Director’s Blog :

Made in Palestine – Evening of Comedy, Dance and Music

Posted on by Nada Khader

Palestinian – what images come to your mind…

A hilarious comic who has been the headliner at shows at both New York’s Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and has performed around the country and internationally to sold-out audiences?

Do you think of  young boys and girls, dressed in elaborate costumes, swirling in precision as they perform the classic Palestinian folk dance of Dabke?

Or maybe, the beautifully intricate and delicate traditional embroidery that has long graced the clothes of Palestinians and has recently become the inspiration for couture and hip fashion alike?

No, this isn’t what immediately pops into your thoughts. We understand. Unfortunately, the long and rich cultural history of Palestine has long been overshadowed by other images portrayed in the media.

We aim to change that and we need your help!

MADE IN PALESTINE, a one- night event planned for Sunday, Nov. 19th at the Tarrytown Music Hall, will showcase the beautiful and light-hearted side of Palestine.

WESPAC Foundation, a leading force for progressive social change in Westchester since 1974, has long advocated for a just and lasting peace to the Israel/Palestine conflict. We are aware that many Americans know little of the multi-faceted cultural heritage of Palestine – the music, the food, the art and the struggle to have their narrative understood. We will highlight aspects of this rich culture and, we hope, leave you hungry to learn more.

We are so excited that comedian and author Amer Zahr will headline MADE IN PALESTINE. Palestinian American Performance Poet Remi Kenazi and a NJ Palestinian folkloric dabke dance troupe will open the show.  Authentic food will be served and fair-trade artisan gifts and products from Palestine will be available for purchase.

We are seeking financial support from the Social Justice and the Arab-Palestinian community and others to underwrite this exciting opportunity.  We hope that you will support this event by choosing one of the sponsorship options listed below. I will call you in a few days to discuss this invitation and share more details about the show and how you might like to become involved.

We hope you will join us in what will surely be a fun and  entertaining evening with important, long-lasting effects.

MADE IN PALESTINE

Sponsorship Opportunities

  

Benefactor                       $1000

6 VIP tickets and listing in program

Sponsor                            $  500

4 VIP tickets and listing in program

Friend                             $  250

2 VIP tickets and listing in program

Supporter                         $ 100

Listing in Program

PROGRAM Ads

Front inside cover            $ 750

Back outside cover          $ 750

Back inside cover             $ 300

Full-page                            $ 150

Half-page                           $ 100

Quarter-page                   $   75

Business card                   $   50

Name as you would like it to appear in listing:

Please send Black and White Graphic for Ad by November 3rd, 2017

TO:   WESPAC Foundation

     77 Tarrytown Road, 2W

     White Plains, NY 10607

For more information, call the WESPAC office at 914.449.6515 or email [email protected]

Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Frontpage, Movement Building, Racial Justice

Report Back from Annual NACOLE Conference

Posted on by Nada Khader

Nada will be presenting a report on Thursday, September 28th at 7pm at WESPAC regarding her participation at the Annual NACOLE Conference on behalf of WCPR.  

On September 10th, hundreds of members of law enforcement, community leaders, elected officials, journalists, academics, students and oversight professionals will gather in Spokane, Washington, for the annual four day NACOLE conference (National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement): http://www.nacole.org/2017_annual_conference .

Conference attendees will be able to choose from 31 different concurrent and plenary sessions on a wide range of topics including Building Community Trust, Trauma Informed Policing, Auditing for Accountability, Evaluating Police Use of Force and much more.  Attendees will be part of a learning and networking event that will provide inspiration, ideas and practical knowledge as we work for a vision of implementing best practices and enhanced police legitimacy in our local communities and around the nation.  

Posted in Blogs, Criminal Justice, Director's Blog, Economic and Human Rights, Frontpage, Movement Building, Racial Justice

WESPAC Community Yoga

Posted on by Nada Khader

Posted in Blogs, Director's Blog, Frontpage, Movement Building

Social Justice Tour of Buenos Aires

Posted on by Nada Khader

“Buenos Aires: Its People and History 
from a Social Justice Lens“ 
Spring 2018
9 Day Justice Tour with Delia Marx

Participate in this delegation to Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the Spring of 2018 that will:

  • Tour recovered factories cooperatively owned and managed by their workers. Talk with the protagonists of the struggle.
  • Learn about the Abuelas Del Plaza de Mayo, women who continue to search for their grandchildren who were kidnapped during the military dictatorship.
  • Meet with representatives of La Vaca, a cooperative of journalists.
  • Meet with an economist to discuss the impact of the several financial crises in the country and with other experts to explore how progressive alternatives could help meet the actual needs of the people.
  • Meet with leaders of progressive human-rights and environmental organizations.
  • Explore the beautiful and rich culture of Buenos Aires with the music and dance of tango.
  • Extend your stay in Argentina and visit magnificent tourist destinations, like the world famous Iguazu Water Falls on the Argentine/Brazil border. 

Price includes: Accommodations, two meals per day, translation, transportation to and from all programmed activities, and program fees.
 
Price does NOT include: International airfare, alcoholic beverages, gratuities, travel insurance and personal expenditures. 
 

Cost:  $2,500 (double occupancy) from Buenos Aires (add $360 if you would like to book single occupancy rooms).

Please email Delia Marx if you are interested in attending an October information session about this trip at [email protected]

Posted in Blogs, Director's Blog

WESPAC Open House!

Posted on by Nada Khader

All are welcome!

WESPAC Open House!

