Amistad Awards to take place Dec. 6

by Joelle Fishman, CT People’s World

This year’s Amistad Awards will be presented by the People’s World at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 at an anniversary rally in New Haven at Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School, 177 College Street, on the theme “Justice for All. In Solidarity with Black and Latino Youth. Stop the Right-wing Attacks.”
Jill Marks, Ciro Gutierrez and Cindy Harrity, three grass roots leaders and organizers, will receive the awards.

Special recognition will also be given to Edie Fishman marking her 80th year as a grass roots leader for justice since joining the YCL at age 14.

A cultural program in solidarity with Black and Latino youth struggling for survival, jobs and education will highlight the event.

Amistad Memorial Sculpture by Ed Hamilton

Amistad Memorial by sculptor Ed Hamilton

The annual awards are presented to allies by the People’s World on the occasion of the 96th anniversary of the Communist Party USA.

Jill Marks stepped up this year as an organizer with New Haven Rising. She was elected in the September primaries to represent Ward 28 on the New Haven Board of Alders, as part of the labor-community alliance majority. She is mother of six, choir director of her church and has worked alongside her husband Rev. Scott Marks for many years.

Ciro Gutierrez is a member leader of SEIU 32 BJ in Hartford. He is now on the negotiating committee in a key labor battle covering 2,000 building service workers, part of national contract negotiations. He has fought for justice for immigrant workers and janitors for many years. He immigrated from Peru, became a citizen and raised three children here.

Cindy Harrity organized for Communication Workers of America 1298 for ten years until her recent retirement due to health. She got involved in the fight for workplace fairness over health insurance as a part-time worker. She has since organized around the country and supports husband John Harrity’s work as president of the CT State Council of Machinists.

Tickets are $10. Ticket and adbook information is available at http://ctpeoplebeforeprofits.blogspot.com or call (203) 624-4254 or e-mail [email protected].

So You Want to Be a Climate Negotiator?

by Sarah Ganong, Media Coordinator, CT Fund for the Environment

In December, world leaders will gather in Paris to negotiate a treaty addressing climate change.
But now, it’s your turn. Join 350 Connecticut for a mock climate negotiation where you get to make the rules. Will we be able to reduce carbon emissions in time to save the world?

The event will be held at the New Haven Friends Meetinghouse, 225 East Grand Ave., New Haven, on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.

Questions? Email [email protected].

Greater New Haven Green Fund Accepting Applications for Funding

by Aaron Goode, GNH Green Fund

The Greater New Haven Green Fund is soliciting applications for funding up to $10,000, due Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m..

The GNH Green Fund solicits small and large grant applications once a year. An electronic version of the Cover Letter, Application, Budget, and Attachments should be sent to [email protected]. We plan to announce grant awards around February, 2016. Access the application at http://www.gnhgreenfund.org/small-and-large-grants.html.

Grant awardees for 2014 include:

Major grants:

Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven: Best
Practices for Residential Storm Management

Connecticut Fund for the Environment: West River Green
Infrastructure Project

URI: Community Planning for Greenspace

Small grants:

Quinnipiac University: Surveying the
Quinnipiac River #3

Ecoworks: Creative Reuse for Art Supplies

Micro grants:

NH/Leon Sister City Project: healthy climate campaign
West River Watershed Partnership: West River Water
Festival

NH Land Trust: Field of Greens Community Garden

NH Festivals: KenshoSeed, microgreens

Stevens Community Garden

New Haven Bioregional Group: Jonathan Bates Reedible
Forest Gardening, Speaker Series

City of New Haven: Youth at Work bicycles

Hill Regional School: Panther Garden Club

Our mailing address is GNH Green Fund, GNH Green Fund at The Grove, 760 Chapel St., New Haven, CT  06510

The telephone number is (203) 936-8136. Please help spread the word about this opportunity. If you have any questions e-mail Aaron Goode at [email protected].

Seymour CT Post Office Persists In Violating Federal Accessibility Laws

by Joseph A. Luciano, Founder, DRAG CT, ADA Education Project

I am inviting PAR readers to sign the on-line petition to ensure Architectural Access at the Seymour CT post office—and all other public accommodations, all state and local government buildings, facilities, parks, parking lots, building entrances, sidewalks, restrooms, aisles between restaurant tables, and service and cashier counters.

The petition is at this link: http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/seymour-ct-post-office?source=s.fwd&r_by=3363627

Seymour’s post office refuses to comply with ADA 1990 and other federal laws to provide reasonable access and accommodation to elderly and disabled persons unable to climb the mountain of steps at its public entrance. It defiantly refuses to provide an access route to the ramp in the rear that elderly and disabled have been using for years. The postmaster shut down the ramp last year and now requires us to telephone for “appointments” to obtain services outdoors on the sidewalk at the public entrance. The location of “sidewalk service” is unreasonable because it is a longer trek—because of broken sidewalks and absent crosswalks and curbcuts. It’s also unreasonable because all elderly/disabled persons do not have or are not able to use cellphones. The USPS refuses to publish information in the media notifying persons of all abilities how to obtain service. Signage and a doorbell are absent at the entrance. What’s really egregious is that al fresco postal service out-doors on the sidewalk will not work in rain, summer heat waves, cold weather, and snow.

