The Diversity Projekt
Empowerment for All People of Color
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Facing Deportation – Stand with Julio and Denis
I recently posted about the impending deportation of Julio Maldonado and Denis Calderon after being falsely prosecuted for defending themselves against a racially-motivated attack. I recently received the below email from Dave Bennion of Citizen Orange which he received from the families.Join me tomorrow at a community meeting and rally for Julio and Denis!
Date and Time: Sunday, October 4, 3:30 p.m.
Location: Houston Community Center, 2029 South 8th Street (8th & Snyder, South Philadelphia)I am emailing about the case of Julio Maldonado and Denis Calderon, two cousins from Peru who were attacked for racial reasons, wrongfully convicted in Philadelphia, and now stand on the brink of deportation from their U.S. citizen families. We will be holding a rally/community meeting one week from today to raise awareness about Julio and Denis’s case.
Julio finished his federal prison sentence on September 12. ICE attempted to deport him last week–we don’t know why it didn’t happen, this information came indirectly through backchannels since DHS is not telling the family much. There is currently no legal impediment to Julio’s deportation. That is why it is urgent that Governor Rendell take action on the pending pardon and that DHS exercise its discretion to stop the deportation until a decision on the pardon can be reached.
Seth Williams (Dem candidate for Philadelphia District Attorney) has still not accounted for his role in this injustice as the prosecutor on the case who ran an incomplete, biased prosecution. These are among the topics we’ll be discussing at the meeting, along with the role of Philadelphia law enforcement in breaking up immigrant families today–this was a problem in 1996 when Julio and Denis were attacked and it is even more of a problem today.
Crosspost – Swirl Standing with Atlanta’s LGBT Community
This is crossposted fromthe SwirlBlog:
From time to time we are compelled to stand up for what is right and condemn what is wrong. Swirl is a committed ally of the LGBT community. Therefore we felt compelled to voice our outrage about the recent Atlanta Police Department raid of the Atlanta Eagle, a long-standing LGBT establishment in the Atlanta community.
Dear Citizens:
As directors of the Atlanta and Philadelphia chapters of Swirl Inc, a national multi-racial organization focused on challenging notions of race through community building, education and action, we are outraged by the Atlanta Police Department’s raid of the Atlanta Eagle on September 10, 2009. We are troubled by the lack of transparency from City Government and Law Enforcement, as there has been little clarity about the charges filed against the owners of the Eagle or those who were arrested.
See full Op-Ed here!
IdeaCamp Here I Come
After heading out to Philly Sips with ABC Pastor otherwise known as LT, I decided that I would make an appearance at IdeaCamp DC. IdeaCamp is one of several unconferences that have ignited throughout the country – a grass roots movement if you will. The DC edition will focus on cultivating relationships, providing technical assistance and developing partnerships within the social justice community.I don’t have any concrete expectations, but am looking forward to meeting some new people outside of my immediate network. Make some new connections, learn something new……perhaps even set the stage for some new collaborations.
I’ve connected with a few other queer Christians who are going, so I can’t wait to touch base Saturday night. Plans are to go out in DC. I am interested in forming more queer-positive spaces throughout Christendom.
Either way, it should be a good time. I am staying Fri – Sun, so if any of my DC folk want to get together for brunch on Sunday, let me know.
New Chapter for New Beginnings
A passionate advocate, a “pesky” reporter and a few blog posts, and the Bensalem Township School Board decided to “reconsider” it’s ruling to cut the New Beginnings Program at Bensalem High School. The trade off – 700 service hours in the upcoming fiscal year instead of 1000.
I learned something new today about Patti’s program. Not only are these young parents graduating from high school at phenomenal rates, but many go on to lead incredible lives. Two of her former students addressed the Board tonight – one is graduating community college and will soon enroll in a nursing program, and the other is currently working at Jefferson.
Well done! Thank you for your comments (on and off site) and your prayers!
The School Board will most likely need to re-address funding issues surrounding New Beginnings sometime during the new fiscal year. Seeking alternative funding streams is most likely going to be a necessity, since the long-term repercussions of tonight’s cut in capacity will not go unnoticed by the community in need of these services.
ACTION ITEM! Please keep your eyes open for private (or government) grants that will fund direct services and/or advocacy for teen pregnancy/parenting.
On a side note – tonight was the first time in years that I really felt a part of a community. Perhaps it was the mission-orientedness of it all. My hunch, it was the people. Several Wellians came out in solidarity and support of Patti and her kids. Some of us went to Rita’s afterwards to celebrate. Yeah, Evan – I finally had Rita’s after more than 7 years.
