News

March 15, 2012 Vanderhaar Symposium at First Congregational Church

The struggle for justice is the main avenue to achieve peace–fullness of life.  In the 21st century there is an urgent need to heal enmity and bridge rifts between persons and among communities and nations.  Today reconciliation is the face of justice.  In order to enable reconciliatory practices we need to engender and strengthen compassion and create solidarity among all people,between the human species and other species, and between humans and the biosphere.

Since the 1980’s Dr. Isasi-Diaz has focused on the elaboration of mujerista theology based on the religious understandings and  practices of Latinas living in the U.S. She has lectured throughout  the country as well as internationally on issues of justice, and  Latina/o theology. She co-authored the first Latina theology book published in the USA.

March 15, 2012, 7 pm
First Congregational Church
1000 South Cooper Street • Memphis, Tennessee

Habrá interpretación simultánea al español disponible.

Walk Against Fear Launching Celebration

March 11, Sunday
10am – 12pm
National Civil Rights Museum 450 Mulberry St.

Join us to celebrate as the walk starts. You are welcome to join the walkers as they walk towards the Mississippi state line. You can go for as long or little as you like. We would love to have you with us!

The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center had the privilege of hosting a Nonviolent Direct Action training for Walk Against Fear participants last weekend. We are honored to support this important act of defiance by brave members of our community. Please keep up with progress of the walk and find out how you can take action to support on their Facebook page.

(En español abajo)

Fifty years ago James Meredith and a few companions began a march from Memphis, TN to Jackson, MS in order to encourage African-Americans living under Jim Crow to register to vote. Today, Patricio Gonzalez, José Salazar and Ingrid Cruz decided to recreate Meredith’s Walk and this time, bring awareness about the civil rights violations immigrants suffer nowadays due to the anti-immigrant laws such as Arizona’s SB 1070, Alabama’s HB 56, Georgia’s HB 87, among others. Tennessee and Mississippi have not learned from the lessons of these states, who have violated the human rights of various people after these laws, and have suffered economic devastation due to the fear brought about by these laws. We hope to raise consciousness, change hearts, and bridge the gaps between immigrants and other historically oppressed communities. We begin walking on March 11, 2012, the day after National Coming Out of the Shadows.

Hace 50 años James Meredith y algunos compañeros comenzaron una marcha de Memphis, TN al capitolio de Jackson, MS para motivar a los afroamericanos viviendo bajo Jim Crow a que se registren para votar. Hoy Patricio Gonzalez, José Salazar e Ingrid Cruz han decidido recrear esa marcha para fomentar discusión sobre las violaciones a los derechos civiles que sufren los inmigrantes a causa de leyes como la SB 1070 de Arizona, HB 56 de Alabama y HB 87 de Georgia, entre otras. Tennessee y Mississippi no han aprendido las lecciones de estos estados, quienes han violado los derechos humanos después de implementar estas leyes y que han sufrido devastación económica a causa del miedo que traen estas leyes. Esperamos levantar la conciencia de las personas, cambiar corazones y crear dialogos entre los inmingrantes y otras comunidades oprimidas. Empezaremos nuestra caminata el 11 de marzo 2012, del día después del Día Nacional de Salir de las Sombras.

WHAT: Memphis Bus Rider’s Union Kickoff
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 18th
LOCATION: AFSCME Union Hall, 485 Beale St.
TIME: 1pm-3pm-Meeting  3pm-Press Conference

MATA riders tired of high fares, overcrowded buses, and the lack of  bus service at night in some neighborhoods are invited to join the Memphis Bus Riders Union, which will hold its founding meeting on Saturday from 1-3 p.m. at the AFSCME Union Hall, 485 Beale St.

Following a well-attended town hall and several weeks of outreach to Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) customers, Transportation Task Force, a grassroots coalition dedicated to transportation issues announced plans for the creation of the Memphis Bus Riders Union (MBRU). The Union will be made up of MATA customers and will be dedicated to raising the level of service and dignity provided by the public transit system as well as to ensuring greater public accountability and public input over MATA policies and practices.

“Public transportation is a civil rights issue,” said Transportation Task Force member Laura Sullivan. “Bus routes still reflect Jim Crow laws when buses took domestic workers out east on routes running west to east.”

Starting on Saturday, February 18th, city bus riders can join the MBRU and stand together to pressure city officials and MATA to improve transit service so that it accurately reflects the realities of Memphis. When 40 percent of Memphians need access to public transit and nearly 25 percent of Memphians live under the poverty line, it is unconscionable to combine fare increases with reduced routes and times.

