Weekly Activist Alert - DC Homeless Under the Weather
Action: Say No to $25M Incentive for Military Contractor
Resource: Events and Meeting Spaces
Featured Article: US Snow Storm Hits DC Homeless
Cause: Support Haitian Earthquake Relief!
Events:
Due to the weather, contact event organizers for possible changes
We 2/10 - DC Right to Housing Campaign Meeting
We 2/10 - 'With Eyes and Soul: Images of Cuba' by Nancy Morejón
Th 2/11 - Pro-Choice Lobby Day in Virginia
Th 2/11 - Black Power: You are Under Survelliance
Th 2/11 - Jubliee Volunteer Night
Th 2/11 - DC Labor Chorus Concert
Fr 2/12 - Homeless Rights Street Law Series
Fr 2/12 - Alternative Solutions to the Ecological and Energy Crisis
Su 2/14 - Drum Jam to Celebrate Fredrick Douglass' Birthday
DC HOMELESS UNDER THE WEATHER
Hey D.C.,
There are over 6,000 homeless people in Washington, DC and approximately 10% of them are US Veterans. Since Fenty's 2008 infamous closing of Franklin shelter, the only homeless shelter in downtown DC, the city has consistently seen a slash in the budget for all social services available to the working poor. In the face of the biggest snowstorm that the city has faced in over a century, the homeless population are the hardest hit.
Last week, before the snowstorm Fenty (backed by the City Council) made a bid of $25 Million to the military contractor corporation Northrop Grumman to relocate to DC. While we continue to mourn and care for the troubles of our sisters and brothers in Haiti and keep an eye on the political disaster that is sure to follow the earthquake, we must remain vigilent of atrocities that are happening in our backyard. We hope you take action on this issue and continue to encourage others to do the same.
We also hope that you attend the many the events listed below and continue supporting progressive organizations for Haiti relief...may we never forget her struggles.
Click here to learn what to do about hypothermia in DC's homeless population
Featured WPC Resource this week...
Events and Meeting Spaces Resources
Don't know where to hold your next meeting? Or what your options are for event spaces? Check out our Events and Meeting Spaces Resources page and please let us know if you have anything to add!
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EVENTS
DC Right to Housing Campaign Meeting
Wednesday, February 10
3:00pm
Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
1200 U Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20009-4443
Meeting to review draft legislation on data monitoring to achieve the right to housing in the District of Columbia. To receive a copy of the draft legislation, email Mahsa Maleki: mcmaleki@gmail.com
Working groups are also being formed now to support the campaign.
Arts Event:
'With Eyes and Soul: Images of Cuba' by Nancy Morejón
Wednesday, February 10
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Library
3160 16th Street NW
Washington DC 20010
Nancy Morejón, one of the foremost Cuban writers and intellectuals, will be a featured poet at the 2010 Split This Rock Poetry Festival. With Eyes and Soul features poems by Morejón (Spanish with English translations) and photos by renowned photographer Milton Rogovin, offering a multi-dimensionalportrait of the landscape and people of Cuba.
This event is cosponsored by The Writer's Center and Split This Rock. For more information, contact yvettenm@verizon.net or call 240-462-6458
Pro-Choice Lobby Day in Virginia
Thursday, February 11
5:00PM - 8:00PM
State Capitol in Richmond
1000 Bank Street
Richmond, VA
As you know, the Virginia General Assembly is in full swing, and as usual, Planned Parenthood is fighting against restrictions to women's reproductive health care. Because we have an anti-choice governor and anti-choice majority in the House of Delegates, it is critically important for pro-choice supporters to be out in force this year! We are putting together a great program for you this year, so register now to be a part of this historic day!
Black Power:
You are Under Survelliance
Thursday, February 11
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Howard University
Blackburn Gallery Lounge
Exploring the use of surveillance in the Black Diaspora: Intelligence Teach-In.
For details, email peac.howard@gmail.com
Jubilee USA Change Not Chains Campaign
Volunteer Night
Thursday, February 11
6:00pm
212 East Capitol Street NE
Washington DC 20003
Change Not Chains National Week of Action is around the corner, and we need your help! We have over 10,000 postcards from around the country that we are planning on presenting to Members of the House of Representatives. But before we can deliver them, its crucial that we we enter the data from each postcard. We still have about 3,000 postcards left to enter, so we're planning a Volunteer Night, Thursday, February 11th at 6pm. Please join us for pizza, fun tunes, and postcards. To RSVP, please email Carly@jubileeusa.org
DC Labor Chorus Concert: Blues, Jazz & Message Songs
Thursday, February 11
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Shepherd Elementary School
7800 14th St NW
Washington, DC
Black History Month Concert by Shepherd Elementary Srudents with the D.C. Labor Chorus. Students and Labor Chorus members will sing a variety of songs, including
"Good Morning Blues,"
"It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing,"
"Change is Gonna Come," and "What's Going On."
The concert will take about 1 hour.
Homeless Rights Street Law Series: Expunging Criminal Records
Friday, February 12
12:00pm - 3:00pm
MLK Library - Room A5
901 G Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20001-4531
Presenter: April Frazier
Community Reentry Program Coordinator,
Public Defender Services for Refreshments will be served DC.
For more info: Eric Sheptock 240-305-5255 ericsheptock@yahoo.com;
jjzara@aol.com 202-390-2449
There Must Be Some Way Out of Here: Alternative Solutions to the Ecological and Energy Crisis
Friday, February 12
7:00pm
St. Stephen & the Incarnation Church
1525 Newton St., NW (16th & Newton), DC
(Columbia Heights Metro or Metrobus on 16th)
The planet is in crisis and carbon-based energy sources are both harmful and running short. Two experts on the crisis and healthy, feasible solutions will speak from two distinct perspectives. Discussion and debate will follow two slide show presentations.
EcoSocialism or Ecocatastrophe? Slide Show. For details, contact Real Democracy Project, P.O. Box 772, Washington, DC 20044. Information: 202-234-2000. er David Zirin will join IVAW for the big game.
Drum Jam to Celebrate Fredrick Douglass' Birthday!
Sunday, February 14
3:00pm - 6:00pm
Sisterspace and Books
3717 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20010
Come out and learn the basic of African Drumming or better yet release the rhythm that already resides within you. Let's channel the spirit of healing, love, and abundance on this day. We have so many reasons to drum. Let us drum for the people of Haiti, let us drum up accessible education, let us drum up adequate healthcare, let us drum out economic oppression, let us drum out violence in our community, let us drum in positive energy for Sisterspace and Books' new location, and let us drum in positive energy for all the small businesses in Washington, DC that are struggling to maintain and survive. No prior drumming experience necessary. Event will be facilitated by Takada Harris.
Featured Article:
US Snow Storm Hits DC Homeless
Posted February 8, 2010 on www.commondreams.org
Those hardest hit in what was worst snow storm to strike Washington DC in 30 years were the district's homeless.
While most DC residents found warmth and comfort in their homes in the wake of "Snowmageddon", for Washington's six thousand homeless people the storm was a life-threatening situation.
The US capital does have an emergency hypothermia hotline during winter months and volunteers are taking action to help, but finding enough shelters to accommodate the large number of homeless has proved challenging.
See you in the streets!
Chioma, Hazal & Sonia Washington Peace Center
