‘Wasn’t an Isolated Incident’: Black Prison Workers Associations Speak Out on Killing Associations representing New York prison and parole officers are publicly denouncing the killing of Robert Brooks, the 43-year-old incarcerated man who died last month after prison...
WESPAC Foundation is concerned about the criminal justice system. We work in solidarity with other groups and organizations in Westchester County to repeal the Rockefeller Drug Laws, to eliminate racial profiling, and to address the structural and institutional biases inherent in our criminal justice system. We stand to permanently remove the death penalty as a legal option for the state, and we seek to significantly reduce the prison populations by working towards a more benevolent economic system that guarantees meaningful jobs and training at a living wage to all people.
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...
Role of Community Based Alternatives in Strengthening Public Safety
From Legal Action Center I am writing to announce the release of our new white paper, "Unlocking Potential: The Role of Community-Based Alternatives in Strengthening Public Safety." The paper is the result of an extensive survey of ATI and reentry providers in...
International Association of Democratic Lawyers
Dear all IADL members and friends, We are announcing the launch of a new issue of the IADL Review on Climate and Social Justice, as well as multiple new statements highlighting key issues and developments in this moment, especially the ongoing Israeli genocide in...
Better Oversight Needed at Youth Detention Facilities in NYS
Better Oversight Needed at Juvenile Justice Facilities The New York State Office of Children and Family Services is not adequately overseeing juvenile justice facilities outside New York City to ensure they meet State regulations for the health and safety of the youth...
WESPAC Annual Awards! Sunday, June 2nd at 2pm in Rye, NY!
The Children of Gaza
12-year-old Dunia lost her leg in an Israeli airstrike that killed her whole family. We filmed this video with Dunia during the seven-day truce, and yesterday an Israeli tank-fired shell killed her while she was recovering in Naser Hospital in Khan Younis....
ABA provides 10 principles for ending mass incarceration and lengthy prison sentences
The ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago has presented its 10 principles for ending pass incarceration and lengthy prison sentences. Read more here "The working group includes the following in its 10 principles: • Limit the use of pretrial detention. • Increase the use of...
WESPAC Annual Awards 2022!
Rikers Island from those who have lived there
Excellent panel discussion this evening on Rikers Island with Jose Saldana, Vincent Schiraldi, Alelur Duran and Steven Dominguez. It’s been a disaster since it opened in 1932. Plans for closure began with Ed Koch. Will Eric Adams move forward or wiggle out? Where will...
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