ny faith and justice

NYFJ in Action

2011-05-13T16:56:00.003-04:00

Check out this story and pictures, featuring NYFJ's Executive Director Lisa Sharon Harper, from the New Sanctuary Movement blogs coverage on the Tuesday's press conference urging Gov. Cuomo to pull out the the "Secure Communities" program.

Religious Leaders Hold Vigil to Ask for an End to NY’s “Secure Communities” Program

Clergy and Advocates Urge Gov. Cuomo to Follow Illinois’ Lead

New York, NY (May 11, 2011) – Diverse faith community leaders, joined by advocates and community members, held a vigil in front of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s New York City office to urge the Governor to end New York State’s involvement in “Secure Communities.” Speakers applauded Illinois for withdrawing from S-Comm and urged Cuomo to do the same in order to protect New York immigrants.

Adem Carroll of the New York State Intefaith Network for Immigration Reform speaking at the S-Comm vigil, on Wednesday, May 11th, 2011. (Photos by Marcus Yam, Special for the New Sanctuary Coalition.)

The vigil followed a letter sent to Governor Cuomo by the New York State Interfaith Network for Immigration Reform and signed by more than 100 diverse faith community leaders across New York, urging him to terminate New York’s S-Comm agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“So far, Governor Cuomo has not acted,” Network Co-chair Diane Steinman said. “So today we say to our Governor: Follow the example set by the State of Illinois and pull New York out of this program that is shattering the lives of immigrants while making New Yorkers less safe and secure.”

Rev. Susan Switzer, co-Chair of the New Sanctuary Coalition of NYC and Lisa Sharon Harper, co-Chair of the New York State Interfaith Network for Immigration Reform, light candles as part of a prayer vigil for Gov. Cuomo and the communities bearing the burden of S-Comm. (Photo by Marcus Yam, Special for the New Sanctuary Coalition.)

“We believe our Governor is a moral man. We believe he has a conscience,” said Network Co-chair Lisa Sharon Harper. “Yet every day, S-Comm betrays the conscience of New Yorkers by violating New York’s moral commitment to promote the public welfare, by making some New Yorkers the target of brutal intolerance, and by turning a blind eye to racial and ethnic profiling. So our diverse community of faith leaders calls on Governor Cuomo to rekindle the flame New York’s conscience. Join with Illinois Governor Quinn! Opt-out of S-Comm!”

Rabbi Michael Feinberg of the Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition speaking at the vigil in front of Gov. Cuomo's Manahttan office. (Photo by Marcus Yam, Special for the New Sanctuary Coalition.)

Under S-Comm, local police are required to send fingerprints upon booking to immigration databases to identify people for deportation. Faith community leaders, brought together by the Interfaith Network and the New Sanctuary Movement, decried the program for unjustly deporting immigrants. They further pointed out that there is no time to lose, as more than one-third of New York’s counties have already activated S- Comm. In January and February alone, the program identified nearly 3,500 people for potential deportation. Many of those identified through S-Comm end up in detention centers located in remote locations, where they have severely limited access to lawyers, medical care, family, and evidence to defend against deportation.

Diverse faith community leaders joined with advocates and community members to pray for an end to S-Comm in New York. (Photo by Marcus Yam, Special for the New Sanctuary Coalition.)

This event is part of a growing call to end the controversial S-Comm program in New York and nationwide. In the past two weeks, Congress Member Zoe Lofgren, joined by Senator Robert Menendez, called for an investigation of S-Comm, and Illinois Govenor Pat Quinn terminated the state’s S-Comm agreement due to unfixable problems with the program. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus issued a call to President Barack Obama for an immediate freeze on the program, expressing concerns for public safety. And 38 New York state legislators sent a letter to Governor Cuomo this Monday calling for a termination of S-Comm in New York.

Don't Miss This!!!

2011-05-09T09:30:00.004-04:00

Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice

Mission & Social Justice of The Riverside Church

invite you to

Faith & Earth

Friday, May 13th 2011

9am to 5pm

@ The Riverside Church of New York

91 Claremont Ave.

btw 121st and 122nd St.

Workshops Include:

Teaching & Preaching on Environmental Justice
Eco-Justice and Your Zip-Code: Place Matters
Sea Water Rise and Disaster Preparedness
Mobilizing Youth Groups for the Sake of the Earth
Greening Your Congregation
The Toxic Chemicals in Your Home They Aren't Telling You About
Recycling in NYC and Unwasting Your Home

Special Keynote Address by Emmy Award Winning Filmmaker Marty Ostrow, Producer of "Renewal," a Film about Religious Environmentalism

To Register:

www.tinyurl.com/faithandearth

or call

212.854.1673

Co-sponsored by:

NY Faith & Justice

We Act for Environmental Justice

Center for the Study of Science and Religion

NY Serda

Beam NY

You're Invited...

2011-04-11T16:59:00.002-04:00

Social Media

Social Change and You

Tuesday, April 12th

7-9pm

Join us for a panel discussion on the effectiveness of social media to influence social

change in communities, politics, and beyond.

Featuring:

Capitol Momentum

NY Faith and Justice

Peace Boat USA

Underheard in New York

And

Freelance Journalist Keiko Tsuyama

A diverse group of panelists share their experiences with social media and discuss how

they see it shaping the future.

This will be an interactive discussion with great opportunities for networking. Bring your

questions, ideas and enthusiasm.

All are welcome!

Tuesday, April 12th from 7-9 PM

Mary O's, 32 Avenue A

NY NY 10009

RSVP:

Meetup: http://bit.ly/vbsm412

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/socialyou

Hosted by:

Voterbook NYC

Slums of Hope

Women Elect

Earth Day Education opportunity!!

2011-04-11T14:33:00.003-04:00

The Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition is happy to invite you to an Earth Day Festival at Bronx Community College!

From 10am - 4pm, there will be various activities to entertain & educate youth and adults, including GARDENING, HIP HOP, A RACE, PRIZES, WORKSHOPS & MORE!

There are still Volunteers Needed! So if you can help out, please email Taleigh Smith at taleigh@northwestbronx.org and cc tobinsmith0@yahoo.com.

10am-12pm Garden Club: Tree Planting, Composting and Other Planting at Campus Garden

10am – 11am: Workshop: Climate Justice & Food Security (location TBA) *Taleigh facilitating

11am-12pm Opening Ceremony (Guest Speakers and Presentation from Chemistry Department on Geology of Campus) (Playhouse)

12pm-2pm ASAP Race for Health and Nutrition (On Campus Track)

12pm-2pm Food Justice Community Panel Discussion and Interactive Workshop (Local Food Initiatives) (Playhouse)

12pm-4pm Organization Expo (Meister Lobby)

12pm-4pm Food Demonstration, DJ/Music, Prizes

2pm: Workshop: Worker Cooperatives: Possible in the Bronx? (location TBA) *Yorman, Heidi & Tanya facilitating

2:30pm-4pm Hip Hop to Heal the Hood (Spiritchild Performance and Workshop) (Playhouse)

11am-4pm Film Festival and Media Room (The Cove and Food Inc) (Schwendler Auditorium)

Contact Taleigh Smith at taleigh@northwestbronx.org if you have any questions.

co-sponsors:

Bronx Community College

NW Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition

Con Edison

Bronx Green Jobs Roundtable

Check This Out!

