Mid-South Peace & Justice Center

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Ashley Caldwell

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Lots of Good News & One (Hopefully Minor) Set Back 

About StreetWise INK:

StreetWise INK is Memphis’ only T-Shirt Screen Printing Workers-Cooperative that is organized and operated exclusively by individuals with experiences of homelessness. They provide high-quality, custom, hand printed t-shirts for a variety of needs. Unlike the vast majority of businesses that seek to “empower the homeless,” Streetwise Ink is unique in that it has been worker-led from its inception. StreetWise INK is further developing their screen printing and business skills while creating steady jobs and income for themselves and others with experiences of homelessness, poverty, and other obstacles to finding meaningful and sustainable work in the Memphis area.

News:

  1.  It was great getting to see everyone at Living the Legacy of Nonviolence, and inspiring to get to hear the amazing Rosa Clemente! Thank you to everyone who came and checked out or bought t-shirts. (We hope you enjoy them.)
  2.  This week StreetWise INK had an amazing time facilitating screen printing trainings for Alternative Spring Break students from Purdue and Kansas University. Unfortunately, our flashdryer that cures the plastisol ink onto the shirts went on the fritz, so we’re desperately trying to get it fixed in time to finish some really great designs that our two interns from Memphis College of Art created for the H.O.P.E. Art is Love fundraiser coming up this Saturday.
  3.  More good news: StreetWise INK’s application to attend COOPECON 2018 was accepted!!!! Now for the planning of the fundraiser to get us there! (Please contact us if you would like to volunteer to help!)
  4.  Even more good news: Wednesday, March 21, we will be having our first ever interest meeting for people who might want to be a part of StreetWise by creating an Advisory Board! We are so grateful for everyone finding a common date and time to come together on our behalf and can’t wait to meet everyone. Stay tuned for updates!

Donation-Based Training
***If you are interested in signing up individually or as a group for the donation-based Screen Printing Trainings, please follow this link to find out more about our suggested donation ranges for the different trainings.***

Free Trainings
***If you or someone you know has experience of homelessness, living in poverty, or other barriers to sustainable, dignified employment, please feel free to sign up for one or all of the Free Screen Printing & Worker-Cooperative Trainings that are every other Saturday from 2pm to 5pm at First Congregational Church, located at 1000 Cooper (near Cooper-Young intersection).***

To Get a Price Quote
Please fill out StreetWise INK’s Price Quote Request Form.

Follow StreetWise INK on Facebook: https://facebook.com/streetwiseink/

Email: streetwise@midsouthpeace.org

Phone: 901-725-4990

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New Direction Church & the Juvenile Justice Project Come Together To Clean Up Our Community!

 

Saturday, March 24 New Direction Church, the Juvenile Justice Project, and concerned residents will unite to help clean up Winchester. We will meet up at New Direction Church (6120 Winchester Road, Memphis, TN 38115) at 9:30 am to split into teams. We plan to finish and meet back up at the church by noon. We invite community members who want to help build a better future for Hickory Hill. We are also able to sign off on community service hours for those who attend.

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 this clean up project or in the Juvenile Justice Project as a whole you can contact Faith Pollan at faith@midsouthpeace.org or at the office at 901-725-4990.

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Save the Date: Art is Love!

 

H.O.P.E. (Homeless Organizing for Power & Equality) will be having an Art show fundraiser at Evergreen Presbyterian Church, 1567 Overton Park Ave on March 24th from 6:00 p.m.-9.p.m.  In this show, we will be showcasing not only works of those experiencing homelessness but also local artists. The proceeds of the art show will go to H.O.P.E., but a percentage of the money collected for the work will go to the artist. We are accepting all kinds of works, paintings, portraits and even jewelry makers. While there is no entry fee to the artist, a suggested donation of $5 is requested for those visiting the exhibit.

If you would like to submit a piece to the cause, please contact Tamara @ 901-254-5964 to exchange information for your inclusion in the art show. The deadline for submission is March 22, you must make sure you have signed a release form and that you work is collected to be hung at the church prior to the deadline. Here is the link to the Facebook event:  https://www.facebook.com/events/194267524500648/. The event title is Art is Love because we love our artists!

Also H.O.P. E. would like to send a great big shoutout to #TakeEmDown901 or #TookEmDown901 now, for awarding us with a $500 grant! Thank you so much Tami Sawyer for impacting the lives of people experiencing homeless as well as change for our city. Please continue to do the good work!

