News

As it sometimes seems figuratively, training people means filling an empty glass with knowledge; but it’s more about creating an appropriate environment for putting into action the actual content, or knowledge that is already in the glass.

How many times have we been in training expecting the facilitator to give us all the answers to our questions? 

How many times have we been in a training feeling so “comfortable” because there were not big challenges? 

Also, how many times have we been in a training stretching our comfort zones, taking challenges and having some feelings of fear and/or risk without being in physical or emotional danger?

How many times have we found the answer to our questions within ourselves?

Too many questions? Good place to start!

My dad use to say that in a crisis moment, people become more creative.  So why wait for a critical moment to catch us by surprise when we can take the step and let it push us a little bit outside of our comfort zone and encourage the creativity?

Because every single person has a unique life, with unique experiences and different ways to learn that sometimes are not recognized even by ourselves, we tend to forget that we are the experts of our own life.

We could extend our arms and take something from our own bank of learning experiences to create change or to resolve a conflict, but how often do we turn to this resource? Or maybe, we have learned to believe that somebody (school, church, or government) has to fill our glass and answer all our questions, thus canceling our ability to meet challenges.

Mid-South Peace and Justice Center is working towards having the kind of training that allows the participants to have the appropriate environment to discover how to use the knowledge based on our own experiences, developing it and putting it into action with the help of specific tools, to organize our community and create social change.

This training is for guiding a group through the path of identifying concepts and principles that we can harvest from everyone in the group, including the facilitators.

Historically, organized communities are those who have created a transcendental social change in the world.  And the list of issues “to change” is still a big one.

In August, Mid-South Peace and Justice Center will hold the third training, Grassroots Organizing Training, G.O.T. Poder in Spanish for the growing Latino Community in Memphis and surrounding areas.

There is a big group of latino people working hard for “The Community”, getting ready in case Tennessee becomes like Arizona or Alabama, states with anti-immigrant laws that will not only harm the latino community, but the Tennessee community as a whole.

We will learn from each other and grow together for continuing to make Memphis a much better community in which to live.

G.O.T. Poder in Spanish training is so new we highly recommend that even past G.O.T. Poder graduates take this training, as completely new tools are used to teach the skills in a totally new way. 

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

A maximum of 25 people will be trained in order for all to get individual support and for the maximum learning potential for the group.

Format: A one week training. On August 3 – 5, 2012.

**More details about hours and location soon.**

Cost: Sliding scale based on the individualʼs 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 14 hours of training, simple snacks and lunch on Saturday, and follow up support from a network of the mid-southʼs best organizers and activists.

If your annual income is…               You pay …
Less than $15,000              $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

MSPJC offers many workshops publicly, but we also offer our workshops to organizations and people working around a specific issue, with workshops tailored to meet the organization or group’s individual needs. We are able to offer one of our Core organizer workshops, or we can design a workshop to meet your organization or group’s specific needs.

If you are interested in bringing MSPJC to your organization or group to do a workshop, please contact us at 901-725-4990 or by email at gio@midsouthpeace.org or allison@midsouthpeace.org.

*Nuestros entrenamientos también están disponibles en Español

Our trainings are also available in Spanish.

Homeless Organizing for Power and Equality (H.O.P.E.) is the name of a Mid-South Peace and Justice Center sponsored organization who’s members are exclusively people who are currently or have formerly experienced homelessness. Fresh off the heels of victory in our ROAD HOME campaign, where H.O.P.E. won more than $500,000 of County funding for homeless and veterans issues this organization is eager to continue the fight for our people.

DIGNITY

H.O.P.E is continuing to investigate allegations of criminal wrong doing at two local homeless service providers at the request of our members. H.O.P.E. is getting a lot of reports from women experiencinghomelessness that employees at a local shelter are having inappropriate sexual conduct with female clients in exchange for shelter or “PLAY TO STAY” as it has been called. H.O.P.E. will be performing street outreach now and over the course of the next few weeks and months to reach out to unsheltered women to document these cases to pass on to the DA and Police to DEMAND a full investigation and prosecution of any and all offenders.