All are welcome to the WESPAC Open House! Come and see our new space in White Plains/Greenburgh, meet old and new friends and hear about plans for this coming year. Wednesday, September 6th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at 77 Tarrytown Road, Suite 2W in White Plains/Greenburgh, NY 10607. Plenty of free parking on site; drive all the way up to the top parking level behind the building. We look forward to welcoming you then! Light refreshments will be served. Call 914.449.6514 for more information.

Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Movement Building

After Charlottesville: A Conversation with Local Law Enforcement

Posted on by Nada Khader

After Charlottesville: A Conversation with Local Law Enforcement

Thursday, September 7th at 7pm at the new WESPAC Office location
77 Tarrytown Road, Suite 2W
White Plains/Greenburgh, NY 10607

Join the Westchester Coalition for Police Reform as we speak with Detective Keith Olson, President of the Yonkers Police Benevolent Association and Damon Jones, Blacks in Law Enforcement of America’s NY Representative, about policing, community relations and accountability in an era of emboldened white supremacy.  This community forum is free and open to the public and will be facilitated by WESPAC Director Nada Khader.  There is plenty of free parking on site. Take the driveway all the way to the top behind the building.  For more information, call the WESPAC office at 914.449.6514.

Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Movement Building, Racial Justice

WESPAC Membership Dues 2017

Posted on by Nada Khader

Dear Members and Friends of WESPAC,

First, we would like to share with you the good news that WESPAC has moved to a new large, spacious location with plenty of free parking on Tarrytown Road in White Plains/Greenburgh, less than half a mile from the White Plains train station. Our open house is scheduled for Wednesday, September 6th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm: 77 Tarrytown Road, Suite 2W in White Plains, NY 10607.

This last year has been extremely challenging for our movements and WESPAC continues to play a crucial role locally and beyond, which is why we ask for your continued financial support. Dues are $100 per person annually, or $50 for students and persons with a fixed income.

Over the past year, we have worked together with the newly formed Westchester Social Justice Community network to stand up for our progressive values, as we experience increased levels of repression from the federal government, as we witness growing threats to the wellbeing of the planet and our communities, as profit is placed over people and land, and corporations, not people, control our democracy. We have worked with community partners to hold “Justice Monday” rallies in downtown White Plains to advocate for public policies that support immigrant rights, public education, worker rights, affordable housing, safe & renewable energy, LGBTQ rights and healthcare for all.

WESPAC was a key part of the organizing team for the recent Westchester Social Forum that took place in May at New Rochelle High School, where hundreds gathered to exchange ideas and information, foster solidarity, and celebrate our work to create a more just and equal society. The current political climate has energized both seasoned and new activists who are working to build alliances to address social justice issues.

We continue to work in coalition to oppose racialized policing, support Black Liberation movements locally and support a transformation of our criminal justice system. WESPAC is also playing a key role in standing up for the civil and constitutional rights of all those who speak out for Palestinian freedom. We have marched and met with elected officials at the local, state and federal level as we witness increasing repression against the non-violent BDS movement for Palestinian human rights.

The only way we can continue our work is with your help. Dues are $100 per person annually, or $50 for students and persons with a fixed income. We are grateful for all levels of support and no one is turned away for lack of funds. Volunteer hours are welcome in lieu of payment and can be arranged with the office. Please make your tax-deductible contribution today via the donate button at wespac.org or by check in the enclosed envelope. We are asking for all dues to be received by September 30th.

We are proud of the role we play as a hub for grassroots organizing with a mission to strengthen movement building in the promotion of human rights and self-determination for all communities. We need your support now more than ever to make this cherished community institution stronger!

For the WESPAC Community,

Teresa Delgado, WESPAC Board Chair and Nada Khader, WESPAC Director

PS. Every tax-deductible donation you make goes directly to our critical work for social justice and peace. Please like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter!

www.wespac.org Facebook: Explore WESPAC Twitter: @WESPAC_NY

Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Frontpage, Movement Building

Call for all citizens to join in the efforts for inclusion and respect for the human rights in New Rochelle

Posted on by Nada Khader

David is a core trainer with the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond and is the founder/leader of New Rochelle Against Racism

Call for all citizens to join in the efforts for inclusion and respect for the human rights in New Rochelle

The recent violent events in Virginia have surprised many who do not believe that a racist ideology of white supremacy is alive and well in this country. However, it is not a surprise to people of African descent and other people of color. As members of New RoAR (New Rochelle Against Racism), we reject the notion that this ideology is limited to Neo Nazi, KKK or any other overt member of a so-called white nationalist group. We also reject the notion that in the absence of these horrible events, white supremacy doesn’t exist. The consistent historical and current impact of structural and institutional racism is embedded in all of the major institutions of this country.

As a result, for our purposes this statement also applies to New Rochelle, New York.

We believe that only a consistent racial analysis of the current policies and decision making by our city, school and social service providers will provide the level of accountability needed to achieve racial equity. We reject the belief that our demographic diversity alone is an effective lens for evaluating the health of our city.

We call on all citizens to join in the efforts for inclusion and respect for the human rights of those who are most impacted by these racist policies and practices.

Moving forward, we will highlight when and where these concerns need to be addressed. We intend to hold accountable community groups representing those oppressed by these systems and institutions. We will not hide in the shadows or blame people for the conditions in which they live.

We believe that our collective efforts will alter the way power is currently exercised by all of the systems in our city.

David Peters,

New Rochelle Against Racism (New RoAR)

Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Racial Justice

Rally to Protect Immigrants!

Posted on by Nada Khader

Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Immigration, Movement Building, Racial Justice

Footage from the May 2017 Westchester Social Forum

Posted on by Nada Khader

Posted in Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Director's Blog, Frontpage, Movement Building