2011-04-06T14:47:00.002-04:00

The Poverty Initiative Presents:

Crossing the American Crises film screening & discussion with directors Silvia Leindecker & Michael Fox

Thursday, April 7, 12:30 - 2:00pm in the Poverty Initiative Office

@ Union Theological Seminary

In the spirit of Wisconsin, this new feature-length documentary takes us across the country amidst the economic collapse, to the grassroots solutions in the hands of the people. Co-director Michael Fox is an ally in our work who organized with United Workers and continues to share the stories of organizations working for justice.

For more information contact Onleilove at oa2145@columbia.edu or visit www.crossingthecrises.com.

You're Invited...

2011-04-04T16:47:00.001-04:00

Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice

invite you to

Adopt a Bodega

Second Quarterly Breakfast of 2011

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Breakfast @ 8:30

Program 9-11am

New York City corner stores and bodegas are everywhere. Yet, these small stores often lack healthy food options. the Food, Faith and Health Disparities Business Outreach Working Group is partnering with the Department of Health to connect congregations with their local bodegas. Come learn how your congregation can help make your neighborhood healthier by joining the Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice “Adopt a Bodega” Initiative.

New Song Church

2230 8th Ave.

New York, NY 10027

Special Screening Opportunity

2011-04-04T16:36:00.001-04:00

SAVE THE DATE: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6 AT 7:00 P.M.

New York Premiere of “John Muir in the New World”

Wednesday 4/6 7:00 p.m.

Join us for the New York Premiere of the documentary film, “John Muir in the New World” co-sponsored by The Louis Finkelstein Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary, Global Village Media, Interfaith Center of New York, Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice, and the Center for the Study of Science and Religion (CSSR) of the Earth Institute at Columbia University. (The film will air on PBS “American Masters,” April 18th at 9PM -- check local listings).

Following the screening there will be a Q & A with the writer, director Catherine Tatge, and producer Dominique Lasseur.

Special Screening at JTS
3080 Broadway at 122^nd Street
Wednesday, April 6 at 7:00 p.m.
I.D. required

Looking for Clergy to Participate

2011-03-23T11:28:00.002-04:00

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...

2011-03-23T11:23:00.002-04:00

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...

2011-03-22T11:42:00.003-04:00

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...

2011-02-23T19:16:00.001-05:00

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!!

2011-02-09T15:43:00.002-05:00

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

2011-02-02T15:43:00.002-05:00

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??

2011-01-31T11:07:00.003-05:00

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

See the World from a Different Perspective!! A One-Week Engagement!

2011-01-25T23:05:00.002-05:00

"HOME"

A View From Above That Will Change Your World

A Film By: Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Produced By: Luc Besson & Denis Carot | Narrated By: Glenn Close

As a Gift to New York City, Yann Arthus-Bertrand is offering the public

Free Admission to all Village East Cinema screenings of "HOME"

from February 4-10, 2011

Tickets are available at www.VillageEastCinema.com and at the Village East Box Office

(12th St @ 2nd Ave)

Yann Arthus-Bertrand is in New York for interviews

January 31st-February 6th

Contact for DVDs & Interviews with Director:

Erin Bruce, Falco Ink., (212) 445-7100, ErinBruce@FalcoInk.com

Screening Times, Press Notes, Artwork & Trailer available at:

www.homethemovie.org

Directed by photographer and environmentalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand and narrated by Glenn

Close, “HOME” takes you on a visually stunning, spectacular voyage around the world. It is a

unique film that approaches the current debate about climate change from a whole new angle,

giving the viewer the opportunity to see how our earth is changing. Going well beyond the

scientific reports, charts and graphs, this film is an inspiration that speaks to our hearts and

touches our souls.

Humans have upset the balance of planet Earth. We must act now. It's too late to be a pessimist.

The price is too high. Humanity has barely ten years to reverse the trend and change its patterns

of consumption.

Spanning 54 countries and 120 locations, all seen from the air, the film captures the Earth's most

amazing landscapes, showcasing its incomparable beauty and acknowledging its vulnerability.

“HOME” is an emotional reminder of what is at stake: the Earth, in all its beauty, and the

people who live on it. With this film, Arthus-Bertrand hopes to provide a stepping-stone to

further the call to action to take care of our HOME and encourage viewers to become good “eco-

citizens.”

“HOME” is the first film made using only aerial footage. The film marks Yann Arthus-

Bertrand's feature film directorial debut. The movie is carbon offset. This means that all of the

CO2 emissions engendered by making the film are calculated and offset by sums of money that

are used to provide clean energy to those who don't have any. For the last ten years, all the work

of Yann Arthus-Bertrand has been carbon offset.

“HOME” is a non-for-profit film project, produced by film director and producer Luc Besson

(Europacorp), Denis Carot (Elzevir Films) and supported by François-Henri Pinault of PPR

Group, the branding portfolio that handles Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and several other luxury

brands. In the United States, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment represents the film.

After completing the amazing imagery of "HOME," Yann Arthus-Bertrand began his next

journey around the world by screening the film for free wherever there was an audience curious

to experience it. The journey began on World Environment Day, June 5, 2009, when the film

was released worldwide across all media platforms -- theater, television, DVD and Internet. Free

screenings took place across 5 continents. Since then, more than 400 million people have

watched "HOME."

Yann Arthus-Bertrand's next journey brings him back to New York City, a city he loves, where

several events inspired by "HOME" culminates in a one-week run of free screenings, from

February 4-10, 2011, at the Village East Cinemas in New York.

ABOUT YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND

Yann Arthus-Bertrand is a world famous French photographer, filmmaker and

environmentalist who has always had a passion for the animal and natural

world. Some of his works include Lions, Six Billion Others -- Climate Voices,

Earth from Above, 365 Days to Think About Our Planet and New York From

the Air. He founded Altitude, the world's first aerial photography agency. His

foundation GoodPlanet works with individuals, companies and institutions to

help improve their environmental awareness in a variety of ways, including

campaigns to help groups reduce their carbon footprints by 10% in a year.

GoodPlanet Junior is a collaboration with the French League of Education to teach students how

to be good eco-citizens. He is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment

Programme (UNEP). After the release of HOME, his next project is to launch the official UN

declaration of 2011 as the "International Year of the Forest," by producing a short-film, a book,

an educational poster campaign and an exhibition on the theme of FORESTS.

Sign the Petition!

2011-01-24T12:13:00.003-05:00

New York Jobs with Justice has started a new online petition to urge the City Council to keep from allowing Wal-Mart to move in to NYC. The petition states:

When Walmart enters a community, it kills three retail jobs for every two poverty-wage job it “creates.” When a Walmart opened in Chicago, 25% of businesses surveyed within four miles closed. We must prevent this from happening in our communities, which are devastated by high unemployment.

