News

Community-Police Relations (CPR) project is a groundbreaking partnership between citizens and law enforcement officers that is challenging both groups to overcome their differences and distrust to work together on the deepest problems of our community.

Our mission is to create a safe place for community and law enforcement to openly discuss barriers that prevent us from building a positive relationship. These discussions will lead up to recommendations for healthier community-police relations.

What’s Happening Now?

Building on over a year of intensive work among dedicated community members and law enforcement officers, in recent months, the Community-Police Relations group has taken their trust and relationship-building process to the streets, convening public forums in neighborhoods across the city.  There, community members and law enforcement officers are coming together to engage in honest dialogue, and encouraging us all to develop a deeper understanding of the issues that are obstacles to a healthy relationship between law enforcement officers and the communities in which they live and serve.  Already, forums have been held in Frayser, Orange Mound, Soulsville, and most recently, at Union Valley Baptist Church in South Memphis, and at Hickory Hill Community Center.

Hickory Hill CPR Forum

On Monday, September 30th, over sixty people from the Hickory Hill neighborhood gathered at the Hickory Hill Community Center and shared personal stories that reminded everyone that every person has a story and wants to be respected. With the help of improvisational theatre group, Playback Memphis, the stories told were brought to life before our very eyes.

Reflection from one forum participant:

Community members in our small break-out group poured forth their stories and questions.  Law enforcement attendees were willing to offer explanations or suggestions when necessary, but they were also willing to listen and to acknowledge problems that need further attention.  And it was lovely that community members also explicitly noted their positive experiences with law enforcement and what they appreciate about them.

And another:

All the people in our small group wanted to know how they can be involved in the project and contribute to the ongoing dialogue, as well as to the creation of a plan that will outline solutions.  The forum provided the space for honest dialogue that was at times intense but still respectful and that left people feeling excited about what we can do when we come together.

Our thanks to Hickory Hill Community Center director, Mrs. Margaret Flicker and her staff for their hard work in planning the forum.

South Memphis CPR Forum

At the South Memphis forum, held at Union Valley Baptist Church, participants felt enlightened by the discussion, saying:

“Playback Memphis gave me a chance to see how others feel when they are hurt”.

“I didn’t know others felt the way I do about calling 911 or the non-emergency number”. 

“I was stopped for speeding- yes I deserved the ticket- but I appreciate the Officer who had to give me the ticket we respected me – I believe if you want respect you need to give respect, we have good officers and bad officers just like we have good people and people who are going to do wrong.”

Our thanks to Dr. Kneeland for providing meeting space for the South Memphis CPR forum.

A note of thanks from Mrs. Hazel Burks on behalf of The Praise Temple Church in South Memphis, where CPR was invited to participate in a special event.

A  VERY SPECIAL THANKS–SIMPLY THE BEST
Melissa, on behalf of Pastor William Burks, The Praise Temple Church and the South Memphis Community, I would like to thank you for arranging for members from the Community Police Relations group to attend our very first Community Safety function.  We are definitely trying to train and help equip people in this neighborhood.

In addition to having the Best Police Officers in the world (Det. Price and Officer Colbert) we also had representatives from the Red Cross and FBI to join with your volunteers from the Community Police Relations group.

To see Commissioner Randolph, take time out of his busy schedule along with the CPR officers, made me proud to be a Memphian.  Our people go above and beyond to help people be prepared and informed.

Keep up the excellent work.
Be Well
Hazel Burks

The next CPR forum will be the LGBTQ Community Forum on Tuesday, November 19th. For details or any other information about the Community-Police Relations project, please contact:

Melissa Miller-Monie, CPR Organizing Coordinator
Phone: 901-725-4990, Email: melissa@midsouthpeace.org

The CPR Team- Bridging the Gap between Community and Police Relations: Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, Community Leaders, Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Playback Memphis, and a third party facilitator.

H.O.P.E. is the name of a Mid-South Peace and Justice Center-sponsored organization whose members are exclusively people currently, or have formerly experienced homelessness. H.O.P.E. has been working hard to develop several project areas that address the issues that are a priority to the homeless community. For meeting times and dates, call 901-300-0006.

Street-Wise INK

Already thinking about what to get folks for the holidays?Street-Wise has you covered… literally!

