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

 

 

 

Upcoming Events.

Tuesday, March 15 @ 5:30PM : End Convict Leasing 2.0 Rally : We are joining Next100 and #FixThe13thNY for a rally to oppose Governor Hochul's proposal to amend the New York State Constitution and bring private sector employers into state prison facilities after 125 years. The #FixThe13thNY campaign works to end exploitation and values the humanity of all people, including individuals who are incarcerated. Join us to just say no to Convict Leasing 2.0 !   Where : Foley Square Trains : 4,5,6 to Brooklyn Bridge City Hall - R, W to City Hall Station - A, C to Chambers St. - J, Z to Chambers Street. 2,3 trains to Park Place. RSVP :Click Here! Contact : Keli, keli@vocal-ny.org, 929-363-4713   Wednesday, March 16 @ 11AM : People's State of the City : People's Plan NYC and racial and social justice orgs will deliver the people's response to the Mayor's budget and demand the care and resources New Yorkers most need !  Where :Tweed Courthouse Steps (52 Chambers Street) Trains : 4,5,6,J,Z, R to City Hall, 2,3 trains to Park Place, R to City Hall. RSVP : Click Here! Contact : Keli,keli@vocal-ny.org, 929-363-4713   Thursday, March 17 @ 3PM : VOCAL-NY Users Union general membership meeting ! We will be engaging in deep political education and building the power that is necessary to end the racist and classist war on drugs. This month's assembly will include member-led discussions on transforming the methadone clinic system and defending ourselves as drug users when faced with medical discrimination.    Where : Zoom (permanent access link : vocal-ny.com/UUMembers) RSVP : CLICK HERE TO JOIN US! Contact : Sessi (347.715.8251 | sessi@vocal-ny.org)   Friday, March 18 @ 10AM : The People's Public Safety Hearing : We are joining GANGS Coalition and other advocates on the same day as the preliminary public safety budget hearing – for a "people's public safety hearing." We will be presenting an alternative to these formulaic hearings that addresses how and why the Adams blueprint is dangerous, why we should still defund the NYPD and erase the gang database, while highlighting critical services and resources that should be funded to create community-based public safety.  Where : City Hall Park Trains : 4,5,6,J,Z, R to City Hall, 2,3 trains to Park Place, R to City Hall. RSVP : Click Here! Contact : Keli, keli@vocal-ny.org, 929-363-4713

Week in Review.

This past Wednesday, VOCAL-NY leaders held a speak out at the Staten Island Ferry terminal in Manhattan to send a message to Rep. Nicole Malliotakis : When you defund harm reduction, we die.  Staten Island Congresswoman Malliotakis is just one member of the GOP that has blatantly lied about harm reduction, contradicting the facts, and claimed more funding will cause harm and increase overdose deaths. She’s also introduced legislation to shut down the first in the nation Overdose Prevention Centers in NYC, despite the immediate success of saving over a hundred lives, and has cosponsored multiple bills to defund life-saving harm reduction programs. During Wednesday’s speak out, leaders shared their life-changing experiences with harm reduction work and slammed the Congresswoman for trying to roll back progress on combating the overdose crisis. We refuse to let lawmakers spread misinformation about harm reduction and will continue to make sure the public knows how dangerous these dog-whistle narratives are.

#VOCAL Vaccinated 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.

City Limits : “2021 Was Deadliest Year on Record for Homeless New Yorkers” Capitol Press Room : “A path to justice for wrongfully incarcerated New Yorkers” New York Daily News : “The real prosecution crisis in New York: It’s not what you may think”

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 Finance Manager Hepatitis C Peer Health Navigator (Part Time) Housing Campaigns Director Operations Associate (Front Desk) Drop-in Program Associate

Consider Donating Here

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