We urge our local elected officials to bring good jobs to our communities, not companies like Walmart that lower the average wage in an area and destroy jobs!

Please sign this petition. Wal-Mart affects all areas of this city from the health of it's residents to the small businesses that make up NYC.

Sign the Petition Here!

News from Wal-Mart Free NYC!!

2011-01-21T14:00:00.002-05:00

FILE UNDER WALMART BELIEVE IT OR NOT:

1 DAY AFTER NEW NATIONAL STUDY LINKS WALMART TO INCREASED OBESITY, RETAILER PROMISES TO PROMOTE HEALTHY FOODS

Smoke Screen PR Push Comes From Largest US Employer of Workers on Food Stamps

New York City Green Grocers Say They’ll Be Squeezed Out by Walmart

New York- Walmart’s announcement today to promote healthy, affordable food was met with skepticism by New York City’s anti-hunger advocates, faith leaders, and green grocers.

“Walmart’s rhetoric doesn’t match reality,” said Bertha Lewis, President, The Black Leadership Institute. “They promise to create jobs- but they just squeeze out the little guy. Now they’re promising to promote healthy foods. The fact of the matter is, right here, right now, they’re contributing to the obesity epidemic.”

“If Walmart wants access to OUR communities, it should come back when its track record is as impressive as its PR campaign,” Lewis continued.

The retailer’s announcement today comes on the heels of a new national study reported yesterday by NPR linking Walmart to increased obesity rates. According to Charles Courtemanche, an assistant professor ofeconomics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro: “the most obvious story is that Walmart lowers the price of foods and a lot of the foods it has big price advantages on are the processed, inner-aisle types of food that aren’t that good for you."

New York’s green grocers said they’re working hard to provide high quality fruits and vegetables in every corner of the city, but they don’t stand a chance against Walmart. Studies have shown that Walmart pushes out small businesses and the workers they employ when it opens new stores.

“More than 1,200 green grocers offer fresh, affordable produce to New York’s low-income communities,” said Sung Soo Kim, President of the Korean-American Small Business Service Center of New York. “If Walmart moves in, they’ll all be squeezed out.”

A 2009 study by the University of Illinois at Chicago and Loyola University Chicago found that the closer a store’s proximity to Walmart’s location in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, the more likely they were to go out of business.

In Chicago, 82 local retailers were pushed out by Walmart: “The findings support the contention that urban Walmart stores absorb sales from other city stores without significantly expanding the market.” In addition, the study found that there was no increase in retail activity or employment opportunities.

“This study reveals what we have suspected to be true all along, When Wal-Mart comes to urban areas, communities suffer. Not only jobs and small businesses are threatened but peoples bodies are put at risk. NYC needs solutions that cultivate the image of god in our communities; that support local business and public health,” said Lisa Sharon Harper, Executive Director of New York Faith and Justice.

Adults in East New York and New Lots, where Walmart is proposing a new store, have an increased risk of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes- 3 in 10 adults are obese.

ABOUT WALMART FREE NYC

Walmart Free NYC is a coalition of concerned workers and residents, small business owners, community leaders, clergy and elected officials who are committed to increasing economic opportunities, preserving local businesses, and bringing more jobs to communities across New York.

You're Invited!

2011-01-18T08:45:00.003-05:00

New York Civic

in association with

the New York Divinity School

is pleased to invite you to a panel discussion

Morality and Politics:

Are They Mutually Exclusive?

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

6:30p.m. - 8p.m.

at the Calvary Baptist Church

123 West 57th Street (between 6th & 7th Aves.)

Moderated by Henry J. Stern with Special Guests:

Richard Brodsky, Former NY Assemblyman

Grace Rauh, NY1 Political Reporter

Dr. Paul de Vries, NYDS President

Arthur Engoron, Civil Court Judge

FREE ADMISSION

Join New York Civic and the New York Divinity School for a spirited panel discussion of politics, ethics, corruption and how to restore the public's faith in government.

Space is limited, so RSVP as soon as possible.

To attend or for inquiries, email morgan@nycivic.org or phone (212)564-4441

Volunteers needed

2011-01-13T14:37:00.002-05:00

On January 19th there will be a mass day of Rider Rebellion leafleting. We will be handing out "Service Advisory" leaflets all across NYC, warning riders to: "Watch Your Wallet, It's Budget Season in Albany." We need your help to get this important message out. Please e-mail volunteer@transalt.org to volunteer on January 19th and stop Albany from robbing our transit dollars.

To find out more information on Transportation Alternatives visit there website here.

Join the Fight!!

2011-01-10T14:32:00.002-05:00

This MLK Day Join the Fight for a Living Wage!

Mass Meeting for Living Wages
Thursday January 13th, 6:30 PM
Convent Ave. Baptist Church
145th St. & Convent Ave.
1, A, B, C, D to 145th St.

Over 40 years ago Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. rallied striking sanitation workers and their supporters in Memphis, TN saying, "It is a crime for people to live in this rich nation & receive starvation wages."

Today, in NYC we are asking the City Council to call a hearing on the Fair Wages for New Yorker's Act which will guarantee that all workers in taxpayer subsidized developments are paid at least $10 an hour plus benefits or $11.50 without.

We are going to kick off 2011 and honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by uniting community, faith and labor from around the city for the common cause of dignity and a living wage. We must show the city council through our massive numbers that the people of New York will not stop until a Living Wage is won.

Program will include:

First Corinthian Baptist Church Choir
Monique Walker, Grammy Award-Winning Singer
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.
Comptroller John Liu
Members of the NYC Council
Spoken word by Sistas and Brothas United
Sermon by Michael A. Walrond, Senior Pastor, First Corinthian Baptist Church
Lillian Roberts, President, DC 37

For more information on the LIving Wage NYC click here!

**Submitted by Living Wage NYC and the Micah Institute

Rally at City Hall!

2011-01-10T14:02:00.004-05:00

Join small business owners and community members prior to the New York City Council hearing on Wal-Mart and tell the City we don't need or want a Wal-Mart in NYC!

What: Keep Wal-Mart Out of New York City Rally

Where: Steps of City Hall

When: Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

@ 11am

**submitted by the UFCW local 1500

UPDATE: Due to the incoming snow storm, the rally has been rescheduled for February 3 at 11 AM

Alert: Farm Bill Working Group Meeting Rescheduled!

2011-01-07T13:49:00.004-05:00

Due to the inclement weather tonight's first meeting of the Farm Bill Working Group has been postponed. Instead, the meeting will be held Friday, January 21st at 5pm.

Looking forward to seeing everyone then!

Farm Bill Working Group Meeting

Friday, January 21st, 2011

5 to 6:30pm

NY Theological Seminary Conference Room

@ The Interchurch Center

5th Floor

475 Riverside Dr. (entrance on SW Corner of 120th & Broadway, 1 block west of Broadway)

Help Create A More Healthy & Just NYC!!