Joseph A. Luciano
33 DeForest Street A24
Seymour CT 06483
(203) 463-8323
[email protected]

Call for Proposals for SCSU Women’s Studies Conference

by Alisha Martindale, Graduate Assistant, Women’s Studies Program

The Southern Connecticut State University Women’s Studies Program announces its 22nd Annual Conference “#FeministIn(ter)ventions: Women, Community, Technology,” to be held on the SCSU campus Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16, 2016.

The conference aims to provide a critical site of collective inquiry into the intersections of women (and girls), community, and technology. In what ways have women and girls worked with technology, broadly defined, for the advancement of communities and/or shaping and building movements? We invite proposals that investigate the past, present, and future of the intersections of women, community, and technology and showcase feminist in(ter)ventions with technology. How have women and girls participated (or not) in the fields of technology? In what ways does this inquiry intersect with the studies of gender, race, class, and sexuality?

Call for Proposals Suggested Conference Themed Topics:

  • Women & the Media Girls Who Code/Black Girls Code
  • Feminist Apps/Feminist Ethics & Technology
  • Feminism, Environment, and Technology
  • Women, Sustainability, and Technology
  • Gender, Class, and Technology/Gender, Sexuality, and Technology Feminist Values and STEM
  • Gender and STEM Ethics/Women in STEM
  • Women in the History of STEM/Women Making History & STEM Reproductive Technologies and Feminist Concerns
  • Feminist Pedagogy and Technology
  • Women, Social Media/Technology, and Academia
  • Online (In)Visibility of Bodies Feminism and Big Data
  • Feminist Knowledge and Media Technology
    and more!

Info: (203) 392-6133 or see SCSU Women’s Studies Website for details: www.southernct.edu/academics/schools/arts/departments/womensstudies/annualconference/index.html.
E-mail proposals to [email protected].
The proposal submission deadline is December 4.

Events at the Mitchell Free Public Library

All the following events will be held at the Mitchell Library, 37 Harrison Street, New Haven. For more information: (203) 946-8117, www.nhfpl.org. The library is wheelchair-accessible.

Saturday, Nov. 7 and 28, 10 a.m.

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)–Calling all aspiring writers! Join us for a workshop and write-in! Every November, aspiring writers around the world sit down to fulfill their dreams of writing a novel. NaNoWriMo, a 501c3 nonprofit, inspires this creativity in people of all ages. It has been incredibly successful in helping participants reach their creative potential and challenge their imaginations. Meet past NaNoWriMo participants and learn how they success-fully completed this personal challenge. Breakfast will be served sponsored by Bruegger’s. Please call to register: (203) 946-8117.
Mondays, 6:30 p.m.

Free English Classes–Clases de Ingles Gratis

Saturdays at 10 a.m.

Free GED Tutoring

Saturday, Nov. 21, 2 p.m.

A Glance at the World Through Film: Departures (2008), an award-winning film from Japan. A young man returns to his hometown after a failed career as a cellist and stumbles across work as a nōkanshi—a traditional Japanese ritual mortician. Free. Refreshments. Discussion led by Debbie Evans, world cinema buff. Wheelchair accessible.

Events at Ives Free Public Library, 133 Elm St.

Meditation Every Tuesday, 6 – 7 p.m. Through Dec. 29.

Meditation includes many different techniques to promote self-awareness, relaxation, mindfulness, build internal energy or life force and to develop compassion, love, patience, generosity and forgiveness.

In cooperation with the Art of Living Foundation, the NH Zen Center, and the NH Shambhala Meditation Center, the library is privileged to offer this wellness program. No matter why you come to consider meditation, starting with an experienced practitioner guide can be helpful. Our schedule of instructors is as follows:

  • 1st Tuesday of the month—-Art of Living Foundation
  • 2nd Tuesday of the month— New Haven Zen Center
  • 3rd Tuesday of the month— Art of Living Foundation
  • 4th Tuesday of the month— Shambhala Meditation Center of New Haven

Beginners are welcome. Basic instruction provided. Chairs are available for all, or participants may bring a cushion or pad if they wish. There is no charge, no sign up, walk-ins welcome. Questions: (203) 946-8138.

Christian Community Action, Inc. Advocacy & Education Presents: People Empowering People (PEP) Training

Are you interested in empowering yourself and others? Do you enjoy working on community group projects? Are you interested in learning more about ways in which you can improve your community?

If your answer is yes! CCA’s Advocacy & Education Project will be offering a 10 session certified training class Mondays and Wednesdays 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Oct. 26-Dec. 2. Lunch will be provided. Location: 660 Winchester Ave.

Lower Level Community Room. Program participants will earn a UCONN PEP Certificate. For more information, contact Merryl Eaton, (203) 780-8335 or email: [email protected].

Listen Here! Short Story Reading Series

by Bennett Graff, Publisher, New Haven Review

The Institute Library is proud to host the Listen Here Short Story reading series, a night of classic short stories selected by the staff of the New Haven Review and read by cast members of the New Haven Theater Company.  Reading starts at 7 p.m., with a talk back at 8 p.m. Also, freshly baked cookies and tea are available. $5 suggested admission, but no obligations!  Join us at the Institute Library, 847 Chapel St, New Haven. Our next reading will be November 17.  Our theme: “Close Calls.” Our stories: “The Killers” by Ernest Hemingway and “Bride Comes to Yellow Sky” by Stephen Crane. Please note that the Institute Library is one flight up and not wheelchair accessible. For more information, visit us at www.institutelibrary.org.

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