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Social Justice Committee Keeps Eyes on Education
The State of Tennessee's BEP Task Force met on Monday at the Capitol to talk about funding education in the state. Members of SOCM's Social Justice Committee were there. The Basic Education Program (BEP) is the finance formula for Tennessee's public schools. Many citizens, groups like SOCM, teachers, and even school districts in Tennessee are questioning how well the state is fulfilling its constitutional requirements to provide fair and equitable education for all of its students.
Check out the SOCM blog to learn more about the BEP Task Force and the Social Justice Committee's concerns.
Join us in calling on Governor Haslam and the BEP Task Force he appointed to FULLY FUND education in Tennessee, and NOT even consider making deeper cuts, as some members of the Governor's task force want to do.
We want parents, teachers, and students to be fully involved in the decision-making process on funding and other policies that impact their community's schools. As State Rep. Gloria Johnson recently pointed out, there are no teachers on this task force. There are no African Americans or other minorities either. For many of us, this makes the task force seem like a farce.
The next BEP Task Force meeting will be held on July 8th in Nashville. Please contact Brad Wright to get involved and/or for more info. - brad@socm.org. The Social Justice Committee has a conference call on June 10th, and committee meeting in Nashville on July 19th.
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Maury County Chapter Fish Fry
Maury County Chapter members are hosting a Fish Fry on Saturday, June 28th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Mt. Pleasant. Come by the corner of Bluegrass & Boswell and mingle with some SOCM members while enjoying some delicious home-cooked food. Thanks to the SOCM members who are helping to plan this fun event.
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We're Hiring Two Community Organizers
We're hiring two Community Organizers (one in East Tennessee and one in Middle Tennessee) and applications are due on June 10th.
SOCM Organizers work with members in chapters on local issues and in issue committees on statewide campaigns to help set strategy, build leadership, carry out work plans, and move campaigns forward. SOCM is committed to anti-racism work and to organizing that builds greater racial diversity. Positions require some fundraising, extensive writing, and ability to travel throughout the state.
See the full job description here and application requirements here.
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E3 Committee Members Meeting with Federal Officials
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Daniel Snider at the EPA Headquarters in Washington, DC last year.
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Members of the E3 Committee are in Washington meeting with Federal Agencies this week to insist that our beloved waterways and thriving ecosystem here in Appalachia not be sacrificed or discarded for the extraction of coal. These meetings, with the Office of Surface Mining (OSM), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and key players in the Clean Water Protection Act legislation serve to keep a continuous spotlight on mountaintop removal in Tennessee. Thanks to the Alliance for Appalachia for sponsoring this trip and for remaining vigilantly supportive of SOCM's work on these key issues.
As members travel to the Capitol, we are also gearing up for a meeting with our state OSM office next week. On June 9th at 1 p.m., members of the E3 Committee will be meeting with the Field Office Director of OSM to discuss the Primacy bill introduced in our legislature earlier this year. We look forward to a productive session of information gathering and hope to gain insight into what SOCM can do in our continued fight against OSM losing primacy. For more information about this bill, check out the Legislative page on the SOCM website or this factsheet produced by the E3 Committee for the 2014 Legislative session.
If you want to join us for this meeting you must RSVP with E3 Committee Chair Stephanie Langley at e3@socm.org.
Submitted by Stephanie Langley
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Jackson Chapter Hosts Successful House Party
Over the past couple of weeks, the Jackson Chapter was working hard to plan its first House Party of the year at the house of Board Member Byanker Cole.
On Saturday, May 31st, the chapter hosted about 40 people at Byanker's house for a wine tasting and silent auction. They met their financial goal of $400 and even had a few new members sign up! A special thanks goes to all the Jackson Chapter members who helped in the planning by inviting their friends, securing silent auction items, and sharing their SOCM experiences.
   
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Do you work at the University of Tennessee or Scripps Network?
SOCM is a member of Community Shares (www.communitysharestn.org), a workplace giving program that makes it easier for you to give to justice organizations in Tennessee.
Community Shares is looking to bring its program to the University of Tennessee and Scripps Network and is interested in talking to members who work there.
If you think your employer would be interested in participating in Community Shares, please contact Linda at linda@socm.org. Any business can participate - big or small. It helps establish the business as a community leader, boost employee morale, and tracking and disbursement of all funds is done by Community Shares -so it's easy!
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Join SOCM!
Your community needs you. |
SOCM Leadership Training
Saturday, June 7
10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ET
Knoxville Friends Meeting House
Knoxville
Maury County Chapter Meeting
Monday, June 9
5:30 - 7 p.m. CT
Shoney's, Carmack Blvd., Columbia
Social Justice Committee Conference Call
Tuesday, June 10
7 - 8 p.m. CT
Contact Brad Wright for more info
Rutherford County Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, June 17
6:30 - 8 p.m. CT
Unity Church, S. Cannon Ave., Murfreesboro
Maury County Chapter Fish Fry
Saturday, June 28
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CT
Corner or Bluegrass & Boswell, Mt. Pleasant
Green-Collar Jobs Committee Meeting
Saturday, June 28
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Cookeville
Other Events of Interest
Class Action Training
June 13 - 15
Highlander Center
New Market, TN
Public Meeting on Lead Contamination and Clean-Up in Mt. Pleasant
Thursday, June 19
7 - 8:30 p.m.
First United Methodist Church, Main St., Mt. Pleasant
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"Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it."
- Maya Angelou
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