Dear members and supporters, first: a message from our friends and fellow organizers at Black Lives Matter Syracuse:
We are asking Black Lives Matter supporters for support for a Welcome Home celebration for Sheena Jenkins, a community member and mother of five. Three years ago, when police shot and killed Terry Maddox at the Father’s Day picnic on the West Side, they also unjustly arrested and rounded up a number of other West Side residents. A police officer grabbed Sheena’s neck from behind and then proceeded to place her in a choke hold. Totally startled and Not knowing who was choking her, she bit the person so he would break free. Despite that it was the police officer that choked her, it was Sheena who was the one who arrested and charged with assault and she has been in prison—away from her children, family, and community for three years.
It has been a hard three years for her and her family but we are excited to announce that she is coming home this week! We want to warmly welcome Sheena back with a celebration and get together and we are asking for donations for food, snacks, and treats for this joyous occasion. We are asking allies to please help by donating Gift cards as opposed to cash donations at this time. Walmart, any grocery stores, Pink, any make-up places, Old Navy, any sneaker/ boots stores, Bed Bath and Beyond, Burlington coat factory are ones she could put to best use. This is a concrete way to show up for the most marginalized. If you would like to make a donation please email Nikeeta at Nikeeta@protonmail.com. Thank you.
Thank you for your support and solidarity. Now, on to your calendar.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENT CALENDAR FOR JAN 22-29
Community For The Grid Campaign- General Interest Meeting
Tuesday January 22nd 6 PM @ 910 Madison Street Syracuse
Please join us for a general informational meeting about the Community For The Grid campaign, and learn how to get involved. Join us in the effort to educate and advocate for the Community Grid option to replace the elevated section of 81.
Meeting starts around 6:00. Pizza and refreshments will be provided. All are welcome.
Sign the petition now if you haven’t already!
https://www.communityforthegrid.com/
Tuesday January 22nd 7 PM – 9 PM · ArtRage Gallery 505 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse
The Justice for Palestine committee invites you to join us for an informational event and discussion on current Palestinian human rights issues, and to kick off our 2019 petitioning campaign to help end Israeli military detention of Palestinian children!
We will discuss water rights in the West Bank and Gaza, the economic importance and symbolism of olive trees, the crippling blockade of Gaza and recent Great March of Return movement, and the Israeli’s military’s systematic ill-treatment of Palestinian children through detention and imprisonment. We’ll explain and learn from one another about actions we can take, individually and collectively, to oppose the Israeli military occupation of Palestine and support Palestinian human rights.
Free and open to the public. Light food & drinks will be served.
ArtRage is an accessible facility.
Community Forum – Westcott Remix
Wed, Jan 23rd 6:30 PM – 8 PM · Westcott Community Center 826 Euclid Avenue
Learn more and share your thoughts about the proposed development for a mixed-use building on the site of the current Dorian’s Pizza.
Meeting with Assembly member Magnarelli
Thursday January 24th 2:30 PM at his Syracuse Office
New York Immigration Coalition and Workers Center of CNY are organizing an in-district visit with Assembly member Magnarelli at 2:30 pm. to talk about green light bill (allowing immigrants to obtain drivers’ licenses). Workers Center organizers are looking for additional constituents to attend. For further info, email fortiz@nyic.org orrfuentes@workerscentercny.org.
HeatSmart CNY at Southwest Community Center
Thursday Jan 24th 6PM – 8PM · Southwest Community Center 401 South Avenue, Syracuse
HeatSmart CNY is a community initiative to help
residents and businesses improve the efficiency of their buildings with
insulation, air source heat pumps (“ductless mini splits”), ground
source heat pumps (“geothermal”) and hot water heat pumps. What is
the best solution for your home or building?
In this workshop we’ll discuss the opportunities
for low-to-moderate income households, as well as additional rebates and
incentives everyone can access. Home energy experts and installers will be
there to answer your questions about your home.