For more information about how you can help support HOPE or those who do the work to combat homelessness, contact Tamara Hendrix, (901)725.4990 or  tamara@midsouthpeace.org.

Feed the Movement!

H.O.P.E. would like to thank Marcos Pizza for providing pizzas for the H.O.P.E meetings on the 1st Wednesday of the month. H.O.P.E  is a supportive advocacy group for people with the experiences of homelessness. One of the ways in which we learn about the aforementioned needs and strategize how we can best support one another through this work is through our weekly Wednesday meetings in which we invite people experiencing homelessness to fellowship, share, and brainstorm. It is very important that H.O.P.E. continues to hear from the homeless community about the differing levels of oppression that many of us may face when attempting to navigate through the impending hardships of scarce services available in Memphis. 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 that day.

As H.O.P.E. grows in numbers our expenses grow as well. How can you help? You can help by donating prepared foods on Wednesdays to our meeting that afternoon. 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. Neither of those options seem feasible for you presently? We are also looking for restaurants willing to donate food to our meetings. As always, all forms of donations are completely tax deductible.

If you would like to discuss how you can offer support to HOPE please call Tamara @ 901-254-5964 or email tamara@midsouthpeace.org.

 

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Hot Off The Press! 2018’s Limited Edition Necessary Troublemaker T-Shirts Available This Weekend!

 

StreetWise INK is Memphis’ only T-Shirt Screen Printing Workers-Cooperative that is organized and operated exclusively by individuals with experiences of homelessness. They provide high-quality, custom, hand printed t-shirts for a variety of needs. Unlike the vast majority of businesses that seek to “empower the homeless,” Streetwise Ink is unique in that it has been worker-led from its inception. StreetWise INK is further developing their screen printing and business skills while creating steady jobs and income for themselves and others with experiences of homelessness, extreme poverty, and other obstacles to finding meaningful and sustainable work in the Memphis area.

This Weekend!
Find StreetWise INK at the Living the Legacy of NonViolence, 36th anniversary dinner with Rosa Clemente this weekend! They’ll be tabling in the back of the sanctuary on the right hand side where you’ll be able to purchase your 2018 limited edition Necessary Troublemaker t-shirt. Other shirts that will be available include MSPJC, HOPE, and possibly a surprise shirt from StreetWise INK itself.

Donation-Based Trainings!
***If you are interested in signing up individually or as a group for the donation-based Screen Printing Trainings, please follow this link to find out more about our suggested donation ranges for the different trainings.***

Free Trainings!
***If you or someone you know has experience of homelessness, living in poverty, or other barriers to sustainable, dignified employment, please feel free to sign up for one or all of the Free Screen Printing & Worker-Cooperative Trainings that are every other Saturday from 2pm to 5pm at First Congregational Church, located at 1000 Cooper (near Cooper-Young intersection).***

To Get a Price Quote:
Please fill out StreetWise INK’s Price Quote Request Form.

Follow StreetWise INK on Facebook:https://facebook.com/streetwiseink/
Email: streetwise@midsouthpeace.org
Phone: 901-725-4990s

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MBRU meeting THIS Saturday! MATA Proposes NEW Service Changes! DHS Now on Corporate!

    

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 next meeting is THIS weekend! Before celebrating last year’s victories at MSPJC’s anniversary gala, come join us on Saturday, March 10th, from12-2 PM at the Gaston Community Center (1046 S. Third St.). You can get there on the #39 and the #17 bus! We’ll be talking about changes at MATA, MLK50 events in April, and fundraising opportunities.

Also, it’s that time of year: MATA is announcing new service changes! A lot of routes could be affected, including the 17 McLemore, 31 Firestone, 52 Jackson, 99 Nonconnah, and the three Express routes. MATA will be accepting comments until THIS Friday, March 9th, so please bring them your feedback and concerns! MATA will also hold public hearings at the following locations:

  • Tuesday, March 6th, at 5:00 PM – Bickford Community Center, 233 Henry Ave.
  • Wednesday, March 7th, at 3:30 PM – Airways Transit Center, 3033 Airways Blvd.
  • Thursday, March 8th, at 3:00 PM – West Memphis City Hall, 205 S. Redding.

Finally, the Shelby County Department of Human Services has relocated its two offices on Jackson and South Third. Starting on Monday, March 5, riders who use DHS services will have to travel to 2003 Corporate Ave., which is accessible on the #99 Nonconnah bus route. MBRU has been talking with MATA to ensure that upcoming service changes can accommodate riders who need to travel to DHS. This move could affect a lot of low-income Memphians without cars, so spread the word!

