America’s Prisons: What We Can Do to Reform Them?
Featuring Alvin J. Bronstein
Renowned Civil Rights Attorney and MacArthur Foundation Fellow
Marygrove College Library Lecture Hall
Second Floor Liberal Arts Building
8425 W. McNichols Rd, Detroit
Thursday February 4, 2010
6:00-9:00 P.M.
FREE and open to the public. Refreshments provided. Generously co-sponsored by Marygrove Social Justice Masters Program.
Please RSVP in advance at http://www.aclumich.org
Alvin J. Bronstein is one of leading experts on human rights and prisons in the United States. The founder of the ACLU National Prison Project in NYC, Bronstein has authored numerous articles and books on human rights and the corrections system, and has served as an expert witness before domestic and international bodies regarding torture, prisoner abuse and human rights.
Bronstein received a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (the “Genius” award) in 1989 for his groundbreaking work on prison reform.
Bronstein was also a member of the civil rights movement, during which he twice bailed Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. out of jail and served on Dr. King’s legal defense team.
We hope you will join us for this opportunity to talk with one of America’s most important prison reform experts.
RSVP at http://www.aclumich.org
Detroit: Roots, Rhythm & Salsa
“Roots, Rhythm & Salsa”
Beat the cold with a hot night of salsa dancing at the Charles H. Wright Museum! Come for the class, stay for the open dance. Presented by Duane Wrenn of Energetic Soul Dance Studios. Light refreshments and a cash bar will be available.
Session 1: 6 – 7pm Meet & Greet, 7 – 8pm Salsa Class
Session 2: 8 – 9pm Meet & Greet, 9 – 10pm Salsa Class
Open Salsa Dancing: 10 – 11pm
$7 Members / $10 non-members (per session). $5 of each sale supports student memberships at the Museum.
For more information, please call (313) 494-5853. There’s limited space per session, so call now!
Brought to you by the generous support of Bank of America, DTE Energy, and Masco Corporation.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
315 East Warren Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48201-1443
(313) 494-5800
http://www.CharlesHWrightMuseum.org
Rejoice • Relive • Reconnect
Youthville Detroit open casting call
Calling all journalists in the making YouthVille Detroit holds second open casting call for new journalism program including radio, TV and print!
On Saturday February 6, 2010, starting at 9 a.m., YouthVille Detroit will host an open casting call for a new radio and broadcast program that will be produced and aired this year.
The YouthVille/NewsHub project is collaborating with Michigan’s Children, a statewide independent voice for children, and other partners to create a youth focused journalism project in Detroit called KidSpeak Neighborhood News. KSNN will be launched in the spring. More details will be released later. The program will feature stories on Detroit’s neighborhoods as well as stories on the region.
The broadcast component of the program is being funded by the Detroit Regional News Hub in partnership with ARISE Detroit!, an organization that inspires active engagement, personal responsibility and hope by connecting people to opportunities and resources to transform the quality of life for all Detroiters.
The Detroit Regional News Hub is funded by the New Economic Initiative and Business Leaders for Michigan. Vanessa Denha-Garmo with Denha Media and Communications will be the executive producer of the program.
YouthVille’s Digital Media Arts & Technology (DMAT) program includes a state of the art HD studio and facilities. “These students will be using equipment used by professionals in the field,” said Michael Kuentz, media operations manager. “They will learn new skills by doing work that journalist are doing every day.”
The new program is a youth-led media production. “YouthVille Detroit’s digital media arts & technology program is an excellent opportunity for youth and young adults to experience the latest in digital media, broadcasting and print journalism,” said Rita Clark, director of programs. “Our highly competitive courses exposes youth to several hands-on experiences that most adults wish they could learn. As a youth development center, it is our goal to maximize every youth members’ potential by exposing them to unlimited opportunities“.
YouthVille will be accepting applications for crew, reporters, writers and talent for radio and television? All applicants need to bring a resume. Anyone interested in on-camera talent should bring a non-returnable headshot or a DVD showing their talent to the casting call on February 6.
