Greetings!

As the racial wealth divide continues to grow, we must support BIPOC who are building means for economic freedom. Black folks in Vermont and around New England are fighting an uphill battle against racism to build a life for themselves and community for other Black folks in the area. Can you throw your support behind them?

-Kina Thorpe, PJC Educational Program Manager
In This Issue (in order)
  • How to be an Antiracist Book Discussion
  • From the Blog: How will the election impact our work?
  • Virtual Auction
  • Action Highlights:
  1. Local Black-owned Business Pushed Out
  2. Support Black Farming
  3. Drop Del Pozo
Click here to for the quarterly Peace & Justice Center Newsletter
November 17, 2020
Views expressed by entities outside of the Peace & Justice Center do not necessarily represent the views of the PJC.
The PJC is hiring an Executive Director.
Click here to be redirected to our website for more information and to apply before November 20
In his book, Ibram X. Kendi weaves together ethics, history, law, and science–including the story of his own awakening to antiracism. He challenges readers to rethink their deeply held beliefs (even if implicit) and their personal relationships and reexamine the policies they support.

Join the Peace & Justice Center, the Charlotte Public Library, and the Carpenter-Carse Library on December 1, 3, 10, and 15 from 6:30-8:00pm for this four-part discussion as we take a critical look at Kendi’s ideas, unpack, dissect, and reflect them as we think about how we can take ourselves from being “not racist” to “antiracist”.

This program is being offered for free thanks to the generosity of the Charlotte Public Library and the Carpenter-Carse Public Library. This program is only for those in towns served by these two libraries.

Space is limited and registration is required. This program is happening online.
PJC Board Members Kahlia Livinston and TJ Sangaré and PJC Executive Director Rachel Siegel share their thoughts on how the election may impact the PJC's work
-Thomas Dukshire, PJC Volunteer

On November 7th, many Vermonters flocked Church Street to celebrate the announcement of our 46th President, Joe Biden. According to the VT Secretary of State, 65% of Vermonters voted for Biden, while 30% voted for Trump. As the Peace & Justice Center reflects on its 41 years of advocacy, we are still deeply concerned and believe we need to embrace inspiration, just as we did in 2016. The National election results show a divided country (51% Biden, 47% Trump - Associated Press, as of 11/14/20), and we are suffering through a once-in-a-century pandemic. Regardless of your beliefs, we will stay focused on acting against climate change, racism, income inequality and in favor of justice for all people.
The Ed Everts Peace & Social Justice Awards Celebration is a yearly tradition at the Peace & Justice Center. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we had to cancel the celebration last March just days before it was scheduled. The event typically includes a silent auction. We have decided to move forward with it online.

When it is safe to gather, we will find a way to celebrate the recipients of our award: Coalition for Ethnic and Social Equity in Schools and Wendy Coe (PJC co-founder and recently retired Operations Manager of 41 years).

In the meantime, we have dozens of amazing items to auction! We thank all the local artists, businesses, and organizations who donated their products and services. We would love to see them go to folks who want to support our work in this way.

This auction is important to our yearly fundraising goals. Your bids will be used to ensure the Peace & Justice Center continues all our racial justice, fair trade, and peace work programs in this time of civil and political unrest.

Thank you to our community for your support in this difficult time. We are truly honored to work for and with folxs like you!
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, November 17

Wednesday, November 18

Thursday, November 19

Friday, November 20

Saturday, November 21

Sunday, November 22

Monday, November 23

Tuesday, November 24

Wednesday, December 2

Please email us events for our google calendar and enews
Upcoming Events

All events are
happening online.
Registration is required

Not sure if you should pay less, more, or nothing? View our Sliding Scale document to find an amount that feels appropriate to you. 

Silent Auction Monday, November 16 - Monday 23. The Ed Everts Peace & Social Justice Awards Celebration is a yearly tradition at the PJC. Due to COVID-19, we had to cancel it in March just days before it was scheduled. The event typically includes a silent auction, so we have decided to hold the auction online!
We have dozens of amazing items to auction from local businesses, artists, and organizers. Your bids will be used to ensure we can continue our work. Click here for more information.

