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| Community Justice Network for Youth Southern Regional Gathering |
The Community Justice Network for Youth (CJNY) is a program of the W. Haywood
Burns Institute. This program is comprised of community based programs, grassroots
organizations, service providing agencies, residential facilities and advocacy groups
that focus their work on youth of color. The CJNY's primary function is to be a
support network for organizers and practitioners who are on the ground working with
youth who are at risk or already involved in the juvenile or criminal justice systems.
Burns Institute. This program is comprised of community based programs, grassroots
organizations, service providing agencies, residential facilities and advocacy groups
that focus their work on youth of color. The CJNY's primary function is to be a
support network for organizers and practitioners who are on the ground working with
youth who are at risk or already involved in the juvenile or criminal justice systems.
PODER, (People Organized in Defense of Earth and her Resources), joins Cesar E.
Chavez National Holiday Coalition in announcing the launching of a nationwide effort
to win a national holiday for Cesar Chavez, founder and former President of the
United Farm Workers (UFW) on March 31, his birthday.
PODER joins over 65 cities in 30 states calling upon the Congress to establish the
holiday and a day of service and learning for Chavez. Parades, marches, petition
gathering, forums, concerts, festivals, faith based and other events will echo “Si Se
Puede!” Yes We Can, the slogan learned from Cesar Chavez to state their
determination to win national recognition for Chavez.
Cesar Chavez gave our nation and each of us a unique example to live our lives by.
His selfless dedication for farm worker and worker rights, economic justice, civil
rights, environmental justice, peace, nonviolence, empowerment of the poor and
disenfranchised, is a monumental legacy that will inspire all and the generations to
come.
Chavez National Holiday Coalition in announcing the launching of a nationwide effort
to win a national holiday for Cesar Chavez, founder and former President of the
United Farm Workers (UFW) on March 31, his birthday.
PODER joins over 65 cities in 30 states calling upon the Congress to establish the
holiday and a day of service and learning for Chavez. Parades, marches, petition
gathering, forums, concerts, festivals, faith based and other events will echo “Si Se
Puede!” Yes We Can, the slogan learned from Cesar Chavez to state their
determination to win national recognition for Chavez.
Cesar Chavez gave our nation and each of us a unique example to live our lives by.
His selfless dedication for farm worker and worker rights, economic justice, civil
rights, environmental justice, peace, nonviolence, empowerment of the poor and
disenfranchised, is a monumental legacy that will inspire all and the generations to
come.
| Cesar Chavez "Si Se Puede" March 3/29/08 |
Bottom Row/L-R: Bertha Williams, Janie Rangel, Paul Hernandez, Sylvia Herrera, Gus Garcia. Top Row/L-R: Linda
Valdez, Rene Valdez, Isela Gutierrez, Will Harrell, Yvette Rodriguez, Alfredo Santos, Leticia Fonseca, Librado Almanza,
Allen Campbell, Marie Saldana-Rocha, Mike Lydia, Johnny Limon.
Valdez, Rene Valdez, Isela Gutierrez, Will Harrell, Yvette Rodriguez, Alfredo Santos, Leticia Fonseca, Librado Almanza,
Allen Campbell, Marie Saldana-Rocha, Mike Lydia, Johnny Limon.
| Cesar E. Chavez "Si Se Puede!" Award 3-31-08 |
PODER held its Annual Cesar E.Chavez “Si Se Puede!” Awards Dinner on March 31,
2008, where it recognized twenty-one individuals that continue the struggle for justice.
Individuals that help keep the spirit of Cesar E. Chavez alive. You can contact PODER at
472-9921 or email at poder@austin.rr.com if you wish to join the campaign for a national
holiday for Cesar E. Chavez.
PODER continues that legacy of working with colleges, churches, elected officials and
community organizations to achieve justice. We are proud to announce the recipients of
the 2nd Annual Cesar E. Chavez “Si Se Puede!” Awards. These individuals have
demonstrated that “Si Se Puede!’ “Yes we can!” - make a difference!
2008, where it recognized twenty-one individuals that continue the struggle for justice.
Individuals that help keep the spirit of Cesar E. Chavez alive. You can contact PODER at
472-9921 or email at poder@austin.rr.com if you wish to join the campaign for a national
holiday for Cesar E. Chavez.
