Looking for Clergy to Participate

The budget could be voted on by April 1^st. The time to Act is Now!

The $4.6 billion transfer from the poorest to the wealthiest is the largest transfer of wealth in the history of our state; meanwhile the poorest are struggling in our city and our nation.

• Schools will lose after school and enrichment programs, art, music and teachers.
• Elimination of lifesaving services for poor children, including programs that prevent child abuse and reduce foster care placements.
• Wholesale elimination of jobs programs to support our communities, including summer youth employment, job training and job creation initiatives as an alternative to welfare.

New tax breaks for the wealthy will only deepen the inequality, worsen the job crisis and create harsher times for regular New Yorkers living on Main Streets all over our state.

Clergy around the city have responded to the call to participate in this weekends prayer in. However, clergy is still needed to participate. At least another 12 more are neede. There's only about 9 nine days left to push the Governor and Senate Republicans to extend the millionaires tax. 

If you, or know someone, who would like to participate, please let Zakaria Nasari (information below) so they can organize press around this event. Imagine if the article read over "100 places of worship across the state Pray for Governor Cuomo to do the right thing and protect our communities not millionaires."

Clergy that has agreed to participate so far:

Bishop Findlayter- has agreed to let press in

Reverend Osbourne- will speak to press

Imam Konate-Will speak to press

Imam Bajaha

Reverend Walston- will speak to press

Imam Abdullah

Imam Saif

Rabbi Ellen Lippmann

Please contact:

Zakiyah Ansari
Organizer
AQE/CEJ

233 Broadway
New York, NY 10279
212 328 9266
917 309 5742

You're Invited...

3rd Annual
Global Sikh Civil and Human Rights Report

This is an annual publication that highlights the civil and human rights abuses perpetrated against Sikhs and other minority communities worldwide.

The event will take place on Monday March 28, 2011 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm in
the Church Center for the United Nations, 777 United Nations Plaza, 2nd
Floor Conference Room, New York, NY 10017.

The UNITED SIKHS legal team will present the findings from the report at the
press conference. This will be followed by brief comments by advocates from
human and civil rights organization. The press conference will conclude with
a Q&A session.

The Report combines data from primary and secondary sources from 29
countries around the world, and is a unique publication, being primarily
focused on human rights abuses affecting the global Sikh community. The
Report demonstrates how minority communities are increasingly facing the
brunt of evolving governmental and international policies that threaten
their identity. Over the years, it has informed the work of Sikh and
non-Sikh civil and human rights advocates, litigators, and non-profit
organizations.

Panel Speakers:

· Dan Mach, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)/ Freedom of
Religion and Belief, [DC]

· Pabitra Benjamin, Field Director, Rights Working Group (RWG), [DC]

· Dr. Bobbi Nassar, Vice Chair for the NGO Committee on Human
Rights, [NY]

· Thane Rosenbaum, Fordham Law Professor/ John Whelan Distinguished
Lecturer in Law and Director of the Forum on Law, Culture & Society, [NY]

· Department of Justice (DOJ)/ Community Relations Services, [DC]
(invitation extended)

· Hansdeep Singh (Senior Staff Attorney)/ Ilana Ofgang (Legal
Fellow), UNITED SIKHS, [NY]

***For questions or to RSVP to the event please contact Rucha Kavathe
by calling 1-646-688-3525 or by email at rucha.kavathe@unitedsikhs.org.

About UNITED SIKHS:

UNITED SIKHS is a UN-affiliated, international non-profit, humanitarian
relief, human development and advocacy organization. The Global Sikh Civil &
Human Rights Report is an annual publication highlighting the civil and
human rights abuses faced by Sikhs and other communities worldwide

Your invited...

Join NY Faith & Justice, Metro Hope Church, and NY Theological Seminary as we take part in:

Join us this Friday as we stand in solidarity with the Haitian people as they continue to recover from the devastating earthquake just over a year ago. What has worked in the recovery, what hasn't, and what is the role of the American faith community as the road to recovery continues.

