SAVE THE DATES: (details coming)
Saturday March 3: ANNUAL WESTERN MASS. JOBS WITH JUSTICE ORGANIZING CONFERENCE at Holyoke Community College.
Thursday March 15: MASSACHUSETTS JOBS WITH JUSTICE 20TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER.
Tuesday May 1: ANNUAL WESTERN MASS. JOBS WITH JUSTICE MAY DAY PERFORMANCE at Holyoke Heritage Park Visitors Center.
& June 22-24: U.S. FEDERATION OF WORKER CO-OPS WORKER CO-OP CONFERENCE, in Boston. If you'd like to be kept on the list for announcements, send your name, organization, email, and phone to Melissa Hoover, melissa@usworker.coop. Or go to http://www.usworker.coop/front.
Check out Occupy events at http://www.meetup.com/occupytogether/.
Note: Events that repeat during the calendar period are listed once, on their first occurrence, with their repetition schedule.
Monday January 16
ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF DR MARTIN LUTHER KING’S BIRTHDAY
Sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) of Western Massachusetts. Theme is Non-violent Youth Organizing, tying together events from MLK’s life to present day actions like the Occupy movement.
9am, Sojourner Truth statue, Pine & Park Streets in Florence: Steve Strimer will lead a walk of the homes of Sojourner Truth, Basil Dorsey, and David Ruggles.
11am-4pm, Edwards Church, 297 Main Street, Northampton: workshops for all ages, hosted by local organizations like OutNow, Jobs with Justice, and Community Action. Speakers discuss their experience as youth activists from the civil rights era to the foreclosure movement here in Springfield - including Professor John Bracey of UMass Amherst, Kalima Dunwell from Springfield No One Leaves, and others. Plus local bands, local food, and great discussion! Babysitting and children’s activities available.
Info: (413) 584-8975, office@afscwm.org, http://afscwm.org.
Monday January 16
FORECLOSURE AUCTION PROTEST
1:30pm, 187 Connecticut Avenue, Springfield. Bank of America and Fannie Mae (FNMA) are foreclosing on the Medina family home on MLK Day, continuing the economic inequality and racism that Dr. King struggled against. In 2008 Bank of America approved Ms. Medina for a mortgage that they knew was doomed to fail from the beginning – yet another example of an unaffordable, predatory loan made to homeowners that led to the financial meltdown and the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. When her other bills forced her to fall behind, Bank of America and Fannie Mae didn’t work on a modification with her. Supporters will gather with signs, drums, and bells, and hear testimony from the Medina family and other speakers leading up the foreclosure auction scheduled for 2pm. Info: 413-342-1804, nooneleavessspringfield@gmail.com, www.springfieldnooneleaves.org.
Monday January 16
TRANSITION WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS REGIONAL GATHERING
4:30–8pm (socializing and potluck 4:30-5:30), Wendell Town Hall, Wendell (off the common). On the agenda: Transition Northfield will share their story; Open Space – small groups of our own making on the question: How shall we support each other in transitioning our communities?
The Initiating Group of Transition Wendell would like to offer delicious homemade gluten-free soup. Please RSVP so they will know how much to prepare. They also request that we each bring our own utensils, plate, cup, and bowl, $5 to cover hall rental and expenses, and some food or drink to share.
Info, RSVP: Shay Cooper, shayyoga@gmail.com.
Monday January 16
PRISONS & THEIR DAILY MANIFESTATIONS IN OUR LIVES
6-8:30pm, Betty Shabazz Cultural Center, Mount Holyoke College, Route 116, South Hadley (map). Lecture/workshop led by PhD student Emahunn Raheem Ali Campbell - he formed Student Against Mass Incarceration (SAMI) - Western Mass. How schools, social relations, language, and literature have been influenced by prisons. The event will start with spoken word pieces by Maurice "Soulfighter" Taylor, an avid activist for prisoners' rights. Info: jayne22m@mtholyoke.edu.