H.O.P.E. members are getting ready to print long-sleeved H.O.P.E. t-shirts, perfect for staying warm and looking cool! Each shirt is up-cycled from local thrift stores, and the money goes directly to workers, with 25% going back into the project.

Street-Wise INK is worker-owned and operated, and made up exclusively of individuals who have formerly or are currently experiencing homelessness.

For more info on Street-Watch or to reserve your H.O.P.E. t-shirt, contact Paul Garner: paul@midsouthpeace.org Make sure to include quantity and sizes. Colors may vary.

H.O.P.E. Women’s Caucus Thanks You

Thanks to community-based support, members of the H.O.P.E. Women’s Caucus will begin self-defense classes this week.  We are thrilled to work with Cat’s Ballroom of Memphis, who is offering these classes at a discounted rate.  Over the next five weeks, Women’s Caucus members will spend 3 hours per week learning a range of techniques for increasing personal safety.

If you want to read more about the H.O.P.E. Women’s Caucus and find out how you can support this initiative, please click here.

The Garden Crew is Kicking Up Dirt!

H.O.P.E.’s Garden Crew members have now put in over twenty-five beds on land that was once a neglected, overgrown eyesore. Miss K, an organizer with the garden explained, “We want to show people in the neighborhood, that even though we might not all have a place to sleep indoors, we are still an important part of this community and we want to make it better for all of us”  The Garden Crew is also focused on sustainability and food justice. “We don’t always want to have to stand in line for a meal at a shelter, we can eventually grow enough good, healthy food to feed ourselves…(We) don’t want to always be dependent on the allowance of our oppressors,” said Garden Crew member, Toni W.

If you are interested in getting involved at the garden, or if you would like to make a material or financial donation, contact Dallas Holland: dallasholland@gmail.com also, like us on facebook!

Street-Watch: Know Your Rights

Street-Watch initiative organizers had an engaged turnout at the October‘Know Your Rights’ workshop, the fifth in an ongoing series of workshops presented in collaboration with the Law Offices of the Shelby County Public Defender. The workshops, held one a month at various churches and community centers, are geared at educating people experiencing homelessness on their rights and how to assert them when they encounter law enforcement.

The group is also working to document potential cases of police harassment, mistreatment, and abuse. “We don’t just want our people to know their rights, we want to create a process of being able to do something about it when people rights are violated. If we work together, we can document these cases and use that information to push for that process,” explained Mike K., a Steet-Watch organizer. Street Watch would like to thank St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral and Josh Spickler with the Public Defender’s office for hosting the October Workshop. If you would like more information about H.O.P.E.’s Street Watch initiative, contact Paul Garner: paul@midsouthpeace.org, 901.725.4990

Feeding the Movement

H.O.P.E would like to once again thank Memphis Center for Independent Living for providing us with space for our meetings while we seek a permanent location. There are lots of ways to feed the movement, and we would like to thank all of our allies for their continued support. For more information about how you can support HOPE or our different project areas, Please contact Paul Garner(901)725.4990, or paul@midsouthpeace.org. Like H.O.P.E. on Facebook!

Members of H.O.P.E. and their allies breathed a slight sigh of relief as TheBeers Van Gogh Peer Center of Excellence has finally terminated Peer Counselor, Hervelle Williams for sexual harassment. The Beers Van Gogh Peer Center is a part of the Tennessee Mental Health Consumers Association and is supposed to provide housing, support and Medicaid services for individuals with mental illnesses in a peer to peer model. Over the past year H.O.P.E. has received numerous complaints from people experiencing homelessness and former Peer Center employees about instances of lewd and homophobic language and repeated unwanted sexual propositions from Williams.

H.O.P.E-Homeless Organizing For Power and Equality, is an “Asphalt Roots” organization sponsored by the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center. This group is made up exclusively of people who are currently or formerly experiencing homelessness.

Work on this issue began last summer when two members of H.O.P.E. shared their experiences of harassment by Williams with the group a weekly H.O.P.E. meeting.