2011-01-05T12:28:00.004-05:00

Food Justice Working Groups
LAUNCH This Week!

Dear Friends and Members of NY Faith & Justice,

On Saturday, October 30, 2010, More than 150 New Yorkers from all five Boroughs convened at the Food Faith and Health Disparities Summit, cosponsored by NY Faith & Justice, Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice, and The Riverside Church in NYC. Participants engaged in a full day of dialogue to develop a prioritized list of actions to help create a more healthy and just NYC.

Six working groups were formed in response to Summit Deliberations. Below is a description of each group along with sign up information and info on their first meeting. Two are meeting over the next two weeks! 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 atstickner@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

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

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

Organizer: Michael Castillejos, Trinity Grace Church

Next Meeting: February 17th (details to come)

Food and Voter Education

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: TBA

Incentives to Purchase Healthy Foods

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

Living Wage for Food Workers

Did you know the people who grow, pick, sell, and serve our food are often the hungriest people in our country? This group will join a larger city-wide effort to pass a Living Wage Bill in New York City. We will focus on making sure food workers are a part of this bill.

Organizer: Jennifer Wilder, New York Theological Seminary - Micah Institute

First Meeting: TBA

Don't miss this!!

2010-12-07T19:03:00.001-05:00

Reminder

Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice

Make the DREAM Act a Reality!!

2010-12-05T22:50:00.006-05:00

Join us for an interfaith vigil to support the DREAM Act
 Tuesday, 12/7 @ 6pm
 Location: St. Theresa's Church
 141 Henry Street
 New York, NY 10002-7198
 **NY Faith & Justice Executive Director Lisa Sharon Harper will be speaking
 
 As you may know, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on the DREAM Act next week.
 
 THANK YOU for making calls!! Just yesterday alone, there were 16,588 calls made nationwide. Please continue to call 866-967-6018 or 866-957-2612 and ask to speak to your Congress member and one of the five Congress members below. Tell them you need them to vote "YES" on the DREAM Act.
 * Congressman Michael Arcuri
 * Congressman John Hall
 * Congressman Brian Higgins
 * Congressman Scott Murphy
 * Congressman William Owens
 
 ALSO:
 
 On Thursday, December 9th: Governor Paterson Protect Our Communities Rally!
 
 NO MORE DEPORTATIONS. POLICE SHOULD NOT BE IMMIGRATION AGENTS.
 RALLY in Manhattan. Thursday December 9, 2010, 11 am. Gov. Paterson's
 NYC Office, 633 3rd Ave (btwn 40th and 41st St.)
 
 For more information: Lili Salmeron, NMCIR, 212-781-0355 or
 co@nmcir.org
 
 In May 2010, NY State signed a Memorandum of Agreement with ICE
 approving "Secure Communities," in which local police send
 fingerprints of all arrestees to Department of Homeland Security
 databases. This costly program will push thousands more immigrants
 into the unjust detention and deportation system, while making us all
 less safe and violating our rights. ICE has repeatedly misrepresented
 and lied about the program to the state and nation. Join us in
 demanding that Governor Paterson terminate the Secure Communities
 agreement and that the federal courts require ICE to share all
 documents on "opting out" of the program.* New York State should not
 cooperate with ICE in tearing apart immigrant families.
 
 **After the rally, a federal judge presiding over NDLON v. ICE will
 consider an emergency injunction ordering ICE to make documents public
 regarding whether jurisdictions can refuse to participate in Secure
 Communities. Please come to the hearing to show your support for this
 injunction at 2:00 at US District Court at 500 Pearl Street, Courtroom
 15C, NY, NY.

Urgent: Call your Congressman about the DREAM Act Today!

2010-12-03T08:52:00.002-05:00

A vote on the DREAM Act in the House is set for TODAY. Please take 5 minutes today and first thing tomorrow morning to call at least 2 Members of Congress, especially our targets below.

Yesterday alone, 19,000 calls were made to Congress, according to Reform Immigration for America. We need to keep up this pressure until the very end.

Call 866-967-6018 or 866-957-2612 and ask to speak to your Congress member and one of the 5 Congress members below. Tell them you need them to vote “YES” on the DREAM Act tomorrow morning.

Congressman Michael Arcuri
Congressman Brian Higgins
Congressman William Owens
Congressman Scott Murphy
Congressman John Hall

In addition, please spread the word to your friends and family. You can forward them a link to NYIC's op-ed in today's NY Daily News which explains why it is so critical that the DREAM Act passes tomorrow. Here’s the link: http://tinyurl.com/2wppgxf

You can also post the article on your facebook wall by clicking here and sharing the article with your network.

**This post was submitted by the New York Immigration Coalition

Food & PlaNYC: Northern Manhattan Community Meeting

2010-11-27T09:11:00.002-05:00

On Earth Day 2007, PlaNYC was released by the NYC Mayor’s office. The Plan was designed to accommodate a projected population growth of one million New Yorkers over the next 20 years while enhancing the quality of life, protecting public health and the environment, creating economic opportunities, and combating climate change.

The NYC Mayor’s office has been holding conversations throughout NYC in order to give people the chance to share their ideas on how to create a greener, greater New York and contribute to the update process of PlaNYC.

This is where YOU come in! Be part of the Northern Manhattan Community

Conversation on Monday, December 6th from 7 to 9pm!

This discussion will be for community residents, leaders and

youth to:

* Learn more about PlaNYC

* Help define you and your community's role in making the City

more sustainable

* Work in small groups to develop local goals for PlaNYC

NY Faith & Justice, along with other organizations around the city, are working to get food added on to PlaNYC in order to make NYC’s food system more just and sustainable. Please attend this meeting and share your story of how the lack of access to fresh and affordable food has affected you, your family, and/or your community.

To learn more about PlaNYC click here!

We hope to see you there!

Northern Manhattan PlaNYC Community Conversation

Monday, December 6, 2010

7:00PM - 9:00PM

State Office Building 2nd Flr. Gallery

163 West 125th Street, (enter on 126th)

A, B, C, D, 2, 3,4,5,6 trains to 125th

Please RSVP: Call 212-788-9770 or email CountMeIn@cityhall.nyc.gov

Get Involved: Results from the Food, Faith & Health Disparities Summit

2010-11-23T13:29:00.001-05:00

As the Thanksgiving holiday nears and we prepare for a day full of food and family, I wanted to take a moment to reach out to everyone who both took part in the Food, Faith, & Health Disparities Summit as well as those who registered but were unable to attend.

The Thanksgiving holiday is a time when food disparities come in full view. Some of our neighbors are unable to prepare a healthy meal for their family either due to the cost of healthy produce in their neighborhood supermarkets, the lack of fresh produce in their neighborhood supermarkets, or the lack of a neighborhood supermarket all together.

On Friday, October 29th and Saturday, October 30th, people from all five Boroughs came together to develop actions to take that would help create a more healthy and just NYC. I wanted to recap the summit as well as let you know how you can get involved in this movement!