How to Be an Antiracist Book Discussion December 1, 3, 10, and 15, 6:30-8:00pm. This discussion will take a critical look at the ideas Ibram X. Kendi presents in his book, unpack, dissect, and reflect on them as we assess how we can take ourselves from being “not racist” to “antiracist”. This program is in collaboration with Charlotte Public Library and the Carpenter-Carse Public Library. This program is only for those in towns served by the libraries mentioned above. Space is limited and registration is required. Click here to register. FREE

Unpacking Whiteness Wednesday, December 2, 5:30-6:45pm. This space is held for white people to specifically process how white supremacy culture is harmful to them. We hope by joining this space, white people will be able to allow the emotional needs of people of color to take priority in multi-racial spaces. Each month has a different topic, so repeated participation is encouraged. Register here. This workshop will not be recorded. $10 suggested fee for Vermonters, $15 for those out of state. No one turned away for lack of funds. Funds will be shared with the BIPOC Urban Farm and Wholeness Center in Winooski.

To learn more, visit our website or contact program@pjcvt.org
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Center Hours 
(reached via email or phone)
Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm
  
Store Hours
CLOSED -- now online! click here to visit
 
Location
60 Lake Street,
Suite 1C
Burlington's Waterfront
(Next to Skinny Pancake)  
2021 Memberships Available Now!

PJC 2021 memberships are now available! Whether you're a returning member, or are considering joining for the first time, we would love to have you join the PJC family. Memberships start at $15 a year. Membership perks include 10% your purchases in our store (now online!), member-only store specials, early notification and discounts on select programs & events, and more! Visit our website for more information.
Our store is now online
Check out our selection now!
Action Highlights:
Burlington African Market Forced Out
Support Black Farming
Drop Del Pozo
Mawuhi African Market in Burlington
Forced out of Location
Patience Bannerman and her family have run the Mawuhi African Market in Burlington's Old North End for over 13 years, providing valuable goods and services to the African Diaspora of Vermont and New England.

When new owners purchased the building in the fall, Ms. Bannerman was assured her 13 year lease would be extended. However, in early October she was asked to leave by the end of November (now extended until the end of December).

The African Diaspora from across Vermont and the region come to the Mawuhi African Market to find food they can not find anywhere else: spices, shrimp, and vegetables that taste like home. The Mawuhi African Market is the only location in the neighborhood that has MoneyGram, which people from across the world use to send money home to their families. 

All funds raised will go toward finding a new location, moving and set-up costs, as well as compensation for lost businesses during months of closing as well as to pay for what will certainly be an increase in rent.
Help New Roots Cooperative Farm Buy Land
Jabril Abdi, Seynab Ali, Mohamed Abukar, and Batula Ismail are farmers who came to the United States as refugees. They are raising money to buy the land in Maine they have been farming on for years where they formed New Roots Collective. They arrived in Maine and faced many challenges including not speaking English, and the inability to find jobs. They created opportunities for themselves to continue their farming culture while also providing for their families, and now they are asking for your help in taking their dreams to the next level.

Purchasing this land will enable them to continue building a sustainable farm, provide food to the community, and improve the food economy in the local area.

"Purchasing our land will enable us to continue building a sustainable farm, provide food to the community, and improve the food economy in the local area. As an agricultural cooperative, we are stronger, being able to work together with the support of many organizations including Cooperative Development Institute and Cultivating Community."
Drop Del Pozo
Disgraced former Burlington Police Department (BPD) Chief Brandon Del Pozo serves on the Board of Trustees for the Howard Center. Many find it concerning that the Howard Center which states to "...help people and communities thrive by providing supports and services to address mental health, substance use, and developmental needs" would continue to work closely with Del Pozo.

Brandon Del Pozo’s harmful role within law enforcement is well documented. Under his incumbency as Chief of the BPD, his department perpetrated multiple racially motivated acts of violence against citizens, came under consequent lawsuits, as well as caused the tragic deaths of two unarmed men; one individual had a mental health condition and another was emotionally distressed and disabled.

Del Pozo has already shown his inability to adequately protect the people of Burlington. How can Howard Center expect people in need to feel safe going to them knowing they support him?
Peace & Justice Center | 802-863-2345 | info@pjcvt.org | http://www.pjcvt.org
60 Lake St, Ste 1C
Burlington, VT 05401