U.S (VOCAL NEW-YORK) : VOCAL-NY Guide to Your Week !

 

 

 

Upcoming Events.

Monday, September 20 @ 6PM: Join us in urging Congress to pass the MAT Act ! The Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act (MAT Act) will improve access to medication assisted treatment for people being treated for substance use dependency-related reasons. Join us for dinner, a refresher training, relationship-building with other leaders in the fight to end overdose, and a text bank to urge Congress to pass the bill !   Where : Albany, NY (Meeting location : TBA.) RSVP : Click here to join us!  Contact : Luke (917) 702-8781 /Luke@vocal-ny.org       Wednesday, September 22 @ 5:30 PM: VOCAL-Westchester (and Hudson Valley-based) members, leaders, allies and comrades are invited to join us for our monthly chapter meeting !  Where : Online or by phone (Zoom). RSVP : Click here to join us! Contact : Luke (917) 702-8781 / Luke@vocal-ny.org       Thursday, September 23 @ 5 PM: Civil Rights Union Town Hall : Join us this Thursday as we share updates from our efforts to end mass incarceration, including the recent passage of Less is More. We will discuss what this means for our members and leaders and the fight that's still ahead of us ! RSVP : Here Contact : Stanley, 585-210-2278 | stanley@vocal-ny.org

You're Invited ! Join us for our VOCAL-NY’s 2021 Annual Gala on Tuesday, September 28th at Threes Brewing, 333 Douglass in Brooklyn from 6-9PM. Our theme this year is VOCAL Forever : A Permanent Home for Justice, Compassion, and Love. We will gather in person at Threes Brewing in Brooklyn for a night of celebrating our victories, reflecting on where we go next, and honoring folks who have played significant roles in our success.  CLICK HERE FOR GALA TICKETS & SPONSORSHIPS

Week In Review.

This past Wednesday, leaders with VOCAL-NY’s Civil Rights Union rallied and testified to #CloseRikers. The hearing, held by the New York City Council's Committee on Criminal Justice, comes amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis on Rikers, including deplorable conditions and the deaths of ten people this year alone. Several lawmakers toured Rikers and held a press conference painting a very clear picture of the dangerous conditions, including witnessing a man attempt to take his own life. And earlier this month, Correction Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi admitted to “serious problems” at Rikers.   On Friday, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Less is More Act. The legislation will end the practice of sending New Yorkers to jail for parole violations to await trial. Hundreds of New Yorkers are expected to be released from jail because of the signing. It’s a step in the right direction, but the work continues until Rikers is fully closed.

#VOCALVaccinated Updates As a part of our #VOCALVaccinated campaign, we are partnering with NYC Health + Hospitals to provide vaccines to those who need them, and dispel myths with our outreach.  Check out NYC Health + Hospitals SHOW program, which stands for Street Health Outreach & Wellness. SHOW is a new model of mobile units aimed at providing COVID-19 tests and vaccinations, wound care, basic material necessities, and harm reduction services to New Yorkers who are unsheltered.

What We're Reading.

Gothamist : “Amidst Crisis At Rikers Island, Governor Hochul Signs The ‘Less Is More Act’” The Verge : “Revolt Of The Delivery Workers” WGRZ - Buffalo : “Mayor Brown loses 2 court decisions, for now he will not be on November ballot”

We're Hiring ! VOCAL-NY has two open positions for dynamic individuals who are committed to building power among low-income people directly impacted by HIV/AIDS, the drug war, mass incarceration, and homelessness. Housing Campaigns Director Development Associate

Consider Donating Here

VOCAL-NY PO Box 170374 Brooklyn, NY 11217-1908 info@vocal-ny.org | 718-802-9540