Via Problem Chylde

Other experiences:

Get Your War On, A National Day for Morning, Ojibway Migisi Bineshii’s View on Thanksgiving

Ways you can help, visit here and here

It’s finally here, Fem Watch: The Thanksgiving Edition! Go check it out and make sure to leave Sudy a shout-out.

The project examines how the Internet can be used for social justice work and movement building activities. Cyber-quilters help communities that struggle with utilizing technology for movement building by providing access to technology, education and networking resources.

“Cyber-quilters are the thread, the middle person for areas that are marginalized or simply unsure about how to use technology,” explained Adele Nieves, a journalist, activist, writer and cyber-quilter.

Read more

Jean Wilson, founder of United Peace Relief Detroit tells her story.

Coming of age in the ’70’s was challenging for many, but for Jean Wilson, in addition to the Vietnam War, free love, the hippie culture, and the fledgling feminist movement, Jean had to stop lying to herself and face the fact that she was gay. Listen in as she shares her early years of gender confusion and subsequent years after coming out to herself…and those in her life. Learn how Jean channeled her newfound energy into her mission to help others on the fringe of society by founding United Peace Relief Detroit. Amazing redemption and refocus from living below the radar to leading the charge.

LINK

Style Gallery is one of my favorite spots in Detroit. Swing by, you won’t be disappointed!

Educators’ Responses to the Challenges of Urban and International Migration

November 20-22, 2008 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Throughout North America, indigenous peoples are on the move. The highest profile aspect of this movement is the great migration from Mexico to the United States – a migration that has taken on an increasingly indigenous character as a growing share of the migrants come from Mexico’s most indigenous states: Yucatan, Chiapas and Oaxaca. But there has also been a longer-term, internal migration of indigenous peoples from their villages in Mexico, and their reserves and reservations in Canada and the United States, to larger towns and cities in each country. As a result, there are more and more indigenous children in urban schools. 

Learn more

 

We will never forget!

Read:

Taking Steps, Disobedience, Fetch Me My Axe, Unapologetically Female

I stand in solidarity with the South African Feminists who gathered at AWID to discuss their current political objectives and the future of their country.

Their Press Statement is below; please disseminate widely.

We are South African Feminist Women gathered at the Association of Women Rights in Development International Conference in Cape Town from all regions in the country.

Although we have come a long way, for many women conditions remain unacceptable with endemic violence, a feminized HIV epidemic and worsening food security.

We are outraged, fearful and feel betrayed. We opposed ex-President Mbeki’s position on HIV/AIDS, neo-liberal economic policies, the arms-deal and Zimbabwe. We are appalled at the current context of political intolerance, misogyny, and the language of violence by the President of the ANC, the leader of the ANC Youth League and other political leaders.

We call for an end to all the wars in Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe, Congo and Darfur where women and children are experiencing the brunt of delayed resolution of conflict. This cannot be allowed to continue as normal.

With the upcoming election we will be wary of empty promises to women. We will not be used as voting fodder. 

Together today we have experienced hope and excitement at the power that a critical independent women’s movement can achieve. We call on women to unite and defend women’s human rights.

Those of us who sign this statement respect the fact that there are women whose lives would be endangered if they did so. 

CONTACTS:

Gertrude Fester – 0823734419

Sipho Mthathi – 082 5762990

I’m off to *AWID:The Power of Movements! Thank you to everyone who helped make this trip possible.

Fallon Wilson and I will be presenting The Cyberquiliting Experiment: A Network of Women of Color Stitching Movements Together in Web 2.0 and Beyond.

If anyone is interested in knowing more about Cyberquilting or helping stitch movements together, email me at abookwithoutacover@yahoo.com.

I’ll be back on the 20th, until then take extra special care of your precious gifts.

* The Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) is an international, multi-generational, feminist, creative, future-orientated membership organization committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women’s human rights. AWID’s mission is to strengthen the voice, impact and influence of women’s rights advocates, organizations and movements internationally to effectively advance the rights of women.

I got a card in the mail today, here’s what it said:

Diva

A Confident, Beautiful, Extraordinary woman; rules her domain with style; a girl with moxie who knows what she wants.

After spending the day with the brillant people of the Allied Media Projects, I’m much closer to that definition.

WASHTENAW COUNTY WORKERS CENTER & RESTAURANT OPPORTUNITIES CENTER OF MICHIGAN (ROC-MI)

ORGANIZER JOB DESCRIPTION

11-08

The Washtenaw County Workers Center (WCWC) is membership-based workers center, founded in the summer of 2006, dedicated to organizing to improve working and living conditions for low-wage workers in Washtenaw County.  The WCWC is collaborating with the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan (ROC-MI) to develop a satellite center for restaurant workers in Washtenaw and Western Wayne counties. The Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan (ROC-MI) is a membership organization of restaurant workers dedicated to organizing for improving working conditions and raising industry standards for all restaurant workers.  Founded in June 2008, it is the newest affiliate of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, a national organization for restaurant workers, launched in January 2008 by the co-founders of ROC-NY, a workers center for New York City restaurant workers founded after September 11, 2001. (www.rocunited.org)

The WCWC is currently recruiting a Full-Time Organizer to work with the WCWC and ROC-MI to establish a satellite center for Washtenaw and Western Wayne restaurant workers.  The Full-Time Organizer will be based at the ROC-MI office in Detroit, and will be trained by and report to the ROC-MI Coordinator.  Ability to travel between Detroit, Western Wayne, and Washtenaw Counties is a requirement.  Health and dental care coverage as well as a limited child care benefit are available.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direct supervision of the ROC-MI Coordinator, the Organizer will work with the Washtenaw County Workers Center to engage in the following:  (1) organize volunteers as well as a steering committee of multiracial restaurant workers in Washtenaw and Western Wayne counties; (2)  develop free training and job development programs for restaurant workers; (3) organize monthly membership meetings of restaurant workers; and (4) work with the ROC-MI coordinator in Detroit on program and membership activities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

-          Demonstrated organizing experience and understanding of member    leadership development

-          Demonstrated commitment to racial, social, and economic justice

-          Good writing skills & Computer Skills

-          Restaurant industry experience and proficiency in a language other than English a plus, but not a requirement

COMPENSATION & START DATE:

Salary negotiable based on experience. Benefits included. People of color, women, and immigrants encouraged to apply.  Start date is flexible, but no later than January 2009.

