716-332-3904 | Friday, May 14th, 2021 | wnypeace.org
Dear Friends,
After the polling we did to determine what was optimal, we decided that this communication should only come out about every two weeks, with exceptions as needed. In light of that, we’re changing the name to Talking Peace News!
Just a reminder that our incoming Executive Director, Deidra EmEl, is looking for an Office Manager and/or volunteer for administrative-type duties. See the job description at the end of this email/post.
We are also looking for volunteers for Camp Peaceprints, to be held M-F July 12-23. As many of you know, Camp Peaceprints is a collaboration between the SSJ Sr Karen Klimczak Center for Nonviolence, the Interfaith Peace Network, and the WNYPC. Volunteers are needed for driving children to camp, accompanying us on field trips, and/or to be a flock leader leading/fielding one of the small groups making up the camp. Our theme this year, Camp Peaceprints Explores the World, will give a the tapestry over which the social justice, conflict resolution, arts, and leadership skills will be woven. Please email office@wnypeace.org or victoryross9@gmail.com.
Worldwide violence, oppression, and injustice is rampant. People are suffering so much in Palestine (rally tomorrow Sat 1pm in Niagara Sq), Afghanistan (GDL conversation with Afghan Peace Volunteers on 5/21), Myanmar (vigils Sat/Sun 10-11:30am Bidwell & Elmwood), etc.; while here in WNY we have primaries coming up (Candidates forums on 5/19 and 5/24); 31% of Buffalonians living in poverty (twice as much as the NYS average); and still no Citizen Review Board for Policing (please sign the petition for a referendum). See below for details to take a stand on any and all of these – at events or through campaigns.
Also many thanks to those who donated so generously, including the Environmental Justice Taskforce, and especially Beanie Jamieson, Seneca, who organized a super fundraiser, all making our 8-person, 3 vehicle trip to #DefendTheSacred and #StopLine3 possible. And huge Nya weh to Onondawaga Protectors, Nekanehsakt, and WNYPC-ers who made the trip to help make the 23 mile Mayday for Mother Earth paddle a success, with some 45-50 canoes and kayaks! We will persist, here and elsewhere, to protect our water, and PeopleAndThePlanet! #MniWaconi!!
With this communication coming out less often, you’ll want to check our website and social media for news more often. For details – including special and regularly scheduled events this week – plus campaigns, fundraisers, and more please go to wnypeace.org, our Facebook page, Twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (@wnypeace)!
Peace, thanks, solidarity, and yes – love!!
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
716-332-3904 | Friday, April 30th, 2021 | wnypeace.org
Dear Friends,
We’re happy to announce, for those of you who have not yet heard, that our next Executive Director will be Deidra EmEl!! Deidra is a longtime peace and justice community activist and well known to many in Buffalo and WNY. Deidra has been with the WNY Peace Center for years, as a volunteer and activist, and a vital part of our team since Feb 2018, as Office Mgr/Coordinator. Deidra has the vision and lifelong dedication to #PeopleAndThePlanet, to #MoralIntegrity and #UniversalSolidarity; and to #UnarmedTruth and #UnconditionalLove, to lead us as we continue to #UniteTheStruggles.
Deidra will be Co-Director with Vicki Ross through the month of May, and will be the sole Executive Director as of June. We couldn’t be more grateful to and for her, and more excited about our next phase as an organization! Andare!!
We also have a pressing need for more administrative help, certainly now and possibly into the future. If you have skills and interest to work for ~10hours/week, on QuickBooks and various Office Management task, please send us your resume to be considered for an interview. A job description with tasks etc. is at the bottom of this email.
Tomorrow, come celebrate with us as we join in the Open Buffalo organized Know Your Rights cookout at MLK Park, Noon-3pm; all about the legalization of marijuana through the Community Restoration Project. Free food, music & info. More below.
We’re also joining with CodePink to Divest From the War Machine: Follow the $$$; on Tuesday at 8pm. This zoom will give us the info and the means to work on moving the money from the bloated, wasteful Pentagon budget that is responsible for so many crimes of commission and omission. Join us for this important effort, and again – onward!!