Monday January 16 (First & Third Mondays)
ART FOR A CHANGE
6-9pm (potluck at 6pm), Art Garden, 14 Depot St, Suite 2, Shelburne Falls (same building as Trolley Museum; parking via Elm Street; wheel chair users use Depot St). Suggested donation $15; no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Are you an artist who wants to make art about social and environmental issues? Are you an activist who wants to express a message more creatively? Whether you are making a poster, banner, installation, or performance piece (and whether you are working alone or with others), this on-going series of workshops will provide the space, materials, and feedback (from each other) to help support your work. Info: (413) 625-2782, CSArtgarden@gmail.com.
Monday January 16
SUT JHALLY: “WHY AMERICA CAN’T THINK STRAIGHT ABOUT RACE (EVEN WITH A BLACK PRESIDENT)”
7pm, Frances Crowe Community Meeting Room, 60 Masonic Street, Northampton. Martin Luther King Day lecture by UMass Communication Professor and MEF Executive Director Sut Jhally will examine the widely held notion that the election of Barack Obama heralded the arrival of a “post-racial” society. Building on his work as co-author of the influential book Enlightened Racism: The Cosby Show, Audiences, and the Myth of the American Dream, Jhally will explore how American attitudes about race and racism often get shaped by deep-seated ideological myths and misunderstandings about class, poverty, and social mobility. His talk will focus specifically on whether the election of the nation’s first Black president, while unquestionably a sign of progress, might actually be working paradoxically to increase racist attitudes, in the process undermining Dr. King’s vision of a truly democratic and just America. Info: (413) 584-8500, info@mediaed.org.
Tuesday January 17 (Third Tuesday)
FRANKLIN/HAMPSHIRE HEALTH CARE COALITION
7pm, Lathrop Village Community Room, 1 Shallowbrook Ln, off Bridge Rd, on the right, Northampton. Organizing for the Massachusetts Medicare for All bill - a universal health care system, providing universal access, a comprehensive range of physical and mental health benefits, choice of provider, quality, unified financing and cost controls, accountable governance, and stability. Also organizing for the national alternative to state action: Medicare for All – HR 676.
Info: info@fhhcc.org. Please also visit www.masscare.org and www.healthcare-now.org.
To subscribe to the WMass Health Care Action mailing list, send a blank email to healthcareaction-subscribe@lists.prometheuslabor.com or go to http://lists.wmjwj.org/mailman/listinfo/healthcareaction.
Wednesday January 18
PIONEER VALLEY SUSTAINABILITY NETWORK
9-11AM (with informal networking, coffee, snacks at 8:30), Common House of Pioneer Valley Co-Housing, 120 Pulpit Hill Road, North Amherst. Info: cratte@pvpc.org, www.pvsustain.org. See also January 25.
Wednesday January 18 (Third Wednesday)
BROWN BAG LUNCH VIGIL AT REP. NEAL’S OFFICE
Noon-1pm, 300 State St, Springfield (map). Monthly vigil in front of Rep. Richard Neal's office to stop the escalation and funding for war and support for Improved Medicare for All. Info: Tim Carpenter, tim@pdamerica.org.
We’re asking our Representatives to support the following legislation:
Heal America, Tax Wall Street, Create Jobs: Pass the Financial Transaction Tax.
Healthcare not Warfare: Ask your Representative to join the Out of Afghanistan Caucus, and support:
HR 780 - Rep. Barbara Lee’s bill To provide that funds for operations of the Armed Forces in Afghanistan shall be obligated and expended only for purposes of providing for the safe and orderly withdrawal from Afghanistan of all members of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense contractor personnel who are in Afghanistan.
HR 676 - Rep. John Conyers’s bill Establishes a non-profit universal single payer healthcare program, an improved “Medicare for all” program.
HR 1200 - Rep. Jim McDermott’s bill fits within the Affordable Care Act as it establishes state-run universal health care coverage and incorporates Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and TRICARE (the Department of Defense health care program), but maintains health care programs under the Veterans Affairs Administration. Under H.R. 1200, private health insurance sold by for-profit companies will exist only to provide supplemental coverage.