Over one hundred people came out to the Riverside Church of NY on Friday night to kick-off the Food, Faith & Health Disparities Summit. It was a night packed with inspirational performances by Charmaine DaCosta and Christopher Cero as well as powerful speakers. Moderated by NY Faith & Justice Executive Director Lisa Sharon Harper, the evening featured speeches by the Rev. Dr. James Forbes, senior Pastor Emeritus at The Riverside Church of NY; Cecil Corbin-Mark, Director of Policy Initiatives at WeAct for Environmental Justice; Dr. Nick Freudenberg, Director of Hunter College’s Dept. of Public Health; Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, author of Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet & and an environmental policy consultant with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability; and Carolyne Abdullah, Director of Community Assistance at Everyday Democracy.

Friday evening set the stage for a very active day on Saturday, October 30th. Over 150 people filled out eight dialogue circles that were formed to take part in a series of four facilitated conversations aimed at coming up with a series of actions that could be taken to combat the food and health disparities that affect so many of our communities. After completing this series of conversations, all eight groups came back together for the action forum.

During the action forum the group from Everyday Democracy reviewed all eight group’s list of actions and produced a list of six actions that were consistent with all of the groups. Working groups were then formed around each action. These groups are charged with meeting over the next six months to a year in order to develop and move on each action.

Below is a list of these six groups along with a brief explanation of each one. If you have not signed up for one of these working groups and would like to get involved, please contact Stephen at stickner@nyfaithjustice.org and let him know you would like to join the fight in creating a more healthy and just New York City.

Community Engagement

This group aims to find creative ways to get faith communities, schools, and community groups engaged 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.

The Farm Bill

This group will focus on the U.S. Farm Bill. They will focus on shifting subsidies from soy, corn and sugar to fruits and vegetables.

Food & Voter Education

This group will focus around educating the public on both 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.

Incentives for Purchasing Healthy Food

This group will focus on working to get NYC to incentivize the purchase of healthy food for people receiving government assistance.

The Living Wage

This group will organize around the effort to get a living Wage Bill passed in NYC. This group will especially focus on making sure food workers are a part of this bill.

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 promotes health and healthy living. This could mean the launch of another Food Summit focused on building bridges between faith, advocates, and business communities.

We had a very successful Summit, now it’s time to put all of our talk to action!

FoodWorks: A Vision to Improve NYC's Food System

2010-11-23T11:34:00.003-05:00

What is the future of New York City's food system? Yesterday, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn released her new FoodWorks program that looks to create a more sustainable food system for the future of New York City. In a jam packed auditorium at the Food and Finance High School, Speaker Quinn told the audience that New York City is in a unique position.

"The New York City food market consists of over $30 billion in spending," Quinn said. "We have a budget for institutional meals second only to the United States military. We’re in a unique and powerful position to influence our food system—locally, nationally, and even globally."

Quinn's plan is a comprehensive program that involves five areas of concern (Agricultural Production, Processing, Distribution, Consumption, and Post-Consumption).

To see Speaker Quinn's plan in more detail see her plan online here!

Come Hear Wangari Maathi

2010-11-19T16:22:00.003-05:00

Don't miss this chance to hear this incredible speaker and thinker on issues of Environmental Justice!

Enter the Conversation: a visit with Wangari Maathai

Cathedral of St. John the Divine (112th St. & Amsterdam Ave., NYC)
Wednesday, 1 December, 7:00 pm
the evening is free to the public; the doors open approximately one hour prior to the event

WANGARI MAATHAI was born in Nyeri, Kenya, in 1940. She is the founder of the Green Belt Movement (GBM), which, through networks of rural women, has planted over 30 million trees across Kenya since 1977. She was elected to Kenya’s Parliament (2002 – 2007) in the first free elections in a generation, and was appointed Deputy Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources (2003-2006). The Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 2004, she has three grown children and lives and works in Nairobi.

When Wangari Maathai began her work with GBM, she wasn’t motivated by her faith or religion. Instead, she was thinking literally and practically about solving the problems of rural populations who were suffering from a lack of basic needs such as clean water and adequate food. After many years of working with the GBM, she came to realize that the organization has certain intangible values, specifically: love for the environment, respect and gratitude for Earth’s resources, self-empowerment and the spirit of service. None of these core values belongs to one faith tradition more than any other; indeed, someone can adhere to these values without being particularly religious or holding onto one particular creed. Dr. Maathai believes these values are spiritual in that they foster the aspects of ourselves that seek more than material comfort, power, or worldly success. They are what give our lives value and meaning, and inspire us to look beyond ourselves.

Dr. Maathai has recently written about her journey in a book titledREPLENISHING THE EARTH: Spiritual Values for Healing Ourselves and the World. The book seeks to engender a new level of consciousness in people’s spiritual lives, explaining why it is necessary to reconnect with the natural world wherever they live on the planet.

For more information please visit stjohndivine.org

Have a Healthy Thanksgiving for a Low Cost!

2010-11-11T17:04:00.005-05:00

Are you interested in fresh and affordable produce for this upcoming Thanksgiving?

On November 20th, NY Faith & Justice will be working alongside Harlem4 Center for Change, GrowNYC, and several other organizations, to provide organically-grown fresh produce direct from J. Glebocki farms in upstate NY. Each bag is $4 and will each have the following:

3 White Potatoes
2 Sweet Potatoes
3 Carrots
1 Onion
1 Bunch of Collard Greens

There will be 3 main sites open on Saturday, November 20th from 9:30am to 2pm in which you can purchase any amount of these bags.

PS 76 Garden - 120th & Adam Clayton Powell Blvd
Harlem Day Charter School - 240 E. 123rd St
Harlem4 Center for Change - 2479 Fredrick Douglas Blvd

**EBT will be accepted at these locations

If you would like more information or would like to volunteer at one of these sites please check out the GrowNYC website or contact Michael Morris at 917.838.2309 or mmorris@greenmarket.growny.org.

Tonight!!

2010-11-09T15:58:00.000-05:00

November 9: Bronx Urban Agriculture

"Drop fingerprinting mandate for food stamps" campaign / Food Policy Update

Bronx Food & Sustainability Coalition Meeting (BxFSC)


Date: November 9 @ 6:30pm


Address: Mary Mitchell Center - 2007 Mapes Avenue, Bronx, NY 10460

Join us on Tuesday, November 9th as we welcome
Karen Washington, lifelong Bronx urban gardener and President of the
New York City Community Garden Coalition.  Karen will discuss how
community gardens can play a vital role in combating food insecurity,
promoting healthy diets and providing an untapped source for green
jobs. She will also discuss the new rules for community gardens issued
out by the Bloomberg Administration.
Afterwards - The BxFSC Food Policy Committee will provide policy
outcomes from our last meeting and  action plan inc.  dropping the
fingerprinting mandate for food stamps campaign.
 See you tonight

PlaNYC, Food, and You...in the Bronx!

