 info@eraseracismny.org
Phone: (516)-921-4863
Fax: (516)-921-4866
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President's Message
The days before and after the Labor Day Holiday are frequently days of reflection and new beginning for me and, I suspect, for many of you. This year, however, was unique because 1963 was a watershed year for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and '60s. The movement had many ups and downs in its struggle to break the vestiges of slavery that remained so visible and extreme in the southern states, which were shaped by Jim Crow Segregation.
August 28, 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. This year, on Wednesday, August 28th, thousands of us marched and heard speeches and lifted our voices to celebrate the people who were the civil rights movement and the successful outcomes of that civil rights movement. Read more about the 50th anniversary celebration below, as well as a Forbes article in which I was interviewed about continuing structural barriers to equality.
On that same day, August 28th, our attorneys from Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady, LLP filed a lawsuit in federal district court (E.D.N.Y.) on our behalf. The complaint alleges housing discrimination against African Americans on the part of the owners and managers of an apartment building in the Village of Mineola. You can see an article below and our press release about the lawsuit, the Complaint that was filed, and related media on our website.
In this newsletter you can also read about funding that is expanding our programs including our Legal Action Fund and grants from the Long Island Community Foundation and Manhasset Community Fund Greentree Foundation's Good Neighbor Fund. There is also a new section highlighting civil rights related news items in "Other News".
Finally, please welcome the newest member to the ERASE Racism team, Stella Miller, my new Executive Assistant.
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"Apartment for Rent" Sign Does Not
Apply to African Americans 
On Wednesday, August 28, 2013, ERASE Racism, the Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC), and three African American testers filed a lawsuit in federal district court (E.D.N.Y.) alleging that the owners and managers of an apartment building in the Village of Mineola discriminate against African American renters. To read the press release, see a copy of the complaint and more, please go to our Housing page.
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50th Anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
August 28th marked the 50th anniversary of the historic
March on Washington For Jobs and Freedom and Dr. Martin Luther King's famous and inspiring "I Have a Dream" speech. The occasion was commemorated by a week-long celebration which included marches, two large rallies, speeches, ceremonies and services. ERASE Racism President, Elaine Gross, was in DC on the 28th. As someone who tirelessly fights for racial equity, she states "I felt I had to be there. It was the least that I could do. And it was the best thing I could do to reinvigorate myself for the work that ERASE Racism is doing on Long Island and in the New York Region."
When asked if her experiences in DC altered her thinking about the local and regional work of ERASE Racism, she replied, "Our focus will continue to be strategically fighting the inequities in housing, education, health and other areas. It doesn't matter if the problems are fueled by old fashioned discrimination or by embedded racial segregation. Sometimes the racism is obvious and sometimes it exists under the radar with so-called "race neutral' zoning and housing policies, public school district boundaries and student tracking policies that limit access to opportunity for many black and brown students. We will be stepping up our efforts to strengthen and organize individuals and organizations who share our mission and are willing and able to stand up for fairness and equity on Long Island and in the broader New York region."
As Elaine was in DC, ERASE Racism board member, Marge Rogatz and her husband Peter, recalled attending the first March in 1963 for Newsday. For their recollections, please visit Newsday's website.
Update On Dr. King's Dream: Structural Barriers That Many Don't See Still Hold Back Progress And Equality, An Interview with Elaine Gross
As stated above, Aug  ust 28th marked the 50th Anniversary of the historic March on Washington, a massive and well-organized demonstration that served as the symbolic unifying run-up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights At of 1965, the Federal legislation that ended America's formal system of segregation. But, five decades on, equality of opportunity remains at best an elusive goal. Elaine Gross, President of ERASE Racism, offers her thoughts on this topic in this thought-provoking Forbes Interview. |
Funding Fuels Program Expansions
Legal Action Fund
In August we mailed out a Special Appeal to past supporters of ERASE Racism asking for contributions to our new Legal Action Fund.
Thank you to everyone who responded so generously! This appeal launches our campaign to raise much needed funds for additional staff and resources. In order to carry out significant new strategies, such as the above mentioned Mineola lawsuit, we must raise and leverage funding. If you haven't already contributed, please consider making a donation now on our donation page.
Be sure to let us know that you are contributing towards the campaign. This funding is critical as we move forward to shape a more racially integrated Long Island. All donors are acknowledged on the ERASE Racism website.