Jobs Jobs Jobs HR 870 - Rep. Conyers’s “21st Century Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment and Training Act” To establish the National Full Employment Trust Fund to create employment opportunities for the unemployed. And, H.R. 2914 - Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s “Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act” To create an emergency jobs program that will fund 2,242,000 positions during fiscal years 2012 and 2013.
“Hands Off Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid” H Con Res 72 - Rep. Conyers’s Letter to Super Committee—now expired, but the message remains important.
“People’s Rights Amendment” House Joint Resolution 88 - Rep. Jim McGovern’s constitutional amendment bill to overturn the US Supreme Court’s January 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. FEC and to make clear that corporations are not people with rights under the US Constitution. The introduction of the bill – the “People’s Rights Amendment”—marks a major breakthrough in the growing movement across the country to end corporate personhood and restore democracy to the people.
Wednesday January 18
GARDENING THE COMMUNITY FOOD JUSTICE SERIES
5-7pm, Scan 360, 11 Wilbraham Rd, Springfield (2nd floor above Mason Sq Neighborhood Health Center, next to Fire Station). Dinner will be served; no charge. Community dialogs with locally based leaders on land and food.
Mistinguette Smith, founder, discusses the Black/Land Project. Info: (413) 538-5822 , annegtcspringfield@gmail.com, http://gardeningthecommunity.blogspot.com/.
Wednesday January 18 (Third Wednesday)
PIONEER VALLEY CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL
5:30pm, AFL-CIO Hall, 640 Page Blvd, near corner of Osborne Terrace, across the street from the old Westinghouse, Springfield. Community and labor activist guests are welcome, but must RSVP to Norma at 732-7970, mail@pvaflcio.org, or Rick at 732-6209 x14, rbrown@pvaflcio.org.
Thursday January 19
MASSACHUSETTS CITIZENS AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
3-4pm, Unitarian Society, 245 Porter Lake Drive, Springfield. MCADP’s mission is to keep the death penalty out of Massachusetts and work to abolish it nationally and internationally. Info: 567-3451, cajowl66@aol.com.
Thursday January 19
CLEANING UP SPRINGFIELD: COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ABOUT BROWNFIELDS & HAZARDOUS WASTE SITES
6-8pm, UMass Design Center, 3 Elm St/Court Square, Springfield. What do we do with our abandoned factories? What are the risks for our health and our communities? How can I get involved? The Healthy Environment/Healthy Springfield CARE Project will address these questions and many more. Speakers include Alan Peterson, US EPA Brownfield Technical Assistance Resources, and Samalid Hogan, Springfield City Planning and Economic Development. Moderated by Lynn Rose, Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings, and Recreational Management. Food and refreshment will be provided. Info: 413-794-1803, thomas.taaffe@baystatehealth.org.
Friday January 20 (Every Friday)
VERIZON STREET HEAT COMMITTEE
9:30-10:30am, IBEW Local 2324, 281 Cottage St, Springfield. Planning actions against Verizon, the poster child for corporate greed. Info: 827-0301, wmjwj@wmjwj.org.
“OCCUPY THE COURTS” RALLY
11am-1pm, U.S. District Court, 300 State Street, Springfield. On the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's infamous "Citizens United" decision, protest that decision that opened up our elections to a flood of corporate money by using the fallacy legal fiction of corporate personhood.. At the Supreme Court in Washington DC and across the country, Americans will be on the march against corporate power on January 20. We will send the message, loud and clear: Corporations are NOT People! Money is NOT Speech! The time has come to make these truths evident to the courts. Info: http://movetoamend.org/occupythecourts, Daniel McLeod, danielwmcleod@gmail.com, Norma Sims Roche, nroche@crocker.com.
