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

 

 

 

Upcoming Events.

Monday January 10 @ 5PM - 6PM : PLU Prep for the Upcoming Session : Join leaders of PLU (Positive Leaders Union) for a lobby prep meeting where we will discuss talking points and strategy behind the PATHS Bill.   Where : Zoom RSVP HERE ! Contact : Ruwi, 718-753-5566 // ruwi@vocal-ny.org      Tuesday, January 11 @ 9:30AM : Parole Justice Virtual Advocacy Day : Join us online for a day of advocacy to pass the Fair & Timely and Elder Parole bills to reform parole in New York State. The day will start with a morning gathering, followed by meetings with legislators, a virtual press conference, and then we’ll close out the day with a fun gathering by 3:30pm. While we hope everyone will attend the entire day, it’s fine if some people can only join us for part of the day. Where : Zoom  RSVP : Click here to join us! Contact : Stanley 585-210-2278,stanley@vocal-ny.org     Thursday, January 13 @ 4PM : VOCAL-NY Homelessness Union Assembly : Join us for the monthly VOCAL-NY Homelessness Union Assembly. Are you currently or formerly homeless in NYS ? Learn how to build statewide collective power, demand change and win the fight to end homelessness.  Where : Zoom Only. Register for details : bit.ly/HUAssemblyJan22. Contact : Celina : 347-309-6621 | celina@vocal-ny.org     Friday, January 14 @ 6PM : Ending Qualified Immunity Virtual Town Hall : Join us as we launch our postcard campaign to shine a light on the violence and abuse that is happening in our states' jails and prisons and call on lawmakers to end qualified immunity, the near total legal shield from civil liability (aka lawsuits) for government officials, especially police, prosecutors, and corrections officers. It leaves victims and their families without justice. Let's end it !   Where : Zoom RSVP : Click here to join us! Contact : Keli, 929-363-4713, keli@vocal-ny.org

Week in Review.

This Wednesday marked Governor Kathy Hochul’s first State of the State address, laying out her administration’s priorities for 2022. While there were many groundbreaking proposals, like naming harm reduction specifically as an intervention in addressing preventable overdose, some measures did not go far enough. VOCAL-NY members and leaders watched virtually and committed to pushing the governor and state legislature to go farther in this unique time of crisis. Read our full statement online here, where Jawanza Williams, VOCAL-NY’s Director of Organizing, is quoted saying : “It’s no longer a question if low-income New Yorkers are in crisis, it’s about how much worse it will get. Marginalized communities across the state need care and compassion to improve their daily lives, and we need Governor Hochul and the legislature to expand on the initial proposals in the State of the State…Governor Hochul and state lawmakers must go farther than ever before this election year to address the intersecting crises of homelessness, mass incarceration, overdose and HIV and AIDS in New York State.”

#VOCALVaccinated Updates

At the end of 2021, VOCAL-NY joined the NY Vaccine Literacy Campaign and The Public Good Projects in hosting the townhall "How to Talk to Loved Ones About Getting Vaccinated." The virtual discussion took place just a the Omicron variant began spreading across the state of New York, a reminder of how important it is to help our loved ones make informed choices about protecting themselves with the vaccine.  The discussion featured panelists from different backgrounds, including : Joe Smyser, PhD, MSPH, CEO, The Public Good Projects Hiawatha Collins, Board Member, VOCAL-NY Yin Ting Fung, MA, Excluded Workers Fund Data & Intake Coordinator, Union Settlement Julian L. Watkins, MD, Health Equity Advisor, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Watch the recording of the full discussion here to learn different ways to have a conversation with loved ones about the vaccine !

What We're Reading.

Medium : “Anticipated Political Backlash: Lessons Learned from Neoliberal Antagonisms to Defund the Police Campaigns” New York Times : “Omicron Is Overwhelming New York’s Quarantine Hotel System” NBC New York : “More Homeless Outreach for City Subways, NYPD to ‘Surge' Cops as Well”

We're Hiring ! VOCAL-NY has 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. Drug Policy Campaign Coordinator

Consider Donating Here

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