“New Beginnings” at Risk
As many of you know, I have been attending The Well in Feasterville, PA, since January of this year. While my transition from the Orthodox Church to an evangelical Protestant church has been challenging at times, I have begin to make some connections that are important to me. The people at The Well are what have made my transition a little less painful.
Patti is one of those people.
Recently, Patti shared with me that her program at Bensalem High School that provides vital support to teen parents who struggle with staying in school while raising children was in danger of being cut due to the economic budget crisis. This past Sunday she informed us that the program’s closing was eminent unless the School Board was convinced otherwise. I do not live in Bucks Co., PA, so I cannot address the School Boad directly. But I do have this blog and people who continually return to learn about the issues that I care deeply about.I have asked Patti to share with us a little bit about her job at “New Beginnings”, and why cancelling this program will have a detrimental impact on the young parents that have come to reply on their services.
I encourage you to attend the School Board meeting on Wednesday May 27 at 7pm at 3000 Donallen Drive, Bensalem, PA 19020, and if you are a Bucks Co. resident, please consider speaking in support of the continued operation of this program!
TDP: Tell me about your job and how you were lead to your work?
Patti: 16 years ago, when I was ready to re-enter the work force I was looking for a job that would allow me to make a difference in my community while working with the youth population. As a mother of young children, I also wanted a work schedule compatible with my children’s schedules. The pregnant and parenting teen coordinator position at Bensalem High School was the perfect combination of all those requirements.
In my 16 years as coordinator/counselor, the program has expanded to include a fatherhood component that provides support and information for teen dads. We also developed a summer camp program with an emphasis on parenting skills while simultaneously helping students address issues (day care, homelessness, etc.) that may interfere with a return to school in September (camp was always funded by an external grant and has never been paid for with school district monies). Bensalem Township has partnered with the other Lower Bucks County School districts to apply for State grant funds that offset a portion of the cost of the New Beginnings program.
In my part-time position as coordinator/counselor, I provide direct services, access to community services, educational and group support, and advocacy support within the school system and the community for student participants. The number of students varies from year to year, but has been gradually increasing for the past four years and has peaked at 27 students at this point in time. Eleven of those students are due to graduate, which means that there will be at least 16 pregnant or parenting students expected back in the fall.
New Beginnings has maintained a graduation rate of over 90% throughout the 16 years I have been here. That is an excellent standard that will be impossible to maintain without specialized support.
TDP: What is the recent school board decision?
Patti: The school board voted in the proposed budget to completely cut the New Beginnings Program, along with 4 teachers, a secretary, and a non-teaching assistant (a discipline position). All of these positions are at the high school, so the general cuts will create a higher student/staff ratio, meaning there is less all around support for the high school population within our district, not to mention the complete loss of specialized support for pregnant and parenting teens.
TDP: How does it impact the students in your program?
Patti: The students in my program will be left with no specialized support to assist them in the process of accomplishing graduation from high school. As these students navigate the maze of pre-natal care, day care and day care subsidy, health insurance, health complications (for themselves & their children), three-generational living, financial stressors, educational pressures, and the list goes on; there will be no one within the school district to be sure that these kids get access to the supports that they need in order to succeed. Inevitably some of this population will fall through the cracks, drop out, and struggle to find a way to support themselves and their families.
TDP: What do you think are the long-term repercussions if the school board’s decision stands?
Patti: Long term, the consequences of a higher drop out rate will inevitably lead to a higher rate of welfare dependence for a longer period of time. Today’s teen parents will struggle to help their children succeed educationally because they’ve been left without adequate support to accomplish the goal themselves. There will also be a toll of a higher incidence of crime, drug & alcohol abuse, and other less appealing alternatives because good choices may seem out of reach for these kids.
TDP: How can people help? What are some action items?
Patti: Let the decision-makers know that you believe in paying a small amount of tax money now to prevent the large financial, personal, and societal cost that will ensue if we don’t. Voice your support at school board meetings ~ the next school board meeting will be held at 3000 Donallen Drive, Bensalem PA 19020 on May 27th, 2009. The final budget will be voted in at the board meeting on June 10th, 2009.