PODER continues that legacy of working with colleges, churches, elected officials and
community organizations to achieve justice. We are proud to announce the recipients of
the 2nd Annual Cesar E. Chavez “Si Se Puede!” Awards. These individuals have
demonstrated that “Si Se Puede!’ “Yes we can!” - make a difference!
| Councilman Mike Martinez presents PODER with a proclamation for Cesar E. Chavez Day, March 31, 2008 |
| Planting the Seeds of Life PODER's Earth Day - April 22, 2008 |
PODER is guided by the indigenous belief that nature kind and human kind are
interwoven and interlocked. Today, neighborhoods are faced with a common issue of
survival and a crisis of life for this living planet, Mother Earth. Any threat to the
environment endangers us all. In our traditional ways, we view Mother Earth and her
resources as living entities to be honored. People of color are at a point where we must
act to restore world environmental harmony and save Mother Earth for all cultures.
April 22, 2008 marks the 37th Anniversary of Earth Day and PODER is guiding our path in
returning to the indigenous ways of honoring our Mother Earth. We are giving thanks to
the sun, wind, water, and earth which sustain all living creatures. We our honoring our
Mother Earth and her resources through prayer, danza, song, poetry and food.
interwoven and interlocked. Today, neighborhoods are faced with a common issue of
survival and a crisis of life for this living planet, Mother Earth. Any threat to the
environment endangers us all. In our traditional ways, we view Mother Earth and her
resources as living entities to be honored. People of color are at a point where we must
act to restore world environmental harmony and save Mother Earth for all cultures.
April 22, 2008 marks the 37th Anniversary of Earth Day and PODER is guiding our path in
returning to the indigenous ways of honoring our Mother Earth. We are giving thanks to
the sun, wind, water, and earth which sustain all living creatures. We our honoring our
Mother Earth and her resources through prayer, danza, song, poetry and food.
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| PODER held a Protest and Press Conference on Wednesday, June 18th at 11:00 am in front of the Pure Casting Facility, 2110 E. 4th Street (next to Zavala Elementary School). Pure Casting Facility uses and emits various chemicals into the air. Only in East Austin will you find polluting facilities next to an elementary school and in a residential area. PODER and the Young Scholars for Justice (YSJ) addressed the Austin City Council and Councilman Mike Martinez agreed to put together a stakeholders group which will include the City of Austin officials, Pure Casting and PODER to begin the process of relocation. PODER also feels that the Pure Casting property should be purchased with Affordable Housing Bond money and used for the development of real affordable housing. |
| Protect the Health of East Austin Children Relocate Pure Casting Facility! |
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| PODER joined the Southwest Workers Union, Grassroots Leadership, and No Wall- Big Bend in a protest outside of Rep. Ciro Rodriguez’ office in San Antonio, Texas on July 17, 2008. The groups carried a message to Rep. Ciro Rodriguez to denounce his support for the SAVE Act which contains provisions to further expand the border wall and family detention centers. The SAVE Act contains inhumane strategies to address the complex issue of migration to the U.S. |
| No Border Wall! No Family Detention Centers!! NO SAVE ACT!!! San Antoino, TX 7-15-08 |
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| (Photo: Jessica Wilson & Susana Almanza, Chavelo & Christino Herrera) PODER receives grant from Keep Austin Beautiful for the Oak Springs Water Quality and Preserve Project, located at 3101 Oak Springs. This 5.997 acre tract contains natural springs, native plants, wetland, and huge beautiful Oak trees. In 2005 it was a proposed site for a paved shopping center that would have included a dollar store, two fast food joints, and two other 4,000 square foot retail stores. PODER and area residents (with the assistance of Councilman Mike Martinez) protested the plan and convinced the City to purchase the site to protect it from destruction. The site has a partial trail and benches. PODER along with other groups plan to educate the community about this treasure and engage people in its restoration, maintenance, and use by families as a green space. You may visit Keep Austin Beautiful at keepaustinbeautiful.org |
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| 3rd Social Forum of the Americas |
Over 10,000 people attended the 3rd Social Forum of the Americas- Otro Mundo Es
Posible! (Another World is Possible!) in Guatemala – October 7 – 12th , 2008. The
Forum was recognized as the “Foro de la Resistencia!” (The Forum of Resistence!).
A ceremonial Blessing by the Mayans and revolutionary music opened the hearts
and spirits of those attending the forum. “Somos Americanos, Somos en Canto”,
were the words that spoke to the crowds.
Posible! (Another World is Possible!) in Guatemala – October 7 – 12th , 2008. The
Forum was recognized as the “Foro de la Resistencia!” (The Forum of Resistence!).