ERASE Racism Gets Boost to Address Racial Disparities in Long Island's Public Schools
ERASE Racism has received a $20,000 grant from the Long Island Community Foundation in support of the our Education Equity Campaign. "We are very pleased and grateful to receive this grant from LICF. It will help to continue the important work we are doing to address the educational disparities in Long Island's schools," says ERASE Racism's President Elaine Gross.
Manhasset Community Fund Supports
Student Leadership Program
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4th Annual Student Leadership Forum
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We're excited to announce that our next Student Leadership Forum will be held in North Hempstead on November 16, 2013, thanks to
a $7,500 grant from the Manhasset Community Fund Greentree Foundation's Good Neighbor Fund, which was begun in 2003 to address priority needs in the Town of North Hempstead.
ERASE Racism's Student Leadership Program will offer a one-day workshop that teaches high-school students about the history of race and racism in the U.S., how it continues to have an impact on one's opportunities, and the changes that can be made to bring about more racial equity. The learning experiences and activities are designed to build teamwork and enhance leadership skills. Students deepen their understanding of race and racism and explore positive responses to address issues of racial discrimination, negative stereotypes and prejudice. The full-day workshop is led by adult facilitators from ERASE Racism. To date, approximately 300 high school students have taken part in the Program.
It is not too late to register for the November 16th workshop! To learn more about ERASE Racism's Student Leadership Program, please visit the student page on our website or call 516-921-4863 to register.
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New Executive Assistant to the President
Stella Miller joins ERASE Racism with almost 20 years of experience in supporting top level executives in both corporate and nonprofit settings. In her role as Executive Assistant, Stella will assist President Elaine Gross with a wide range of projects and activities including coordinating volunteers, events, and communications. Prior to ERASE Racism, she was employed by The Early Years Institute in Plainview as Coalition Coordinator/Assistant to the President and before that, at Ernst & Young, LLP in Melville as Executive Assistant to the Director. "In 2012 I was introduced to ERASE Racism while attending an Unraveling Racism Training program and was drawn to the organization's mission and work, which led me on the journey to my new position as Executive Assistant to the President", says Ms. Miller. A lifelong Long Island resident, Ms. Miller is an active conservationist in the community. This combination of experience in both supportive roles and as a community leader enables Ms. Miller to bring a unique set of talent, skills and abilities to her position at ERASE Racism.
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Things You May Have Missed!
You may have missed some videos from our most recent events. Check out our videos, including the 2013 Annual Benefit, the 2013 ERASE Racism Youth Event with Kenneth Chenault, Elaine Gross Delivering the 4th Annual Civil Rights and Public Policy Lecture at Touro Law Center here! |
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Other News...
As reported by The New York Times, on August 12th a ruling was handed down by District Court Judge Shira A. Scheindlin stating that the New York Police Department's stop-and-frisk tactics violated the constitutional rights of people of color in New York.
That same day, during a speech to the American Bar Association, Attorney General Eric Holder called for "sweeping, systemic changes" to the American judicial system, urging "a frank and constructive dialogue about the need to reform a broken system." He pointed out that mandatory minimums do not serve public safety. What they do instead is have a "destabilizing effect on particular communities, largely poor and of color". The full speech can be found on C-Span's video library. For ERASE Racism's summary of these rulings, please visit our website.
August Wilson's American Century Cycle at The Green Space
Taking a different turn in the news, American playwright August Wilson's celebrated 10-play cycle depicting 100 years of African American life during each decade of the 20th century is being featured at The Green Space. This historic series showcases an extraordinary cast of actors and directors - many who worked directly with Wilson - as they gather to make the first-ever recording of all ten plays. The series kicked off Monday, August 26, bringing together many longtime Wilson collaborators and interpreters. For more information about this incredible series, please visit The Green Space!
Special Screening of "The Loving Story" at Hamptons Take 2 Documentary
Film Festival
Sunday, September 22, 2013 at 4pm
Bay Street Theatre, Sag Harbor
Discussion to follow screening. $15 ticket at the door
This is the story of a couple who were driven to pave the way for social justice and equal rights through a historic Supreme Court case; Loving v. Virginia, which overturned bans on interracial marriage in 16 states. Visit the Film Festival website for more details!
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