We’re especially excited too, about two events on Wednesday, Cinco de Mayo, 5/5: first, a fundraiser from noon-6pm and beyond, at 1299 West Ave, Buffalo, for the Water Protectors’ & WNYPC Environmental Justice Taskforce’s Expedition to MN. Two vehicles will caravan to MN to join Winona LaDuke and HonorTheEarth’s MayDay, MayDay on Mother [Earth]’s Sunday, to #StopLIne3. More info (incl re the Spaghetti Dinner and donating items for the Chinese Auction/Raffle) below.
Then, again on Weds, 5/5, at 7pm, don’t miss a special opportunity to zoom with Gail Walker, Director of IFCO/Pastors for Peace at a special info-session and fundraiser for our beloved community in Cuba. Cuba is a world leader in medicine and solidarity. Come for inspiration, education, and action!! – see you virtually there!!
Please see details and much more – including special and regularly scheduled events this week – plus campaigns, fundraisers, and more at wnypeace.org, on our Facebook page, Twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (@wnypeace)!
Peace, thanks, solidarity, and yes – love!!
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
716-332-3904 | Tuesday, April 20th, 2021 | wnypeace.org
Dear Friends,
Hallelujah/Alhumdulillah!!! Victories!!: Chauvin guilty (as we already knew) on all counts, Cariol’s pension rewarded/repaired, speed cameras entrapping and extracting from the community on the way toward being taken down, HALTsolitary and marijuana legalization passed, water protector Steve Norrell was released, and KPB7 Patrick O’Neill was also released!! We celebrate! – and prepare for the mountain of work still to be done.
Please join us tomorrow, Wednesday, 5pm-6pm at Niagara Square, Buffalo, to March for George Floyd. As we wrote this, the verdict in the Chauvin Trial was revealed – Guilty on all counts. We stand with (and as) Allies for Black Justice, as we work to stop police brutality and racism. We have a long way to go, yet remain hopeful and grateful for a start on desperately needed progress.
We also invite you tomorrow, to join us on Talking Peace streaming on our Facebook page Live tomorrow night.
The first will be a Special Earth Day show about the thorny issues in making a #JustTransition with controversies in two local proposed projects on historical Indigenous being explored – a hydrogen energy project on the STAMP site which endangers the water supply and Indigenous burial site, and a proposed solar project in Avon that would be on the ancient Seneca village of Canawaugus.
The second on Just Policing and Accountability – again related to the Chauvin trial, and our own shero Cariol Horne as a former police officer fired for her courageous protection of Neal Mack as another officer had him in a chokehold – who worked with her team (including us and others) to get Cariol’s Law passed in Buffalo, and has now had her pension reinstated; De’Jon Hall of the Buffalo Police Advisory Board; and Kartika Carr, Coordinator of Free The People WNY’s city policing justice group, on the VOICE-Buffalo-led Police Accountability Ballot Initiative. (Residents of Buffalo can sign the petition at Khari’s Café, Jersey & West Sts; Burning Books 420 CT St; and/or Talking Leaves 951 Elmwood [at Bidwell]. More detail is below under Campaigns.)
Don’t forget, with so many things going on, to join us for the WNYPC Annual Membership Meeting on Sunday, 4/25, 2pm, on zoom. Register here. All are welcome, but only members can vote.
Another great opportunity is Challenging Conversations on Saturday, 4/24, 9:30am-Noon on zoom, a gathering for white people of faith to explore ways to deepen commitment to racial and economic justice. See more below or on our calendar.
This week of all weeks, please remember and strive to work together to #DefendTheSacred!!!! In Truth and Love!!
Please see details and much more – including special and regularly scheduled events this week – plus campaigns, fundraisers, and more at wnypeace.org, on our Facebook page, Twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (@wnypeace)!
Peace, thanks, solidarity, and yes – love!!
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