A night of discussion, music, and readings will feature:

Kent Annan of Haiti Partners & Author of "After Shock"

Panel Discussion Including:

MIDWIN CHARLES Esq. Founder, Midwin Charles & Associates LLC
HAROLD DURAN, MD, CAP-HAITIEN, HAITI
VLADIMIR DUTHIERS, Journalist, CNN/ Anderson Cooper 360
FERENTZ LAFARGUE, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Literary Studies, Eugene Lang College, The New School
Rev. Chloe Breyer, Exec. Dir, The Interfaith Center of NY

*REFRESHMENTS SERVED*


Friday, MARCH 25TH 2011

7PM
NATIONAL BLACK THEATER
125th Street & 5th Avenue
HARLEM

$10 SUGGESTED DONATION

You're Invited...

SPECIAL: Faith-Rooted Organizing Training March 4, 2011

Faith-Rooted Organizing Training NY Faith & Justice Invites you to... Faith-Rooted Organizing Training Friday, March 4, 2011 9:00am to 5:30pm (with break from 11:30-1pm) Hosted by Judson Memorial Church 55 Washington Square South New York, NY 10012 Come experience this one-day introductory training on how to address injustice in our city and our world in a way that draws power from the roots of our faith. Faith-rooted organizing is bringing people together to create change in a way that is shaped and guided in every way by the deepest beliefs of our faith. It is not "faith-based" organizing which focuses simply on organizing people of faith. Instead, faith-rooted organizing draws from the real power of our faith to enable people of faith, all faiths, to contribute their unique gifts to the broader movement for social and economic justice. The Trainers: Rev. Alexia Salvatierra is the executive director of C.L.U.E. (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice), an organization of religious leaders in four cities in California (San Fransisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego). C.L.U.E. supports low-wage workers in their struggle for a living wage, health insurance, fair working conditions and a voice in the decisions that affect them. Lisa Sharon Harper is the executive director of NY Faith & Justice, a growing movement of congregations, advocates, government representatives, and individuals committed to ending poverty in New York through spiritual formation, education, and direct advocacy. How to Register: To register click this link or paste into your browser: http://www.nycharities.org/events/EventLevels.aspx?ETID=3154 Or contact Saralyn Jones at sjones@nyfaithjustice.org or call (212) 870-1254. Co-sponsored by: Judson Memorial Church, Bread for the World, Brooklyn Congregations United, Bronx Health REACH, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, Habitat for Humanity, Metro Hope Church, Micah Institute, New York Faith and Justice, Trinity Grace Church, We ACT for Environmental Justice

Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice Breakfast!!

Join us on Thursday, February 10th for the first Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice quarterly breakfast of 2011! We will be updating everyone on the Food and Health Summit Working Groups as well as discussing toxic hazards in the home. WeAct for Environmental Justice will be making a very sensible and constructive presentation about ways to identify and remove toxic agents from both you and your community's homes.

We hope to see you there!!

Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice

First Quarterly Breakfast of 2011

When: Thursday, February 10th

Time: Breakfast @ 8:30am

Program from 9 to 11am

Where: The Riverside Church of NY

Room 10T

91 Claremont Ave.

NY, NY 10027

Let Your Voice Be Heard...Wal Mart Free NYC

Join small business owners, community leaders and faith leaders at a rally prior to the City Council Hearing on Wal-Mart to urge the City Council to not allow Wal-Mart to move into NYC!

Who: Wal-Mart Free NYC Coalition

What: Rally to Keep Wal-Mart out of NYC

Where: Steps of City Hall

When: Thursday February 3 @ 11 AM

Have You Joined a Food Justice Working Group Yet??

