News

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.

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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!

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

The Klondike Smokey City Neighborhood has been chosen by Whole Child Strategy Inc., a funding source for neighborhoods to implement a neighborhood focused child centered program. The concept is to equip neighborhood stakeholders to organize a grassroot neighborhood council that will be able to advocate for the needs they have identified for their community. These needs are in reference to a child’s attendance, behavior and course completion. To divide the work and work towards solutions, committees will manage such tasks. We have started with the Transportation Committee and will have other committees follow that represent the issues identified by meeting participants. Those proposed committees will be; Community and School Relations; Mental Health and Wellbeing; Crime and Safety; and others that are designed to help KSC thrive as a community.

Because Whole Child believes that the communities and neighborhoods are the most important resource network for young people and their families, Whole Child Inc. is dedicated to making sure the community is the driving force behind the work, they are providing support to ensure the success and sustainability of the KSC Neighborhood.

The support includes partners that provides a host of resources that allows the Klondike Smokey City Neighborhood Council to be the neighborhood’s connection to community resources such as counseling, child and family advocacy, youth mentoring, parenting resources and so much more.

The next Neighborhood Council meeting is March 22, 2018 at 5:00 pm at Dave Wells Community Center. The first Satellite Meeting Series, which is titled Neighborhood Empowerment Workshops are designed to provide economic, personal, and family support to the community, will be March 31, 2018 at 10:00 am at Katie Sexton Community Center. You are welcome to join the movement.

The KSC has a Neighborhood Council meeting 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

In Solidarity, 

The Staff of the Mid-South Peace & Justice Center

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.

This Weekend!

Come out to StreetWise INK on Saturday, March 17th, from 2pm to 5pm to print your very own StreetWise INK shirt! For members, bring as many shirts as you like, and for folks making donations, please just bring one or two unless you have some to share. (Recommended $5 minimum for those who can.)

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: 901-725-4990

 

 

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.