Greetings!

Being silent in the face of injustice is complicity. If you're silent because you're not sure of what to do, it's essentially that you find ways to help you feel more equipt to disrupt. We've got many events listed below that you can join to bring you from complicit to compelled to act.

-Kina Thorpe, PJC Educational Program Manager
In This Issue (in order)
  • PJC Programs
  • From the Blog: BIPOC Retreat Reflections
  • Child Labor: The Real Cost of Chocolate
  • Action Highlight: Support Vermont BIPOC Businesses AND Bystander Intervention
Click here to for the quarterly Peace & Justice Center Newsletter
October 6, 2020
Views expressed by entities outside of the Peace & Justice Center do not necessarily represent the views of the PJC.
Hey PJC members! Join us virtually on October 25 for our PJC Annual Meeting.
Since the start of COVID the PJC has started hosting our programs online. Until recently, our racial justice program offerings have been limited, but we're happy to share that we now have two more of our programs available: Building Empathy & Addressing Racial Oppression and Talking With Kids About Racism. We will begin hosting these programs starting this month, so keep an eye out!

We are also working on bringing a new program Systems of Oppression to you. This program highlights how the issues of racism, militarism, and exploitative global trade systems are all connected, and how you can't truly fix one of them without fixing them all.

For more information on our programs, visit our website and take a look through our Program Catalog to see what we're offering. If you would like to bring us in (virtually) to work with your workplace, school, community group, etc. you can find more information on how to do that here.
The BIPOC members of the PJC staff, board, and racial justice advisory committee spent August 28-31 at beautiful Knoll Farm in Fayston, Vermont. Knoll Farm was generous enough to donate this weekend to the PJC along with many other BIPOC, those fighting for racial justice, and essential workers as part of the Be A Refuge program. We spent the weekend connecting with each other and the land, but mostly relaxing and enjoying just being. Some of those who participated in the retreat share their thoughts and reflections on their weekend at the farm. 

Aris Garcia (PJC staff member): What a blessing this time was to my soul. Thanks to donors to Knoll Farm's "Be A Refuge" campaign, nine BIPOC from our staff, Racial Justice Advisory Committee, and Board of Directors were able to safely stay for four nights at the refuge. The view was serene and inspiring, and the expanse of the mountains allowed space for my mind to be free. It's not often, or ever, that BIPOC have the opportunity to truly rest their bodies and decompress their hearts in a space that is safe and expectation free.

Our time together created the space for us to connect how we couldn't before. For me, the laughter we shared was the medicine I had not realized I needed so desperately during this pandemic. My deepest gratitude to all my fellow attendees. My batteries are recharged because of my time with you. Thank you.

Yvonne Lory (PJC Racial Justice Advisory Committee member): I was so grateful for this generous and timely opportunity by Knoll Farm through the Peace & Justice Center. In a time of constant distress and exhaustion, this was exactly what I needed to find healing and grounding time away from my home and work. For the first time in years, I had time to reflect and focus on myself. I felt so fortunate to connect with BIPOC individuals living in Vermont. Along with tears, we had great laughs that truly created a safe space to share meaningful experiences and concerns, leaving me with a bond that may not have formed as quickly in another setting. The entire experience was also supported by the outstanding views from the farm along with positive interactions with staff who provided healthy, delicious meals. It was one of a kind retreat!
The cocoa industry generates over $130 billion a year. So why do companies like Hershey and Nestlé still use child labor? Why, after admitting to it and pledging to stop do they continue to utilize it?

The Chocolate & Modern Slavery presentation on October 24 will explore the cocoa industry's lack of accountability on a global scale, and how wealth distribution and industry practices perpetuate generational poverty and enable modern slavery. Our hope is to not only educate but to inspire you to take action in a variety of ways.
All of the events listed below are happening online unless otherwise stated. This is a partial listing of event. See more in our public calendar. The PJC is not directly involved in all of these events. If you have questions about a non-PJC event, please reach out to the organization listed. 

Tuesday, October 6

Wednesday, October

Friday, October 9

Saturday, October 10
  • 10am-12pm Caroline Fund Pro Se Legal Clinic Lawline of Vermont, 274 N Winooski Ave, Burlington

Sunday, October 11

Monday, October 12

Wednesday, October 14

Thursday, October 15

Saturday, October 17

Tuesday, October 20

Wednesday, October 21

Please email us events for our google calendar and enews.
Upcoming Events
All events are
happening online.
Registration is required

Unpacking Whiteness Wednesday, October 9, 5:30-6:45pm This space is held for white people to process how white supremacy culture is harmful to them. We hope by joining this space, white people will be allow the emotional needs of people of color to take priority in multi-racial spaces. Each month has a different topic. Space is limited. Click here to register. $10 suggested donation. No one turned away for lack of funds. Donations to be shared with The Black Perspective.

