by Paula Panzarella

Dozens of organizations came together for the 24th annual May Day celebration on the New Haven Green. It was the perfect day for labor, peace and environmental groups to reach out to the New Haven community and to network with each other for International Workers’ Day.

One of the most engaging activities was the billboard painting project from We Refuse to be Enemies and IWagePeace.org. The billboard will soon be overlooking I-95. It’s wonderful that the celebration on this international day of labor solidarity could have a part in the creation of the billboard.

The One World House, built by volunteers from New Haven/León Sister City Project, depicted the housing conditions for people in many underdeveloped countries, including Nicaragua. There was a “Free Swap” area from the Elm City Infoshop and information tables and exhibits from New Haven Green Party, Socialist Party CT, WILPF, UNA/UNIFEM, ISO, Food Not Bombs, Greater New Haven Labor History Association, New Haven Bioregional Group/ Transition, ANSWER CT, Chainbreakers, and CT Network to Abolish the Death Penalty. Joe Taylor had a display of his May Day books and historical information, and there was a DonnellyColt tent with bumperstickers, pins and t-shirts.

Activities for kids included a surprise visit from magician Amazing Andy, and someone brought many hula hoops for a spontaneous “contest.”

In addition to the various organizations’ participation, there were speakers and performers throughout the day on the stage. The website will soon be updated with photos and video: http://www.maydaynewhaven.org.

Some May Day t-shirts are still available for a donation. Please call (203) 562-2798 to get a shirt.

This year’s event was organized by many people who joined the May Day Celebration Committee a few months ago. We hope people follow their lead and that more people jump in to pull together something spectacular, as next year is the 25th year of the May Day on the Green.

To stay in touch with the May Day Celebration Committee to network throughout the year and share ideas, please call Jeff Spalter at (203) 843-3069.

Authors, Organizations:

• Anna Aschenbach, New Haven County Branch, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
• Joan Cavanagh, CT Peace Coalition/New Haven, Greater New Haven Labor History Association
• Deborah Elmore, Sisters with a New Attitude (SWANA)
• Earth Charter Community of the Lower Valley
• Joelle Fishman, New Haven Peoples Center, CT
• Communist Party USA, Weekly World
• Chris Garaffa, ANSWER CT, NH Workers Association
• Stan Heller, Middle East Crisis Committee, CT United for Peace, The Struggle TV News
• Anne Higgens, People Against Injustice
• Josue Irizarry, Yale Peabody Museum
• Ben Jones, CT Network to Abolish the Death Penalty
• Dorothy Johnson, GNH Labor History Association, former UE Local 299
• Mary Johnson, Coalition for People
• Andrea Cohen-Kiener, Interreligious Eco-Justice Network
• Anne Killheffer, CT Folk Festival
• Stephen Kobasa, Reclaiming the Prophetic Voice
• Henry Lowendorf, Nancy Eberg, Mary Compton, Greater New Haven Peace Council
• Deb Malatesta, ANSWER CT
• Sherman Malone, Haiti Marycare
• Alfred Marder, New Haven Peace Commission
• Patty Nuelsen, Chris Schweitzer, New Haven/León Sister City Project
• Paula Panzarella, PAR, Fight the Hike, May Day Celebration Committee
• Frank Panzarella, Fight the Hike
• Heiwa Salovitz, ADAPT
• Joseph L. Schofield, Citizens Television
• Naomi Shaiken, CT Call to Action
• N’Zinga Shäni, OneWorld Progressive Institute
• Julie Snorek, Amman Imman Water Project
• Rosie Stanko, Citizen’s Oil Co-op
• Maria Tupper, New Haven Bioregional Group
• James van Pelt, Promoting Enduring Peace
• Abbie Willis, CT Workers Solidarity Alliance
• Christopher Zurcher, CT Environmental Headlines, Zurcher Communications (Thanks to Chris for his help getting PAR online: http://par-newhaven.org)

Please submit copy to PAR’s e-mail address: parnewhaven@hotmail.com.

No e-mail? Call Paula at (203) 562-2798 to find out how to submit your article. There is a 350 word limit.

Next Planning Meeting date is Tuesday, May 4 at 7:30 pm…all welcome…call (203) 562-2798 for location.
To subscribe: $13 for 10 issues, check payable to PAR, P.O. Box 995, New Haven, CT 06504.

About calendar items: Read the rest of this entry »

The following is an excerpt from newhaven.craigslist.org/npo/1643988275.html

Youth Rights Media, a New Haven, CT-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth, seeks an Executive Director.

Youth Rights Media (YRM) builds youth power and leadership by engaging young people in video production and community organizing, equipping youth with the tools, skills and strategies to know, protect, and advance their rights for the purpose of affecting change within themselves and their communities.

For eight years, YRM’s youth media has produced award-winning films that have been distributed nationally. Members of YRM’s organizing initiatives have then used these films locally to launch awareness and action campaigns that have resulted in tangible changes in Connecticut’s justice and education systems. YRM currently has four full-time staff members who work with a core group of approximately 50 youth annually.

The Executive Director must be a visionary and engaging leader, an experienced manager, and deeply committed to young people’s growth and development. YRM is a small, lean organization where all staff play a direct, hands-on role. The Executive Director must excel at balancing multiple tasks, including internal management of the staff and programs, external relationships with key stakeholders, collaborators, and allies, and the demands of working in a fluid, fast-paced youth-centered environment. The Executive Director will be responsible for ensuring that the organization is fiscally and programmatically sound, and must work to strategically advance YRM’s purpose and goals. The Executive Director position is a full-time, salaried position with benefits.

The ideal candidate will posses business and financial management skills; youth development, criminal justice and education policy expertise; and experience leading and managing staff. The ideal candidate will also have a demonstrated commitment to social justice efforts. In addition, the ideal candidate will be:

• Familiar with youth media production, specifically as it relates to issues impacting young people in urban settings;
• Experienced in managing, developing, and leading youth programs that integrate youth development theory, and principles of youth organizing.

by Megan Wulff, megawulff@gmail.com

I’m a prospective Yale law student for this coming fall, and my partner, who is part of a progressive web development organization, is looking for inexpensive (and small) shared office space with other like-minded progressive individuals, basically just room for a desk. Do you have any idea where we could find such a space? Thanks so much for your time!

Millions are affected by the destruction of the earthquake in Haiti. Tens of thousands of people have died and hundreds of thousands have been injured. Here are some of the many organizations providing medical aid and relief.

Haiti Marycare Inc., www.haitimarycare.org, (203) 675-4770.
Haiti Marycare Inc.
55 King Street
Danbury, CT  06811

Haitian Ministries for the Diocese of Norwich,www.haitianministries.org, (860) 848-2237, Ext. 206. To donate, call (860) 638-1018.Or mail your gift to: Haitian Ministries, 1595 Norwich-New London Turnpike, Uncasville, CT  06382. Donors can also give at any Citizens Bank to: Earthquake Relief for Haitian Ministries account # 2231-994385.

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Please submit copy to PAR’s e-mail address: parnewhaven@hotmail.com. If you do not have e-mail, call Paula at (203) 562-2798 to find out how to submit your article. Next Planning Meeting date is Tuesday Feb. 2, at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome…call (203) 562-2798 for location. To subscribe:  Send $13 for 10 issues, make check payable to PAR, P.O. Box 995, New Haven, CT 06504.