Friday January 20 (Every Friday)
COMMUNITY-LABOR REBUILDING COALITION
11am-12:30pm, Pioneer Valley Central Labor Council, 640 Page Boulevard, Springfield. Springfield area community and labor leaders from fourteen organizations have formed the Community-Labor Rebuilding Coalition to focus on good jobs for local workers as part of the planning and projects in response to the June tornados, and beyond. The Coalition advocates for local people to get jobs with good pay and benefits, doing work that the community needs, with solid long-term community benefits. Info: Michael Florio, (413) 731-0760, westernmasscosh@verizon.net, or Khali Maddox-Abdegeo, (413) 433-9056, nembt1@gmil.com.
Saturday January 21 (Third Saturday in January, April, and September)
WESTERN MASS SINGLE PAYER NETWORK
9:30-Noon, Lathrop Village Community Room, 1 Shallowbrook Ln, off Bridge Rd, Northampton. WMSPN is a nonpartisan, nonprofit coalition of organizations and individuals committed to achieving a universal single payer health care system.
At 10:30 we will be joined by leaders of Mass-Care, the statewide single payer coalition meeting, for the top agenda item: Winning Massachusetts Medicare for All. Please visit http://masscare.org/ma-single-payer-bill/.
· Please send agenda items to wmspn@wmjwj.org.
· Please email wmspn@wmjwj.org if you are definitely coming or your organization will definitely be represented.
Info: (413) 827-0301 x1, wmspn@wmjwj.org.
Saturday January 21 (Every Saturday)
SUPPORT WORKERS AGAINST VERIGREEDY
Verizon workers are still trying to get a labor contract that keeps 45,000 good jobs in the US. We leaflet customers every Saturday at the doors and stand out with the VeriGreedy banner at the street at the four Verizon Wireless stores in Western Mass:
555 Hubbard Ave, Pittsfield. ~ 11am to 1pm ~ please let Brian Morrison know you are coming: brian.morrison@state.ma.us, 413-281-3223.
360 Russell St, Hadley ~ Noon to 2pm ~ please let Jon Weissman know you are coming: jon@wmjwj.org, 413-827-0301.
1420 Boston Rd, Springfield ~ Noon to 2pm ~ Please let Marty Feid know you are coming: martinfeid@gmail.com, (413) 530-8888.
1123 Riverdale St, West Springfield ~ Noon to 2pm ~ please let Patrick Burke know you are coming: patrick@wmjwj.org, 413-454-5692.
Join us! Please wear your organization’s apparel and/or a red shirt/jacket, as the strikers did. If it looks like rain or snow, we will make the decision to call it off around 9am and let you know by email. If we know you are coming, we can let you know by phone, text, or the email sent to your cell phone as a text message (if you’ve sent your phone number and name of carrier to wmjwj@wmjwj.org).
Saturday January 21
CHARLIE KING & KAREN BRANDOW ANNUAL DUOPALOOZA CONCERT
7:30pm, St. James Church, 73 Federal St, Greenfield. Their guests will be REBEL VOICES - Susan Lewis & Janet Stecher - who immerse the audience in a program of songs humor and theater woven together with wit and intricate harmony. Proceeds from the concert go to the Safe & Green Campaign, a grass roots group working to shut down Vermont Yankee Nuclear Reactor and replace it with conservation, efficiency, and renewable solutions. Info: Ellen Kaufmann, 625-9708.
January 22-28
GUANTANAMO PRISON IN STORIES, PHOTOS, POETRY, & ART
NACUL Center, 592 Main St, Amherst. Reception: Sunday January 22, 4-6pm, with Attorney Buz Eisenberg, who has represented several Guantanamo prisoners. Light refreshments. Guantanamo marked 10 years on January 11 and shows no sign of closing. Info: Pioneer Valley No More Guantanamos, 413-665-1150, www.nogitmos.org.
