Archives for May 2018

H.O.P.E.(Homeless Organizing for Power and Equality) H.O.P.E. erected a Tent City at Morris Park, located at 747 Poplar Avenue, on Saturday, May 5, 2018.  The National Low-Income Housing Coalition  planned  a National Housing Week of Action to bring awareness to affordable housing for low-income recipients on May 1-8, 2018. H.O.P.E’s Tent City represented the often-overlooked people experiencing homelessness of the city of Memphis and what it is like to live in their shoes, as well as talking about the issues that surround low income housing.

At 2PM, we began with a rally for affordable housing, chanting a loud “NO” to President Trump’s HUD increase in rent, and also reiterated our call for a free, city run shelter in Memphis. Then there was a community cookout, with all the fixings for our guests. H.O.P.E  made sure that this event served our community and those directly affected by homelessness by choosing Morris Park on Poplar Ave. This is a park where hundreds of those without homes, and those made poor by an unjust economic system, come in search of a meal on any given Saturday, provided by area churches. We served at least 50 people and even got a chance for one of our constituents to tell his story on Fox 13.

Thanks to those who donated  tents, as well as a donations of bottled water and snacks for the actual day. Thanks to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s for donating stickers, buttons,  and t-shirts to wear for our volunteers and community leaders. Thanks to the volunteers who helped with to pass out the food  and to help with sign making. If you can donate to in the future to H.O.P.E. or volunteer, please contact Tamara by cell at (901) 254-5964 or by email at tamara@midsoutheace.org.

                                                    Feed the Movement!

One of the ways we learn about the needs of the homeless community and strategize around ways to best support one another, is through our weekly Wednesday meetings in which we invite people experiencing homelessness to fellowship, share, and brainstorm.For many groups and organizations offering free food at meetings is a plus 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 all day.

If you are an individual or a restaurant, you can help by donating a prepared meal, once a month, for our Wednesday afternoon 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. We’d like to give a special shoutout to Marco’s Pizza on Belvedere & Madison Ave for providing our meal, one week out of every month! As always, all forms of donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

If you have questions or would like to support to HOPE by making a donation, please call Tamara @ 901-254-5964 or email tamara@midsouthpeace.org.

 

StreetWise INK is Memphis’ only T-Shirt Screen Printing Workers-Cooperative that is organized and operated exclusively by individuals with experiences of homelessness. We provide high-quality, custom, hand printed t-shirts for a variety of needs. Individuals who have experience or training in screen-printing are able to subsidize their income by working with StreetWise INK as well as to hopefully gain skills of the industry, and possibly become potential member-owners after incorporation.

1st Annual Member Meeting: StreetWise INK members held their first Annual Member Meeting on Monday, May 7th, 2018. With a full quorum, members discussed and voted on several topics. Some of the topics included: Deciding on rights & responsibilities of members, bylaw amendments, meeting with and officially electing advisory board members, bookkeeping and accountability measures, scheduling of worker-cooperative business ownership trainings for current members, prioritization of current member trainings before re-starting the free trainings, and deciding that the goal would be to train weekly in preparation to start off as a Member-Managed Worker-Cooperative at the end of the year or to reevaluate timing, entity type, etc. at that time.

Getting Down to Business: StreetWise INK is has been receiving so many price quote requests and new t-shirt order inquiries, that we are currently working on launching our own landing page on the MSPJC website and possibly even our own website to make things more efficient for potential customers as well as our members. We thank you all for your interest and business and can’t wait to share those with you as soon as they’re ready to roll out. Watch this space for updates!

Community Training Update: In case you missed it, MSPJC has been hosting free screen printing trainings for people with experiences of homelessness every other Saturday for the past few months. While we’re prioritizing member business ownership trainings, adding new material to update the current trainings, and changing the times and dates to better serve our community by being more accessible to people with transportation obstacles and other barriers, our regular Saturday trainings are postponed. In the meantime, if you’d like to assist or possibly partner with us in these and other possible trainings, please feel free to get in touch. Keep an eye on our Facebook for updates on future training dates!

Support StreetWise INK! We’re extremely grateful to everyone who has been interested in joining our Advisory Board! If you have certain skills you think might be helpful to StreetWise, we truly appreciate whatever way people can contribute. We’re currently seeking people with screen printing skills they’d like to teach and individuals who are experienced in business ownership and management to volunteer for whatever amount of time you have to offer to help us expand our skills and base.

We’re also on the lookout for free computers or laptops with Photoshop and/or Illustrator abilities if anyone happens to have an old one they aren’t using anymore.

We gladly accept all donations, as your support is what keeps the free trainings free, and us too. Thank you!

                               NEED SHIRTS??
****For Custom Order Inquiries, please fill out our Price Quote Form****

 Follow us on Twitter & Facebook and send us an email at streetwise@midsouthpeace.org  if you have any questions.