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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!

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MATA Proposes NEW Service Changes! MBRU Meeting in 2 Weeks! DHS Office Moving

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! It’s that time of year: MATA is announcing new service changes! A lot of routes could be affected, including the 17 McLemore, 31 Firestone, 52 Jackson, 99 Nonconnah, and the three Express routes. MATA will be accepting comments until March 9th, so please bring them your feedback and concerns! MATA will also hold public hearings at the following locations:

  • Tuesday, March 6th, at 5:00 PM – Bickford Community Center, 233 Henry Ave.
  • Wednesday, March 7th, at 3:30 PM – Airways Transit Center, 3033 Airways Blvd.
  • Thursday, March 8th, at 3:00 PM – West Memphis City Hall, 205 S. Redding.

Also, MBRU’s next meeting is coming up in TWO WEEKS! Come join us on Saturday, March 10th, from 12-2 PM at the Gaston Community Center (1046 S. Third St.). You can get there on the #39 and the #17 bus! We’ll be talking about MATA’s new service changes, MLK50 events in April, and fundraising opportunities.

Finally, MBRU has recently heard that the Shelby County Department of Human Services will be relocating its two offices on Jackson and South Third. Starting on Monday, March 5, riders who use DHS services will have to travel to 2003 Corporate Ave., which is accessible on the #99 Nonconnah bus route. This move could affect a lot of low-income Memphians without cars, so spread the word!

If you haven’t already, click here to see Watch Love Work’s recent video about MBRU, titled “Honoring Bus Riders”!

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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

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HOPE Survival Guide 2017 -A Guide to Services for People Experiencing Homelessness

The Survival Guide is compiled annually by the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. Until this guide was created, there was no single resource for people experiencing homelessness to reference so that they can access the services they need independently.

The Agency Listing and Reference sections of this Guide provide information about public and private agencies and organization offering services to homeless people.

Please note the following:

  1. All the information in this Guide was collected from the agencies themselves and every effort possible was made to ensure accuracy. If there has been an error, please contact The Mid- South Peace and Justice Center and we will update them on our next list.

  2. Inclusion of a particular program or service in this directory does not constitute endorsement, nor omission disapproval of a program or service.

  3. Please be aware that many of the agencies and organizations listed in this Guide have limited resources. The fact that they are included does not guarantee that they are able to help everyone who is referred to them.

The page layout of this document is set especially so you can print and distribute your own copies of the survival guide. Please print and distribute widely!

Click here to download and print the 2017 Suvival Guide

GET LISTED!

To get your organization or church ministry in the next edition of the survival guide: CLICK HERE

If you are looking for an online database of area shelters and services, please visit: memphishomelessoptions.org

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2017 Annual Report

The Mid-South Peace & Justice Center has once again had an amazing year working in and with the Mid-South community through our program areas of G.O.T. Power (Grassroots Organizing Training for Power), H.O.P.E. (Homeless Organizing of Power & Equality), M.B.R.U. (The Memphis Bus Riders Union), The Renter’s Rights Project,  Memphis United, as well as our 2 newest program areas The Juvenile Justice Project and The Klondike Smokey City Neighborhood Council. All of the work we were able to complete in 2017 could not be done without our amazing members and donors. Thanks for another great year!

Click here to view or print the 2017 Annual Report

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MPD Offers Semantic Defense on “Hazard List” -Sign The Petition!

Last Thursday, Memphis United & the Mid-South Peace & Justice Center held a press conference after we learned that anti-violence advocate, and grieving father, Reginald Johnson was told by police that he had been placed on a “hazard list” after filing an internal Affairs complaint concerning a 2016 incident when he was unjustly beaten, maced, and arrested by officers after he called them to assist a man who knocked on his front door after being shot. We called on Mayor Jim Strickland and MPD to release a memo that Reginald be removed from any type of “hazard list” and release a policy outlining the criteria for categorization as a hazard, as well as the process for removal of such a characterization from one’s name or home address.

Many community members attended to demand justice for a man who has received ill treatment from MPD since he spoke out to media about the lack of answers and communication concerning the still-unsolved murder of his son, Samuel Johnson, in 2014. Unfortunately, MPD and the Strickland Administration have chosen to respond in the form of semantic games, saying, “there is no hazard list.” It may be technically true that MPD does not maintain a single, compiled list of individuals categorized as hazards, but that is NOT the issue, and both MPD and the Strickland administration know it. They go on to admit that MPD DOES categorize certain individuals’ addresses as hazards.