"BREAD AND ROSES" CONCERT TO CELEBRATE LIFE, LOVE, & WORKERS' RIGHTS
2pm, All Souls Church, 399 Main St, Greenfield. Tickets at the door: $10 per person / $20 per family / $1.00 for anyone who has been laid off from their job. Featuring the Amandla Chorus, the Green River String Band, and Song Squad, and commemorating the 100th anniversary of the famous strikes in Lawrence, Mass., which brought labor rights issues to national attention and significantly furthered the cause of justice for workers of all ages. Performing labor and other celebratory songs from several cultures, with brief excerpts, read by children and teens, about our state's rich labor history. Info: Eveline MacDougall, 413-773-8655, eveline@amandlachorus.org, www.amandlachorus.org.
Tuesday January 24 (Fourth Tuesday)
HAMPSHIRE/FRANKLIN CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL
5:30-7pm, Northampton Fire Station Community Room, 26 Carlon Drive at King St/Route 5, Northampton (587-1148). Community and labor activist guests are welcome, but RSVP to Pres. Fiore Grassetti, 877-725-0357, org7@comcast.net.
Tuesday January 24 (Second & Fourth Tuesday)
APRIL 4th COALITION
6pm, Murdock Hall Conference Room 302 (large yellow brick building), Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Church Street, North Adams (http://www.mcla.edu/Admissions/visiting_mcla/directions/). The April 4th Coalition is an ad hoc group with the mission to support collective bargaining rights and workers’ rights and oppose tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations that outsource American jobs. Info: Richard Dassatti, richarddassatti@yahoo.com.
Tuesday January 24 (snow date January 31)
CARES STAKEHOLDERS
6pm, Scibelli Hall, 7th Floor, Springfield Technical Community College, 1 Armory Square, Springfield (http://www.stcc.edu/vtour/CampusMap.pdf). Community Action for a Renewed Environment in Springfield (CARES) is a project fostered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Hosted by Live Well Springfield’s “Eat Smart. Stay Fit.” initiative, this meeting will present issues for community deliberation and prioritization. Decisions made and votes taken at this meeting will drive an Action Plan. Info, RSVP: Laura Hurley, Laura.Hurley@baystatehealth.org.
Wednesday January 25 (Fourth Wednesday)
GREENWORK ROUNDTABLE
12:30-2pm, Brown Bag Lunch at Noon, Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO Hall, 640 Page Boulevard, Springfield (732-7970). GreenWork (the Western Mass Green Economy Working Group) consists of advocates for a Green Economy which serves local communities; guarantees workers' rights to organize; and promotes community-owned sustainable projects. GreenWork is working to create a strong movement of labor and community organizers, realtors and entrepreneurs, educators and workforce development folks, environmental experts and ordinary people with asthma, etc., to create a “high road” green economy that supports workers’ rights and community benefits.
On the agenda: Catherine Ratté, Senior Planner, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, on the Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network and other environmental projects the PVPC is working on. See also January 18.
Info: Mary Vogel, 413.565.2381, maryvogel@builtbest.org. Subscribe to the GreenWork listserve at http://lists.gaiahost.coop/mailman/listinfo/greenwork or send an email to greenwork-subscribe@lists.gaiahost.coop.
Wednesday January 25 (Fourth Wednesday)
MASS SENIOR ACTION COUNCIL – WESTERN MASS
1:30-3pm, Hobby Club, 309 Chestnut St (enter off Franklin off Liberty; behind YMCA), Springfield (739-4874). Light refreshments, 50/50 raffle. MSAC was founded in 1981 to promote the rights, well being, and dignity of all people, particularly vulnerable senior citizens. Open to people of all ages. MSAC has a proud history of effective community organizing and legislative advocacy on health care, housing, transportation, and other issues.
Info: 543-2334, lstone@masssenioraction.org, www.masssenioraction.org.
Wednesday January 25
SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL APPEALS P R E BUILDING PERMIT
6pm, City Hall room 220, 36 Court St, Springfield. Zoning Board of Appeals hearing where City Council and several Springfield residents will appeal the building permit issued to Palmer Renewable Energy to build a biomass incineration electrical power plant in Springfield.