You can also express your support for the New Beginnings Program (the support program for pregnant and parenting teens at Bensalem High School) by emailing the school board members as follows:
Harry R. Kramer, President - hkramer@bensalemsd.org
Eugene A. Rothenberg, Vice President – erothenbe@bensalemsd.org
James A. Bodnar – jbodnar@bensalemsd.org
Dr. Lewis J. Brandt – lbrandt@bensalemsd.org
Rose Jacobs – rjacobs@bensalemsd.org
Carol T. Jones – cjones@bensalemsd.org
Carol L. McGuire – cmcguire@bensalemsd.org
Heather D. Nicholas – hnicholas@bensalemsd.org
Dr. Stephen C. Nowmos – snowmos@bensalemsd.org
And, you can contact the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent and Acting Director of Pupil Personnel as follows:
Dr. James D. Lombardo, District Superintendent – 215-750-2800Ext. 4100 email: jlombardo@bensalemsd.org
Dr. William J. Gretzula, Assistant Superintendent – 215-750-2800 Ext. 4103 email: wgretzula@bensalemsd.org
Ms. Tammy Wood, Acting Director of Pupil Personnel – 215-750-2800 Ext. 4108 email: twood@bensalemsd.org
Fragments of Life Converge…..
When I was working in the corporate sector, I held a series of jobs. Strung together they constructed a fairly successful career. Yet, there was always something missing. I always ended my day feeling unfulfilled and drained. Never did I feel like I was making a positive impact on someone’s life. In fact, I often felt like I was harming others, perpetuating their exploitation. Yeah, I know. It sounds a bit “down with The Man”. You just see a lot of distasteful things in corporate immigration legal work, things that turn your stomach and make you question your own ethical foundation.
I am extremely grateful that God placed an “opportunity” at my feat last August. While the layoff was initially a shock, it has truly turned into a blessing far beyond my own comprehension. After several months on unemployment, I began to panic. I had placed 30+ job submissions for every position under the sun and became increasingly concerned with the lack of call-backs. I finally got a few call backs early November. I came across an extremely intimidating job posting was I was preparing for one of my interviews. My first reaction was to not apply even though the mission of the organization was something I had been long interested in. After some prodding and coaxing from friends (Monica and Alexis), I finally submitted my application. Less than 24 hours later I received a call from the office manager requesting an interview for the following Monday. Three weeks later I had a job offer.
So, here I am. My personal activism has blended with my professional activism. I have yet to figure out how much it should influence content on TDP. I’ve refrained from blogging about it too much, but I would like to. I’ve tended to blog more about my spiritual journey which resonates even less with this blog’s mission and themes. I have been struggling with maintaining some sort of consistency on TDP – primarily thematically. Blogging is a form of therapy for me. The fragmentation is a reflection of that. My life isn’t one dimensional – no one’s is. Perhaps the struggle for balance is futile as balance isn’t possible. I wonder if I have been trying to force a circle into a square peg (or however that saying goes).
My faith and sexuality is just as fair game as my racial or ethnic identity. In reality, TDP is about me, my life. So on a very basic level, everything is free game. I want to write more about my job – or rather, more about my reactions to what I am learning. I what to document my goals and successes (and failures) professionally, while also delving into my challenges of faith (not sure what else to call it). And of course I want to continue talking about race, ethinicity and culture – diversity, as that is what shapes such a large portion of my life. It may seem disjointed, but taken holistically, it tells a complete story….of me!
On some level I envisioned that this would evolve into a theme-specific blog. I am coming to realize that this particular model may not work for me – it’s far too constricting for a personal blog. So, I am not exactly sure where I am going with “The Diversity Projekt” – but I can say that it will show a bit more about who I am.
I hope that you will stick around to see what happens!
International Women’s Day 2009
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!
Please take this time to remember the incredible women in your life and those that paved the way before you!I could not have asked for a more perfect day! I started my day in fellowship at The Well and then participating in the IWD 2009 Conference in Center City, Philadelphia. I was a bit nervous about speaking, as I rarely get the chance to speak about faith before my peers in the LGBTQ of Color community. It is less stressful speaking before communities I have less of a personal stake in.
I made some great connections. Suraya Pakzad, Executive Director of Voices of Women Organization, came to speak about Women and Violance in Afghanistan. I was also able to finally meet Gloria Casarez, Director of LGBT Affairs for the City of Philadelphia, Virgina Gutierrez, President of the Board at Equality Advocates, and Wahaadah Shabazz-El of Women’s HIV Network.
The Anna Crusis Women’s Choir sang “Bread and Roses” (btw one of my favorite charities) and the Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas performed Aztec ceremonical rituals and dances. I am extremely humbled that people wanted TDP to faciliate new inter-faith LGBT dinscussions. Many also asked for my business card after my presentation. I definitely did not expect that reaction.
