This week has been a very interesting and productive one for us here at WESPAC. Our intern Lucas Michelen from Croton High School will be working with Per Scholas on organizing a computer and electronics pick up event in Westchester County for early June. This week WESPAC launched its solidarity group with Indigenous Peoples and part of our work will include a Turtle Island Book Club where we learn about Indigenous issues through the perspective of Indigenous Peoples. Our next meeting is May 31st at 7:30pm at the Chappaqua Public Library. We will start with Neither Wolf Nor Dog by Kent Nerbern.
WESPAC is now ready to accept online credit card contributions! We are thrilled with this development that will allow you to give more easily in support of our peace and justice work. Please do take advantage of this secure site hosted by activegiving.com who will be responsible for sending you your tax-deductible receipts.
On Thursday, Lucas, myself and Tracy Basile attended a regional meeting of Indigenous Women at the United Nations Church Center in order to meet some of the key Indigenous women that our newly formed solidarity group will work with. It was a very rich event with perspectives from across the planet. The common themes included the need for member states to respect Indigenous Laws, human rights and treaties, and the need for the UN Special Rappateur to visit Indigenous Communities in Canada and the United States that are facing ongoing land grabs, environmental destruction and degradation at the hands of building contractors and corporations.
This morning, Friday, I represented WESPAC at the Westchester Women's Agenda's Community Forum on Immigration Reform that took place at the YWCA. Much to report on this very crucial issue and we will be following developments at the federal level closely while working with local groups to help inform the general public about the reality of immigrants and their contributions to our society, where we encourage the legalization of undocumented workers, the unification of their families, a wider opening of the door to legal immigration, stronger worker rights with full civil rights and due process.
Charles Morgan and Surya Peterson will be facilitating a new "Black Agenda Group" at WESPAC on a monthly basis. The next meeting is on May 18th at 7pm.
Check our website calendar for more details about upcoming events!
Thank you all for your continued support! Remember, if you give online by May 31st, your gift will be matched by our board up to the first two thousand dollars!
With best wishes, especially to all those mothers on our special day this Sunday!
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