Community

Community, Peace

EMBRACING BUFFALO / HEALING MOMENTS

EMBRACING BUFFALO / HEALING MOMENTS “No podemos dejar que la gente abra brechas entre nosotros… porque solo hay una raza humana.” / “We can’t let people drive wedges between us … because there’s only one human race.” —  Dolores Huerta It has been almost a year since the horrific racist massacre on May 14, 2022, and the community is still reeling from the vicious, hate-infused murders by a white supremacist. At the Pursuit of Truth Conference and Launch organized by Ruth Whitfield’s family (oldest victim of the attack, at 86), leaders in the struggle made the same point that Dolores Huerta makes in the above quote.  National/international luminaries included Jelani Cobb, Dean of Columbia University School of Journalism; civil rights attorney Ben Crump; and Alice Wairimu Nderitu, Special Advisor to the UN Undersecretary for the Prevention of Genocide. Local leaders included Dr. Henry-Louis Taylor, UB Center for Urban Studies; John Washington, People’s Action Lead Housing organizer; Franchelle Parker, Executive Director Open Buffalo. And many more. Racism and bigotry are used to separate us. Trauma, with its fear and anger, creates and/or amplifies those separations. The brutal trauma at the (especially Southern) borders, the economic hardships, and the deep injustices to BIPOC (Black Brown Indigenous People of Color) have taken a terrible toll on all, and healing together is deeply needed.  We know we are stronger and better together, as our progressive leaders, activists, and organizers stress, and as our hearts tell us. That is why we’re Embracing Buffalo. Embracing Buffalo is a collaboration between the WNY Peace Center, faculty at the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, and the UB School of Social Work. We know how deep the trauma goes and can offer some tools both for coping and for change. Onward!  Join us in Embracing Buffalo – Healing Moments, with Music and the Arts, on Saturday, May 13, 7 pm-9 pm, at 1272 Delaware Ave. Carriage House, Buffalo 14209, the WNY Peace Center’s own mini-community center.  We will have Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye, social worker, storyteller, peacebuilder, and activist, who splits her time between Baltimore, Maryland, and Senegal, West Africa. She has responded to multiple communities that have suffered brutal massacres, violence, and injustice including Houston, South Bronx, Parkland, Washington DC, and the prison system. (She will come in spite of the fact that her new book, Big Mama Speaks, about her grandmother, is coming out that very weekend).  Dr. Carol Penn, MD, GP, dancer/choreographer (formerly with Alvin Ailey Dance Theater), of Movement is My Medicine, may also come. Dena Adler, Art Therapist, will bring art materials for expressive works to – again – work toward individual and collective healing. All are faculty at the Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM), a worldwide center for helping communities (and individuals) develop the tools they need to heal from population-wide trauma and build resilience. Deidra EmEl, WNYPC Executive Director, and I (VBR, WNYPC Board Chair), will have completed CMBM’s Advanced Training by that time.   Come enjoy healing moments to talk, laugh, groove, move, dance, make art, make music, and make our community and our world a better place.  #SiSePuede #Juntos! Read More From This Writer All Post Food Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Peace People RACISM IN THE BUFFALO POLICE DEPARTMENT (BPD)? March 16, 2023/No Comments “The beauty of anti-racism is that you don’t have to pretend to be free of racism to be anti-racist. Anti-racism Read More BLIZZARD RESPONSE? February 16, 2023/No Comments We must rapidly begin the shift from a ‘thing-oriented’ society to a ‘person-oriented’ society. When machines and computers, profit motives, and Read More The WNY Peace Center had a great 55th Annual Dinner — A follow-up: January 16, 2023/No Comments The WNY Peace Center had a great 55th Annual Dinner — A follow-up: Algunas personas preguntan, “Como estaba, la Cena Read More Load More End of Content.