At a July 2^ND  meeting with H.O.P.E.’s legal counsel we have received new information, documentation and evidence of clear sexual harassment at ANOTHER service provider location. To make matters worse the employee in question who was suspended for lewd comments and inappropriate financial propositions to female clients with mental illness was allowed to return to work today. As a result at least one of the female clients has gone back to the streets abandoning her housing out of fear. H.O.P.E. is in the process of drafting a letter and if need be exploring legal, public,media and direct action to resolve this situation and ensure that all men, women, and children are safe and treated with dignity and respect within our social service network.

SELF DETERMINATION

H.O.P.E. is also pursuing the creation of a Worker’s Co-op to facilitate part time income sources for it’s members. This venture, led by H.O.P.E. organizer, Paul Garner, would involve members of H.O.P.E. being trained in silk screen printing for the creation of t-shirts for organizations, church youth organizations, political campaigns and grassroots organizing groups. This service will be fully owned and operated by the members themselves.

H.O.P.E. welcomes Dan Levin to this project, who has volunteered to offer his services as a business consultant for the H.O.P.E. worker’s co-op. Mr. Levin will be aiding the group in writing a business plan as well as working through the nuts and bolts of how to set up and run a business enterprise owned and operated by the members.

The new steering committee has began working on bylaws,qualifications for membership and a feasibility study to start a co-op of our members to make and sell t-shirts. The group is currently preparing workshops to train the members in all aspects of running the business venture and creating the shirts themselves.

MUTUAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

H.O.P.E. is currently working to set up a  series of free self defense courses for women experiencing homelessness with a strong facilitated emotional healing therapeutic component.

SOLIDARITY

H.O.P.E. has also joined as a member of the Memphis/Shelby Homelessness Consortium. The Consortium is made up of more than 40 member agencies, led by the Community Alliance for the Homeless, a nonprofit that provides planning, technical assistance and service coordination to public and private agencies working to end homelessness in Shelby County.

Members of H.O.P.E. attended the annual meeting of the Memphis and Shelby County Homeless Consortium and presented the CHAMPION award for outstanding service in the cause of homelessness by an elected official to County Commissioner Steve Mulroy. H.O.P.E. also elected member Robbie Howard as the group official representative on this body. Robbie is eager to get involved and get our members involved in the Street outreach and/ or Employment/job committees.

The Word Reconciliation?

As the core group of community leaders continue to grow in working on the project of Community and Police Reconciliation, we are thinking in regards to the word Reconciliation.  The word Reconciliation could mean so many things,  depending on the shoes you stand in. 

1. We have some individuals who are sincerely offended of anyone thinking that the community and police needs to reconcile.   

2. We have some who think the job of the police is only to harass and put people in jail. 

In Memphis and Shelby County we have a very diverse  population. 

Why is there such a difference in how we view our Law Enforcement.  

Is it or could it be any of the following:

1. Gender
2. Race
3. Social status
4. Income status
5. Age

As the Core group of citizens build the frame work we would like feed back from what you in the community feel or see standing in your shoes. 

Our community is in transition, this transition will allow us to explore the link between the change and how individuals view this change. 

• How does change impact YOU?
• Why do many people resist change?
• How can you effectively advocate for what you want in ways that foster healthy relationships, organizations, and communities?

Over the next several months our core group of community leaders will address real issues and concerns that are the reality of how many people feel here in Memphis and Shelby County.  

In order to build the frame work, the core group knows of the challenges that they face however, they are committed to putting their time and vision in a project that will have policy in place for the future of Memphis and Shelby County that will have the stamp of approval of the citizens of Memphis and Shelby County with a strategic visioning dialogue that will be the vision of the community as a whole.    