“As I heard our members share their experiences I was stunned” says H.O.P.E. member Toni Whitfield, ” This situation with this staff person is out of control including offering one of our members $20 to show him her breasts and telling her and others about the size of his penis and asking a woman if she wanted to be in a “three way” with him and his girlfriend.“

Members of H.O.P.E. took immediate action by conducting street outreach to people experiencing homelessness to find other potential victims of harassment and sexual assault and launched a series of weekly protests outside of the Peer Center located at 669 Madison Ave. H.O.P.E. also partnered with the Memphis Public Interest Law Center to ensure that the rights of those stepping forward were protected.

“It did not take long before we learned that this was far from an isolated incident–in fact we think that this is part of a much larger systemic issue in our homeless services network. Folks on the streets call it “play to stay”, ” says H.O.P.E. Organizer Paul Garner.

“Play to Stay,” is a slang term coined by H.O.P.E. members and refers to the rumored practice of staff at some local homeless service providers allegedly coercing sexual favors from female clients in exchange to gain access to services.

“Whenever there are allegations like this one, the community must take it seriously! 92% of women experiencing homelessness have suffered severe physical and/or sexual assault in their lifetimes. Most people think that once you get off the streets and get housing or services, that you are out of the woods and finally safe but the sad fact is that there are predators in the system as well. For some of us out there, it’s only the beginning. This incidents with Hervelle is just the tip of the iceberg. This is much bigger than just one employee at one service provider.” Says H.O.P.E. members and former Peer Center employee Marian Bacon

As the weekly protest and calls to action continued,  the group was contacted by several additional former clients and staff members of the Peer Center, each one had similar experiences of harassment. In addition to the charges of sexual harassment the group also raised concerns about allegations of physical assault and other issues at the Beers Van Gogh. Members of H.O.P.E. spoke with the leadership of TMHCA in the pursuit of justice for the membership, but did not stop there. The group met with and filed official complaints with all appropriate regulatory agencies.This led to investigations being launched by Memphis Housing and Community Development, Tennessee Department of Mental Health, and HUD-TN and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Now that Williams has been terminated amid new allegations of continued sexual harassment,the group wants to continue to push for greater oversight and transparency within our homeless services safety net. Every year H.O.P.E lobbies our local city and county governments for improved funding of homelessness services and was involved in drafting the TEN YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS, but they say that they are also going to be acting as a watchdog and work in concert with local agencies that are funded by taxpayer dollars to ensure that they are acting in a proper manner.

“We still live in a society where allegations of sexual harassment and assault are often swept under the rug and even women of means and wealth are not immune to this, so imagine how hard it must be for people who have no support system in place for the protection of their rights. That is what H.O.P.E. is for. The women and men who stepped forward and spoke out are truly courageous and we were proud to stand behind them, because it’s not easy.” Says H.O.P.E. member Kay Baker.

H.O.P.E. has also started a Women’s Caucus within its organization. This is a place where women who are experiencing homelessness can discuss issues, plan actions and campaigns around issues distinctive to women. One of the upcoming projects centers around a self defense class for the members combined with plans for peer to peer counseling. This project is co-sponsored by the Center for Research on Women at the University of Memphis, Women’s Caucus meets regularly for “Dinner and Discussion,” out of which a core group of organizers has emerged to focus on the unique challenges faced by women experiencing homelessness.

If you are the victim of sexual harassment or assault at a local homelessness service provider please contact Paul Garner Organizing Coordinator for H.O.P.E. at 901-300-0006 or by email at paul@midsouthpeace.org.

Soulsville Neighborhood Community-Police Relations Forum

The Community-Police Relations (CPR) project is a groundbreaking partnership between citizens and law enforcement officers that is challenging both groups to overcome their differences and distrust to work together on the deepest problems of our community. The CPR Group held a community forum in the Soulsville neighborhood on Monday, August 26th.  Here are some thoughts from one participant:

I believe it to have been a total success. I enjoy seeing the number grow as we move from different areas of the city. It really touched me to hear about the young lady who had her house broken into 15 times and still manages to have a positive outlook for her community and the police. I believe from what I observed that everyone has a willingness to work together in order to make positive changes. I heard different members talk about wanting to help and do more within their community to have positive changes occur. Each one of the members within my breakout group were positive and had feedback and asked questions about where the change will come from, how change can occur and this is a long term effort. Overall I believe that we are about to see history change right before our eyes as to the battle we are about to join to make a difference.
– L. Price

