Increase Funding for Youth Programs in the City of Poughkeepsie

 ENJAN Members, 

If you have not already signed the petition to increase Funding for Youth Programs in the City of Poughkeepsie, please consider signing.  Here is the link.

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/invest-in-poughkeepsies-future-invest-in-our-youth

If you have already signed the petition, please do not sign again.

We have attached the flyers for the Youth Funding Campaign in both English and Spanish versions.  Please use these flyers to spread the word about the campaign.  Thank you.

The ENJAN Curators

Invest in Poughkeepsie's Future

The PCAC has created a petition, Invest in Poughkeepsie’s Future- Invest in Our Youth! Please add your signature and share with as many people as you can! As many of you know, there was a shooting outside the high school yesterday, and another shooting on Smith St. in the evening. This follows on the heels of a single week that saw eight shooting victims in the city. We can no longer undertake reactive measures alone- WE MUST TAKE CONTROL OF CONDITIONS and intentionally create an atmosphere of opportunity and a continuum of interventions and support services for our youth!

 

We implore you all to do the following:

1. ATTEND THE COMMON COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING THIS THURSDAY, 11/18, at 6:30pm. There should be a link to the meeting in the near future. At the beginning of the meeting there will be time for public comment- just raise your hand and you will be called on. This committee will review the administration’s proposed budget and request amendments before it’s voted on, so this is probably the most important meeting you can attend concerning this youth spending initiative.
2. Attend a community meeting this Friday, 11/19, from 6:00-7:30pm, where we’ll discuss and formulate a strategy to efficiently organize and mobilize before the budget is passed in mid-December. Zoom link provided at the bottom.
3. Sign the petition and share with as many people and organizations as possible (our goal is at least 1,000 signatures by Dec. 1);
4. Write the common council (CommonCouncilMembers@cityofpoughkeepsie.com) and mayor (mayor@cityofpoughkeepsie.com) to demand that they drastically increase the amount we invest in our youth from less than 0.5% to 2%-3% or $2-$3 million dollars. If you have questions about what to write, you can use the petition as a guide or reply to this email for suggestions;

 

In the past, the city has spent little to nothing (yes, $0) on youth programming, demonstrating an utter unwillingness to engage with the community on this issue. When an effectively non-existent piece of the pie is offered to address an issue, the conversation surrounding it will inherently be non-existent. We fully recognize that specifics on how any amount of funding will be spent are critical, but at the same time we hope everyone can understand that it will take a significant financial commitment from our elected officials, a tangible amount of ownership of this city and its future by the community, for our community to become engaged in such conversations. We must demand this investment and demand that this conversation begin in earnest if we want to change the conditions we set for our young people to live and grow within.

 

ZOOM LINK for Friday 11/19/2021 at 6pm

Talent Davis is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://usc.zoom.us/j/91286800340

 

Panel on Parole Justice in NYS: Nov 16 at 6 pm ET

 

Let your voices be heard

SHUT UP and LISTEN is a community forum in which WE hold the community providers responsible for actively listening. Too often, decisions are made that affect our healthcare and our well-being without us being present in these discussions. SHUT UP and LISTEN is about having providers actively listen as we explain our needs, approaches that may or may not work for us, and our expected outcomes. Let your voices be heard, and have your contributions be considered.

 

Time/Date

December 7,2021

6:30 P.M.

505 Main St, Poughkeepsie NY 12601

(Public Safety Bldg.)

 

For more information

Email: BarringtonR.Atkins@gmail.com

Communities Not Cages

There will be a multi-media digital launch of Communities Not Cages, a new campaign to overhaul New York’s racist and draconian sentencing laws, on November 10 at 6pm to learn from currently and formerly incarcerated people about the impact of New York's sentencing laws, and how we're fighting for change. RSVP on Zoom here.

On November 17 at 12pm, there will be Statewide Rallies for Communities Not Cages in NYC, Rochester, Buffalo, Ithaca, Syracuse, and Long Island. We need you there! RSVP here.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REPARATIONS?

 

Hochul Bring Them Home on Nov 9