Congregate Living in the time of COVID-19; BLM Art Show; Buffalo 5 Rally

We are very excited about tomorrow evening’s event, Congregate Living in the Age of COVID-19, an info session on what is needed to keep people safe from COVID-19 while residing in congregate settings. This Zoom meeting (register here) is hosted by the WNY Peace Center, Immigrant & Refugee Justice (IRJ/”urge”) Task Force, Jericho Road Community Health Center and Vive Shelter. Featured panelists include Myron Glick, M.D., and Anna Ireland Mongo, Ph.D., with special guest Heron Simmonds, Erie County Corrections Specialist Advisory Board (covering ECHC and Alden Corrections Facility). Q&A will follow the presentations – all are welcome! This discussion is just one part of continuing work on this area, including the People’s Hearing next week (see below).

We also want to highlight some amazing in-person events this weekend, including the Buffalo 5 Rally and the WNY Liberation Collective’s Black Lives Matter Community Art Show on Friday – see our Upcoming Events below for details. There is plenty that can be done from the safety of our homes, as well – check out our Calls to Action below.

Lastly, we want to remind you that through the remainder of August, contributions of $100 or more to WNYPC get you one of Amanda Besl’s beautiful limited edition pieces (while supplies last), an individual or organizational WNYPC membership with your choice of the #RESIST or #LoveIsLove lawn sign, AND will have your donation matched by the Fr. Bissonette Fund! For more information and to contribute, please visit the fundraiser page on our website.

Please see details and much more below, including other special events this week, regularly scheduled events, campaigns, fundraisers, and more at wnypeace.org, on our Facebook page, Twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (@wnypeace)!

SUPPORT PORTLAND AND NONVIOLENT ACTION

We hope you were able to join us this afternoon at Niagara/Liberation Square for the National Day of Action to Support Portland! Get out in the streets to gather – wherever your latest town gathering place – to stand up for the people and against state violence! The state exists to serve the people, not to attack them!

On Sunday afternoon, please join us for our Nonviolent Direct Action Study, also at Niagara/Liberation Square. Come for shared learning, deepening commitment and trust, and strengthening our collective abilities to deliver nonviolent direct action and improve our nonviolence literacy. (Also see this great Ted Talk by Alia Braley.) More details – including agenda items – on our website.

Next week at MLK Park, Free the People WNY Coalition is hosting a Community Speak Out where stories will be shared on how policing in Buffalo and Erie County has affected each of us, our families, and our communities. If you can’t make it, you can submit your stories anonymously here. See more details in our events listing below.

As we continue to report, the fight for racial justice is ongoing – daily – at Niagara Square thanks to the WNY Liberation Collective. Our own Racial Justice Taskforce continues to work independently while also connecting with those at the Square and elsewhere.

We are also happy to report that the second (and final) week of our 13th annual youth summer camp, Camp Peaceprints, was another success! We are so grateful for and to all who joined us this summer and look forward to seeing you next year!

Lastly, we want to remind you that through August, contributions of $100 or more to WNYPC gets you one of Amanda Besl’s beautiful limited edition pieces (while supplies last), plus your choice of the #RESIST or #LoveIsLove lawn sign, AND will have your donation matched by the Fr. Bissonette Fund! For more information and to contribute, please visit the fundraiser page on our website. We cannot say it enough – this work can only be done with your support, for which we are so grateful!

Please see details and much more below, including other special events this week, regularly scheduled events, campaigns, fundraisers, and more at wnypeace.org, on our Facebook page, Twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (@wnypeace)!

REACT/RESIST/REFORM Matched Donations

We are so excited to present an amazing opportunity for those interested in supporting the continued efforts of the WNYPC. The extraordinarily talented artist Amanda Besl created a special original portfolio of linoleum prints, ‘React’, ‘Resist’, and ‘Reform’, and is offering 20 limited editions of each. Resource:Art is hosting the sale of these works, which can be purchased on ArtFare, Facebook, and Instagram. They explain that Besl created these works “as a reaction to the current social justice crisis facing our nation.” We feel especially honored that all proceeds from the sale of these prints will be donated to WNYPC. You can find Amanda’s full artist’s statement on the project here.

This incredible support comes at a time when we are accepting *MATCHED* donations to the Father Joe Bissonette Fund for the WNY Peace Center. Through August, contributions of $100 or more can get you one of Amanda’s beautiful limited edition pieces (while supplies last), plus your choice of the #RESIST or #LoveIsLove lawn sign, AND have your donation matched!!! For more information and to contribute, please visit the fundraiser page on our website. We truly cannot do this work with you and are so grateful for your support!

We are also happy to report that first week of our 13th annual youth summer camp, Camp Peaceprints, was a huge success! We were lucky to have special Poet Jillian Hanesworth,and Shawnte Wilson of (A)typical Social Work(er) join us, as well as activist and PC Board member Valentino Dixon, and Union Theological Seminary alumnus Addie Pazzynski! We also went on an amazing virtual field trip to MACHU PICCHU (PERU) – next week we will be ‘visiting’ KENYA! Registration is still open for week 2 with a sliding scale of up to $25/week (with scholarships readily available)! is 100% online this year due to the public health crisis, but we offer games, recreation/physical activities, art projects, music, and mindfulness. Please register ASAP so that we can deliver packets with snacks, art supplies, etc. for use during camp.

We also urge you to make calls: to DA John Flynn’s office (716-858-2400) to urge the dropping of Myles Carter’s charges of obstruction and disorderly conduct for peaceful protest (he was tackled by police while being interviewed); and to our senators and reps (202-224-3121) for resumption and increase in aid to Yemen, and adoption of amendments to the NDAA that would decrease the military budget by 10% (not enough of a decrease, but we’d take it!). More info on each at our website’s homepage.

The fight for racial justice continues at Niagara Square. Our own Racial Justice Taskforce continues to work independently and is also connecting with those at the Square and elsewhere. There is still daily activity at Niagara/Liberation Square thanks to the WNY Liberation Collective.

Please see details and much more below, including other special events this week, regularly scheduled events, campaigns, fundraisers, and more at wnypeace.org, on our Facebook page, Twitter (@wnypeace), and Instagram (@wnypeace)!