Community, Politics

SLEEPY FLORIDA MAN SEEKS TO TURN US INTO A NATIONWIDE FLORIDA

SLEEPY FLORIDA MAN SEEKS TO TURN US INTO A NATIONWIDE FLORIDA When my wife and I announced to our family and friends that we were leaving Florida after twelve years and moving back home to Buffalo, the common question we were asked was “why do you want to go back to the cold?” I cannot say anything negative about my time there, as the State of Florida was exceptionally good to me, both personally and professionally. My family and I made many memories that we will forever hold onto and although I love the hot weather, ironically, the climate helped make our decision to come back home. The political climate that is. In the months since we left the Sunshine State, I have been keeping an eye on the happenings on the local and state level, seeing the politicization of classrooms and colleges/universities has made my wife and I feel better about our decision to leave. Florida (Man) Governor, Ron DeSantis, has decided to fight the culture war as he begins his quest, a shadowy one at that, of running for the White House in the 2024 general election. DeSantis is using a similar playbook that 45 used, one that plays up fears and xenophobia as well as focusing on issues that only evangelical White voters will latch onto. I learned as a Florida homeowner, back in 2021, that many insurance companies were raising rates and outright dropping coverage due to high costs of insurance rates throughout the state of Florida. My home at the time was one of the thousands throughout the state, whose insurance was dropped, due to the age of our roof, and thus, we were forced to have a completely new roof installed to have homeowners insurance. Thankfully, that new roof was a selling point many months later as we decided to sell and move back north, however, many Floridians did not have that option. In the months and years since the homeowner’s insurance issues arose, State Representatives in Tallahassee refused to work on legislation that would have helped Floridians. Instead, they decided to focus their attention on “Critical Race Theory,” limiting classroom teachers from saying “Gay,” banning books from school libraries that were too “woke” and now in the past few months, attacking drag queens and Disney because of the Mouse’s inclusivity. When I saw reports that books on Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente were on the banned book list, alongside any books that mentioned America’s racist past, it just made me shudder at the thought of my Brown children sitting in a Florida classroom learning an edited version of America’s history, one that did not cover the Civil Rights movement nor the struggles people of color in this country have had to endure throughout its history. All because Florida Man is playing up to his base, trying to seek support from the ignorant and “sleepy” people, who are against anything that would be considered “woke.” We are seeing fascism take hold of the Sunshine State and Florida Man may well be the Republican nominee for President in 2024. Do not think that these policies or measures will only be exclusive to Florida however, as many other Republican governors nationwide are adopting similar measures. Look, I am not anti-Republican nor anti-Conservative. Although I have always been leaning to the left, however, as I get older, I find myself more conservative on some issues and liberal on others. I have voted for Republicans in the past and may very well do so in the future, one day when they rid themselves of the fascist wing of their party, however as it stands currently, the fascist leanings hidden behind “patriotism” needs to be met head-on and called out. We cannot let America become Florida because it will be a cold place. Read More From This Writer All Post Business Culture Entertainment Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Our Community Peace People Sports SLEEPY FLORIDA MAN SEEKS TO TURN US INTO A NATIONWIDE FLORIDA April 23, 2023/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More Where Are We Going? March 23, 2023/No Comments Where Are We Going? A few weeks ago, as I was on my way to jump on the 190 from Read More “BORICUA SOY YO” A JOURNEY THAT STARTED ON A ROOFTOP IN YABUCOA February 23, 2023/No Comments Special to the Latino Village: “BORICUA SOY YO” A JOURNEY THAT STARTED ON A ROOFTOP IN YABUCOA Almost four years Read More Load More End of Content.

Community, español

MUJER: FELICIDADES EN TU MES

MUJER: FELICIDADES EN TU MES Marzo es el mes dedicado a la mujer y su contribución a la sociedad. Hoy te celebro querida lectora de nuestra publicación. Feliz Mes de la Mujer! Tenemos mucho por celebrar pero también temenos mucho por que luchar, en todos los ámbitos. Empezare por la ola de violencia de género en nuestras comunidades y a través del mundo. Necesitamos y exigimos mas programas para combartir la violencia de género. Necesitamos programas de prevención e intervencion. Mas apoyo a nivel educational, social y legislativo. No es cosa de pocos, sino de todos. La violencia de género nos roba a todos de nuestra humanidad. Su prevención empieza en casa y es intergeneracional: es un compromiso de todos! Abuelas, tios, primos, padres y familiares. Somos uno y parte de la solución. El mes de la mujer, es siempre un buen momento para reanudar nuestro compromiso a abogar por programas de prevención y educación a todos los niveles. Apoyar a nuestros jovenes a manejar el respeto y el dialogo ante conflictos es parte del compromiso.  A cada una de las generaciones representadas en nuestra comunidad a romper patrones de conducta que devaluan el respeto hacia los demás. Celebramos los avances legislativos de la eleccion de mas mujeres a las legislaturas a traves del mundo y en nuestras comunidades. Pero necesitamos mas apoyo y apertura a la vida cívica y a la participación democrática a todos y para todos—incluyendo programas de liderazgo y capacitación intergeneracional. Tenemos mucho que aportar y aprender los unos de las otras. En este marzo de celebración te insto a  contactar a tu legislador/a local, estatal y federal para que indages cuales son las propuestas de leyes que avanzen una agenda justa y equitativa para la mujer en tu distrito. Pregunta cuales son las iniciativas para el apoyo de guarderias infantiles. Programas de capacitación técnica, y la participación de la mujer en tecnología, ciencias y matemáticas, solo para mencionar unos cuantos. Cada aspecto de la vida económica, educacional, social y cívica es tambien parte del desarrollo al avance de la mujer. Cuando nos edificamos y contamos con el apoyo equitativo, no solo nos levantamos como género sino como pueblo. Contacta a tu legisladora/or y averigua cuales son las propuestas de leyes que apoyan este cambio. El mes de la mujer es un momento de reflexión y de impulso! Te invito a tomar el reto del mes, día a día en el cual hagamos un plan de acción, un llamado a reformas legislativas para el avance de la mujer y la comunidad progresista. Cada paso positivo  nos avanza a todos y a todas! Read More From This Writer All Post Art Books Business Culture Education Entertainment Food Government Health Interviews Lower West Side Business & Economic Development Medical Military & Veterans Our Community Peace People Sports Uncategorized Who We Are MUJER: FELICIDADES EN TU MES March 23, 2023/No Comments POST TITLE (CAPITAL) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus Read More CRISIS MIGRATORIA EN NUESTRAS COMUNIDADES February 23, 2023/No Comments CRISIS MIGRATORIA EN NUESTRAS COMUNIDADES Las imagenes y los testimonios son reveladores! Familias, cientos y miles de personas en busca Read More CARTA A  LOS REYES MAGOS January 23, 2023/No Comments CARTA A LOS REYES MAGOS Ahi vienen Los Reyes Magos! Estoy feliz de saber que ya vienen y que la Read More Load More End of Content.

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