If you would like more information or if you would like to forward your questions regarding this project so that your voice may be heard please contact :

Melissa Miller-Monie
Organizing Coordinator
melissa@midsouthpeace.org
(901) 725-4990

Memphis Convoy of Hope will be holding a community outreach event to honor and help those in need. You can make a difference by helping out with health services, food services, grocery distribution, guest services, kid zone, haircuts, family portraits, and more. There will be free live music and entertainment, as well as free BBQ lunch for everyone in attendance. All are welcome!!!

When : Saturday June 30, 2012. Gates open at 10 am, rain or shine.
Where : Mid-South Fairgrounds

Those interested in volunteering at the outreach should attend our rally, which will be held on Friday, June 29, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. At the rally volunteers will receive a free t-shirt and instructions for the day of the outreach.

For more information on the event:

http://memphis.convoyofhope.org/
http://memphis.convoyofhope.org/volunteer

The Community Alliance for the Homeless, Inc. will be hosting Project Homeless Connect 2, a massive one-day event targeting unsheltered homeless individuals in Memphis and Shelby County – through which all the resources and services needed to leave homelessness are provided under one roof. An inspiring and meaningful project that puts the Mayors’ Action Plan to End Homelessness to work! There are many services anticipated and volunteer duties/assignments.

When : Thursday July 12, 2012.
Where : Cook Convention Center

Volunteers will be trained on their assignment and safety protocols on July 11^th at 4 p.m.

For more information on the event:

(901)-527-1302

www.communityallianceforthehomeless.com
http://www.communityallianceforthehomeless.com/?p=1273

A couple of weeks ago, I started my transition from the Office Coordinator at the Mid-South Peace and Justice Center to becoming a Training Coordinator.  This excited me, to know that I can give more if I put my self into motion.

I experimented with the “Training” issue for first time in my theater career. I formerly hosted theater trainings for youth and adults in Costa Rica.  There I studied Scenic Arts and decided to continue that practice by holding theater trainings for the Centro Cultural Latino de Memphis (Memphis Latino Cultural Center).

Theater is not something that you can necessarily teach someone how to do. Obviously, there are several techniques for learning theater. For me, theater is experiencing different situations while being completely aware of yourself (mind and body).  We learn from ourselves first and also from others that are in the same process.  If one will notice, most of life’s learning is based on self experience.

I had not thought about how all trainings share the essence regardless of the content, until I went to Minneapolis for the training called ‘Talleristas por la Justicia’ (Trainers for Social Justice) or Training for Trainers, as it’s known in English. This training is one of several phenomenal trainings by the organization, Training for Change. I’d already completed a training-for-trainers experience before becoming involved in this training; yet I found it crucial for me, not only because this training was completely in Spanish, but was also completely in the Hispanic Culture.  It is one thing to speak in Spanish only and another thing to personally be Hispanic with all the understanding – that puts it all into proper perspective.

I could experience the difference between the English Training and the Spanish Training even when the training format is the same because of the people involved with it. This could be very obvious, but for me was a great discovery.

Without generalizing, there are 36 countries throughout “America” of which most (20) are Spanish speaking countries with very different cultures represented among them. The United States, furthermore, is the country with the biggest population of Spanish speaking people as second language (as first language in many cases) and Hispanics living inside its borders, hosting a mix of diverse cultures, and yet sharing many similarities too.

While between Hispanic people there are some differences regarding their language (slangs) and culture, similarly the differences in diversity with the Memphis culture is even bigger.  A training for Memphis culture therefore has to have some kind of Hispanic dynamic as well.

Specifically, this area of emphasis on Memphis culture will be my first goal to accomplish in this new position. In order to make a cultural interpretation for our Core Organizing Training that was initially designed for English speaking people, there will now be an updated Spanish version: GOT Power (Grassroots Organizing Training for Power).

This cultural interpretation is not only meant to interpret the words originally prepared in English, but is also interpreting the essence of its intended applications.  What we really have to do is actually provide an Hispanic feeling with some Salsa and Rancheras!

I will admit, it has been challenging to do this cultural translation work simply because I’m not a professional interpreter and English is my (almost) second language.  I have however, had the experience to be part of some trainings with amazing trainers. It is so rewarding to know my people, and I am deeply enjoying what I’m doing.

