Mid-South Peace & Justice Center

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Ashley Caldwell

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Victory! Millions for MATA Buses and Services

City council got a standing ovation for unanimous approval of the fy 2017 operating and capital budget, which includes $7.5 million increase for MATA.
This additional funding will help add new buses to the system and prevent further service cuts! We’ve never seen a budget approved so quickly.
Thank you all for your emails and phone calls and meetings with Mayor Stricland and the City Council. A special thank you to the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 713, The Memphis Advisory Council For People With Disabilities, the Memphis Transportation Advisory Committee, Innovate Memphis, and the Sierra Club and Lifeline to Success for pushing this issue into the spotlight, and thank you Councilmembers Edmund Ford Jr., Berlin Boyd, Martavius Jones, Janis Fullilove and Mayor Jim Strickland for showing critical support for our public transit system.
This is a good temporary fix that will stave off cuts to service. However, we must continue as a city to push for increased funding from all levels of government to ensure that public transit works for all who need it.

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Community Organizing Skills Training

Community Organizing Skills Training explores with the participants the foundational skills to be organizers and create systematic change in a group or community, keeping nonviolence as a foundation.

This training is fully interactive and has direct application in each session.  We train using popular education and integrating experiential education, allowing people to explore in a hands-on, direct manner, while also drawing out the expertise that the individual already has within.

Who should attend this Community Organizing Skills Training?
Experienced and less-experienced organizers,  activists, community leaders and any other people who wants to learn what ‘community organizer’ is about.

Topics covered include:
Intro to Organizing, Campaign Planning, Facilitating Meetings, Working with Media and Intro to Nonviolent Direct Action.

Where: 1000 South Cooper St. Memphis Tn 38104 – First Congregational Church Conference Center

When: Friday, May 27:  6-9pm
Saturday, May 28:  9am-5pm
Sunday, May 29:   2-6:30pm

****** No partial attendance allowed ******

Cost: Sliding scale ($30-$375) based on the individual’s income. If your organization is sending you to the training, use the organizational budget to determine the fee.

Please consider that it costs MSPJC $200 per person to do the training.

Fee includes 14+ hours of training, simple snacks, light breakfast and lunch on Saturday, materials and follow up support from a network of the mid-south best organizers and activists.
Some scholarships may be available, please request scholarship application by email.
Donations for workshop scholarships gratefully accepted!

 

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$5 Million for New Buses in Strickland Budget

Thanks to everyone who came out in support of our #BudgetForBuses rally! With the ATU Local 713, we’ve been fighting for the city to prioritize replacing older buses over trolleys, and Mayor Strickland’s 2016-2017 budget is a good start: MATA will receive $5 million in capital funding to purchase new buses. However, MATA will also receive only $2.5 million in operations, which falls short of what we need. In February, MATA CEO Ron Garrison asked the city for $8 million in operations, and said that MATA is “on the verge of collapse.”
MBRU Co-chairs Cynthia Bailey and Sammie Hunter spoke to WREG and WMC Action News 5 about the new budget:
“I think it’s a start. We’re OK with it, but we’re not really satisfied. We need another $8 to 9 million.” -Cynthia
“We’ll fight to get the money for the system.” -Sammie
Garrison spoke with MBRU members and promised that there will be no service cuts. But our work isn’t done: MBRU will work with the city and MATA to find new ways to increase MATA’s operating dollars. Our victory on the 19th is just the beginning!
There will be a public budget hearing for MATA tomorrow, 5PM on the 5th floor of City Hall. Come out and show your city leaders that increased MATA funding is still a top priority! We’ll keep you posted as budget deliberations continue.

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Budget for Buses

Budget for Buses!
Mayor Jim Strickland has an opportunity to change the fate of the Memphis Area Transit Authority as he prepares for his budget presentation this April. 
We’ve met with the Mayor and countless stakeholders in pusuit of a robust investment in public transit. With bus riders and operators leading the charge, we have shed light on the #BusCrisis. By demanding #transitNOTtrolleys, we have forged a new narrative about WHO should take priority. The media and our elected officials are increasingly noticing the race and class disparities in transportation funding.
Now it’s time to see the fruits of our labor. Will MATA receive it’s funding request for an increase of $8 million for operating and $5 million for new buses in Mayor Strickland’s budget? Or will bus riders across Memphis suffer from more cuts?
Join us at City Hall April 19th for Mayor Strickland’s budget presentation to City Council!
We will meet up in front of City Hall at 2:30 for a rally and press conference. At 3:30, we will enter the council meeting and listen to the budget presentation. 
Watch the Facebook event page for other ways to get involved.
See you there!

 

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MBRU 4th Anniversary Fundraiser

This will be a decisive year for the future of MATA.
As MBRU prepares for city budget season, riders & drivers are worried about more route cuts, broken-down buses, privatization, and the prioritization of trolleys and “choice riders” over working families.
But before we get ready to fight for transit justice in 2016, join us for some food and fellowship on Saturday, February 13 as we celebrate our accomplishments and charge up for the struggle ahead! 
When: Saturday, February 13, 2016
12:00 – 2:00 PM
Where: Memphis Center for Independent Living
1633 Madison Ave
Memphis, Tennessee 38104

Admission: $10.00
No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

 

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FIve Reasons to Give to MSPJC

  1. No grant is going to fully pay for what we do. Our willingness to follow the needs and demands of the community and willingness to speak truth to power, no matter who holds that power, means that many foundation and traditional funders turn away from our important work.
  2. You want a world where any person has the heart and skills will speak out and act up to make the future better for our community.
  3. You want to support campaigns such as the Memphis Bus Riders Union, Homeless Organizing for Power and Equality andMemphis United.
  4. You’ve been attending rallies, forums and marches for years and you know the value of organization such as the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. You want to support groups like us that are building long-term movements for change.
  5. You want a radical local grassroots movement that is able to take the fight to the next issue and support the next person and community that is ready to act for justice in the interests of peace.

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Meet the New MBRU Executive Committee!

Meet the new Executive Committee! 

At our December meeting we elected the new executive committee that will lead our work in 2016. These transit warriors have demonstrated a strong commitment to the work of MBRU.

Co-Chairs

Cynthia Bailey & Sammie Hunter

Former Outreach Coordinator, Bailey has been a fearless organizer with MBRU for 3 years. Hunter joined MBRU in 2013 and led MBRU as co-chair in 2015. His no-nonsense approach to negotiation continues to protect the interests MBRU.

Secretary

Justin Davis

Davis is a junior at Rhodes College. Davis joined the MidSouth Peace & Justice Center as an intern in 2015 and quickly found his home in the trenches with MBRU!

Treasurer

Bennett Foster

Foster joined MBRU in 2012 and served as secretary in 2015. Foster is an organizer with the Transit Justice program at the MidSouth Peace & Justice Center

Outreach Coordinator

Kimberly Harden

Harden is a dedicated organizer. In 2015 she worked in the Outreach Committee and became well known in the community as a voice for justice.

2016 We’re coming for ya!  

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