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Educating and mobiliizing for peace, human dignity, and social, racial and economic justice.
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Linda Hamilton
Co-Chair
Michael Williams
Co-chair
Steve Morozumi
Secretary
Carol Van Houten
Treasurer
Remie Calalang
Member at large
Irmary Reyes-Santos
Member at large
Norman Riddle
Member at large
Michael Hames-Garcia
Member at large
Contact Us Here
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Our lives begin to end the day we become
silent about things that matter. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
MLK's birthday is coming up January 18th! Save the date for the Springfield Alliance for Equality and Respect's MLK Celebration!
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Look here for more information on the January ballot measures that will
decide the fate of Oregon's schools and critical services!
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Interested in having one of
our three photo exhibits displayed in your workplace, school, congregation,
or business anywhere in Lane County? We are booking through 2010 for
all exhibits. Contact AmeriCorps Member Juliane Collaço at calcamericorps1@gmail.com
if you are interested in hosting one (or more) of them!
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Greetings!
At winter solstice, we witness
the paradox of the darkest time of the year also being when days lengthen
and bulbs deep in the earth start to turn upward. As CALC reflects on
this year, we also note our paradoxes.
The economy adversely affected
so many, especially people of color, queers, and people with disabilities;
war and  militarization continued to be the response offered to complex
problems; youth of color, queer youth, and immigrants still do not have
needed human rights. Yet, we have been empowered by joining with so
many working for peace and social justice. We have witnessed the affirmations
felt at displays of our photo exhibits of local diversity or from the bowls queer youth
created. We have seen creativity and passion in the youth essays and
art for our Martin Luther King, Jr. contest. We have witnessed connections made between vets and youth when discussing enlistment. We have worked
on the Egan Memorial Warming Center and know its necessity, especially
today, the anniversary of the death of Major Egan. We have felt collective
strength marching with so many for peace. We are joining with others
to strongly endorse the passage of ballot measures 66 and 67, urging
supporters to vote yes for tax fairness that will protect services for
vulnerable Oregonians and prevent drastic cuts in school funding. Of
course, this barely touches the surface of what we have been able to
work on with your commitment and inspiration. We thank you for your time,
energy, words, and financial support, especially needed in these times.
During the coming year, we will continue to work towards a world with more
human dignity and justice.
tova stabin,
Director of Administration and Development |
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CALC Supports the DREAM Act
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CALC's Counter Military Recruiting program supports passage
of the DREAM Act (S.729 & H.R.1751), despite that it delivers a group of
young people on a silver platter to the military recruiters, a group which now
cannot legally be enlisted. We support the DREAM Act because it meets the needs
of a group of desperate youth: undocumented, immigrant youth brought here
by their parents. Should Congress pass this act, undocumented youth could be on
a path to citizenship if, after high school graduation, they spend 2 years in
college or the military and meet other criteria.
Unless this Act or comprehensive immigration reform passes, undocumented youth
will continue not to be able to get drivers' licenses, receive financial aid
for college, or even safely hold a job. Their situation is desperate; passing
this act gives Latino youth an avenue to a financially secure and full life.
However, we do not want Latino youth to rush into the military without the
facts necessary to make informed decisions--a key example being that
enlistment is an eight year commitment, not the two year commitment the Act
specifies. The military image that enlistees become proud, successful warriors
is an advertising ploy which ignores the fact that serving in combat, as combat
veterans say so well, changes a person and is something he or she may never
"get over."
Alarmed by the vulnerability of this group of youth to
military recruiter misinformation, CCMR continues our presence in all county
high schools, and are expanding our work in the Latino community.
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Progressive Responses on Afghanistan
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 The estimated
cost for the additional U.S. troops being sent to Afghanistan by President
Obama is $1 million per soldier. Total funding for Afghanistan could
exceed $325 billion in Fiscal Year 2010. The funds required to pay for
this increase in troop levels will have to be appropriated by Congress
in a separate supplemental spending passed sometime in 2010. PR will
actively lobby Congress to vote against funding for this escalation.
The U.S. can't
FIX Afghanistan--we are seen by too many as foreign occupiers. Instead, we
can call for internationally supported negotiations among Afghans and
multi-party, regional diplomacy in order to bring peace to the region. Instead of
paying for endless war, Congress should instead fund a New Deal-like,
large-scale economic regeneration and job creation effort. It should
be sustainable and help develop a resilient, regionally re-localized
economic base. This redirection would promote a shift away from destruction
and towards a promising, more secure future for all.
