The end of the year is quickly approaching. It is a time for reflection, and a time for recommitment to the movement for Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice. As we close out 2017 (and what a year it has been), many are finishing up last minute shopping and charitable giving. Many of us are looking forward to taking some well deserved time for rejuvenation, to prepare for the work ahead, so that we can be energized, despite the challenges we know 2018 will bring.
There’s still time to give a few gifts that don’t necessarily come in bows or festive wrapping. Here’s a list of 5 gifts you can give Peace & Justice before the end of 2017.
1. Give The Gift Of HOPE, Help Feed the Movement!
Each and every week, members of Homeless Organizing for Power & Equality (HOPE) meet at Memphis Center for Independent Living (1633 Madison Avenue) to fellowship, share their struggles, and plan ways the group can raise the issues of those most affected by Memphis’ unaddressed housing crisis. For many groups and organizations offering free food at meetings is a nice bonus for their attendees, but for H.O.P.E. it is a necessity, due to the fact that most often the meal offered at H.O.P.E. meetings may be the only meal they will have that day.
You can help by committing to making a monthly donation of prepared foods one of our weekly Wednesday meetings. Don’t have time to cook or buy prepared foods and bring them to our meeting space? We also accept monetary donations towards this cause. As always, all forms of donations are completely tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Also, BIG Thanks to Marcos Pizza on Madison Ave for feeding the movement once a month by providing pizza! If you would like to discuss how you can offer support to HOPE please call Tamara @ 901-254-5964 or email tamara@midsouthpeace.org.
2. Send the Mayor a Christmas Carol For The Cause
Mid-South Peace & Justice Center has been working for months to get answers from the Strickland Administration concerning a database that may contain your protected healthcare information.
The City now says that there is no written policy on MPD’s practice of placing “hazard indicators” or “premise advisories” on addresses at certain locations that MPD deems “hazardous.” Last week, we placed “Community Hazard Indicator” placards at the headquarters for both the Memphis Police Department and the Mayor, declaring them HAZARDS for failure to be transparent and accountable to the public.
The City should release a policy that governs this practice and ensures that the public knows how their private information is being used by the department.
Make sure the Mayor doesn’t forget this over the holiday break! Just copy & paste the christmas carol below in an email to jim.strickland@memphistn.gov . If you’re feeling particularly festive, call and sing it to him: (901) 636.600:
We Want A Hazard Policy For Memphis
(to the tune of I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas)
We want a Hazard Policy for Memphis!
Only a detailed policy will do!
No talking points–no hyperbole–
A detailed Hazard Policy is what we need to see!
We want a Hazard Policy for Memphis!
To protect our private health-care info too!
There’s not a policy, but there really ought to be,
Release one for the sake of account-a-bility!
We want a Hazard Policy for Memphis!
We’ve been waiting far too long it’s true!
To ensure there’s no abuse, we need to know the truth
Release a policy at once, no need to be obtuse!
Release a Hazard Policy for Memphis
a process for appeal, We’d like to see!
We want a Hazard Policy for Memphis,
Cause We deserve account-a-bility!
3. You Can’t Go Wrong With Pizza!
Pizza Rev is helping Mid-South Peace & Justice Center RAISE SOME DOUGH!
On Saturday, December 23rd, 20% of your restaurant purchases will support MSPJC if you just mention Mid-South Peace & Justice Center at the register.
This fundraiser is valid at both Memphis Pizza Rev locations, but during lunch hours at the Wolfchase location, we’ll also be selling NECESSARY TROUBLEMAKER ($25) and OTHER MSPJC T-SHIRTS ($20).
The Wolfchase Pizza Rev is across from the Wolfchase Mall. You can find it in between AT&T and Chick-fil-A — in the same shopping center as Best Buy.
The address of the second Pizza Rev location is 6450 Poplar Ave.
Invite your friends to this event on facebook!
4. Rosa ‘Round The Corner! Give The Gift of Tickets!
Join the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center this January as we celebrate 36 years of people-powered change, with a keynote address from organizer, journalist, scholar, and former Green Party Vice Presidential candidate Rosa Clemente.
Rosa has been a prominent figure in Black and Latinx struggles throughout her long career. From her central role in the world of hip-hop activism, to her research on Black and Brown liberation movements, to her Vice Presidential run in 2008, Clemente understands that we should be fighting for social change on all fronts. According to legendary rap artist and activist Chuck D, “Rosa speaks from the heart with truth, fire, and passion. She is one of this generation’s most important political voices and community organizers.”
On January 13, 2018, help us kick off the new year at First Congregational Church as we continue to do what we’ve always done: engage, organize, and mobilize for a better Memphis. Tickets are on sale now–get yours TODAY!
Get Tickets TODAY: https://midsouthpeace.org/
Become a Sponsor: https://midsouthpeace.org/
5. Give the Gift of Justice!
Have you considered giving a donation to Mid-South Peace and Justice Center in honor of those on your gift list? When you do, we’ll send your loved one a personal holiday card to inform them of the contribution you made in their name along with information about MSPJC!
This holiday season choose the gift that gives back!
Use this link for easy and purposeful holiday shopping:midsouthpeace.org/donate
Simply follow the link above, choose a donation amount, choose the in honor of option, then input the recipient of the holiday card’s name and address. It’s that easy!