Help Stop Finger Imaging for Food Stamps!

Make Two Phone Calls on A1681A/S6291

The NY State Senate passed a bill (S6291) that would eliminate the finger imaging requirement for food stamps. The bill was amended as it underwent debate in the Assembly (A1681A).

Now, both the Senate and Assembly have to get the bill to a vote in special session. To ensure they do so, email or call both your State Senator and Assemblyman and tell them:

"Hello, my name is _____ and I am calling in support of A1681A/S6291. This bill simplifies the food stamp application process by removing an expensive and ineffective barrier in the application process. I urge (Rep's name)to get this bill to a vote in special session on behalf of the 1.4 million New Yorkers who live in homes that cannot afford enough food."

NY Faith & Justice July Newsletter

Betray the Age July 2010 (w/ special appeal)

Dear NY Faith & Justice Friends and Family, Have you ever been told a lie--the kind that shapes your view of the world or your relationships in it? Have you believed it with your whole heart and mind and shaped your life and dreams around it? I have. I've been thinking about truth and lies lately--about their power to shape our worldview, our actions, our communities, and our worship. A month ago we sat in a D.C. conference room staring at a large blank flip-chart page taped to a wall. Seven New York Faith & Justice leaders and board members had joined 50 others representing teams from across the U.S. at the first annual National Faith & Justice Network Training Conference, Conspire: How to Build a Faith & Justice Movement in Your City. Alexia Salvatierra, our lead trainer and the executive director of CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice) in California, explained that afaith-rooted approach to organizing begins with the identification of "core lies"-- lies that everyone in your community assumes are true, regardless of their race, class, or education. So, on this day, teams from Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Boston, Seattle, California, South Carolina, Washington DC, and New York City were broken into regional groups to discern "core lies" that most people in our cities or regions believe to be true. The New Yorkers sat with empty flip-chart paper taped to the wall and it didn't take long. Within minutes a long list emerged that we eventually narrowed down to two core lies: The ideology of individualism (i.e. "I am an island unto myself." "What I do only matters to me." "I gotta get mine.") Money = God. It demands the sacrifice of certain human beings on its altar. There was heavy silence in the room as we took it in and considered what our own lives would be like if we really believed the truth: We are our brother's keeper (Genesis 4:9-10). True fasting is not to choose a day to humble oneself, it is to loose the bonds of injustice. It is to share your bread with the hungry and invite the homeless into your house (Isaiah 58:5-7) Do not worry about your life, strive first for the kingdom of God and the rest will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:25-34) You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3) You cannot serve God and wealth. (Matthew 6:24) All human beings are made in the image of God and, as such, are worthy of equal dignity and access to basic needs, including: food, shelter, work, and the ability to migrate (Genesis 1:26-28) Then we considered a few ways the lies are manifest in our world: BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico: up to 100,000 gallons per day killing ecosystems that God gave us the responsibility to steward. We failed to steward properly because we valued big money over regulation and stewardship of people and land. Financial system and devaluation of work and workers: Workers to executives wage gap is greatest since the years before the Great Depression. Food and Health Disparities: The reality of "food deserts" in a city known for fine restaurants. Broken Immigration System: Arizona immigration law passed. It devalues human beings, breaks up families, and encourages separate and unequal classes of people through the normalization of racial profiling. And more than 60% of the US likes the law. Normalized Violence: Creation of "throw-away" neighborhoods through the pervasive belief that some neighborhoods will just always be violent. All we can do is contain the violence there to make sure it doesn't spread to the "good" neighborhoods. Then a member and financial partner of NY Faith and Justice, said: "This reminds me of part of an Irish poem, by Brendan Kennely. 'If you want to serve the age, betray it.'" What does it look like to betray the age in our world, in our city, in your neighborhood? Well, for the months of July and August we will share one short story per week of people living in our city who are betraying the age. And each week we'll give you a few more ideas of ways you can betray the age in your daily life. Also each week we will give you the opportunity to partner with the work of NY Faith & Justice to betray the age. Right now we are working to raise $25,000 in new and renewed individual financial partnerships.Contributions from people like you make the Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice, Conversations for Change, and all of our work on Immigration Reform possible. If you haven't renewed your membership, now is the time. If you've been waiting to partner with us, today is the day! This week we'd like to suggest a simple way you can personally betray the age. Hold off on buying that new iPad or give up one trip to Starbucks or the movies per month. Do you really need another pair of strappy sandals? Instead, betray the age and contribute $5/mth, $10/mth, $25/mth, $50/mth, $100/mth or more to the work of NY Faith & Justice. ***All who give $10/mth or more will receive a complimentary NY Faith & Justice T-Shirt! Don't forget to use the "Designation" box on the online giving page to indicate your size and let us know if you want a male or female cut. NOTE: If you prefer not to give online you can send checks made payable to "FCNY/NY Faith & Justice" to: NY Faith & Justice c/o Partnership 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 500 New York, NY 10115 Here are a few more awesome ways you can begin to betray the age right where you are! Gather a team and volunteer to help clean up a beach in the gulf. Save the Date: Food, Faith, and Health Disparities Summit Save the Date: The Bronx Borough Police/Community Conversations for Change Summit. Betray the ideology of individualism! Get connected at the July House Gathering in Brooklyn Thank you for your continued prayers and partnership and don't forget to follow us on , , the nyfj blog or the nyfj calendar for up to the minute action alerts, program changes, and details. Engage, Lisa Sharon Harper Co-founder and Executive Director New York Faith & Justice