In May 2011, the Springfield City Council voted to revoke the 2008 special permit for PRE's proposed biomass incinerator in East Springfield. In November 2011, the Springfield Building Commissioner issued a building permit for the same incinerator project, disregarding the need for the special permit. In December 2011, the Springfield City Council voted to appeal the issuance of this building permit. More at Power Plant Permit Appealed.
The major issue is pollution. According to the EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment on cancer risk and respiratory risk, the Springfield area is the most polluted region in the state and one of the most polluted in the nation; its asthma rate is twice the state average. Proponents of the incinerator do not dispute that the plant will emit toxic pollutants into our air. Opponents advocate cleaner ways to conserve and produce electricity. And the alternatives produce more jobs per dollar invested. Info: www.springfieldincinerator.info.
REBUILD SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC MEETING
6:30-8:30pm, St. Anthony's Social Center, 375 Island Pond Road, Springfield. Sponsored by Rebuild Springfield (http://rebuildspringfield.com/ - join the discussion on the "mind-mixer" there).
The Community-Labor Rebuilding Coalition – leaders from fourteen organizations focusing on good jobs for local workers as part of the planning and projects in response to the June tornados, and beyond – urges you to attend. The Coalition advocates for local people to get jobs with good pay and benefits, doing work that the community needs, especially including affordable housing, with solid long-term community benefits. Info: Michael Florio, (413) 731-0760, westernmasscosh@verizon.net.
Friday January 27
PEOPLE'S MUSIC CONCERT
7:30pm, Performing Arts Center, 70-72 North Parish Road, Lawrence. Performances by Back to the Roots (Spiritchild & Evan Greer), Bev Grant, Anne Feeney, Jon Fromer, Tom Juravich, Nathan Biaz, Rebel Voices, PMN Chorus, Lawrence HS Girls Ensemble, Bread & Roses. Info: www.peoplesmusic.org.
Saturday January 28 (Last Saturday in January)
PIONEER VALLEY PROJECT MICAH AWARDS DINNER
6-9pm, Sinai Temple, 1100 Dickinson St , Springfield (736-3619). $30; $250 for table of 10. MICAH stands for Ministry in Community Action Honoree but also refers to the prophet Micah, who said, “He has shown you what is good; and what does the Lord want of you but to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). Each year the Pioneer Valley Project Member Organizations honor one of their members for outstanding service. Info: 827-0781, info@pioneervalleyproject.org, http://www.pioneervp.org.
Sunday January 29
BIRTHDAY OF THOMAS PAINE, 1737
Please visit http://thomaspainefriends.org/.
MOVING THE MONEY: FROM WAR TO JOBS, EDUCATION, HEALTH, HOUSING, & THE ENVIRONMENT
2pm, Northampton Friends Meeting, 43 Center St, Northampton. A Conversation with Judith LeBlanc, Field Director of Peace Action, the nation’s largest grassroots peace organization. Last August the AFL-CIO Executive Council stated: “There is no way to fund what we must do as a nation without bringing our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan. The militarization of our foreign policy has proven to be a costly mistake.” How can the peace movement ally with labor, health, environment, education, and social justice activists to build a powerful movement? Info: 617-354-2169, info@masspeaceaction.org, www.masspeaceaction.org.
Monday January 30
GARDENING THE COMMUNITY FOOD JUSTICE SERIES
5-7pm, Scan 360, 11 Wilbraham Rd, Springfield (2nd floor above Mason Sq Neighborhood Health Center, next to Fire Station). Dinner will be served; no charge. Community dialogs with locally based leaders on land and food.
Jonathan Bates, founder, Food Forest Farm in Holyoke, discusses permaculture and how it can be easily done. Info: (413) 538-5822 , annegtcspringfield@gmail.com, http://gardeningthecommunity.blogspot.com/.