I was disappointed not to see Vanessa Brown at the conference. She is one of our newly elected State Representatives. I met her last year at a Progressive Leadership Women of Color brunch. I asked her when I first met her about the ways in which she intended to address LGBTQ issues in her district but did not receive an answer. I thought, perhaps the second time around would be the charm.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
SPONSORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY PHILADELPHIA COALITION
LIBERATION – EQUALITY – JUSTICE!SUNDAY MARCH 8, 2009
PROGRAM12:00- 1:00PM RALLY AND MARCH @ CITY HALL
1:00- 1:30PM MARCH to FAMILY PLANNING COUNCIL
260 S. BROAD STREET1:30- 2:30PM LUNCH/REFRESHMENTS
2:30 – 2:45PM CEREMONIAL OPENING
Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas Featuring Fuego NuevoOPENING/WELCOME/LIBATIONS by Soda Nobuhle, Arleen Olshan
2:45 -3:00PM CULTURAL PERFORMANCE
Anna Crusis Women’s Choir3:00-4:00PM Anti-War and International Union Solidarity
Kathy Black, Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW)The United Nations (UN) Conference on Women
Berta Joubert-CeciSingle Payer Health Care
Patty Eakin, President of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurses
and Allied ProfessionalsWomen and HIV/AIDS
Waheedah Shabazz-El, Women’s HIV NetworkCULTURAL PERFORMANCE
Sisters in Music and Poetry: Monnette Sudler and Trapeta MaysonLesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Communities – A Political Perspective
Gloria Casarez, Director of LGBT Affairs City of PhiladelphiaQueer Womyn on Faith and Spirituality
Kathrin P. Ivanovic, Principal Blogger at The Diversity ProjektViolence Towards Women Abroad: A Darfuran Women Speaks
About Rape as a Weapon of Genocide in Sudan
Fatima HarounWomen’s Heart and Health
Blanca Marti, Nurse Practitioner4:00-5:00 PM Womyn of Color- A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender Perspective LGBTQ Womyn of Color ConferenceCULTURAL PERFORMANCE
Creativity in Movement, Misia DeneaTransgender Womyn of Color – Action, Advocacy, Allies
Jaci AdamsWomen In Politics
State Representative Vanessa BrownEmployee Free Choice Act
Roni Green, SEIUSpoken in Arabic – Multicultural/Multiethnic Organizing
Nehad Khadir, Arab Women’s CommitteeCULTURAL PERFORMANCE
Songs of Hope, Fatimah LorénOccupational Safety and Health Issues Related to Women
Barbara Rahke, Director, Philadelphia Area Project on
Occupational Safety and HealthCULTURAL PERFORMANCE
Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas Featuring Fuego NuevoWomen and Diabetes
Juanita FigueroaHousing: The Foreclosure Crisis
Louise FrancisWomen and Violence In Afghanistan
Suraya PakzadImmigration and Health Care Access
Teresa Conejo5:00-5:30PM CULTURAL PERFORMANCE
Poetry in Motion, Shayna SheNess Israel (SITY)CULTURAL PERFORMANCE
Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas Featuring Fuego NuevoAction Plan
ALL5:30-6:00PM Reflections/Closing
Sherrie Cohen, Soda Nobuhle, Arleen OlshanIWD Philadelphia Coalition thanks its 2009 Sponsors: AFSCME District Council 47, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Anna Crusis Choir, Beta Phi Omega Sorority Inc., Carmen Bilingual toys and books, Café con Chocolate, Coalition for Labor Union Women, Code Pink, Darfur Alert Coalition, Hearts and More by Moon Queen, Lia Sophia, MayDay Committee, National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, National Association of Hispanic Nurses, PA Federation BMWED-IBT, Passion Party Consulting, Partnership for Prescription Assistance, Philadelphia International Action Center, Philadelphia NOW, Planned Parenthood, Raíces Culturales Latinoamericanas , Safeguards and Family Planning Council, Sisterspace, Sisters United @ The COLOURS Organization, Inc., Tacto Peruano, The COLOURS Organization Inc., The Womyn’s Village, Women’s Community Revitalization Project.
www.myspace.com/iwdphiladelphia; Email: iwdphiladelphia@yahoo.com; Phone: 267-997-8160
Blackface Alive & Well in Germany (and elsewhere in the world)
A Slant Truth and a post on BlackGermans recently reported on two incarnations of blackface in pop culture – one in Kansas and another in Germany. Spiegel Online recently ran an article about German Dollmaker, Marcel Offermann, and his newest creating – a blackface Barack Obama doll. This stereotypical depiction yet again illustrates the way in which mainstream German society continues to marginalize and “Other” People of Color, both in Germany and abroad. Check out the comments to the posting of this story on the Obenson Report.