Detroit Youth Foundation (DYF) was formed in 1999 as a public charities organization transitioning from a previous program model of a W.K. Kellogg Foundation initiative. DYF implemented a conceptual and program implementation model called YouthVille Detroit to create safe space for youth providing programming opportunities and supports. This model was developed in consultation with several youth and family organizations. Some of these organizations later become tenant partners in the YouthVille Detroit facility.
YouthVille also provides tutoring, homework assistance and ACT/ College preparation to participating youth members. Anyone planning to attend the open casting call can email
mediaoperations@youthvilledetroit.org. A complimentary one year YouthVille membership will be given to all youth who audition.
Where: YouthVille Detroit – 7375 Woodward Avenue – Detroit, MI 48202-3157 – (313) 309-1300
Who: Local broadcast talent will cast 11 to 19 year olds to be part of the radio and television program
For media inquiries, please call Michael Kuentz, media operations manager or Rita Clark, director of programs at 313. 309. 1300 or Vanessa Denha-Garmo at 248-702.8687.
6th Annual Midwest Hip Hop Summit
| FREE Registration for the Conference here: http://hhcmidwest.com/summit-registration/ Concert on Feb. 5th is $10. See more below…
For more information, contact: Amer Ahmed, Summit Organizer, 734-763-9044 amahmed@umich.edu Erica Williams, Summit Co-coordinatorericadw@umich.edu
|
Michigan DREAM Camp
Organizing and leadership training for students and youth: Building the movement for immigrant rights
United We Dream is organizing 4 upcoming trainings in Michigan, Indiana, Arkansas and Massachusetts for new leaders, particularly youth, in the movement for immigration reform. Each training will provide a comprehensive introduction to organizing and leadership, including learning to tell your story and working effectively in teams to create a shared strategy and produce measurable actions. Attendees will form local action teams who will be responsible for organizing in their communities in coordination with the statewide campaign. Attendees are asked to make a 4-6 month commitment to their local action team.
Michigan: February 20th-21st, Saturday 10am – Sunday 6:00pm
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
The trainings are designed to:
- Teach basic community organizing skills.
- Help participants learn to tell their own stories and speak in public.
- Train participants in the use of social media tools for outreach and organizing.
- Provide an insider’s overview of the immigration debate.
- Build leadership teams of five to six people in a geographic area.
- Attendees are expected to make a 4-6 month commitment to their local organizing teams.
- Conduct a brief action to give participants a chance to practice newly learned skills
Logistics:
- Cost: A one-time $25 registration fee will cover materials and food. Registration can be paid online or at registration in Ann Arbor. Out-of-state participants will be charged a $50 fee, and must provide their own facilitator.
- Supporter housing is provided overnight, but must be requested. Those requesting supporter housing should bring a sleeping bag, and be comfortable sleeping on the couch or in the spare room of one of our campaign’s supporters, or in a local community center.
- Translation will be available into Spanish, and bi-lingual materials will be available
- Travel: Participants must make their own travel arrangements
- Training time: Begins at 9 AM on Sat and concludes at 6 PM on Sun
To register: http://www.dreamactivist.org/midreamcamp/
Registration deadline is Monday, February 15th.
Questions, contact: dreamactivist.org@gmail.com
To learn more, visit:
www.dreamactivist.org
www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org
www.accesscommunity.org
www.communitychange.org/our-projects/firm
National Lawyers Guild calls on President Obama to withdraw nomination of Sharon Browne
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–December 22, 2009*
*Contact: *Paige Cram, Communications Coordinator, communications@nlg.org,
212-679-5100, ext.15
The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) calls on President Obama to withdraw the nomination of Sharon Browne to the board of directors of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). On December 17, Obama announced his intention to nominate Ms. Brown, a principal attorney and member of the senior management at the conservative Pacific Legal Foundation and a member of the Civil Rights Practice Group of the Federalist Society.