Continuing on in this amazing experience is allowing me to merge community theater with social justice. I will attend the Advance Training for Trainers in Philadelphia, next July (thanks to Mid-South Peace and Justice Center supporters). It will be a 5-day experience of  learning  perhaps a more effective way to help our Mid-South Peace and Justice Center team in making the greater Memphis culture better for all.

Talleristas por la Justicia – Minneapolis 2012

If you want to know more about The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center trainings, please contact us at 901-725-4990 or by email at:

Allison Glass, Training Director – allison@midsouthpeace.org or

Gio López, Training Coordinator – gio@midsouthpeace.org 

*Nuestros entrenamientos también están disponibles en Español

Our trainings are also available in Spanish.

Homeless Organizing for Power and Equality (H.O.P.E.) is the name of a Mid-South Peace and Justice Center sponsored organization who’s members are exclusively people who are currently or have formerly experienced homelessness.

 H.O.P.E. wants to thank all of our members and allies for their hard work, phone calls,emails and letters which allowed H.O.P.E. to win a historic victory in THE ROAD HOME campaign.

We especially want to thank Shelby County Commissioner Steve Mulroy for his tireless support.

This effort involved actively lobbying and advocating our local elected officials during the Shelby County Commission budget hearings and thanks to your efforts we won much needed funding at historic levels to provide housing and care to those least fortunate within our community.

Thanks to you…

1. H.O.P.E. won  $250,000 of County funding for the Mayors’ Plan to End Homelessness. These funds will be used to provide early outreach and In home case management and wrap around services for 100 of the most vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness in our city. These are individuals who are projected under current conditions to die within the next two years without housing and services. These funds will bridge the gap for these individuals moving into permanent supportive housing until their Medicare benefits are processed. This will aid the Community Alliance for the Homeless in reaching the goal of housing 100 unsheltered individuals by Christmas of 2012.

2. H.O.P.E. won a one time expenditure of $200,000 of capital improvement funds to convert blighted and MHA properties into permanent supportive housing. This will result in new units of permanent supportive housing for 25 homeless families with disabilities and 43 units of permanent affordable housing for low income families over the course of the next 36 months.

3. H.O.P.E. won $60,000 in operational funding in support of Judge Bill Anderson’s proposal of a Veteran’s Court within General Sessions Division 7.  This Court will help veterans who suffer from the trauma or war to be diverted out of the Criminal justice system and into programs suited to address their needs with dignity beginning July 15th of 2012.  As 20%-30% of those experiencing homelessness are veterans, this is a core issue of concern to H.O.P.E.

This victory and the previous victories from our May 1st day of action has allowed H.O.P.E. to grow into Memphis’ premiere organization representing the needs and concerns of people experiencing homelessness….and we are far from done.

UPCOMING ACTIONS

1. H.O.P.E is diligently investigating allegations of criminal wrong doing at two local homeless service providers at the request of our members. H.O.P.E. is getting a lot of reports from women experiencinghomelessness that employees at a local shelter are having inappropriate sexual conduct with female clients in exchange for shelter or “PLAY TO STAY” as it has been called. H.O.P.E. will be performing street outreach now and over the course of the next few weeks and months to reach out to unsheltered women to document these cases to pass on to the DA and Police to DEMAND a full investigation and prosecution of any and all offenders. If these allegations are true then H.O.P.E will not stop until that organization and all those involved with “PLAY TO STAY” are publicly and legally punished.

2. H.O.P.E. is also pursuing the creation of a Worker’s Co-op to facilitate part time income sources for it’s members. This venture, led by H.O.P.E. organizer, Paul Garner, would involve members of H.O.P.E. being trained in silk screen printing for the creation of t-shirts for organizations, church youth organizations, political campaigns and grassroots organizing groups. This service will be fully owned and operated by the members themselves.

H.O.P.E. is working to create an internal business plan and marketing strategy as well as fundraising to purchase equipment for start up with a goal of being open for business by early August.