The Memphis Bus Riders Union is the next step to improving Memphis’ public transit system. TTF members cite imminent employee pension shortfalls, which combined with long standing route problems, increasing fares, and poor customer service, reveal the deep need for  grassroots public organization and direct action. Through this movement, Memphians can pressure city and MATA officials to address these most urgent issues and ensure that rider concerns are the chief priority of MATA.

Interested MATA customers who seek to join in the formation of the BUS RIDERS UNION are invited to attend their kickoff meeting at the AFSCME Union Hall, 485 Beale St., from 1-3 pm on Saturday, February 18th.

Following the meeting, at 3pm press conference will be held to announce future actions by the Bus Riders Union, where representatives will be available for comment. For more information, contact the Task Force at TTFMemphis@gmail.com.

On January 14, 2012 more than 800 people joyfully crammed into the sanctuary at First Congregational Church to celebrate thirty years of work at the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. It was by far our largest gathering yet, which can mainly be attributed to our amazing keynote speaker, Prof. Noam Chomsky. As Prof. Chomsky sad to a reporter from the Commercial Appeal, the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is “carrying out King’s actual work and actual concerns.”

We cannot think of a more appropriate quote to synopsize our work today. We were after all founded on the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in order to carry forward the work that he and his peers and forerunners began before us. Indeed, we do stand on the shoulders of so many past heroes that have come before us.

One of those heroes, Mary Ruth Robinson, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the event.  In addition to recognizing our past heroes we were able to honor our current ones. Josephine Alexander, who recently stepped down as the coordinator for the GrowMemphis program, received the first annual Golden Pitchfork Award for her work not only to till the soil for justice, but to raise hell when necessary as well.

The evening was also enriched with dance performances by the Performance Arts Network and Bridging Souls Productions, a photo exhibit by Mary Ruth Robinson, the Global Goods pop-up store,  a delicious meal provided by Just for Lunch and much, much more.

We cannot thank our amazing community, the volunteers that made the evening possible, and most of all our members for making this work possible. We especially want to thank our sponsors for the evening United Healthcare, Rhodes College, First Congregational Church, St. Patrick Catholic Church, Marriott Hotels, Bartlett Art and Printing, Bridging Souls Productions, Christian Brothers University, Performance Art Network, David and Carol Ciscel, TN Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Janice Vanderhaar and Ed Wallin, Underground Art, Memphis Flyer, Bluff City Backsliders, Just for Lunch and Interfluency Translation+Culture. 

If you are not already, please take a moment to consider becoming a member of the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. We are only able to do this work because of the generosity of time and resources of people like you! 

You can view all the photos from this evening on our Flickr stream here. Please also take a moment to enjoy Prof. Chomsky’s talk:

We are happy to announce two job openings at the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. We are hiring a full-time Organizing Coordinator and a part-time Operations Director. The job descriptions and instructions for applying can be found by following these links:

Organizing Coordinator Announcement
Operations Director Announcement

Deadline for application is Feb. 28, 2012. Any questions should be referred to our Executive Director, Jacob Flowers at 901.725.4990 or jacob@midsouthpeace.org.

Our training program, G.O.T. Power, has had a very exciting month. Jacob and Allison facilitated our first weekend-long Core Organizer Training January 20-22. Twenty-five participants from across the city participated in this weekend of learning the foundational skills of grassroots community organizing. Participants joined us from organizations such as Youth for Youth, Memphis Center for Independent Living, ADAPT, Workers Interfaith Network, Obama for America, Grow Memphis, and Landmark Training. We all learned so much together in this intensive weekend, and we look forward to offering the training in this format again soon.

Speaking of the next Core Organizer Training, we are thrilled to announce that our next training will be offered in Spanish this spring for the rapidly and powerfully growing Latino community of organizers in the Mid-South. Details to be announced soon. Contact allison@midsouthpeace.org to be placed on the wit-list for this training. 

A Support and Development training is was offered this Sunday by Laura Sullivan, Emotional Support for Activists. This workshop offered support, release and rejuvenation to those working for world change. MSPJC got a big shout out from national anti-racist activist and author Victor Lee Lewis when he wrote, “This is super awesome. We cannot win the struggle for social justice and create the health and happiness we need to enjoy it, except for work like this. Thank you, MSPJC, for supporting this empowered vision.” This workshop will be offered again in the near future, so email allison@midsouthpeace.org to be put on the wait list.

