ERASE RACISM'S NEWSLETTER ABOUT RESEARCH, TRENDS, AND OUR WORK
EMERGE

February 2014
In This Issue
President's Message
Funding Announcement
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
Housing Discrimination Litigation
In Other News
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President's Message
Elaine Headshot

 

This year ERASE Racism is celebrating the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  You will hear more about this momentous advancement of civil rights in the coming months.  The first in a series of articles appears in this issue of EMERGE.

 

There is a brief update on ERASE Racism's housing discrimination litigation below. We have also re-posted the link to a public radio program called This American Life in the Other News section below. This episode is focused on fair housing. Anyone who wants to learn more about fair housing and everyone who thinks they know everything there is to know about fair housing should listen to this program.

 

The board and staff of ERASE Racism are very grateful for the many individuals, organizations and foundations that support our work.  We post the names of all of our funders on our website. While all donations are equally appreciated, whether large or small, it seems appropriate to make special mention of two substantial, renewal grants for 2014: The Ford Foundation and Community Advocates.  Find out more in the article below.

 

February is Black History Month and there are many interesting events to experience during this month.  In the Other News section, you will find links to Long Island events and also New York City listings.  

  

Warm regards,

 
 
 

 

 

Elaine Gross

President

ERASE Racism Begins Year with Funding from 

The Ford Foundation and

 Community Advocates, Inc.Funding 

ERASE Racism has received a most welcome renewal grant of $200,000 from the Ford Foundation to advance nondiscriminatory affordable housing through a range of advocacy and legal strategies on Long Island and in the New York Metro region. Since its establishment, ERASE Racism has worked to identify and address housing discrimination and segregation on Long Island.  Recognizing our accomplishments to date, the Ford Foundation is continuing to support our local work, as well as encouraging our collaborative work in the New York Metro Region.

Marge Rogatz, President, Community Advocates, Inc. and Elaine Gross, President, ERASE Racism

For the third successive year, Community Advocates, Inc., (CA) has begun the year by giving ERASE Racism the first of two $25,000 gifts that will total $50,000 for the year. Marge Rogatz, president of CA and founding board member and officer of ERASE Racism, said that, "Community Advocates shares ERASE Racism's mission and goals and has been a supporter and strong ally since its inception. We are proud to give this unrestricted grant in support of ERASE Racism's groundbreaking work to eliminate the structural and institutional racism that denies African Americans and Latinos full access to opportunity on Long Island and elsewhere." 

  

"We are very happy to receive this funding from both Ford Foundation and Community Advocates, which will allow us to continue this critical work." says ERASE Racism President Elaine Gross.

Celebrating the Civil Rights Act of 1964CivilRights  

 

The year 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  This historic legislation prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in voter registration, public accommodations, employment and other sectors.  The process of passing the Civil Rights Act was begun in 1963 after President Kennedy called for legislation protecting Americans from discrimination in public facilities. The Act was not passed during Kennedy's presidency, but President Johnson continued the push for such legislation after Kennedy's assassination. 

 

The month of February represents a significant milestone for civil rights. After 70 days of public hearings, 5,792 pages of public testimony and almost 100 proposed amendments, the Civil Rights Bill was finally brought to a vote in the House of Representatives on February 10, 1964, where it passed by a margin of 290 to 130 and was then sent to the Senate for passage.  

Housing Discrimination Litigation  

Town House UpdateUpdate

On 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.  The case is pending before the court and a settlement conference to discuss potential terms for settlement of the case is scheduled for February. 

IN OTHER NEWS
Celebrating Black History MonthEvents

This American Life
Where you live is important. It can dictate quality of schools and hospitals, as well as things like cancer rates, unemployment, or whether the city repairs roads in your neighborhood. This American Life is a weekly public radio show broadcast on more than 500 stations to about 2.1 million listeners. In this episode, House Rules, stories about destiny by address. 

 Black History Month EventsBlackHistory

Celebrate the achievements of African Americans throughout history by taking part in these events.  Newsday's guide to Long Island events can be found here.  For events in New York City, check out the NYC Official Guide listings.  

 

 

 
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