Dear WESPAC members, WESPAC’s Friends of Turtle Island Committee is happy to announce the launch of Animal Footnotes—a new web blog about shifting away from a colonial mindset and experiencing what it means to live on Turtle Island together. At its core, Animal...
WESPAC supports the work of the Progressive News Network which is a group of people in Westchester County committed to Community-produced independent media for peace and social justice in Westchester County, NY: progressivenewsnetwork.blogspot.com/
Job Openings – Community Organizer and Trainer Consultant
Proyecto Faro is looking for an organizing trainer ASAP as we are on a tight timeline and need to provide skills to parents organizing for educational justice in Rockland County. We are also looking to hire an organizer full-time so if any candidates for the full time...
CFOW Newsletter!
From Frank Brodhead: Hello All - In less than a month, Donald Trump and Elon Musk have grabbed power and created chaos. We call this a “coup,” meaning an unconstitutional overturn of our government. They must be stopped. But how? Tens of thousands of people have lost...
NOON Newsletter 2025
Welcome to the NOON e-newsletter for February 2025. Enjoy, and please share widely! This poem was written for the candlelight vigil preceding the Onondaga Nation’s Land Rights hearing in Federal District Court, October 18, 2007. For Onondaga By Robin Wall Kimmerer...
Plastic Waste Trade Watch
Plastic Waste Trade Watch January 2025 Plastic Waste Trade Watch is a monthly review of information on the international trade in plastic waste. It is produced by Basel Action Network's (BAN) Plastic Waste Transparency Project, which undertakes campaigns,...
2025 Athena Film Festival!
Special Discount Tickets Available for the 2025 Athena Film Festival Our friends at Athena Film Festival just dropped their 2025 lineup, and we are PUMPED! Taking place during Women’s History Month from March 6 - 9, 2025 at NYC’s Barnard College, Athena challenges...
Stop Toxic Food Production
TAKE ACTION: TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS TO PROTECT AMERICANS FROM TOXIC FOOD PRODUCTION PRACTICES Our government has propped up an industrial food and farm system that has harmed human health and the environment for far too long. Today, the largest agrochemical...
Government and Policy Updates
Government and Policy Updates To support you in your advocacy, here are some things happening in government and public policy across New York State. Gov. Kathy Hochul will propose initiatives in her State of the State address to reduce delays and improve travel on...
NYS Department of Labor Seeks an Immigrant Workers Specialist in Middletown! Apply by Jan. 9th!
NYS Department of Labor Seeks an Immigrant Workers Specialist in Middletown! Apply by Jan. 9th! APPLICATIONS DUE: 1/9/25 VACANCY ID # 176224 SALARY RANGE: From $65,001 to $82,656 annually LOCATION: Middletown, NY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Conduct community...
New Yorkers United Against Mass Deportations: Rally and Press Conference
Please join us on the first day of the Legislative Session (likely January 8th) for our New Yorkers United Against Mass Deportation Rally + Press Conference at the Capitol Building in Albany. All individuals who can attend should RSVP Here. Questions about the...
WESPAC on Facebook
Friday, October 9th at 6pm at the Barn at Vassar College! RSVPs required at [email protected]. Contributions for the farm collective can be made ahead of time. We can also arrange car pools.The WEBATUCK VALLEY FARM COLLABORATIVE (WVFC), established in 2023, is a regional food sovereignty and farm cooperative development initiative rooted in a larger movement for cultural reclamation, economic & racial justice, and community healing. Rock Steady Farm, Sweet Freedom Farm, and WILDSEED Community Farm & Healing Village leveraged a ten-year partnership to transform local farming, economic opportunity, and food access. They aim to remove barriers to entry for Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) and LGBTQ+ beginning farmers in ways that support the prosperity of our communities and the future of our planet.The current food system is built on exploited labor and land, leaving many hungry and malnourished despite excess and waste. WVFC works with communities within, against, and beyond this broken system to build resilient local economies. Their organizations collaboratively support New York State farmers through land access, training and apprenticeships, shared infrastructure, equipment and product aggregation, advocacy, community events, and employment. They advance land-based liberation by training young land stewards, supporting beginning farmers with land access, growing nutrient-dense and culturally relevant food and medicine, and distributing their harvests to families impacted by food scarcity or state violence.This year, that vision takes physical form. They are renovating two barns—one at Rock Steady which will winterize the barns, expand the cold storage three fold for aggregation, build much larger wash-pack space with new equipment, a retail store and new CSA pick-up, Rock Steady staff space and workplace kitchen, short term housing for all the trainees and facilitators and so much more. The barn at Wildseed will be home to a gorgeous event space, and an added value commercial kitchen. Sweet Freedom Farm will be stewarding grain processes equipment and grain processing space that has been a significant need of small to mid-sized grain producers in the area.This shared processing infrastructure will expand the capacity of over a dozen BIPOC- and LGBTQ+-led farms to wash, store, and process food year-round. It's an investment in a more resilient future where farmers across the region can enter a food system designed for their success.The Elias Foundation is kindly subsidizing the cost of the dinner so that more of the proceeds can support the farmers' fund! @followers
Friday, October 9th at 6pm at the Barn at Vassar College! RSVPs required at [email protected]. Contributions for the farm collective can be made ahead of time. We can also arrange car pools.The WEBATUCK VALLEY FARM COLLABORATIVE (WVFC), established in 2023, is a regional food sovereignty and farm cooperative development initiative rooted in a larger movement for cultural reclamation, economic & racial justice, and community healing. Rock Steady Farm, Sweet Freedom Farm, and WILDSEED Community Farm & Healing Village leveraged a ten-year partnership to transform local farming, economic opportunity, and food access. They aim to remove barriers to entry for Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) and LGBTQ+ beginning farmers in ways that support the prosperity of our communities and the future of our planet.The current food system is built on exploited labor and land, leaving many hungry and malnourished despite excess and waste. WVFC works with communities within, against, and beyond this broken system to build resilient local economies. Their organizations collaboratively support New York State farmers through land access, training and apprenticeships, shared infrastructure, equipment and product aggregation, advocacy, community events, and employment. They advance land-based liberation by training young land stewards, supporting beginning farmers with land access, growing nutrient-dense and culturally relevant food and medicine, and distributing their harvests to families impacted by food scarcity or state violence.
All are welcome and please share widely. We have several new people to WESPAC this summer. This gathering on September 16th would be a lovely introduction to the broader social justice community: @followers