Catching Up with Farzana!

by Nada Khader | Dec 9, 2021 | Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Economic and Human Rights, Frontpage, Immigration, Movement Building, Racial Justice

Good morning, all!

Farzana would love to re-connect with WESPAC as she is now settling into her new home. I have set up a one hour Zoom with her for next Wednesday, December at noon New York time. You are all welcome to join me; I know Farzana would be very pleased to connect again. Registration for the Zoom is required here

———- Forwarded message ———
From: Nada Khader <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, Nov 7, 2021 at 10:19 AM
Subject: Fantastic news about Farzana

Good morning, all!

Many of you will remember Farzana with whom we were able to set up a Zoom meeting with the WESPAC Community mid August. She is a young lady from the Ghazni Province in Afghanistan.

We were very fortunate to have Nazish with us on that Zoom. Nazish lives in Westchester, having survived the Pakistani Taliban. She stayed in very close contact with Farzana, guiding her through a complex escape process (Farzana walked alone 50 miles to get to the Pakistani border). Nazish connected her to resources, people and a French NGO. I am delighted to say that Farzana has just arrived safely in France. Thank you so much, Nazish! We are so grateful for your guidance and support that will now allow Farzana to start a new life.

Nada

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On behalf of the planning team for the 2025 Lower Hudson Valley Social Forum, I am delighted to invite you to our Sunday, April 27th forum where we will join dozens of community organizations to celebrate our work for collective liberation. We will be listing the organizations involved on our page. In the meantime, please see the flyer attached and our registration link here docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerKHGar0DHB3q7sLVsWKUy_IjnZk4TvuePJN6hThlojgR8IA/viewform?usp=s... ... See MoreSee Less

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Job Opening!Westchester OrganizerMake the Road New York (MRNY) builds the power of immigrant and working-class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services. Make the Road New York operates community centers in Bushwick, Brooklyn; Jackson Heights, Queens; Port Richmond, Staten Island; Brentwood, Long Island and White Plains, Westchester County. With a membership of 27,000, MRNY tackles the critical issues facing our communities, including workplace justice, tenants’ rights, immigrant rights and civil rights, TGNCIQ justice, public education, health care access, and immigration reform. (TGNCIQ = transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex and queer). MRNY is a newly unionized workplace, currently negotiating its first Collective Bargaining Agreement.MRNY is a multi-service organization. Our member-led organizing committees -- which work on the issues named above -- implement strategies to combat shared problems, and develop leadership and the capacity for civic participation. We also provide an array of high-quality bilingual services: We offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Spanish-language literacy, computer literacy, citizenship preparation, and in-school and after-school youth programs. We have a robust legal program that offers direct representation across a spectrum of practice areas, including employment law, immigration law, housing and benefits, and TGNCIQ civil rights; we also take on impact litigation as a strategy for achieving broad change. Our health program offers facilitated enrollment into health insurance programs and SNAP benefits, a community health worker home visit program, nutrition education and emergency food pantries, health care navigation, and more."Current Opening:The work of the Westchester County Organizer is to build a strong base of community members and leaders in Westchester County. The organizer will also engage members in leadership development and organizing around various issues at the local, state and federal level. In collaboration with the Housing and Environmental Justice Lead Organizer the Westchester County Organizer will support the growth of the base and nurture the leadership of our members to advance local, statewide and federal campaigns. The organizer will conduct outreach in the community to build an organizing committee, identify key issues that community members care about and recruit them to become members of MRNY.Key Responsibilities but not limited to:Build our base for power by engaging low-income New Yorkers who commit to work together on the issues affecting our communities. Move our base to action to advance campaigns that positively impact people’s lives Develop the skills & consciousness of our base to strengthen the roots of our democracy Support and move campaigns that positively affect our members’ lives and build strong alliances to leverage MRNY’s power Create an effective and collaborative work environment that supports innovation and excellence while creating community support Ensure the success of bi-weekly committee meetings (including outreach, creation of and effective facilitation of meeting agendas, logistics coordination, etc.) Ensure the success of monthly leadership team meetings (including but not limited to: outreach, creation and facilitation of agenda, logistics coordination, etc.) Meet organizing outreach, mobilization, and engagement targets set by the organizing team leadership and that correspond with skills and years of experience. Engage community members in organizing efforts around immigration, education, community safety, LGBTQ rights, housing and environmental justice, workplace justice and more Participate in staff meetings, monthly organizing team meetings and community learning hour Support the electoral work of the organization and the affiliated C4 as assignedRequirements:Eligible to work in the US Fluency in Spanish required; bilingual English / Spanish preferred Be fully vaccinated with FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine prior to first day of employment Have at least 2 years of experience of community organizing, labor organizing, and/or have familiarity with current MRNY community issues Proficiency in basic computer programs (Google Suite, Zoom, Salesforce) Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multicultural spaces Demonstrated commitment to developing and elevating member leadership Be able to work some evenings and weekends Must have a driver’s license, comfort driving a vehicle that carries up to 7 passengers, and access to a reliable car; willingness to on occasion drive a 15-passenger van; and As needed, be able to travel via public transportation and drive to events, oftentimes driving members, throughout NYC, NYS and to and from Washington DC.Job Competencies:Strong analytical skills and writing skills; Strong content creation skills; Strong teamwork and management skills; Strong time management skills; Strong communication and interpersonal skills; Strong problem solving skills; Ability to adapt to the context and work under pressure High level of accountability and initiative; needs to be a self-starter and eager to do team work to support the organization as a wholeSalary and Benefits:MRNY offers an excellent benefit package including health insurance, 401K, and generous paid vacation, sick, personal days. The salary range for this position is from $50,591 to $77,312.How to Apply:Please attach your resume and cover letter and submit all documents to the Make the Road New York career center.For external applicants, please click here.Make the Road believes that social change is best achieved through grassroots community-based organizing that flows directly from and engages the community demanding the change. As a membership-based organization, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, criminal history, or Veteran status. We strongly encourage those from historically excluded groups to apply. ... See MoreSee Less

Make the Road New York | Se Hace Camino Nueva York

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Make the Road New York builds the power of immigrant and working class communities to achieve dignity and justice.

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"The Bad Target": The Rise of Consumer Redlining - Institute for Local Self-Reliance

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UC Davis professor Andrea Cann Chandrasekher shares her research into consumer redlining, the practice of retail chains providing lesser service in poor or BIPOC neighborhoods.

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