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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
Michael Hames-Garcia
Member at large
Contact Us Here
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CALC is in the process of hiring
a Director of Administration and Development. Click for a job description.
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"Truth
has a power of its own. Art has a power of its own. That age-old lesson--that everything we do matters--is the meaning of the people's
struggle here in the US and everywhere. A poem can inspire a
movement. A pamphlet can spark a revolution."
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Interested in having our empty bowls exhibit or one of
our three photo exhibits displayed in your school, workplace, business, congregation,
or anywhere in Lane County? We are booking through 2010 for
all exhibits. Contact AmeriCorps Member Juliane Collaço
if you are interested in hosting one (or more) of them!
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Greetings!
Many of you know that Sally Sheklow, our part-time Back-To-Back coordinator, has left CALC. Our original intention was to replace her with a full-time position that would include over-all program coordination.
Like many non-profits, our income has fallen below both expectations and needs. We find ourselves financially unable to fill even a part-time position. This does not mean that Back2Back work is being dropped. CALC's mission remains "Educating and mobilizing for peace, human dignity and social, racial and economic justice," and our Back2Back program is an essential part of that mission.
We are redistributing staff assignments to ensure our core responsibilities to the community can be met. You will notice that Back2Back will no longer be officially represented in some coalitions and committees, but you will probably also notice the presence of members of CALC's Board and other programs in those areas of work.
Michael Carrigan, our community organizer par excellence, will assume the organizing responsibilities formerly assigned to the Back2Back coordinator, incorporating that work into his job as CALC's Peace Coordinator. CALC's I've Got Your Back program remains intact, our phone lines and email inbox are open, and the Traveling Photo Exhibits are still traveling.
This year we hope to not only restore the work of B2B to its former health, but to expand the position to include over-all program coordination. We will need money to do that, and we hope you will be able to financially support us in that effort. CALC also needs your support in time and effort. While staff provide core communication
operations, our programs are actually carried out by volunteers. We can use your time, your community connections and your good will as much as we can use your money. Join with us in helping to make 2010 a step toward "peace, human dignity and social, racial and economic justice."
Back to Back (B2B): Allies for Human Dignity
B2B is committed to defending human rights and human dignity. We expose and challenge overt bigotry and institutionalized oppression through education, cultural work, and activism. B2B works against racism, homophobia and anti-Semitism.
Community Alliance Board of Directors
Remie Calalang Steven Morozumi
Michael Hames-Garcia Carol Van Houten
Linda Hamilton Michael Williams
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 Been to the movies lately?
Chances are you saw a long ad, recruiting for the military. Challenge,
excitement, pride, comraderie, stirring images and music, all promote
the idea that joining the military is patriotic. This product of the
military recruiting machine comes with from a budget of over $1.6 billion,
just for advertising and recruiting...Of course what they don't
show is the horror of combat, seeing fellow soldiers or civilians die
or suffer horrible injuries. We in the Committee for Countering Military
Recruitment don't think that giving one's life or
body parts in war is the way to demonstrate "patriotism." While the basic military budget
for this year has already passed Congress & been signed by the President,
money to expand the number of troops in Afghanistan is yet to be authorized.
We will have another chance to lobby Congress later this spring against
funding of this expansion. Stay tuned and turn out to send a message
to stop war to Congress.
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Progressive Responses on Afghanistan
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In December, PR and peace and
justice allies challenged President Obama's decision to send more
American troops to Iraq. This coalition is also challenging Obama's
decision to increase military expenditures while freezing domestic spending. Activists met with Congressional
staff and are urging Senators Wyden and Merkeley and Rep. DeFazio to
vote against funding the Afghanistan war and to reduce military spending.
Call and urge them to vote against war funding at 202-224-3121. In remembrance of the start of
the Iraq War, March will be a month of peace action. On March 5th,
the Lane Peace Center is bringing Tom Hayden speaking on "challenging
miltarism." PR is sponsoring a talk on March 8th with Willamette University
Professor James Nafziger on "The Great Game Goes Into Overtime:
What Should Our Strategy Be in Afghanistan?"
and a March
19th training, "Building a Multiracial
Peace Movement," led by Joann Bowman of Oregon Action and Kaysee
Jayma, of the Center for Intercultural Organizing. Contact: Michael Carrigan.
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SAfER's MLK Celebration:
A Photo Gallery
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Student art depicts Martin Luther King, Jr., and a commitment to diversity.
A student describes multimedia representations of the event's theme, "Service to Humanity."
Children's Community Choir members admire murals as they prepare for their performance.
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Words from Our Americorps Member
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It's amazing how time has flown
by as I approach the halfway mark on my term of service here at CALC...and
yet there is still so much to do! Since December I have stepped up and
taken a larger role in  the SAfER program while our program organizer Marion
Malcolm has been on vacation. We are in the works of coordinating another
Safe Schools Network gathering to share classroom resources on interrupting
harassment and slurs towards LGBTQ students, staff and families.
The month of January has definitely
been a busy one with all the different Martin Luther King, Jr. events.
I was fortunate enough to get to work on the 12th Annual
Springfield Contest and Celebration. I was absolutely blown away
by some the student entries. Its amazing that an open-ended theme, such
as "Service to Humanity," can result in some of the most touching letters,
essays and art pieces that I have ever seen.
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Farewell, Adios, 再见, Au revoir, αντίο, 안녕, Adeus, до свидания, Arrivederci
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With great sadness, CALC will
say goodbye at the end of February to tova stabin, Director of Administration
& Development. This electronic newsletter is only one of the many
improvements she has made at CALC. In effect she brought CALC technologically
into the 21st century. As a grant writer par
excellence, great editing skills, ability to see the larger picture
and attention to detail, she will be greatly missed. All of us at CALC
are deeply grateful for the contributions she has made which will continue
to impact our work into the future. We wish her well in her future activities
and we will miss her.
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CALC's "Spring UP into ACTION--Sit DOWN for a Meal" Restaurant Fundraiser
March 27, 2010
Get a piece of proverbial pie! Eat in a participating local restaurant and a percentage of sales will go to CALC. More details to come.
Cesar Chavez Commemoration
April 7, 2010
Annual bilingual birthday commemoration organized by SAfER with the schools and community partners.
This event brings people together and lifts up the talents of children
and youth. We celebrate the legacy of a man who devoted his life to
workers' rights and non-violent social change.
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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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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.
tova stabin, Director of Administration
and Development:
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver--A cook for Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, with
Trotsky as a house guest, becomes an author interrogated by the House
Un-American Activities Committee. Amazing historical fiction.
Carol Van Houten, CCMR Organizer:
The Good Soldiers
by David Finkel is an absorbing account of soldiers' disillusionment, death and
injuries during a 15-month tour in Iraq.
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Programs of CALC are funded in part by grants from the
Spirit Mountain Community Fund, Meyer Memorial Fund, McKenzie River Gathering
Foundation, Equity Foundation, AmeriCorps, and Ben and Jerry's. Please support
those who support us! The Springfield MLK committee would like to thank our co-sponsors: City
of Springfield, Lane County Board of Commissioners, Oregon Community
Credit Union, SELCO, Springfield Arts Commission, Springfield Education
Association, Springfield Public Schools, Springfield Family Resource
Center, Willamalane Park and Recreation District and our school district, teachers, students, parents, performers, volunteers, donors, and all of you who attend each year. Thanks to volunteer Luke Good for writing thank you notes and generally helping out around the office.
Please support those who support
us (and you)!
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