This past fall, the Food, Faith, and Health Disparities Summit was held to work on combatting the food and health disparities that NYC neighborhoods are experiencing. Based on the deliberations of the Summit participants, working groups were formed around the common themes that were brought up to combat the disparities. Below is a description of each group along with sign up information and info on their first meeting. The meetings have begun but it's not too late to join! So, please scroll down, check it out, and join us for a new year to bring real justice in New York City! How to Register for a Working Group: Please contact me at stickner@nyfaithjustice.org or reach me by cell at917.628.5131. In Faith & Justice, Stephen Tickner NY Faith & Justice Director, Food Faith & Health Disparities Initiatives

Business Outreach This group will focus on getting the business community involved in helping to create a more healthy and just NYC. It will work at getting businesses to support various programs around New York City that promote health and healthy living. This could mean the launch of another Food Summit focused on building bridges between faith, advocates, government, and business communities. Organizer: Sharon Wong, NYC Food & Fitness Next Meeting: THIS Tuesday, February 1st from 5 to 7:30pm Location: City Harvest 575 8th Avenue (btw 38th & 39th St) 4th floor NY, NY 10018 **Please contact Sharon Wong at swong@cityharvest.org to RSVP for this meeting.

The Farm Bill Every wonder why vegetables and fruit are so expensive and soda and potato chips are so cheap? American tax payers subsidize the production of corn, soy, and sugar, but not vegetables and fruit. In other words, we help big agribusiness produce a whole lot of unhealthy stuff. So, the prices of unhealthy food are cheaper. What if American tax payers switched their priorities? What if we demanded that our tax dollars be used to help farmers produce healthy foods? This group will focus on the source of the subsidies--the U.S. Farm Bill. They will focus on shifting subsidies from soy, corn and sugar to fruits and vegetables. Organizer: Flavia DeSouza, Bread for the World Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 10th from 6 to 8pm NY Theological Seminary Conference Room @ The Interchurch Center 475 Riverside Dr., 5th floor (entrance on 120th & Claremont, 1 block west of Broadway) NY, NY 10027

Community Engagement This group will develop creative ways to engage faith communities, schools, and community groups in hands-on activities to make NYC neighborhoods more healthy. This could take the form of helping communities start co-ops, community gardens, or band together to develop centralized CSA's (Community Sponsored Agriculture projects). Organizer: Michael Castillejos, Trinity Grace Church Next Meeting: February 17th (details to come)

Food and Voter Education This group will educate faith communities and community groups on political leaders' positions and records on issues of food and health and on upcoming laws, ordinances or government actions that will have an impact on the food system of NYC. In addition, this group will inform faith communities, schools and community groups about how they can take personal and organizational responsibility to make healthy food choices. Organizer: Kelly Moltzen, Bronx Health Reach and Regina Howard-Norman, Walker Memorial Baptist Church First Meeting: Monday, February 14th 6:30 to 8:30pm NY Theological Seminary Conference Room @The Interchurch Center 5th Floor 475 Riverside Dr. (entrance on SW corner of 120th & Claremont, 1 block west of Broadway) NY, NY 10115 To RSVP contact Stephen at stickner@nyfiathjustice.org or call 917.628.5131

Incentives to Purchase Healthy Foods Recently, there's been a lot of hoopla about banning folks on food stamps from purchasing soda. There are arguments for and against this policy, but did you know the average food stamp benefit is only $99 per month? How much healthy food would you be able to purchase with less than $100 per month? Rather than banning the purchase of soda, why don't we make it more possible for poor people to make healthier choices? This group will call on NYC policy-makers to incentivize the purchase of healthy food for people receiving government assistance. Organizer: Jaime Gutierrez, NY Academy of Medicine First Meeting: Wednesday, February 2nd 6 to 8pm NY Theological Seminary Conference Room @The Interchurch Center 5th Floor 475 Riverside Dr. (entrance on SW corner of 120th & Claremont) NY, NY 10115 **Please contact Stephen at stickner@nyfaithjustice.org to RSVP