I believe that the Orange Mound Community and Police Relations forum was a game changer. It was the largest turn out that CPR Memphis had at that time. It showed us that the people are indeed concerned about their communities.  We were able to break up into 3 very large groups of Facilitators, Law Enforcement and Community members. In those groups we each were able to voice direct concerns of the actions of Police Officers in that area and throughout the city. The Officers were very open and gave feed back on many issues not just the ones that people were speaking of. That one of the things that  this platform allows which is  transparent dialogue about the grey areas of Law in a neutral setting. It was encouraging.

– Kelvin Cowans, Tri-State Defender

Upcoming CPR Community Forums

Hickory Hill Forum
Monday, September 30th, 6 – 8p (5:30 sign-in)
Hickory Hill Community Center, 3910 Ridgeway Road
Outreach Contact: Mr. Sonny Robinson, bongotiger1@gmail.com
CPR Coordinator: Melisa Miller-Monie, melissa@midsouthpeace.org

Youth CPR Forum/Gandhi-King Conference
Friday, October 18th at BRIDGES.  Please contact, CPR Coordinator, Melisa Miller-Monie for details on how to get involved. Email: melissa@midsouthpeace.org

LGBTQ Community Forum
Tuesday, November 19th, 6 – 8p (5:30 sign-in)
Holy Trinity Community Church, 685 South Highland Street
CPR Coordinator: Melisa Miller-Monie, melissa@midsouthpeace.org

For more information about the Community-Police Relations project, please contact:

Melissa Miller-Monie, CPR Organizing Coordinator
Phone: 901-725-4990, Email: melissa@midsouthpeace.org

The CPR Team- Bridging the Gap between Community and Police Relations: Mid-South Peace and Justice Center, Community Leaders, Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Playback Memphis, and a third party facilitator.

Fall Workshops and Trainings

After a very productive year of anti-oppression workshops and organizer skill trainings, we are delighted to announce the workshops and trainings for the last months of 2013. Read on for details on Founding and Funding your Grassroots Group Workshop, Media 201, Core Organizer Training, and Training for Social Action Trainers.

We would also like to mention that our last Grassroots Organizer Training for Power in Spanish (G.O.T. Poder) was a complete success! This training, unique in the Mid-South, had 20 participants from different backgrounds and of a range of ages, and had an emphasis on nonviolent direct action. In light the current proposal of the bill for immigration Reform, the Latino community organizers of Tennessee are getting ready to take more drastic actions.

On Wednesday, September 12th, one of G.O.T. Poder’s participants, a long time activist of the Latino community of Memphis and MSPJC board member, Cristina Condori, was arrested in Washington, DC with other 100 women from all over the country. They were part of the nationwide action organized by We Belong Together, urging the house of Representatives to keep families together, stop deportations of fathers, mothers and kids, and pass a fair immigration reform bill.

MSPJC  continues offering support and trainings for our communities develop and discover the power we have with in our selves and with each other.

Upcoming Workshops and Trainings

Founding and Funding your Grassroots Group Workshop

Learn the process, skills and actions you can use to found and sustainably fund your grassroots group.

Led by Jacob Flowers

REGISTER NOW  Registration online or by phone is required for all workshops.

This session starts with an in-depth look at the mission, vision and values that you are organizing from and ends with concrete actions that you can take to fund your work sustainably over the long term.

Join us to learn how you can found and fund your organizing group to be successful from the beginning.

Date: Saturday, September 21

Time: 2p.m. – 5p.m. Please be on time.

Location: MSPJC, 3573 Southern Ave. Memphis TN 38111 wheelchair accessible

Cost: $20-$45 Sliding scale.

*Limited to the first 18 people who register.

REGISTER NOW  Registration online or by phone is required for all workshops.

Some scholarships may be available.

Donations for workshop scholarships gratefully accepted!

For more information call 901-725-4990 or email to gio@midsouthpeace.org

Media 201 Workshop

In this advanced media workshop we will focus on practicing the skills of:
•Media Planning
•Messaging
•Creating talking points
•Pitching your story
•Advanced interviewing techniques.