If you have a background in business or are a business student who is interested in aiding our members in how to write a business plan,bylaws, and the basics of operating a business please contact Organizing Director, Brad Watkins at 901-725-4990 or by email at brad@midsouthpeace.org

In May of this year, a group of community members came together to hear about Community and Police Reconciliation.  We discussed how this project will be lead by the communities that are suffering the most from negative interactions with the police. We reviewed the history of why the community and law enforcement have come to the point of needing reconciliation.

Over the years there have been incidents such as:

1.) The mistreatment (beating) of Duanna Johnson, a transgender woman.  

2.) Members of the Latino community feel that even if they are documented citizens their voices aren’t being heard fairly. Leaving them to feel they can’t report crimes of injustice such as robberies, mistreatment by landlords, domestic violence and other crimes.

3.) African Americans feel an injustice when they are stopped for minor traffic violations or just for being Black.  

4.) There has been a wholesale move away from community policing towards the BlueCRUSH model of data-driven policing. This has resulted in community members only having interactions with police officers when there is an emergency and/or something bad happens.

5.) Almost weekly reports in the media of criminal activities committed by law enforcement officers themselves.

The Mid-South Peace and Justice Center has worked in communities across the city for more than 30 years. A consistent problem that is brought to our attention is the negative relationship that exists between law enforcement and the community. We believe that since policing is a tax-payer funded operation, that the entire community should be involved in setting the agenda of how we deal with crime. Right now many feel as if they are victims in the process of addressing crime and handling police misconduct. We hope to engage the community to become leaders on this issue, so that the community can set the agenda.

In Memphis and Shelby County, citizens have real concerns where the hurt and pain will need to be addressed, in order to move forward in a reconciliation process.  The citizens of Memphis should know that conditions and concerns have an opportunity to change with their voices.  We are hopeful in the new leadership of the Memphis Police Department. Director Armstrong is a native Memphian and has signaled that he would like to move forward towards a positive working relationship with the community. When a community is healthy and safe we all benefit.

As the citizens of Memphis and Shelby County lead the process toward moving forward to reconciliation, we will be a continued support for the citizens of Memphis and Shelby County that wish to take control over all aspects of their lives. Including in this instance, how we handle crime in our community. Will we handle it with brute force? Or will we focus on community based solutions? That is the conversation this project seeks to engage in.

So, what is reconciliation? That is something that we all have to decide and it is a conversation that is starting now. Join us by contacting Melissa at 901.725.4990 or melissa@midsouthpeace.org.

Homeless Organizing for Power and Equality (H.O.P.E.) is the name of a Mid-South Peace and Justice Center sponsored organization who’s members are exclusively people who are currently or have formerly experienced homelessness.

H.O.P.E is currently working very hard to organize around issues of core concern in this year’s Shelby County Commission budget proceedings.

The Road Home is the umbrella name give to three specific funding requests that H.O.P.E. is making before the Shelby County Commission addressing housing and the intersections between homelessness and criminal justice.

1. H.O.P.E. is requesting  $250,000 of County funding for the Mayors’ Plan to End Homelessness. These funds will be used to provide early outreach and In home case management and wrap around services for 100 of the most vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness in our city. These are individuals who are projected under current conditions to die within the next two years without housing and services. These funds will bridge the gap for these individuals moving into permanent supportive housing until their Medicare benefits are processed. Without such funds the new units of housing available for those grappling with addiction and mental illness and other health related issues will be set up to fail. This will aid the Community Alliance for the Homeless in reaching the goal of housing 100 unsheltered individuals by Christmas of 2012.

2. H.O.P.E. is requesting a one time expenditure of $200,000 of capital improvement funds to convert blighted and MHA properties into permanent supportive housing. For an investment of $200,000 we can provide new units of permanent supportive housing for 25 homeless families with disabilities and 43 units of permanent affordable housing for low income families over the course of the next 36 months.