And finally we wanted to report on the statewide training work we’re engaged in as a part of supporting the Tennessee Statewide Movement Circle. This two day convening will bring together leaders and organizers of grassroots organizations from across TN to have conversations and take action to build collective power that is based and controlled by grassroots communities. G.O.T. Power has the unique opportunity through this statewide initiative to be developing the training alongside national organizations, Center for Community Change and Green for All. What an amazing opportunity for the MSPJC and for our community!

People First is a Mid-South Peace and Justice Center supported partnership with residents and activists working in the Binghampton community to raise voter turn out during elections and assist in long term resident-driven grassroots community organizing after the elections end.

For the past four months our team of activists and Binghampton residents have been canvassing door to door, talking with …residents and neighbors about the issues that they care about. Moving forward People First seeks to engage and organize residents from all races and religions across the Binghampton community to collectively address the needs of the neighborhood as well as ensure all redevelopment efforts in the area have real front end resident and community input. We have already hosted a candidate forum, a neighborhood BBQ and have just finished our second monthly meeting with area residents, talking about issues of the community and planning long term organizing for positive action….but..it’s not all about meetings…it’s about building community.

Upcoming Events

People First-Binghampton Earned Benefits and Tenncare application assistance and screenings.

Earned benefits is a program in partnership with Seedco is a system of facilitated enrollment services used to screen and connect low wage workers to a range of income services such as Tax credits, food stamps,health insurance and bank accounts.

Join us on Saturday, January 21st from 2pm-5pm as we partner with service providers to offer a one day service providing screening and application assistance for qualified applicants seeking EBT and Tenncare among other services.

Date- Jan 21st

Time-2pm-5pm

Location-Caritas Village-2509 Harvard,Memphis Tn 38112

Please refer any questions to Brad Watkins, Organizing Director of the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center at 901-725-4990 or by email at brad@midsouthpeace.org

The Shelby County POINT IN TIME count is a yearly effort to provide an accurate population count of all county residents experiencing HOMELESSNESS.Having a accurate count is crucial for Memphis and Shelby County agencies in obtaining federal funding for needed services for our brothers and sisters who live on the streets of our community.

This effort is coordinated by the new Community Alliance to End Homelessness will be conducted on Wednesday, January 25th beginning at around 5 a.m. and wrapping up around 8 p.m. Shifts are available in 4 hour intervals.

All volunteers will need to attend a  training to reinforce what is expected of volunteers, go over resources available, to provide an opportunity to sign up for specific shifts/geographic locations, and to receive suggestions or answer any questions you may have. You should attend one of the training sessions that are offered Wednesday January 18th at 11 a.m. at MIFA Les Passes Center (715 St. Paul) or Friday January 20th 3 p.m. same location.

Those interested please contact me at Brad@midsouthpeace.org or 901.725.4990.

In other news

The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is thrilled to announce the completion of the 2011 Memphis Survival Guide (MSG.) MSG is a an updated version of our handheld user-friendly directory of all homeless service providers, runaway services, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, shelter and meal services offered in the City of Memphis.

In the coming weeks, we will be working to distribute 5000 copies of this guide to various service providers, church congregations, neighborhood and community organizations and directly to those directly homeless themselves in the coming weeks.

This includes organizations and local government agencies who’s work also interacts with those who are unsheltered. This includes the Shelby County Public Defender’s office, Shelby County Division of Corrections, General Sessions Pre-Trial Services, Memphis Emergency Medical Services, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, and the American Red Cross.

Special thanks to Mairi Albertson with Memphis Housing and Community Development, and Nancy Bailey of the University of Memphis Tiger graphics. Peace and Justice Center Staff and interns, Gio Lopez and Jeremy Herman. Thank you all very much for your hard work.

If you or your organization would like copies of the Memphis Survival Guide, please contact Brad Watkins, Organizing Director of the Mid South Peace and Justice Center at Brad@midsouthpeace.org

The Mid South Peace and Justice Center’s G.O.T. Power program is offering our first weekend-long flagship grassroots community organizer training, the Core Organizer Training, on January 20-22nd at Caritas Village.

You’ll receive the same 14 hours of training in the foundational skills of organizing as in our 8 week series, but with the added benefits of taking the training over an intensive weekend. Join us and learn the skills you need to make your work in the community more effective. Topics covered include: campaign planning, working with diverse communities, media, facilitation, conflict transformation, and nonviolent direct action.

You can read more about the training and register here.