Join the local portion of #FREEDOMWALK2026, a modern-day retracing of the Underground Railroad, celebrating the 30th anniversary of historian Anthony Michael Cohen’s inaugural journey of the same route. Poughkeepsie is one of only ten cities where Cohen and his team will establish their base of operations.
ENJAN is one of more than two dozen local organizations sponsoring #FREEDOMWALK2026. Events include:
Wednesday, May 27, 4:00---6:00 PM: Local Walk #1: The Role of Local Churches in the Anti-Slavery Movement,
Start at the Family Partnership Center parking lot.
Thursday, May 28, 6:00---8:00 PM: Bonfire Gathering with Anthony Michael Cohen, Oakwood School.
Friday, May 29, 4:00 PM: Local Walk #2: River Trail to Freedom and Walkway Over the Hudson. Begin at Celebrating the African Spirit memorial in Waryas Park; end at Sojourner Truth statue (west side of Walkway).
Sunday, May 31, 12:00---3:00 PM: Community Celebration, Family Partnership Center.
For more details, including alternatives in case of rain and list of local sponsors, see attached flier.
FREEDOMWALK2026
Hudson Valley Caribbean Festival
Hudson Valley Caribbean Festival 2026
Saturday, August 2nd, noon to 8:00 pm
Location: Waryas Park, Poughkeepsie Waterfront
Juneteenth Celebration
Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 20th, 1:00 to 5:00 pm
Location: Waryas Park, Poughkeepsie Waterfront
Malcolm X Day Celebration
Malcolm X Day Celebration
Saturday, May 16th, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location: Malcolm X Park, 100 Catherine street, Poughkeepsie
Thank you to ENJAN Members
We are happy to report that yesterday Governor Hochul signed the Prison Oversight Omnibus Bill into law. Here is the announcement:
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-signs-landmark-legislation-improve-safety-security-and-accountability-within
Out of the seventeen criminal justice reform bills ENJAN supported this year, only this bill (S8415/A8871) was passed by both the NYS Senate and NYS Assembly. The signing of this bill will result in a major overhaul of the management and oversight of all New York State prisons and jails. The bill combines original bill S856/A2315, which was focused on improving/expanding the State Commission of Corrections (SCOC), with 9 other improvement initiatives.
Tragically, it took the brutal murders of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi to convince the NYS Legislature and the Governor that something had to be done to begin to fix this very broken system. Thank you to ENJAN Members and the hundreds of thousands of other caring people across the state who raised their voices to support this bill.
The ENJAN Curators
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-signs-landmark-legislation-improve-safety-security-and-accountability-within
Out of the seventeen criminal justice reform bills ENJAN supported this year, only this bill (S8415/A8871) was passed by both the NYS Senate and NYS Assembly. The signing of this bill will result in a major overhaul of the management and oversight of all New York State prisons and jails. The bill combines original bill S856/A2315, which was focused on improving/expanding the State Commission of Corrections (SCOC), with 9 other improvement initiatives.
Tragically, it took the brutal murders of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi to convince the NYS Legislature and the Governor that something had to be done to begin to fix this very broken system. Thank you to ENJAN Members and the hundreds of thousands of other caring people across the state who raised their voices to support this bill.
The ENJAN Curators
Justice for Monica Goods
ENJAN Kingston is helping coordinate a rally in Kingston this Sunday, December 7th, to raise awareness and continue the fight for justice for Monica Goods, who was killed in a 2020 incident involving former New York State Trooper Christopher Baldner. If you are not already familiar with this tragic event and subsequent legal actions, more detail is provided below. The rally will take place in front of the Ulster County Courthouse, 285 Wall Street in Kingston from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. We encourage ENJAN Poughkeepsie members to attend to show your support. Feel free to pass this information on to other organizations who may want to participate. Details are shown in the flyer below.
The flyer also contains a link to a petition (bit.ly/ppl4mg) to sign a petition to "Demand an End To High Speed Police Chases [in New York State] When Children Are Passengers." Please consider signing this petition and please pass on the link to others.
The ENJAN Curators
ENJAN Members
Here are some upcoming events that may be of interest to you:
Wednesday, October 15th: Dr. Philip V. McHarris talk - "Beyond Policing"
Time: 5:30 to 7:00 pm
Location: Rockefeller Hall 200, Vassar College
Summary: This talk draws on Philip V. McHarris’s book Beyond Policing to examine the failures of policing as a framework for safety and the ways Black communities have long enacted practices of care, protection, and refusal beyond the state.
Details: https://www.vassar.edu/news/events/beyond-policing-building-safety-through-care-refusal-and-collective-possibility
Saturday, October 18th: No Kings Protests
No Kings events will be held at various locations across the Mid-Hudson Valley. Here are the details for the Poughkeepsie event...
Time: noon to 2:00 pm
Location: Victor C Waryas Park on the Poughkeepsie waterfront
Details (including other No Kings events): https://www.mobilize.us/aft/event/843525/
Wednesday, October 22nd: NAACP Meet the Candidates
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Location: Cunneen-Hackett Theater, 9 Vassar Street, Poughkeepsie
Summary: Meet and hear the candidates for Dutchess County Judge and Dutchess County Comptroller.
Details: see flyer below
Note that the regular ENJAN meeting has been moved to October 29th to eliminate the conflict with this important event.
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