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Springfield Alliance for Equality and Respect
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 Do you live or work in Springfield?
Check out SAfER! This CALC program makes things happen--instigating,
organizing and building partnerships. That's why Springfield will
have another great MLK, Jr. celebration on January 18th, honoring youth
as they honor Dr. King, and why plans are underway for an April 7th
Cesar Chavez event. SAfER initiated and leads the Springfield Shelter
Rights Alliance, and is central to the Egan Warming Center project.
Meanwhile, we and our PFLAG partners in the Safe Schools Working Group
(SSWG) held an orientation for Safe Schools Network building reps. SSWG
is providing input for a January LGBTQ workshop for Springfield educators,
and planning to meet with LGBT parents. Juliane Collaço, our Americorps
member, is helping the Springfield Gay/Straight Alliances connect with
each other. To get involved, contact safer1214@gmail.com. |
Words from Our Americorps Member!
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With so many things in the mix it's hard to know where to
start!
One exciting project I am currently working on is  creating a
social networking site to connect the Gay Straight Alliances in Springfield.
Currently, three out of the four high schools in Springfield have GSAs, yet
they rarely communicate with each other. A social networking site specifically
for them will create a safe space for students to collaborate on ideas for
projects, have online discussion forums and plan events. The students are eager
to get started and are planning a Winter Holiday party.
Another on-going project is creating supplemental resource
binders for CALC's three traveling photo exhibits that raise awareness,
acceptance and validation for diverse populations in Lane County. We are
currently looking for more places to display the exhibits. Please contact me at calcamericorps1@gmail.com if you are interested in hosting one (or more) of
them. |
MLK, Jr. Student Essay and Art Contest and Celebration January 18, 2010
Showcasing the achievements and talent of students, this contest and
family event with local entertainment, celebrates the life and legacy
of Martin Luther King, Jr., and is organized annually by SAfER, in
partnership with the schools, city, and parks and recreation.
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What are CALC staff reading, looking at online,
watching at the movies and more? We'll let you know a few things we
hope we'll be of interest to you too.
Michael
Carrigan:
The Places in Between by Rory Stewart recounts his journey across Afghanistan
in January 2002. Stewart goes in the middle of winter entirely on foot,
crossing through some territory still shakily held by the Taliban. Stewart
wonderfully portrays an ancient and complex society, both violent and
compassionate, that has always defied understanding by foreign occupiers.
Marion Malcolm:
If you're thinking of buying books for holiday gifts, why
not order online from Powell's, "the world's best union bookstore?" Order through the union website and the union
gets a percentage. Go to www.ilwulocal5.com, click on Shop
Union, and then on Powell's.
Shipping is free with a $50 order.
tova stabin:
Named after the inspiring Ruth Ellis,
who lived to be 101, the website of the Ruth Ellis Center is small,
but essential. Ruth Ellis opened her home from the '40's to the
'60s as a safe space at a time when African-American gay men
and lesbians had few social venues. The center is the only mission specific
agency in the entire Midwest dedicated to LGBTQ youth and provides residential
and drop-in programs. |
Want to fight for social
justice from behind the scenes? The CALC office needs your help! From
taking photos at CALC events to thanking donors to tidying up the office, your volunteer help could make a world of difference. Fill out and send in a
volunteer form, or
contact Russell Melia at calcoffice@gmail.com for more information!
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Snapshots from Cornucopia: A Multicultural Celebration and Silent Auction
 
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Thank you to our recent grantors.
We couldn't do our work without you:
We received a grant for our
anti-bias work from The Spirit Mountain Community Fund, the philanthropic
arm of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. The fund was established
as a way for the Tribe to give back to neighbors and citizens and support
their goal to be nurturing and supportive community citizens.
We received a grant for our
work on homelessness from the Meyer Foundation, whose mission is to invest in people,
ideas and efforts that deliver significant social benefit to Oregon
and southwest Washington.
Many thanks to our wonderful Cornucopia volunteers: Beth Rose, Debra Goldsbury, Judy Moseley, Sue Thompson, Emily Heilbrun, Toby Finkelstien, and the many others who made this event possible.
CALC welcomes the newly formed
local chapter of Veterans for Peace, Chapter 159, and thanks them for
their work for peace and support of local veterans.
Please support those who support
us (and you)!
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