak out with us.

We invite the communities and city of Memphis to occupy this public space; to voice the issues which affect us; and together create solutions for a better society.

We the people shall speak for ourselves.

Occupy Memphis has been camped out in Civic Center Plaza, located in downtown Memphis, for 30 days. It stands in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street ongoing protests, which has been camped out in Zuccotti Park in New York City since Sept. 17.

http://www.occupymemphis.org

We are Occupy Memphis.  We stand with the Occupy Wall Street Movement and all other nonviolent democratic uprisings around the world.

We are here to denounce the control of our government by the 1%.  We the People have a right to govern ourselves; that right has been usurped by corporations, big banks, Wall Street, the Federal Reserve, and the wealthiest 1% of our population.  These elites put profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality.

They say we have a budget crisis, but what we have is a priority crisis.  They say we have a fiscal deficit, but what we have is a deficit of democracy.  They have taken our silence for consent, but no more.

These words begin the first declaration of the occupation of Memphis. Beginning in late September hundreds of people gathered at General Assemblies and started building a movement to challenge the inequality (economic, racial and social) in the United States. Under a rallying cry of “We Are the 99%” the movement began on Sept. 17 as organizers occupied Wall Street. This initial occupation has sparked a movement of hundreds of occupations and solidarity actions around the country and globe.

Starting on October 15 Occupy Memphis has been occupying Civic Center Plaza in Downtown Memphis (map). An outdoor classroom, General Assembly space, food tent, medical station, and information booth have been erected in front of the more than 30 tents of those that sleep overnight. Occupy Memphis is here in solidarity with the actions of Occupy Wall Street, but the movement has become about more than just solidarity with actions in New York. It has become a movement of its own and it needs you. We are all a part of the 99%!

We want to be clear that this is not a project of the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. It is bigger than that. It is a movement that all of us lead. But we have been privileged to provide support and resources to the group since its inception. MSPJC staff provide regular trainings on Nonviolent Direct Action, Consensus Facilitation, Peacekeeping, and Community Building at the occupation site.

You can support Occupy Memphis in so many ways. You don’t have to spend the night to be a part of this movement. We are you and you are us. We are the 99%!

• Keep up online at OccupyMemphis.org. Tune in to their webcast live from Civic Center Plaza. And join their Facebook group.
• Attend a General Assembly. They take place every Wed. at 7pm, Friday at 9:30pm and Sunday at 3pm in Civic Center Plaza. There are also a number of working group and caususes that you can participate. Check the calendar here to find when they meet.
• Donate to support the cause. Occupy Memphis has a variety of needs outside of financial contribution. To see their needs list go here.

If you are new to the movement we highly recommend watching this Occupy Memphis video “In Our Own Words.“

Please join us for the graduation of the participants of our first Core Organizer Training on Thursday, November 3rd from 6-8 p.m. at our office, 1000 S. Cooper. Bring a side dish or dessert to share and help us celebrate this group of new grassroots community organizers!

Our graduates have completed the 8 week Core Organizer Training, where they’ve learned and experienced the foundational skills of being a grassroots organizer. Graduates had the direct, hands-on experience to facilitate meetings, practice talking to the media, strategize the steps of a campaign, and design and implement a direct action.

They learned additional skills in organizing diverse communities, campaign planning, transforming conflict, and they also learned important insights of themselves as organizers.

Come out this Thursday to learn more about the Core Organizer Training and to celebrate our most recent graduates’ accomplishments!

Also, put January 20-22, 2012 on your calendars now. This will be our first weekend-long intensive Core Organizer Training. This training will consist of the same 16 hours of skill building, but instead of meeting over 8 weeks, participants will be able to complete the training in one weekend. For more information and to register, email allison@midsouthpeace.org.

PEOPLE FIRST is a Mid-South Peace and Justice Center supported partnership with residents and activists working in the Binghampton community to raise voter turn out during elections and assist in long term resident-driven grassroots community organizing after the elections end.

For the past three months our team of activists and Binghampton residents have been canvassing door to door, talking with residents and neighbors about the issues that they care about. Moving forward People First seeks to engage and organize residents from all races and religions across the Binghampton community to collectively address the needs of the neighborhood as well as

ensure all redevelopment efforts in the area have real front end resident and community input. We have already hosted a candidate forum and have just finished our second monthly meeting with area residents, talking about issues of the community and planning long term organizing for positive action….but..it’s not all about meetings…it’s about building community.

People First – Binghampton Neighborhood BBQ and cookout. Is our fourth community event in the neighborhood. We hope that this event can be an ongoing fun and family friendly way to do some mass outreach in the community and network the efforts of various neighborhood and community groups in the area. The award winning BBQ team {TOO SAUCED TO PORK} will be cooking and serving pork shoulder sandwiches while supplies last.  We are also asking folks in the neighborhood to perhaps bring a side dish or a dessert to share..or better yet, bring their own grills and join us in cooking out. We are also reaching out to the community inviting Binghampton musicians and performers to come out to this event as well.

We think this would be a great chance for folks all across the very diverse area to begin networking and talking about joint community based action that puts PEOPLE FIRST.

People First – Binghampton Neighborhood BBQ and cookout is next Saturday, November 5th from 12 noon until 4pm at Caritas Village, 2509 Harvard. (map)

If interested in volunteering, tabling for your organization and/or in becoming a sponsor, please contact MSPJC organizing director Brad Watkins at brad@midsouthpeace.org or call him at anytime at his office number 901-725-4990 or his cell at 901-495-0818.

We hope you will join us there.