Coming in October!!

Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice invites you to Food, Faith, and Health Disparities Summit October 2010 Exact Date and Location TBA What is it like to live in a "food desert"? What is the link between poverty, obesity and diabetes? Do things just have to be this way? Is it a lost cause or can we do something about it? Mark your calendars now and join faith and community leaders, health and environmental advocates, and government representatives from the Boroughs of the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn in October for the Food, Faith, and Health Disparities Summit. Join hundreds of New Yorkers who live in New York City's food deserts and those who don't. Listen and share your stories of food, faith and health. Work with a small group representing a diverse cross-section of New Yorkers to discern the spiritual, social and structural causes for our city's health disparities. Then work together to set action priorities for the next year. Be a part of the solution! Follow , , or the blog for updates! This summit is made possible through the generous partnership of the Bronx Health REACH Legacy Grant.

Coming in November!!

New York Faith & Justice in collaboration with the Bronx Borough President's Office invites you to Bronx Borough Conversations for Change Summit Saturday, November 13, 2010 9am - 9pm The city-wide murder-rate increased 22.8% in the first quarter of this year over the same period in 2009. In the Bronx, alone, several shootings involving police and community members have intensified already eroded trust. Our communities are less safe, in part, because there is a breakdown in trust between the police and the community-especially youth. How do we bridge the trust gap? Where do we begin? Conversations for Change is a chance to build a community where businesses thrive, children play without fear, and positive partnerships between the police and community are built. Join us on November 13, 2010 as we engage in one day of dialogue that will lead to one year of shared action toward change! follow , , or the blog for updates! The Bronx Borough Conversations for Change project is currently seeking corporate sponsors and major donors. If you are interested, please contact Lisa Sharon Harper at lsharper@nyfaithjustice.org or call 646 702 9776.

July House Gathering!

Fun Food and Plotting Goodness Every Month! Brooklyn Saturday, July 17, 7 to 9pm Special Musical Guest TBA! Plus, join the block party after the gathering! @ Radical Living 32 Hart Street Brooklyn, NY 11206 To RSVP contact Melinda at melinda.faust@gmail.com.

Urgent: Support the Farmworker's Fair Labor Practices Act

State Senator Pedro Espada is working to revive the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act in the next 24 hours. He is working on the version of the bill that was revised in January - guaranteeing a day of rest every seven, if desired, the right to collective bargaining, and the right to overtime pay after 60 hours.

If you would like to see this bill passage, you should call these Senators immediately! It is a list of Senators who have supported the bill in the past but may not in the final hours.

DEMOCRATS

Foley 518-455-2303
Johnson 518-455-2622 (We are worried about losing him)
Dilan 518-455-2177
Montgomery 518-455-3451 (she has been raising questions along the way)


REPUBLICANS

Flannagan 518-455-2071 (previously sponsored the Bill)
Fuschillo 518-455-3341
Hannon 518-455-2200 (previously sponsored the Bill)

Marcelino (a most recent sponsor) > we really need him to stay) 518-455-2390
Padavan (the other most recent sponsor) > we really need him to stay 518-455-3381
Skelos 518-455-3171

Stand Up for School Meals!

In these tough economic times our elected officials are facing hard choices when it comes to making the unavoidable budget cuts. These tough decisions can not come at the expense of our most vulnerable population, the children of NYC.

The NYC Department of Education is planning to eliminate the "Universal School Meals" program from nearly 100 City schools, and to reduce hot lunch choices at every school. At a time when we know the nationally priority is to reduce hunger and obesity we can not take two steps backwards with these budget recommendations.

Opposed to these budget cuts and want to get involved here is how you can:

Please let the Mayor know where you stand at: http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/2777/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2001

**This post was submitted by the NYC Strategic Alliance for Health