2010-10-20T08:30:00.002-04:00

The NYC Mayor's office is traveling around New York City to discuss PlaNYC, the plan for updating the city's infrastructure to ensure long-term sustainability.

NY Faith & Justice, along with many other organizations, are trying to get food on to PlaNYC. You have a chance to tell your story to the Mayor's office. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in the Bronx next week. Please come out and share your story of how food access affects you and your community and the health problems this lack of access causes you, your family and/or your community!

Below, get all of the information for the upcoming meeting and see how past meetings have gone.

*****************

Community Conversations in North Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Lower Manhattan generated great ideas earlier this month, and additional events in Northern Manhattan and South Brooklyn will be announced as the logistics are finalized.

Click here to see how the event went in North Brooklyn!

PlaNYC Community Conversations are public town-hall style events designed to generate community input on the PlaNYC update and the priorities of New Yorkers. They are open to the public, and we encourage individuals to bring their friends, family, and colleagues.

WHAT THEY INCLUDE:

The Community Conversations include a brief presentation by PlaNYC staff and a local partner organization working to create a greener, greater community. After those brief presentations, participants break into smaller discussion groups about each area of the plan and work together to develop their own goals and recommendations for consideration as PlaNYC is updated.

Please join us if you can, and please let others know about this upcoming opportunity to help shape the next PlaNYC and the future of our city. Tomorrow I will be calling Community Boards and reaching out to organizations specifically to help get out the word and address concerns. Please spread the word and help pack this session!

If we do not hear it from you who will tell us?

Bronx
October 26, 6-8 pm
Lincoln Hospital, Bronx
First Floor Conference area, Main Entrance
234 East 149th Street, Between Morris and Park

Co-Sponsored by Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice

Transit

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Make NYC a National Leader

2010-10-16T09:28:00.003-04:00

NYC has a unique chance to be a leader in immigrants rights. Check out this rally on Tuesday to stop the city's collaboration with Immigration Enforcement at Rikers Island.

WHAT: DEMOCRACY DAY March Across the Brooklyn Bridge to Demand City Council Ends Our Collaboration with Immigration Enforcement at Rikers Island.

WHEN: TUES OCTOBER 19th 10;30 AM

WHERE: CADMAN PLAZA BROOKLYN

WHO: Over A Thousand Immigrant New Yorkers from Make The Road New York
Over a Hundred New Sanctuary Clergy and Congregants
Your City Council member *Call Them to Make Sure they Attend Democracy Day and Stand for Justice*

WHY: New York says it’s a city of immigrants but each year it hands over more than 3,000 people to Immigration for deportation proceedings

There is no law that says that NYC has to collaborate with Immigration, it’s happening simply because NYC is willing to collaborate with Immigration
If NYC passes this law, it would be the first time a local municipality has done something like this anywhere in the country. NYC would become a national leader in defending immigrants’ rights.It would be a powerful counter-weight to SB1070 in Arizona and all the other local anti-immigrant laws around the country

PlaNYC, Food, and You!

2010-10-11T19:14:00.003-04:00

PlaNYC is a response to NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's 2006 challenge to achieve 10 goals to ensure NYC has a sustainable future. The challenge was primarily focused on land, air, water, energy and transportation and plans have been developed to meet the goals in those areas. Now, the Mayor's office is now considering adding food to PlaNYC.

Food disparity, access to fresh and affordable produce, is one issue that plagues under-resourced neighborhoods around NYC. Over 750,000 people live in what are considered food desserts throughout the city. Because of this, NY Faith & Justice is one of many organizations working to get food added to the Mayor's PlaNYC.

You now have an opportunity to let your voice be heard by the Mayor's office regarding PlaNYC. There are meetings scheduled throughout the city between now and the beginning of November. Check out a meeting that best fits your schedule and share your story of how food access affects you and your community and the health problems this lack of access causes you, your family and/or your community!

If you would like more information on PlaNYC, you can check out their website by clicking here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc2030/html/challenge/challenge.shtml

******

Upcoming Events

Community Conversations on PlaNYC have been scheduled in North Brooklyn, Staten Island, the Bronx, Western Queens, and Lower Manhattan. Additional events will be held in Eastern Queens, Upper Manhattan and South Brooklyn this fall.

TO RSVP please email: CountMeIn@cityhall.nyc.gov (and note which meeting please!)

North and Central Brooklyn

October 7^th, 6-8pm

Billie Holiday Theater at Restoration Plaza

1368 Fulton Avenue, Between Brooklyn and New York Avenues

Co-sponsored by Coalition for the Improvement of Bed-Sty

Transit: A/C train to Nostrand, B25 Bus along Fulton and B44 along Nostrand

Staten Island

October 13, 7-9 pm

P.S. 58

77 Marsh Avenue, Staten Island

Located behind the Staten Island Mall on Marsh Avenue

Co-sponsored by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce

Lower Manhattan

October 19, 6-8 pm

Theater 2, Enter through Main Lobby

Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC)

199 Chambers, NY, NY 10007

Transit: http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/about_bmcc/page.jsp?pid=1056&n=Directions%20to%20BMCC

Bronx

October 26, 6-8 pm

Lincoln Hospital, Bronx

First Floor Conference area, Main Entrance

234 East 149^th Street, Between Morris and Park

Co-sponsored by Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice

Transit: http://www.nyc.gov/html/hhc/lincoln/html/patients/directions.shtml

West Queens

November 3, 6-8 pm

Frank Sinatra School for the Arts

Tony Bennett Concert Hall

35-12 35^th Avenue, Astoria 11106

Transit: http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/30/Q501/AboutUs/MapsAndDirections/default.htm

Additional events to come.

For additional information on the update process or to send us your ideas, questions, or comments, please email CountMeIn@cityhall.nyc.gov

Free Immigration Clinic

2010-10-02T09:09:00.000-04:00

The NYC Immigrant Advocacy Initiative (NYCIAI) was launched in 2007 as a collaborative effort between the City Bar Justice Center and New York Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. NYCIAI holds immigration clinics throughout the city. On Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 6-9pmat the St. Lucia Community Center, 438 E 49th St (Btw Church Ave & Synder) in Brooklyn, residents will be given free 20-30 minute appointments with experienced immigration attorneys, who will consult them about their various immigration concerns. This Immigration Advocacy Initiative is in partnership with Brooklyn Center For Quality Life, Churches United to Save & Heal (CUSH) and St. Lucia House Foundation. Space is limited so please RSVP to (718) 284-1097 or flatbushevents@gmail.com.

Movement on Reform

2010-10-02T08:36:00.003-04:00

On Wednesday, September 29th, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introduced legislation to the Senate which would provide Comprehensive Immigration Reform and fix the broken immigration system we currently have in this country.

Co-sponsored by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) this legislation is a tough, fair and practical solution to one of our most serious national problems. As a part of this comprehensive plan, bills like the Dream Act and AgJOBS are included into this one bill.

Read about the bill here.

Senator Menendez and Leahy need your support for this bill. Please spread the word and let your Senator know that you want to see this bill become law!

