Community Change Inc.

Dear Friends,

It has been a very busy summer at CCI, as we have sought to build capacity internally;  support the programming work of SURJ-Boston, Boston Knapsack Anti-Racism Group and WPCR; and all the while remain proactively engaged in confronting the public assault being waged by the Trump administration against marginalized communities and people of color in particular.  

Yet as I announced previously, long-time friend and anti-racist activist Fran Smith has recently come on board as an interim part-time organizer, while Bret McEvoy has joined as a CCI fellow, together increasing our capacity to focus on our own original programming and research.  Bret in particular will be helping us to re-launch a regular newsletter, which will aim to keep you updated on news, actions and events happening in the Boston area and beyond.  The first edition of the newsletter is below.   

In solidarity,
Shay

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing 
Monday, September 18, 6:00-8:00 PM at the Vietnamese American Community Center, 42 Charles St, Dorchester (behind Fields Corner station)
This event is part of Right to the City / Homes for All National Renters' Week of Action:  Facebook event here
Residents in Boston are coming together to share ideas around how federal funding can be used to improve our neighborhoods. What does our Neighborhood Need? Come to a community discussion and dinner. Questions? Call Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW) at 617.942.8178.

DeeperThanWater Teach In
Monday, September 18, 7:00-9:00 PM at The Democracy Center,  45 Mount Auburn St, Cambridge
The water at MCI Norfolk and other Massachusetts prisons is toxic. The Boston Globe broke the story on June 17th. Join us for: Photo petitions, Write a prisoner, Donate money to buy water at canteen. Facebook event here.

Rent Control - Are we really ready???
Tuesday, September 19, 7:00-8:30 PM at City Life/Vida Urbana, 284 Amory St, Jamaica Plain
This event is part of Right to the City / Homes for All National Renters' Week of Action: Facebook event here
Residents in Boston are coming together to share and hear ideas around rent control. Spanish interpretation provided. Questions? Call Right to the City Boston (RTCB) at 617.858.6116.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
Wednesday, September 20, 1:00-3:00 PM at the Chinese Progressive Association (CPA), 28 Ash Street in Chinatown
This event is part of Right to the City / Homes for All National Renters' Week of Action: Facebook event here
Community discussion and lunch. Questions? Call CPA at 617.357.4499 

Dorchester Standout for Black Lives
Thursday, September 21, 5:30-6:30 PM at the Ashmont T station plaza
Join Dorchester People for Peace to hold a "We Believe that Black Lives Matter" banner and signs, and hand out fliers. Third Thursday of every month. Please join us; all are welcome. Contact: kelready@msn.com.

Migrant Justice Organizing and Curriculum
Thursday, September 21, 8:30 PM, Webinar
Are you organizing non-immigrants for migrant justice? Do you want to be? Please join the  Catalyst Project  for a webinar  on its new migrant justice curriculum. Catalyst has co-created this curricula to support non-immigrants, and especially white people, to be more effective and accountable in their migrant justice work. RSVP for the Webinar here.

I Am Not Your Negro, a film by Raoul Peck
Monday, September 25, 7:00-10:00 PM at Carling-Sorensen Theater at Babson College, 231 Forest St, Wellesley Hills
Free film showing hosted by BabsonARTS:  Facebook event here

Non-Violent Civil Disobedience (NVCD) and the Age of Antifa
Thursday, September 28, 7:00-9:00 PM at First Parish in Brookline, 382 Walnut Street
Please join BLM Boston in a critical conversation regarding recent visibility of NVCD along with Antifa protests. From Charlottesville to Boston, peaceful protest strategies included alignment with the historical anti-fascism group known as Antifa. This is a free event, but please register here.

Organizing for Justice: From the Civil Rights Movement to Black Lives Matter, and Beyond
Friday, September 29, 6:00-8:00 PM at the Bruce Bollings Building, 2300 Washington Street, Roxbury, 2nd Floor Committee Room
Speakers include Hollis Watkins, SNCC Veteran and Freedom Singer, Founder of Southern Echo; Olmis Sanchez, REEP Adult Coordinator at Alternatives for Community and Environment; Carl Williams, Attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union Massachusetts; and moderated by Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, minister at Bethel AME Church. RSVP at Eventbrite here.

DACA
Strengthen the Student Immigrant Movement (SIM) and their capacity to support immigrant students by becoming a monthly sustainer.

Read the update from the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition on how to support those with DACA, including by  donating towards legal advice and resources for Dreamers.

Support Hurricane Harvey recovery
BLM Houston will be returning to the Lakewood area this weekend to continue assisting Hurricane Harvey community cleanup and recovery efforts, in partnership with the Black Women's Defense League (BWDL) and West Street Recovery (WSR). Donate to BWDL here. Donate to WSR here.  

Donate to this list of vetted organizations from ColorLines that serve people of color, queer people, and those most vulnerable to the storm and structural oppression.

Host a Reading Circle on School Desegregation
Consider hosting a reading circle focused on the history and consequences of school desegregation, as part of a community engagement initiative culminating in a screening of "The Harvest" on November 1st.  Learn more here  and/or contact Fran Smith at  openhonest@masshumanities.org  about hosting a reading circle.
 
Community Change Inc.
14 Beacon Street, Suite 419
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
info@communitychangeinc.org
(617) 523-0555
September 18, 2017
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