Thursday January 24th 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM · The Palace Theatre 2384 James St, Syracuse
The first annual meeting of Syracuse Democratic Socialists of America members and the curious. We are currently an organizing committee of DSA national and will be democratically deciding to approve the bylaws we drafted and officers, steps towards full chapter status at this meeting. We will have a guest speaker and an overview of how to get involved with DSA committees, opportunities to hear democratic socialist perspectives, participate in a democratic process, and join a community all meet likeminded folks working for positive change.
Our guest speaker is Michael Lighty, Director of
Public Policy for National Nurses United, who is touring the country talking
about Medicare for All, which the nurses are leading champions of! He has has
worked on Medicare for All for over 25 years. He is also a founding member of
the Sanders Institute and a former director of DSA. We welcome him to Syracuse
and can’t wait to talk to him about Medicare for All!
Democratic Socialists of America is a national
organization. Democratic socialists believe that both the economy and society
should be run democratically—to meet public needs, not to make profits for a
few. To achieve a more just society, many structures of our government and economy
must be radically transformed through greater economic and social democracy so
that ordinary Americans can participate in the many decisions that affect our
lives.
We believe that capitalism is an obstacle to human
flourishing, for both individuals and as a society. Capitalism is also a threat
to our environment and for-profit nature of our society has slowed down any
adequate response to climate catastrophe. We pursue change by acting together.
Friday January 25th 10 AM – 12 PM · 505 S State St, Syracuse
Hello everyone, court support is needed for Laila Eadie on Friday January 25th at 10am at 505 state street on the 3rd floor. On the advice of her immigration attorney they want to keep things low key so inside support only at this time. Just bring yourselves and show Laila and her family that they are not alone. The length of time until her case is heard before the judge varies so plan on being there at least 2 hours.
**Background**
Laila Eadie was detained by ICE at the Syracuse
office on August 2, 2018 during her monthly check in after being told by the
ICE agent working her case to come in on a different day and time than what was
previously scheduled. She’s been held in Batavia since. Laila is 53 and came to
the US from Venezuela in 1994 and has permanent resident status. She owns her
own home in Syracuse, has 5 children, 3 of whom live in the US, 2 grandchildren
and has been working steadily for the past few years. She takes great pride in
helping raise her 2 grandchildren. ICE detained her on an outdated, closed
prior conviction. Since that time she has retained both an immigration attorney
and a criminal defense attorney in an attempt to get the conviction cleared
from her record, which the DA has agreed to do, the paperwork just needed to be
signed by a judge.
Laila’s original hearing in Syracuse to sign the dismissal paperwork was on November 29th, however, as she was detained in Batavia at the time and not present the judge couldn’t sign the paperwork vacating her charge and rescheduled for December 12th so that she could be brought in from Batavia. Her deportation hearing was postponed pending the outcome of her dismissal hearing. On December 12th her hearing was delayed for
over 2 hours due to the prior court case running late, as a result her lawyer
was not able to stay for Laila’s hearing as she had to leave for another court
hearing, so Laila’s hearing was again postponed until December 20th. Her
hearing on December 20th resulted in another postponement and was again postponed on January 2nd and January 14th. Instead of being taken back to Batavia, Laila has been held in Onondaga County Jail until her hearing on the 25th.
Round Table on After School Programs
Friday January 25th 5:30 PM – 7 PM · Southwest Community Center 401 South Avenue
Senator Rachel May is inviting community members to a round table listening session on after-school programs that are being offered in the district. She would like to hear about new trends and what we can do to improve access and quality for students. We will hear from a panel of experts in after school programs and then open it up to a discussion with the community.
This event is free and open to the public
Teach-in #1 on Tenant Rights, Tenant Wrongs, and Tenant Power hosted by TNT Southside Housing TaskForce
Saturday January 26th 12 PM – 1:30 PM · Beauchamp Branch Library- 2111 S Salina St, Syracuse
CALLING ALL TENANTS!!!
