Ashley Caldwell

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! Thanks to everyone who came out to our 6th Anniversary Fundraiser this past Saturday! We had a great time celebrating with you. We cut a cake, watched some short films, and talked to folks about our hard-fought victory in the 31 Crosstown campaign. We also recognized three of our rank-and-file members with the Freedom Rider Award for their dedication and service to our group. Thanks so much to Nancy Balazadeh, Dorothy Conner, and Michael Krause for all your hard work!

If you weren’t able to come but still want to support our work, please consider donating at www.midsouthpeace.org/mbru!  We have a small budget that depends on monthly dues from our dedicated members. Your donation helps us do outreach, transport riders to important meetings, and campaign for the services we need most.

Also, Memphis 3.0 has just released a new stage of their transit vision! This transit vision is meant to be a long-term plan for developing MATA. Recently, the Memphis 3.0 team released a draft map that shows what things could look like if we invested millions of new dollars in making bus routes more frequent. We want to make sure that the voices of riders are heard throughout this process–so look at the map here and give them your feedback!

Finally, MBRU members will be watching Mayor Strickland’s budget proposal on April 24th at City Hall. In 2016, MBRU and the ATU Local 713 (which represents MATA drivers, mechanics, and information specialists) lobbied the Mayor to add $7.5 million to MATA’s yearly budget. This was a good start, but not enough. We need the City of Memphis to commit to significantly investing in MATA, so that MATA has the resources to give Memphis riders the service they need. Let’s make transit a priority!

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MBRU holds meetings on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 12-2 PM. Our next meeting is May 12 at the Gaston Community Center in South Memphis. 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!

 

H.O.P.E. (Homeless Organizing for Power and Equality) will erect Tent City at Morris Park (747 Poplar Avenue) on Saturday, May 5, 2018.  The National Low-Income Housing Coalition is planning a National Housing Week of Action to bring awareness affordable housing for low-income recipient, May 1-8, 2018. H.O.P.E is joining the fight! H.O.P.E’s Tent City will dramatize the plight of Memphis’ most vulnerable residents,  and call on local officials to do more to address Memphis’ growing housing crisis.

At 2PM, we’ll begin with a rally, then there will be a community cookout, and to finish the evening, there will be a movie. H.O.P.E would like to make sure that this event serves our community and those directly affected by homelessness, so we chose Morris Park on Poplar Ave, 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.

How can the community help?  We’re looking for tents, as well as a donations of bottled water and snacks for the actual day.  We also need monetary donations to purchase National Low Income Housing Coalition’s stickers and t-shirts to wear In addition, we need volunteers to pass out snacks and to help with sign making.  If you can donate to H.O.P.E.’s Tent City or volunteer, please contact Tamara by cell at (901) 254-5964 or by email at tamara@midsoutheace.org.

Link to Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/165114327487739/ 

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.

In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to recognize privilege and oppression in themselves, in a safe space, as well as the opportunity to engage and discuss around these issues.

Date: Thursday, April 26th
Time: 6p.m. – 8:30p.m. Please, be on time.
Location: 1350 Concourse Ave, Suite 451, Memphis, TN 38104 –  A Step Ahead Foundation.
Wheelchair accessible. 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.

More Information

REGISTER HERE
Registration online or by phone is required to attend.

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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

Thank you to everyone who helped make the Hickory Hill Clean Up a success this past weekend! We enjoyed joining forces with Juvenile Justice Project partner New Direction Christian Church to make this event happen. Memphis City Beautiful was extremely helpful with getting us supplies and coordinating trash pick up. And we can’t forget the wonderful work that Councilwoman Patrice Robinson‘s office did in connecting us with resources for the clean up. We had over 50 volunteers this weekend,  at least 15 of which were young people knocking out community service hours, come together to clean up the neighborhoods around Winchester Road.

The Juvenile Justice Project and our partners believe in the future of Hickory Hill and Memphis as a whole. We are working together as well as with our young people to ensure that our city has a future that includes all of us. We are working on a year long clean up effort of Winchester Road in hopes of attracting new business and increasing community pride. We also host monthly meetings to plan projects and find ways to work together. Be on the look out for continued ways to get involved with this project!

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 firmly adheres to the idea of working with those most affected by the issues. Help us build a better Memphis and partner with our youth.

If you are interested in helping young people in Hickory Hill or Bartlett knock out their service hours in a way that will help them reconnect to their communities reach out to Faith Pollan by email (faith@midsouthpeace.org) or call the center at 901-725-4990.

In Solidarity, 

The Staff of the Mid-South Peace & Justice Center

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 is holding a 6th Anniversary Fundraiser next month! Join us on Saturday, April 14th, 12 PM, at the Memphis Center for Independent Living (1633 Madison). You can get there on the #2 bus! We’ll celebrate last year’s victories with food and fellowship, show BRU members in videos by Robert Rowan and WatchLoveWork, and tell our supporters about upcoming campaigns. Admission is a $5 suggested donation, but no one will be turned away. Mark your calendars!

MBRU has also been lucky to do outreach with several student groups in the past two weeks! Thanks to  volunteers from Purdue University, University of Kansas, and Wellesley College, we’ve been able to spread the word about our message at bus stops and houses in Midtown and South Memphis. The picture above is from last Thursday, when a group from the University of Kansas met us at Bellevue and McLemore. Be on the lookout for MBRU members in other parts of town as we keep building the movement!

Finally, we’re encouraging MBRU members and supporters to wear your MBRU shirts and buttons on April 4th in support of transit justice! All over town, Memphians will be paying homage to the legacy of Martin Luther King with marches, performances, and ceremonies. Whether you’re at the AFSCME Union Hall or the National Civil Rights Museum, we’ll take this time to remember Dr. King’s legacy as a fighter for public transit that serves the working poor and people of color.Media 

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MBRU holds meetings on the 2nd Saturday of each month. 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!