Seeing & Disrupting Racism October 16, 6-8pm. This 101 level workshop defines racism and gives participants insight into the various ways in which racism manifests from an individual to a systemic level. Participants will unpack how individual and systemic acts perpetuates racism and start brainstorming ways to address racism when they see it. This workshop was developed for predominantly white audiences, but all are welcome. Suggested fee $10 from Vermonters, $15 from those out of state, no one turned away for lack of funds. Space is limited; click here to register (required).

Bystander Intervention Wednesday, October 21, 5:30-7:30pm. Join trainers from the PJC, Central Vermont Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ), and the Vermont Human Rights Commission (HRC) to learn about the tools needed to effectively intervene as a bystander. Reflect on the specific tactics that work and what you need more of, and find places where you can continuously engage in this work. Click here to register. FREE

BIPOC Affinity Group Friday, October 23, 6-
7:30pm. This program is led by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), for BIPOC. This month's session will focus on internalized racism. We will discuss how we perpetuate internalized racism towards ourselves, members of our own racial groups, and other BIPOC, and explore why it's important to confront internalized racism when we see it. Click here to register (required). FREE

Chocolate & Modern Slavery Saturday, October 24, 2-3pm. The cocoa industry generates over $130 billion a year. So why do companies like Hershey and Nestle still use exploitative child labor?
During this discussion, we will explore the cocoa industry’s lack of accountability, and how wealth distribution practices perpetuate generational poverty and enable modern slavery. Register here.

PJC Annual Meeting October 24, 3:30-5pm. Join us for our Annual Meeting! We will share updates on our work including how we're responding to the COVID pandemic and the uprisings. Members will have an opportunity to vote on by-law changes and board elections. Click here to register (required).

To learn more, visit our website or contact program@pjcvt.org
Rep. McCollum Fights for Palestine – Boycott Puma – Cry the Beloved
Country Exhibition

Minnesota Congressional Rep. Betty McCollum was presented with a Champion of Palestinian Rights Award for her legislative work this September by the American Muslims for Palestine. Below are excerpts from her remarks at the virtual event that highlight her fight for justice in Palestine.

I’m here today because I believe in human rights for all people. I believe in equality and justice for all people. I believe in democracy and the right of self-determination for all people. I believe this for the American people, the people of Palestine, and for people everywhere.

So I want to be clear, as we speak to today, we need change at home and we also need to transform U.S. foreign policy to promote our values, not to promote violence. …Apartheid is a system that the Palestinian people endure as they struggle every day under Israel’s military occupation. An oppression that is sadly supported by U.S. taxpayer’s dollars, our dollars. I believe that the Palestinian people deserve dignity, respect, justice, and freedom. [They also deserve] a future in which their fate is decided by the Palestinians themselves.
Addressing
Anti-Asian Racism

Much like with the COVID itself, the racism and bigotry that it fueled will not go away on their own either. It takes all of us doing our part to address the problem and find a solution.

The Vermont Human Rights Commission (HRC) is leading an event this Friday at 2:30pm with authors Joyce Y. Lee and An Na to discuss how to empower families, schools, and communities to create an inclusive environment free of discrimination and fear during COVID. Click here to register.
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Center Hours 
(reached via email or phone)

Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm
  
Store Hours
CLOSED
 
Location
60 Lake Street,
Suite 1C
Burlington's Waterfront
(Next to Skinny Pancake)  
Action Highlight:
Support Vermont BIPOC Businesses
Support Vermont BIPOC Businesses
A couple months ago, community members crowd-sourced a list of BIPOC owned businesses across Vermont. Allied Vermont has taken this list and is displaying it on their website for easy viewing.

They are currently working with the original creator of this list and are in the process of establishing a sub-committee dedicated to fact-checking, consistency, maintenance, and growth of this list so that all Vermonters have access to this racial equity resource. If you have any additions, or alterations, or suggestions you can contact AlliedVT here.
Bystander Intervention
As alluded to in the name "Action Highlight," the most important thing you can do when you see something wrong happening is to TAKE ACTION. If you need tools needed to effectively intervene as a bystander, you can join the PJC, Central Vermont Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ), and the Vermont Human Rights Commission (HRC) for a Bystander Intervention workshop on October 21 to teach you some tools on how to determine when and how you should take action.
Peace & Justice Center | 802-863-2345 | info@pjcvt.org | http://www.pjcvt.org
60 Lake St, Ste 1C
Burlington, VT 05401