Monday January 30
WESTERN MASS. JOBS WITH JUSTICE STEERING COMMITTEE
6:30-8:30pm, MNA Conference Room, second floor, room 234-236, Potpourri Plaza, 243 King St, Northampton, opposite Stop & Shop. Light meal provided. RSVP! We need a head count! Info: 413-827-0301, jon@wmjwj.org. The Steering Committee is at least one rep from each Organizational Member. Important agenda items include:
- Annual Conference March 3
- Organizational Member Reports on current organizing ~ how the Coalition Partners can help each other
- Movement Building: Occupy, Take Back the City, FOCNW, …?
- Progress Reports by WMJwJ Projects:
- WMass SLAP
- Mass. Unemployed & Anxiously Employed Workers Union (MUAEWU)
- Verizon
- So-Called Non-Profits
- Health Care Justice
- Economic Literacy Classes
- New Project: “Know Your Section 7 Rights”
Tuesday January 31
CAMPAIGN FOR OUR COMMUNITIES
Noon-1:30pm, Pioneer Valley Central Labor Council, 640 Page Blvd, Springfield. Get directions here. Western Mass. organizing committee of the Massachusetts Campaign for Our Communities. We support "An Act to Invest in Our Communities", a bill that would help support the kinds of programs that the people of Massachusetts value. Statewide campaign organizer Andi Mullin will attend. Info: Linda Stone, Massachusetts Senior Action Council, 413-543-2334, lstone@masssenioraction.org.
We invite you to join the list for Western Mass. supporters of the Act: To subscribe, send a blank email to cfoc-subscribe@lists.wmjwj.org or go to http://lists.wmjwj.org/mailman/listinfo/cfoc.
OCCUPY WALL STREET MOVEMENT BUILDING ROAD TRIP VISITS NORTHAMPTON
6pm, Academy of Music Theatre, 274 Main St, Northampton. Film screening of OWS documentaries and a conversation with Occupy activists from Wall St and around Western Mass. Donation requested to meet hall rental expense, but no one turned away.
The Occupy Wall Street Bio-Bus will be making an outreach trip in a couple of weeks (see http://bit.ly/y8DrM0). There will be 17 Wall Street Occupiers on the bus. They want to strengthen the OWS network by deepening relationships between Occupiers, increase OWS’s capacity through mutual transfer of skills and knowledge, and clarify OWS’s narrative by deepening its commitment to listening.
Other local events with the travelers will be announced soon. Info: www.occupynorthampton.org.
Wednesday February 1 (First Wednesday)
FRANKLIN COUNTY WORKERS' RIGHTS COMMITTEE MEETS WITH OCCUPY FRANKLIN COUNTY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
7-9pm, Second Congregational Church, 16 Court Square, Greenfield. Organizing local solidarity for Franklin County workers and unions; nurses and other workers at Franklin Medical Center; Greenfield municipal employees; and statewide and national workers' rights campaigns.
Info, RSVP: Dave Cohen, (413) 773-3584, davidjc@comcast.net.
Thursday November 3 (First Thursday)
NORTHAMPTON LIVING WAGE COALITION
6-7:30pm, Community Legal Aid office (formerly Western Mass. Legal Services), 20 Hampton Av #100, Northampton (enter near Pleasant St, south of/right angle to Sylvester’s). The Northampton Living Wage Coalition was founded out of concern for those working in our community who cannot afford to live here and meet their basic needs (for a decent home, healthy food, appropriate clothing, and health care when needed.) On Nov. 19, 2009, the Northampton City Council voted for a living wage resolution updating its 1998 Living Wage resolution. Using data from the Crittenton Women's Union and the Northampton Housing Authority to calculate a basic needs budget for a single person without children, the 2011 Northampton living wage is at least $12.09 per hour. The NLWC adjusts it annually, publicizes it, and honors those employers who pay a Living Wage or make a genuine attempt to do so. Info: Kitty Callaghan, (413) 781-7814 x115, kcallaghan@wmls.org.