The Legal Services Corporation is the nation’s principal funder of civil legal aid for the poor. Established by Congress in 1974, it operates by providing grants to—and overseeing—independent nonprofit legal aid programs throughout the US. The LSC operates as a private, nonprofit corporation, with a board of directors composed of 11 members appointed by the resident and confirmed by the Senate. By law, the board is bipartisan: no more than six members may be of the same political party.
The Pacific Legal Foundation, in contrast, describes itself as a “public interest legal organization that fights for limited government, property rights, individual rights and a balanced approach to environmental protection.” At the PLF, Browne has authored briefs arguing against race-based school district assignment policies. She and the PLF have also been ardent supporters of Prop. 209, the 1996 ballot initiative that ended most affirmative action programs in California.
Not only does the PLF oppose much of what Legal Services stands for, but it has also directly opposed funding for Legal Services agencies. The PLF filed an amicus brief seven years ago in support of litigation challenging the legality of IOLTAs, or Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts, which are an essential supplementary funding resource for Legal Services agencies around the country.
While this slot on the LSC Board cannot legally go to a Democrat and while the minority members are traditionally selected by the minority party’s congressional leadership, there is no legal bar and ample precedent for naming an independent rather than a member of the opposition party. At the
very least, the president is obligated to nominate someone who believes in the importance of ensuring that the poor be afforded the legal services they need. We note, for example, that the recently-deceased former head of the Legal Services Corporation, William McAlpin, was a Republican who fought
vigorously to strengthen it.
The National Lawyers Guild calls on President Obama to withdraw Sharon Browne’s nomination and either appoint an independent or invite the Senate Minority Leader to offer a candidate who will seek to strengthen the Legal Services Corporation.
The National Lawyers Guild was founded in 1937 and is the oldest and largest
public interest/human rights bar organization in the United States. Its headquarters are in New York and it has chapters in every state.
###
—
Paige Cram
NLG Communications Coordinator
communications@nlg.org
(212) 679-5100, ext. 15
Bruce Peterson
National Lawyers Guild
Detroit & Michigan Chapter
450 W. Fort St, Suite 200
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 963-0843
MichiganNLG@MichiganNLG.org
www.michigannlg.org
SWAN: Southwest Artists’ Network of Detroit
December 17, 2009
Dear friends and neighbors,
In case you have not heard of the Southwest Artists’ Network of Detroit (SWAN) we would like to make you aware of our presence in the community and inform you of what we are doing and how you can be involved.
SWAN is a network of artists from the Detroit area who are committed to promoting art and culture in our community. We provide opportunities for working artists and free workshops for youth. It is especially important now that gang graffiti and violence is on the rise that the youth of our community have options to express themselves in positive, creative ways.
Our network was formed in the spring of this year and since then SWAN has held several events at the Lady Bug Gallery, located at Porter and Hubbard, and youth art programs at Clark Park. Enclosed is more information about the programs and events sponsored by SWAN. Please keep in mind that these activities have been done voluntarily, without any outside financial support.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR 2010?
We are committed to enhancing the neighborhood with community-based public art. One of SWAN’s core members and community activist Vito Valdez has been awarded a grant from the Kresge Foundation and will be working with Southwest Detroit Business Association on a two-phase project. Phase One will be the restoration of two murals located on Vernor near Central, flanking the parking lot next to Neighborhood City Hall. This will be completed in the spring, as soon as weather permits.
Phase Two of the project is Adopt-A-Site which will beautify sites along Vernor with public art such as murals, mosaics, sculpture, and green spaces. Community input will determine which sites will be chosen.
HOW CAN YOU BE INVOLVED?
Whether you have a store front in need of fresh paint, or know of an empty lot or a dangerous or unsightly area, or if you’d like to see a particular site enhanced with art, get involved – we would love to have your ideas and input. Meetings will be organized in the upcoming weeks to announce the project and solicit interest from community groups, businesses, schools, churches, and residents.
CONTACT US!
The initial meeting will be held in early January 2010. Please notify us at the numbers listed below if you are interested in learning more about SWAN and the Adopt-A-Site project. We look forward to meeting with you and to the ongoing beautification of our community!