This is the first teach-in on tenant rights, tenant wrongs, and tenant power. Far too long renters in the city of Syracuse have been taken advantage of by greedy landlords and shady property management companies. Over 60% of Syracuse are renters, but their voices are hardly ever heard. Learn to work together to address your housing issues through a tenant organization. Know your rights and responsibilities and how to advocate for yourself and others. So come join us on Saturday, January 26, 2019, from 12 pm to 1:30 pm, Beachamp Library 2111 South Salina Street.
Light lunch served and children are welcome!
Co-hosted by Legal Services of CNY
S. Warren Street For any questions call 315-455-0928.
Haudenosaunee and the Erie Canal
Saturday January 26th 1 PM – 2 PM · Oneida County History Center 1608 Genesee St, Utica
Syracuse University Professor Philip P. Arnold will discuss the important role waterways play in the cosmology of the Haudenosaunee people of New York State, and the Erie Canal’s profound environmental effects on the Haudenosaunee relationships to their lands.
Geothermal Open House – Finlayson-Schueler Residence
Saturday January 26th 2 PM – 4:30 PM · Finlayson-Schueler Residence 118 Shirley Rd, Syr
Join us at the Finlayson-Scheuler’s home, to tour his 4 ton horizontal well geothermal heating and cooling system in Syracuse. They also have solar panels and solar hot water!
ALLERGY ALERT: This is a house with dogs.
Please RSVP via Eventbrite so we know you plan to attend!
What is Reentry Community Seminar
Saturday January 26th 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM · Islamic Society of Central New York – 925 Comstock Ave
ISCNY Reentry Forum Committee
What is Rentry and Why We Have a Committee?
Managing Emotional, Social, and Financial Reentry Issues
What Ideas Do You Have About Prison?
How Can Families Support Their Incarcerated Loved Ones?
Look forward to an informative night with speakers and dinner
Saturday January 26th 5 PM – 10 PM · Ben Walsh for Mayor 521 Erie Blvd West, Syracuse
Syracuse University’s 34th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration—featuring special guest Trevor Noah, host of the Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central—is Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, in the Dome. Noah will speak about the “Global Impact of Civil Rights.”
SPAARC (Syracuse Police Accountability And Reform Coalition) Meeting
Monday January 28th 5:15 PM @ 499 S Warren St, Syracuse
The Syracuse Police Accountability And Reform Coalition meets every second and fourth Mondays in the NYCLU office at 499 S Warren St. Contact ccklaver@gmail.com for more information.
Information Session for 2019 Program hosted by CNY Political Leadership Institute
Tuesday January 29th 5:30 PM – 7 PM · OneGroup Insurance 706 N Clinton St, Syracuse
Join us at this free event to learn more about the CNY Political Leadership Institute. Beverages and snacks will be provided.
Please save the date for the upcoming events:
The Alternatives to Violence Project and Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse will be co-hosting a Basic AVP Workshop Friday February 1st through Sunday February 3rd. When: Friday 5:00 – 9:00 pm Saturday 8:30 am – 6:00 pm Sunday 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Where: Friends Meeting House, 821 Euclid Ave.
Who: Alternatives to Violence Project
Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse
What: Conflict resolution and violence prevention workshop
Contact and pre-register: Coran Klaver ccklaver@gmail.com
Sun, Feb 3: CNY Solidarity meeting. 3-5pm location Bishop Harrison Center
Thu, Feb 7: Thursday Morning Roundtable with Syracuse Police Chief Kenton Buckner. 8am. More details here.
From Panther 21 to 21st Century Revolutions with Sekou Odinga
February 23rd 6 PM – 9PM @ArtRage Gallery
If you would like to add your event or fundraiser to the weekly community outreach event calendar, please email the information in 100 words or less to Marianna.kaufman@gmail.com by Monday.