3. H.O.P.E. is requesting $100,000 in operational funding in support of Judge Bill Anderson’s proposal of a Veteran’s Court within General Sessions Division 7. H.O.P.E. stands in full support of Judge Bill Anderson’s proposal for the creation of a Veterans Court within General Sessions Court. This Court will help veterans who suffer from the trauma or war to be diverted out of the Criminal justice system and into programs suited to address their needs with dignity beginning July 1st of 2012.  As 20%-30% of those experiencing homelessness are veterans this is a core issue of concern to H.O.P.E.

The training started with one of the most successful slogans in the past 40 years: “We are the 99%!”

But who are the 99%? Have you ever thought that you were part of the 99%?  What does it mean to be part of the 99%? Who are the 1%? Those and many other questions were answered after sharing in the 99% Spring Action Training, Dozens of trainings took place all around the country, getting together approximately 100,000 people concerned about the issues happening in our country. This included people who already are involved in some kind of social action or people who only want to know what this 99% concept is about.

The training included information about the origin of the 99% concept, the history of the economy break down and the history of the effectiveness of the Non-violent Direct Action.

The most moving moment of this training, from my point view, was to share our own concerns based in our own experiences, taking into account that we were a very diverse group, and that we have diversity of ethnicity, culture, economic background, language, religious beliefs and sexual orientation. In spite of all of that, we identified our similarities in the struggle and realized that every single one of the participants is trying hard to survive in this broken social and economic system.

Understanding that the people have the power to make changes without using violence is a huge accomplishment, putting it into action is the challenge.

We, the people, take the challenge. We come out to speak like we did in the non-violent action of May 1st. In solidarity with Homelessness Organized for Power and Equality (H.O.P.E),  a Mid-South Peace and Justice Center sponsored organization who’s members exclusively are people who currently or formerly have experienced homelessness.

The May 1st action highlighted the injustice that our state government has committed using the law SB2508 against people most affected by the inequality of our economy system, people who experience homelessness.

This law SB2508 makes it a Class A Misdemeanor to sleep on public property owned by the state.  Criminalizing poverty is not a solution, but is a marginalization of those who are most in need.  And we need to be aware of this as a community who cares, because there are in fact several laws, like the anti-immigration laws, that also are criminalizing those who are most in need among us.

What we need is education, not marginalization.  What we need is to empower ourselves; to take charge of our country, our economy, our society and create justice through peace.

If you want to know more about this training or other trainings, please contact us at Mid-South Peace and Justice Center 901-725-4990 or by email at gio@midsouthpeace.org

*Nuestros entrenamientos también están disponibles en Español* 

Our trainings are also available in Spanish.

A proposal coming before the Shelby County Board of Commissioners could muffle opposition to controversial land developments. Child impact statements currently provide a comprehensive means to communicate—to the county commission and city council—the concerns of children, families, and entire neighborhoods over new land developments that could affect their health, safety, education, and physical environment. Right now, the county commission and city council cannot consider any proposed resolution or ordinance involving safety, health, education, or land use without first receiving a child impact statement. The land use requirement could be lost if a proposed change to the Commission’s rules of order is passed.

Keep our kids safe from land use decisions that allow industrial and other unwanted developments to locate next door to homes and schools—blighting our neighborhoods and endangering our children’s health and safety. Please sign our petition at:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/494/273/301/urge-shelby-county-commissioners-to-keep-protecting-kids/

Commissioner Mike Ritz will propose to do away with considerations for children and families in land use decisions on Wednesday, May 16th during the commission’s public committee meeting. We are asking that all concerned contact their county commissioners and Commissioner Ritz to voice opposition to any resolution that would weaken the use of child impact statements. We also urge all to attend the county commission meeting on May 16th. Time and room location to follow.

To locate contact information for your county commissioner, go to http://www.shelbycountytn.gov/index.aspx?NID=1209  or http://shelbyvote.com/index.aspx?NID=122

For more information contact Mike Schmidt at 901-568-8273 or mschmidt@memphis.edu.