NCJW Weekly Advocacy Wrap-Up:
Friday, April 29, 2022
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In this issue...
Afghan Refugees Have Arrived!
Upcoming Events
–OJCR Screening and Panel Discussion
–Planned Parenthood Bans Off Abortion Rally – May 14
–CLUE Architects of Justice – May 19
–Make a Difference Date – May 22
Getting Involved
–Lobby Day Follow-up: Join the Rapid Response Network
73Forward - Join Us in DC
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Our Afghan Refugees Have Arrived! |
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NCJW’s Welcome Circle Core Team and a group of volunteers has had the pleasure of helping our new community members, Hameeda, Reema and Mosama (pictured left to right), begin their new life in Long Beach. Luckily, the ladies are proficient in English and they have successfully completed the paperwork to receive benefits, obtain identification cards and register with Cal Jobs. All three ladies’ new semester for school begins online next week and will continue through September. It is extremely important for them to find jobs to support themselves, enroll in ESL (English as a Second Language) classes to improve their communication skills and connect with other Afghan families in Southern California to find support as they journey forward.
It has been fun to familiarize them with the many wonderful aspects of our area including hiking at the Nature Center at El Dorado Park, visiting Seal Beach, and shopping in Target and our local grocery stores. We hope to share many more adventures together in the weeks ahead.
The women are currently living in an Airbnb for a month with the support of HIAS and a generous Temple Israel member. We are seeking housing that will be comfortable and affordable for our three students. If you know of a rental property with one/two/three bedrooms, please contact us at welcomecircle@ncjwlongbeach.org.
There will be ongoing expenses in helping Hameeda, Reema and Mosama integrate into our community including housing related expenses; groceries and toiletries, application fees and more. Please help NCJW GLB & WOC help these young women integrate into our community by making a donation. Go to welcomecircle/donate and select Immigration Services Fund.
Thanks to all of you for your ongoing support for this important project!
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OCJCR Film Series: Soledad
Thursday, May 12, 7pm
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You are invited to the final program in OCJCR's film series featuring Soledad: The story of a young woman from Central America who was imprisoned when she sought asylum in the U.S. Soledad set out on a perilous journey from her homeland after enduring horrific persecution where she was kidnapped, sex-trafficked, tortured and nearly killed. Meet the amazing legal team who came to her defense during this screening and Zoom conversation.
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Planned Parenthood Bans Off Abortion Rally
Saturday, May 14, 10 am
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The U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing a direct challenge to the legal protections of abortion services offered under Roe v. Wade. This is the most severe and direct threat to legal abortion in 50 years. If the court overturns Roe v. Wade, over half of the states in the country will lose their rights to safe, legal abortion care.
While a decision will likely be made by the Supreme Court by the end of June, states with conservative legislatures are moving forward with laws to severely restrict access to abortion. These actions by other states are already causing a ripple effect of patients that are needing to travel to states like California for the essential health care they need.
In order to be truly free, we must have control over our bodies, and we must be able to choose if and when we want to have children. NOW is the time to mobilize for the right to choose with supporters like YOU from across the country to demonstrate that the vast majority of Americans support abortion access and will rise up to defend it!
Join the Planned Parenthood national day of action at the Bans Off Abortion Rally on Saturday, May 14th, at 10 am in Santa Ana, CA.
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Join CLUE for Architects of Justice!
Thursday, May 19, 5 pm
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Thursday, May 19, 2022
5 PM Ingathering | 5:30 PM Broadcast | 6:30 PM Reception
& Streaming Online Everywhere!
Please join CLUE to celebrate the courage and commitment of leaders and community members working tirelessly to build a more equitable and just society!
Architects of Justice is an inspiring event that reminds us: when we stand in solidarity, lifting up the dignity of workers and immigrants and demanding justice in the workplace, we win. And people’s lives are transformed.
The Architects of Justice Awards will bring together hundreds of diverse clergy and essential workers to hear stories of hope, faith, persistence, and victory in the struggle to create an economy that offers dignity and freedom for all.
We are excited to return in-person and honor the extraordinary work of honorees including the workers of Kingspan Light and Air and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. You will be welcomed to the live broadcast event with live music beginning at 5 p.m. and enjoy a post-broadcast reception at 6:30.
Whether you sponsor, buy tickets, or just donate online, every gift you make helps to advocate for a just economy that works for all and protects those most vulnerable: low-wage workers. All donations made are charitable contributions and benefit CLUE.
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Make a Difference Day
Sunday, May 22, 11:30 am
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Festivities and Check-in
11:30 am
Marina Vista Park
Make A Difference Day is back and is going BIGGER than ever!
There are more than 32 DIFFERENT PROJECTS that benefit Long Beach non-profits and we need all the help we can get. This year we are in need of almost 650, that's right, 650 volunteers to make the biggest difference in the community.
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Some projects have limited spaces available, so register today.
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Lobby Day Follow-up!
Join the Rapid-Response Network
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What an inspiring morning we had on Monday as we learned about NCJW CA 2022 priority bills. Following the kick-off, our Section visited with the legislative aides from the offices of State Senator Lena Gonzalez (on Monday) and State Senator Tom Umberg (on Thursday). Pictured l-r from upper left: Sharon Brannon, Kate Sachnoff, Cynthia Gordon, Linda Fox, Deb Lelchuk, Sherri Sobel, Natalie Swit, Barbara Millman, Chana Ham-Rosebrock, Sen. Umberg’s Legislative Aide Warker Hershey and David Sacks, M.D.
Our advocacy will continue throughout the Assembly and Senate hearing process and the Governor's signing of the bills. We need your voice. Please join the NCJW CA Rapid Response Team(RRT) for action alerts which will provide you with easy ways to advocate through emails and phone calls to legislators' offices. We will give you the template of what to say.
For the most up to date information on the status of a bill, you can use this resource:
If you want to learn more about the topics presented visit the these websites:
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“How do we change the culture around talking about abortion so that people who have abortions are met with nothing but love and support and kindness?”
— Renee Bracey Sherman
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Dear Advocates:
In 16 days, NCJW advocates from across the country will descend on Washington, DC for a powerful convening: Washington Institute and The Jewish Rally for Abortion Justice. In this time when voting rights are being stripped away, courts stacked with regressive judges are ruling against the common good, and access to abortion is under attack, it’s easy to be frightened or feel disempowered. This is why being a part of Washington Institute is so important. The opportunity to be together in-person or virtually offers the chance to breathe renewed vigor into the advocacy, service, and education we lead in our communities each day. We will draw strength from joining together so we can move forward together to face the myriad of challenges ahead.
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There is still time to join us at Washington Institute whether virtually or in-person! Among so many other incredible plenaries and workshops, we at 73Forward can’t wait to honor Renee Bracey Sherman with our Woman of Vision Award, a changemaker who recognized and addressed a need long before others. When she founded WeTestify in 2016, Bracey Sherman made space for people to tell the truth about their abortion experiences in powerful, critical, and culture-shifting ways.
Her work has driven people to listen, especially to those most impacted by abortion bans and interrelated systemic harms. And! WeTestify is leading an abortion storytelling workshop. We 👏 can’t 👏 wait👏 .
Onward,
Shira Zemel and Glenn Northern
73Forward Co-Directors
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