REGISTER NOW for Media 201 Workshop

Registration online or by phone is required for all workshops.

Date: Saturday, October 26

Time: 2p.m. – 5p.m. Please be on time.
Location: MSPJC, 3573 Southern Ave. Memphis TN 38111 wheelchair accessible
Cost: $20-$45 Sliding scale.

*Limited to the first 18 people who register.

REGISTER NOW  for Media 201 Workshop

Registration online or by phone is required for all workshops.

Some scholarships may be available. Donations for workshop scholarships gratefully accepted!

For more information call 901-725-4990 or email to gio@midsouthpeace.org

Core Organizer Training

MSPJC is offering our second weekend Core Organizer Training of 2013 on November 8-10.

The Core Organizer Training teaches participants the foundational skills they need to be effective organizers and win on issues that are important to them.
We train using popular education and integrating experiential education, allowing people to learn in a hands-on, direct manner, while also drawing out the expertise that the individual already has within. The result is a training that is fully interactive and has direct application in each session.

Topics covered include:
Intro to Organizing, Organizing your Community, Campaign Planning, Facilitating Meetings, Media, Transforming Conflict and Nonviolent Direct Action

REGISTER NOW for Core Organizer Training

What: Core Organizer Training. A maximum of 20 people will be trained in order for all to get individual support and for the maximum learning potential for the group.

Where: 3573 Southern Ave. Memphis, TN 38111

When: Friday, November 8:  6-9pm
Saturday, November 9:  9am-5pm
Sunday, November 10:   1-5pm   (No partial attendance allowed)

Cost: If your annual income is:

Less than $15,000             You pay: $30
$15,000-$25,000                         $50
$25,000-$35,000                         $100
$35,000-$45,000                         $150
$45,000-$55,000                         $225
Over $55,000                             $300

Sliding scale based on the individual’s income. If your organization is sending you to the training, use the organizational budget to determine the fee. It costs MSPJC $200 per person to do the training. Fee includes over 15 hours of training, simple snacks and lunch on Saturday, and follow up support from a network of the mid-south best organizers and activists.

REGISTER NOW for Core Organizer Training
Registration online or by phone is required for all trainings. Some scholarships may be available.
Donations for workshop scholarships gratefully accepted!

For more information call 901-725-4990 or email to gio@midsouthpeace.org

Training for Social Action Trainers – TSAT

In collaboration with Training For Change, MSPJC is glad to announce the host of our second TSAT in the Mid-South, to be in December 6, 7 and 8, 2013.

For Registering and more detailed information about this training please visit Training for Social Action Trainers.

G.O.T. Power, a 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 anti-oppression and liberation education.

For more information call 901-725-4990 or email to gio@midsouthpeace.org

Find our workshops on Facebook and share them with your friends!

H.O.P.E. is the name of a Mid-South Peace and Justice Center-sponsored organization whose members are exclusively people currently, or have formerly experienced homelessness. For over a year now, H.O.P.E. has been organizing and agitating around the issues that are a priority to the homeless community. For meeting times and dates, call 901-300-0006. 

H.O.P.E. Women’s Caucus
Background

Research indicates that the majority of women who experience homelessness also experience violence, with domestic violence being one of the primary catalysts for homelessness in women’s lives. Homelessness is also associated with a variety of health issues, all of which can be difficult to address while meeting one’s basic needs.

The H.O.P.E. Women’s Caucus is a safe space for H.O.P.E. members who identify as women to work together on the issues that disproportionately affect them, including reproductive health and violence.  Co-sponsored by the Center for Research on Women at the University of Memphis, the Women’s Caucus meets regularly for “Dinner and Discussion,” from which a core group of organizers has emerged to focus on the unique challenges faced by women experiencing homelessness.

Most recently, the Women’s Caucus has taken up health issues, with nutrition, reproductive health, and overall wellness being major themes of discussion.  Women’s Caucus members have tried healthy new foods and exercises together, from gluten-free pizza crusts to restorative yoga.