Best regards,
Mary Laredo Herbeck Vito Jesus Valdez
Member SWAN Steering Committee Member SWAN Steering Committee
mlaredo@swandetroit.com vvaldez@swandetroit.com
Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality Potluck
The Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality invites you to our
BAILOUT Holiday Gathering!! we ALL need a bailout…so it’s FREE
POTLUCK – PLEASE BRING A DISH SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2009, 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
1950 Trumbull
Detroit, MI 48216
FREE OF CHARGE…DONATIONS WELCOME
Area Reports from Families
Update on Accomplishments and Cases
Food, Entertainment, Music…CELEBRATION!!
SURPRISE GIFTS TO THE FIRST 25 ATTENDEES
Please RSVP at DetCoalition@aol.com or 313.963.8116
Groundbreaking Women In Hip Hop Tour Documentary: The Revival
12-23-09
Press Contact:
Press@EMERGENCEmusic.net
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
Online Premiere of Groundbreaking Women In Hip Hop Tour Documentary: The Revival
The Revival
(Europe, 2009, 17 min) Directed by Invincible, Produced by EMERGENCE Media and Iqaa the Olivetone
The Revival gives a candid glimpse into the first meeting of legendary Hip-Hop pioneer Roxanne Shante and veteran Philly emcee Bahamadia, as they trade stories of their struggles and triumphs in the industry over their long careers. It also shows the exchange of lessons between them and up and coming artists DJ Shortee, Eternia, Stacy Epps, and Invincible. This short documentary, a collage of performances and behind the scenes footage, was filmed and directed by Invincible while on the road in Europe as part of We-B Girlz all women in independent Hip-Hop tour. The largest all female Hip-Hop tour of its kind, it spanned over three weeks, six countries, and featured dozens of female artists who performed for tens of thousands of supporters.
Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5pgTTYEa18
Full 16 minute film viewable at EMERGENCEmusic.net and
TheFembassy.com will also be featuring weekly interviews with the artists from The Revival.
EMERGENCE Media is a Detroit based Hip-Hop label and media production company rooted in fair trade and cooperative economics principles.
The Fembassy is a website solely dedicated to women in Hip Hop. It serves as a platform to give women in Hip Hop the proper recognition and promotion that they deserve.
************************************************************************************************************************************************
“You Want Good Music? You Gotta Support it.”
Thousand Kites: A grassroots-created national radio broadcast for prisoners
Thousand Kites is excited to offer you a grassroots-created national radio broadcast for prisoners: Calls from Home. Watch our video. Listen to the show. Get involved and learn more about how to reach the 2.4 million people behind bars this holiday.
Visit www.callsfromhome.org
- Thousand Kites Team
thousandkitesproject@gmail.com
Thousand Kites
91 Madison Ave
Whitesburg, KY 41858
MI: Labor Notes Conference 2010
Register now for the 2010 Labor Notes conference!
Join a thousand other activists from unions, worker centers, and workplace struggles for the 2010 Labor Notes conference, April 23-25 in Detroit, Michigan.
The three-day conference will host more than 100 workshops and meetings that will help working people and labor activists organize in their unions, at their work, in their industries, and on their campaigns. From nitty-gritty skills-building workshops to sessions tackling strategic debates for the labor movement, the Labor Notes conference is a shot in the arm for our movement’s grassroots activists. Rub shoulders and share strategies with others facing the same obstacles as you at work.
Register today at www.labornotes.org/conference.
WE?RE COMING TO LABOR NOTES CONFERENCE!?
Hollie Goldsmith, a 21-year old member of Teamsters Local 413 and a Teamsters for a Democratic Union activist, says she won’t miss the Labor Notes 2010 conference:
“Labor Notes helps me meet people I need to know from other unions, and get the resources I need to be effective on the job. There are lots of great skills-building workshops that I bring home with me and put to work at UPS.”
