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Arizona Program, Tucson
Celebrating greater dignity for women who are incarcerated
On Facebook and Instagram, AFSC and partners are celebrating a new law ensuring that pregnant and birthing people in Arizona prisons will be treated with dignity. Every mother deserves uninterrupted hours of bonding with her baby, and now women who are incarcerated in Arizona can hold their babies without shackles. The law also requires a sufficient supply of feminine hygiene products be made available for free and codifies nutrition and medical requirements for woman who are pregnant.
Working in a Pueblo to build a coldframe (Photo: Patrick Jaramillo)
People of the Land Program, Albuquerque
Installing shade cloth in Kewa Pueblo
AFSC New Mexico co-director Patrick Jaramillo recently helped the Coriz family install shade cloth on their coldframe in Kewa Pueblo, formerly known as Santo Domingo Pueblo. (A Pueblo is an Indigenous community; "tribe" may be a more familiar term to people outside New Mexico). A coldframe is a piece of season-extending equipment that allows farmers to start growing earlier and go later in the season. However, once the threat of frost has passed, a coldframe is not as useful during the warmer months. Installing shade cloth in the summer helps farmers grow chiles, melons and squash.
Project Voice Immigrant Rights Program, Oregon-Washington
Vigil held in memory of fallen farmworker
On Facebook, Pedro Sosa of AFSC shares about a vigil in memory of Sebastian Francisco, a 38-year-old farmworker originally from Guatemala who died in June during the extremely hot weather in the Willamette Valley. Pedro says the state of Oregon needs to adopt emergency measures to protect farmworkers in times of high temperatures, fires and freezing storms. A GoFundMe page has been established to help Sebastian’s family.
US-Mexico Border Program, San Diego
VISION Act is making its way through the California legislature
AFSC has been a strong supporter of the VISION Act (AB 937), which would ensure that like any other Californian, an immigrant deemed eligible for release from state prison or local jail would not be turned over to ICE detention and instead would be able to reunite with their family and community. This includes a person who has completed their sentence, been granted parole, had charges dropped, or been granted release by a judge. AFSC has joined with dozens of organizations across California to pass it through the Assembly (June 3) and the Senate Public Safety Committee (July 13). As it’s gaining new support in the California legislature, it will soon need approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee. This is our commitment to limit the harmful impact of ICE detention for migrant community members and their families, and it’s an extension of our #FreeThemAll national campaign.
67 Sueños mural in Oakland
67 Sueños, Oakland
Adding color to a mural, stopping police militarization
From Instagram: “Shoutout to EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YALL!! Our community, family, & friends, who came out today to show love, put paint on the wall, break bread with us, y darnos animos! We felt the love fashooo!! The wall finally has some color & it felt so good.” Check out Ericson Amaya of 67 Sueños on this AFSC Community Safety Beyond Policing webinar on Stopping Police Militarization. Please share these job openings for a Youth Programming Lead Intern and two Campaign Youth Lead Interns; applications are due July 23.
Healing Justice Program, Oakland
A win in the East Bay: Care First, Jails Last
Alameda County recently took an important step to stop the incarceration of people with mental illness—and start providing them with the care they need. John Lindsay-Poland of AFSC writes that, on the anniversary of the police murder of George Floyd, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the Care First, Jail Last Resolution, which prioritizes a continuum of care and services for people with mental illness who are at risk of incarceration. AFSC co-authored the policy as part of the Decarcerate Alameda County coalition.
Economic Activism Program, Oakland
Pillsbury family members join boycott: No Dough for Occupation
Did you know there's a Pillsbury factory in an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank? Noam Perry of AFSC recently facilitated a discussion between Fayrouz Sharqawi of Grassroots Al-Quds and Charlie Pillsbury, a descendant of the Pillsbury founders, who recently announced he and other family members are boycotting Pillsbury products. Learn more and get involved at BoycottPillsbury.org.
Check out the bios of these new ArteVism Fellows.
Pan Valley Institute (PVI), Fresno
New ArteVism Fellows announced
Myrna Martinez Nateras of AFSC writes: “After an exhaustive selection process, in June we inaugurated the second cohort of fellows for the ArteVism Fellowship Program. With this cohort, we returned to our practice of bringing together emerging leaders from diverse communities instead of just Latinx and Indigenous, as was the case with the first cohort. We are thrilled with the diversity of this group and the experiences, knowledge and creativity they bring.”
Immigrant Rights Program, Denver
Colorado staffer to receive Immigrant Liberty Award
On August 19, Jordan Garcia of AFSC will be honored by the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network for his work in support of LGBTQ immigrants. His colleague, Jennifer Piper, adds her thanks for the work Jordan does, “so often behind the scenes, to be the glue that holds things together, the catalyst for people doing collective work to live into the alternative way of being, and a visionary - all with style, humility and humor.” Register now for the event.
Roots for Peace (R4P) Program, Los Angeles
R4P extends thanks after winning the Gardens for Good Award
From Instagram: We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who supported the Roots For Peace community by voting for us back in April and helping us win the Gardens for Good Award. Thank you to our amazing youth who are leading this project and to our community members, friends, and families who help us sustain our presence and passion for food sovereignty and liberation.” Please share this job opening for a Program Director and Lead Organizer; applications are due August 13.
Short takes
Tell Congress to end Israel’s forced displacement of Palestinians…. On July 20, boost your understanding of how Congress funds ICE and CBP….AFSC recently joined other organizations in calling for an end to US lethal strikes abroad and protections for people from Haiti….AFSC’s Under the Mask campaign shares this new study on Civic Space and the Covid-19 Pandemic.
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