In the next month, Women’s Caucus will begin a two-phase self-defense program.  During the first phase, the core organizing members will take self-defense classes. These classes will meet twice a week for five weeks, and will equip participants with the fundamental skills needed to handle an attack, and get out of violent situations safely. In the second phase, members will participate in “train the trainer” style classes to learn the techniques of teaching self-defense strategies to other women.  This two-phase model builds upon an evidence-based Lay Health Advisor model used around the country to implement community-based healthcare programs.

HOW CAN YOU HELP WOMEN’S CAUCUS? 

Women’s Caucus needs to raise $800 for Phase 1 of our self-defense program.  If you can contribute to this cause, please do so here.  Remember that any amount is helpful, so give what you can!  If you are interested in getting involved with the H.O.P.E. Women’s Caucus in any other way, or if you have questions or suggestions for the group, please contact Project Coordinator, Ace F. Madjlesi at acemadjlesi@gmail.com.

Many thanks to Tiffany Futch, Jamie Young, and Elokin Capece for their dedicated support to this group.

Street-Watch

On August 31st, members of  H.O.P.E.’s Street-Watch Initiative, hosted a ‘Know Your Rights’ forum at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral for people who live on the streets of Memphis.This was the fourth in a series of workshops held at different churches and community centers across the city over the past four months across the city. Employees of the Law Offices of the Shelby County Public Defender and other attorneys informed an engaged crowd on their rights when encountering law enforcement and how to assert them. Meanwhile, Street-Watch members and volunteers assisted participants with filling out surveys about their experiences with law enforcement, as well as complaint forms to document instances of police harassment.

“We believe that over time, we can use data compiled from these complaints to pinpoint areas where police harassment is most likely to occur, what time of day or night, and begin to weed out officers who believe that a badge and a gun give them the right to treat people on the streets of Memphis like second-class citizens,” said Marcus Mitchell, an organizer with the project.

Street-Watch will continue to host educational forums, and with the help of data collected from complaints and surveys, members plan on organizing street teams, equipped with video cameras to document the harsh realities of life on the streets of Memphis, and the mistreatment that men and women often face when they are profiled for “appearing homeless.”

Feeding the Movement

H.O.P.E would like to once again thank Memphis Center for Independent Living for providing us with space for our meetings while we seek a permanent location. There are lots of ways to feed the movement, and we would like to thank all of our allies for their continued support. For more information about how you can support HOPE or our different project areas, Please contact Paul Garner(901)725.4990, or paul@midsouthpeace.org. Like H.O.P.E. on Facebook!

We are excited to announce our 2013 Plenary Speakers Medea Benjamin (CodePink Women for Peace) and Jaribu Hill (MS Workers Center).

Join these dedicated advocates, activists, organizers and grassroots leaders for peace and social justice in our communities.

You can register for the conference here. 
Registration is on a sliding scale, based on ability to pay, with no one turned away.

We Are the Change. We Are the Movement.

Speaker Bios:

JARIBU HILL

Jaribu Hill is a civil and human rights attorney and Executive Director of the Mississippi Workers’ Center for Human Rights(MWCHR), an organization which uses a human rights organizing framework to fight discrimination in housing, employment and voting. The MWCHR is a worker advocacy organization that provides organizing support, legal representation and training for low-wage, non-union workers in the state of Mississippi. Through direct action campaigns, organizing sessions and trainings, it raises awareness among workers as to the many ways their human rights are violated in the workplace and in their communities. Jaribu previously worked with Amnesty International in Oxford, Mississippi as a Soros Justice Fellow where she did education and advocacy work that focused on issues affecting juveniles and inmates with mental retardation who are on death row. While in law school, Jaribu was an Ella Baker Intern with the Center for Constitutional Rights. After law school, Jaribu became a Skadden Fellow in the Mississippi office of the American Civil Liberties Union. Later, Jaribu went on to direct the Southern Regional Office of CCR.

In addition to founding the MWCHR, Jaribu also founded several other organizations, including theSouthern Human Rights Organizers’ Conference, Black Women’s International Roundtable, CUNY Law School Mississippi Project, and the Fannie Lou Hamer Sister Roundtable. She is also a singer and composer and was lead singer with the renowned singing duo Serious Bizness for over 15 years.