 

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 become potential member-owners upon incorporation.

This Saturday! You will not want to miss the training this Saturday from 2pm to 5pm at StreetWise INK (located in the basement of First Congregational Church at 1000 S Cooper). We have been upgrading the shop and have multiple new designs to choose from. As usual for our biweekly trainings, that are brought to you through Mid-South Peace & Justice Center, they are absolutely free to people with current or former experiences of homelessness, and are pay-what-you-can for folks experiencing poverty. Providing these trainings free of charge for folks in need would not be possible without the generous and vital donations from people like you! So, if you are someone who is interested in what StreetWise INK is doing and would like to be a part of our continued success, we would like to remind you that these trainings are open to the public (on a suggested $5 or more donation + bring your own shirt), and invite you personally to come and see us this Saturday so you can get your shirt printed with one of our awesome new designs!

If you would prefer a more personalized, hands-on group training, StreetWise INK has had the pleasure of training groups from as far away as Purdue and Kansas University and would love schedule an individualized training with your group. Donations from these group trainings are the main funding source for our free trainings. So you not only get a fun experiece with your group and cool new t-shirts to bring home, but you also have the added benefit of knowing that your contributions are what keep StreetWise INK’s trainings free to people who wouldn’t be able to pay for them otherwise. To learn more about the different levels of group trainings we offer, please follow this link.

MSPJC’s FREE Screen Printing & Worker-Cooperative Trainings are not only the lifeblood of bringing in new members to StreetWise INK, but also where individuals with experience of homelessness can come to learn skills that will equip them to enter into the screen-printing industry anywhere, as well as develop cooperative business ownership skills that are beneficial in many ways and in many fields of work and life.

More Exciting Little Tid-Bits:

*Streetwise INK had a blast at H.O.P.E.’s Art Is Love fundraiser over the weekend and were stoked to get to present the new designs created by our Memphis College of Art externs Danika Scones and Tania Cruz!

*ICYMI: We are extremely excited to announce that we have been approved for four of our members to attend COOPECON 2018 from April 20th to the 22nd in Epes, Alabama! This weekend long training is exactly what we’ve been searching for and will be monumental in our development as we press on toward learning everything we need to know before incorporating.

*StreetWise INK would like to send out an enormous THANK YOU to all who attended our very first ever Advisory Board interest meeting! What an amazing group of people! The heart and expertise that was present in the room that night was inspirational and we could not be more grateful. StreetWise is very much looking forward to making it official and welcoming all of them onto our first Advisory Board. So, be on the lookout for introductions to our amazing new team.

*Last but certainly not least, we are thrilled to announce that the Business side of our Free Trainings has begun, and three of our members are now learning how to take new orders, give price quotes, and order materials needed for each job. So, coming soon, your t-shirt orders will give our members the real life practice needed to perfect their new skills!

****To Get a Price Quote for your T-shirt order, please fill out StreetWise INK’s Price Quote Request Form.****

If you would like to volunteer in any way, or make a one time or monthly donation to help us keep our free trainings sustainable, please get in touch!

We’re now on Twitter! Follow us @streetwiseink

Follow us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/streetwiseink/

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

Email: streetwise@midsouthpeace.org

Phone: 901-725-499

Are you a resident of Klondike Smokey City/ North Memphis area? Join us, this Saturday, March 31st, 10 AM at Katie Sexton Community Center (1235 Brown Ave), for our first in a series of Neighborhood Empowerment Workshops, designed to provide economic, personal, and family support to the community.

Know Your Rights: Attendees of this Saturday’s meeting will participate in an interactive Know Your Rights workshop, providing information on how individuals can protect their rights during encounters with law enforcement, and tips for de-escalating tension during these interactions.

Felony Expungements: Attendees who may have felony records are also encouraged to attend, as Just City will be on hand providing screenings for expungement eligibility and or limited restoration of rights.

Community Service for Gov Assistance? Tennessee has new requirements for individuals receiving government benefits like SNAP & WIC. Individuals considered “able-bodied” without dependents will be required to work or participate in an approved volunteer program for a minimum of 20 hours a week in order to keep their benefits. We want to assist individuals in getting their required hours without putting an undue burden on our communities that are already struggling to make ends meet. Join us and find out more!

The KSC Neighborhood Council meets every month. Keep an eye out in the newsletter for more information about the project and upcoming meeting dates. If you have any questions, or you’re interested in joining our work, contact organizer Cassandra M. Smith at cassandra@midsouthpeace.org

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/2018/03/28/2702/

 

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 is holding a 6th Anniversary Fundraiser next month! Join us on Saturday, April 14th, 12 PM, at the Memphis Center for Independent Living (1633 Madison). You can get there on the #2 bus! We’ll celebrate last year’s victories with food and fellowship, show BRU members in videos by Robert Rowan and WatchLoveWork, and tell our supporters about upcoming campaigns. Admission is a $5 suggested donation, but no one will be turned away. Mark your calendars!

Also, it’s almost time for the March MATA Board meeting! Come out on Tuesday, March 27th, to the MATA Headquarters (1370 Levee Rd). You can get there on the #42 bus. The board will be voting on upcoming service changes, so if you still have concerns or issues you can bring them up here!

Finally, we’re encouraging MBRU members and supporters to wear your MBRU shirts and buttons on April 4th in support of transit justice! All over town, Memphians will be paying homage to the legacy of Martin Luther King with marches, performances, and ceremonies. Whether you’re at the AFSCME Union Hall or the National Civil Rights Museum, we’ll take this time to remember Dr. King’s legacy as a fighter for public transit that serves the working poor and people of color.

—–

MBRU holds meetings on the 2nd Saturday of each month. 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!