Help turn NYC Green

2010-09-28T23:11:00.001-04:00

Proposal to Distribute 5,000 CFLs

to Faith-Based Groups in the New York Area

Introduction

GreenFaith proposes to distribute 5,000 CFLs (Compound Fluorescent Lamps) to houses of worship and faith-based groups in the greater New York City area between September 1 and December 31, 2010. The following is a brief review of the methodology GreenFaith proposes, and the initial list of institutions with whom we would work to carry out this effort.

Background

GreenFaith is an interfaith environmental coalition which offers a range of regional and national programs to educate and equip diverse faith-based groups as environmental leaders. For further information, see www.greenfaith.org.

Among a number of programs, GreenFaith has distributed over 65,000 CFLs through urban faith and community based groups in New Jersey since September 2008, and has partnered with over 200 groups to carry out these distributions.

Methods

GreenFaith has an extensive network of contacts and relationships with religious groups in the New York area, and we would work with these groups to distribute 5,000 CFLs between September 1 – December 31, 2010. GreenFaith staff would contact these institutions, and would schedule distribution events at interested sites on a Sunday or other day on which a large percentage of the members of the institution will be gathered for worship, education or fellowship activities. GreenFaith staff would be present at each event, would ensure the proper distribution of CFLs, and could capture e-mail addresses of interested individuals to receive further e-mail follow-up from NYSERDA. GreenFaith would provide NYSERDA with a list of events and contact e-mails for each event in an Excel file. These reports could be provided monthly or quarterly, as desired by NYSERDA.

Contacts

GreenFaith has contacts with the following institutions. We would plan to reach out to them to explore the scheduling of CFL distributions.

Name of Institution	Location
Abyssinian Baptist Church	Harlem
Park Avenue United Methodist Church	Manhattan
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine	Manhattan
St. Xavier Catholic Church	Manhattan
Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel	Bronx
Darul Islah Mosque	Brooklyn
Union Theological Seminary	Manhattan
Jewish Theological Seminary	Manhattan
General Theological Seminary	Manhattan
New York Divinity School	Manhattan
New York Theological Seminary	Manhattan

GreenFaith has a number of additional contacts but believes these are the most strategically useful sites because of their prominence, their role as educators of large numbers of clergy, and their religious diversity.

Conclusion

GreenFaith is experienced in the distribution of CFLs through faith-based institutions and would welcome the opportunity to distribute 5,000 CFLs provided by NYSERDA to New York-area institutions during the fall of 2010.

For further information, please contact GreenFaith’s Executive Director, Fletcher Harper, at 732-565-7740, ext. 301 or at revfharper@greenfaith.org.

Take A Look For Yourself

2010-09-28T23:08:00.002-04:00

Invites you to

Get on the Bus for the

Newark Environmental Health and Justice Tour

With Gov. Tom Kean

For

Faith & Community Leaders

GreenFaith’s Advisory Council and Guests

Thursday, Oct. 14

Metropolitan Baptist Church

8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon

149 Springfield Ave. Newark, NJ 07102

The Tour will feature:

 A visit to the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site
and information about efforts to “green” Port Newark

 A visit to the Newark incinerator and information
on action to reduce air emissions and mercury pollution

 Opportunities to learn how the health of cities
is impacted by the environment

Please RSVP with the enclosed reply card or
by e-mailing Karyn Grunwald at info@greenfaith.org.

Picture the Homeless!

2010-09-21T23:28:00.003-04:00

As many of you know, our Intro 48 legislation, (http://tinyurl.com/48vacant)which would empower the city to implement an annual city-wide census of all vacant property (public and private) has been (despite its 29 co-sponsors) stalled since it's introduction in February. After numerous conversations with Council personnel and meeting all requests and requirements it has become abundantly clear that *if we don't move, the bill won't move.


*Free Intro 48! *



*City Hall Press Conference*



*Wednesday, the 29th of September at 11am*




At which time we'll feature a number of Intro 48 co-sponsors, including lead sponsor Melissa Mark-Viverito, academic supporters, faith leaders, members and allies who will speak on the need to pass Intro 48! Please do what you can to stimulate your membership to attend this important and critical press
conference. As always with Picture the Homeless, expect a surprise or two!



*Picture the Homeless really needs to see you on September 29th at 11am!*



Finally, be sure to check out our *Vacant NYC* , a dynamic on-line popular solution to the counting of vacant properties. Powered by USHAHIDI, a software pioneered in Kenya, *Vacant NYC* allows people to submit
information onto a map that anyone can easily access and use. So, when you see a vacant building anywhere in the five boroughs, let us know. You can submit a report in one of three ways: By visiting vacantnyc.crowdmap.com, by texting the address/location to 917.412.3064, or by sending it via Twitter
using #housingnotwarehousing or @pthny. That’s right! We’re showing the city how it’s done!!

There you have it for now. Please, let’s stand together in support of Intro 48 on the 29th !!

BYOC!

2010-09-21T11:07:00.001-04:00

NY Faith & Justice will be a featured cause!
@BYOC (aka "Bring Your Own Cause"),
a competitive fundraiser

Please come out and support us as we pitch The Food, Faith, and Health Disparities Summit to a room full of professionals who are ready to give. Folks will vote for their favorite cause by text. The winning cause will receive all the funds raised that night!

Here are all the details (just in case you can't see the cool flier above)

BYOC!
(aka Bring Your Own Cause!)
THIS Thursday, September 23
7-10pm
Delancey Lounge Rooftop
168 Delancey Street (Delancey and Clinton Street)
Please come and bring friends! The more the merrier. Tweet it using the #BYOC hash tag!

For more info, contact Stephen at stickner@nyfaithjustice.org. And check out and for the latest updates.

Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice invite you to...

2010-09-07T07:56:00.005-04:00

Food | Faith | Health

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Breakfast @ 8:30am | Program @ 9-11am

The Riverside Church (Assembly Hall)

490 Riverside Drive, New York, NY.

(Enter on Claremont, btwn 120th and 121st)

Imagine…

200-300 community members, faith

leaders, advocates, and government

representatives gathered to

collectively address key food and

health disparities threatening the

most under-resourced areas of our

city.

Imagine…

A 2-day Summit leading to the

establishment of working groups to

implement participants’ top 3-5

strategic priorities over the next year.

Imagine…

October 29- 30, 2010 "Food, Faith, and Health Disparities Summit", convened by the Faith

Leaders for Environmental Justice at The Riverside Church in New York City.

Dr. Nick Freudenberg (CUNY Hunter College, Distinguished Professor and Director of the

Department of Public Health) will share his findings in recent study of New York City food

policies and their connection with public health crises in the poorest neighborhoods of

our city. Learn more about the Food, Faith, and Health Disparities Summit, why it’s

needed, how it will work, and how your congregation can get involved!

To RSVP contact Sarah Sayeed at ssayeed@interfaithcenter.org or call 212-870-3519.

Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice is a diverse collaborative network of faith leaders

committed to making deep impact on issues of environmental justice in New York City through

coordinated collective action.

Mobilizing Hope

2010-09-07T07:47:00.003-04:00

NY Faith & Justice, The Micah Institute, & Union Theological Seminary invite you to:

Mobilizing Hope:

Adam Russel Taylor on Continuing the Work of Martin Luther King, Jr. Today

Friday, Sept. 17th

4:00pm

Union Theological Seminary

3041 Broadway @ 121st St.

NY, NY 10027

Martin Luther King Jr. read the words of the apostle Paul to the church in Rome--"Be transformed by the renewing of your mind"--as a call not to retreat from the world but to lead the world into the kingdom of God, where peace and justice reign. In King's day the presenting problem was entrenched racism; the movement of God was a revolution in civil rights and human dignity. Now Adam Taylor draws insights from that movement to the present, where the burden of the world is different but the need is the same. See what today's transformed nonconformists are doing at home and abroad to keep in step with the God of justice and love, and find ways you can join the new nonconformists in an activism of hope.

Adam Taylor is currently serving as a White House Fellow in the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs and Public Engagement. He was formerly the Senior Political Director at Sojourners where he was responsible for leading the organization's advocacy, coalition building, and constituency outreach. He has also served as the executive director of Global Justice, an organization that educates and mobilizes students around global human rights and economic justice. Before co-founding Global Justice, he worked as an Associate at the Harvard University Carr Center for Human Rights and as an Urban Fellow in the Department of Housing Preservation and Development in New York City. Taylor is an ordained Associate Minister at the First Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. and is married to Sharee Mckenzie Taylor.

You're Invited!!!

2010-09-07T07:36:00.005-04:00

The Prophet Micah reminds us we are to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.

On 20-22 September, New York will host 190 international leaders during the United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (http://www.un.org/en/mdg/summit2010/). These leaders will make decisions on global poverty which will affect a billion people. The 8 MDGs, agreed by Member States of the United Nations, (http://micahchallenge.us/about/millennium-goals.html) concern hunger, education, gender equity, child health, maternal health, diseases, environmental sustainability and global partnerships and aim to halve world poverty by 2015.

To pray for decisions that reflect God’s values, Micah Challenge is organizing a prayer service on 20 September, which will proclaim God’s priorities of mercy and justice in our needy world. Please join us at the service to add your voice to end poverty, with others, as we live the Micah challenge.

The service on 20 September is one of several opportunities to lift up your voice with the poor. Micah Challenge (www.micahchallenge.us) has proclaimed 10.10.10 as a day of prayer and reflection, which, it is hoped, will be followed by 100 million people in 40 countries. It is also a day of action to send your handprint to elected officials to seal your promise to reduce poverty. Work with your church to register for 10.10.10 on the Micah Challenge website and download the toolkit.

Event: Service of Worship, Prayer and Action

Date: Monday, September 20, 2010

Time: 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Location: The Salvation Army,

221 East 52nd Street, NY,

NY 10022, USA

Information: Jason@micahchallenge.us

Organized by: Micah Challenge, supported by Metro Hope Church, Salvation Army International Social Justice Commission, NY Faith & Justice, Sojourners, Micah Institute, NYC churches.

Stand for Freedom!

2010-09-07T07:19:00.004-04:00

On Friday, September 10th, NY Faith & Justice along with other New Yorker's from all faith's, cultures, and backgrounds will gather together to stand for equality, diversity and religious freedom and the rights for Muslim American's to build a Community Center at 51 Park Place. Please join us!

What: Candelight Vigil

Time: 7:15pm (sundown)

Where: Meet at the corner of Church Street & Park Place

What to Bring: Bring a candle and American Flag but NO signs. Please wear white in peace and solidarity.

Betraying the Age...

2010-09-02T10:26:00.002-04:00

Join the Story!
(w/ special appeal)

Dear NY Faith & Justice Friends and Family,

For the past two months, we have shared the stories of people who make up New York Faith & Justice. They are members, board members, partners, and friends. They are pastors, organizers, and ordinary people committed to an extra-ordinary vision...

Thank you to all who shared their stories. You have enriched our lives and challenged us with your faith.

Thank you to all who read the stories. More than any other NY Faith & Justice web-based campaign, this one struck a nerve. We hope you were inspired. We hope it moved you to look for ways to engage in your neighborhood, in your community, in your city. More than that, we hope you caught a glimpse of the vision.

Think of the most vulnerable among us--the ones Jesus calls "the least of these." The single mother, the child without resources, the immigrant within our borders... What have you learned about the core lies our age tells us about the least of these? Remember the lies?

The ideology of individualism. What I do only matters to me. I gotta get mine?
Money = God. It demands that we sacrifice certain people on its altar.

Here's another core lie our Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice team discerned during a recent meeting:

3. I buy therefore I am.

And here's another core lie of our age discerned by a national gathering of Christian faith-rooted organizers during a recent gathering in Los Angeles:

4. "The other" is a threat to our well-being.

What is the truth? What could it look like to betray the age's lies with truth in your life, in your neighborhood, in your city.

What truth would God tell--what structures would God change to help "make things right" for children living under the threat of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and asthma because of environmental injustice in their neighborhoods... for children like my niece, Luna?

What systems would God change to help "make things right" so that communities could thrive and children in the South Bronx, Harlem, Central Brooklyn and South Queens could play freely in the streets with no fear of criminals or cops? So, that Conversations for Change are no longer necessary!

What policies would God craft to help "make things right" for immigrants within our boarders. How would God handle the balance between law and grace?

And what about "the mosque" and religious freedom? How would God lead us to treat our neighbors?

By the way, if you missed yesterday's press conference call in support of the Park51 community center and mosque, you can click here to listen to the audio taped press call with national security experts and faith leaders.

Many of you wrote to me over the past two months saying: "Please don't stop sending the stories! They're so inspiring." We won't. We will continue to live and tell our stories of everyday people exercising seeds of faith to move mountains in the city. And we want you to join the story!

Join the Story!

There are lots of ways you can join the story!

Intern with us! We are now accepting applications for Fall 2010 - Spring 2011!
Volunteer your expertise or resources!
Check out the Faith Leaders for Environmental Justice or theConversations for Change
Host an Immigration Reform House Party
Become a Financial Partner with the movement!

Our goal was to raise $25,000 in new and renewed members and financial partnerships to help make our work possible. We're still tallying the pledges and gifts. So far, you have given about $13,700 in memberships, pledges, and donation of services.

It's not too late for you to join the story. Please consider digging deep to help us reach our goal. Your generous gift would help us secure an office space and would lay the foundation for all of our work throughout the next year.

Betray the age! Contribute just $25, $50, $100, $300, $500, $1000 or more to the work of NY Faith & Justice.

***All who give just $10/mth or more through automatic electronic payments 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: T-Shirts will be mailed out throughout the month of September.

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

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.

Living the Story,

Lisa Sharon Harper
Co-founder and Executive Director
New York Faith & Justice