MEDEA BENJAMIN

Medea Benjamin is a co-founder of both CODEPINK and the international human rights organization, Global Exchange.  She has been an advocate for social justice for more than 30 years. Described as “one of America’s most committed — and most effective — fighters for human rights” by New York Newsday, and called “one of the high profile leaders of the peace movement” by the Los Angeles Times, Medea has distinguished herself as an eloquent and energetic figure in the progressive movement. In 2005 she was one of 1,000 exemplary women from 140 countries nominated to receive the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the millions of women who do the essential work of peace worldwide. In 2010 she received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Prize from the Fellowship of Reconciliation.

Since the September 11, 2001 tragedy,  Medea has been working to promote a U.S. foreign policy that would respect human rights and gain us allies instead of contributing to violence and undermining our international reputation.  In 2000, she was a Green Party candidate for the California Senate.  During the 1990s, Medea focused her efforts on tackling the problem of unfair trade as promoted by the World Trade Organization. Widely credited as the woman who brought Nike to its knees and helped place the issue of sweatshops on the national agenda, Medea was a key player in the campaign that won a $20 million settlement from 27 US clothing retailers for the use of sweatshop labor in Saipan. She also pushed Starbucks and other companies to start carrying fair trade coffee. A former economist and nutritionist with the United Nations and World Health Organization, Benjamin is the author/editor of eight books. Her latest book is called Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control, and she has been campaigning to get lethal drones out of the hands of the CIA. Her articles appear regularly in outlets such as The Huffington Post, CommonDreams, Alternet and OpEd News.

The H.O.P.E. Women’s Caucus

Background

Research indicates that the majority of women who experience homelessness also experience violence, with domestic violence being one of the primary catalysts for homelessness in women’s lives.

Homelessness is also associated with a variety of health issues, all of which can be difficult to address while meeting one’s basic needs. TheH.O.P.E. Women’s Caucus is a safe space for H.O.P.E. members who identify as women to work together on the issues that affect them disproportionately, including reproductive health and violence.  Women’s Caucus meets regularly for “Dinner and Discussion,” out of which a core group of organizers has emerged to focus on the unique challenges faced by women experiencing homelessness.

Read about Women’s Caucus in the Memphis Flyer! (11/13/14)

Read Women’s Caucus’ Editorial on Amendment One, which was printed in the Commercial Appeal!(11/04/14)

HOW CAN YOU HELP? 

HOPE Women’s Caucus will be preparing care packages to conduct outreach specifically to women experiencing homelessness. These packages would be small, but would contain essential sanitary items that can be hard to come by for many women who are without shelter.

You can donate any of the items on our wish list (scroll to the bottom of the page) by dropping them off at the MSPJC office at 3573 Southern Ave.  You can also contribute financially by clicking the link below.

If you are interested in getting involved with the HOPE Women’s Caucus in any other way, or if you have questions or suggestions for the group, please contact WC Project Coordinator, Jamie Young at hopewomen@gmail.com.

Click here to DONATE to the H.O.P.E. Women’s Caucus

H.O.P.E. Women’s Caucus Care Packages Wish List
Sleeping Bags
Large Cloth Grocery-Style Bags
Warm Shoes
Small Flashlights
Soap and Waterproof Soap Containers
Toothbrushes and Trial-Size Toothpaste
Deodorant
Compact Mirrors
Reusable Water Bottles
Hair Ties and Hair Clips
Gloves, Knit Caps, and Scarves
Baby Wipes
Gallon-size Plastic Bags
Lip Balm
Tissue Packs
Bandages
Scented Lotions or Body Sprays
Nail Kits (Including File, Clippers, and Polish)
Journals and Pens
Chewing Gum
Chocolate or Granola Bars
Feminine Hygiene Products
Gift Cards or Movie Passes
Job Opportunities

No War in Syria

Violent intervention in Syria is not the answer to resolving the conflict. Let us honor the victims of violence by working to build the foundations for peace.

President Obama will address the nation on Tuesday and will likely reveal his intended actions in Syria. We need to send a message loud and clear that the people of this country stand against U.S. military intervention.

Join members of the Memphis Community to Speak Out for Peace at a RALLY this Tuesday (Sept. 10) from 5:00-7:00pm at the corner of Park Ave. and Highland St.