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply, send (1) your resume; (2) a cover letter (1-2 pages) indicating why you are interested in applying for the position; and (3) contact information for two references who can speak to your organizing experience to: Minsu Longiaru, Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan, 2727 2^nd Ave, Ste. 148, Detroit, MI 48201 or to rocmichigan@yahoo.com.  Applications will be accepted starting November 1 or until the position is filled.  For additional information, please contact: Minsu Longiaru, Coordinator, Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan, Tel: (313) 962-5020  

The Osborn neighborhood in the northeast side of Detroit will be presenting two murals completed by groups of youth this summer.  Please join us at ‘Vision of Hope’ mural on Dresden (two blocks east of Groesbeck/Hoover) at Eight Mile Road at 3:00 p.m.  We will be at the MATRIX Center on Six Mile Road at Gratiot Avenue after 3:30 p.m. for a reception. 
 
Please take a look at the attached flyer for more details.

_____________________________________________________________

 

The STORY OWNERS COLLECTIVE invites you to

THE RED THREAD:
Interwoven Performance Portraits

WHEN: November 20 and 22, 2008 

TIMES: Thursday and Saturday @ 7:30PM

THEATER: Marlene Boll Theatre, inside the Boll Family YMCA

LOCATION: 1401 Broadway, Downtown Detroit map

The Story Owners Collective announces a brand new form of personal story-telling theater, with their Detroit premier of THE RED THREAD: Interwoven Performance Portraits. The play uses personal narrative to honor individual journeys while revealing social interconnectedness. An ancient Chinese proverb speaks of an invisible red thread of destiny, which connects all humans to each other. It is said that this magical cord may tangle or stretch but will never break.

Read more about the process at the Boggs Center Blog. Help spread the word about grassroots theater in Detroit by finding us on Facebook, forwarding this invitation, or distributing/posting attached fliers and postcards.

Coffee anyone?

An Open Letter to Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild

Dear Ms. Forester de Rothschild,

[now that Obama won] the election and will steal all the white peoples’ money and gives it to the black people and then commands the black people to take our cars and our candelabras and forces us to work in the underground salt mines for fifty cents a day and then repossesses our caviar and our brie and holds them right in front of our noses to torture us . . . would you like to get a cup of coffee?

BECAUSE I THINK I’M FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOUR MIND.

So that one day the loves of my life and their communities will know they matter, even when their Titi may not have.

So that one day there won’t be a need to explain away their brown skin with big words and pricey paper or wonder why “other” makes them dangerous.

So that one day their voices are heard, and their lives can’t be bought or sold through war, a television commerical or signing statements.

So that one day was my day, and that was history!

Tekenya Wooten has been found Safe! Learn more here.

Dear Supporters:

 

Please Join me tomorrow night in N.Y.C., at SB3 Bar at 33 Avenue B, in the Lower East Side a traditional people of color neighborhood, as we celebrate!  This journey would not have been possible without many of you, we will watch the returns, and at 11:00 pm I will address all my supporters and we will have an old fashioned Hip Hop Jam, until the break of dawn! Some folks coming through so far……

 

Rebel Diaz, K-Sallam, Hakim of Channel Live, Khalil Almustafa, N.Y. Oil, UMI of P.O.W and many other surprise guests!  the event will be streamed live!

 

Vote Green!

Vote Verde!

Vote Your Values!

 

Rosa Clemente, Green Party Vice-Presidential Candidate

Check out these blogs for other interviews and Green perspectives:

•  Marion’s Blog for another great Green perspective: Greens’ McKinney and Clemente: Helping us learn to overcome
• Rosa Clemente, Green Party candidate for VP, talks to BlogHer
• Gwytherinn: I will FINALLY be proud of my vote

From Ottermatic:

If you see or experience any shenanigans at the polls tomorrow, please call 866-OUR-VOTE/888-VE-Y-VOTA. Volunteers there can help you find your polling place, confirm your registration, educate you about the voting laws in your state, or in some cases, send mobile field units or contact election officials directly to address the problem.

We are not powerless, and we will be counted.

Please, take a moment to respond to our invite, and/or help us spread awareness by inviting your friends to our event,

E= MC2, Earth is Mi Comunidad”,
A Charity Event to Benefit Orphans International’s new project in formation in the Dominican Republic.

Accessible through our link here

Wed Nov. 12th @ 7 PM

La Pregunta Arts Cafe;
1528 Amsterdam Avenue
Conveniently located in front of City College, 2 blocks from the #1 train
( to 137th)

Cover: $10.00

100% of the proceeds will go to the children in the project.

We welcome NY area businesses to join us as sponsors and donors.

(Skeleton w/guitar) Photo credit Laura Jean

 Thank you to Zoe, Alejandra, Carmen and the Trumbullplex for hosting Dia De Los Muertos.  Thank you for opening your space to everyone and reminding us that community means us all!

For those of you who don’t know, Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a holiday that Latinos celebrate to honor their dead. Proceeds from the event went towards sending children from the community (who might not get a chance to go to this rad camp) to Circle Pines Summer Camp.