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

 

 

 

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, February 8 @ 9:30AM : Parole Justice is Racial Justice Virtual Advocacy Day : Join us for our second annual Parole Justice is Racial Justice Virtual Advocacy Day !The advocacy day will be virtual and take place via Zoom with attendees divided in teams by region with the opportunity to speak to legislators about the importance of parole justice.  Where : Online via Zoom RSVP : Click here. Contact : Stanley | stanley@vocal-ny.org    Thursday, February 10 @ 4PM : 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 (Virtual Only)  Register for details :bit.ly/HUAssemblyFeb22. Contact : Celina : 347-309-6621 | celina@vocal-ny.org   Thursday, February 10 @ 6:30PM : Join an important conversation on community safety, justice, and alternatives to carceral systems with Alice Fontier, Kristin Richardson Jordan, and VIctor Dempsey.   Where : Zoom. RSVP : Click here to join us!  Contact : Keli 929-363-4713 keli@vocal-ny.org

Week in Review

This week, President Biden arrived in New York City to discuss gun violence prevention with Mayor Adams, Governor Kathy Hochul, and other elected officials. The visit came after Adams announced his “Blueprint to End Gun Violence,” which included a renewal of the anti-crime unit – a unit that played a role in the deaths of Amadou Diallo, Eric Garner, Sean Bell, and Saheed Vassell. In response, VOCAL-NY gathered with allies from New York City social justice groups in a Black-led action to demand true community investments into care and services – an alternative to Mayor Adams plans to fund and increase the NYPD. During the action, Homeless Union organizer Celina Trowell, who co-organized the community vigil and march, called for a meaningful investment in communities across the city, not an oversized police response. See her full interview at the action on CBS New York here.

#VOCALVaccinated Updates

In December, 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 : “American Ghosts: Black History, Biden, Adams and Promised Peril to Black New York” New York Daily News : “Advancing housing justice protects public safety too” Bloomberg : “Biden and Adams Team Up to Support Cops, Risking a Rift With New York Liberals”

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. NYC Political Coordinator Housing Campaigns Director Drug Policy Campaigns Coordinator Community Organizer (part-time)

Consider Donating Here

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