We need to:
• redirect our military dollars towards immediate humanitarian aid
• refocus on urgent peace talks
• halt sales to authoritarian regimes
• honor the voices of nonviolent resistance

We don’t want another war!
…a war that would kill innocent women, men, children
…a war that your tax dollars would pay for
…a war that would put Americans in danger
…another war that would add to global instability.

CALL NOW :: RALLY TUESDAY

Congress will vote on authorizing the President to go to war this very soon! Call your House Rep and Senators NOW!

Rep.Cohen 901.544.4131
Rep. Fincher 901.682.4422
Sen. Alexander 901.544.4224
Sen. Corker 901.683.1910

Rally at the Corner of Park Ave. and Highland St.
• September 10th, 2013 (Tuesday)
• 5:00-7:00pm

Memphis Bus Riders Union (MBRU) made history this August in what seemed like an impossible feat: pushing the City Council to pass a resolution diverting funding from the Economic Development Growth Engine, a local government board designed to “serve a leading role in administering current economic development incentive programs” to the Memphis Area Transit Authority in order to restore funding MATA lost from Mayor A C Wharton’s FY 2014 budget cuts.

Earlier this summer, MBRU urged the Council to restore the $2.4 million to MATA’s portion of the city budget before it was passed in July. As budget deliberations came to an end, a scant $606,000 was restored. Throughout the budget hearings MBRU organizers warned the administration and the Council that this would not be enough to stop the massive cuts to bus service. Yet again, Memphis foots the bill for a corporate buffet while rationing public services in a so-called budget crisis. Growing public dismay made it apparent that in spite of the odds, more action must be taken.

As MATA prepared to host public hearings on the upcoming route cuts, MBRU kept pushing the City Council to take another look into the budget and find the funding for public transportation. Bus riders increased the pressure with calls and emails to the Council and the Mayor’s office, and mobilized over 200 riders to the public hearings. All these efforts effectively shifted the conversation to focus on the problem of city funding and tax breaks for multi-million dollar corporations while public services are being decimated. As MBRU organizer Bennett Foster stated in a press release by the local Sierra Club “This resolution to amend the budget and restore some funding for MATA has the potential to protect a great deal of service hours, frequency and even entire routes that are proposed to be terminated this summer. Changes planned for the 10 and 43 could create a veritable wall between residents of North and South Memphis and the developing downtown area, not to mention the added hardship for bus riders from all over the city who must transfer downtown to get anywhere out east. The City has an opportunity to take action now before it’s too late.  With unemployment at 10.3%, rampant poverty and the Mayor’s  perpetual cuts to public services the question is whether the livelihood of poor and working class Memphians is worth taking another look at this budget. We think it is.”

Local media outlets began to focus on the upcoming cuts to bus service. Council members Lee Harris, Janis Fullilove and Wanda Halbert felt they had enough support to bring a resolution to committee that would amend the budget by taking $469,000 from EDGE and putting that money into MATA operations. With so much community support the council passed the resolution with eight votes!

MATA’s Board of Commissioners met the very next day to vote on the proposed cuts to service. With over $1 million in funding won back by MBRU, our supporters and a great deal of public input from dedicated riders, MATA’s new route proposal saved the 11:15 line up, entire routes such as the #6 Northaven, #15 Presidents Island, #5 Central, #82 Germantown Parkway, and #2 Airport. Stated in the board’s meeting agenda “In order to be responsive to the many comments received regarding direct service to the VA Hospital and Memphis Towers… the #2 route would remain as it exists today in the Medical Center area. The #36 Hacks Cross route would also remain…”. The proposal passed unanimously. Sadly, all of this comes at a time when state and federal funding for public transportation is being drastically reduced. North and South Memphis, which already lack adequate bus service, will still suffer from less service than anywhere else.

Memphis Bus Riders Union has plenty of work ahead. But with these seemingly impossible victories under her belt, an affordable, equitable, safe and efficient mass public transit system doesn’t seem so unattainable. Stay tuned as the struggle continues!

Our next monthly meeting is Saturday, September 7th from 12 to 2pm at Memphis Center for Independent Living, 1633 Madison Ave. Please join us!

For more information call (901) 205-9737 or email us at MemphisBRU@gmail.com.