StreetWise INK is a proud Community Coop Partner with Democracy at Work!

The Juvenile Justice Project has been hosting monthly Partner Meetings since this past winter. These meetings are attended by official members of the Juvenile Justice Project (sign your organization up here), Hickory Hill community stakeholders, local politicians, and middle and high school students. In these meetings we discuss issues that ensare our youth in the juvenile justice system and how we can prevent this through community service initiatives. It has been an exciting couple of months planning community clean ups, JJP days of service, forming a Youth Council, and more! We want you to get involved! These meetings are open to the public and we especially encourage  the participation of middle and high school students who live or go to school in zip codes 38125, 38141, 38115, 38133. We will be working on several projects this summer with our Youth Council that will encourage leadership and community involvement. Our next meeting is Wednesday, June 6 at noon at Leonard’s BBQ (5465 Fox Plaza Dr, Memphis, TN 38115). If you know a teen who wants to get involved with our Youth Council, contact Faith Pollan at faith@midsouthpeace.org or 901-725-4990.

The JJP is working with Juvenile Court to build networks of churches and organizations to address our high number of youth offenders and the lack of opportunities for court ordered community service, specifically in the areas of Hickory Hill & Bartlett. We believe that youth are the solution, not the problem so we work with these teens to help them find their place in their​  communities through transformative service opportunities. Studies continue to show that punitive measures often lead to a continued life of crime as opposed to seeking more rehabilitative opportunities, MSPJC believes in working with those most affected by the issues. Help us build a better Memphis and partner with our youth​!

 

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The Memphis Bus Riders Union is a grassroots organization fighting for accessible, affordable, and equitable public transit in our city. Our members are people who depend on MATA and supporters, and our work is essential for highlighting the racism and classism present in Memphis’ grossly inadequate bus system. 

Greetings, transit warriors! MBRU’s general meeting is THIS Saturday, May 12! From 12 to 2 PM, we’ll be at the Gaston Community Center (1046 S. Third) to talk about Mayor Strickland’s new budget, Memphis 3.0’s draft map, and transit riders unions around the country. You can get there on the #17 and #39 buses. We can’t wait to see you!

Also, we want to remind riders that Memphis 3.0 has a new map out! This draft map proposes restructuring the MATA system to make routes run more frequently. It’s also a part of Memphis 3.0’s larger long-term plan to develop our city. As people who use the MATA system every day, MBRU wants to be sure that the feedback and concerns of bus riders are included in this process. You can view the map and take the survey here!

Finally, the Main Street trolley line reopened last Monday–but we’re more focused on getting funding for expanded bus service, and key routes like the 31 Crosstown, that will get under-served riders to work, school, and grocery stores. In that vein, we want to show solidarity with our friends at the Memphis Center for Independent Living, who are calling out big problems with MATAPlus. Many MATAPlus riders have been unable to make reservations and have even been denied trips, and Councilwoman Jamita Swearengen spoke in support of MCIL at MATA’s Board meeting. Check out a Local 24 story about this issue here!

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MBRU holds meetings on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 12-2 PM. If you have any questions, or you’re interested in joining our work, contact organizer Justin Davis at justin@midsouthpeace.org. And follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see more updates!

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Grassroots Organizer Training for Power (GOT Power), Mid-South Peace and Justice Center’s training program, is committed to building our community’s capacity through building skills in grassroots organizing, providing support to people doing community work and offering oppression awareness and liberation education.
Our method of education is Popular and Direct Education. Direct education means education that directly confronts and challenges the current system of injustice, which includes traditional education. Rather than traditional education, which gives all the expertise to textbooks and teachers, Direct Education invites the expertise of the people themselves. Direct Education is about liberation and empowerment — going to the direct source of wisdom: the community itself!

Please contact us to get more information and schedule a training in your group or community. Fees are negotiable, scholarships are available and donations for scholarships are greatly appreciated.

Trainings can be designed specifically for established groups, organizations, campaigns, coalitions, etc. Comprehensive weekend workshops on specific organizing skill sets, issue or community-specific formats are available.

Trainings in Spanish are also available. All trainings are offered in English or Spanish as requested. We work and collaborate with bilingual trainers and facilitators.

G.O.T Poder – Entrenamientos en Español

For more information visit G.O.T.Power or write to GotPower@midsouthpeace.org

 ≈• Please Let Us Know What You Think ≈•

The Training Department of the Mid-South Peace & Justice Center (G.O.T. Power) would like to hear from the movement community. We want to know what you think about us and how we could better support your work or group! Please take a couple minutes to complete this short survey. This survey is for everyone, whether you have attended a workshop or not! Feel free to list your name or remain anonymous.