Ricky Maclin, vice president of UE Local 1110 in Chicago and veteran of the Republic Windows and Doors sit-in, is coming back for more:
We were at the Labor Notes conference just a few months before Republic Windows said they were shutting down our plant. It was good to be with all those other troublemakers, but we didn’t know we were going to be some of the most famous troublemakers of 2008, by sitting in and sticking it to Bank of America. We’ll be back.
Check out www.labornotes.org/conference for our growing list of participants!
THEMES INCLUDE:
Defend jobs, contracts, and unions during the economic crisis. The Republic Windows and Doors Chicago sit-in taught a lesson: we can win allies and win even in tough times. What are the strategies that work?
Hold the line on the shop floor. Technology and management schemes are changing the workplace dramatically. Are we keeping up?
Organize and build unions that work. We’ll discuss strategies for starting and strengthening unions with members at the helm, not just numbers on a spreadsheet.
Examine labor’s political agenda. Unions went all-out in the elections, but labor law and health care reform aren’t measuring up. What’s the best use of our political time and energy?
Bring up the next generation. We need more young workers than ever at this conference. We’re encouraging organizations to send workers under age 30, and building a special scholarship fund to get them there.
Protect the public sector. Don’t let layoffs and budget cuts threaten the future of public sector work and public services.
WORKSHOPS TO INCLUDE:
*Bargaining during tough times
*Understanding the economic crisis
*How to occupy a factory
*Troublemaking contract campaigns
*Fights in the public sector
*Examining labor?s political agenda
*Defending pensions
*Labor-community partnerships
*Pitfalls of top-down organizing deals
*Fresh strategies for single-payer health care
*Member-led organizing drives
*Running for local union office
*Assertive grievance handling
*Bargaining for health care
*Developing new leaders
*Creative organizing tactics
*Women in the trades
*Getting members involved
…and many more!
MORE INFORMATION
REGISTER
Register today at www.labornotes.org/conference. Register by February
19 to lock in our early registration rate of $85. Regular registration
is $115.
Location
Hyatt Regency Dearborn (union hotel)
600 Town Center Drive
Dearborn, Michigan, USA 48126-2793
Room rates: Single/double $115, triple $140, quad $165 per night.
Book your room after December 4 by going to
www.labornotes.org/conference/hotel or by calling the hotel at
313-593-1234 and mentioning that you’re with the Labor Notes
conference to get our room rate.
Childcare
Available for a donation for children over 1 year. Request by April 2.
CONTACT US
Website: www.labornotes.org/conference
Phone: 313-842-6262
Email: conference@labornotes.org
Eblast updates: Get on the list at www.labornotes.org/eblast.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/labornotes
Made in Michigan Movement
Made in Michigan is an action-oriented, grass-roots movement that focuses on bridging the relationships between the Michigan consumer, producer, grower and retailer.
FACT: If every Michigan household spent $10 each week on Michigan made food products, then $37 million dollars would be put back into the local economy on a weekly basis! Source: michigan.gov
It’s not a fad. It’s common sense. It’s the way it should always be–in times of recession and boom. You’ve witnessed the frustration of American companies sending their operations to other states and overseas. Loyalties should be given to those who stand loyal to us. It’s purchasing dollars that will tell the story of your loyalty.
Buying local keeps our neighbors employed, creates stronger community bonds, promotes talent and skills, raises our standard of living and attracts investments that share our values of deep-rooted loyalty, hard work, and commitment to excellence. Speak up and be heard. Demand better for your money. Demand Michigan made.
MI: Laborers International Union rally at Pulte Homes headquarters
Laborers International Union rally at Pulte Homes headquarters on Tuesday, December 15th 10 am.
Over the last 18 months many of you have helped support the Building Justice campaign, an effort by workers who build homes for Pulte Homes in Arizona and Nevada to win better wages, benefits and treatment on the job. Building Justice is a cooperative effort of the Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) and the International Union of Painters (IUPAT) with the help of the AFL-CIO.