In response to the criticism that the doll’s skin color is much darker then that of Obama’s, Offermann stated that the lighter skin color “didn’t look so good”. He went on to say that although the doll looks almost nothing like Obama, “The doll works more on a symbolic level.” The symbolism of what, is the million dollar question!
His ignorance and racial insensitivity speaks to how little Germany has advanced in transforming itself itno a more tolerant nation, sensitive to the cultural and ethnic diversity within its borders.
Growing up, I was constantly bombarded with images and attitudes that the presence of people like me was unwanted in Germany. Living on or near US military bases for most of my childhood, saved me from some of the harassment and prejudiced attitudes and behaviors others experienced. Nevertheless, our presence complicated the antiquated, racialized parameters of “Germanness”. Further, we stood as a constant reminder of an era in German history that would rather have been forgotten.
Not much has changed in that regard. The popularity of Offermann’s doll speaks to that reality. What HAS changed is the increased visibility of the AfroGerman community. The passion and committment of the Afro German community, as well as activists of other ethnic backgrounds in Germany, has begun to claim its space throughout Germany. Such groups and individuals as ADEFRA e.V., ISD Online, BrothersKeepers, Noah Sow, Victoria E. Robinson @ BLACKprint, Der Braune Mob, Women of the African Diaspora, the Afro Euroepean Sister’s Network, Black Women in Europe, Ika Hügel-Marshall, and Phoeniz e.V., have been at the forefront of this movement. (see Community Links for an ever expanding list of community and social justice advocacy links).
Literary Activism Reincarnate: ChangeMakers/ChangeBloggers Initiative – Coming to Your Town!
I was eight years old when Rushdie published The Satantic Verses and when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini unleashed his retaliatory fatwa firestorm throughout the Muslim world. I read The Satanic Verses when I was in high school, and have since re-read it at different points in my life. The themes he addresses in the novel – immigration, colonialism, orientalism, identity, cultural disillusion – resonate with my life in a myriad of ways.
Even 20 years later, Rushdie still has no regrets about publishing this work. In fact, he is proud that he had the courage to publish such a work and that he was able to weather the the challenging ramifications. In a recent interview, Rushdie posed a series of questions that are quite timely considering current domestic and international events:
“The question I’m always asking myself is: are we masters or victims? Do we make history or does history make us? Do we shape the world or are we just shaped by it?” he said in an interview with Australian broadcaster Clive James.
“The question of do we have agency in our lives or whether we are just passive victims of events is, I think, a great question and one that I have always tried to ask.
The question of agency came up repeatedly in my academic work, but I never considered it in relation to my own life. It always represented an abstract notion, relevant during critical junctures in history. Not until recently did I realize that we are at such a critical juncture where discussions of agency is particularly relevant.
Political events disasters over the last eight years have re-established social activism and consciousness as cultural currency in America, and people across the country are transforming themselves and their communities into agents of action and change. After several conversations with fellow organizers and advocates, I am concerned about maintaining momentum in social and political activism that has emerged during this campaign season. How do we translate hopes and dreams of how our world “should be” into meaningful and long-lasting change?
The ChangeMakers/ChangeBloggers Initiative is attempting to address this issue, by actively engaging bloggers who write about social justice and community-based initiatives. A ChangeBlogger is:
“A member of the blogging community who is using their blog, podcast or vlog to raise awareness, build community, and/or facilitate readers/listeners/viewers’ taking action to make the world a better place.”
The initiative’s aim is to translate activism online to activism in real-time. Creating a national web of local community bloggers is central to this initiative. We are organizing a Meet & Greet Event on Saturday, November 22, 2008 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm – location TBD – to launch the ChangeMakers/ChangeBloggers initiative in the Greater Philadelphia Area. The event is co-hosted by Dorie Morgan, Seth Horwitz and myself. Add us on Twitter to keep up with the latest news and events, changebloggerPA.
Other ChangeBloggers Events:
Please support your local ChangeMakers, whether that is by attending a local event, making a monetary or in-kind donation to a local event, or by giving a shout out to your local ChangeMakers on your own blog and social networking communities.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License
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