 |
When we first saw Proposition 6 on the horizon in late 2007, we knew we had a big fight on our hands. In the same vein as Prop 21 and Three Strikes, Prop 6 was a "tough-on-crime" initiative that proposed incarceration and enforcement as the only solutions to crime and violence. We worked to create a coalition that included unions, grassroots and youth organizations, and the Democratic Party. It worked: Prop 6 was defeated by a wide margin, failing to win a single county. Our hard work is paying off as Californians begin to realize the true costs -- not just monetary, but also in lives and destroyed communities -- of an incarceration-only approach to justice.
The first group of trainees has already begun learning the skills they'll need to get meaningful, family-supporting work in the green economy. Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and many more elected officials and community leaders joined us recently to celebrate the launch of the Oakland Green Jobs. Olivia Caldwell, a member of the inaugural class, explained: "With this training, I can provide for the future of my one-year-old daughter and the future of our planet." We applaud Olivia and her classmates for having the courage to pioneer the path to a career in the growing green-collar sector. And thanks to everyone who worked so hard to create the Green Jobs Corps!
When Van co-founded the Ella Baker Center more than 10 years ago, he started with a clear vision for urban America: justice in the system, opportunity in our cities, and peace on our streets. With the release of his first book, The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems, our shared values are going mainstream! In its first week, the book climbed to #12 on the New York Times Bestseller List, marking the first time an environmental book by an African American author appeared on the list. Hundreds of thousands of Americans will learn about our work to fight poverty and pollution at the same time. Order your copy if you haven't already!
After passing by wide margins in both the Assembly and the Senate, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed the Family Communication Act into law. Sponsored by State Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) and supported by Books Not Bars, the Family Communication and Rehabilitation Act (SB 1250) would make it cheaper and easier for family members to stay in touch with their loved ones who are locked up in state youth prisons, regardless of economic or language barriers. The governor also signed another bill supported by Books Not Bars, the Keeping Families Whole Act (AB 2070, sponsored by Karen Bass), which will help families stay together when a parent is incarcerated.
The Seminary Avenue area of Oakland has seen some of the worst violence in Oakland this year. In order to raise awareness about the problem and foster dialogue around solutions, Silence The Violence recently hosted a community forum at the Seminary YMCA. Attended by 100 young people and families from the neighborhood, we gave people a space to talk about ways we can work all together to bring peace to our streets. But you need more than talking and panels to inspire youth to action -- our program included performances by Silence The Violence youth and displays of Scraper Bike solidarity. Check out some pictures of the event here.
|
|