The Laborers International Union (Liuna) also has a campaign aimed at Pulte Homes and they began a justice tour with workers and homeowners on December 1st in Los Angeles. Their tour will end with a rally at Pulte’s corporate headquarters in Bloomfield Hills, MI at 100 Bloomfield Hills PKway at 10 am on Tuesday, December 15th.
We encourage you to participate in this rally. Please share this email with our friends and allies.
Urgent Community Support Needed For Youth Organization
Our collective has done a lot of amazing work this year (for example, our Disability History Month Initiative where we went into ten 8th grade classrooms to teach about eugenics, institutionalization, self-determination and youth power this past October) and we want to continue it. Please help us make this possible by visiting thedypcollective.org and hitting the paypal button on the left!
Raw Detroit Community Farms
Please spread the word to anyone who would be interested!
Hello all,
I’m happy to announce that for all you die hard sunshoot fans out there or folks who want to continue supporting Detroit grown produce year round, you can still pick up a bag (or two or a flat) on a weekly basis at the Raw Detroit Market on Wednesday evenings.
Please call in advance to place an order and set a time to pick up, so your sunshoots will be ready and waiting for your arrival. I’ve got a pretty flexible schedule right now so if Wednesdays don’t work…lets talk, I’m sure we can figure something out.
The market pick-up is at Farnsworth and call me at 269-370-1470 to place orders. The bags are 4oz for $4 or flats uncut (1.5-2lbs) for $15…i’ll need a week’s notice for any orders of whole flats (if you’ve got a group together, order a flat and divide it up!)
For food and revolution,
Carolyn
Farmer
Raw Detroit Community Farms LLC
Detroit, MI 48211
Detroit: In The Tradition Jazz Band CD Release Party
Friday, Dec 18, 2009 at Alvins 5756 Cass Ave at 7:00 pm. The In The
Tradition jazz band is having a CD release party. Cover is $5.00.
Detroit: This week The Foundation Features DJ Oneka!
The social impact of Hip Hop is a cultural revolution which crosses borders, inspires ideas & influences behaviors. Encouraging freedom of expression, healthy competition, independent thought, & positive self-identity, this weekly event as a movement focuses on redefining the vital role of Women in Hip Hop.
Our mission is to educate and empower the community through sharing our love of the arts, while inspiring change and growth.
Hosted by Detroit’s own Piper Carter, Mz Jonz, & Lala Featuring DJ’s Mel Wonder, Sticky Niki, & La Jedi with B-Girls Ri$ Money, Mama (Hardcore Detroit), & Teena Marie Graf Artist Riku, Photographer Cindyslick, & The Fembassy’s Glennisha Morgan
Co-Founded by Legendary Detroit Emcees Invincible & Miz Korona
This evening is dedicated to celebrating, supporting, and creating empowering images of Women through Performance, Film, Videos, Internet and other forms of media. :Open Mic, Freestyle Cipher, Graffiti, B-Girls, showcases, special guests, & other surprises.
Once a month we have our in house all female hiphop band YIN. Whose members were formerly in detroit Rock band Lola Valley.
We have an open mic with ALL people welcome. Past special guests include Invincible, Miz Korona, Niambi, Monica Blaire, Mz Jonz, Skim, D.S. Sense, T Miller, Jessica Care Moore, Mae Day, Finale, 14KT, Mu, DJ Graffiti Buff 1, Big A, Zhao-Ski, FES, Masood, Mudd, Kiko & sooooo much more!
Consistant supporters include the likes of DJ Head (Eminem), DJ Dez (Slum Village), DJ Sicari (5 Ela), DJ Soko, Sintex (Detroit’s best graff writer), & much much more.
We call it The Foundation because we are dedicated to preserving the culture of Real Hip Hop and also because Women are the Foundation of the Universe!
This week:
Hip Hop workshops from 6pm-9pm.
Open Mic @ 10pm
DJ’s All nite!
We’ll be streaming:
http://ustream.tv/channel/5-E-Gallery
Find more info on twitter!
Http://www.twitter.com/5egallery
http://www.twitter.com/pipercarter
Http://www.twitter.com/RisMoney
All are welcome.
Peace!