Friday February 3
PIONEER VALLEY CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST
8:30-10:30am, Tony & Penny’s Restaurant, 18 Canterbury St, Ludlow. $20 per person. The Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO invites you to confer with our state legislators on Labor’s 2012 Agenda. Info: 732-7970, mail@pvaflcio.org.
Friday February 3
ORGANIZING A BUS RIDERS UNION & A MASS TRANSIT COALITION
6-7:30pm, Alliance to Develop Power (ADP) office, 130 Union St, Springfield. Help build a unified voice for better public transportation in the Pioneer Valley. Together, we will develop goals and strategies to advocate for improved public transit. Info: Richard Gardner, 413-732-8041, rgardner@atulocal448.com.
Monday February 6 (First Monday)
PDA WESTERN MASS CHAPTER
7:30pm, Media Education Foundation, 60 Masonic St, Northampton. Progressive Democrats of America has an inside/outside strategy for social change. Info: Tim Carpenter, pdatimcarpenter@gmail.com.
Friday February 10 (Second Friday)
PIONEER VALLEY STREET HEAT - THE AFL-CIO MOBILIZATION COMMITTEE
9:30-11am, AFL-CIO Hall, 640 Page Blvd, near corner of Osborne Ter, across the street from the old Westinghouse, Springfield. Get directions here. On the agenda: Verizon and other workplace and consumer campaigns; Green Jobs; The Right to Organize; Your Organizing! Community and labor activists are urged to attend. Info, send agenda items to: Jon Weissman, 732-7970, street_heat@pvaflcio.org.
Saturday February 11 (Second Saturday)
HEALTH EQUITY ROUNDTABLE
9:30-11am, Family Life Center, 365 Bay St, Springfield. Addressing existing disparities in health care and outcomes, and the underlying racism, poverty, and homelessness. This Springfield Health Disparities Project roundtable provides a forum to engage community people in dialogue with folks working on community health initiatives, keeping the community abreast of what is happening, and getting people involved in working with others to improve community health. Info: Betty Agin, 654-2888, director@ucved.org.
THE PREMIERE OF TRUTH
7:30pm, Academy of Music Theatre, 274 Main St, Northampton. Tickets $20-$40. A new folk opera about the life of Sojourner Truth premieres with full orchestra. TRUTH illuminates the life and legacy of this complicated, brilliant woman who, though illiterate, was a relentless and articulate champion of those deprived of justice and freedom, and whose influence has for too long been overlooked. Score by Paula M. Kimper; libretto by Talaya Delaney. Featuring Evelyn Harris, formerly of Sweet Honey in the Rock, as Sojourner Truth. Tickets: at the Theatre Box Office, by calling 413-584-9032 x105, online at the Theatre, and at 30% off at the RiverStore.
WESTERN MASS FUND OUR COMMUNITIES NOT WAR
7pm, UAW Local 2322 office, Room 406, 4 Open Square Way, Holyoke (http://opensquare.com/map-directions.php). Organizers meeting around three movement-building principles:
· Creating and sustaining a regional network and mobilizing for/actively supporting local actions that are organized by members of our network.
· Participation in national actions.
· Creation and support of sustainable communities.
Info, basic documents: Susan Theberge, stheberg@keene.edu.
SAVE THE DATES (details coming)
Saturday March 3
ANNUAL WESTERN MASS. JOBS WITH JUSTICE ORGANIZING CONFERENCE
Holyoke Community College.
Thursday March 15
MASSACHUSETTS JOBS WITH JUSTICE 20TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER
Boston.
Tuesday May 1
ANNUAL WESTERN MASS. JOBS WITH JUSTICE MAY DAY PERFORMANCE
Holyoke Heritage Park Visitors Center.
June 22-24
U S FEDERATION OF WORKER CO-OPS WORKER CO-OP CONFERENCE
Boston. If you'd like to be kept on the list for announcements, send your name, organization, email, and phone to Melissa Hoover, melissa@usworker.coop. Or go to http://www.usworker.coop/front.
More events, plus this calendar on-line, at AFSC Calendar.
