REMINDER: Racial Profiling and Policing of Youth in New Bedford

A Community Conversation Wednesday, April 14th 5:30pm - 7:00 pm Register Here bit.ly/wearetheprey The YWCA together with numerous co-sponsors listed below are pleased to host a community conversation where Citizens for Juvenile Justice (CFJJ) will launch its report, "We Are the Prey: Racial Profiling and Policing of Youth in New Bedford." Analyzing New Bedford Police Department data, the report documents how the NBPD targets young people of color in lower-income neighborhoods in a white-majority city. The report contains recommendations from CFJJ and from New Bedford youth to reform policing in the city, including in the areas of racial profiling, gang...

In case you missed: Guns, Safety and the Edge of Adulthood

If you missed “Guns, Safety and the Edge of Adulthood,” a Youth Justice Forum cohosted with Citizens for Juvenile Justice, featuring researchers from Center for Court Innovation, and panelists from Boston Public Health Commission, Legendary Legacies Inc., New North Citizens' Council, and others — you still have a chance to view the video and presentation. CFJJ has posted a link to the program, slides used, and their recommendation for legislative priorities. You can also view a recording of the forum on Facebook: if you would like to have further conversations or programs on this topic, please reach out to the...

Wakefield School Committee to host tribal leaders to discuss their mascot

[caption id="attachment_1586" align="aligncenter" width="800"] "Protest against Washington football team name”, by Fibonacci Blue, licensed under CC by 2.0[/caption] The Wakefield School Committee and district administrators will host a panel made up of tribal leaders and representatives from around the state. The public panel will be held virtually on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. https://patch.com/massachusetts/wakefield/wakefield-invites-tribal-leaders-discuss-school-logo Participants will discuss the use of Native American imagery in school logos and related visual materials. The panel comes as Wakefield reconsiders the "Warriors" name and logo for the high school. Over 3,000 people have signed a petition to change the school mascot, calling it "a harmful...

Racism: Dismantling the System

The LSU Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs, in partnership with Southern University's Nelson Mandela College of Government & Social Sciences, Louisiana Budget Project, NAACP Louisiana State Conference and LSU Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is pleased to present Racism: Dismantling the System, an ongoing series of conversations about structural racism and solution-oriented action toward equal opportunity and justice in our communities. The series will amplify the voices of community advocates, academics, journalists and more working for social justice in our nation and beyond. For more information, to see videos of previous discussions, and to register for upcoming...

SROs and Juvenile Justice

For anyone unable to join last night's presentation on Juvenile Justice and SRO's — you missed an absolutely great program! Moriah Wiggins, Founding Co-Chair of IMPACT (Improving Multicultural Presence & Advocating for Community Transformation), co-hosted the Zoom meeting with Branch President Dr. LaSella Hall. Presenters included: Leon Smith, Esq., Executive Director, and Joshua Dankoff from Citizens for Juvenile Justice; Matthew Cregor, Staff Attorney, Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee; and Ricardo Rosa, Ph.D., Co-chair, New Bedford Coalition to Save Our Schools/. In addition, we were joined by a number of members of the community, including school committee members and School Superintendent...

19th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast

19th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast Friday, January 29 9:00-11:00 a.m. On Friday, January 29, 2021, from 9 – 11 a.m., UMass Dartmouth will host the 19th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast in a virtual format featuring a keynote address by social justice activist Tamika D. Mallory, remarks from recently appointed Interim Chancellor Mark Fuller, and performances by the student-led D'SWORD Gospel Choir. The event’s theme Call to Action: Then and Now, will look back at the activist actions of Dr. King and how that legacy has translated into current racial equality movements. The...

YWCA Post-Election Panel

On Thursday, November 12th, 2020 a group of panelists convened by the YWCA Southeastern MA met over Zoom to discuss the state of affairs following the 2020 Presidential election and outlined priorities for after the election. Panelists offered updates with information on how to support our community during this year of tremendous and seismic changes. Panelists were Gail Fortes (YWCA Southeastern MA), Jennifer E. DeBarros, PhD (NorthStar Learning Centers, Inc.), Lisa M. Lemieux (1199 SEIU), Dr. LaSella Hall (NAACP New Bedford Branch), Andy Pollock (SouthCoast LGBTQ+ Network), Helena da Silva Hughes (Immigrants Assistance Center), and Dr. Juli Parker (UMass Dartmouth...

NBCSOS – USOS forum on school safety during COVID-19

New Bedford Coalition to Save Our Schools (NBCSOS) in Collaboration with Uniting to Save Our Schools (USOS) Presents a Community Forum What does it mean to safely return to schools? How do we build power to demand safety & equity? Please join us this Thursday from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. for an online community forum on school re-opening during the COVID-19 Pandemic and impacts on students in special education and other vulnerable populations. You may join the forum by clicking the link below/copying the link into your browser. A meeting ID and passcode are also provided in case you need...

UMassD webinar: Vote 2020 – What to Expect

On October 28th the UMass Dartmouth Student Government Association sponsored a Zoom webinar titled VOTE 2020: "What to Expect," hosted by Student Government Association President Elizabeth Anusaukas and Student Trustee Dakeyla Johnson, which asked a four-person panel for their thoughts on how the 2020 election might unfold. Kenneth Manning, UMassD Professor of Political Science; Dwight Duncan, UMassD Law School Professor; Dr. LaSella Hall, NAACP New Bedford President; and Alex Psilakis, Policy and Communications Manager at MassVOTE all offered their views. You can watch a recording of the webinar here.

2020 Stand for Justice High School Graduate Scholarship Awards

Because of COVID-19 we were unable to hold our annual Freedom Fund Breakfast last June. Our backup date in August was a bit over-optimistic, so plan C was to hold an informal awards ceremony in the Fall. Thanks to our donors — many from the community who really stepped up this year — we were able to hold the 2020 Stand for Justice High School Graduate Scholarship Fund ceremony on October 10th. Despite clouds, chill, wind, masks and social distancing, the ceremony was joyous and successful. Ten students received awards in 2020: Yileisy Almada (New Bedford Voc), attending Bay Path...