“Hazards are placed on locations were [sic] an officer has experienced some type of incident which has been identified as a possible hazard for officers. A few examples: locations where prior barricade situations have occurred, violent and/or combative mental consumers, a combative party, someone who has fought with officers, etc,”

Mr. Johnson doesn’t fit any of those categories. Apparently, his home was categorized as a hazard after one of the officers he filed a complaint against accused Mr. Johnson of making a threat against his wife and child, an accusation that is completely without merit or substantiation. Since then, Mr. Johnson has experienced squad cars driving by his home, shining lights into his windows at night, and back in February of 2017, when his daughter called to file an non-emergency accident report from his home after her car was struck in a hit and run, the dispatcher asked, “Is Mr. Johnson there?…is he okay?” His daughter, confused,  asked, “y’all know him?” to which the dispatcher responded, “Yeah…we do.” Four squad cars showed up with lights blazing while one officer took the accident report.

Mr. Johnson has met with officials at every level of government to resolve this issue. He has met personally with Deputy Chief Shearin, Deputy Director Ryall, Police Director Rallings, and even Mayor Strickland. For months, he has been promised that they were “working on it” and yet the hazard categorization remains on his home and MPD has not released a policy outlining the hazard categorization. On August 15, The Mid-South Peace & Justice Center made a written inquiry on Mr. Johnson’s behalf, asking them to lift the categorization and release the policy. The only response we received was from Deputy Director Ryall stating, “Thank you, Mr. Garner.  I appreciate you providing this information.  We have been communication with  Mr. Johnson and will continue to do so.” Yet, nothing has changed.

This amounts to a form of extrajudicial punishment for Mr. Johnson exercising his right to file a complaint in an attempt to hold officers accountable. Mr. Johnson has not been found guilty of any crime. The accusations made by one officer against Mr. Johnson have never been substantiated, because it never happened. This means that anyone who speaks out against harassment or misconduct may be subject to retaliation without standard due process protections like notice of the accusation and the right to a hearing.

Director Rallings’, and especially the Mayor’s failure to act on this issue isn’t just disappointing, it’s unacceptable, signaling a complete lack of leadership and accountability which has become commonplace in this administration. The Mayor’s office told Mr. Johnson that they don’t intervene in police matters. If this is true, then what do we have the Mayor for? The Police Director is not an elected position like the County Sheriff—he serves at the will and pleasure of the mayor who appointed him. When civilians can’t get an appropriate response through MPD’s bureaucracy, it is incumbent on the Mayor to ensure that issues such as these are resolved in a fair and timely manner.

We’ve heard Strickland and Rallings offer endless talking points about their commitment to transparency and accountability in government, and yet here is just one more example to the contrary. Semantic games and empty talking points are no substitute for governance. We urge the public to continue to contact their Mayor and demand that MPD release a written memo, removing any “hazard” categorization from Mr. Johnson’s name or home, as well as make MPD’s policy on hazard categorizations public. Reginald Johnson deserves peace and justice, and we as a governed people deserve leadership that is fair and accountable, not only in word, but in deed.

Please sign this petition demanding the removal of Mr. Johnson from any “hazard” categorization, and the release of a public policy outlining the criteria and process for removal of such a categorization: SIGN THE PETITION

We are also asking that you continue to call your Mayor & your Police Director, and tell them to do the right thing.
(1) MPD release an official written memo stating that Reginald Johnson’s name and home address be removed from any “hazard” categorization.
(2) Release a policy defining this categorization and the process whereby individuals can be removed from the categorization as a “hazard”
Mayor Strickland: mayor@memphistn.gov, (901) 636-6000
MPD Director Rallings: Michael.Rallings@memphistn.gov, (901) 636-3700“

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Project Homeless Connect 2017! Volunteers Needed!

It’s that time of year again! Project Homeless Connect 2017 will be on Thursday, September 21st from 8:00a.m.-3:00p.m.  ProjectHomeless Connect is a day long service provider fair for the homeless men and women of Memphis. At Project Homeless Connect, there will be housing services, haircut/beauty services, ID’s, dental services, eye exam, clothing, assessment for disability, plus lunch for every participant. If you would like to volunteer along side H.O.P.E members,  please go to the Community Alliance for the Homeless website under volunteer opportunities, www.cafth.org. So go and do something worthwhile for our community and volunteer with Project HomelessConnect!

Want to help transform your community? Join our monthly giving program #MyMSPJC Sustainers!