A ceremonial Blessing by the Mayans and revolutionary music opened the hearts
and spirits of those attending the forum. “Somos Americanos, Somos en Canto”,
were the words that spoke to the crowds.
| Festival De Las Plantas |
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| Protect our Children’s Health! Relocate Pure Casting! Build Affordable Housing! The Pure Casting facility (2110 E. 4th Street) is a polluter of heavy metals and uses hazardous chemicals in our East Austin neighborhood. Pure Casting is located right next to Zavala Elementary School and surrounded by homes. East Austin needs your support in protecting the health of our children and the residents that live in the area. It is crucial that we let the City Council and Pure Casting know that we will not allow children to be exposed to hazardous chemicals! The Pure Casting facility is an ideal location to build affordable housing. It is 30,152 sq. ft. of land. The City Council should use the Affordable Housing Bond money ($55 million) to purchase the site. This site abuts to the property owned by the City of Austin (the Brown Building on Chicon & E. 4th Street). Call you Mayor Will Wynn Council members at 974-2250. Let’s keep our children safe from harmful chemicals. Download this letter that PODER sent to the Mayor and City Council Members. Please send a letter from your group, neighborhood association or you as an individual to your city council members. Help us to protect the health of our children. Also, please join PODER and area residents at the Bond Oversight Committee Meeting on Thursday, February 5th, 2009 at 8:00 am at City Hall. PODER is recommending that some of the $10.9 million Affordable Housing Bond money be used to purchase the current Pure Casting site and to build the needed affordable housing. |
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| PODER's 2008 Holiday Fundraiser Thanks to all who attended! |
| Oak Springs Preserve Clean-up & Community Planting Sunday 11/23/08---THANK YOU! |
PODER would like to express heartfelt gratitude to all of our wonderful volunteers
and donors from Austin Bible Fellowship, Booker T. Washington Housing, and all the
community members who came out to pick up trash, clear weeds and debris, and
plant native trees and perennials at the Springs. Together we transformed the
preserve into a friendly green space and planted nearly 400 plants and trees in the
flowerbeds along the trail. We could not have done this without them, and we
encourage folks in East Austin to get involved and enjoy this East Austin treasure.
Please contact carmen.llanes@gmail.com or call 472-9921 for info on future events
and volunteer opportunities at Oak Springs Preserve.
and donors from Austin Bible Fellowship, Booker T. Washington Housing, and all the
community members who came out to pick up trash, clear weeds and debris, and
plant native trees and perennials at the Springs. Together we transformed the
preserve into a friendly green space and planted nearly 400 plants and trees in the
flowerbeds along the trail. We could not have done this without them, and we
encourage folks in East Austin to get involved and enjoy this East Austin treasure.
Please contact carmen.llanes@gmail.com or call 472-9921 for info on future events
and volunteer opportunities at Oak Springs Preserve.
| Texas Advocating Justice for Juveniles Communities Setting Priorities for Action: Summer 2008 Report (pdf format) |
| PODER's Newsletter Xinachtli 2008 Newsletter (MS Publisher format) |
Susana Almanza, Coordinator for Texas Coalition Advocating Justice for Juveniles
(TCAJJ) presented testimony December 15, 2008, on the Sunset Advisory
Commission recommendations set forth in the November, 2008, Sunset Staff Report
on the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
(TJPC) and the Office of the Independent Ombudsman (OIO).
(TCAJJ) presented testimony December 15, 2008, on the Sunset Advisory
Commission recommendations set forth in the November, 2008, Sunset Staff Report
on the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
(TJPC) and the Office of the Independent Ombudsman (OIO).
| TCAJJ Sunset Commission Hearing Letter (MS Word) |
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| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and civil rights activist; he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968). Austinites celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 19, 2008. |
| MLK March 1-19-09, Austin Texas |
| In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and in the spirit of our President-Elect's call for a day of service young people from American Youthworks/Environmental Corps partnered with PODER and Treefolks to plant trees and clear trash at Oak Springs Preserve (located at 3160 Oak Springs Dr, at the corner of Airport Blvd) on January 17, 2009. |
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On Wednesday, the day after President Barack Obama’s inauguration, members of
the Austin and San Antonio communities joined in a national day of action to tell the
incoming administration that we are still hoping for real change we can believe in with
a rally at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in San Antonio.
Rally participants recognize this as a historic moment of change and are asking
President Obama for support and action during his first 100 days of his presidency
to:
1) End the family detention policy
2) End immigration raids
3) End Operation Streamline
4) End construction of the border wall and
5) End ICE-local law enforcement collaboration.
the Austin and San Antonio communities joined in a national day of action to tell the
incoming administration that we are still hoping for real change we can believe in with
a rally at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in San Antonio.
Rally participants recognize this as a historic moment of change and are asking
President Obama for support and action during his first 100 days of his presidency
to:
1) End the family detention policy
2) End immigration raids
3) End Operation Streamline
4) End construction of the border wall and
5) End ICE-local law enforcement collaboration.
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| Protesting Anti-Immigrant Policies - San Antonio, Texas ICE Office |