G.O.T Power Survey

https://midsouthpeace.org/2018/05/09/2847/

Holding an effective meeting that meets the needs of your participants can be a tough job! In this workshop participants will have the opportunity to go through the characteristics of a good Facilitator and basic tools for an effective facilitation, as a warm up for practicing facilitation skills when disruption happens based on participants real experiences.

Date: Thursday, May 24th

Time: 6p.m. – 8:30p.m. Please, be on time.

Location: 1350 Concourse Ave, Suite 451, Memphis, TN 38104 – A Step Ahead Foundation. Free parking in the Crosstown Concourse parking garage. Use main entrance, take elevator to 4th floor. Follow signs for A Step Ahead Foundation.

*Limited to the first 12 people who register.

Cost: $20-$45 Sliding scale.

REGISTER HERE

Registration online or by phone is required to attend.

More information

 

MSPJC Organizing Director, Paul Garner joined Comedian, John Miller and host, Mark Brimble in the studios of the OAM Network to chat about MSPJC’s work, citizen science initiatives, a new CRISPR/CAS gene editing tool and how ants can’t handle the cinnamon challenge.

Listen to the episode, HERE!

In Solidarity,

The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center

 

StreetWise INK is Memphis’ only T-Shirt Screen Printing Workers-Cooperative that is organized and operated exclusively by individuals with experiences of homelessness. We provide high-quality, custom, hand printed t-shirts for a variety of needs. Individuals who have experience or training in screen-printing are able to subsidize their income by working with StreetWise INK as well as to hopefully gain skills of the industry, and possibly become potential member-owners after incorporation.

Multicolor Sounds Tight, Alright!  StreetWise INK was thrilled to get to practice our multicolor skills after completing an order of rad shirts for local rock band, Aktion Kat! At least one arm of our 4 color press needs some adjustment, but learning is part of the process and we’re pretty excited our first three-color process turned out so well. We’re busy perfecting our technique, so keep your ears perked for updates!

Community Training Update: MSPJC has been hosting free screen printing trainings for people with experiences of homelessness every other Saturday for the past few months. While we’re adding new material to update the trainings and changing the times and dates to better serve our community by being more accessible to people with transportation obstacles and other barriers, our regular Saturday trainings will be postponed. In the meantime, if you’d like to assist or possibly partner with us in these and other possible trainings, please feel free to get in touch. & Keep an eye on our Facebook for updates on future training dates!

Support StreetWise INK! We’re extremely grateful to everyone who has been interested in joining our Advisory Board! If you have certain skills you think might be helpful to StreetWise, we truly appreciate whatever way people can contribute. We’re currently seeking people with screen printing skills they’d like to teach and individuals who are experienced in business ownership and management to volunteer for whatever amount of time you have to offer to help us expand our skills and base.

We’re also on the lookout for donated computers or laptops with Photoshop and/or Illustrator abilities if anyone happens to have an old one they aren’t using anymore.

We gladly accept all donations, as your support is what keeps the free trainings free, and us too. Thank you!

                                           NEED SHIRTS??

       ****For Custom Order Inquiries, please fill out our Price Quote Form****

                        Follow us on Twitter & Facebook and send us an email

                    at streetwise@midsouthpeace.org  if you have any questions.

                StreetWise INK is a proud Community Coop Partner with Democracy at Work!

The Juvenile Justice Project is working to keep our Hickory Hill teens engaged in their community over the summer in an effort to prevent crime surges. Too often our students are left without supervision and anything to keep them busy for long periods of time over summer, and other school breaks. As would happen with any of us, they get bored and find something to entertain themselves with. Occasionally that source of entertainment can be something destructive such as theft or vandalism.

We’re working to help address this problem by reducing barriers to youth engagement through the JJP Days of Service. We will be organizing 3 hour service/mentorship/education events throughout the summer to help our youth with court ordered community service stay in compliance and provide other young people in the community with activities in their own neighborhood. We are excited that Bluff City High School, Operation He’s My Brother, and Heal the Hood Foundation have all come on board for upcoming events!

It is easy to get involved with these projects!  All you have to do is get in contact with Faith Pollan (faith@midsouthpeace.org or 901-725-4990), pick a day, and provide the programming. We will recruit attendees (Of course, teens from your program are able to attend as well) and even locate an event space if needed. We are specifically seeking organizations located in 38125, 38141, 38115, and 38133 but we will not turn down programs in other zip codes. Contact us today!

The JJP is working with Juvenile Court to build networks of churches and organizations to address our high number of youth offenders and the lack of opportunities for court ordered community service, specifically in the areas of Hickory Hill & Bartlett. We believe that youth are the solution, not the problem so we work with these teens to help them find their place in their​  communities through transformative service opportunities.  For more info, contact Faith Pollan, faith@midsouthpeace.org or 901-725-4990